Hydraulic Clutch Control Device Oil Level Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic clutch control devices for vehicle power units face challenges in preventing the exposure of oil pressure control valves above the oil level when the vehicle body inclines, which requires a larger housing chamber, thereby increasing the engine size.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic clutch control device with an oil pressure control valve and actuator housed in a chamber within the engine main body, where the actuator is serially connected to the oil pressure control valve and an oil return hole is positioned to maintain the oil level, preventing exposure without increasing the chamber size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing chamber is made larger to immerse the oil pressure control valve deep in hydraulic oil, then the valve is prevented from exposure above oil level when vehicle inclines, but the engine main body size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing chamber is segmented into two functional zones: a lower actuator housing chamber filled with hydraulic oil, and an upper valve housing chamber that remains open to the engine main body oil supply. This segmentation allows the oil pressure control valve to be positioned in the upper zone where it can access oil through the oil supply hole without requiring the entire chamber to be immersed in oil, thus preventing valve exposure while maintaining compact engine size.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil supply path is extended vertically through the housing chamber wall via an oil supply hole, creating a new dimensional pathway for oil delivery. This allows the valve in the upper chamber to receive oil from the lower chamber without requiring horizontal expansion of the housing chamber, thus maintaining compact engine dimensions while ensuring continuous oil supply to prevent valve exposure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the housing chamber is made larger to accommodate sufficient hydraulic oil, then oil level stability is improved during vehicle inclination, but the engine main body size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing chamber is divided into a lower actuator chamber that contains sufficient hydraulic oil for stability, and an upper valve chamber that remains open to the engine main body. The lower chamber maintains oil level stability during vehicle inclination, while the upper chamber allows the valve to access oil through the vertical oil supply hole without requiring additional horizontal space, thus achieving stability without increasing engine size.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower actuator housing chamber serves dual functions: it houses the actuator mechanism and simultaneously serves as the primary hydraulic oil reservoir that maintains oil level stability during vehicle inclination. The upper valve housing chamber serves as both the valve mounting location and an extension of the oil supply pathway, eliminating the need for separate oil reservoir space in the engine main body.
3Quantity of substance
If the oil return hole is positioned at upper portion of housing chamber, then excessive oil is returned to engine main body, but this may cause oil level drop when vehicle inclines
Solution Approach 1:
The oil return hole is positioned at a specific height in the housing chamber wall that corresponds to the normal operating oil level in the lower actuator chamber. This localized positioning ensures that only excessive oil above the required level is returned to the engine main body, while maintaining sufficient oil level in the lower chamber to prevent valve exposure during vehicle inclination. The oil supply hole provides additional oil from the engine main body to compensate for any level drop.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively maintains the oil level near the oil pressure control valve even when the vehicle body inclines, preventing exposure and avoiding an increase in engine size by optimizing the housing chamber design.
Implementation Method 1
an oil return hole used to return an excessive portion of the hydraulic oil from the housing chamber into the engine main body is provided in the housing chamber forming body to communicate with an upper portion of the housing chamber
Implementation Method 2
an oil return hole used to return an excessive portion of the hydraulic oil from the housing chamber into the engine main body
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic clutch control device of a vehicle power unit in which the oil pressure control valve is prevented from being exposed above the oil level even when a vehicle body inclines frontward or rearward. A housing chamber housing an actuator is formed in a housing chamber forming body attached to an engine main body and an oil pressure control valve partially facing the housing chamber is supported by the housing chamber forming body. An oil return hole used to return excess hydraulic oil from the housing chamber into the engine main body is provided in the housing chamber forming body to communicate with an upper portion of the housing chamber at an end portion of the housing chamber on a side close to the oil pressure control valve.