EP1264970B1 - Oil pan especially for an engine or a transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

The oil sump (10), especially for an internal combustion motor or gearbox, has a double-wall structure at least in zones using an inner (16) and an outer (18) shell. A coolant for the inner shell flows through the gap between the shells, formed by spacers (30) to give coolant flow channels (32). The heat exchanger is integrated into the sump, between the coolant and the ambient atmosphere. The outer shell is of metal, and the inner shell is at least partially of injection molded plastics.

Description

The invention relates to an oil pan, in particular for a Internal combustion engine or a transmission, which at least partially double-walled with an inner shell and a Outer shell is executed, wherein between the shells a Coolant for the inner shell can flow.

Such an oil pan is known from DE 31 42 327 A1. The inner shell and the outer shell are at the known oil pan formed by two metal containers, which connected to each other via an elastic element are. The disadvantage of the known oil pan is that their Manufacturing is relatively expensive and complex, as a variety be handled by different parts and components got to. Furthermore, the cooling of the oil in the sump is not optimal.

US 6 058 898 describes an oil pan, in whose wall channels are designed for a coolant. At the bottom of the Tub are formed stiffening ribs. In the oil pan is integrated a separate heat exchanger, through which the oil Gives off heat directly to the ambient air.

The present invention therefore has the task of an oil pan of the type mentioned so on that they can be manufactured inexpensively and they are in operation in the their collected oil cools optimally.

This object is achieved with an oil pan of the aforementioned Art solved by the fact that in the oil pan a heat exchanger integrated, the heat between coolant and Ambient air exchanged, such that a separate Heat exchanger for cooling the coolant is not present.

The advantage of the oil pan according to the invention is that no separate heat exchanger for cooling the warm one Coolant is required. Instead, the Heat exchanger integrated in the oil pan itself. This will reduces the number of parts to be fastened during assembly, which lowers the manufacturing costs. Thus, for example, the Outer shell as a heat exchanger works optimally, it can out a material with good thermal conductivity. Also one large contact surface between outer shell and ambient air is advantageous.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in the Subclaims specified.

Thus it is suggested that the outer shell of metal and the inner shell at least partially made of plastic are made. The advantage is that the production the inner shell made of plastic is very cheap. In addition, the good plasticity of plastic provides the ability to design the inner shell so that the oil collected in it with regard to the cooling effect optimally flows. For example, by depressions or in the plenum of the oil protruding ribs channels be created, which the oil in terms of a for the cooling optimally flow in the oil pan to let. Such training on the inner shell of Oil sumps are simple and, if they are made of plastic inexpensive to realize.

Furthermore, it is stated that the inner shell advantageously produced by plastic injection molding is. In this manufacturing process can also complex Mold the inner shell in a cheap way getting produced.

Furthermore, the inner shell may be thin-walled. This makes it even easier to produce even complex shapes on the inner shell. The thinness, however, means that the inner shell itself no substantial rigidity having. The protection against damage, for example by external shock, stone chipping, etc., therefore, by the metal outer shell.

Particularly preferred is that development of Sump according to the invention, in between the inner shell and Outer shell spacers are present between those Flow channels are formed for the coolant. such Spacers stabilize the sump overall and provide for a defined flow of coolant between the two bowls. As a result, the cooling effect is again optimized. In particular, if the inner shell thin-walled and thus only a slight inherent rigidity Such spacers also allow such spacers Support the inner shell and contribute to their Stability at.

It is particularly preferred when to the inner shell Ribs are formed, which with their projecting edge the outer shell tight. In this case, you can Inner shell and spacers in one operation are produced, which is the production of the Sump according to the invention again simplified. About that In addition, such ribs act especially in a stiffening thin-walled inner shell.

The entire oil pan is particularly stable when the protruding edges of the ribs attached to the outer shell, especially glued to it.

As an alternative to the ribs, it is possible that between Inner shell and outer shell of a molded part of a wavy thermoformed plastic film arranged preferably clamped, glued or welded. A Such deep-drawn plastic molded part is very light produce and allows almost any Flow guides for the coolant.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of Sump according to the invention is proposed that the Inner shell has a metal insert, which in the Plastic inner shell is preferably injected. One such metal insert forms a cold / thermal bridge, by which makes the thermal energy of the oil even better and better can be transmitted to the coolant more effectively. By injecting the metal insert into the Plastic inner shell becomes a secure seal between the plastic area and the metal area of the Inner shell ensured without the production of the Inner shell becomes too complicated and expensive.

As a coolant is suitable for the oil pan according to the invention especially oil, water, fuel or air. With these Coolants is the derivative of thermal energy the oil very effectively possible.

It is also advantageous if the outer shell is at least one partially corrugated metal sheet comprises. Such a thing corrugated metal sheet has a relatively large surface, whereby the heat from the coolant is well discharged to the outside can be. Such a corrugated metal sheet is over it It is also easy to make.

Figur 1

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne;

Figur 2

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne;

Figur 3

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne;

Figur 4

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne;

Figur 5

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines fünften Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne.

Figur 6

einen Schnitt durch einen Bereich eines sechsten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Ölwanne.

Hereinafter, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings are explained in detail. In the drawing show:

FIG. 1

a section through a portion of a first embodiment of an oil pan;

FIG. 2

a section through a portion of a second embodiment of an oil pan;

FIG. 3

a section through a portion of a third embodiment of an oil pan;

FIG. 4

a section through a portion of a fourth embodiment of an oil pan;

FIG. 5

a section through a portion of a fifth embodiment of an oil pan.

FIG. 6

a section through a portion of a sixth embodiment of an oil pan.

In Figure 1 carries an oil pan for an internal combustion engine Overall, the reference numeral 10. It is about screws 12th to a crankcase 14 of an internal combustion engine flanged.

The oil pan 10 includes an inner shell 16 and a Outer shell 18. An edge region 20 of the inner shell 16 is between an edge region 22 of the outer shell 18 and the Crankcase 14 of the internal combustion engine jammed. Central sections 24 and 26 of the inner shell 16 and der Outer shell 18 are spaced from each other, so that there is a gap 28 between them. The Central areas 24 and 26 are trough-shaped overall educated.

The outer shell 18 of the oil pan 10 is made of metal. The inner shell 16 is made of plastic in one Injection molding process. The wall 28 of the Inner shell 16 is very thin. At them are to the outer shell 18 towards ribs 30 formed, which with their abragendem Edge tight against the outer shell 18 (off For illustration reasons, only one of the ribs is shown in FIG a reference numeral). In that shown in Figure 1 Embodiment are the projecting edges of the ribs 30 glued to the outer shell 18.

Between the ribs 30, the wall 28 of the inner shell 16 and the outer shell 18 are flow channels 32 for a Coolant formed (for illustrative purposes contributes in FIG 1 only one of the flow channels a reference numeral). at this coolant, which is not shown in the figure is, it can be oil, water, fuel or air act. Oil has the highest heat capacity and contributes a leak to no critical contamination of the Engine oil. Air, fuel and water are flowing though better because of the lower viscosity.

The coolant is from a coolant pump 34 through the Flow channels 32 pumped. The coolant pump 34 can be arranged directly on or in the oil pan 10. The Ribs 30 may be formed such that, for example a single long coherent spiral Flow channel 32 is formed. It is also possible that a plurality of parallel flow channels 32 of a Initial manifold (not shown) to a final manifold (not shown) leads.

On the outer shell 18 are in an installed position in about horizontal part of the central region 26 to the outside protruding cooling ribs 36 integrally formed. Again, only one the cooling fins provided with a reference numeral. Operational the engine heats up the oil (not shown) and is in the oil pan 10 and in the Inner shell 16 collected. Through the thin-walled inner shell Throughout, the hot oil gives heat to the hot oil Flow channels 32 flowing coolant (not shown). In this way, an "oil sump cooling" created.

The coolant in turn transfers the absorbed heat the metallic outer shell 18 and the cooling fins 36 to the from this passing ambient air. In this way can be on a separate heat exchanger to cool the oil the internal combustion engine are dispensed with. By doing that Coolant from the coolant pump 34 through the Flow channels 32 is pumped, a high Heat transfer on the one hand between inner shell 16 and Coolant and on the other hand between coolant and Outer shell 18 guaranteed.

2 shows a second embodiment of a Oil pan 10 shown. In this figure and also in the The following figures are such elements which have equivalent functions to elements which already in connection with a #vorhergehenden figure have not been described in detail explained. They also carry the same Reference numerals.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 are on the inside of the inner shell 16 Flow guide ribs 38 are provided. Through this will one with regard to the dissipation of heat from the oil in the oil pan 10 ensures optimal flow. In addition, the contact surface between the oil and the Inner shell enlarged. Advantageously, the. Flow direction of the oil in the inner shell 16 and the Flow direction of the coolant in the flow channels 32 opposite.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3 a Oil pan 10 is between an inner shell 16 made of metal and the outer shell 18 a molded part 40 jammed. The molding 40 is made of a wave-shaped thermoformed plastic film produced. To the plane of the inner shell 16 and the Outer shell 18 in approximately vertical sections of the molding 40 form the lateral walls of the flow channels 32nd

The oil pan 10 of FIG. 4 includes an outer shell 18 which made of a partially corrugated metal sheet is. The corrugated area carries in Figure 4 the Reference 42.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 5 a Oil pan 10, the inner shell 16 is an insert 44 Metal on. This is in the otherwise plastic produced inner shell 16 injected. The insert 44 made of metal also has ribs 30 which on the Outer shell 18 fit tightly and between them Flow channels 32 are formed. By use 44 becomes created a thermal bridge over the inner shell 16 away.

In another embodiment, which in FIG. 6 is shown, the use is multi-part and includes for example, perpendicular to the plane of the inner shell 16 standing metallic strips 44, the up and down survive rib-like and with a thin bottom Plastic layer are encapsulated. The tightness is included such an oil pan 12 guaranteed in any case at the same time good heat conduction from the oil through the Inner shell 16 to the coolant.

Claims (11)

1. An oil pan (10), especially for an internal combustion engine or a transmission, which at least in certain areas is designed so as to have a double wall consisting of an interior shell (16) and an exterior shell (18), a coolant for the interior shell (16) being able to flow between the shells (16, 18), and in the oil pan (10) a heat exchanger (36) being integrated, which exchanges heat between the coolant and the ambient air, wherein a separate heat exchanger for cooling the coolant is not provided.
2. The oil pan (10) as recited in Claim 1, wherein the exterior shell (18) is at least partly made of metal, and the interior shell (16) is at least partly made of plastic.
3. The oil pan (10) as recited in Claim 2, wherein the interior shell (16) is manufactured in a plastic injection mold.
4. The oil pan (10) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the interior shell (16) has a thin wall.
5. The oil pan (10) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein between the interior shell (16) and the exterior shell (18) spacers are provided between which are configured flow channels (32) for the coolant.
6. The oil pan (10) as recited in Claim 5, wherein ribs (30) are molded onto the interior shell (16) and at their protruding edges tightly abut the exterior shell (18).
7. The oil pan (10) as recited in Claim 6, wherein the protruding edges of the ribs (30) are attached, specifically glued, to the exterior shell (18).
8. The oil pan (10) as recited in Claim 5, wherein between the interior shell (16) and the exterior shell (18) a molded part (40) made of a wave-shaped deep-drawn plastic foil is arranged, preferably clamped, glued, or welded.
9. The oil pan (10) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the interior shell (16) has an insert (44) made of metal, which is advantageously injected into the plastic interior shell (16).
10. The oil pan (10) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the coolant is oil, water, fuel, or air.
11. The oil pan (10) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the exterior shell (18) includes a metal plate (42) that is wave-shaped at least in certain areas.

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