Oil Separator with Dynamic Oil Pan Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil separators require frequent maintenance operations to recover separated oil, as the oil stored in the separator needs to be removed when it reaches capacity, leading to inefficiencies in lubricant management for engines.
Innovation Solution
An oil separator system that introduces compressed air containing oil into a housing with an impingement member, separating the oil and supplying it directly to the engine's oil pan via a circulation path and pump, reducing the need for frequent maintenance by managing oil storage and supply efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the oil separator stores separated oil in its housing, then the oil can be collected for recovery, but the storage capacity is limited and requires frequent maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the oil storage function from the oil separator housing and relocates it to the engine's oil pan. The oil separator now only performs separation and directs the separated oil to the oil pan through a supply port, eliminating the need for a large storage capacity in the separator itself and reducing maintenance frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mechanism (supply port and control valve) between the oil separator and the oil pan. This intermediary system automatically manages oil transfer based on storage capacity, enabling the oil pan to serve as the storage reservoir while the separator focuses on separation, thereby reducing maintenance operations.
2Ease of operation
If the oil separator has large storage capacity, then maintenance operations are reduced, but the device occupies more space and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The storage function is extracted from the oil separator housing and assigned to the engine's existing oil pan. This allows the oil separator to have a compact design focused solely on separation, while the oil pan provides the necessary storage capacity, thus reducing the volume of the oil separator without increasing maintenance frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes the oil pan serve multiple functions: it continues to store engine lubricant and now also serves as the storage reservoir for separated oil from the oil separator. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate large storage tank in the oil separator, reducing its volume while maintaining reduced maintenance frequency.
3Quantity of substance
If oil is continuously supplied to the oil pan, then the oil pan can maintain optimal lubricant levels, but there is a risk of overflow when the oil pan is already full
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a feedback mechanism using a control valve that monitors the storage capacity of the oil pan. When the oil pan reaches its storage capacity, the control valve automatically stops or regulates the oil supply from the oil separator, preventing overflow while maintaining optimal lubricant levels through continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil supply system is made dynamic through the control valve that can adjust the flow rate or shut off supply based on real-time conditions in the oil pan. This dynamic control allows the system to respond to changing lubricant levels, maintaining optimal levels while preventing overflow conditions.
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 system reduces the frequency of oil recovery operations by supplying separated oil to the engine's oil pan, maintaining optimal lubricant levels and preventing overflow, thus enhancing lubricant management and reducing maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
an impingement plate-type oil separator performs gas/liquid separation by allowing air that contains water and oil to strike an impingement plate provided in the housing to recover the oil from the air
Data Source
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AI summary
An oil separator is provided that makes it possible to minimize the number of times of operation for recovering separated oil. The oil separator separates and recovers oil by causing air that contains oil and has been introduced into a casing to strike an impingement member. The oil separator supplies the oil that has been separated from the air to the oil pan of an engine, thereby allowing the oil to be used as lubricant for the engine.