JP2010209705A - Oil strainer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve both of a filtering function of removing foreign matter contained in engine oil and a seal function of closing an oil path formed in an oil pan by an oil strainer alone. <P>SOLUTION: In the oil strainer arranged in the oil path 102 of the oil pan 101, at an axial end of a filter part 2 formed in a cylindrical shape from a mesh sheet material, a plug 3 is provided for closing the oil path 102 in which the oil strainer is arranged. The filter part 2 for removing foreign matter contained in the engine oil flowing in an oil path 103 formed in the oil pan 100 and the plug 3 for closing the oil path are thus integrally formed so that the seal function of closing the oil path 102 can be secured in addition to the filtering function by the single part (oil strainer alone) and the number of parts for the necessary functions can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil strainer used for removing foreign substances contained in engine oil of an engine (internal combustion engine) mounted on a vehicle or the like.

  Engine oil is used for lubrication and cooling of engines mounted on vehicles and the like. Engine oil is stored in an oil pan provided in the lower part of the engine, and is circulated to each part of the engine by an oil pump. The engine oil that has circulated through each part of the engine is dripped into the lower oil pan. And the engine oil dripped in the oil pan is circulated again to each part of the engine by the oil pump. During this time, the engine oil receives heat from each part of the engine and cools each part. In addition, the engine oil forms an oil film in each part of the engine to promote lubrication between the parts, and also serves to prevent oxidation of the parts.

  An example of an oil pan for storing engine oil is shown in FIG. The oil pan 100 in this example is a bottomed box-shaped member manufactured by casting, and has a horizontal oil passage 101 formed at the bottom, and a vertical oil extending from the horizontal oil passage 101 in a substantially vertical direction. A communication oil passage 103 is formed that branches in the horizontal direction from the middle of the passage 102 and the vertical oil passage 102. The oil passages of the horizontal oil passage 101, the vertical oil passage 102, and the communication oil passage 103 are each processed by casting. Note that the arrows shown in FIG. 5 indicate the casting directions of the oil passages of the horizontal oil passage 101, the vertical oil passage 102, and the communication oil passage 103.

  The oil pan 100 of this example is arranged at the lower part of the cylinder block 200 of the engine, and the suction port of the oil pump 400 provided in the chain case 300 with the chain case 300 assembled to the side of the cylinder block 200. The communication oil passage 103 of the oil pan 100 communicates with the oil pan 100. Further, in order to remove foreign matters contained in the engine oil to the oil pump 400, for example, an oil strainer is disposed in the lateral oil passage 101 of the oil pan 100 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). As the oil strainer, for example, a metal mesh screen formed into a cylindrical shape is used.

JP 2004-132317 A JP 2006-266098 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-5810

  By the way, when using the oil pan as shown in FIG. 5, that is, the oil pan 100 in which the oil passage is formed by casting, three places (seal places) S1, S2, and S3 indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIG. Each of them needs to be closed with separate parts, and the number of parts increases, so improvement is desired.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such a situation, and has both a filtering function for removing foreign substances contained in engine oil and a sealing function for closing an oil passage formed in an oil pan. An object of the present invention is to provide an oil strainer that can be achieved and can reduce the number of parts for a required function.

  The present invention is an oil strainer disposed in an oil passage of an oil pan, comprising a filter portion in which a net sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a plug for closing the oil passage in which the oil strainer is disposed, The plug is integrally provided at one end of the cylindrical filter portion in the axial direction.

  In this way, a filter part for removing foreign matter in the engine oil flowing through the oil passage of the oil pan and a plug for closing the oil passage are integrally formed, so that a single component (oil strainer unit) Thus, in addition to the filtering function for removing foreign substances contained in the engine oil, a sealing function for closing the oil passage of the oil pan can be ensured. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the number of parts for a required function, and cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the oil strainer of the present invention, the filter part for filtering foreign matter in the engine oil is a member formed by forming a net sheet material into a cylindrical shape (specifically, a cylindrical shape), so that the filtration area is increased. This makes it possible to secure a sufficient filtration area even if the cross-sectional area of the oil passage in which the oil strainer is arranged is small.

It is a front view which shows an example of the oil strainer of this invention. It is XX sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows typically the state which assembled | attached the oil strainer of FIG. 1 to the oil path of the oil pan. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a main part of a state where the oil strainer of FIG. 1 is assembled to an oil path of an oil pan. It is a figure which shows an example of the oil pan in the state assembled | attached to the cylinder block of the engine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

-Oil pan-
An example of an oil pan to which the oil strainer of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the oil pan 100 shown in FIG. 5 is a bottomed box-shaped member manufactured by casting, and the horizontal oil passage 101, the vertical oil passage 102, and the communication oil passage 103 are cast. It is formed by a punching process using a punch pin or the like.

  The horizontal oil passage 101 is an oil hole provided in the bottom of the oil pan 100, and one end 101 a is opened inside the oil pan 100. The vertical oil passage 102 is an oil hole extending along the vertical direction (vertical direction), and is disposed above the horizontal oil passage 101. The lower end of the vertical oil passage 102 communicates with the inside of the horizontal oil passage 101.

  The connecting oil passage 103 is an oil hole extending in the lateral direction (horizontal direction), and is provided at a position corresponding to the oil pump 400. One end of the connecting oil passage 103 communicates with the inside of the vertical oil passage 102. The other end of the communication oil passage 103 faces the mating surface 100 a with the chain case 300 assembled to the side of the oil pan 100.

  The oil pan 100 described above is disposed at the lower part of the cylinder block 200 of the engine as shown in FIG. Although not shown, a cam shaft for opening and closing the intake valve and the exhaust valve is disposed on the upper portion (cylinder head) of the cylinder block 200. A cam sprocket is provided at one axial end of each camshaft. A timing chain is wound between the cam sprocket and the crank sprocket, and the rotational force of the crankshaft is transmitted to each camshaft via the timing chain.

  A chain case 300 that covers the cam sprocket, the timing chain, and the like is mounted on the side of the cylinder block 200 (including the side of the cylinder head and the side of the oil pan 100). The oil pump 400 is assembled to the lower part of the chain case 300. With the chain case 300 mounted on the cylinder block 200, the oil pan 300, etc., the suction port of the oil pump 400 is connected to the connecting oil passage 103 of the oil pan 100. It has come to communicate with.

  In this example, the seal at the seal location S1 shown in FIG. 5 is secured by press-fitting a plug 110 into the other end of the lateral oil passage 101 as shown in FIG. Further, the seal at the seal location S2 is secured by inserting an O-ring (not shown) or the like between the mating surface 100a of the oil pan 100 and the oil pump 400. Further, the seal at the seal location S3 is secured by the plug 3 of the oil strainer 1 as described later (see FIGS. 3 and 4).

  When the oil pump 400 is driven in a state where the cylinder block 200, the oil pan 100, and the oil pump 400 are assembled as described above, the engine oil stored in the oil pan 100 is transferred from the one end 101a of the lateral oil passage 101 to the lateral oil passage. 101. The inflowing engine oil flows into the oil pump 400 from the horizontal oil passage 101 through the vertical oil passage 102 and the communication oil passage 103, and is pumped by the oil pump 400 toward each part of the engine. In this example, as will be described later, an oil strainer 1 is installed at a portion indicated by a dot in FIG. 5 to remove foreign matters contained in the engine oil.

-Oil strainer-
An example of the oil strainer of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The oil strainer 1 of this example is applied to the oil pan 100 shown in FIG. 5, and includes a filter part (net part) 2 obtained by forming a metal net sheet material (mesh material) 2 a into a cylindrical shape, A metal plug 3 provided at one end of the filter portion 2 in the axial direction and a resin flange 4 provided at the other end of the filter portion 2 are provided. The plug 3 and the flange 4 are respectively fixed to the end of the filter portion 2 by welding, and the filter portion 2, the plug 3 and the flange 4 are integrated.

  The plug 3 is a member obtained by processing a metal into a disk shape. The outer peripheral surface (surface that contacts the vertical oil passage 102) 3a of the plug 3 is a conical tapered surface whose diameter gradually increases as the distance from the filter portion 2 increases.

  The outer diameter of the plug 3 (the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 3a) is set to a dimension that allows the plug 3 to be inserted into the vertical oil passage 102 of the oil pan 100 by press fitting. Specifically, the minimum diameter of the outer peripheral surface (cone taper surface) 3 a of the plug 3 is smaller than the inner diameter of the vertical oil passage 102 by a predetermined amount and is a clearance fit (or intermediate) to the inner peripheral surface of the vertical oil passage 102. Fit). Further, the maximum diameter of the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the plug 3 is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the vertical oil passage 102 by a predetermined amount so as to be tightly fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the vertical oil passage 102. With the plug 3 inserted into the vertical oil passage 102 up to the position shown in FIG. 3, the vertical oil passage 102 can be reliably closed by the plug 3 and sufficient sealing performance can be ensured.

  Further, in the state shown in FIG. 3, the oil strainer 1 as a whole is firmly fixed in the vertical oil passage 102 by the plug 3, and the oil pump 400 is driven so that the engine oil flow acts on the oil strainer 1. The position of the strainer 400 does not shift. The plug 3 is provided with a recess 3b so that the outer periphery of the plug 3 is easily deformed during press-fitting.

  The flange 4 is an annular member having a hole (oil passage hole) 4b having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the filter portion 2 (cylinder outer diameter) by a predetermined amount. The outer diameter of the flange 4 (the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 4a) is set to a dimension corresponding to the inner diameter (the inner diameter of the circular oil hole) of the vertical oil passage 102 of the oil pan 100. Specifically, the dimension (inner diameter) of the inner peripheral surface of the vertical oil passage 102 is the maximum value within the processing tolerance (variation), and the dimension (outer diameter) of the outer peripheral surface 4a of the flange 4 is within the processing tolerance (variation). Even in the case of the minimum value, the gap formed between the inner peripheral surface 102a of the vertical oil passage 102 and the outer peripheral surface 4a of the flange 4 is vertical so that it is less than the mesh (mesh) of the filter portion 2. The inner diameter of the oil passage 102 and the outer diameter of the flange 4 are set.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the oil strainer 1 is assembled to the oil pan 100 in the posture in which the oil strainer 1 is vertically oriented from above the vertical oil passage 102 of the oil pan 100 and the flange 4 is directed downward. Inserted into the oil passage 102, the outer peripheral surface (cone taper surface) 3 a of the plug 3 is brought into contact with the upper edge of the vertical oil passage 102. Next, an assembly jig of the strainer 1, for example, a stepped cylindrical jig having a small-diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the vertical oil passage 102 and a large-diameter portion larger than the inner diameter of the vertical oil passage 102 is used. The plug 3 is pushed from above with a small diameter portion of the cylindrical jig, and the plug 3 is press-fitted into the vertical oil passage 102, whereby the oil strainer 1 is disposed at the position shown in FIG.

  During such assembling work, the length of the small diameter portion of the cylindrical jig (the length from the tip of the small diameter portion to the stepped portion with the large diameter portion) is set from the upper surface 100b of the oil pan 100 to the plug placement position. If a method is adopted in which the dimension corresponds to the distance h (see FIG. 3) to the upper end (the upper surface of the plug 3) and the strainer 1 is inserted until the stepped portion of the cylindrical jig hits the upper surface 100b of the oil pan 100. The vertical position of the oil strainer 1 with respect to the vertical oil passage 102 can be easily and accurately positioned.

  By installing the oil strainer 1 in the vertical oil path 102 in this way, the vertical oil path 102 is blocked by the plug 3 of the oil strainer 1, so that the filter section 2 side of the vertical oil path 102 and the plug 3 A sufficient sealing property between the upper side (engine block 200 side) can be secured.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the engine oil from the oil pan 100 passes through the hole (oil passage hole) 4 b of the flange 4 of the oil strainer 1 by the drive of the oil pump 400. After entering the interior, the direction of the filter portion 2 is changed in the half direction and passes through the mesh sheet material 2a, so that the entire circumferential surface of the filter portion 2 can be effectively used as a collection region, and sufficient filtration is performed. An area can be secured.

  Further, in the oil strainer 1 of this example, the gap between the inner peripheral surface 102a of the vertical oil passage 102 and the outer peripheral surface 4a of the flange 4 is set to be equal to or smaller than the mesh of the filter portion 2 and is therefore included in the engine oil. It is possible to prevent foreign matter from passing through between the inner peripheral surface 102 a of the vertical oil passage 102 and the outer peripheral surface 4 a of the flange 4 and reaching the oil pump 400 directly. Thereby, filtration performance can be secured.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for an oil strainer used for removing foreign matters contained in engine oil of an engine (internal combustion engine) mounted on a vehicle or the like.

1 Oil strainer 2 Filter part (net part)
2a Net sheet material 3 Plug 3a Outer peripheral surface 3b Recessed portion 4 Flange 4a Outer peripheral surface 100 Oil pan 101 Horizontal oil passage 102 Vertical oil passage 102a Inner peripheral surface 103 Contact oil passage 200 Cylinder block 300 Chain case 400 Oil pump

Claims (1)

An oil strainer disposed in an oil passage of an oil pan,
A filter part formed of a net sheet material in a cylindrical shape and a plug for closing an oil passage in which the oil strainer is arranged are provided, and the plug is integrally provided at one end in the axial direction of the cylindrical filter part. Oil strainer characterized by that.

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