JP2010248972A - Lubricating device for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply an oil deterioration suppressing effect to oil discharged from an oil passage wall. <P>SOLUTION: The oil passage wall 2 horizontally extending inside of an internal combustion engine includes an outer peripheral mesh member 8 and a porous film 7 laid down on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral mesh member and containing alkaline material. The oil passage wall 2 also includes an opening 9 formed in a vertical upper end in order to release pressure in the wall. Oil Q in the wall is discharged through the film 7, and at this time, acid material in the oil is neutralized with the alkaline material in the film. Also, the pressure in the wall is released from the opening 9, and abnormal pressure rise in the wall and damage to the film 7 caused by the abnormal pressure rise are prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a device for suppressing deterioration of oil using a novel film.

  In internal combustion engines for automobiles and the like, there is always a demand for suppressing deterioration of oil as a lubricating oil, extending the life of the oil, and reducing the frequency of oil replacement. As the oil is used, sludge is gradually mixed, and the oil mixed with this sludge becomes difficult to function sufficiently as a lubricant due to viscosity increase and additive consumption. For this reason, it is necessary to suppress the mixing of sludge into the oil as much as possible.

  Sludge is mainly composed of olefin and aroma contained in fuel, NOx and SOx contained in blow-by gas or combustion gas, and water, and these main components react with the force of heat and acid to produce a sludge precursor, It is produced via a precursor such as a sludge binder. Sludge is visually a mud or sludge-like substance.

  In particular, an acidic substance produced by a reaction between water generated by dew condensation or the like inside the internal combustion engine and NOx or SOx contained in blow-by gas serves as a catalyst for generating sludge. The mixing of such acidic substances into the oil accelerates the generation of sludge, accelerates the deterioration of the oil, and lowers the functions of the lubricating oil.

  Conventionally, as a countermeasure against this acidic substance, in Patent Document 1, a sludge suppression layer containing an alkaline substance is formed on the surface of a part where oil as a liquid is not always distributed and oil mist as a gas is contacted. Yes. According to this, the said acidic substance can be neutralized with an alkaline substance, and it can suppress that sludge is produced | generated or adhered to the surface of the said site | part by this.

JP 2008-121474 A

  By the way, an oil passage wall such as an oil pipe for conveying oil is installed inside the internal combustion engine, and the oil is discharged from the inside of the oil passage wall to the outside to supply the oil to a member or part requiring lubrication. There is a case. In this case, the oil discharged from the oil passage wall is discharged without any measures for suppressing oil deterioration.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine that can give an oil deterioration suppressing effect to oil discharged from an oil passage wall.

According to one aspect of the invention,
In a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine provided with an oil passage wall that extends horizontally in the internal combustion engine,
The oil passage wall includes a mesh member on the outer peripheral side and a porous film laid on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member and containing an alkaline substance, and allows oil in the wall to pass through the film and the mesh member. An internal combustion engine lubrication device is provided that is configured to be discharged to the outside and that has an opening for releasing pressure in the wall at an upper end in a vertical direction.

  According to this, when the oil in the oil passage wall is discharged to the outside, it passes through the film. Therefore, the acidic substance in the oil can be neutralized and removed by reacting with the alkaline substance contained in the film. As a result, oil that does not substantially contain an acidic substance can be discharged, and deterioration of the oil can be suppressed.

  In addition, since the pressure in the wall can be released from the opening, it is possible to prevent an abnormal increase in the pressure in the wall and thus damage to the film. That is, assuming that the oil passage wall has a closed structure without an opening, when the internal pressure of the wall rises abnormally, the film may be pressed against the gap of the mesh member and may be torn or damaged. In this invention, since the opening part for pressure relief is provided, this can be prevented.

  Here, “extending in the horizontal direction” means not only when the axial center of the oil passage wall is completely aligned with the horizontal direction, but also in the horizontal direction within the objective range of the axial center of the oil passage wall. It is a concept including the case where it is inclined with respect to. Therefore, “extending in the horizontal direction” means “having a predetermined length in the horizontal direction”.

  Preferably, the oil passage wall is formed in a bowl shape in which a vertical upper end is opened along a longitudinal direction thereof, and the opening is formed by the opening.

  Alternatively, it is preferable that the oil passage wall has a hole at the upper end in the vertical direction, and the opening is formed by the hole.

  Alternatively, it is preferable that the oil passage wall has a slit extending in a longitudinal direction at an upper end portion in the vertical direction, and the opening is formed by the slit.

  Preferably, the lubricating device of the internal combustion engine further includes a supplied member disposed below the oil passage wall so as to receive supply of oil from the oil passage wall, and the opening is in a vertical direction of the supplied member. Located above.

  According to this, the oil overflowing from the opening can be dropped and supplied to the supplied member, and a sufficient amount of oil can be supplied to the supplied member.

  Preferably, the oil passage wall forms a shower pipe that supplies oil to the camshaft from above.

  According to the present invention, an excellent effect is exhibited that an oil deterioration suppressing effect can be given to the oil discharged from the oil passage wall.

It is the schematic of the lubrication apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view of a shower pipe. It is the figure which turned the III-III cross section of FIG. 2 upside down. It is a perspective view of a flat thin film-like film. It is an enlarged surface view of the film by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is an expanded sectional view of the film by a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and has a higher magnification than FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a 1st modification. It is VIII-VIII sectional drawing of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a 2nd modification. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows a 3rd modification.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the lubricating device of the present embodiment includes an oil passage wall that is installed in the internal combustion engine so as to extend in the horizontal direction, specifically, a shower pipe 2 as an oil pipe. The shower pipe 2 supplies oil to the camshaft 1 from above, and is disposed in the head cover 3 and provided separately above the camshaft 1 and below the head cover 3.

  The camshaft 1 is provided with two cam lobes 4 for intake or exhaust and a pair per cylinder (in the illustrated example, for three cylinders), and these cam lobes 4 push a rocker arm (not shown). Open and close the intake or exhaust valve. The camshaft 1 is pivotally supported at a predetermined position in the longitudinal direction by a cam journal (not shown) fixed to the cylinder head.

  In the figure, the oil flow is indicated by broken-line arrows. The oil flows in the shower pipe 2 in the longitudinal direction, and is supplied to the camshaft 1 by dropping almost uniformly at all positions in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, the oil is supplied almost uniformly throughout the entire length of the camshaft 1.

  FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the shower pipe 2. The shower pipe 2 includes an intake-side shower pipe 2A that extends in parallel to supply oil to the intake camshaft 1, and an exhaust-side shower pipe 2B that extends in parallel to supply oil to the exhaust camshaft 1. Is provided. Upstream portions of the intake-side shower pipe 2A and the exhaust-side shower pipe 2B are bent and connected and fixed to a common oil introduction member 5. The downstream ends (not shown) of the intake side shower pipe 2A and the exhaust side shower pipe 2B are closed.

  The oil introduced from the oil pump is introduced into the oil introduction member 5, and this oil is distributed to the intake side shower pipe 2 </ b> A and the exhaust side shower pipe 2 </ b> B. It is discharged from 2A and 2B.

  A plurality of pipe fittings 6 are attached to the intake side shower pipe 2A and the exhaust side shower pipe 2B, and the pipe fittings 6 are fixed to the bosses of the cylinder head with bolts. Thereby, the shower pipe 2 is fixed to the cylinder head side.

  In addition, since the structures of the intake side shower pipe 2A and the exhaust side shower pipe 2B are substantially the same, they are hereinafter referred to as the shower pipe 2 without distinction.

  FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the shower pipe 2. FIG. 3 is a view obtained by vertically inverting the III-III cross section of FIG. 2 which is a bottom view. As shown in the figure, the shower pipe 2 has a mesh member 8 on the outer peripheral side and a film 7 laid on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8.

  As will be described in detail later, the film 7 is porous and can pass or permeate oil, and contains an alkaline substance. When the oil permeates the oil, the acidic substance in the oil is neutralized with the alkaline substance. Yes.

  The mesh member 8 is made of a net made of a material such as metal or resin, and discharges the oil that has passed through the film 7 to the outside through the gap of the net. The discharged oil is indicated by a dashed arrow P. The mesh member 8 extends in the longitudinal direction of the pipe to form a basic structural member of the pipe, and holds the film 7 from the outer peripheral side to compensate for the insufficient strength of the film 7.

  The shower pipe 2 is formed in a bowl shape with the upper end in the vertical direction being opened along its longitudinal direction. That is, the opening 9 forms an opening 9 at the upper end in the vertical direction of the shower pipe 2. Although the shower pipe 2 in the illustrated example has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape is arbitrary, and may be, for example, a semicircular arc shape. The film 7 is laid on the entire inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8.

  When the oil Q flows through the shower pipe 2, the oil Q in the pipe sequentially passes through the film 7 and the mesh member 8 and is supplied to the camshaft 1 below. Here, all the portions of the shower pipe 2 located above the camshaft 1 have a cross-sectional structure as shown in FIG. 3, so that oil is supplied evenly from the entire length of the portion. Specifically, the oil Q in the pipe oozes out through the film 7 and the mesh member 8 due to its own weight, and is dripped after collecting on the bottom surface of the mesh member 8.

  Details of the film 7 will be described here. FIG. 4 shows a flat thin film 7 as the simplest example. The thickness of the film 7 is, for example, about 0.1 to 1 mm, but can be adjusted. The film 7 is porous as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and has flexibility or flexibility. The film 7 includes at least an alkaline substance, and examples of the alkaline substance include calcium carbonate, calcium hydroxide, calcium oxide, potassium hydroxide, barium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and sodium bicarbonate, but other substances can also be used. . The film 7 contains a resin for the purpose of bonding alkaline substances together or increasing the strength of the film itself. The resin may be either a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin, and examples thereof include polyurethane, silicon, modified silicon, acrylic, fluororesin, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy, polyethylene, and polypropylene, but other resins may also be used. It can be used. The resin and the alkaline substance are physically attached by intermolecular forces and are not chemically bonded.

  Since this film 7 has flexibility or softness, it can be bent relatively freely and can be cut into a free size and shape. Therefore, when the film 7 is laid on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8 as shown in FIG. 3, the film 7 can be bent and laid easily according to the inner peripheral surface shape of the mesh member 8. The film 7 can be fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8 with an adhesive. The adhesive preferably has characteristics such as oil resistance, high temperature resistance and vibration resistance, and specifically, a silicone resin adhesive is preferable.

  Here, the film production method will be described. First, a resin such as polyurethane is diluted with a water-soluble organic solvent such as N, N-dimethylformamide. At this time, a surfactant may be added to adjust the size of the pores of the film. Next, an alkaline substance such as calcium carbonate is mixed with the diluted resin to form a mixture, and the mixture is thoroughly stirred.

  Next, the mixture thus formed is applied to the surface of the mold to form a coating film. When a flat film as shown in FIG. 4 is produced, the mold may be a simple flat plate, for example, a flat glass plate. The thickness of the coating can be adjusted.

  When the film 7 is installed on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8 as in this embodiment, the mesh member 8 itself may be used as a mold. That is, the mixture is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8 to form a coating film.

  Next, the coating film is washed with water to remove the organic solvent from the coating film. Specifically, the coating film is first immersed in water together with the mold, and the organic solvent is desorbed from the coating film. During the detachment, the path through which the organic solvent passes becomes a foamed shape, so that the foamed portion becomes a pore in the final product. The organic solvent is water-soluble and can be easily removed. Heating is not necessary. In the case of a flat plate-like separate film as shown in FIG. 4, thereafter, the coating film is removed from the mold and washed again with hot water or water to completely remove the organic solvent on the surface in contact with the mold. Is preferred. Then, the coating film is dried. Thereby, the film as the final product is completed. When the mesh member 8 is used as a mold, the mesh member 8 is embedded in the film 7 at the joint between the mesh member 8 and the film 7, and the film 7 and the mesh member 8 are fixed to each other.

  As is clear from this manufacturing method, a film having an arbitrary shape can be produced by changing the shape of the mold.

  The higher the concentration of the alkaline substance in the film as the final product, the higher the neutralization effect. However, if the concentration of the alkaline substance is too high, the film becomes so brittle that it can no longer hold its own shape, and it may even collapse. Regarding the balance between the neutralizing action and the shape retention, according to the test by the present inventors, it was found that the shape retention can be secured if the calcium carbonate concentration is about 70 wt% or less in the case of a combination of calcium carbonate and polyurethane. is doing. Therefore, the concentration of the alkaline substance in the film is preferably about 70 wt% or less.

  As described above, the film 7 is thin and relatively soft, and there is a concern about insufficient strength. However, in this embodiment, since the film 7 is held by the mesh member 8 from the outer peripheral side, the insufficient strength of the film 7 is compensated. Thus, the film 7 can be prevented from being broken and the durability can be improved.

  Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.

Inside the engine, acidic substances such as nitric acid HNO ₃ and sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ are produced by a reaction between NOx and SOx contained in the blow-by gas and water generated by condensation or contained in the blow-by gas. This acidic substance induces sludge and oxidizes and degrades the oil. This acidic substance is also present in the oil.

  However, according to this embodiment, when the oil in the shower pipe 2 is discharged, the oil passes through or passes through the inside of the film 7, so that the acidic substance in the oil reacts with the alkaline substance contained in the film 7. Can be neutralized and removed. As a result, oil that does not substantially contain acidic substances can be discharged, and sludge formation and oil deterioration can be greatly suppressed.

  In particular, since the film 7 is porous and has a large number of pores inside, and the internal pores are connected, the reaction is also advanced in the thickness direction of the film 7, and only the exposed surface of the film 7. In addition, contact and reaction between the acidic substance and the alkaline substance can be caused even in the inside. Therefore, the contact area and reaction area per unit area or unit installation area of the film can be increased, and the neutralization reaction can be greatly promoted.

  Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the acidic substance in the oil can be neutralized even when the oil flows through the shower pipe 2.

  And especially according to this embodiment, since the opening part 9 is provided, the pressure in the shower pipe 2 can be escaped from the opening part 9. FIG. That is, if the shower pipe 2 has a closed structure without the opening 9, when the pressure in the shower pipe 2 rises abnormally, the film 7 is pressed against the gap of the mesh member 8 and is torn or damaged. there is a possibility. In the present embodiment, since the pressure release opening 9 is provided, it is possible to prevent an abnormal increase in the internal pressure of the pipe and thus damage to the film 7 in advance. For example, even when oil is excessively supplied into the shower pipe 2, excess oil can overflow from the opening 9 as shown by R in FIG. Damage to the film 7 can be prevented in advance.

  Although the alkaline substance contained in the film is gradually consumed and disappears by the reaction with the acidic substance over time, the resin and the alkaline substance are physically attached as described above, Since the resin is not bonded, the resin is not affected during and after consumption of the alkaline substance. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently ensure the rigidity of the film even after consumption of the alkaline substance.

  Moreover, both the method of laying the separate film 7 in the shower pipe 2 and the method of laying the film 7 directly using the shower pipe 2 as a mold eliminates troublesome masking, and can suppress the manufacturing cost. In addition, since the film 7 has flexibility, it is difficult to be restricted by the installation target surface, and can be easily installed even on a curved surface such as an inner peripheral surface of the pipe.

  Next, a modified example will be described.

  7 and 8 show a shower pipe 2 according to a first modification. The downstream end of the shower pipe 2 located at the right end in the figure is closed by a closing plate 10. Similarly to the basic embodiment described above, the shower pipe 2 is also formed on the outer peripheral side with the mesh member 8, and the film 7 is laid on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8. Although this structure is also applied to the closing plate 10, the closing plate 10 may be a simple plate. Further, the downstream end portion of the shower pipe 2 may be caulked and closed.

  The shower pipe 2 has a circular cross-sectional shape. However, the cross-sectional shape is arbitrary, and can be a square or the like.

  A hole 11 forming an opening 9 for pressure release is provided at the upper end of the shower pipe 2 in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the shower pipe 2 in the vertical direction is closed except for the hole 11. The hole 11 penetrates the mesh member 8 and the film 7 in the thickness direction. The shape of the hole 11 is also arbitrary such as a circle or a rectangle. The hole 11 is located a predetermined distance upstream from the downstream end of the shower pipe 2.

  This first modification can also exhibit the same effects as the basic embodiment. That is, the oil in the shower pipe 2 is discharged through the film 7 and the mesh member 8, and at this time, the acidic substance in the oil can be neutralized with the alkaline substance in the film 7.

  In particular, even when the internal pressure of the shower pipe 2 is abnormally increased, the pressure can be released from the hole 11, and the abnormal increase of the internal pressure of the pipe and the damage of the film 7 can be prevented. Further, unlike the basic embodiment, since the upper end of the shower pipe 2 is closed except for the hole 11 portion, the contact area between the oil in the pipe and the film 7 is increased, and the neutralizing action of acidic substances is achieved. It can be improved.

  In addition, it is preferable to set the cross-sectional area of the hole 11 to the magnitude | size which becomes the pipe internal pressure which the film 7 does not damage. A plurality of holes 11 may be provided.

  FIG. 9 shows a shower pipe 2 according to a second modification. In the second modification, a slit 12 is provided as a pressure relief opening 9 instead of the hole 11 of the first modification. The slit 12 extends in the longitudinal direction at the upper end in the vertical direction of the shower pipe 2 and penetrates the mesh member 8 and the film 7 in the thickness direction. Other points are the same as in the first modification.

  This second modification can also provide the same operational effects as the first modification. In particular, even when the internal pressure of the shower pipe 2 is abnormally increased, the pressure can be released from the slit 12, and the abnormal increase of the internal pressure of the pipe and the damage of the film 7 can be prevented. As described above, the cross-sectional area of the slit 12 is preferably set to a size that provides a pipe internal pressure that does not damage the film 7. A plurality of slits 12 may be provided.

  FIG. 10 shows a third modification. In the third modification, a supplied member 13 for receiving supply of oil from the shower pipe 2 is installed below the shower pipe 2. The supplied member 13 may be the above-described cam lobe 4 or cam journal, or may be a member that requires a larger amount of oil supply. The shower pipe 2 has the same configuration as that of the first modification shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the hole 11 serving as the pressure release opening 9 is positioned above the supplied member 13 in the vertical direction. .

  According to this, in addition to the same operation effect as the 1st modification, the following operation effects can be produced. That is, the oil R overflowing from the hole 11 can be supplied dropwise to the supplied member 13, and a large or sufficient amount of oil can be supplied to the supplied member 13.

  In the third modified example, a slit 12 as shown in FIG. 9 can be provided instead of the hole 11.

  Here, for example, there are the following methods for manufacturing the shower pipe 2 according to the first to third modifications. First, a mixture of a resin, a water-soluble organic solvent, and an alkaline substance is poured into the mesh member 8 formed in a tubular shape from the open inlet end. Then, the surplus mixture is discharged from the inlet end, and a coating film is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member 8. Next, the mesh member 8 is immersed in water, and the organic solvent is desorbed from the coating film. Thereafter, the coating film is dried to complete the film 7, and the hole 11 or slit 12 is provided by machining or the like to complete the shower pipe 2. The holes 11 or the slits 12 may be provided in the mesh member 8 in advance, and after the film 7 is produced, the film 7 that protrudes inside the holes 11 or the slits 12 may be cut out from the outside.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described, this invention can also take embodiment other than the above. For example, the oil passage wall is not limited to the oil pipe. The oil pipe is not limited to a shower pipe, and can be any oil pipe. Moreover, you may provide the oil discharge part which consists of a mesh member and a film only in a part of longitudinal direction of an oil passage wall. In this case, portions other than the oil discharge portion can be formed of ordinary metal or the like, and the oil passage wall may be divided and connected between the oil discharge portion and the other portions.

  The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and includes all modifications, applications, and equivalents included in the concept of the present invention defined by the claims. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited, and can be applied to any other technique belonging to the scope of the idea of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cam shaft 2 Shower pipe 4 Cam lobe 7 Film 8 Mesh member 9 Opening part 11 Hole 12 Slit 13 Supply member

Claims (6)

In a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine provided with an oil passage wall that extends horizontally in the internal combustion engine,
The oil passage wall includes a mesh member on the outer peripheral side and a porous film laid on the inner peripheral surface of the mesh member and containing an alkaline substance, and allows oil in the wall to pass through the film and the mesh member. An internal combustion engine lubrication device comprising an opening for releasing pressure in the wall at an upper end portion in the vertical direction.   2. The internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage wall is formed in a bowl shape in which a vertical upper end portion is opened along a longitudinal direction thereof, and the opening portion is formed by the opening portion. Lubrication equipment.   The lubricating device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage wall has a hole at an upper end in a vertical direction, and the opening is formed by the hole.   The lubricating device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage wall has a slit extending in a longitudinal direction at an upper end portion in a vertical direction, and the opening is formed by the slit.   The apparatus further comprises a supplied member disposed below the oil passage wall so as to receive supply of oil from the oil passage wall, and the opening is positioned vertically above the supplied member. Item 5. The internal combustion engine lubricating device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The lubricating device for an internal combustion engine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the oil passage wall forms a shower pipe that supplies oil to the camshaft from above.