Powertrain Oil Distributor Piston for Cooling-Lubrication Split
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil distribution systems in powertrains face challenges in simultaneously optimizing cooling and lubrication, as high oil flow for cooling can lead to inadequate lubrication of components like bearings and gears, and vice versa, often requiring separate systems that increase costs and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An oil distributor with a movable piston and multiple oil chambers and outlets allows for independent optimization of cooling and lubrication by controlling oil flow and pressure through separate circuits, using both electrical and mechanical oil pumps to manage oil distribution efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If high oil flow is used for cooling heat-generating components, then cooling performance is improved, but lubrication of bearings and gears becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The oil distributor divides the single oil flow into separate circuits using a movable piston that creates distinct first and second oil chambers. The first oil outlet supplies high-flow oil for cooling heat-generating components, while the second oil outlet provides pressurized oil for lubricating bearings and gears. This segmentation allows each circuit to be optimized independently for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is made movable between first and second positions to dynamically switch between different oil distribution configurations. This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt oil flow distribution based on operational requirements, enabling optimization of both cooling and lubrication functions within a single unified system.
2Reliability
If two separated oil systems are used for cooling and lubrication, then each function can be optimized independently, but system cost and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate oil systems into a single unified oil distributor that houses both the first and second oil chambers within one structure. The movable piston enables this single system to perform the functions of two separate systems, reducing overall system complexity, lowering costs, and simplifying maintenance while maintaining independent optimization of cooling and lubrication functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single oil distributor is designed with multi-functionality, capable of serving both cooling and lubrication purposes through its movable piston mechanism. By making the piston movable between different positions, the same device can redirect oil flow to different outlets based on operational needs, eliminating the requirement for separate dedicated systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an oil distributor (2) for a lubricating and cooling system (60) in a powertrain (14), the oil distributor (2) comprising a housing (20) provided with at least one first oil inlet (22) and at least two oil outlets (26, 28), wherein a first oil outlet (26) is connected to a first oil chamber (30) and wherein a second oil outlet (28) is connected to a second oil chamber (32); and a piston (34) arranged in a cavity (36) of the housing (20), which piston (34) is movable between a first and a second posi- tion, wherein the first oil outlet (26) is adapted to be connected to a first oil circuit (62) and the second oil outlet (28) is adapted to be connected to a second oil circuit (64). The piston (34) comprises a first bore (38) directed in a longitudinal direction of the piston (34), wherein the second oil chamber (32) is at least in part constituted by the first bore (38) in the piston (34), and wherein the piston (34) comprises a second bore (40) connecting the first bore (38) with an outer periphery of the piston (34), so that when the piston (34) is in the first position the at least one first oil inlet (22) is connected to the first oil chamber (30) and the first oil outlet (26), and when the pis- ton (34) is in the second position the at least one first oil inlet (22) is connected to the second oil chamber (32) and the second oil outlet (28). The invention also relates to a lubricating and cooling system (60) in a powertrain (14), a method of controlling a lubricating and cooling system (60) in a powertrain (14), a powertrain (14), a vehicle (1), a computer program and a computer program product.