External Oil Control Valve Unit for Motorcycle Variable Timing

Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of oil passages in engine cases leads to increased pressure loss, reducing the hydraulic pressure supplied to oil control valve units and lowering the operating speed of variable valve timing devices in engines with variable valve timing systems.

Innovation Solution

An oil control valve unit is configured with an external piping system that directly supplies high-pressure oil from the main gallery to the valve housing, bypassing internal engine oil passages, thus maintaining high hydraulic pressure and simplifying the oil passage structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If oil passages are provided inside the engine case to supply oil to multiple control valves, then the oil supply structure is integrated, but the oil passages become complex and pressure loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoil passage structureVSAvoidpressure loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The oil control valve unit is extracted from the internal engine case structure and positioned externally, connected via a single oil passage. This removes the complexity of internal oil passages while maintaining integrated supply to multiple control valves, directly resolving the contradiction between integration and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The oil supply system is segmented into a main oil passage in the engine case and a separate oil control valve unit. This allows the complex valve assembly to be separated from the engine case while maintaining efficient oil supply, reducing overall system complexity and pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If multiple control valves are supplied through internal oil passages in the engine case, then the structure is compact, but the operating speed of variable valve timing devices is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating speed of variable valve timing deviceVSAvoidoil passage configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oil control valve unit is extracted from the internal engine case structure and positioned externally, connected via a single oil passage. This removes the complexity of internal oil passages while maintaining integrated supply to multiple control valves, directly resolving the contradiction between integration and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The oil supply system is segmented into a main oil passage in the engine case and a separate oil control valve unit. This allows the complex valve assembly to be separated from the engine case while maintaining efficient oil supply, reducing overall system complexity and pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stress or pressure

If oil passages are arranged inside the engine case, then the oil supply is integrated with the engine structure, but the hydraulic pressure at the oil control valve unit is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydraulic pressure at oil control valve unitVSAvoidinternal oil passage structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The oil control valve unit is extracted from the internal engine case structure and positioned externally, connected via a single oil passage. This removes the complexity of internal oil passages while maintaining integrated supply to multiple control valves, directly resolving the contradiction between integration and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The oil supply system is segmented into a main oil passage in the engine case and a separate oil control valve unit. This allows the complex valve assembly to be separated from the engine case while maintaining efficient oil supply, reducing overall system complexity and pressure loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 enhances the operating speed of intake-side and exhaust-side variable valve timing devices by minimizing pressure loss and maintaining high hydraulic pressure, while avoiding the complexity of internal oil passages.

Implementation Method 1

The oil is pumped up from an oil pan to a main gallery by an oil pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the oil is supplied from the main gallery to an oil passage in the valve housing through the external piping

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3396126B1Oil control valve unit and motorcycle

Publication Date: 2020.04.15 SUZUKI MOTOR CORP

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AI summary

There is provided an oil control valve unit configured to control a hydraulic pressure to intake-side and exhaust-side variable valve timing devices of an engine. An intake control valve is configured to control an intake-side valve timing. An exhaust control valve is configured to control an exhaust-side valve timing. A valve housing is configured to support the intake control valve and the exhaust control valve. The engine is formed therein with a main gallery to which oil is to be delivered from an oil pump. The valve housing is connected with an external piping extending from the main gallery and the oil is supplied from the main gallery to an oil passage in the valve housing through the external piping.