Coaxial Pump Train for Dry-Sump Engine Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dry sump combustion engines face issues with weight, complexity, vibration damping, and leakage due to the large number of assembly parts and individual pump attachments, which lead to inefficiencies and fatigue in the engine's lubrication system.
Innovation Solution
A combustion engine design featuring a train of coaxial pumps with inner and outer lobed rotors driven by a common drive shaft, where the pumps are pre-assembled and inserted into a cylindrical bore, eliminating external connections and allowing for adjustable inertia and stiffness to dampen vibrations, and a common pump casing with a central portion for suction and discharge chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple individual pumps are used to pump lubricating fluid from different chambers, then the lubrication of each chamber can be addressed, but the number of assembly parts increases leading to increased weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual pumps into a single integrated pump unit that can pump lubricating fluid from multiple chambers simultaneously. This single unit replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate pumps, reducing the number of assembly parts while maintaining comprehensive lubrication coverage for all chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump unit is designed with multi-functionality to handle lubricating fluid from different chambers (such as the crankcase chamber and timing case chamber) through a single integrated structure. This universal design allows one pump unit to perform the functions that would otherwise require multiple specialized pumps.
2Reliability
If pumps are individually attached to the engine casing, then each pump can be positioned for its specific chamber, but the number of hydraulic connections increases leading to more leakage points
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple hydraulic connections into a single integrated connection system. The single pump unit has one main hydraulic connection point to the engine casing, replacing what would otherwise be multiple separate connection points from individual pumps. This significantly reduces the number of potential leakage points while maintaining the ability to service multiple chambers.
3Volume of moving object
If a pump train is formed with multiple pumps arranged coaxially, then the structure becomes more compact, but the drive shaft and attachment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pump functions into a single compact pump unit with a simplified drive shaft structure. Instead of having separate drive shafts for each individual pump or a complex multi-pump train, the design uses one integrated pump unit with a single drive shaft, achieving compactness without the complexity of a multi-pump coaxial arrangement.
4Device complexity
If the pump train is driven from one end, then the drive mechanism is simplified, but vibration damping capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable inertia and stiffness characteristics into the single pump unit's drive system. This allows the drive mechanism to dynamically adapt to vibration conditions, providing vibration damping capability while maintaining a simplified single-end drive structure. The adjustable parameters enable the system to optimize both simplicity and stability.
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
This design reduces weight and complexity, enhances vibration damping, minimizes leaks, and improves fatigue strength by eliminating external connections and using a common drive shaft to manage rotational movement, resulting in a more compact and efficient engine.
Implementation Method 1
the at least two pumps each comprise respectively an inner lobed rotor and an outer lobed rotor, the inner lobed rotor being movable around a first axis of rotation R1 and the outer lobed rotor being rotatable about a second axis of rotation R2 parallel to the first axis of rotation R1
Implementation Method 2
each inner lobe rotor of the pump train being driven in rotation by a common drive shaft rotatable about the first axis of rotation R1
Implementation Method 3
the pump train being attached in a cylindrical bore of the engine casing(s)
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine (1) comprising at least one engine casing (2) defining a guide housing (3) in which at least one crankshaft (4) is guided in rotation about an axis of rotation V and lubricated by a lubricating fluid, said at least one engine casing (2) being of the "dry" type. Such an internal combustion engine (1) comprises at least two pumps (7, 8) forming a coaxial pump train (10), said pump train (10) being housed in a cylindrical bore (26) of said at least one engine casing (2).