Integrated Oil Pan Filter Closure Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil pan-filter combinations for internal combustion engines lack an efficient mechanism for draining oil and changing filters, leading to increased assembly work and component costs, as well as difficulties in managing different oil pressures and volumes between the oil pan and filter housing.
Innovation Solution
An oil pan-filter combination with a closure element that has two sealing points, allowing the housing passage and oil drain opening to be closed with a single element, enabling incremental release and easy access for oil drainage and filter changes, while maintaining fluid separation and pressure equalization between the oil pan and filter housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate closure elements are used for housing passage and oil drain opening, then each opening can be sealed independently, but assembly work and component costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate closure elements into a single integrated closure element that simultaneously seals both the housing passage and the oil drain opening. This unified closure element features a first sealing portion for the housing passage and a second sealing portion for the oil drain opening, eliminating the need for separate closure components and reducing assembly complexity while maintaining reliable sealing at both locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The single closure element is designed to perform multiple functions: it seals the housing passage, seals the oil drain opening, and provides structural support for both sealing operations. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require two separate specialized closure elements, thereby reducing component count and assembly work.
2Reliability
If housing passage is closed first during opening sequence, then pressure equalization is achieved, but oil drainage is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is segmented into distinct sealing portions with different axial positions: the first sealing portion (for housing passage) is positioned at a first axial position, while the second sealing portion (for oil drain opening) is positioned at a second axial position that is offset in the opening direction. This spatial segmentation enables sequential release of the two sealed openings during the opening process, allowing pressure equalization to occur first followed by rapid oil drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
The design enables preliminary pressure equalization by releasing the housing passage seal first, allowing pressures to equalize before the oil drain opening is released. This preliminary action prevents pressure-related issues during drainage while maintaining the ability to drain oil efficiently once pressure equilibrium is achieved.
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
A combined oil pan and filter (10), in particular for an engine oil circuit of an internal combustion engine, in particular of a motor vehicle, an oil pan (12) and a drain device (36) for a combined oil pan and filter (10) are described. An oil filter (14) is arranged on or in the oil pan (12). The oil filter (14) comprises an openable filter housing (22) with a housing interior (50) in which a filter element (74) can be interchangeably arranged. The housing interior (50) of the filter housing (22) is connected to an interior (25) of the oil pan (12) by means of at least one housing passage (48). The housing passage (48) is closeable by means of a housing-passage closure means (32, 52, 54, 60). The oil pan (12) has an oil drain opening (30) which is closeable with a closure element (32). That side of the at least one housing passage (48) which faces the oil drain opening (30) has a sealing section (52). A region of the closure element (32) facing the housing passage (48) has a closure section (54) which matches the sealing section (52) and can interact with the sealing section (52) in a closing manner in order to close the housing passage (48).