Oil Supply Apparatus Variable Valve Hydraulic Pressure Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internal combustion engines with variable valve mechanisms driven by hydraulic pressure face insufficient hydraulic pressure during startup, preventing the variable valve mechanism from operating effectively, especially at low speeds or idling conditions.
Innovation Solution
An oil supply apparatus that includes an oil pump, a supply passage, a lubricant passage, a hydraulic passage, and a flow regulating valve controlled by an engine control unit to ensure hydraulic fluid pressure meets a predetermined target pressure during engine startup, enabling the variable valve mechanism to operate from the start.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the variable throttle valve is fully opened at low speed region including idling speed, then the lubricant flow is sufficient for engine operation, but the hydraulic pressure becomes insufficient and the variable valve mechanism cannot operate
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply system is segmented into two separate passages: a lubricant passage for supplying lubricant to engine parts and a hydraulic passage for supplying hydraulic fluid to the variable valve mechanism. This segmentation allows independent control of flow quantity and pressure for each function, resolving the contradiction between sufficient lubricant flow and adequate hydraulic pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
A flow regulating valve is introduced as an intermediary device in the lubricant passage to control and regulate the flowrate of lubricant. By adjusting this valve, the system can maintain sufficient lubricant flow while directing adequate hydraulic pressure to the variable valve mechanism through the separate hydraulic passage.
2Stress or pressure
If the flow regulating valve is controlled in closing direction at startup, then the hydraulic pressure to variable valve mechanism increases to target pressure, but the lubricant flow to be lubricated portions must be adequately maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented passage design allows the flow regulating valve to control lubricant flow independently without affecting hydraulic pressure delivery. The valve can be closed to increase hydraulic pressure while the separate hydraulic passage ensures adequate lubricant flow continues to reach engine parts needing lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil pump serves multiple functions by supplying both lubricant through the lubricant passage and hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic passage. This multi-functionality allows a single pump to maintain both adequate lubricant flow and hydraulic pressure simultaneously through the divided passage system.
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 ensures the variable valve mechanism can be operated from the time of engine startup, improving starting performance by maintaining adequate hydraulic pressure and preventing component seizing through controlled fluid delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a flow regulating valve capable of regulating a flowrate of hydraulic fluid that flows through the lubricant passage; and a control apparatus that controls the flow regulating valve in a closing direction at startup of the internal combustion engine such that a pressure of hydraulic fluid that is led to the variable valve mechanism when the internal combustion engine is being cranked comes to be equal to or greater than a predetermined target pressure
Data Source
AI summary
An oil supply apparatus includes an oil pump that is driven by an internal combustion engine; a supply passage that is connected to a discharge side of the oil pump; a lubricant passage that leads hydraulic fluid from the supply passage to a portion to be lubricated that is provided in the internal combustion engine; a hydraulic passage that leads hydraulic fluid from the supply passage to a variable valve mechanism; a flow regulating valve capable of regulating a flowrate of hydraulic fluid that flows through the lubricant passage; and a control apparatus that controls the flow regulating valve in a closing direction at startup of the internal combustion engine such that a pressure of hydraulic fluid that is led to the variable valve mechanism when the internal combustion engine is being cranked comes to be equal to or greater than a predetermined target pressure.