WO2018103870A1

WO2018103870A1 - Valve module for an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2018103870A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/001116
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus Sander; Lionel Le Clech; Thomas Seemüller
Original assignee: Daimler Ag
Priority date: 2016-12-09
Filing date: 2017-09-20
Publication date: 2018-06-14
Also published as: DE102016014718A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve module (10) for an oil circuit (12) of an internal combustion engine (52), wherein a valve slide (30) is held in a valve housing (14) and can be moved between a blocking position and different bypass positions (32, 46). The valve slide (30) is designed as a thermostat slide and has slide openings (42, 44), via which respective bypass oil flows (28, 48) can be discharged from the valve housing (14) in the different bypass positions (32, 46).

Description

Valve module for an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine

The invention relates to a valve module for an oil circuit a

Internal combustion engine according to the preamble of claim 1.

In known from the prior art internal combustion engines, thermostats are used to regulate media temperatures. With the aid of these thermostats, it is generally possible to pass respective media streams through a media cooler or to pass them past the media cooler. Such thermostats may be formed, for example, as a coolant or oil thermostats, the latter may be involved in oil circuits of internal combustion engines. In particular, in such oil circuits and check valves are used, which should prevent that occurs at an engine stop unwanted emptying of the oil circuit. In a subsequent engine start can by maintaining an oil filling of the

Oil circulation by means of such check valves a faster construction of a

required oil pressure in the oil circuit. Thus, especially in a start-stop operation of the wear of internal combustion engines can be reduced.

From DE 10 2009 023 824 A1, a thermostatic pressure relief valve is known, in which a cylindrical valve member, a helical compression spring and a cylindrical expansion element are inserted one behind the other into a, opening into a flow passage bore of a valve housing of the thermostatic pressure relief valve. Upon loading the flow channel of this valve with a fluid, this flows into the bore and thereby moves the cylindrical valve member against a spring force of the helical compression spring until the cylindrical valve member releases a discharge opening in the valve housing, through which finally the fluid can escape from the valve housing. From DE 10 2008 032 494 A1 an oil-coolant module is known, which has a housing with an oil thermostatic receptacle. Furthermore, the housing has a first receiving space for an oil filter and a second receiving space for an oil-water heat exchanger.

Object of the present invention is to provide a valve module for an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine of the type mentioned, which has a particularly high functionality.

This object is achieved by a valve module for an oil circuit

Internal combustion engine solved with the features of claim 1.

Advantageous developments of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention is based on a valve module for an oil circuit

An internal combustion engine having a valve housing which has an oil inlet opening for introducing a main oil flow into a housing interior of the valve housing, an oil outlet opening for discharging a control oil flow from the housing interior, and a first bypass opening arranged between the oil inlet opening and the oil outlet, for discharging a first bypass oil flow, and with a valve spool, which for adjusting the control oil flow and the first bypass oil flow between the oil inlet opening and the oil outlet opening at least between a blocking position in which the valve spool covers the first bypass opening, in a first bypass position, in which the valve spool flows through the first

Bypass oil flow through the first bypass opening releases, is displaceable, and which has a, the oil inlet opening and the oil outlet opening oil-conducting connecting flow opening, and with a spring element, by means of which, dependent on a main oil pressure of the main oil flow spring force for displacing the valve spool between the valve housing and the valve spool is transferable, out. The valve spool may be formed, for example, as a valve piston. By covering the first one

By-pass opening through the valve spool in its blocking position, leakage of the first bypass oil flow via the first bypass opening may be blocked. When it is displaced along a longitudinal axis of the valve housing, the valve slide can be displaceable axially along the valve housing. The valve housing, the valve slide and the spring element can form a so-called main valve stage of the valve module. The control oil flow can be supplied to a, an oil pan of the oil circuit, and thus correspond to engine oil flow to be diverted. The control oil flow can depend both on the extent to which the valve spool covers the first bypass opening, as well as how the pilot valve is actuated, that is, whether the pilot valve is open or closed, for example.

In order to provide a valve module which has a particularly high functionality, it is provided according to the invention that the valve slide as

Thermostatic slide is formed and has a first slide opening, which releases in the first bypass position, the passage of the first bypass oil flow through the first bypass opening and a second slide opening, which releases in a second bypass position of the valve spool, a flow of a second bypass oil flow through a second bypass opening of the valve housing. This is advantageous because the valve module on the one hand act as a pressure relief valve and on the other hand can also take over thermostat functions. As a result, the valve module has a particularly high functionality compared to systems known from the prior art, in which pressure-limiting valves and thermostat are formed separately. Thus, in the present case, two functions can be integrated in one component. This is advantageously accompanied by a cost reduction and reduction of a number of components in the oil circuit. Furthermore, a pressure loss reduction in the operation of the valve module so when it flows through with engine oil compared to known from the prior art systems, as well as improved ease of maintenance can be achieved. Depending on whether the first bypass position or the second bypass position is set, the first bypass oil flow or the second bypass oil flow can be conducted to the internal combustion engine via a main oil passage in order to communicate with them

Supply lubricant.

The valve module allows a load-dependent oil pressure control, the

For example, designed as a solenoid valve pilot valve can be controlled via an engine control unit of the internal combustion engine. The oil outlet opening can be oil-conducting connected to the oil pan by means of the pilot valve. The pilot valve can therefore allow an oil return into the oil pan, whereby the control oil flow exiting via the oil outlet opening can be adjustable by actuating the pilot valve. About the oil inlet opening of the main oil flow can be promoted by means of an oil pump from the oil pan into the housing interior of the valve housing. In an advantageous embodiment, the valve spool covers the first bypass opening in its second bypass position and the second bypass opening in its first bypass position. This is advantageous, since in this way a particularly targeted guiding of the main oil flow in the form of the first bypass oil flow or of the second bypass oil flow is made possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the valve module has a pilot-connected to the Ölauslassöffnung pilot valve for adjusting the control oil flow and the valve spool is in response to an operating condition of the pilot valve against the spring force and in dependence on the main oil pressure in at least one of

Bypass positions displaced to release an outflow of the respective bypass oil flow. This is advantageous, since a particularly accurate metering (regulation) of the respective bypass oil flow to be supplied to the internal combustion engine is made possible by such a pilot valve.

By way of the first slide opening and the first bypass opening, in the first bypass position, at least part of the main oil flow can be diverted as the first bypass oil flow, for example in the form of a cold engine oil flow, and fed to, for example, an oil heater of the oil circuit. For this purpose, the valve spool can be positioned in the first bypass position by closing the pilot valve as well as by the main oil pressure, which can act counter to the spring force. The closed pilot valve can be a Absteuern the control oil flow, so feeding the

Prevent control oil flow into the oil sump.

In the second bypass position, at least part of the main oil flow can be via the second slide opening and the second bypass opening as the second bypass oil flow, for example in the form of a low-temperature engine oil flow

Internal combustion engine to be supplied. The remaining part can be considered the

Regulating oil flow are returned to the oil pan, if the pilot valve is opened. This is a total in a particularly simple way, both a

Thermostat control, as well as a reliable lubricant supply of

Internal combustion engine by means of the oil module allows.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the pilot valve is arranged in the valve housing. This is advantageous since the valve module can thereby be made particularly compact and lightweight. In a further advantageous embodiment, a check valve for preventing a backflow of the control oil flow in the direction of the oil inlet opening is provided at the throughflow opening. This is advantageous because this check valve makes it possible to provide the control oil flow with a flow rate dependent on the respective opening forces of the check valve. The check valve may be closed, for example, in the blocking position and in the respective

Bypass positions and be opened in response to the main oil pressure to provide at least a portion of the main oil flow as a control oil flow at the Olauslassöffnung.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a leakage bore is provided in a region of the oil outlet opening which has a smaller diameter than the oil outlet opening. This is advantageous because, in the case of possible malfunctions of the valve module, it is also possible to return engine oil to the fluid circuit, for example into the oil sump, via the leakage bore. As a result, further, for example, any overpressure-related damage can be avoided. The area can correspond to a housing area in which the spring element can be arranged.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment and from the drawing. The features mentioned above in the description and

Feature combinations as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures are not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in others

Combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Showing:

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary of the invention

Embodiment of a valve module, which is integrated in an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine, wherein a valve spool of the valve module is positioned in a locking position; Fig. 2 is a further schematic representation of the valve module, wherein the

Valve spool is positioned in a first bypass position; and

Fig. 3 is a further schematic representation of the valve module, wherein the

Valve spool is positioned in a second bypass position.

1, 2 and 3 each show a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a valve module 10 for an oil circuit 12 of an internal combustion engine 52 shown only in FIG.

In addition to the valve module 10 and the internal combustion engine 52 may in the

Oil circuit 12 - as shown in Fig. 1 - and an oil pan 54, an oil pump 56 and an oil filter 58 to be integrated, wherein the valve module 10 in the present

Embodiment between the oil pump 56 and a main oil passage 40, via which the internal combustion engine 52 is supplied with engine oil, is arranged. In addition, for example, even an oil heater may be integrated into the oil circuit 12, although this is not shown here.

The valve module 10 comprises a valve housing 14 which has an oil inlet opening 16 for introducing a main oil flow 18 into a housing interior 20 of the valve housing 14, an oil outlet opening 22 for discharging a controlled oil flow 24 from the housing

Housing interior 20 and one, between the oil inlet 16 and the

Oil outlet 22 disposed first bypass opening 26 for discharging a first bypass oil flow 28 and thereby to the oil supply of the internal combustion engine 52 has. The discharge of the first bypass oil stream 28 is shown in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, the valve housing 14 has a, likewise between the oil inlet 16 and the oil outlet 22 and in a, by an arrow direction of

Main oil stream 18 indicated main flow direction next to the first

Bypass opening 26 disposed second bypass opening 50, via which a shown in Fig. 3, second bypass oil flow 48 from the housing interior 20 of the valve housing 14 and the internal combustion engine 52 can be fed by mediation of an oil cooler 70 shown only in Fig. 1.

The valve module 10 also includes a valve spool 30, which for adjusting the control oil flow 24 (for setting a control pressure of the control oil flow) and the two Bypass oil streams 28, 48 between the oil inlet opening 16 and the oil outlet opening 22 at least between a blocking position shown in FIG. 1, in which the valve spool 30, the two bypass openings 26, 50, and respective, the bypass openings

opposite, Absteueröffnungen 27, 51 of the valve housing 14 covered, and respective bypass positions, namely, a, shown in Fig. 2, the first bypass position 32 and a, shown in Fig. 3, second bypass position 46 is displaceable. At least some of the respective bypass oil streams 28, 48 can be diverted and returned to the oil sump 54 via the discharge openings 27, 51 in the various bypass positions 32, 46. This shutdown of a portion of the bypass oil streams 28, 48 is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

The valve slide 30 in the present case has two opposing first

Slider openings 42 and two, arranged next to the slide openings 42, second slide openings 44. In the first bypass position 32, at least one of the first slide openings 42 allows the first bypass oil flow 28 to flow through the first bypass opening 26. In the second bypass position 46, at least one of the second slide openings 44 allows the second bypass oil flow 48 to flow through the second bypass opening 50 of the valve housing 14 The valve spool 30 further has one, the oil inlet 16 and the oil outlet 22 oil-conducting

connecting flow opening 34. At the flow opening 34 is a

Check valve 60 for preventing backflow of the control oil flow 24 in the direction of the oil inlet opening 16 is provided.

The valve spool 30 may be in addition to the locking position and the respective

Bypass positions 32, 46 are also generally displaced into a plurality of different, but not shown here intermediate positions. Accordingly, in a first intermediate position, it is possible for the first bypass oil flow 28 to be led out via one of the first slide openings 42 and the first bypass opening 26 in the direction of the internal combustion engine 52. At the same time, an outflow from the two discharge openings 27, 51 (and thus a return flow of oil in the oil pan 54) blocked by the valve spool 30, so it can be prevented.

In a second intermediate position, however, a discharge of the second

Bypass oil stream 48 via one of the second slide openings 44 and the second

Bypass opening 50 in the direction of the internal combustion engine 52 may be possible, at the same time the outflow from the two Absteueröffnungen 27, 51 (and thus a Backflow of oil in the oil pan 54) blocked by the valve spool 30, so can be prevented.

The valve module 10 further comprises a spring element 36, by means of which a, dependent on a main oil pressure of the main oil flow 18 spring force for displacing the valve spool 30 between the valve housing 14 and the valve spool 30 is transferable to the valve spool 30 between the locking position and the respective bypass positions 32nd , 46 or the intermediate positions to move.

In a region 64 and thereby next to the Ölauslassöffnung 22, a leakage hole 62 is provided, which has a smaller diameter than the Ölauslassöffnung 22. The area 64 generally corresponds to a housing portion of the

Valve housing 14 in which the spring element 36 is received. The area 64 is generally limited by the valve housing 14 and the valve slide 30. An interior of the region 64, in which the spring element 36 is received, is, as can be seen from the combination of FIG. 2 with FIG. 3, by the displacement of the valve spool 30 variable.

As can be seen from the synopsis of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, covers the

Valve spool 30 in the second bypass position 46, the first bypass opening 26 and in the first bypass position 32, the second bypass opening 50th

Valve module 10 includes a pilot valve 38 oil-conductively coupled to oil discharge port 22 for adjusting the control oil flow 24, and valve spool 30 is biased against the spring force and depending on the main oil pressure in response to a respective operating condition of pilot valve 38

Bypass positions 32, 46 or intermediate positions displaced to release, for example, an outflow of the respective bypass oil streams 28, 48. The pilot valve 38 may be arranged by slight modification of the valve housing 14 in this, although this is not shown in detail here.

1 shows the valve module 10 in an idle state, in which the valve slide 30 closes the respective bypass openings 26, 50 in the said blocking position and the check valve 60 closes the throughflow opening 34. The main oil pressure of the main oil flow 18 is therefore not sufficient to open the check valve 60, which accordingly no engine oil to the oil outlet 22 and thus reaches the pilot valve 38. FIG. 2 shows the valve module 10 in a first operating state, in which the valve slide 30 is positioned in the first bypass position 32. As a result, an outflow of the first bypass oil flow 28 via the first bypass opening 26 is made possible. The first bypass opening 26 may also be referred to as Kaltölauslass over which, for example, during a warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine 52, the first bypass oil flow 28 as a cold oil stream and as part of the main oil stream 18 can be discharged from the housing interior 20 and guided in the direction of the internal combustion engine 52 , A remaining oil content of the main oil flow 18 presses the check valve 60 and thus enters the interior of the region 64. Since the pilot valve 38 may be closed during the warm-up phase of the internal combustion engine 52 (see FIG. 2), this oil fraction flows out of the region 64 exclusively the leakage hole 62 back into the oil pan 54th

FIG. 3 shows the valve module 10 in a second operating state, in which the valve slide 30 is positioned in the second bypass position 46. As a result, an outflow of the second bypass oil flow 48 via the second bypass opening 50 is made possible. The second bypass opening 50 can also be referred to as a hot oil outlet, via which, when the internal combustion engine 52 is warm, the second bypass oil stream 48 can be discharged from the housing interior 20 as a warm oil stream and as part of the main oil stream 18 and directed in the direction of the internal combustion engine 52. A further remaining oil content of the main oil stream 18 can press the check valve 60 and thus reach the interior of the area 64. Since the pilot valve 38 in the operating temperature of the

Internal combustion engine 52 may be open, for example due to a control by means of an engine control unit not shown here (see Fig. 3), at least a subset of the oil content of the main oil stream 18 passes as the

Regelölstrom 24 also via the pilot valve 38 into the oil pan 54th

The present valve module 10 assumes the function of a check valve or pressure relief valve and the function of a thermostat in a component and therefore has a particularly high functionality. The valve spool 30, which can also be referred to as a main spool, can thus be designed so that it performs the two functions check valve, or pressure relief valve and thermostatic valve. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 valve module

12 oil circuit

14 valve housing

16 oil inlet opening

18 main oil stream

20 housing interior

22 oil outlet opening

24 control oil flow

26 first bypass opening

27 first discharge opening

28 first bypass oil flow

30 valve spool

32 first bypass position

34 flow opening

36 spring element

38 pilot valve

40 main oil channel

42 first slide opening

44 second slide opening

46 second bypass position

48 second bypass oil flow

50 second bypass opening

51 second discharge opening

52 internal combustion engine

54 oil pan

56 oil pump

58 oil filter

60 check valve leakage hole

Area

attack

poetry

oil cooler

Claims

claims

1. valve module (10) for an oil circuit (12) of an internal combustion engine (52),

- With a valve housing (14) which an oil inlet (16) for

Introducing a main oil flow (18) into a housing interior (20) of the valve housing (14), an oil outlet opening (22) for discharging a control oil flow (24) from the housing interior (20), as well as between the oil inlet opening (16) and the oil outlet opening (22 ), first bypass opening (26) for discharging a first bypass oil flow (28), and

- With a valve spool (30) which for adjusting the control oil flow (24) and the first bypass oil flow (28) between the oil inlet (16) and the oil outlet (22) at least between a blocking position in which the valve spool (30), the first bypass opening (26), in a first bypass position (32), in which the valve spool (30) flows through the first bypass oil flow (28) through the first bypass opening (26) is displaced, and one, the oil inlet (16) and the oil outlet opening (22) oil-conducting connecting flow opening (34), and

- With a spring element (36), by means of which one of a

Main oil pressure of the main oil flow (18) dependent spring force for displacing the valve spool (30) between the valve housing (14) and the

Valve slide is transferable,

characterized in that

the valve slide (30) is designed as a thermostat slide and has a first slide opening (42), which in the first bypass position (32) the Flowing through the first bypass oil flow (28) through the first bypass opening (26) and having a second slide opening (44), which in a second bypass position (46) of the valve slide (30) flowing through a second bypass oil flow (48) through a second bypass opening ( 50) of the valve housing (14) releases.

2. Valve module (10) according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the valve spool (30) in its second bypass position (46) the first

Covered by the bypass opening (26) and in the first bypass position (32), the second bypass opening (50) covered.

3. valve module (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the valve module (10) has a pilot valve (38), which is oil-conductively coupled to the oil outlet opening (22), for setting the control oil flow (24), and the

Valve spool (30) in response to an operating state of the pilot valve (38) against the spring force and in response to the main oil pressure in at least one of the bypass positions (32, 46) is displaced to release an outflow of the respective bypass oil flow (28, 48).

4. valve module (10) according to claim 3,

characterized in that

the pilot valve (38) is disposed in the valve housing (14).

5. Valve module (10) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

a non-return valve (60) is provided at the flow-through opening for preventing backflow of the control oil flow (24) in the direction of the oil inlet opening (16).

6. Valve module (10) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that in a region (64) next to the Olauslassöffnung (22) a leakage bore (62) is provided, which has a smaller diameter than that

Oil outlet (22).