Engine Cover for Crankshaft and Balance Shaft Gear Oil Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines face a reduction in oil pump efficiency due to oil splattering from the balance shaft gear and crankshaft gear, leading to entrained oil and increased oil consumption.
Innovation Solution
A cover is designed to prevent oil splattering by mechanically coupling with the crankshaft and balance shaft gears, featuring a first cover portion with a back wall and side walls that extend along arcs to catch oil thrown by the gears, and additional side portions to cover counterweights, ensuring oil is directed away from the crankcase walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the balance shaft gear and crankshaft gear are mechanically coupled to reduce vibration, then vibration reduction is achieved, but oil splattering increases causing entrained oil and reduced oil pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A cover is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotating gears and the oil. The cover includes a back wall and side walls that extend along arcs to catch and redirect oil splattered by the balance shaft gear and crankshaft gear, preventing oil from becoming entrained in the crankcase while allowing the vibration-reducing gear mechanism to continue operating
2Stability of the object's composition
If the gears rotate to mechanically couple the balance shaft and crankshaft, then vibration is offset, but oil is splattered against crankcase walls creating oil mist and increasing oil consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed to intercept oil that would otherwise be harmfully splattered against the crankcase walls. The side walls extend along arcs that follow the rotation path of the gears, catching oil droplets and redirecting them back into the oil sump, thereby converting the harmful splattering effect into a controlled oil circulation pattern that reduces oil mist and consumption
Data Source
AI summary
An engine assembly having a cover for catching oil splatted by crankshaft gear and a balance shaft gear is provided. The crankshaft gear is mechanically coupled to the balance shaft gear. The balance shaft gear may be partially submerged in a pool of oil formed at the bottom of the crankcase housing. The cover includes a first cover portion having a back wall and a pair of side walls extending along a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion covers a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the crankshaft gear. The bottom portion a respective portion of a circumferential edge of the balance shaft gear. Accordingly, oil splattered by the crankshaft gear and the balance shaft gear is caught by the cover, reducing oil entrainment and increasing oil pumping efficiency. Further, the cover helps prevent oil mist from escaping the system so as to reduce oil consumption.