Engine Oil Pump Structure for Inclined Vehicle Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing internal combustion engine pump structures are disabled when the vehicle body is largely inclined, causing the oil pump's suction port to be exposed upward from the oil level, which prevents the oil pump from sucking lubricating oil effectively, and the scavenge pump is unable to contribute to lubricating oil supply.
Innovation Solution
A pump structure comprising a main oil pump and a scavenge pump, where the scavenge pump includes an oil suction passage and an air introduction passage for negative pressure control. The air introduction passage has an air introduction port set to a height within the crankcase, allowing lubricating oil to flow back into the crankcase when the oil level is inclined, ensuring continuous lubricating oil supply to the engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oil pump suction port is positioned at the bottom of the crankcase, then the oil pump can effectively suck lubricating oil during normal operation, but when the vehicle body is largely inclined, the suction port becomes exposed upward from the oil level causing the oil pump to be temporarily disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the oil supply function into two separate pumps: a main oil pump for normal operation and a scavenge pump for inclined conditions. This segmentation allows each pump to be optimized for specific operating conditions, ensuring reliable oil supply regardless of vehicle inclination.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a scavenge pump as an intermediary system that activates when the main oil pump fails due to inclination. The scavenge pump with its air introduction passage and negative pressure control serves as a backup mechanism, ensuring continuous oil supply when the primary system becomes ineffective.
2Device complexity
If the scavenge pump is not equipped with an air introduction passage, then the structure is simpler, but the scavenge pump cannot control suction side negative pressure and cannot effectively recover lubricating oil when the oil level is inclined
Solution Approach 1:
The air introduction passage serves multiple functions: it controls negative pressure on the suction side, enables the scavenge pump to operate effectively when the oil level is inclined, and allows the system to adapt to different vehicle running states. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the pressure parameter on the suction side of the scavenge pump by introducing air through the air introduction passage. This negative pressure control enables the scavenge pump to effectively recover lubricating oil from the crankcase when the oil level is inclined, transforming the pump's performance characteristics.
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 proposed pump structure ensures reliable suction and supply of lubricating oil to the internal combustion engine even when the vehicle body is inclined, preventing the oil pump's disablement and maintaining engine lubrication efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air introduction passage for negative pressure control connected to the oil suction passage at a position between the lubricated part and the suction side of the scavenge pump
Implementation Method 2
a scavenge pump disposed at a lower portion of the internal combustion engine and configured to recover the lubricating oil after use from any lubricated part among the respective parts of the internal combustion engine and return the lubricating oil to the inside of the crankcase
Data Source
AI summary
An oil structure of an internal combustion engine includes a main oil pump configured to suck lubricating oil stored in a crankcase and feed the lubricating oil to respective engine parts and a scavenge pump configured to recover the lubricating oil from any lubricated engine part and return the lubricating oil into the crankcase. The scavenge pump has: an oil suction passage extending from the lubricated engine part to a suction side of the scavenge pump; and an air introduction passage for negative pressure control connected to the oil suction passage. An air introduction port of the air introduction passage is open to the inside of the crankcase and is set to a height position such that, when a level of the lubricating oil in the crankcase is inclined, the lubricating oil flows in from the air introduction port and returns from the scavenge pump into the crankcase.