Engine Oil Pump Integration in Straddle Vehicle Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

The arrangement of oil flow passages from an oil pump to a transmission in conventional engines is complicated due to the external placement of the oil pump, which hinders efficient engine design and vehicle integration.

Innovation Solution

An engine configuration where the oil pump is accommodated within the transmission case, with a pump drive shaft coupled to the crankshaft, allowing the oil pump to operate regardless of the clutch's connection or disconnection state, facilitating simplified oil flow passage arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the oil pump is provided outside the transmission case, then the oil pump can be independently positioned, but the arrangement of oil flow passages from the oil pump to the transmission becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIndependent positioning of oil pumpVSAvoidArrangement of oil flow passages
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the oil pump into the transmission case structure, making the oil pump an integral part of the transmission assembly. This combination eliminates the need for separate external mounting and simplifies the oil flow passage arrangement by reducing the distance and complexity of oil delivery paths between the pump and transmission components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If the oil pump is accommodated within the transmission case, then the oil flow passage arrangement is simplified, but the space within the transmission case must be sufficiently utilized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveArrangement of oil flow passagesVSAvoidSpace utilization in transmission case
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The oil pump is nested within the transmission case structure, utilizing the available internal space efficiently. The pump is positioned to fit within the existing transmission case volume without requiring additional external space, thereby simplifying the overall engine layout while maintaining compact dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If the pump drive shaft is coupled to the crankshaft via the clutch, then the oil pump operates only when the clutch is engaged, but the oil supply to the transmission may be interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveOil supply continuity to transmissionVSAvoidContinuous operation of oil pump
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the oil pump drive mechanism from the clutch-dependent power transmission path and creates an independent drive connection from the crankshaft to the oil pump. This independent drive ensures that the oil pump operates continuously whenever the engine is running, regardless of the clutch engagement state, thereby ensuring continuous and reliable oil supply to the transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 simplifies the arrangement of oil flow passages and enhances the engine's design efficiency, particularly in straddle-type vehicles like motorcycles, by ensuring continuous oil supply to the transmission and other components.

Implementation Method 1

an oil pump accommodated in the transmission case to supply oil to the transmission; and a pump drive shaft for driving the oil pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP2039910B1Engine and straddle type vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.01.01 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2039910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2039910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2039910B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An engine 2 includes: a crankshaft; a transmission case for accommodating a transmission having a drive pulley 61 and a driven pulley; a clutch disposed outside the transmission case between the crankshaft and a pulley drive shaft 62 for driving the drive pulley 61 and capable of connecting or disconnecting transmission of driving force from the crankshaft to the pulley drive shaft 62; an oil pump 80 accommodated in the transmission case for supplying oil to the transmission; and a pump drive shaft 101 provided outside the transmission case separately from the pulley drive shaft 62 and driven in conjunction with the crankshaft to drive the oil pump 80 regardless of connection or disconnection of driving force transmission by the clutch.