JP2010025271A - Air-cooled oil cooler for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-cooled oil cooler for a vehicle with a thermo-valve capable of avoiding the deterioration of fuel economy and air-conditioning performance even if the vehicle is stopped. <P>SOLUTION: When the thermo-valve 30 is closed when the vehicle is stopped after high-load traveling, the inflow of oil into the circulating oil passage 17 of the air-cooled oil cooler 16 is cut off, and the oil reserved in the circulating oil passage 17 of the air-cooled oil cooler 16 is discharged. Therefore, even if the thermo-valve 30 is closed, the oil is discharged without being reserved. Since heat dissipation from the oil in the air-cooled oil cooler 16 is eliminated, the air-cooled oil cooler 16 does not need to be cooled by, for example, driving an electric fan 22. Consequently, deterioration in fuel economy caused by an increase in the number of times of the drive of the electric fan 22 can be avoided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle air-cooled oil cooler that cools, for example, engine oil and hydraulic oil of a power transmission device, and more particularly to a vehicle air-cooled oil cooler that includes a thermo valve that switches an oil passage according to the oil temperature of the oil. It is about.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an oil cooler that cools oil is provided so that oil supplied to a power transmission device including an engine oil and an automatic transmission, a torque converter, or the like becomes a predetermined oil temperature or higher. As this oil cooler, for example, a so-called air-cooled oil cooler for a vehicle is employed, which is disposed in front of the vehicle and cools oil in the oil cooler by air flowing from a vent formed in a bumper of the vehicle. By the way, there is a structure in which a thermo valve is disposed in front of the circuit of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, and the oil is circulated in the oil cooler by opening the thermo valve only when the oil is hot. The heat exchanger of patent document 1 is the example. In Patent Document 1, based on the above, the oil is quickly warmed up, and when the oil reaches a high temperature state, it is quickly cooled by the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, and the oil oil temperature is suitably maintained. .

JP 2005-226619 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-030420 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-74973

  By the way, in a vehicle air-cooled oil cooler including a thermo valve, such as Patent Document 1, for example, when the thermo valve is closed during engine idle operation after high load running (when the vehicle is stopped), an air flow is generated. The oil is stored in the air-cooled oil cooler for the vehicle in the absence. Therefore, since the oil in the air-cooled oil cooler is not cooled, it is necessary to cool the air by forcibly generating an air flow by driving an electric fan, etc., which may adversely affect fuel consumption. . In addition, when a radiator, air conditioner condenser, or the like is installed near the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, the temperature rise due to heat radiation of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler will adversely affect these devices, resulting in decreased engine cooling performance or air conditioning performance. There was a possibility of causing it.

  The present invention has been made in the background of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the fuel consumption, air conditioning performance, etc. even when the vehicle is stopped in a vehicle air-cooled oil cooler equipped with a thermo valve. An object is to provide an air-cooled oil cooler for a vehicle that can be avoided.

  In order to achieve the above object, the gist of the invention according to claim 1 is (a) an air-cooled oil cooler for a vehicle provided with a thermo valve that switches an oil passage according to oil temperature. ) The vehicle air-cooled oil cooler includes a supply port to which oil is supplied and two discharge ports. (C) When the thermo valve is opened based on the rise in the oil oil temperature, A supply port communicates with a circulating oil passage inlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, and a circulating oil passage outlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler communicates with one of the two discharge ports. (D) the oil When the thermo valve is closed based on a decrease in the oil temperature, the supply port and one of the two discharge ports communicate with each other, and the circulating oil passage outlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler and the two Connected to the other outlet Is, (e) the other outlet of the vehicular air-cooled oil cooler is characterized in that it is arranged at a higher position in the vertical direction from the position discharged oil is returned.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular air-cooled oil cooler according to the first aspect, wherein the vehicular air-cooled oil cooler cools hydraulic fluid of an automatic transmission provided in the vehicle. It is characterized by that.

  The gist of the invention according to claim 3 is that in the air-cooled oil cooler for vehicle according to claim 2, the position where the discharged oil is returned is lubrication and supply of oil for cooling of the automatic transmission for the vehicle. It is a mouth.

  According to the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler of the first aspect of the invention, when the oil temperature rises, the thermo valve is opened, and the supply port communicates with the circulating oil passage inlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler. At the same time, the circulating oil passage outlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler communicates with one of the two discharge ports, so that the oil circulates in the circulating oil passage of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler and the oil is cooled. It becomes. Further, when the oil temperature decreases, the thermo valve is closed, the flow of oil into the circulating oil passage is blocked, and the supplied oil is discharged from one discharge port. The oil stored in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is discharged from the circulation oil passage outlet of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler through the other discharge port. Here, the other discharge port of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is disposed at a position higher in the vertical direction than the position where the discharged oil is returned, so that the oil automatically flows out based on the height difference. The Rukoto.

  With the above-described configuration, for example, when the thermo valve is closed when the vehicle is stopped after traveling at a high load, the inflow of oil into the circulation oil passage of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is blocked, and the vehicle air-cooling is performed. Oil stored in the circulating oil passage of the oil cooler is discharged. Therefore, even if the thermo valve is closed, the oil is discharged without storing. This eliminates heat dissipation due to the oil in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, which eliminates the need to cool the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler by, for example, driving an electric fan, and avoids a reduction in fuel consumption due to an increased number of times the electric fan is driven can do. Further, since the temperature rise due to heat radiation of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is suppressed, for example, when a radiator or an air conditioner condenser is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler, those devices are not adversely affected, and the engine cooling It is possible to avoid performance degradation and air conditioning performance degradation.

  According to the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler of the invention according to claim 2, since the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler cools the hydraulic oil of the automatic transmission provided in the vehicle, the hydraulic oil in the automatic transmission The oil amount of (oil) can be suitably maintained. For example, when the oil temperature is low, in other words, when the oil volume is small, the oil level (oil level) is low, but the oil in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is discharged by closing the thermo valve. Flow into the automatic transmission. As a result, the absolute amount of oil in the automatic transmission increases, and the reduction in the oil level (oil level) of the automatic transmission is suppressed. For example, air suction that occurs when the oil pump is inhaled is suppressed. Also, when the oil temperature is high, in other words, when the oil volume increases, the oil level (oil level) increases, but the thermovalve is opened so that the inside of the circulating oil path of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is increased. Oil is circulated. As a result, the absolute amount of oil in the automatic transmission becomes smaller than usual, and an increase in the oil level (oil level) of the automatic transmission is suppressed. For example, oil blowing from the breather is suppressed.

  According to the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler of the invention of claim 3, the position where the discharged oil is returned is the oil supply port for lubrication and cooling of the vehicle automatic transmission. Without being returned to the oil pan of the transmission, it is directly used for lubricating and cooling the automatic transmission for the vehicle. Therefore, lubrication and cooling of the vehicle automatic transmission are efficiently performed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the drawings are appropriately simplified or modified, and the dimensional ratios, shapes, and the like of the respective parts are not necessarily drawn accurately.

  FIG. 1 is an overall view schematically showing a vehicle 10 to which the present invention is preferably applied. The vehicle 10 is a type of vehicle in which the engine 12 is disposed on the front side of the vehicle, such as an FF method (front engine / front drive) and an FR method (front engine / rear drive). An engine room 14 in which the engine 12 is mounted is provided with a vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16, an air conditioner condenser 18, a radiator 20, and an electric fan 22 in order from the front of the vehicle. Further, the vehicle bumper is formed with a vent 24 for allowing air to flow in during traveling.

  The vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 cools the oil flowing in the lubricating oil passage 17 by the flow of air flowing from the air vent 24 when the vehicle is running. In this embodiment, the air-conditioning condenser 18, the radiator 20, and the electric motor It is arranged in front of the cooling system such as the fan 22.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16. The vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 includes a thermo valve 30 that switches an oil passage according to the oil temperature. The thermo valve 30 includes two supply ports, a supply port 32 through which oil is supplied, and a first discharge port 34 and a second discharge port 36 through which oil is discharged. The thermo valve 30 also includes an inlet portion 38 constituting an inlet (lubricating oil passage inlet) of the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 and a first outlet constituting an outlet (lubricating oil passage outlet) of the circulation passage 17. An outlet 40 and a second outlet 42 are provided. Note that, for example, engine oil of the engine 12, a torque converter (not shown), and hydraulic oil for a vehicle automatic transmission are supplied to the supply port 32 for cooling. In addition, the 1st discharge port 34 of a present Example respond | corresponds to one of the two discharge ports of this invention, and the 2nd discharge port 36 respond | corresponds to the other of the two discharge ports of this invention. The inlet portion 38 corresponds to the circulating oil passage inlet, the first outlet portion 40 corresponds to the circulating oil passage outlet of the present invention, and the second outlet portion 42 corresponds to the circulating oil passage outlet of the present invention. is doing.

  Here, in FIG. 2, the thermo valve 30 is closed, and oil from the supply port 32 is not supplied into the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16, and the circulating oil Oil in the passage 17 is discharged from the second discharge port 36.

A state in which the thermo valve 30 in FIG. 2 is closed will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the thermo valve 30 of FIG. The thermo valve 30 includes a first land 48, a second land 50, and a first valve 52, which are integrally provided in the valve body 46, and a first spool 56 whose shaft center portion is penetrated by the fixed shaft 54. A second spool 62 integrally provided with a third land 58 and a second valve 60 whose movement in the axial direction is restricted by a snap ring at the tip, and wax that is expanded in accordance with the oil temperature 64 and a wax holding portion 66 that is moved in the axial direction in accordance with the expansion of the wax 64. Note that the fixed shaft 54 is prevented from moving in the axial direction by fixing one end (left side in the figure) to the valve body 46.

  Both the first spool 56 and the second spool 62 are connected to the wax holding portion 66, and are moved in the axial direction along with the movement of the wax holding portion 66 in the axial direction. The oil passage is switched. The first spool 56 is always urged by a spring 68 toward the fixed portion of the fixed shaft 54 (left side in the drawing). Further, the wax holding portion 66 is constantly urged toward the fixed portion side of the fixed shaft 54 by the spring 70.

  Here, since the wax 64 is not expanded at a low oil temperature, the first spool 56, the wax holding portion 66, and the second spool 62 are attached to the fixed shaft 54 by the urging force (elastic return force) of the spring 68 and the spring 70. It is moved to the fixed part side (left side in the figure). The above state corresponds to the closed state of the thermo valve 30. When the thermo valve 30 is closed as described above based on the decrease in the oil temperature, as shown in FIG. 3, the supply port 32 and the first discharge port 34 are communicated with each other, and the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is used. The second outlet 42, which is one of the sixteen circulating oil passage outlets, communicates with the second outlet 36. Further, the inlet portion 38 of the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is blocked by the third land 58, and oil is not supplied into the circulating oil passage 17. Further, the first outlet portion 40 is blocked by the second land 50 and the first valve 52, and no oil is discharged from the first outlet portion 40.

  Therefore, the oil supplied from the supply unit 32 is discharged from the first discharge port 34 without being cooled through the circulating oil passage 17 as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. Will be returned to the automatic transmission. Further, the oil flowing in the circulating oil passage immediately after the thermovalve 30 is closed passes through the second outlet port 36 from the second outlet portion 42 as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIGS. Will be discharged. In addition, since the 2nd discharge port 36 of the air cooling oil cooler 16 for vehicles is arrange | positioned in a position higher in the vertical direction than the position where the discharged | emitted oil is returned, oil is discharged | emitted automatically. As a result, when the thermo valve 30 is closed, the oil in the circulating oil passage 17 is discharged, so that heat radiation from the circulating oil passage 17 is suppressed. The position where the discharged oil is returned is, for example, the preset maximum oil level position of the oil pan of the engine 12 or the automatic transmission for vehicles, and the engine 12 or the vehicle directly without returning to the oil pan. When used for lubrication of an automatic transmission, the supply position corresponds.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the thermo valve 30 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is opened. When the thermo valve 30 is opened, the oil supplied from the supply port 32 flows into the circulating oil passage 17 through the inlet portion 38 and is cooled by circulating through the circulating oil passage 17. It is discharged from the discharge port 34.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the thermo valve 30 of FIG. When the oil reaches a high temperature, the wax 64 is expanded, so that the wax holding portion 66 moves toward the third land 58 against the biasing force of the spring 70. Accordingly, the first spool 56 and the second spool 62 are similarly moved to the third land 58 side. This state corresponds to the opened state of the thermo valve 30. When the wax 64 is expanded, the fixed shaft 54 generates a reaction force accompanying the expansion, so that the wax holding portion 66 is moved. When the thermovalve 30 is opened as described above based on the rise in the oil temperature, as shown in FIG. 5, the inlet portion 38 communicates with the supply port 32 and the lubricating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16. And the first outlet 40 and the first outlet 34 are communicated, while the supply port 32 and the first outlet 34 are blocked by the second valve 60. Further, the second outlet portion 42 is blocked by the first land 48, and oil is not discharged from the second discharge port 36.

  Therefore, the oil supplied from the supply part 32 is cooled through the circulation channel 17 from the inlet part 38 and then passed through the first outlet part 40 as shown by the broken lines in FIGS. 4 and 5. It is discharged from the discharge port 34.

  A specific operation of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 configured as described above will be described. First, the case where the oil oil temperature is high will be described. When the oil oil temperature rises due to high load running being continued for a long time, the wax 64 is expanded based on the oil temperature, and the thermo valve 30 is opened. As a result, the state shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is obtained. That is, the oil supplied from the supply port 32 flows into the circulation passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 through the inlet portion 38. Then, after being cooled in the circulation channel 17, it is discharged from the first outlet 34 through the first outlet 40. Thereby, oil oil temperature will be reduced.

  Next, the case where the oil temperature is low will be described. When the oil oil temperature becomes a low temperature state, the wax 64 of the thermo valve 30 is not expanded, so that the valve closing state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is obtained. That is, the oil supplied from the supply port 32 is discharged from the first discharge port 34 without being cooled. Thus, oil whose oil temperature is low and does not need to be cooled is avoided from unnecessary cooling. Further, since the oil is discharged from the second outlet 36 through the second outlet portion 42, the oil is not stored in the circulation channel.

  Here, for example, when the vehicle 10 is stopped after traveling at a high load, immediately after the stop, even if the thermo valve 30 is in an open state, the thermo valve 30 is closed as the oil temperature decreases. At this time, as described above, since the oil is discharged from the circulating oil passage 17 as the thermo valve 30 is closed, the heat radiation from the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is eliminated, and the temperature in the engine room 14 due to this heat radiation is lost. The rise is suppressed. Further, for example, driving the electric fan 22 to cool the air cooling oil cooler 16 for the vehicle and the engine room 14 is also avoided. Conventionally, when the thermo valve is closed, the inlet and the outlet of the circulation channel of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler are shut off, and oil remains in the circulation channel. This residual oil dissipates heat from the air-cooled oil cooler for the vehicle even when the vehicle is stopped. This increases the temperature in the engine room, lowers the performance of other cooling systems (air conditioner condensers, radiators), and electric fans. There will be an adverse effect such as a reduction in fuel consumption due to cooling due to cooling.

  Next, operations associated with the air-cooled oil cooler 16 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are diagrams conceptually showing the state of oil, taking as an example the case where the hydraulic oil of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 provided in the vehicle 10 is cooled by the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16. The detailed structure inside the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is omitted, and the hatched portion (including the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16) indicates the amount of oil stored. FIG. 6 shows the state of oil when the oil temperature is low (normal time, when the thermo valve 30 is closed), and FIG. 7 shows the state of oil when the oil temperature is high (when the thermo valve 30 is open). . The supply port 32 is supplied with oil after lubrication or cooling of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, and the oil discharged from the first discharge port 34 is returned to the oil pan of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, The oil discharged from the second discharge port 36 is not returned to the oil pan of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, for example, but directly from the oil supply port 74 for lubricating and cooling the vehicle automatic transmission 72. Used for lubrication and cooling of the machine 72. The oil supply port 74 is formed in the vicinity of the rotation center of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 6, since the oil in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is discharged when the oil temperature is low (when the thermo valve is closed), the amount of oil that the vehicle automatic transmission 72 has increases. Here, the second discharge port 36 is disposed at a position higher in the vertical direction than the oil supply port 74 of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, so that the vehicle automatic transmission can be automatically performed without using an oil pump or the like. 72 flows into the oil supply port 74.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the oil temperature is high, the thermo valve 30 is opened, so that the oil circulates in the circulation flow path 17 of the air cooling oil cooler 16 for the vehicle, and the automatic transmission for the vehicle. The absolute amount of oil that 72 has is smaller than that at low temperatures. Therefore, since the oil volume increases normally when the oil temperature is high, the oil level (oil level height) rises as shown by the alternate long and short dash line, and the oil from the breather provided in the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is increased. Although oil blowing is likely to occur, since the absolute amount of oil in the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is reduced, the oil level is lowered and the breather blowing is suppressed as shown by the solid line. In order to suppress oil blowing, it is conceivable to reduce the absolute oil amount of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 and set the oil level low. However, if the oil level is set low, the oil level decreases at a low oil temperature. Therefore, the oil level may not be set below a predetermined level because air may be sucked when the oil in the oil pan is sucked up by the oil pump.

  Based on the above configuration, if the amount of oil in the vehicular automatic transmission 72 is set to be larger than before, air suction by the oil pump of the vehicular automatic transmission 72 is further effectively suppressed. On the other hand, when the oil temperature is high, oil blowing becomes a problem as the volume of the oil increases. However, since the thermo valve 30 is opened and the oil is circulated in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16, the automatic transmission for the vehicle. The absolute amount of oil in 72 is reduced and oil blowing is suppressed. In addition, if the oil amount of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is set to be smaller than the conventional amount based on the above configuration, the oil blowing of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is set to be more effectively suppressed. Here, when the oil temperature is low, the volume of the oil is small, and thus air suction becomes a problem. However, when the oil temperature is low, the thermo valve 30 is closed and the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 and the vehicle automatic transmission 72 are closed. Since oil flows into the vehicle, the absolute amount of oil in the vehicular automatic transmission 72 increases, so that air suction is suppressed. Thus, based on the above configuration, the oil amount of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 can be appropriately increased and decreased according to the characteristics of the vehicle. For example, when importance is attached to the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, the oil amount is set to be small, thereby reducing the weight of the vehicle and improving the fuel efficiency. In addition, when emphasizing air suction suppression, by setting a large amount of oil, the oil level is increased to suppress air suction.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, when the oil temperature rises, the thermo valve 30 is opened, and the supply port 32 and the inlet portion 38 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 are communicated with each other. Since the first outlet portion 40 of the air-cooled oil cooler 16 and the first discharge port 34 are communicated with each other, the oil circulates in the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 and the oil is cooled. Further, when the oil oil temperature decreases, the thermo valve 30 is closed, the inflow of oil into the circulating oil passage 17 is blocked, and the supplied oil is discharged from the first discharge port 34. The oil stored in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is discharged from the second outlet portion of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 through the second discharge port 36. Here, since the second discharge port 36 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is arranged at a position higher in the vertical direction than the position where the discharged oil is returned, the oil automatically flows out based on the height difference. Will be.

  With the above configuration, for example, when the thermo valve 30 is closed when the vehicle is stopped after traveling at a high load, the inflow of oil into the circulating oil passage 17 of the air cooling oil cooler 16 for the vehicle is blocked, The oil stored in the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is discharged. Therefore, even if the thermo valve 30 is closed, the oil is discharged without accumulating. This eliminates heat radiation due to the oil in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16, thereby eliminating the need to cool the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 by driving the electric fan 22, for example, and increasing the number of times the electric fan 22 is driven. A reduction in fuel consumption can be avoided. Further, since the temperature rise due to the heat radiation of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is suppressed, for example, when the radiator 20 and the air conditioner condenser 18 are disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16, these devices may be adversely affected. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a decrease in engine cooling performance and a decrease in air conditioning performance.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 cools the hydraulic oil of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 provided in the vehicle. ) Can be suitably maintained. For example, when the oil temperature is low, in other words, when the oil volume is small, the oil level (oil level) is low, but the oil in the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is reduced by closing the thermo valve 30. It is discharged and flows into the vehicle automatic transmission 72. As a result, the absolute amount of oil in the vehicular automatic transmission 72 increases, and a decrease in the oil level (oil level) of the vehicular automatic transmission 72 is suppressed. For example, air suction that occurs when the oil pump is inhaled is suppressed. It is suppressed. Further, when the oil temperature is high, in other words, when the oil volume increases, the oil level (oil level) increases. However, the circulating oil passage 17 of the vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 16 is opened by opening the thermo valve. Oil is circulated inside. As a result, the absolute amount of oil in the vehicle automatic transmission 72 becomes smaller than usual, and an increase in the oil level (oil level) of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 is suppressed, for example, oil blowing from the breather is suppressed. .

  Further, according to this embodiment, the position where the oil discharged from the second discharge port 36 is returned is the oil supply port 74 for lubricating and cooling the automatic transmission 72 for the vehicle. Without being returned to the oil pan 72, it is directly used for lubricating and cooling the automatic transmission 72 for the vehicle. Therefore, lubrication and cooling of the vehicle automatic transmission 72 are efficiently performed.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail based on drawing, this invention is applied also in another aspect.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the oil discharged from the first discharge port 34 of the thermo valve 30 is returned to the oil pan of the vehicle automatic transmission 72, and the oil discharged from the second discharge port 36 is However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the above. For example, the oil discharged from the first discharge port 34 and the second discharge port 36 are both automatic transmissions for vehicles. It may be returned to the 72 oil pan.

  In addition, the thermo valve 30 of the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and includes one supply port and two discharge ports, as long as the oil path is suitably switched according to the oil temperature. It is not limited.

  The above description is only an embodiment, and the present invention can be implemented in variously modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

1 is an overall view schematically showing a vehicle to which the present invention is preferably applied. It is a figure explaining the composition of the air cooling oil cooler for vehicles. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the thermo valve of FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the state by which the thermo valve of the air cooling oil cooler for vehicles was opened. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the thermo valve of FIG. 4. It is a figure which shows the state of the oil at the time of oil low temperature (at the time of a thermo valve closing). It is a figure which shows the state of the oil at the time of oil high temperature (at the time of a thermo valve opening).

Explanation of symbols

16: Vehicle air-cooled oil cooler 30: Thermo valve 32: Supply port 34: First discharge port (one of the two discharge ports)
36: Second outlet (the other of the two outlets)
38: Entrance (circulation oil passage entrance)
40: 1st exit part (circulation oil path exit)
42: 2nd exit part (circulation oil path exit)
72: Automatic transmission for vehicle 74: Oil supply port

Claims (3)

An air-cooled oil cooler for vehicles having a thermo valve that switches an oil passage according to oil temperature,
The air-cooled oil cooler includes a supply port to which oil is supplied and two discharge ports,
When the thermo valve is opened based on the rise in the oil oil temperature, the supply port and the circulating oil passage inlet of the air-cooled oil cooler communicate with each other, and the circulating oil passage outlet of the air-cooled oil cooler and the Either one of the two outlets communicates,
When the thermo valve is closed based on the decrease in the oil oil temperature, the supply port and one of the two discharge ports communicate with each other, and the circulating oil passage outlet of the air-cooled oil cooler and the two Communicating with the other outlet,
The vehicle air-cooled oil cooler is characterized in that the other discharge port of the air-cooled oil cooler is arranged at a position higher in the vertical direction than a position where the discharged oil is returned.   The vehicle air-cooled oil cooler according to claim 1, wherein the air-cooled oil cooler cools the hydraulic oil of the vehicle automatic transmission.   The air cooling oil cooler for vehicles according to claim 2, wherein the position where the discharged oil is returned is an oil supply port for lubrication and cooling of the automatic transmission for vehicles.

Images