Vehicle Engine Unit Horizontal Oil Tank Axial Layout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine units with oil tanks disposed along the crankshaft axis face challenges in maintaining a compact size while increasing oil tank capacity, leading to enlarged dimensions in the axial direction.
Innovation Solution
The engine unit design incorporates a power transmission shaft that overlaps with the oil tank, extending beyond it in the axial direction, allowing for a larger oil tank capacity without increasing the engine unit's size by positioning the oil tank horizontally and integrating the power transmission shaft to avoid contact with the oil tank's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the oil tank is enlarged in the axial direction of the crankshaft to increase capacity, then the oil tank capacity increases, but the engine unit size in the axial direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the oil tank from a conventional axial arrangement to a horizontal arrangement that overlaps with the power transmission shaft in side view. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the oil tank to extend in the lateral direction rather than the axial direction, thereby increasing oil capacity without increasing the engine unit's axial length. The power transmission shaft is arranged to pass through or alongside the horizontally oriented oil tank, optimizing space utilization in the axial dimension.
2Device complexity
If the oil tank is disposed on the imaginary line extending from the crankshaft, then the structure is simplified, but the engine unit is enlarged in the axial direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains structural simplicity by keeping the oil tank aligned with the power transmission shaft's horizontal axis, while changing the orientation from axial (along the crankshaft imaginary line) to horizontal (overlapping in side view). This dimensional shift allows the oil tank to be positioned horizontally relative to the engine body, extending beyond the engine body in the axial direction while overlapping with the power transmission shaft, thus reducing axial length without complicating the overall structure.
Data Source
AI summary
An engine unit for a vehicle includes an engine body, an oil tank, and a power transmission shaft. The engine body includes a cylinder unit and a crankcase. The oil tank is disposed horizontally or substantially horizontally with respect to the engine body. The power transmission shaft includes a crankshaft supported by the crankcase. The power transmission shaft at least partially overlaps with the oil tank in a side view of the engine unit. The power transmission shaft extends from the engine body to a position beyond the oil tank in an axial direction of the crankshaft.