Oil Pan Reinforcement Beads for Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional oil pan structures manufactured by welding thin sheets of metal lack sufficient stiffness and are prone to high engine vibration due to inadequate reinforcement, with existing reinforcement methods providing limited improvements in strength and vibration reduction.

Innovation Solution

The oil pan structure incorporates a plurality of corrugation-shaped reinforcement beads that stretch across the bottom and side walls, with adjustable lengths and shapes to enhance strength, vibration-rigidity, and natural frequency, allowing for improved resistance to engine vibrations and deformations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If thin sheets of metal are welded to manufacture the oil pan, then the manufacturing process is simple and cost-effective, but the stiffness and strength of the structure is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidstructural stiffness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The oil pan structure is divided into multiple components (bottom plate, side walls, reinforcement ribs) that are separately formed and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and structural strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oil pan employs a composite structure combining the bottom plate, side walls, and reinforcement ribs into an integrated assembly. This composite approach enhances structural stiffness while maintaining manufacturing feasibility, as each component can be produced using standard processes and then assembled together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If reinforcement ribs are added to the oil pan structure, then the strength and vibration resistance improve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement ribs are merged with the side walls and bottom plate to form an integrated structure. This merging approach enhances vibration resistance and strength while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the reinforcement elements become part of the overall structural design rather than separate add-on components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If reinforcement beads are provided on the bottom part and side walls independently, then the strength improves slightly, but the vibration reduction effect is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverall strengthVSAvoidvibration level

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement ribs extend in multiple dimensions across the bottom plate and side walls, creating a three-dimensional reinforcement network. This dimensional approach enhances both strength and vibration resistance simultaneously, as the ribs provide structural support in multiple directions rather than just adding localized beads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS8061325B2Oil pan structure and an engine therewith

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

AI summary

An oil pan structure includes a plurality of reinforcement beads of several kinds. An engine utilizes the oil pan, whereby the strength and vibration-rigidity (rigidity against vibration) of the oil pan and the engine are sufficiently enhanced so that a natural frequency of the oil pan and the engine therewith becomes adjustable through a selection as to the numbers, locations, and sizes of the beads.