Engine Lubricant Structure with Side-Access Oil Filters
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The semi-dry sump type engine faces challenges in easily exchanging primary oil filters without splitting the crank case, inefficient oil return to the power transmission chamber leading to air entrainment, and reduced pump efficiency due to direct suction from the crank chamber, which complicates maintenance and affects engine performance.
Innovation Solution
A lubricant structure with a power transmission chamber as an oil reserving portion, where primary oil filters are attached to both sides of the crank case without splitting it, and oil is returned from the crank chamber to the power transmission chamber in an air bleeding state to prevent air entrainment, using cylindrical filters and a gas-liquid separation chamber to improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the crank case is divided into left and right members, then the engine structure is compact and space is saved, but the primary oil filters cannot be exchanged without splitting the crank case
Solution Approach 1:
The crank case is divided into left and right members that can be separated from each other, allowing the primary oil filters to be accessed and exchanged independently without splitting the entire crank case. The filters are positioned such that each filter is associated with one crank case member, enabling modular maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary oil filters are extracted as separate, accessible components that can be removed and exchanged independently from the crank case assembly. The filters are positioned in locations that allow their removal without requiring separation of the crank case members.
2Device complexity
If the scavenging pump directly sucks oil from the crank chamber, then the structure is simplified, but air entrainment occurs and pump efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
An oil sump is introduced as an intermediary component between the crank chamber and the scavenging pump. The oil sump collects oil that has been returned from the crank chamber, allowing air to be separated from the oil before it enters the scavenging pump. This intermediary structure prevents air entrainment while maintaining a relatively simple overall system.
3Reliability
If the oil pan is attached to the lower surface of the crank case, then oil filtering is effective, but the lower side of the engine protrudes and engine height is elongated
Solution Approach 1:
The primary oil filters are repositioned from a vertical arrangement (requiring an attached oil pan that increases engine height) to a horizontal arrangement within the crank case members. The filters are positioned in the left and right crank case members, utilizing the horizontal dimension rather than extending vertically, thereby maintaining filtering effectiveness while reducing engine height.
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 allows for easy filter exchange and maintenance, reduces air entrainment, and enhances pump efficiency by utilizing the crank chamber's space effectively, improving oil supply and reducing engine height.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-liquid separation chamber (9) formed in the power transmission chamber (3)
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricant structure of an engine capable of easily and compactly attaching and detaching primary oil filters connected to oil intake sides of two oil pumps to and from a crank case. A power transmission chamber in the crank case dually divided in a crankshaft direction is an oil reserving portion. The lubricant structure includes a first oil pump for pressure-feeding oil of the oil reserving portion to a lubricant point, a second oil pump for returning the oil returned to the crank chamber to the oil reserving portion, and first and second oil filters connected to the oil intake sides of the oil pumps. The first oil filter is inserted from one of left and right crank case members, the second oil filter is inserted from the other crank case member, and both the oil filters are closed by oil filter caps.