JP2001355422A - Oil pan - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an oil pan having a structure capable of properly allowing the cooling performance and the heat insulating performance for a lubricant to be compatible with each other. SOLUTION: This oil pan 10 is mounted to entirely cover a lower opening of an engine. The oil pan 10 has a three-layered structure composed of a main body 15 for storing the lubricant, a cover 12 for entirely covering the outside of the main body 15, and a heat insulating member 16 placed between the main body 15 and the cover 12. In the main body 15, cooling channels 11a and 11b communicated with the external through an inlet port 13 and an outlet port 14, are formed on one face free from the heat insulating member 16, and the inlet port 13 is provided with a flap 17 being opened and closed in accompany with the change of a temperature of the lubricant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an oil pan for storing lubricating oil.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a well-known technique, as a measure against outside noise of a vehicle-mounted engine, there is a type in which the entire oil pan is covered with a soundproof cover in order to ensure its soundproof performance.

However, in general, since the soundproof cover has a heat insulating effect, the oil pan covered with the soundproof cover has a reduced heat radiation performance of the lubricating oil stored therein. For this reason, it has been necessary to newly provide a device such as an oil cooler in order to suppress an excessive rise in the temperature of the lubricating oil.

Therefore, conventionally, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-466.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-52, etc., an air supply port and an exhaust port are formed in the soundproof cover, and an oil pan and a soundproof cover are formed through the air supply and exhaust ports by a blower fan during operation of the engine. A device in which cooling air is forcibly blown during the period has also been proposed.

[0005]

As described above, according to the oil pan in which the supply port and the exhaust port are formed in the soundproof cover, the cooling performance of the lubricating oil is improved while the soundproofing effect of the soundproof material is maintained. Can do it.

However, in the conventional oil pan, even when the engine is operated in a state in which the temperature of the lubricating oil is low, the blower fan operates, so that the temperature of the lubricating oil is raised early, for example, during a cold start. Cooling of the lubricating oil will take place despite the desired conditions. Therefore, the operating time of the engine in a state where the viscosity of the lubricating oil is high and the friction is large is prolonged, and the fuel efficiency of the engine naturally decreases.

[0007] Such a situation generally applies not only to an oil pan for storing lubricating oil for an engine, but also to an oil pan for storing transmission oil used for lubrication of a transmission.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an oil pan having a structure capable of suitably achieving both cooling performance and heat retention performance of lubricating oil. It is in.

[0009]

The means for achieving the above object and the effects thereof will be described below. First, according to the present invention, in an oil pan in which lubricating oil for an engine is stored, a cooling means for cooling the lubricating oil, a heat retaining means for keeping the lubricating oil warm, and an operation of the engine The gist of the invention is to provide an adjusting means for adjusting at least one of the cooling means and the heat retaining means according to the situation.

According to the above configuration, the operating state of at least one of the cooling means and the heat retaining means can be adjusted according to the temperature of the lubricating oil which changes depending on the operating condition of the engine. Therefore, the cooling performance and the heat retention performance of the lubricating oil can be suitably compatible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the oil pan according to the first aspect, the cooling means supplies a cooling medium to at least one surface of the oil pan to exchange heat with the lubricating oil. A passage, wherein the heat retaining means is a heat insulating member mounted on another surface of the oil pan to block heat release of the lubricating oil, and the adjusting means is configured to control the cooling medium passage based on an operation state of the engine. The gist is to regulate the flow rate of the cooling medium flowing through the passage by adjusting the opening area.

According to the above construction, the cooling effect of the cooling medium is adjusted by adjusting the flow rate of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling medium passage based on the operating condition of the engine. Can be played.

[0013] In the oil pan according to the second aspect, the adjusting means monitors the temperature of the lubricating oil as the operating state of the engine, for example, as in the invention according to the third aspect. And an actuator that adjusts an opening area of the cooling medium passage according to the monitored temperature.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the oil pan according to the third aspect, the means for monitoring the temperature of the lubricating oil is a temperature-sensitive member whose shape changes with a change in the temperature of the lubricating oil. The gist of the invention is that the actuator is a valve means that opens and closes in accordance with a change in the shape of the temperature sensing member and adjusts an opening area of the cooling medium passage.

According to the above construction, the valve means is opened and closed in accordance with a change in the shape of the temperature-sensitive member due to a change in the temperature of the lubricating oil. Be able to adjust.

[0016] The invention described in claim 5 is the second invention.
In the oil pan according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the gist is that the engine is a vehicle-mounted engine mounted on a vehicle, and the cooling medium is a traveling wind generated as the vehicle travels.

According to the above configuration, since the traveling wind generated as the vehicle travels is used as the cooling medium in the oil pan provided in the vehicle-mounted engine, for example, cooling is performed in the cooling medium passage such as a blowing fan. The cooling medium can be supplied to the cooling medium passage without separately providing a structure for forcibly supplying the medium.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a specific configuration of an embodiment of an oil pan according to the present invention will be described.

First, the arrangement of the oil pan according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the oil pan 10 is provided at a lower portion of an engine 20 mounted on the vehicle 1, and has a lubricating oil stored therein. The lubricating oil is pumped to each drive unit of the engine 20 by an oil pump (not shown) and used for lubrication. Then, the lubricating oil used for this lubrication is returned to the oil pan 10 again from each of the drive units.

The engine 20 includes an automatic transmission 30.
The automatic transmission 30 is also provided with an oil pan 31 below. A lubricating oil used for lubricating the automatic transmission 30 is stored in the oil pan 31.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the oil pan 10, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken along lines AA and BB of FIG. 2, respectively. As shown in these figures, the oil pan 10 includes a main body 15 in which lubricating oil is stored, a cover 12 covering substantially the entire outside of the main body 15, and a heat insulating member interposed between the main body 15 and the cover 12. 16 has a three-layer structure. The main body 15 is made of a metal material,
The engine 20 is attached to the engine 20 with bolts (not shown) so as to cover the entire lower opening. The cover 12 is formed of hard rubber or the like. As shown in FIG. 2, a rectangular air supply opening 13 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle 1 is formed at an end of the bottom surface of the cover 12 on the front side of the vehicle, and a lower end of a side surface on the rear side of the vehicle. A rectangular exhaust port 14 extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle 1 is also formed in the portion.

The heat insulating member 16 is formed, for example, by compression molding inorganic fibers. The heat insulating member 16 is not interposed between the main body 15 and the cover 12 at the bottom of the oil pan 10, and a gap 11 a is formed between the main body 15 and the cover 12. The air supply port 13 and the exhaust port 14
a, and the gap 11a can communicate with the outside through the air supply port 13 and the air exhaust port 14. Also, in the oil pan 10, the heat insulating member 16 is not partially interposed on each surface corresponding to the vehicle side, and a gap 11 is provided between the main body 15 and the cover 12.
b is formed. The gap 11b communicates with a gap 11a formed at the bottom of the oil pan 10 near each of the air supply port 13 and the exhaust port 14. These gaps 11a and 11b constitute a cooling passage 11 for cooling the lubricating oil of the oil pan 10.

The oil pan 10 has a structure in which a traveling wind generated as the vehicle travels in the cooling passage 11 can be appropriately taken in according to the temperature of the lubricating oil, so that the lubricating oil has a heat retaining performance. And cooling performance.

The structure for taking the traveling wind into the cooling passage 11 will now be described with reference to FIG.
The C part of FIG. 3 is shown in an enlarged manner. As shown in the figure, a flap 17 that can open and close the air supply port 13 is attached to the cover 12 via a hinge 18. In the main body 15, a temperature sensing member 19 is provided near the air supply port 13. This temperature sensing member 19 is
5 and a main shaft 19b provided so as to be able to protrude and retract from the detection unit 19a. The main shaft 19b has a distal end connected to the flap 17 via links 40a and 40b. Therefore, the spindle 19
When the stroke amount b changes, the flap 17 rotates about the hinge 18 and the opening area of the air supply port 13 is adjusted.

A temperature-sensitive wax (not shown) whose volume changes with a change in the temperature of the detection unit 19a is sealed inside the detection unit 19a. The stroke of the spindle 19b changes with the volume change of the temperature-sensitive wax. For example, when the temperature of the lubricating oil in the oil pan 10 rises and the temperature of the detection unit 19a rises accordingly, the volume of the temperature-sensitive wax increases, and the stroke of the main shaft 19b increases. As a result, the opening of the flap 17 increases. Conversely, the temperature of the lubricating oil in the oil pan 10 decreases, and the detecting unit 19
When the temperature a decreases, the volume of the temperature-sensitive wax decreases, and the stroke of the main shaft 19b decreases. as a result,
The opening of the flap 17 decreases.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature of the lubricating oil and the opening of the flap 17. As shown in the figure, when the temperature of the lubricating oil is equal to or lower than the first predetermined temperature Ta, the stroke of the main shaft 19b is minimized, and the flap 17 is held in the fully closed state. Also,
When the temperature of the lubricating oil is equal to or higher than a second predetermined temperature Tb higher than the first predetermined temperature Ta, the spindle 19
The stroke amount of b becomes the maximum, and the flap 17 is held in the fully open state. Further, when the temperature of the lubricating oil is higher than the first predetermined temperature Ta and lower than the second predetermined temperature Tb, as the temperature of the lubricating oil increases, the stroke amount of the main shaft 19b increases. Thus, the opening of the flap 17 also increases proportionally. The first predetermined temperature Ta is set to be substantially equal to the temperature of the lubricating oil immediately after the warm-up operation is completed, and the second predetermined temperature is set to be equal to the temperature of the lubricating oil when the lubricating oil is overheated by the high load operation. They are set approximately equal.

FIG. 7 shows a specific example of the operation mode of the flap 17. With reference to FIG. 7, a change in the opening degree of the flap 17 with a change in the operation state of the engine 20 will be described below. Will be described. FIG.
2A shows the temperature transition of the oil pan 10 (lubricating oil), and FIG. 2B shows the opening of the flap 17.

First, when the engine 20 is started (FIG. 7)
During the middle timing t1), the temperature of the lubricating oil thereafter rises. At this time, the temperature of the lubricating oil is equal to or lower than the first predetermined temperature Ta, and the traveling air is not introduced into the cooling passage 11 because the flap 17 is closed. Therefore, the temperature of the lubricating oil rises earlier than the temperature rise of the lubricating oil when the flap 17 indicated by line L1 in FIG. 7 is not provided, and the warming-up of the engine 20 is accelerated. Will be done.

Thereafter, when the warming-up of the engine 20 is completed, the temperature of the lubricating oil becomes substantially equal to the first predetermined temperature Ta and becomes stable (timing t2 to t3 in FIG. 7). At this time, the flap 17
Is closed.

Then, when the engine 20 is operated under a high load, such as when the vehicle 1 runs uphill or runs at high speed (timing t3 in FIG. 7), the temperature of the lubricating oil thereafter increases. Become like

When the temperature of the lubricating oil further rises from the first predetermined temperature Ta, the flap 17 is opened, and the traveling wind is introduced into the cooling passage 11 through the air supply port 13. Become. Then, when the traveling wind comes into contact with the oil pan 10, heat is exchanged between the lubricating oil and the traveling wind, and the heat of the lubricating oil is taken away by the traveling wind. By introducing the traveling wind into the cooling passage 11, the lubricating oil in the oil pan 10 is cooled, and the cooling passage 1 indicated by a line L2 in FIG.
The temperature rise of the lubricating oil is suppressed as compared with the temperature rise of the lubricating oil when 1 is not provided. Further, the traveling wind is discharged to the outside from the exhaust port 14 without remaining in the cooling passage 11.

Thereafter, when the high load operation of the engine 20 is continued and the temperature of the lubricating oil further rises (timing t3 to t4 in FIG. 7), the flap 17 is opened in accordance with this temperature rise. The degree gradually increases. That is, the cooling performance of the oil pan 10 is gradually improved. For this reason, it becomes possible to secure an appropriate cooling capacity in accordance with the temperature of the lubricating oil.

When the temperature of the lubricating oil reaches the second predetermined temperature Tb (timing t4 in FIG. 7),
The flap 17 is fully opened. That is, the opening area of the air supply port 13 is maximized, and the flow rate of the traveling wind passing through the cooling passage 11 is also maximized.
Cooling performance is maximized.

Thereafter, when the vehicle 1 starts to operate normally (timing t5 in FIG. 7), the temperature of the lubricating oil thereafter decreases. Then, when the temperature of the lubricating oil falls again to the second predetermined temperature Tb (timing t6 in FIG. 7), the flap 17 is gradually closed, and the same temperature is further reduced to the first predetermined temperature Tb. When it falls to Ta (timing t7 in FIG. 7), the flap 17 is closed.

Thereafter, when the engine 20 is stopped (timing t8 in FIG. 7), the temperature of the lubricating oil gradually decreases thereafter. At this time, due to the heat insulating effect of the heat insulating member 16, the temperature drop of the lubricating oil in the oil pan where the heat insulating member 16 is not provided as shown by the line L3 in FIG. 7 is suppressed. . Therefore, if the engine 20 is restarted within a short period of time after stopping, the engine 20 is started in a state where the temperature of the lubricating oil is relatively high and the friction is small. As a result, the starting performance and the fuel efficiency are improved.

As described above, according to the oil pan of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The cooling passage 11 is provided between the main body 15 and the cover 12 so that the traveling wind flows through the cooling passage 11 and the flow rate of the traveling wind is adjusted according to the temperature of the lubricating oil. As a result, the cooling effect of the lubricating oil due to the traveling wind can be adjusted according to the temperature of the lubricating oil itself. In addition, when the traveling wind is not flown, the heat insulating effect by the heat insulating member 16 can be obtained. Therefore, the cooling performance and the heat retention performance of the lubricating oil can be suitably compatible.

(2) A flap 17 capable of opening and closing the air supply port 13 is provided by a temperature sensing member 19 in which a stroke amount of the main shaft 19b changes according to a change in the temperature of the lubricating oil. Since the adjustment is performed by the stroke amount of the main shaft 19b of the heating member 19, the opening area of the cooling passage 11 can be automatically adjusted according to the temperature of the lubricating oil. Therefore, for example, it is not necessary to perform control such as detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil and adjusting the operation amount of the actuator based on the detection result, so that a simple configuration can be achieved.

(3) Since the traveling wind generated as the vehicle 1 travels is introduced into the cooling passage 11, it is necessary to separately provide a structure such as a blower fan for forcibly blowing air into the cooling passage 11. There is no.

The above embodiment can be implemented by changing the configuration as described below. In the above-described embodiment, the heat insulating member 16 is provided between the main body 15 and the cover 12. However, for example, any material, such as a soundproofing material, may be provided as long as it has a lubricating oil heat-retaining performance. It may be.

In the above embodiment, the air supply port 13 is provided at the front end of the vehicle on the bottom surface of the oil pan 10. However, if the traveling wind easily flows into the cooling passage 11, the air supply port 13 is provided. , May be provided at any part.

In the above-described embodiment, the exhaust port 14 is provided at the lower end of the oil pan 10 on the rear side of the vehicle. It may be provided at any part.

In the above embodiment, gaps 11a and 11b are provided on the entire bottom surface of the oil pan 10 and a part of the side surface of the oil pan 10 on the side of the vehicle, and cooling is performed by the gaps 11a and 11b. Although the passage 11 is formed, the gaps 11a,
The portion provided with 11b may be appropriately changed as long as the portion is effective for cooling the lubricating oil.

In the above embodiment, the traveling wind of the vehicle 1 is made to flow through the cooling passage 11 as appropriate. However, for example, a cooling fan is further provided, and the air sent from the cooling fan is made to flow through the cooling passage 11 as appropriate. You may do so.

Further, a cooling medium such as cooling water or cooling gas may be circulated in the cooling passage 11. In the above embodiment, the flap 17 is provided only in the air supply port 13, but in addition, a flap having the same configuration may be provided in the exhaust port 14. Further, the flap 17 may be provided only in the exhaust port 14.

In the above embodiment, the temperature sensing member 19 is applied as an actuator for adjusting the opening of the flap 17 in accordance with the temperature change of the lubricating oil. Any device may be used as long as the device has an operation unit whose operation amount changes. Even with such a configuration, if the above-described operation unit is attached to the flap 17, the opening of the flap 17 can be adjusted according to a change in the temperature of the lubricating oil.

A temperature sensor or the like for detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil is provided, and an actuator such as a solenoid, a motor or a diaphragm is provided, and the amount of operation of the actuator is controlled based on the detected temperature of the lubricating oil. Then, the opening of the flap 17 may be controlled.

Further, the control of the operation amount of the actuator may be performed based on the result of monitoring the operating state of the engine, in addition to the control based on the temperature of the lubricating oil. According to such a configuration, the temperature change of the lubricating oil is predicted, for example, by increasing the opening degree of the flap 17 based on the fact that the engine is in a high-load operation state, for example, when the vehicle goes uphill, at high speed, or in towing. Thus, the opening of the flap 17 can be adjusted.

In the above embodiment, the cooling passage 11
In the case where the operation mode of the cooling means such as the above is adjusted, when the means for keeping the lubricating oil warm such as the heat insulating member 16 has a structure capable of making the heat keeping effect variable, this heat keeping means is used. It is good also as a structure which adjusts the operation mode of a side. In short, it is only necessary to provide a means for adjusting at least one of the cooling means and the heat retaining means in accordance with the operating condition of the engine, including the temperature of the lubricating oil.

In the above embodiment, the oil pan 10 for storing the lubricating oil used for lubricating the engine 20
However, the present invention may be applied to an oil pan 31 which stores lubricating oil used for lubrication and power transmission in the automatic transmission 30.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an arrangement mode of an embodiment of an oil pan according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the oil pan according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a sectional structure along the line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a sectional structure along the line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a part C in FIG. 3 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between lubricating oil temperature and flap opening;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining an example of an operation mode of the oil pan of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle, 10 ... Oil pan, 11a, 11b ... Cooling passage, 12 ... Cover, 13 ... Air supply port, 14 ... Exhaust port, 15
... Tank, 16 ... Heat insulation member, 17 ... Flap, 18 ... Hinge, 19 ... Temperature sensing member, 19a ... Detector, 19b ... Spindle, 20 ... Engine, 30 ... Automatic transmission, 31 ... AT oil pan, 40a, 40b …Link.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An oil pan for storing lubricating oil for an engine, comprising: a cooling means for cooling the lubricating oil; a heat retaining means for keeping the lubricating oil warm; An oil pan comprising: an adjusting unit that adjusts at least one of a cooling unit and a heat retaining unit. 2. The cooling means is a cooling medium passage for supplying a cooling medium to at least one surface of the oil pan and performing heat exchange with the lubricating oil. The heat retaining means is provided on another surface of the oil pan. A heat insulating member mounted to block heat radiation of the lubricating oil, wherein the adjusting means adjusts an opening area of the cooling medium passage based on an operation state of the engine to adjust a flow rate of the cooling medium flowing through the passage. The oil pan according to claim 1, wherein the oil pan is used. 3. The adjusting means includes means for monitoring a temperature of the lubricating oil as an operating condition of the engine, and an actuator for adjusting an opening area of the cooling medium passage according to the monitored temperature. 3. The oil pan according to claim 2, which is constituted. 4. The means for monitoring the temperature of the lubricating oil comprises:
The lubricating oil is a temperature-sensitive member whose shape changes with a change in temperature, and the actuator is a valve means that opens and closes according to a change in the shape of the temperature-sensitive member and adjusts an opening area of the cooling medium passage. The oil pan according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The oil pan according to claim 2, wherein the engine is a vehicle-mounted engine mounted on a vehicle, and the cooling medium is a traveling wind generated as the vehicle travels.