Engine Oil Supply System Partitioned Suction Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

In internal combustion engine oil supply systems, rapid vehicle acceleration or deceleration can cause air to be sucked into the oil strainer, leading to air-admixed oil being drawn into the circulating circuit, which affects oil pressure control in transmissions and necessitates increased pump capacity, resulting in larger pump sizes.

Innovation Solution

The system partitions the common suction port of two oil pumps with a partition wall, connecting the relief valves of one pump to the suction passage of the other, ensuring that air-admixed oil is minimized and preventing its influence on the second pump, while using a single oil strainer and separate suction passages to maintain efficient lubrication and oil pressure control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common suction port is used for both oil pumps, then the number of components is reduced, but air-admixed oil may be sucked into the circulating circuit during rapid acceleration or deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoidoil supply stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The common suction port is divided into first and second suction ports by a partition wall, creating separate suction passages for each oil pump. This segmentation prevents air-admixed oil from one pump from being sucked into the other pump, while still maintaining a common suction structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall acts as an intermediary element that separates the suction ports within the common suction port structure. It prevents direct communication between the suction passages of the two oil pumps, thereby blocking the path for air-admixed oil while maintaining the overall compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the pump capacity is increased to prevent air suction, then air influence is reduced, but the pump size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair prevention capabilityVSAvoidpump size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the suction port into separate first and second suction ports with independent suction passages, the system prevents air-admixed oil from entering the circulating circuit without needing to increase pump capacity. Each pump has its own dedicated suction path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful element (air-admixed oil) is extracted from the system by preventing its formation at the suction port through the partition wall. This eliminates the need to compensate for air suction by increasing pump capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If relief valve oil is returned to the suction side, then lubrication is maintained, but air-admixed oil may be drawn into the circulating circuit

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication efficiencyVSAvoidoil pressure control stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The suction port is segmented into first and second suction ports with separate suction passages. The relief valve of the second oil pump returns oil to the first suction passage, but the partition wall prevents this oil from being sucked into the second oil pump, maintaining both lubrication efficiency and preventing air-admixed oil circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If separate suction passages are provided for each oil pump, then air-admixed oil is prevented, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil supply stabilityVSAvoidsuction passage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second suction passages are merged within a single pump casing, sharing common components such as the strainer, drive mechanism, and housing. This integration reduces overall device complexity while still providing separate suction paths that prevent air-admixed oil circulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump casing serves multiple functions: it houses both the first and second oil pumps, contains the strainer, provides the partition wall for suction port separation, and incorporates the suction passages. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8925513B2Internal combustion engine oil supply system contained in a body of the engine

Publication Date: 2015.01.06 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An internal combustion engine oil supply system contained in a body of the engine, in which a pump casing common to first and second oil pumps having a common pump shaft rotated interlockingly with rotation of a crankshaft of the engine is provided with a main suction port common to the first and second oil pumps, and first and second relief valves are individually connected to discharge passages of the first and second oil pumps. The main suction port is partitioned into first and second suction ports. The pump casing is formed with a first suction passage extending from the first suction port to a suction side of the first oil pump, and a second suction passage extending from the second suction port to a suction side of the second oil pump. Release ports of the first and second relief valves are connected to the second suction passage.