Off-axis Variable Displacement Oil Pump Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil pump designs for internal combustion engines either result in an unnecessarily large size when integrated with the crankshaft or require additional assembly steps when externally driven, compromising efficiency and simplicity.
Innovation Solution
An oil pump assembly with a modular design that includes a housing connected to the engine block and sump, featuring a drive assembly with a gear train, chain, or belt to transmit rotational force from the crankshaft, allowing for compact size and simplified assembly, and a variable displacement oil pump mechanism to regulate flow rate based on oil pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pump is placed directly on the crankshaft with the crankshaft passing through the rotor, then assembly is simplified, but the pump dimensions must be increased resulting in unnecessarily large size and reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into a rotor and a stator, with the rotor being driven by the crankshaft and the stator remaining stationary. This segmentation allows the crankshaft to drive the rotor without needing to pass through the entire pump assembly, thereby reducing the overall pump size while maintaining simple assembly through the modular rotor-stator configuration.
2Volume of moving object
If the pump is located external to the internal combustion engine with belt or chain drive, then compact size is achieved, but additional assembly steps are required for mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is merged with the engine block through integrated mounting features, where the stator is directly mounted to the engine block and the rotor is driven by the crankshaft. This merging eliminates the need for separate external mounting and belt/chain drive systems, achieving compact size while simplifying assembly through direct integration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pump dimensions are increased to accommodate crankshaft passage, then the crankshaft can be integrated directly, but this results in unnecessarily large size and constraints that reduce pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pump employs a dynamic rotor-stator configuration where the rotor rotates with variable displacement capability. This dynamic design allows the crankshaft to be integrated without requiring oversized pump dimensions, as the rotor can adapt its displacement to match the crankshaft position, thereby maintaining compact size while preserving pump efficiency and enabling crankshaft integration.
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 solution enables a compact, efficient, and easily assembled oil pump that maintains optimal oil pressure while minimizing size constraints and assembly complexity, improving overall engine performance.
Implementation Method 1
The drive assembly may be a gear train, wherein the input member is an input gear and the output member is an output gear.
Implementation Method 2
As another alternative, the drive assembly may include a belt for transmitting a rotational force from the input member to the output member.
Implementation Method 3
Pivotal motion of the cam ring may be regulated by oil pressure acting on the cam ring.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil pump assembly for use with an internal combustion engine having an engine block, a crankshaft that is rotatable with respect to the engine block on a crankshaft axis, and a sump that is connected to the engine block for receiving and storing oil therein. The oil pump assembly includes a housing and a drive assembly that is arranged on the housing. The drive assembly is connected to the crankshaft for rotation in unison therewith. An oil pump is connected to the housing for pumping oil between an inlet and an outlet of the oil pump in response to rotation of a drive shaft. The drive shaft is connected to the drive assembly for rotation in unison therewith.