Oil Circulator Apparatus Overflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil circulator apparatuses for outboard engines face challenges in preventing oil overflow during filter replacement, leading to increased size and manufacturing costs, and inefficiencies in energy usage due to unnecessary oil circulation when the engine is stopped.
Innovation Solution
The proposed oil circulator apparatus incorporates an oil discharge port in the main gallery that allows oil to return to the crankcase, eliminating the need for additional space and complex structures, thereby preventing overflow and optimizing energy efficiency by ensuring oil is only circulated when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oil return flow path is provided on a lower portion of the oil flow path to prevent oil overflow during filter replacement, then oil overflow is prevented, but the occupation space of the oil flow path increases and the apparatus becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oil return function with the existing main gallery structure by providing an oil discharge port at the downstream end of the main gallery. This allows oil to return to the crankcase through the existing structural space rather than requiring a separate return flow path, thereby preventing oil overflow during filter replacement while avoiding additional space occupation and apparatus enlargement.
2Reliability
If an oil return flow path is provided to prevent oil overflow during filter replacement, then oil overflow is prevented, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the oil return function with the existing main gallery structure by utilizing the downstream end of the main gallery as the discharge location. This approach prevents oil overflow during filter replacement while avoiding the need for additional separate components and assembly processes, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If the oil pump continuously circulates oil to ensure adequate lubrication, then lubrication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases when the engine is stopped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic oil circulation system where the oil pump operates only when the engine is running and stops when the engine stops. The main gallery structure with its discharge port ensures that oil circulation is activated only when needed for lubrication, thereby maintaining adequate lubrication reliability while reducing energy consumption during engine idle or stopped conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil circulator apparatus (5) includes: a crankcase (7) in which a movable portion is stored; an oil flow path (15) that is provided on the crankcase (7) and guides oil to the movable portion; an oil pump that delivers the oil to the movable portion via the oil flow path (15); a main gallery (19) that is provided in a middle of the oil flow path (15) and is formed along an upward-downward direction; an oil filter (22) that is provided in a middle of the main gallery (19) and filters the oil which flows through the main gallery (19); and an oil discharge port (33) that is provided in the main gallery (19) at a further downstream side in a flow direction of the oil than the oil filter (22) and causes the main gallery (19) to be in communication with an inside of the crankcase (7).