Variable-displacement lubricant pump with thermostatic pressure control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing variable-displacement lubricant vane pumps for internal combustion engines do not account for lubricant temperature in their pressure control systems, leading to inefficient energy consumption and potential insufficient lubrication when the engine is cold.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a thermostatic element that adjusts the position of a movable outlet opening in the pressure control system, allowing the system to limit pumping volume when the lubricant is cold to reduce energy consumption while maintaining sufficient lubrication, and automatically increasing pumping volume as the lubricant warms up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pump operates at high pumping volume to ensure sufficient lubrication when the engine is cold, then lubrication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system dynamically adjusts its pumping volume based on lubricant temperature conditions. When the engine is cold, the pump operates at high pumping volume to ensure sufficient lubrication. As the lubricant warms up, the pumping volume automatically reduces. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching pump output to actual lubrication needs at different operating temperatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the pumping volume parameter in response to temperature changes. A thermostatic element detects lubricant temperature and triggers corresponding adjustments in pump displacement, thereby changing the pumping volume parameter from high (when cold) to low (when warm), optimizing both reliability and energy efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the pump limits pumping volume when the engine is cold, then energy consumption is reduced, but lubrication pressure may become insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a thermostatic element that continuously monitors lubricant temperature and provides feedback to the pump control mechanism. This feedback loop ensures that the pump only limits pumping volume when the lubricant has reached adequate temperature, thereby maintaining lubrication pressure reliability while enabling energy reduction at appropriate times.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical pressure control with a thermally-actuated control mechanism. The thermostatic element uses thermal energy to automatically adjust the pump's pumping volume, substituting complex mechanical pressure regulation with a simpler temperature-based control system that inherently protects against insufficient lubrication pressure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a separate pressure control element is added to maintain constant pressure, then pressure stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure control function with the existing pump structure by integrating a thermostatic element directly into the pump mechanism. Instead of adding a completely separate pressure control system, the temperature-based control is combined with the pumping mechanism, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining pressure stability through thermal-actuated volume adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostatic element serves multiple functions: it monitors lubricant temperature, determines when the engine is warm enough, and simultaneously controls the pump's pumping volume. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressure control components, achieving pressure stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
This solution ensures efficient energy use by limiting pumping volume when the engine is cold, reducing energy consumption, and maintaining adequate lubrication pressure as the engine warms up, thereby optimizing lubricant delivery to the internal combustion engine.
Implementation Method 1
The movable outlet opening is configured to be actuated by a thermostatic element based on a temperature of the pressurized lubricant
Data Source
AI summary
A variable-displacement lubricant pump for providing a pressurized lubricant includes a rotor with at least one radially slidable vane configured to rotate in a shiftable stator ring. A first plunger is configured to push the shiftable stator ring into a high pumping volume direction. A pressure control system is configured to control a lubricant discharge pressure of the pressurized lubricant. The pressure control system comprises a first control chamber with the first plunger being configured to move in an axial direction and a side wall. A pump outlet port is connected to the first control chamber via a first pressure conduit. A movable outlet opening is disposed in the side wall of the first control chamber, is connected to a low pressure, and is configured to move with an axial projection and to be actuated by a thermostatic element. The first plunger can cover and close the movable outlet opening.