Engine Fluid Guide Arrangement for Crankcase Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure in the crankcase due to windage effects forces lubricant back into the turbocharger, compromising seals and causing leaks, as existing solutions require additional components and increase pressure locally.
Innovation Solution
A fluid guide arrangement is integrated into the engine assembly to direct crankcase fluid flow away from the lubricant drain and induce negative pressure, preventing lubricant backflow into the turbocharger.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed crankcase ventilator is used to prevent oil backdraft, then oil backflow is prevented, but additional device components are required and local pressure increases around the ventilator
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid guide arrangement is integrated into the engine block structure, merging the windage control function with the existing engine architecture. This eliminates the need for separate ventilator devices while achieving the same oil backflow prevention goal through the fluid guide's interaction with crankcase fluid flow
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and addresses the root cause of oil backflow by directly modifying crankcase fluid flow dynamics through the fluid guide arrangement, rather than adding a separate ventilator system. This removes the harmful backflow mechanism at its source while avoiding additional device complexity
2Reliability
If crankcase pressure is reduced to prevent lubricant backflow, then seal integrity is maintained, but crankshaft windage effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid guide arrangement creates a localized controlled flow region around the lubricant drain aperture. By directing fluid flow specifically away from the drain area, it creates a local low-pressure zone that prevents lubricant backflow without requiring a global reduction in crankcase pressure, thus avoiding increased windage effects
3Productivity
If lubricant drain is positioned in high pressure zone, then lubricant returns to crankcase effectively, but high pressure forces lubricant back into lubricant drain
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to reduce pressure at the lubricant drain location, the invention inverts the approach by using the existing high-pressure fluid flow to create a protective effect. The fluid guide arrangement directs the high-pressure crankcase fluid flow away from the lubricant drain aperture, using the flow dynamics itself to prevent backflow into the turbocharger
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 fluid guide arrangement effectively reduces windage effects, preventing high pressure lubricant from entering the lubricant drain and maintaining seal integrity in the turbocharger.
Implementation Method 1
the fluid guide arrangement guides the crankcase fluid flow away from the drain aperture and/or reduces the pressure of the crankcase fluid flow past the drain aperture
Implementation Method 2
high pressure in the crankcase may force lubricant and/or high pressure back into the lubricant drain, such as due to crankshaft windage
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed towards an engine assembly (10) comprising a crankcase (22), a crankshaft (30), a lubrication system (40) and fluid guide arrangement (50). During rotation the crankshaft (30) is configured to drive a crankcase fluid flow (48) in a crankcase chamber (23). The lubrication system (40) comprises a lubricant drain (42) for a drain fluid flow (38) therethrough extending to a drain aperture (46) at the crankcase chamber (23). The fluid guide arrangement (50) is located adjacent or in proximity to the drain aperture (46). The fluid guide arrangement (50) is configured for guiding crankcase fluid flow (48) away from the drain aperture (46) and/or for reducing the pressure of the crankcase fluid flow (48) past the drain aperture (46), such that drain fluid flows (38) from the lubricant drain (42).