JP6767246B2 - Temperature sensitive valve mechanism - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage (pump housing, cylinder block, etc.) and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.

There is known a temperature sensitive valve that is attached to the cylinder block of an internal combustion engine and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage (see, for example, Patent Document 1 (FIG. 7)).

As shown in FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1, the cylinder block (13) (the numbers in parentheses indicate the reference numerals described in Patent Document 1. The same shall apply hereinafter), the lubricating oil supply passage (6b), and the bypass passage. A hole (51), a through hole (61), and a temperature sensitive valve (12) are provided.

The bypass through hole (51) is blocked by the upper surface of the temperature sensitive valve (12). When the oil temperature becomes low, the temperature sensitive valve (12) contracts, and the upper surface of the temperature sensitive valve (12) separates from the bypass through hole (51). Then, the lubricating oil in the supply passage (6b) passes by the side of the temperature sensitive valve (12) and is discharged from the through hole (61). By relieving the lubricating oil at low temperatures, the load on the engine can be reduced and the fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine can be reduced.

Generally, the valve mechanism consists of a valve and a valve box that houses the valve. In Patent Document 1, the cylinder block (13) corresponds to a valve box, and the temperature-sensitive valve (12) corresponds to a valve. The distance between the bypass through hole (51) and the temperature sensitive valve (12) corresponds to the valve opening degree.
In order to confirm the thermal performance of the valve mechanism, it is necessary to investigate the correlation between the temperature of the lubricating oil and the valve opening.

In the configuration of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to immerse the cylinder block (13) together with the temperature sensitive valve (12) in a liquid tank or put it in a constant temperature bath to check the thermal performance of the valve mechanism.
Since the temperature sensitive valve (12) is a small part, but the cylinder block (13) is a medium-sized or large-sized part, the cost for confirming the performance of the valve mechanism increases.

While the cost reduction of structures such as cylinder blocks is required, a technique capable of reducing the performance confirmation cost of the temperature sensitive valve (12) is required.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-93430

An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism capable of confirming thermal performance at low cost.

The invention according to claim 1 is a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixed portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixed portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, supporting the valve box, and passing the lubricating oil so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage .
The structure is a cylinder block of an engine, and the cylinder block has a wall of the cylinder block or a plate attached to the cylinder block at the outlet of the discharge port, and the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge port. Is arranged in the cylinder block so as to flow down into the oil sump after hitting the wall or the plate .

In the invention according to claim 2 , in a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixed portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixed portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, supporting the valve box, and passing the lubricating oil so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage.
The connecting portion is fastened to the fixing part via a caulking portion, the caulking portion is characterized in that deformation is fastened by crimping over the entire circumference.

In the invention according to claim 3 , in a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixed portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixed portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, supporting the valve box, and passing the lubricating oil so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage.
The connecting portion, characterized in that it is fastened to the fixing part via a circlip.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the groove width of the clip storage groove for accommodating the circlip is set to be larger than the thickness of the circlip, and the circlip has a spring washer shape.

The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that the connecting portion includes a plurality of through holes provided along the clip storage groove.
The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that a valve box is integrally formed at the connecting portion.
The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the connecting portion and the valve box are separate bodies, and the valve box is fastened to the connecting portion via a caulking portion or a screw portion.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the structure, the valve box and the connecting portion are made of an aluminum alloy.

In the invention according to claim 1, a valve and a valve box are attached to the fixed portion. Therefore, valve characteristics such as valve opening can be confirmed only by the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism including the fixed portion, the valve, and the valve box. That is, it is not necessary to carry a structure such as a cylinder block into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath as in the conventional case. In the present invention, only a small and lightweight temperature-sensitive valve mechanism needs to be carried into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath.
As a result, the present invention provides a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism capable of confirming thermal performance at low cost.
In addition, in the invention according to claim 1, the structure is a cylinder block of an engine, and this cylinder block has a wall of the cylinder block or a plate attached to the cylinder block at the outlet of the discharge port, and is provided from the discharge port. A temperature-sensitive valve mechanism is arranged in the cylinder block so that the discharged lubricating oil hits the wall or plate and then flows down into the oil sump.
If the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge port falls directly into the oil sump, droplets will rise and the droplets will entrain air. As a result, undesired bubbles increase in the lubricating oil.
In this regard, in the present invention, the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge port is once applied to the wall or plate. Then, since the lubricating oil flows down along the wall or the plate, it becomes difficult for the droplets to rise, and the entrainment of air becomes small to an acceptable level.

In the invention according to claim 2, a valve and a valve box are attached to the fixing portion as in claim 1. Therefore, valve characteristics such as valve opening can be confirmed only by the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism including the fixed portion, the valve, and the valve box. That is, it is not necessary to carry a structure such as a cylinder block into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath as in the conventional case. In the present invention, only a small and lightweight temperature-sensitive valve mechanism needs to be carried into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath.
As a result, the present invention provides a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism capable of confirming thermal performance at low cost.
Then, in the invention according to claim 2 , the connecting portion is fastened to the fixed portion via the caulking portion, and the caulking portion is fastened by caulking over the entire circumference. By deformation fastened at caulking over the entire circumference, collapse, can be suppressed misalignment, it is possible to obtain a smooth sliding and precise hydraulic control of the valves.

In the invention according to claim 3, a valve and a valve box are attached to the fixing portion as in claim 1. Therefore, valve characteristics such as valve opening can be confirmed only by the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism including the fixed portion, the valve, and the valve box. That is, it is not necessary to carry a structure such as a cylinder block into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath as in the conventional case. In the present invention, only a small and lightweight temperature-sensitive valve mechanism needs to be carried into a liquid tank or a constant temperature bath.
As a result, the present invention provides a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism capable of confirming thermal performance at low cost.
In the invention according to claim 3 , the connecting portion is fastened to the fixed portion via a circlip. The circlip is housed in the clip storage groove, and the circlip can move in the clip storage groove. The connecting portion can move slightly in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixed portion with respect to the fixed portion.
Both the fixed portion and the connecting portion are attached to the structure, but the center of the hole for attaching the connecting portion may be displaced or tilted with respect to the center of the hole for attaching the fixing portion. Misalignment and tilt occur due to production errors during machining, temperature differences during use, and aging after long-term use.
The deviation and inclination are absorbed by the relative movement of the circlip in the clip storage groove. As a result, the sensitive valve mechanism can be easily attached and the temperature sensitive valve mechanism can be used for a long period of time.

In the invention according to claim 4 , the groove width of the clip storage groove for accommodating the circlip is set to be larger than the thickness of the circlip, and the circlip has a spring washer shape. Since the circlip is fitted in the clip storage groove, the circlip or the clip storage groove can move slightly in the longitudinal axis direction of the fixing portion. In the present invention, since the circlip has a spring washer shape, the movement of the fixed portion in the longitudinal axis direction can be suppressed by the spring action.

In the invention according to claim 5 , the connecting portion includes a plurality of through holes provided along the clip storage groove. After fastening the connecting portion to the fixed portion, the state of the circlip can be confirmed through the through hole. When a defect is found, the diameter of the circlip can be reduced while passing the jig through the through hole. In this state, the connecting portion can be removed from the fixed portion and refastened.
In the invention according to claim 6, a valve box is integrally formed at the connecting portion. Since the number of parts is reduced, the assembly man-hours can be reduced.
In the invention according to claim 7, the connecting portion and the valve box are separate bodies, and the valve box is fastened to the connecting portion via a caulking portion or a screw portion. After confirming the mutual position of the discharge port and the valve, it can be fastened while adjusting the dimensions. It is possible to absorb the manufacturing errors that inevitably exist in the parts. More accurate hydraulic characteristics can be obtained.

In the invention according to claim 8 , the structure, the valve box and the connecting portion are made of an aluminum alloy. Since the coefficients of thermal expansion are approximate to each other, the clearance (gap) between the structure and the valve box and the structure and the connecting portion can be minimized, so that oil leakage from the clearance is minimized.
Therefore, even if the sealing material is not arranged on the outer peripheral side of the valve box or the connecting portion, a large amount of oil does not leak, and since the oil leakage is small, more accurate control can be performed.

It is a figure which shows the correlation of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on this invention, and an oil pump. It is an exploded view of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is a figure of the oil pump provided with the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on this invention. It is a figure explaining the operation of a thermoelement. It is an exploded view of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on the modified example. It is a figure explaining the assembly procedure of a temperature sensitive valve mechanism. It is an operation explanatory drawing of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on a further modification example. It is a figure which shows the correlation of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which concerns on this invention, and a cylinder block. It is an exploded view of the temperature sensitive valve mechanism which adopted the circlip. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. It is a mounting figure of a spring washer mold circlip. It is a figure explaining the relationship between a circlip and a pump housing. It is a mounting figure of a flat washer mold circlip. It is an exploded view of a main part of a temperature sensitive mechanism which adopted a spring pin. It is a main part assembly drawing of a temperature sensitive mechanism which adopted a spring pin. It is a figure explaining the modification example of the connecting part.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings shall be viewed in the direction of the symbols.

FIG. 1 describes an example in which the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 of the present invention is detachably attached to the oil pump 11 as the structure 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, the oil pump 11 as a structure 10 includes an inner gear 12, an outer gear 13, and a pump housing 14 for accommodating these gears 12, 13. When the inner gear 12 is rotated by a part of the power of the engine, the outer gear 13 is rotated. During this rotation, the volume of the gap G between the gears 12 and 13 changes, and due to this change, the lubricating oil is sucked in as shown by the arrow (1), pressurized, and discharged as shown by the arrow (2).

The pump housing 14 is provided with a main oil passage 15 as an oil passage, and a return oil passage 16 is provided substantially parallel to the main oil passage 15. When the main flow path 15 is in high hydraulic pressure, the lubricating oil is returned to the return oil passage 16 by a general relief valve (not shown). In addition, the pump housing 14 is provided with a valve insertion hole 17 that crosses the main oil passage 15 and whose tip reaches the vicinity of the return oil passage 16. The valve insertion hole 17 is provided with a female screw 18 at the hole opening and a through hole 19 leading to the outside of the pump housing 14 near the tip.
Therefore, the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 can be inserted into the valve insertion hole 17 at any time.

The configuration of the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 includes a flanged plug 22 as a fixing portion 21, a thermoelement 24 in which one side (piston 23 in this example) is supported by the flanged plug 22, and the thermoelement 24. It consists of a valve 25 fixed to the other side of the thermoelement 24, a valve box 26 surrounding the valve 25, and a connecting portion 27 extending from the flanged plug 22 to support the valve box 26.

The flanged plug 22 is provided with a collar 31 at the top, a hexagonal hole 32, and a male screw 33 at the middle. In addition, a central recess 34 for accommodating one end of the piston 23 is provided in the center of the lower portion of the flanged plug 22, and an annular groove 35 for inserting the upper portion of the connecting portion 27 is provided, and the first annular groove 35 is surrounded. A caulking cylinder portion 36 is provided. The flanged plug 22 is turned by inserting the hexagon wrench into the hexagonal hole 32 and turning it. The hexagonal hole 32 may be omitted, and the collar 31 may be polygonal.

The thermoelement 24 includes a return spring 37, although the internal structure of the thermoelement 24 will be described later with reference to FIG. In addition, a second tubular portion 39 that surrounds a small diameter extension portion 38 extending from the valve 25 is provided below the thermoelement 24.

The valve 25 includes a valve cylinder portion 41, a lid portion 42 that closes the upper end of the valve cylinder portion 41, and a small diameter extension portion 38 that extends upward from the lid portion 42 and has a diameter smaller than that of the valve cylinder portion 41. The lid portion 42 is provided with a plurality of through holes 43, 43 that penetrate vertically. The small diameter extension portion 38 is hollow so that air can escape and can be easily fitted into the second cylinder portion 39.

In this example, the valve box 26 and the connecting portion 27 are integrated. Since the number of parts is small, the assembly man-hours are reduced. However, as will be described later, the valve box 26 and the connecting portion 27 may be separate parts.

The connecting portion 27 is a cylindrical body having a pair of flow path through holes 44, 44 for passing lubricating oil. A spring receiving portion 45 for receiving the return spring 37 is provided at the lower portion.
The valve box 26 is a cylindrical body that houses the valve 25 so as to be movable in the axial direction, has an annular groove portion 46 and a discharge port 47 at an intermediate position in the height direction, and has a groove 49 that stores the sealing material 48 at the lower portion.
The valve box 26 is formed thin so that the periphery of the portion where the discharge port 47 is formed has a smaller outer diameter over the entire circumference than the other portions. As a result, the oil can be discharged without stagnation regardless of the phase of the discharge port 47.

It is desirable that the hole width of the flow path through hole 44 is larger than the outer diameter of the thermoelement 24. This is because the flow path resistance becomes small. Further, if the flow path through holes 44 are arranged in a phase facing the main flow path 15, the flow path resistance can be reduced. The number of flow path through holes 44 may be three or more in addition to the pair.
The valve box 26 and the connecting portion 27 are manufactured by casting, forging, total cutting (cutting), or a combined process thereof, but the discharge port 47 is required to have a precise opening area, so cutting is desirable. ..

As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 is attached to the pump housing 14 by screwing the male screw 33 into the female screw 18. Then, the thermoelement 24 can be seen from the main flow path 15 through the flow path through hole 44. Since the lubricating oil flows through the flow path through holes 44, 44, the lubricating oil flowing through the main oil passage 15 always comes into contact with the thermoelement 24.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the thermoelement 24 is formed between the piston 23, the elastic film 51 surrounding the piston 23, the case 52 surrounding the elastic film 51, and the case 52 and the elastic film 51. It is composed of a thermowax 53 to be enclosed. When the temperature of the lubricating oil is low, the thermowax 53 is contracted, and the valve 25 does not hang on (do not overlap) the discharge port 47 on the valve box 26 side. As a result, the lubricating oil flows as shown by the arrow (3). That is, the lubricating oil flows in the order of the through holes 43, 43, the discharge port 47, and the through hole 19 of the pump housing 14, and is discharged to the oil sump 67 described later.

When the temperature of the lubricating oil rises, the thermowax 53 expands and its volume increases.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the protruding length of the piston 23 increases. Since the piston 23 is stopped by the flanged plug 22, the case 52 and the valve 25 move to the discharge port 47 side. As a result, for example, about half of the opening area of the discharge port 47 is closed by the valve 25.
When the temperature of the lubricating oil further rises, the thermowax 53 further expands and the volume further increases. As a result, the discharge port 47 is completely closed by the valve 25.
When the temperature of the lubricating oil drops, the thermowax 53 contracts, and the return spring 37 returns to the position shown in FIGS. 4 (b) to 4 (a).

The discharge port 47 and the through hole 19 are important elements for flowing lubricating oil.
The discharge port 47 is preferably a cutting hole formed by cutting as described above. On the other hand, the through hole 19 may be a cast hole as well as a machined hole.

The cast hole will be described in detail.
When the pump housing 14 is a cast product, the through hole 19 can be a cast hole. Set the core in the mold and pour the molten metal into the mold in this state. In the case of the die casting method, the core is extracted from the casting, and in the case of the sand casting method, the core is broken and removed. In either case, since the core can form a cast hole at the same time as casting, cutting work is not required and the cost can be reduced.

However, the core may move slightly due to the pressure of the molten metal. As a result, the center of the cast hole is slightly offset from the center of the through hole 16.
Therefore, when the through hole 19 is a cast hole, the following measures are taken.
The hole diameter of the discharge port 47 is d1, and the hole diameter of the cast hole (through hole 19) is d2. The hole diameter of the through hole 19 is increased so that the hole diameter d1 <hole diameter d2. The offset amount is allowed up to (d2-d1) / 2. When the offset is assumed to be large, it can be dealt with by setting the hole diameter d2 of the through hole 19 to be large.
When the through hole 19 is a cutting hole, the hole diameter d2 can be brought closer to the hole diameter d1 within the range of d1 <d2, and the diameter of the through hole 19 can be reduced.

Next, a modification example will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the connecting portion 27 and the valve box 26 can be separate parts. Since the other parts are the same as those in FIG. 2, the reference numerals are used and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
For example, a female screw 54 is provided on the upper portion of the valve box 26, and a male screw 55 is provided on the connecting portion 27. By screwing the male screw 55 into the female screw 54, the fastening is completed by the screw portion 56. It is permissible to provide a male screw 55 in the valve box 26 and a female screw 54 in the connecting portion 27.
By rotating each other, the axial position of the discharge port 47 of the valve box 26 can be accurately adjusted.

Next, the procedure for assembling the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the thermoelement 24 is brought into contact with the flanged plug 22 in a predetermined procedure. Then, the small diameter extension portion 38 on the valve 25 side is fitted into the second cylinder portion 39 on the thermoelement 24 side. The fitting length is adjusted and fixed so that the distance H1 between the lower surface of the collar 31 and the lower end (tip) of the valve 25 is a predetermined distance. Preferably, if the fixing method is press-fitting, the fitting length can be easily adjusted.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the connecting portion 27 is fitted into the first caulking cylinder portion 36 on the flanged plug 22 side. Preferably, the positioning jig 57 is fitted in the discharge port 47. Alternatively, a positioning jig (not shown) may be inserted into the valve box 26 from the lower direction in the drawing so as to have the same axial position as the positioning jig 57.

Then, in a state where the first caulking cylinder portion 36 is not crimped, the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 is put into oil at, for example, 80 ° C. It may be placed in water, but it is placed in oil to prevent rust and to lubricate the initial operation.
Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the valve 25 approaches the positioning jig 57. After a predetermined time has elapsed (after the thermowax 53 or the like reaches 80 ° C.), the axial position of the connecting portion 27 is adjusted so that the valve 25 and the positioning jig 57 come into contact with each other. Since the position is adjusted at the normal temperature (frequent temperature) of the lubricating oil, the variation in hydraulic characteristics can be reduced.

After the adjustment, the distance H2 between the lower surface of the collar 31 and the center of the hole of the discharge port 47 became a predetermined length. In this state, the caulking forces F and F are applied to reduce the diameter of the first caulking cylinder portion 36. At this time, if the deformation due to the caulking force F is caulked over the entire circumference, the valve 25 can be smoothly slid and the hydraulic pressure can be controlled with high accuracy because the valve 25 can be suppressed from falling and misaligning due to caulking. Due to this reduced diameter, the first caulking cylinder portion 36 was caulked and connected to the upper part of the connecting portion 27. As a result, the first caulking portion 59 including the first caulking cylinder portion 36 and the upper portion of the connecting portion 27 is formed.

Next, a modification example of the fixing portion 21 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 7A, the fixing portion 21 may be a collarless plug 61.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the fixing portion 21 may be composed of a polygonal column 62 and a collar 31. Since the polygonal column 62 has poor airtightness, an O-ring 63 is arranged under the collar 31. In addition, the pressing plate 64 and the bolts 65 and 65 prevent the fixing portion 21 from rising. With the structure shown in FIG. 7B, it is not necessary to provide a female screw on the structure 10.
Therefore, the shape and form of the fixing portion 21 can be changed in various ways.

Next, an example in which the structure 10 is the cylinder block 66 will be described.
FIG. 8A shows a comparative example. In an ordinary engine, since the oil pan is attached under the cylinder block 66, an oil sump 67 is always formed. In the comparative example, the lubricating oil 68 discharged from the discharge port 47 directly falls into the oil sump 67. The larger the height difference h1 between the oil level and the discharge port 47, the larger the droplets 69 and 69. Splashes 69, 69 entrain the surrounding air. As a result, the number of bubbles in the lubricating oil 68 increases. Bubbles are not preferable because they adversely affect the lubrication on the lubricating surface.

FIG. 8B shows an embodiment, in which a wall 71 is provided on the cylinder block 66 at a position facing (opposing) the discharge port 47. If it is difficult to provide the wall 71, the plate 72 is attached to the cylinder block 66. Since the height difference h2 becomes smaller and the kinetic energy of the lubricating oil 68 decreases by hitting the wall 71 or the plate 72, the droplets hardly rise from the oil sump 67. Therefore, it is possible to prevent air bubbles from being mixed into the lubricating oil 68.

The structure 10 may be of any type as long as it has an oil passage such as a speed reducer in addition to an oil pump and a cylinder block.

In the above-described embodiment, as described in FIG. 6C, the caulking forces F and F are applied to reduce the diameter of the first caulking cylinder portion 36, whereby the connecting portion 27 is attached to the fixing portion 21. Concluded.
This fastening structure can be implemented with a circlip or a spring pin instead of caulking. A specific example will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 9, a clip storage groove 74 is provided at the tip end portion (lower end portion in the drawing) of the fixing portion 21. Further, a clip storage groove 75 is provided at the upper end of the connecting portion 27 shown below. Then, the circlip 76 is interposed between the fixing portion 21 and the connecting portion 27. Since the other components are the same as those in FIG. 5 (or FIG. 2), the reference numerals in FIG. 5 (or FIG. 2) are diverted, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The circlip 76 is a component whose official name is JIS-B2804 "C-shaped retaining ring", but is also called a snap ring, a retail ring, or the like. In the present invention, the widely used name "circlip" is used.

FIG. 10B is a supplementary explanatory view of FIG. 10A.
As shown in FIG. 10B, the circlip 76 has a spring washer shape. Assuming that the thickness of the circlip 76 (corresponding to the spring contact length, the thickness of the wire) is t1, the free spring length is t2, and the groove width of the clip storage groove 74 is t3, the relationship is set to t1 <t3 and t1 <t2. Has been done.

Specifically, the groove width t3 is preferably 1.05 to 1.4 times the thickness t1 of the circlip, and the free spring length t2 is larger than the thickness (spring contact length) t1 although it varies depending on the manufacturing method. ..

As shown in FIG. 10A, the fixing portion 21 is formed with a pointed male tapered portion 77 on the tip end side of the clip storage groove 74. Therefore, the circlip 76 is pushed along the male taper portion 77 as shown by the arrow (4). The diameter of the circlip 76 is expanded by the male taper portion 77. When pushed further, the circlip 76 fits into the clip storage groove 74.

The connecting portion 27 is formed with a female tapered portion 78 having a divergent tip on the tip side of the clip storage groove 75. When the fixing portion 21 is inserted into the connecting portion 27 as shown by the arrow (5), the circlip 76 is reduced in diameter by the female tapered portion 78. When further inserted, the circlip fits into the clip storage groove 75.

As shown in FIG. 11, the connecting portion 27 is fastened to the fixing portion 21 by fitting the circlip 76 into the clip storage groove 74 on the fixing portion 21 side and the clip storage groove 75 on the connecting portion 27 side.
A slight gap t4 is secured between the fixed portion 21 and the connecting portion 27.
The circlip 76 elastically deforms in the radial direction. There is a gap between the circlip 76 and the clip storage groove 74. As a result, the connecting portion 27 is allowed to move slightly with respect to the fixing portion 21 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with respect to the longitudinal axis 79 of the fixing portion 21.

As shown in FIG. 12A, the pump housing 14 is provided with a hole 81 for attaching (screwing) the fixing portion 21 and a hole 82 for attaching (inserting) the connecting portion 27. Since the hole 81 and the hole 82 are separated by the main oil passage 15, the center 81a of the hole 81 and the center 82a of the hole 82 may be slightly deviated by δ1.
Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the center 82a of the hole 82 may be slightly inclined with respect to the center 81a of the hole 81 by δ2.
Misalignment and inclination occur due to manufacturing errors during machining, temperature differences during use of the structure 10, aging after long-term use, and the like.

As described with reference to FIG. 11, since the connecting portion 27 can move with respect to the fixing portion 21 in a direction perpendicular to the axis with respect to the longitudinal axis 79 of the fixing portion 21, FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b) are shown. The indicated deviation δ1 and inclination δ2 are absorbed.
Therefore, the work of attaching the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 to the pump housing 14 becomes easy, and the temperature-sensitive valve mechanism 20 can be used for a long period of time.

As shown in FIG. 11, there is a relatively large axial gap between the circlip 76 and the clip storage groove 74. This axial gap is calculated by (t3-t1) / 2. As described with reference to FIG. 10B, the circlip 76 has a spring washer shape. The spring force of the spring washer elastically limits the axial movement of the connecting portion 27 with respect to the fixing portion 21 in FIG.
The circlip 76 may have a flat washer shape as well as a spring washer shape. A specific example thereof is shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 13, in the case of the circlip 76 having a flat washer shape (however, it is still a C-shaped retaining ring), the groove width t5 of the clip storage groove 74 is the thickness of the circlip 76. It is about 1.15 times t1. Since there is no spring action, the connecting member 27 can move in the axial direction with respect to the fixing member 21, although it is very small. On the other hand, the circlip 76 is inexpensive.

Therefore, if cost is important, FIG. 13 may be adopted, and if performance is important, FIG. 11 may be adopted.
That is, although various shapes of the circlip 76 (regardless of JIS standard products or non-standard products) have been proposed, all of them can be adopted and are not limited to the shapes of the examples.

Next, an embodiment in which the spring pin 86 is adopted will be described.
As shown in FIG. 14, a pin hole 84 may be provided in the fixing portion 21, a pin hole 85 may be provided in the connecting portion 27, and a spring pin 86 may be inserted (press-fitted) into the pin holes 84 and 85.
The spring pin 86 has a formal name of JIS B 2808 "grooved spring pin", has one groove (slit), and has a C-shaped cross section. Since it has a C-shaped cross section, the diameter is reduced when an external force is applied, and returns to the original diameter when the external force is removed. In this way, the spring pin 86 is elastically deformed.

As shown in FIG. 15, the connecting portion 27 is fastened to the fixing portion 21 via the spring pin 86.
In addition to the elastic action of the spring pin 86, there is a gap t4 between the fixing portion 21 and the connecting portion 27, so that the connecting portion 27 is allowed to be displaced or tilted with respect to the fixing portion 21.

A metal rod having a diameter smaller than that of the pin hole (FIG. 14, reference numeral 85) and a hammer for striking the metal rod are prepared, and in FIG. 15, one end of the spring pin 86 is striked (pushed) with the metal rod. Then, a part of the spring pin 86 protrudes from the connecting portion 27. Grasp this protruding part with nippers or pliers and pull it out. The removed spring pin 86 is damaged and should be discarded. The fixing portion 21 and the connecting portion 27 are fastened with a new spring pin 86.

As described above, the spring pin 86 is easier to attach and detach than the circlip 76. Further, the circlip 76 tends to be a special product, but the spring pin 86 has an advantage of being inexpensive because it is supported by a commercially available product.

Next, a modification of the connecting portion 27 described with reference to FIG. 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 16A, a plurality of through holes 88 are provided along the clip storage groove 75 in the connecting portion 27. The through hole 88 is a hole that penetrates from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the tubular connecting portion 27. Others are the same as in FIG. 10A, and the reference numerals are used and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The through hole 88 may be a square hole, a vertically long square hole, an elliptical hole, an elongated hole, or a regular circular hole, in addition to the horizontally long square hole. Further, it is recommended to provide four through holes 88 at a 90 ° pitch or three at a 120 ° pitch, but the number and pitch are not particularly limited.
The fixing portion 21 is fastened to the connecting portion 27 together with the circlip 76. The cross section of the bb line after the connection is shown in FIG. 16 (b).

As shown in FIG. 16B, a connecting portion 27 is fastened to the fixing portion 21 via a circlip 76. The state of the circlip 76 (mounting posture, etc.) can be confirmed by looking through the through hole 88. The confirmation may be confirmed by visual confirmation by an operator or by analyzing an image obtained by a CCD camera.
If there is a problem with the state of the circlip 76, the diameter of the circlip 76 is reduced while passing the jigs 89 and 89 through the through holes 88 and 88. In this state, the fixing portion 21 is removed (separated) from the connecting portion 27.
As a result, when a defect such as an improper valve position at a predetermined temperature is found after assembly, the circlip 76 can be removed and reassembled.

As shown in FIG. 16C, the through hole 88 may be a notched hole with an open upper portion. The notched hole is easier to process than the non-notched hole, and the processing man-hours can be reduced.

Further, it is recommended that the structure 10, the valve box 26 and the connecting portion 27 shown in FIG. 7 and the like are all made of similar materials, for example, an aluminum alloy. If all similar materials are used, the coefficients of thermal expansion will be approximate. Then, the clearance (gap) between the structure 10 and the valve box 26 and the structure 10 and the connecting portion 27 can be minimized, so that the oil leakage from the clearance is minimized.

In FIG. 7 and the like, the sealing material 48 is arranged between the outer peripheral side of the valve box 26 and the structure 10, but if the oil leakage can be minimized, the sealing material 48 can be omitted.
That is, even if the sealing material 48 is not arranged on the outer peripheral side of the valve box 26, a large amount of oil does not leak and the oil leakage is small, so that more accurate control can be performed.

The present invention is suitable for a temperature sensitive valve mechanism incorporated in an oil pump.

10 ... Structure, 11 ... Oil pump which is an example of the structure, 15 ... Oil passage (main oil passage), 16 ... Oil passage (return oil passage), 20 ... Temperature sensitive valve mechanism, 21 ... Fixed part, 22 ... An example of a fixed part, a plug with a flange, 23 ... piston, 24 ... thermoelement, 25 ... valve, 26 ... valve box, 27 ... connecting part, 44 ... flow path through hole, 47 ... discharge port, 55 ... male screw, 56 ... Threaded part, 59 ... Caulking part (first caulking part), 61 ... A flangeless plug which is another example of a fixed part, 66 ... Cylinder block which is another example of a structure, 68 ... Lubricating oil, 71 ... Wall, 72 ... Plate, 74, 75 ... Clip storage groove, 76 ... Circlip, 79 ... Longitudinal axis of fixed part, 88 ... Through hole, t1 ... Circlip thickness, t3 ... Clip storage groove groove width.

Claims (8)

In a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixed portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixed portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, supporting the valve box, and passing the lubricating oil so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage .
The structure is a cylinder block of an engine, and the cylinder block has a wall of the cylinder block or a plate attached to the cylinder block at the outlet of the discharge port, and the lubricating oil discharged from the discharge port. Is a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism, which is arranged in the cylinder block so as to flow down into the oil sump after hitting the wall or the plate . In a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixed portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixed portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, supporting the valve box, and passing the lubricating oil so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage.
The connecting portion is fastened to the fixing part via a caulking portion, said caulked portion deformed be characterized as to that a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is fastened by crimping over the entire circumference. In a temperature-sensitive valve mechanism that is attached to a structure having an oil passage and allows the lubricating oil to escape to the outside of the oil passage according to the temperature of the lubricating oil flowing through the oil passage.
A fixing portion fixed to the structure, a thermo element supported or abutted by the fixing portion and arranged in the oil passage, a valve fixed to the other of the thermo elements, and a valve surrounding the valve. It is composed of a box and a connecting portion having a flow path through hole extending from the fixing portion to surround the thermo element, support the valve box, and allow the lubricating oil to pass therethrough so that the lubricating oil hits the thermo element.
The valve box is provided with a discharge port that is opened and closed by the valve so that the lubricating oil can escape from the discharge port to the outside of the oil passage.
The connecting portion, temperature-sensitive valve mechanism you characterized in that it is fastened to the fixing part via a circlip. The temperature-sensitive valve according to claim 3 , wherein the groove width of the clip storage groove for accommodating the circlip is set to be larger than the thickness of the circlip, and the circlip has a spring washer shape. mechanism. The temperature-sensitive valve mechanism according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the connecting portion includes a plurality of through holes provided along the clip storage groove. The temperature-sensitive valve mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the valve box is integrally formed with the connecting portion. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the connecting portion and the valve box are separate bodies, and the valve box is fastened to the connecting portion via a caulking portion or a screw portion. Temperature sensitive valve mechanism. The temperature-sensitive valve mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the structure, the valve box, and the connecting portion are made of an aluminum alloy.

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