Crankcase Oil Gallery Inflow Opening Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing main oil gallery systems for internal combustion engines face challenges in ensuring a continuous and uniform supply of lubricating or cooling oil to crankshaft bearings, which are subject to high loading, due to inefficient oil distribution.

Innovation Solution

A tubular supply line with strategically designed inflow openings, either funnel-shaped for flow-concentrating or flow-dissipating conditions, is used to optimize oil flow to the crankshaft bearings, allowing for targeted distribution through beveled or chamfered walls and open ends, and can be produced from metallic or plastic materials using machining or casting processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional main oil gallery system is used, then the structure is simple, but the oil supply to crankshaft bearings is not continuous or uniform

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous and uniform oil supply to bearingsVSAvoidsupply line structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supply line incorporates inflow openings with different geometries (funnel-shaped with narrowing toward center, funnel-shaped with widening toward center, or open ends) at different locations to create locally optimized flow conditions. This allows the system to maintain simple overall structure while achieving uniform oil distribution through localized geometric variations that adapt to specific flow requirements at each inlet position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the inflow opening is funnel-shaped with narrowing toward center, then flow is concentrated for high-velocity conditions, but flow distribution may be uneven for low-velocity conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil flow velocityVSAvoiduniform flow distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs multiple inflow opening geometries (narrowing funnel, widening funnel, open ends) that can be selected or combined based on operating conditions. The narrowing funnel shape concentrates high-velocity flow toward the center, while widening funnel shapes distribute low-velocity flow more evenly. This dynamic adaptation to flow conditions ensures reliable uniform distribution across varying engine operating states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If multiple inflow openings are provided, then oil supply coverage is improved, but the complexity of the supply line increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil supply coverageVSAvoidnumber of inflow openings and feed lines

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple inflow openings are integrated into a single tubular supply line structure rather than using separate pipes. The supply line combines multiple inlet openings with different geometries and feed line outlets along its length, merging what would otherwise be multiple separate components into one integrated element. This reduces assembly complexity while maintaining comprehensive oil supply coverage to all bearing points.

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 design ensures a continuous and uniform volumetric flow of lubricating or cooling oil to the crankshaft bearings, enhancing oil distribution efficiency and adaptability to varying flow conditions within the crankcase.

Implementation Method 1

The at least one inflow opening can be formed into the tube interior of the supply line in a flow-concentrating or flow-dissipating manner depending on the flow conditions for the lubricating or cooling oil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow concentration:

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow dissipation:

Data Source

PatentUS10465576B2Main oil gallery for the crankcase of an internal combustion engine

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 DR ING H C F PORSCHE AG

AI summary

A substantially tubular supply line (2, 11) of a main oil gallery (1, 10) for distributing lubricating or cooling oil to bearing points of a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The supply line (2, 11) has at least one inflow opening (3, 5, 6, 13) arranged on the supply line (2, 11) and feed lines (4, 12) having feed line openings (7.1, 7.2) on the supply line (2, 11) for feeding the lubricating or cooling oil to the bearing points of the crankshaft in the crankcase. The inflow opening (3, 5, 6, 7.1, 7.2, 13) is formed in a flow-favorable manner and may define a funnel shape.