JP2000282822A - Hydraulic control valve cooling structure for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent rise of oil temperature and deterioration in sealing performance by arranging an oil control valve on an exhaust pipe side of an internal combustion engine, and arranging an oil cooler on a side part further upstream from the oil control valve. SOLUTION: In the case where an oil control valve 26 is disposed, the oil control valve 26 is arranged on an exhaust side of an internal combustion engine 2 and is positioned in the vicinity of a main gallery 30. An actuator 18 of a valve timing variable mechanism 16 and the oil control valve 26 are connected to each other through a first oil passage 28, and the oil control valve 26 and the main gallery 30 in a cylinder block 4 are connected to each other through a second oil passage 32. The oil control valve 26 is arranged on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 so as to expand flexibility for attaching an engine accessory, a design layout is facilitated, practical advantage is provided, and production assemblage is also improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to an oil control valve disposed on the exhaust side of an internal combustion engine to increase the degree of freedom in mounting engine accessories. This facilitates the design layout, and arranges an oil cooler upstream of the oil control valve in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism to cool (or adjust the temperature of) the hydraulic oil with the oil cooler. Can prevent the generation of bubbles due to oil temperature rise, stabilize the hydraulic pressure,
The present invention relates to a hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine that can improve controllability of a variable valve timing mechanism at a high oil temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some internal combustion engines are equipped with a variable valve timing mechanism (also referred to as "VVT"). The variable valve timing mechanism uses an oil pressure of an internal combustion engine as a hydraulic oil and has an oil control valve (also referred to as an “OCV”) for electrically controlling the hydraulic oil.

[0003] An example of the cooling structure of the hydraulic control valve of the internal combustion engine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-141036. A lubricating hydraulic circuit for an internal combustion engine disclosed in this publication includes, in an internal combustion engine having a variable valve timing mechanism controlled by oil pressure, a hydraulic path to a portion requiring lubrication of the internal combustion engine and a hydraulic path to a variable valve timing mechanism. Is provided with a control valve for controlling the distribution of the amount of oil to the internal combustion engine and the amount of oil to the variable valve timing mechanism. The control valve supplies oil to the variable valve timing mechanism when the variable valve timing mechanism operates. This is a valve that controls the amount of oil so as to give priority, and sends high oil pressure to the variable valve timing mechanism while ensuring the necessary amount of lubricating oil for parts that require lubrication, such as bearings and valve trains.

[0004]

The internal combustion engine according to the prior art includes a cylinder block, a cylinder head mounted on an upper surface of the cylinder block, a cylinder head cover covering an upper portion of the cylinder head, and a lower portion of the cylinder block. And an oil pan attached to the oil pan.

[0005] A camshaft extending in the longitudinal direction is arranged above the cylinder head of the internal combustion engine.

At this time, an actuator of a variable valve timing mechanism (also referred to as "VVT") is provided at an end of the camshaft, and a timing for transmitting a rotational force from a crankshaft at the end of the camshaft. A chain is provided.

An oil control valve ("OCV") for controlling the hydraulic oil of the variable valve timing mechanism.
) Is generally located near the drive line of the camshaft.

[0008] The oil control valve is disclosed. Generally, the oil control valve is disposed at a location where the internal parts can be cooled while the mounting position is examined because the heat resistance temperature of the internal parts is low.

Then, the oil control valve 142
Has a motor drive section 142a, a motor drive coupler 142b, and an oil distribution rotor section 142c, and is covered by an oil control valve casing 144, as shown in FIG.

At this time, the mounting position of the oil control valve is limited due to the downsizing of the vehicle and the complexity of the configuration of the internal combustion engine. If the oil control valve is designed to be mounted at the limited mounting position, However, the heat resistance temperature of the internal parts cannot be set to a satisfactory state, and there is a strong demand for improvement of the oil control valve.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the position of the oil control valve 142 for controlling the hydraulic oil of the variable valve timing mechanism is changed to the side of the internal combustion engine 102, that is, the mounting position of the timing chain cover 122 on the right side of the vehicle. The actuator (not shown) of the variable valve timing mechanism and an oil pump (not shown) are disposed in the middle of a hydraulic oil path.

However, the oil control valve has a disadvantage that when the oil temperature rises, the sealing performance may be deteriorated due to the heat resistance temperature of the internal oil seal.

The controllability of the variable valve timing mechanism largely depends not only on the oil pressure in the actuator but also on the oil temperature. In particular, when the oil temperature rises to about 120 degrees or more, the viscosity of the oil increases. Is lost, the leakage of the vane chamber in the actuator is increased, and the response of the actuator and the holding force of the camshaft at the target angle may be impaired.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned inconvenience, the present invention provides a variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed horizontally on a vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil. In an internal combustion engine provided with an oil control valve for controlling hydraulic oil in the hydraulic oil path of the variable mechanism, the oil control valve is disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine.

Further, a variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed laterally on the vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil is provided, and an oil control valve for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism. In the above internal combustion engine, an oil cooler is disposed at a position upstream of an oil control valve in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
When installing the oil control valve on the internal combustion engine, the oil control valve is arranged on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine, increasing the degree of freedom in mounting engine accessories and simplifying the design layout, and assembling the production Is improving.

In addition, an oil cooler is disposed at a position upstream of the oil control valve in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism, and the oil cooler cools (or regulates the temperature of) the oil, thereby increasing the oil temperature. The generation of accompanying air bubbles is prevented to stabilize the hydraulic pressure.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3, reference numeral 2 denotes an internal combustion engine.

The internal combustion engine 2 includes a cylinder block 4
A cylinder head 6 mounted on the upper surface of the cylinder block 4, a cylinder head cover 8 covering the upper portion of the cylinder head 6, and an oil pan 10 mounted on a lower portion of the cylinder block 4.

A camshaft 12 extending in the longitudinal direction is disposed above the cylinder head 6 of the internal combustion engine 2 (see FIG. 3), and an intake manifold (not shown) communicating with a combustion chamber (not shown) of the internal combustion engine 2 is provided. ), And
An exhaust manifold 14 is provided.

At this time, the internal combustion engine 2 is mounted horizontally on a vehicle (not shown), and the exhaust side where the exhaust manifold 14 is attached is directed toward the front of the vehicle. That is, FIG. 1 is a front view of the internal combustion engine 2 as viewed from the front of the vehicle, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, a variable valve timing mechanism (“VVT”) is provided at the end of the camshaft 12.
16), and a timing chain 20 for transmitting a rotational force from a crankshaft (not shown) at an end of the camshaft 12, and one side of the internal combustion engine 2, that is, In 1, the left side is covered by the timing chain cover 22.

The variable valve timing mechanism 1
Numeral 6 uses the lubricating oil pressure of the internal combustion engine 2 as hydraulic oil, and changes the valve timing according to the operating pressure.

The outside portion of the exhaust manifold 14 is covered by a heat shield 24 as shown in FIGS.

At this time, when an oil control valve (also referred to as “OCV”) 26 for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the middle of the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism 16, the oil control valve 26 is connected to the exhaust of the internal combustion engine 2. Side.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 which is directed forward of the vehicle,
The oil control valve 26 is disposed below the mounting position of the exhaust manifold 14, that is, in the vicinity of a main gallery 30, which will be described later.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, a first oil passage 28 for connecting the actuator 18 of the variable valve timing mechanism 16 and the oil control valve 26 is provided, and the oil control valve 2
A second oil passage 32 is provided to connect the main gallery 6 with the main gallery 30 in the cylinder block 4, and the first and second oil passages 28 and 32 are formed into a shape having less pressure loss.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an oil filter.

Next, the operation will be described.

When an oil control valve 26 for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism 16, the oil control valve 26
Is disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 and the oil control valve 26 is positioned near the main gallery 30.

At this time, the actuator 18 of the variable valve timing mechanism 16 and the oil control valve 26 are connected by the first oil passage 28, and the oil control valve 26 and the main body in the cylinder block 4 are connected by the second oil passage 32. The gallery 30 is contacted.

As a result, the oil control valve 26 can be disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 so that the degree of freedom in mounting engine accessories can be increased, and the design layout is simplified, which is practically advantageous. At the same time, the production assemblability can be improved.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, portions that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment will be described with the same reference numerals.

A feature of the second embodiment is that a radiation fin 46 is provided on an oil control valve casing 44 of the oil control valve 42.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, an oil control valve 42 is disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 and, as shown in FIG. The heat radiation fins 46 are provided on the oil control valve casing 44 so as to increase the surface area of the oil control valve casing 44.

Then, the surface area of the oil control valve casing 44 of the oil control valve 42 can be increased, and the oil control valve 4
The cooling performance of the internal combustion engine 2 can be improved, and the oil control valve 42 is disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2 that faces the front of the vehicle when traveling wind is present. Can stabilize oil temperature, improve fuel efficiency, and improve output.
It is practically and economically advantageous.

As another improvement in the above-described second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the position of the oil control valve 42A is set to the side of the internal combustion engine 2A, that is, the timing in the right direction of the vehicle. Chain cover 2
It is to be changed to the 2A attachment site.

In this case, since the surface area of the oil control valve 42A is increased at the position where the oil control valve 42A is provided as in the prior art, the heat radiation is improved without direct running air flow, and the cooling performance is improved. Can be improved.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

The features of the third embodiment are as follows: an oil control valve 52, a first pipe 56 for guiding cooling water from a water pump 54, and an illustration formed in the cylinder block 4 of the internal combustion engine 2 after cooling. That is, the second pipe 58 for returning the cooling water to the water jacket is not connected to the water jacket.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, an oil control valve 52 is disposed on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine 2,
The water pump 54 and the oil control valve 52 are connected to each other by a first pipe 56 to guide the cooling water from the water pump 54 to the oil control valve 52 and to be formed on the oil control valve 52 and the cylinder block 4 (not shown). A water jacket is provided in communication with the second pipe 58 to return cooling water to the water jacket formed in the cylinder block 4 of the internal combustion engine 2 after cooling the oil control valve 52.

Then, the oil control valve 52 can be cooled substantially uniformly by the first and second pipes 56 and 58, and the cooling effect by the traveling wind can be reduced by disposing the oil control valve 52 on the front side of the vehicle with respect to the engine. As a result, the rise in oil temperature can be suppressed, which is practically advantageous.

Another first improvement in the third embodiment is the oil control valve 52.
As shown in FIG. 8, the internal combustion engine 2B-
1, the timing chain cover 22B-1 is attached to the right side of the vehicle.

Then, the oil control valve 52B
-1, the first and second pipes 56B-1, 58B-1 are provided in communication with each other.

In the arrangement position of the oil control valve 52B-1 as in the prior art, since the running air is not directly guided, but the cooling water is circulated through the casing, the first and second pipes 56B-1 -1, 58B-1
As a result, the oil control valve 52B-1 can be cooled substantially uniformly, and an increase in oil temperature can be suppressed.

Further, as another second improvement in the above-described third embodiment, in the internal combustion engine 2B-2 having different specifications, the arrangement position of the oil control valve 52B-2 is changed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the internal combustion engine 2B-
In the second cylinder block 4B-2, a large number of engine accessories are arranged, and the oil control valve 52B-2 is mounted on the side of the internal combustion engine 2B-2, that is, on the right side of the vehicle where the timing chain cover 22B-2 is mounted. When the arrangement position is small, the oil control valve 5
The arrangement position of 2B-2 is moved to the center and upward.

At this time, the cooling water path of the internal combustion engine 2B-2 is, as shown in FIG.
A first cooling water passage 62B-2 connecting the internal combustion engine 2B-2 to the radiator 60B-2;
B-2 and a second cooling water passage 64B-2 communicating with the water pump 54B-2. In this cooling water passage, the first and second pipes 56B-2 and 58B are provided.
-2 circulates a part of the cooling water to the oil control valve 52B-2.

Then, the internal combustion engine 2B-2 having different specifications
Also, the first and second pipes 56B-2, 58B-2
Thereby, the oil control valve 52B-2 can be cooled substantially uniformly, and the rise in oil temperature can be suppressed.

Further, as another third improvement in the third embodiment described above, an independent cooling water path is formed without using the cooling water path on the internal combustion engine side described in the second improvement. In addition, it is also possible to arrange an electric pump to cool the oil control valve.

FIGS. 11 to 13 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

The feature of the fourth embodiment is that the oil cooler 7 is located at a position upstream of the oil control valve 72 in the working oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism.
4 is arranged.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the oil control valve 72 is moved to the side of the internal combustion engine 2, that is, to the right side of the vehicle.
2. At the same time, the oil cooler 74 is attached to the timing chain cover 22 at a position below the oil control valve 72.

At this time, the oil pump 76 is disposed at a lower portion of the internal combustion engine 2 as shown in FIG. Is sent.

As shown in FIG. 13, the oil cooler 74 is provided with a thermostat (or a solenoid valve) 78 on the inflow side and a main passage 74 switched by the thermostat 78.
a, and a sub-passage 74b for cooling / low temperature measures,
An oil cooling unit 74c composed of a plurality of pipes and the like is provided in a part of the main passage 74a.

Then, the oil cooler 74 disposed upstream of the oil control valve 72 in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism provides
It can perform cooling (or temperature control) of hydraulic oil,
It is possible to prevent the generation of bubbles due to an increase in the oil temperature, to stabilize the oil pressure, and to improve the controllability of the variable valve timing mechanism at a high oil temperature, which is practically advantageous.

Further, by disposing the oil cooler 74 on the timing chain cover 22, it is possible to simplify the structure, to improve the mountability, to facilitate the manufacture, and to reduce the cost. It is economically advantageous.

Further, the oil cooler 74 is provided with a thermostat 78 for switching between a main passage 74a and a sub passage 74b for coping with a cold / low temperature condition.
At a low temperature, that is, at a low oil temperature, the thermostat 78 switches from the main passage 74a to the sub passage 74b to bypass the oil cooling portion 74c of the main passage 74a, thereby avoiding unnecessary cooling of the working oil and improving the oil warming property. obtain.

As another improvement in the above-described fourth embodiment, the oil cooler 74 is not directly attached to the timing chain cover 22 as shown in FIG.
The oil cooler 74C is formed separately, and the oil cooler 74C is connected to the first and second pipes 80C and 82C.
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the oil control valve 72C communicates with the oil pump 76C by C.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described first to fourth embodiments, and various modifications can be made.

For example, in the first embodiment of the present invention, a shield plate for covering the exhaust manifold is provided, but the oil control of the shield plate is performed so that the traveling wind from the front of the vehicle is directed toward the oil control valve. A special configuration may be adopted in which a portion near the valve is deformed so that the shielding plate also functions as a traveling wind guide plate.

Then, the traveling wind from the front of the vehicle is guided in the direction of the oil control valve by the deformed shielding plate, and the oil control valve can be efficiently cooled, which is practically advantageous. .

In the case of an embodiment in which the position of the oil control valve is changed to the side of the internal combustion engine, that is, to the right side of the vehicle, where the timing chain cover is attached, the oil control valve is connected to each engine accessory. Are disposed between the ends of a group of shafts for driving the motors, and a stirring blade is provided at at least one end of the shafts of the group of shafts. It is also possible to increase the air cooling efficiency by stirring.

Furthermore, in the present invention, although the first to fourth embodiments have been disclosed, at least two of the first to fourth embodiments may be combined to form a new improvement. .

[0066]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed horizontally on a vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil is provided, and a hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism is provided. In an internal combustion engine equipped with an oil control valve that controls hydraulic oil on the way, the oil control valve is arranged on the exhaust side of the internal combustion engine, so the degree of freedom in mounting engine accessories can be increased, and the design layout Is easy, and practically advantageous, and the production assemblability can be improved.

Further, a variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed horizontally on the vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil is provided, and an oil control valve for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism. In the internal combustion engine, the oil cooler is disposed at a position upstream of the oil control valve in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism, so that the oil cooler can cool (or regulate the temperature of) the hydraulic oil,
It is possible to prevent the generation of bubbles due to an increase in the oil temperature, to stabilize the oil pressure, and to improve the controllability of the variable valve timing mechanism at a high oil temperature, which is practically advantageous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of the horizontal internal combustion engine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a horizontal internal combustion engine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of an oil control valve showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the horizontal internal combustion engine.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing an improved embodiment of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a left side view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing a first modified example of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a left side view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing a modified second embodiment of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a cooling path of the internal combustion engine.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a left side view of the horizontal internal combustion engine.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of an oil cooler.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a horizontal internal combustion engine showing an improved embodiment of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of an oil control valve showing the prior art of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a left side view of the V-type horizontal internal combustion engine showing an arrangement state of the oil control valve.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Internal combustion engine 4 Cylinder block 6 Cylinder head 8 Cylinder head cover 10 Oil pan 12 Cam shaft 14 Exhaust manifold 16 Variable valve timing mechanism 18 Actuator 20 Timing chain 22 Timing chain cover 24 Heat shield plate 26 Oil control valve 28 First oil passage 30 Main Gallery 32 second oil passage 34 oil filter

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) F02B 67/00 F02B 67/00 E (72) Inventor Masahide Tanaka 300 Takatsukacho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Suzuki Stock In-company (72) Inventor Keiji Hosoi 300 Takatsuka-cho, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Suzuki Co., Ltd.F-term (reference) 3G013 AA05 CA00 DA01 DA15 3G016 AA06 AA19 BA23 BA38 CA13 CA24 CA36 CA56 CA59 GA00

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed horizontally on a vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil, and an oil control valve for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism. A hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine, wherein an oil control valve is disposed on an exhaust side of the internal combustion engine. 2. The oil control valve, wherein a radiation fin is provided on an oil control valve casing,
2. The cooling structure for a hydraulic control valve of an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the heat radiation fins increase the surface area. 3. The oil control valve has a first pipe for guiding cooling water from a water pump and a second pipe for returning cooling water to a water jacket formed in a cylinder block of the internal combustion engine after cooling. The hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1. 4. A variable valve timing mechanism which is disposed laterally on a vehicle and is operated by hydraulic oil, and an oil control valve for controlling hydraulic oil is provided in the hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism. A hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine, wherein an oil cooler is disposed at a position upstream of an oil control valve in a hydraulic oil path of the variable valve timing mechanism. 5. The hydraulic control valve cooling structure for an internal combustion engine according to claim 4, wherein the oil cooler is attached to a timing chain cover of the internal combustion engine.