JP5251798B2 - Lubricating device for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubrication device for lubricating an output shaft of an electric motor via a power transmission device to a crankshaft and lubricating the power transmission device in an internal combustion engine configured to be crankable by the electric motor.

In automobiles, as a means to improve fuel economy (fuel consumption rate) in recent years due to environmental problems, etc., a start / stop system, that is, a means to reduce fuel consumption by stopping engine idling under certain conditions when the vehicle is stopped. Has been proposed.
In such a start / stop system, the vehicle is started / stopped by computer control, but at the time of the start, the starter (starting motor) noise and the start delay of the vehicle occur without regard to the driver's will. It often gives a sense of discomfort.

  As a means for solving such a problem, a means is proposed in which a one-way clutch or a centrifugal clutch is interposed in the power transmission device between the electric motor and the crankshaft of the engine so that the gears of the power transmission device are always meshed. Has been. In such means, since the motor side is always connected to the engine side, there is no generation of hitting sound due to the meshing of the pinion on the motor side and the ring gear on the engine side, and there is no occurrence of the start delay of the vehicle as described above. . Moreover, since it is always meshing | engagement, since the precision of a gearwheel is raised, the noise by meshing is also reduced.

In recent years, in automobiles, a hybrid system in which an internal combustion engine and an electric motor are combined to obtain an output and the electric motor is used as a starter is being adopted. Even in such a hybrid system, since the motor side is always connected to the engine side, there is no occurrence of noise and start delay as described above.
As prior art documents related to the present application, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 06-341327 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-023249 (Patent Document 2) are known.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-341327 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-023249

The start / stop system using the one-way clutch normally has a structure in which the one-way clutch is incorporated in a flywheel, and the one-way clutch is lubricated by grease oil enclosed therein. For this reason, due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the device,
Grease oil moves to the outer ring side, and lubrication on the inner ring side is insufficient, which may cause seizure of the clutch.

  Further, in the system using such a one-way clutch, since the one-way clutch is built in the flywheel as described above, if the clutch facing surface generates heat in a so-called half-clutch state, this heat is transferred to the one-way clutch unit. As a result, the grease oil for lubrication deteriorates and the one-way clutch seizes due to poor lubrication. Similar problems also occur when a centrifugal clutch is used.

  In the hybrid system, since the lubrication of the gear transmission that connects the electric motor and the engine is usually provided with an independent lubrication system, the structure of the apparatus becomes complicated and the apparatus cost increases. .

  In view of the problems of the prior art, the present invention uses an independent lubricating device for lubricating the power transmission device in an internal combustion engine in which an output shaft of an electric motor is connected to a crankshaft via a power transmission device. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent poor lubrication and the accompanying seizure of components and the generation of noise by using a simple and low-cost apparatus.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides an output of an electric motor to a crankshaft through a power transmission device disposed between a flywheel attached to an end of the crankshaft and a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine. In an internal combustion engine configured to connect a shaft and be crankable by the electric motor, a main gallery that is formed in a cylinder block and supplies lubricating oil to a main bearing of the crankshaft, and branches from the main gallery in the cylinder block A first oil passage that supplies lubricating oil directly to the power transmission device, and a part of the lubricating oil supplied from the main gallery to the main bearing passes through the second oil passage. while being configured to be supplied to the power transmission device, the first oil passage is above the axial center of the crankshaft, and the first oil passage Provided positioned above the second oil passage, the lubricating oil supplied from the first oil passage to its own weight, the lubricating oil supplied from the second oil passage by a centrifugal force, the power transmission Proposed is a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine, characterized in that lubricating oil is supplied to the constituent members of the device.

  According to this invention, since the lubricating oil is introduced directly from the main gallery to the power transmission device, a sufficient amount of lubricating oil can be always supplied, and the durability of the constituent members of the power transmission device is improved.

  Further, according to this invention, since the required part of the power transmission device is lubricated using the lubricating oil from the main gallery, the power transmission device can be provided with simple and low-cost means without providing a special lubrication mechanism. Can be lubricated.

  Further, when the power transmission device between the electric motor and the internal combustion engine is constituted by a gear train, the gears of the gear train are always meshed, so that the meshing accuracy is improved, for example, the backlash is reduced and the meshing rate is reduced. Further, as described above, since a sufficient amount of lubricating oil is supplied to the meshing portion of the gear, vibration and noise due to the meshing of the gear can be avoided.

  Preferably, in the present invention, the power transmission device is a bearing that rotatably attaches a ring gear to the crankshaft, and is positioned radially outward of the crankshaft from the bearing, and is connected to the crankshaft side and the ring gear. It is good to provide the one-way clutch connected.

  According to such a configuration, since the bearing and the one-way clutch are located along the radial direction of the crankshaft, the lubricating oil of the bearing can be supplied to the one-way clutch side by centrifugal force.

Further, according to the present invention, obtain Preparations a second oil passage for supplying a portion from the main gallery of the lubricating oil supplied to the main bearing on the power transmission device.
According to such a configuration, since different supply methods are used for the first oil passage directly supplied by the main gallery hydraulic pressure and the second oil passage supplied from the main gallery via the main bearing, reliable lubrication is achieved. it can.

Further, according to the present invention, the first oil passage is located above the center of the crankshaft, and the first oil passage is located above the second oil passage. Lubricating oil from the passage falls to a lower portion in the oil reservoir space after lubricating the lubricating portion, and lubricating oil from the second oil passage can be supplied to the lubricating portion by centrifugal force.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since lubricating oil is directly introduced from the main gallery to the power transmission device, a sufficient amount of lubricating oil can be supplied at all times, and the durability of the components of the power transmission device can be improved. improves. Also, since the required parts of the power transmission device are lubricated using the lubricating oil from the main gallery, the power transmission device can be lubricated by simple and low-cost means without providing a special lubrication mechanism. it can.

  Further, when the power transmission device between the electric motor and the internal combustion engine is constituted by a gear train, the gears of the gear train are always meshed, so that the meshing accuracy is improved, and as described above, Since a sufficient amount of lubricating oil is supplied to the meshing portion, generation of vibration and noise due to meshing of the gears can be avoided.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view along a crankshaft center in the vicinity of a starter ring gear of an automotive internal combustion engine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the component parts described in this example are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to specific examples unless otherwise specified. Only.

  1 is a cross-sectional view taken along a crankshaft axis in the vicinity of a starter ring gear of an internal combustion engine for an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. It is line sectional drawing.

1-3, 5 is a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to as an engine), 7 is a crankshaft, 6 is a main bearing, and 8 is an oil pan. An oil hole 12 is drilled in the end of the crankshaft 7 to supply lubricating oil to the main bearing 6 and is open to the bearing surface of the main bearing 6.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a starter ring gear, 3 denotes a flywheel, and the flywheel 3 and the boss portion 1a of the ring gear 1 are fixed to the shaft end surface of the crankshaft 7 by a plurality of bolts 11 together. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer diameter of the ring gear 1 is smaller than the outer diameter of the flywheel 3.

9 is a gear case, 13 is a transmission case, and the gear case 9 is fastened and fixed to the cylinder block 5 by tightening the outer peripheral side together with the transmission case 13 with a bolt 112, and the inner peripheral side is connected to the cylinder by a bolt (not shown). The block 5 is fastened and fixed.
Reference numeral 111 denotes a gear cover, and an outer periphery thereof is fixed to the gear case by a plurality of bolts 26. An oil sump space 23 is formed by the inside of the gear cover 111 and the gear case 9, and the ring gear 1 is accommodated in the oil sump space 23, so that the outer periphery thereof faces.

  Between the crankshaft 7 and the cylinder block 5, an oil introduction gap 29 communicating with the upper part of the oil sump space 23 is formed. In addition to the gap 29, a small-diameter oil hole (not shown) that connects the oil hole 12 of the crankshaft 7 and the oil sump space 23 is provided, and a part of the lubricating oil in the oil hole 12 is provided. The oil sump space 23 may be introduced through the oil hole. An oil return hole 21 is drilled in the gear case 9 and communicates the lower part of the oil sump space 23 and the oil pan 8. The engine height direction position of the oil return hole 21 is set such that the outer periphery of the ring gear 1 is slightly above the oil surface 24 in the oil pan 8.

  A breather hole 22 communicates the upper part of the oil pan 8 and the oil sump space 23 to release air from the oil sump space 23. Reference numeral 14 denotes an O-ring interposed between the boss 1 a of the ring gear 1 and the outer peripheral surface of the crankshaft 7. An oil seal 4 is attached to the gear cover 111 and seals the oil sump space 23 from the outside.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 18 denotes an electric motor, which is fixed to the gear case 9 with a plurality of bolts 27. Reference numeral 17 denotes a pinion gear fixed to the motor shaft 19 of the electric motor 18, and 16 denotes an intermediate gear rotatably supported at both ends by the gear case 9 and the gear cover 111. As shown in FIG. The gear 16 and the ring gear 1 are always meshed, and the power of the electric motor 18 is transmitted to the flywheel 3 and a transmission (not shown) via the pinion gear 17, the intermediate gear 16, and the ring gear 1. . Reference numeral 34 denotes an O-ring interposed between the electric motor 18 and the gear case 9.

  During the operation of the internal combustion engine having the lubricating device having such a configuration, after lubricating the main bearing 6, it is supplied to the oil sump space 23 through the gap 29 or from the oil hole 12 of the crankshaft 7 (not shown). The lubricating oil supplied to the oil sump space 23 through the oil holes is atomized by the rotation of the ring gear 1 constituting the power transmission device and scattered in the oil sump space 23, so that the oil is always meshed. Required parts of the power transmission device such as the meshing parts of the pinion gear 17, the intermediate gear 16, and the ring gear 1 are lubricated.

The lubricating oil after performing the lubricating action as described above is stored in the bottom of the oil sump space 23 and then returned to the oil pan 8 through the oil return hole 21. Further, since the pressure in the oil sump space 23 due to the rotation of each gear constituting the power transmission device is released into the oil pan 8 through the breathe hole 22, an excessive pressure rise in the oil sump space 23. There is no occurrence.
Further, if it is set so that a certain amount of lubricating oil is accumulated at the bottom of the oil sump space, the lubricating oil can be supplied by lifting the gear.

Accordingly, since the required parts of the power transmission device such as the gear meshing parts are lubricated by using the lubricating oil after lubricating the engine lubricating part such as the main bearing 6, it is simple and low-cost without providing a special lubricating mechanism. The power transmission device can be lubricated with this device.
Further, since the lubricating oil from the engine is guided to the oil sump space 23 and the required part of the power transmission device is lubricated by the rotation of the ring gear 1 of the power transmission device, the lubricating oil can be reliably supplied to the required part. it can.

  The ring gear 1 constituting the power transmission device is attached so that the lower end of the outer periphery of the ring gear 1 is higher than the oil surface 24 in the oil pan 8, and the oil sump space 23 and the oil pan 8 communicate with each other. Since the return hole 21 is provided, the lubricating oil in the oil sump space 23 does not become the rotational resistance of the rotating ring gear 1, and the generation of power loss due to the rotational resistance is avoided.

  Further, since the gears of the gear train such as the ring gear 1, the intermediate gear 16, and the pinion gear 17 constituting the power transmission device are always meshed as described above, the meshing accuracy is improved, and as described above, each gear 1 , 16 and 17 are supplied with a sufficient amount of lubricating oil, so that generation of vibration and noise due to meshing of gears is avoided. The same effect can be obtained by providing the partition wall 40 at the end of the oil pan 8.

  Furthermore, a one-way clutch 030 is provided inside the ring gear 1. In other words, 030 is a one-way clutch whose input side is connected to the ring gear 1 and whose output side is connected to a boss portion 1a fixed to the crankshaft 7 to rotate from the ring gear 1 side to the crankshaft 7 side. Is only possible to communicate.

A bearing 32 is interposed between the inner periphery of the ring gear 1 and the outer periphery of the boss 1a, and supports the input side and the output side of the one-way clutch 030 so as to be relatively rotatable.
31 is an oil hole of a second oil passage provided penetrating the crankshaft 7 and the boss 1a. The oil hole 12 in the crankshaft 7 and the one-way clutch 030 communicate with each other. A part of the lubricating oil in 12 is supplied to the one-way clutch 030 through the oil hole 31.

In the one-way clutch 030, the lubricating oil supplied to the oil sump space 23 is atomized by the rotation of the ring gear 1, and in addition to lubricating the one-way clutch 030, the lubricating oil in the oil hole 12 Is supplied through the oil hole 31.
As a result, during operation of the engine, the one-way clutch 030 is always supplied with the required lubricating oil from the two routes, as described above, thereby preventing the one-way clutch from being worn or seized due to lack of lubricating oil. it can.
In addition, since a sufficient amount of lubricating oil is supplied, it is possible to avoid overheating of the one-way clutch 030 due to heat from the clutch side.

50 is a main gallery of the engine, 51 is an oil hole which is a first oil passage having a smaller diameter than the main gallery perforated in the gear case 9, and the end of the main gallery 50 in the oil sump space 23 The ring gear 1 and the intermediate gear 16 are opened toward the gear meshing portion including the meshing portion. An O-ring 54 seals the opening of the main gallery 50 on the gear case 9 side.
An oil hole 52 having a diameter smaller than that of the main gallery branched from the main gallery 50 is connected to the oil hole 12 in the crankshaft 7 through an oil hole 53 formed in the main bearing 6. Yes.

In such an embodiment, the lubricating oil branched from the main gallery 50 and introduced into the oil hole 51 is transferred from the oil hole 51 to a gear meshing portion including a meshing portion between the ring gear and the intermediate gear in the oil sump space 23. After being jetted out and lubricating the meshing portion, it falls to the bottom of the oil sump space 23.
On the other hand, the lubricating oil branched from the main gallery 50 and introduced into the oil hole 52 enters the oil hole 12 in the crankshaft 7 through the oil hole 53 drilled in the main bearing 6. A part of the lubricating oil in the oil hole 12 is supplied to the one-way clutch 030 side through the oil hole 31 branched from the oil hole 12.

According to this embodiment, the lubricating oil is directly supplied from the main gallery 50 of the engine through the oil hole 51 to the meshing portion of the gear, the rotating member such as the one-way clutch 030, or the oil hole 52 and the crankshaft from the main gallery 50. Since the lubricating oil is supplied to the rotating member including the one-way clutch 030 through the oil hole 12 and the oil hole 31, the required lubrication is performed without requiring a special lubricating oil supply source and supply system. Can do.
Further, since the lubricating oil is introduced from the main gallery 50 to the power transmission device constituent members such as gears and one-way clutches, a sufficient amount of lubricating oil can be constantly supplied to the lubricating portions of the power transmission device constituent members. The durability of the power transmission device constituting member is improved.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and a centrifugal clutch may be applied instead of the one-way clutch. Further, a gear mechanism without a clutch may be used, and the scope of the present invention is not deviated. Various modifications are possible.

  In an internal combustion engine in which an output shaft of an electric motor is connected to a crankshaft via a power transmission device, the power transmission device can be lubricated with a simple and low-cost device without using an independent lubrication device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of poor lubrication and seizure of component members and the generation of noise due to this, so that it is suitable for use in a lubricating device for an internal combustion engine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ring gear 1a Boss part 3 Flywheel 4 Oil seal 5 Cylinder block 6 Main bearing 7 Crankshaft 8 Oil pan 9 Gear case 111 Gear cover 12, 31, 51, 52, 53 Oil hole 13 Mission case 14, 34, 54 O-ring 16 Middle Gear 17 Pinion gear 18 Electric motor 21 Oil return hole 22 Breeze hole 23 Oil reservoir space 24 Oil level 030 One-way clutch 32 Bearing

Claims (2)

An output shaft of an electric motor is connected to the crankshaft via a power transmission device arranged between a flywheel attached to the end of the crankshaft and a cylinder block of the internal combustion engine, and can be cranked by the electric motor. In internal combustion engines
A main gallery formed in a cylinder block for supplying lubricating oil to the main bearing of the crankshaft;
A first oil passage that branches from the main gallery in the cylinder block and supplies lubricating oil directly to the power transmission device,
A part of the lubricating oil supplied from the main gallery to the main bearing is configured to be supplied to the power transmission device via a second oil passage,
The first oil passage is provided above the center of the crankshaft, and the first oil passage is located above the second oil passage , and lubrication is supplied from the first oil passage. The internal combustion engine lubrication device is characterized in that the oil is supplied by its own weight and the lubricating oil supplied from the second oil passage is supplied by centrifugal force to the constituent members of the power transmission device. .   The power transmission device includes a bearing that rotatably attaches a ring gear to the crankshaft, and a one-way clutch that is positioned radially outward of the crankshaft from the bearing and connected to the crankshaft side and the ring gear. The internal combustion engine lubrication device according to claim 1, wherein

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