Rotationally Symmetric Oil Pan for Reversible Engine Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil pans for internal combustion engines are often bespoke to specific models and vehicles, requiring multiple designs to accommodate varying packaging constraints, and composite oil pans face limitations in weld strength and alignment of oil siphons.
Innovation Solution
A single oil pan design with rotational symmetry and dual plug portions allows orientation flexibility, enabling the same oil pan and syphon connector to align with engine components in either orientation, reducing the need for multiple designs and simplifying manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single oil pan design with rotational symmetry and dual plug portions is used, then adaptability to different orientations and packaging constraints is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for symmetric attachment portions and multiple plug locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry in reverse - it uses rotational symmetry in the attachment portion design to enable the oil pan to be mounted in different orientations. The attachment portion has substantially the same configuration at different angular positions, allowing the same oil pan to fit both clockwise and counter-clockwise engine rotations, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through standardized symmetric features.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil pan design incorporates multiple plug portions (first and second plug portions) at different locations on the containment portion, each capable of receiving an oil syphon connector. This universal design allows a single oil pan to serve multiple mounting orientations and accommodate different engine configurations, enabling one component to perform multiple functions across various applications.
2Ease of manufacture
If composite oil pans are moulded as a single unitary component, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but welding strength and alignment precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The oil syphon connector is pre-connected to the containment portion during the moulding process itself, rather than being attached separately afterward. This preliminary action ensures precise alignment of the oil syphon connector with the plug portions, as both are formed in the same moulding operation. The connectors are positioned accurately within the mould cavities, eliminating alignment issues that would arise from post-moulding attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the oil syphon connector attachment into the main containment portion moulding process. Instead of separate welding or assembly steps, the connectors are integrated directly into the moulded component, combining multiple manufacturing operations into a single process that maintains both ease of manufacture and high alignment precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bespoke oil pan designs are manufactured for different vehicles, then packaging constraints are accommodated, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oil pan containment portion is designed as a universal component that can be used across multiple vehicle applications. By incorporating rotational symmetry in the attachment portion and providing multiple plug portions at different locations, a single containment portion design can accommodate various engine orientations and packaging constraints, eliminating the need for multiple bespoke designs and reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil pan is segmented into distinct functional portions: the containment portion (which can be universally designed) and the attachment portion (which provides orientation flexibility). This segmentation allows the containment portion to be standardized across applications while the attachment portion handles the variability in mounting requirements, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil pan for an engine comprises a containment portion of unitary construction. The containment portion has a circumferential component defining a circumferential extent of the containment portion and comprising a pair of mutually opposing side walls. The containment portion also comprises a base wall extending inwardly from a first portion of the circumferential component and defining a lower extent of the containment portion. The oil pan also comprises an attachment portion comprising an attachment surface at a second portion of the circumferential component; a first plug portion on an interior of a first one of the pair of mutually opposing side walls at a first location; and a second plug portion on an interior of a second one of the pair of mutually opposing side walls at a second location. The first and second plug portions are configured to receive an oil syphon connector and the attachment portion has a rotational symmetry such that the attachment surface is connectable to an engine block in a first orientation and in a second orientation. The first and second plug portions are located such that an oil tube having a fixed location relative to the engine block aligns adjacent the first plug portion on attachment of the attachment portion to the engine block in the first orientation and aligns adjacent the second plug portion on attachment of the attachment portion to the engine block in the second orientation.