Crankcase Bracket Simplifies Oil Passage Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of oil passage routes in internal combustion engines increases the number of manufacturing steps and complicates the processing of the crankcase, leading to inefficiencies and potential interference between the oil filter and cooler during maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a bracket on the crankcase to concentrate oil passages between the oil filter and cooler, allowing for simplified routing and improved maintainability by allowing the oil filter to be attached and detached in the up-down direction, reducing the engine's size and vulnerability to external debris.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the outflow port and inflow port are disposed at a distance from the oil filter on the front wall of the crankcase, then the oil cooler can be disposed on the front side of the crankcase, but the routes of oil passages become complicated and the number of manufacturing steps increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil cooling functionVSAvoidoil passage routes complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component mounted on the front wall of the crankcase. The bracket集中ly disposes the outflow port, inflow port, and mounting surface for the oil filter, serving as a mediator that organizes the oil passage routes and simplifies their configuration while maintaining the oil cooler's cooling function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the oil filter is mounted to the front wall of the crankcase in the front-rear direction, then the oil passages can be simplified, but the oil filter may interfere with the oil cooler during maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil passage routes simplicityVSAvoidoil filter maintainability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting direction of the oil filter is changed from the front-rear direction to the up-down direction by positioning the mounting surface on the bracket. This dimensional change allows the oil filter to be attached and detached vertically without interfering with the oil cooler, while still maintaining simplified oil passage routes through the bracket's concentrated port arrangement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If the oil filter and oil cooler are disposed close to each other on the front side of the crankcase, then the engine size can be reduced, but the oil passages may become complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine sizeVSAvoidoil passage routes complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket merges the outflow port, inflow port, and oil filter mounting surface into a single integrated component. This merging allows the oil filter and oil cooler to be disposed close to each other on the front side of the crankcase, reducing engine size, while the bracket's integrated design simplifies the oil passage routes by concentrating all connections in one location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration simplifies the oil passage routes, reduces manufacturing steps, enhances maintainability, and protects the oil filter from external damage while maintaining efficient oil supply to components like the balancer.

Implementation Method 1

an oil cooler that is disposed on a front side of the crankcase, cools the oil flowing in from the oil filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 2

an oil filter that is mounted to a mounting surface formed on the crankcase and clarifies an oil flowing in

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS10774701B2Internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2020.09.15 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An internal combustion engine includes: an oil filter that is mounted to a mounting surface formed on a crankcase and clarifies an oil flowing in; an oil cooler that is disposed on a front side of the crankcase, cools the oil flowing in from the oil filter and returns the oil into a flow path in the crankcase; and a bracket formed on a front wall of the crankcase and having the mounting surface. An outflow port through which the oil flows out toward the oil cooler and an inflow port through which the oil flows in from the oil cooler are disposed in the bracket. Accordingly, in the internal combustion engine, routes of oil passages can be simplified as much as possible.