Engine Guide Member Redirecting Lubricating Fluid

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Solution Overview

Problem

The contact of lubricating oil with counterweights in an engine's crankshaft system creates resistance and inefficiency due to oil mist, reducing the movement and efficiency of the crankshaft.

Innovation Solution

A guide member is coupled to the cylinder member, extending angularly to direct lubricating fluid away from the counterweight, reducing contact and mist formation, thereby minimizing resistance and improving engine efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lubricating oil is supplied to bearing components and moving components, then lubrication is improved, but oil contact with counterweights creates resistance and reduces engine efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelubricationVSAvoidengine efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

A guide member is introduced as an intermediary component between the cylinder member and counterweight. This guide member redirects the flow of lubricating oil away from the counterweight surface, preventing direct contact between oil and counterweight. The guide member thus mediates between the need for lubrication and the need to avoid energy loss from oil contact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If oil flows onto counterweights, then lubrication coverage is improved, but aerodynamic resistance increases due to oil mist formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication coverageVSAvoidaerodynamic resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful effect of oil contact with counterweights is extracted and removed from the system by using a guide member to redirect oil flow. The guide member extracts the oil from its natural downward path onto the counterweight and redirects it along the cylindrical surface, effectively taking out the source of aerodynamic resistance and oil mist formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of energy

If a guide member is added to redirect oil flow, then resistance is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveresistanceVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is implemented as a thin, cylindrical shell or film that conforms to the outer surface of the cylinder member. This flexible shell structure redirects oil flow without requiring complex mechanical components, maintaining simplicity while effectively reducing resistance. The thin-film nature of the guide member minimizes its own interference with the engine operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 guide member effectively directs lubricating fluid away from counterweights, reducing aerodynamic forces and resistance, enhancing crankshaft movement and overall engine efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The guide member comprises a first portion coupled to the cylinder member and a second portion angularly extending from the first portion so as to guide lubricant around the counterweight and, at least partially, direct a flow of the lubricating fluid away from the counterweight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow:

Data Source

PatentEP3128162B1A guide member for guiding lubricating fluid in an engine
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 CATERPILLAR ENERGY SOLUTIONS
  • EP3128162B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3128162B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3128162B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A guide member (134) for guiding lubricating fluid in an engine (100) having a cylinder member (108) is provided. The guide member (134) is coupled to the cylinder member (108) and is disposed outside the cylinder member (108).