WO2022249654A1

WO2022249654A1 - Chain cover and internal combustion engine

Info

Publication number: WO2022249654A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/011247
Authority: WO
Inventors: ▲高▼間健; 栗田洋孝
Original assignee: 株式会社アイシン
Priority date: 2021-05-24
Filing date: 2022-03-14
Publication date: 2022-12-01
Also published as: JP2022179979A

Abstract

Provided is a chain cover that makes it possible to stably supply a lubricating oil to a sprocket and a timing chain housed in the chain cover, without using an oil jet requiring an oil passage or an injection hole, and also provided is an internal combustion engine. The chain cover can be attached in an internal combustion engine to cover a timing chain, which transmits the driving force of a crankshaft to an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft, and a valve opening/closing timing control device that sets the valve timing of the intake camshaft and/or the exhaust camshaft. In the chain cover, a projecting portion that receives lubricating oil discharged from the valve opening/closing timing control device and guides the lubricating oil in the direction of the timing chain wound around the outer circumference of the valve opening/closing timing control device is present on the inner surface of the chain cover, and in a state in which the chain cover is attached, the projecting portion partially overlaps the timing chain when viewed along the rotation axis of the valve opening/closing timing control device.

Description

Chain cover and internal combustion engine

The present invention relates to chain covers and internal combustion engines.

Patent Document 1 describes an internal combustion engine that has a timing chain that transmits the driving force of the crankshaft to the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft, and that has a chain cover that covers the timing chain.

In Patent Document 1, an oil flow path for circulating lubricating oil supplied from an oil pump and an injection hole for injecting the lubricating oil are formed in a cylinder block, and a timing chain winds the lubricating oil injected from the injection hole. It has a structure in which a guide groove is formed in the chain cover to guide it in the direction of the rotating sprocket.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-003821

　In internal combustion engines that transmit the driving force of the crankshaft to the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft via a timing chain, lubrication of the timing chain is also required. As described in Patent Document 1, it is conceivable to supply lubricating oil from an oil pump to a guide groove in a chain cover through an oil passage or an injection hole in a cylinder block, and inject the lubricating oil from this guide groove to a sprocket. ing.

However, in the configuration as described in Patent Document 1 that supplies lubricating oil to the sprocket, the oil passages and injection holes for supplying oil are formed in the cylinder block, and the guide grooves are formed in the chain cover. It is feared that not only does this require machining to handle the sprocket, but it also requires an increase in the capacity of the oil pump in order to supply a sufficient amount of lubricating oil to the sprocket. Moreover, in the configuration in which the lubricating oil is injected from the injection holes, there is a possibility that the lubricating oil cannot be stably supplied.

For these reasons, there is a demand for a chain cover and an internal combustion engine that can stably supply lubricating oil to the sprocket and timing chain housed in the chain cover without using an oil jet that requires oil passages and injection holes. be done.

A characteristic configuration of the chain cover according to the present invention is a timing chain that transmits the driving force of a crankshaft to at least one of an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft, and at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft, in an internal combustion engine. and a chain cover that can be attached so as to cover the valve timing control device for setting the valve timing of the valve timing control device, wherein the chain cover receives lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device and controls the valve timing. The inner surface of the chain cover has a protrusion that guides the timing chain wound around the outer periphery of the control device. The timing control device partially overlaps with the timing chain when viewed along the rotational axis of the timing control device.

According to this characteristic configuration, the lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device can be received by the protrusion on the inner surface of the chain cover, and the received lubricating oil can be guided toward the timing chain of the valve timing control device. As a result, the lubricating oil is supplied from the protrusion to the timing chain, so that the lubricating oil not only lubricates the timing chain but also lubricates a plurality of sprockets around which the timing chain is wound.
Accordingly, a chain cover has been constructed that can supply lubricating oil to the sprocket and timing chain housed in the chain cover without using an oil jet that requires an oil passage or an injection hole.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the projecting portion may partially overlap with the valve opening/closing timing control device when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis.

According to this, the lubricating oil discharged from one end in the direction along the rotation axis of the valve opening/closing timing control device can be received by the protruding portion.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the projecting portion includes an open portion for sending lubricating oil toward the timing chain below the rotation axis when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis of the valve timing control device. may have.

According to this, it is possible to feed the lubricating oil in the direction of the cam sprocket from the opening on the lower side of the protrusion.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the projecting portion may further include a guide that guides the lubricating oil delivered from the opening portion to a region of the timing chain that extends downward from the valve opening/closing timing control device. .

According to this, the lubricating oil discharged from the open portion is guided by the inductor, so that it can be supplied without waste to the timing chain in the region extending downward from the valve timing control device.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the inductor is formed in a shape that bulges downward in the direction of gravity from the rotation axis when viewed along the rotation axis, and one end of the inductor is opened as described above. It may be arranged at a position to receive the lubricating oil discharged from the portion, and the region of the inductor that swells most downward may be arranged close to the timing chain.

According to this, when viewed in the direction along the rotation axis, the lubricant discharged from the opening is received by the inductor, and in this inductor, the lubricant flows toward the region that swells downward, and swells to the lowest side of the inductor. can feed the timing chain from the domain.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the derivative may have a partially cut-out chain passage space, and the timing chain may pass through the chain passage space.

According to this, since the timing chain is arranged in the chain passage space formed by cutting the inductor, the inner edge of the chain passage space and the timing chain arranged in this chain passage space are positioned extremely close to each other, so that the timing chain flows into the inductor. Lubricating oil can be efficiently supplied to the timing chain.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the inductor is formed in an arc shape that bulges downward in the direction of gravity around a guide shaft centered in a posture parallel to the rotation axis when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis, The chain passage space may be formed at a portion of the inductor that most protrudes downward in the arc-shaped region.

According to this, the lubricating oil guided downward along the derivative from the open portion flows along the arc-shaped region of the derivative, and the flow is suppressed at the part that protrudes most downward, so that the lubricating oil is temporarily Therefore, the lubricating oil can be supplied to the timing chain from the chain passage space.

A characteristic configuration of an internal combustion engine according to the present invention is the chain cover according to any one of the above, and the timing chain that transmits the driving force of the crankshaft to at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft. It is in the point of providing

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the valve opening/closing timing control device for setting the valve timing of at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft may be further provided.

According to these characteristic configurations, the lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device can be received by the protrusion on the inner surface of the chain cover, and the received lubricating oil can be guided toward the timing chain of the valve timing control device. As a result, the lubricating oil is supplied from the protrusion to the timing chain, so that the lubricating oil not only lubricates the timing chain but also lubricates a plurality of sprockets around which the timing chain is wound.
Accordingly, an internal combustion engine capable of supplying lubricating oil to the sprocket and timing chain housed in the chain cover without using an oil jet that requires an oil passage or injection hole is constructed.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the valve opening/closing timing control device may have a driving side case, and lubricating oil may be discharged from the front surface of the driving side case.

As a configuration in addition to the above configuration, the valve opening/closing timing control device may have a spool, and the lubricating oil may be discharged from the vicinity of the protruding end of the spool.

According to these, the lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device can be received by the protrusion on the inner surface of the chain cover, and the received lubricating oil can be reliably guided in the direction of the timing chain of the valve timing control device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of part of the engine showing the placement of the timing chain; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1; It is a figure which shows arrangement|positioning of the protrusion part on an intake side and an exhaust side. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3; 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship and shape of protrusions on the intake side and the exhaust side; It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the protrusion part by the side of intake of another embodiment (a). It is a perspective view which shows the shape of the protrusion part by the side of exhaust of another embodiment (b). FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an intake-side projection integrally formed on the chain cover in another embodiment (e); FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an exhaust-side projection integrally formed on the chain cover in another embodiment (e);

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Basic configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, a cylinder head 3 is connected to the upper portion of a cylinder block 2 that rotatably supports a crankshaft 1, and pistons 4 are accommodated in a plurality of cylinder bores of the cylinder block 2 so as to be reciprocally operable. A four-cycle engine E (an example of an internal combustion engine) is configured by connecting to the crankshaft 1 by a connecting rod 5 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the engine E rotatably supports an intake camshaft 6 and an exhaust camshaft 7 in a cylinder head 3. An intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va (an example of a valve opening/closing timing control device V) is provided on the same axis as the center X), and an exhaust-side rotation axis Xb (an example of the rotation axis X) of the exhaust camshaft 7 is provided. and an exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb (an example of the valve opening/closing timing control device V). The intake camshaft 6 opens and closes intake valves (not shown), and the exhaust camshaft 7 opens and closes exhaust valves 13 .

1 and 2, the engine E includes an intake cam sprocket 15s of an intake valve timing control device Va, an exhaust cam sprocket 21s of an exhaust valve timing control device Vb, and a crankshaft 1. A timing chain 9 is wound around the output sprocket 8 . The engine E also includes a chain cover 10 that can be attached so as to cover the intake-side valve timing control device Va, the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb, and the timing chain 9, respectively. Furthermore, the engine E has an oil pan 11 that stores lubricating oil at the bottom, and a head cover 12 that covers the cylinder head 3 . The chain cover 10 is a molding made of an aluminum alloy or the like. The chain cover 10 is attached to the engine E with bolts (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2 , the internal space of the chain cover 10 is provided with a chain guide 31 that guides the timing chain 9 and a chain tensioner 32 that applies tension to the timing chain 9 .

The engine E is configured to transmit the rotational force of the crankshaft 1 to the intake camshaft 6 and the exhaust camshaft 7 via the timing chain 9 . Further, the intake valve opening/closing timing controller Va sets the opening/closing timing of the intake valve, and the exhaust valve opening/closing timing controller Vb sets the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve 13 .

[Intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device]
As shown in FIG. 4, the intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va includes a drive-side case 15 to which a driving force from a timing chain 9 wound around an intake-side cam sprocket 15s formed on the outer periphery acts. A driven-side case 16 connected to the intake camshaft 6 is rotatable relative to the intake-side rotation axis Xa, and an inscribed speed reduction mechanism (not shown) is provided therebetween.

This intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va has an electric motor 17 having a drive shaft 17a arranged coaxially with the intake-side rotation axis Xa. It is supported in a state of being fitted into one opening 10a. The electric motor 17 transmits the rotational force of the drive shaft 17a to the reduction mechanism.

In this configuration, the drive shaft 17a of the electric motor 17 is rotated at the same speed as the drive case 15 in a state where the drive case 15 is rotated by the driving force from the timing chain 9, thereby rotating the drive case 15 and the driven side. The relative rotational phase with the case 16 is maintained, and the valve timing (opening/closing timing) of the intake valve is maintained.

On the other hand, by rotating the drive shaft 17a at a speed higher or lower than the rotational speed of the drive-side case 15, the relative rotational phase between the drive-side case 15 and the driven-side case 16 is advanced or retarded. change the valve timing (opening/closing timing) of the intake valve by displacing it to the side.

[Exhaust side valve opening/closing timing control device]
As shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb includes a drive-side operating body 21 on which a driving force from a timing chain 9 wound around an exhaust-side cam sprocket 21s formed on the outer periphery acts. and a driven side operating body 22 which is housed in and connected to the exhaust camshaft 7 and which is relatively rotatable about the exhaust side rotation axis Xb. and a retardation chamber (not shown).

The exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb is formed with a flow path to which hydraulic oil is supplied from the outside, and selectively supplies the hydraulic oil supplied to this flow path to either the advance chamber or the retard chamber. A spool 23 is provided coaxially with the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb so as to be slidable along the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb.

The spool 23 is operable to a plurality of operating positions in the direction along the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb, and is biased to protrude toward the chain cover 10 by the biasing force of a spring (not shown). there is

This exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb has a solenoid unit 24 having a plunger 25 for operating the spool 23 by coming into contact with the outer end of the spool 23. The solenoid unit 24 is formed on the chain cover 10. It is supported in a state in which it is partially inserted into the second opening 10b. The plunger 25 is arranged coaxially with the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb. The solenoid unit 24 controls the amount of protrusion of the plunger 25 by controlling the current value supplied to an internal electromagnetic solenoid (not shown).

With such a configuration, by adjusting the amount of protrusion of the plunger 25 by controlling the current value supplied to the electromagnetic solenoid, the spool 23 is operated to a predetermined operating position, and the supply and discharge of hydraulic oil causes the driving side operating body 21 to move. The relative rotational phase with the driven side operating body 22 is changed to the advance side or the retard side. Thereby, the setting of the valve timing (opening/closing timing) of the exhaust valve 13 is realized.

In particular, when the spool 23 is operated to supply hydraulic oil to one of the advance chamber and the retard chamber, the hydraulic oil discharged from the other of the advance chamber and the retard chamber is as shown in FIG. , is discharged to the outside from the vicinity of the projecting end of the spool 23 as indicated by an arrow D in FIG.

In this engine E, the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan 11 is supplied to the exhaust side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb as hydraulic oil, and as described above, the lubricating oil is discharged from the vicinity of the protruding end of the spool 23. The oil is supplied to the timing chain 9 as lubricating oil by the protrusions 36 shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and the like.

[chain cover]
The chain cover 10 functions to cause the lubricating oil discharged from the upper end portion of the cylinder head 3 or the like, or the lubricating oil discharged from the valve opening/closing timing control device V, to flow down in the internal space of the chain cover 10. Lubricating oil is collected in the oil pan 11 .

The lubricating oil that has lubricated the inside of the intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va is discharged from the front surface of the drive-side case 15 (the right end in FIG. 4).

As described above, as the spool 23 is operated, the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb moves toward the vicinity of the protruding end of the spool 23 (the front surface of the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb) as indicated by the arrow D in FIG. is discharged to the outside.

In the engine E, a timing chain is wound around the intake cam sprocket 15s to receive lubricating oil discharged from the intake valve timing control device Va and scattered by centrifugal force as the intake valve timing control device Va rotates. 9, a member is attached to the inner surface of the chain cover 10 to form an intake-side protruding portion 36 on the inner surface of the vertical wall portion of the chain cover 10. As shown in FIG.

Similarly, the timing chain receives lubricating oil discharged from the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb and scattered by centrifugal force as the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb rotates, and winds around the exhaust-side cam sprocket 21s. 9, a member is attached to the inner surface of the chain cover 10 to form an exhaust-side protruding portion 36 on the inner surface of the vertical wall portion of the chain cover 10. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, in the intake-side projecting portion 36, an annular portion 35 projecting inwardly of the chain cover 10 from the opening edge of the first opening 10a is aligned with the intake-side rotational axis Xa. It is formed in a cylindrical shape with a coaxial core. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the exhaust-side projecting portion 36, the annular portion 35 projecting inwardly of the chain cover 10 from the opening edge of the second opening 10b is located on the exhaust side. It is formed in a cylindrical shape coaxial with the rotation axis Xb. Both the intake side and the exhaust side are supported in a state in which a tubular projecting portion 36 is fitted to a part of the annular portion 35 .

[Chain cover: lubricating oil supply structure compatible with intake valve opening/closing timing control device]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, as a lubricating oil supply structure, the intake side protrusion 36 is formed by forming a plate material into an annular shape. The amount of protrusion in the direction along the intake-side rotation axis Xa is set so as to partially cover the side case 15 . The plate-like material is not limited to metal such as stainless steel and aluminum, and may be a resin molding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the intake-side projecting portion 36 is arranged so as to partially overlap the timing chain 9 when viewed along the intake-side rotation axis Xa. The lower side is smoothly swollen downward in the direction of gravity to form an egg shape when viewed along the intake side rotation axis Xa. The space formed by this downwardly bulging region forms a lubricating oil reservoir S positioned below the intake-side rotation axis Xa in the direction of gravity. An open portion T is formed in which the air is effectively stored and can be sent out toward the intake side valve opening/closing timing control device Va. That is, the open portion T is formed at a portion that opens in the direction along the intake-side rotation axis Xa, and the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion S is sent out at the open portion T. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 to 7, the projection 36 on the intake side is integrally formed with a derivative 37 that feeds lubricating oil from the open portion T in the direction along the rotation axis Xa on the intake side. (It is made of plate material). This derivative 37 functions to guide lubricating oil supplied from the projecting portion 36 to a region of the timing chain 9 extending downward from the intake side valve timing control device Va.

In addition, when viewed along the intake-side rotation axis Xa, the induction 37 is curved so as to smoothly bulge downward in the direction of gravity. A virtual plane including the circulating timing chain 9 and a portion of the inductor 37 that feeds the lubricating oil to the timing chain 9 are arranged in a positional relationship that intersects each other.

In particular, a chain passing space 38 is formed by cutting out a part of the inductor 37 that is in a crossing positional relationship, and the timing chain 9 is arranged so as to pass through this chain passing space 38 . A chain passage space 38 is formed at a position of the inductor 37 that bulges downward most.

With this configuration, when the lubricating oil is discharged from the front surface of the intake-side valve timing control device Va, the lubricating oil scattered by the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the intake-side valve timing control device Va protrudes to the intake side. It is received by the portion 36 and collected in the lubricating oil storage portion S below the intake side rotational axis Xa.

The lubricating oil collected in this way is sent to the derivative 37 from the open portion T, and the derivative 37 is sent in the direction of the timing chain 9 wound around the intake side cam sprocket 15s of the intake side valve opening/closing timing control device Va. , the lubricating oil is dropped into the chain passage space 38, so that the lubricating oil is supplied from a position close to the timing chain 9 passing through the chain passage space 38, and good lubrication is realized.

[Chain cover: lubricating oil supply structure compatible with exhaust valve opening/closing timing control device]
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as a lubricating oil supply structure, the protrusion 36 on the exhaust side is formed by forming a circular plate material. Further, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb, the exhaust-side rotation is performed so that the protruding end of the exhaust-side protruding portion 36 covers the portion of the exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb that accommodates the protruding end of the spool 23 . The amount of protrusion in the direction along the axis Xb is set. The plate-like material is not limited to metal such as stainless steel and aluminum, and may be a resin molding.

As shown in FIG. 3, the exhaust-side projecting portion 36 is located below the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb in the direction of gravity as shown in FIGS. In addition, it has a lubricating oil reservoir S that bulges downward in an arc shape, and the lower side of this lubricating oil reservoir S is formed with an opening T that opens downward. That is, the opening direction of the open portion T is determined so that the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil storage portion S is discharged downward.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the protrusion 36 on the exhaust side is provided with a derivative 37 at a position to receive the lubricating oil sent downward from the open portion T, and this derivative 37 is supplied from the protrusion 36. It functions to guide the lubricating oil to a region of the timing chain 9 extending downward from the exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the inductor 37 is arranged so as to partially overlap the timing chain 9 when viewed along the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb. It is formed of a plate-shaped material that is continuous with the projecting portion 36 at the edge of the opening. Further, the derivative 37 is formed in an arc shape centering on the guide axis Y parallel to the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb so that the derivative 37 smoothly bulges downward in the direction of gravity.

In addition, the virtual plane containing the circulating timing chain 9 and the portion of the inductor 37 that feeds the lubricating oil to the timing chain 9 are arranged in a positional relationship that intersects each other.

In particular, a chain passage space 38 is formed by cutting out a portion of the inductor 37 in a crossing positional relationship, and the timing chain 9 is arranged so as to pass through this chain passage space 38 . A chain passage space 38 is formed at a position of the inductor 37 that bulges downward most.

Due to such a configuration, when the lubricant is discharged from the front surface of the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb, the lubricant splashed by the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb is discharged to the exhaust side. , and is collected in the lubricating oil reservoir S below the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb.

The lubricating oil collected in this way is sent to the derivative 37 from the open portion T, and the derivative 37 is sent in the direction of the timing chain 9 wound around the exhaust-side cam sprocket 21s of the exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb. , drops into the chain passage space 38 . As a result, lubricating oil is supplied from a position close to the timing chain 9 arranged in the chain passage space 38, and good lubrication is realized.

[Action and effect of the embodiment]
In this manner, the valve opening/closing timing control device V (the intake side valve timing control device Va and the exhaust side valve opening/closing timing control device Va) is provided only by providing the protrusion 36 (protrusion) as a lubricating oil supply structure on the inner surface of the chain cover 10 . Lubricating oil that scatters along with the rotation of the timing control device Vb) can be received in the area around the entire circumference centered on the rotation axis X and supplied to the timing chain 9, so that the timing chain 9 is lubricated. can be easily performed.

Furthermore, by passing the timing chain 9 through the chain passage space 38 formed in the inductor 37, it becomes possible to supply the lubricating oil collected in the inductor 37 to the timing chain 9 from an extremely close position.

In addition, in this configuration, for example, when compared with the conventional configuration in which the lubricating oil from the oil pump is supplied to the output sprocket 8 through the oil passages formed in the cylinder head 3 and the chain cover 10, the cylinder head 3 and the chain cover There is no need to form an oil passage in 10, and there is no need to increase the capacity of the oil pump in order to increase the amount of lubricating oil from the oil pump.

Furthermore, in this configuration, the lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device V arranged at a relatively high position on the chain cover 10 is collected in the lubricating oil reservoir S and then supplied to the timing chain 9. supply a sufficient amount of lubricating oil along the timing chain 9 to achieve good lubrication of the entire timing chain 9.

In particular, it not only lubricates only the timing chain 9, but also increases the slidability between the timing chain 9 and the chain guide 31 or the chain tensioner 32, and further reduces the friction between the timing chain 9 and the output sprocket 8. reduce wasteful consumption of energy.

[Another embodiment]
The present invention may be configured as follows other than the above-described embodiments (components having the same functions as those of the embodiments are given the same numbers and symbols as those of the embodiments).

(a) As shown in FIG. 8, a protruding portion 36 (protruding portion) corresponding to the intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va is formed with a lubricating oil reservoir S and an open portion T at the lower portion, as in the embodiment. A single tongue-shaped inductor 37 is arranged close to the timing chain 9 so as to guide the lubricating oil delivered from the open portion T to the vicinity of the timing chain 9 .

In this alternative embodiment (a), although the shape is different from that in which the chain passage space 38 is formed by partially cutting the inductor 37 as in the embodiment, the inductor 37 smoothly curves downward. Since the end of the inductor 37 is arranged near the region through which the timing chain 9 passes, the timing chain 9 can be well supplied with lubricating oil.

(b) As shown in FIG. 9, the protruding portion 36 (protruding portion) corresponding to the exhaust side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb has a lubricating oil reservoir S in the lower portion and an opening opening to the lower side in the same manner as in the embodiment. A single inductor 37 is arranged close to the timing chain 9 so as to guide lubricating oil delivered from the opening T to the vicinity of the timing chain 9. At this time, the derivative 37 is formed in a posture directed toward the direction of gravity as the distance from the chain cover 10 increases.

In this alternative embodiment (b), although the shape is different from that in which the chain passage space 38 is formed by partially cutting the inductor 37 as in the embodiment, the inductor 37 smoothly curves downward. Moreover, since it is formed in an inclined posture, lubricating oil can be well supplied to the timing chain 9 by arranging the end of the inductor 37 in the vicinity of the region through which the timing chain 9 passes.

(c) The protruding portion 36 is not limited to a cylinder, and may be a semicircular shape arranged below the rotation axis X, or a shape of a part of a polygon. In other words, the protruding portion 36 may be of any shape as long as it is included in an arc-shaped region formed with a predetermined width around the rotation axis X and can store lubricating oil.

In particular, the intake-side protruding portion 36 may be formed in a circular shape around the intake-side rotation axis Xa. In other words, it is possible to form the lubricating oil reservoir S in an arc-shaped region below the intake-side rotation axis Xa without forming a downwardly bulging region. Similarly, since the intake-side projecting portion 36 is originally structured to open in the direction of the intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va, at the end of the arcuate region below the intake-side rotation axis Xa, It becomes possible to form an open portion T.

(d) In order to supply lubricating oil to the timing chain 9, a configuration in which only the protruding portion 36 is provided on the inner surface of the vertical wall portion of the chain cover 10 may be used. Furthermore, it is conceivable to use the projection 36 and the guide 37 to supply the timing chain 9 with lubricating oil.

In other words, in the configuration in which the derivative 37 is used and the chain passage space 38 is formed in the derivative 37 as described in the embodiment, the lubricating oil can be supplied to the timing chain 9 very efficiently. It is also possible to use only the protruding portion 36 when the valve opening/closing timing control device V that discharges lubricating oil is used.

(e) As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the projecting portion 36 is integrally formed with the chain cover 10, and the derivative 37 is integrally formed with the chain cover 10. FIG. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the projecting portion 36 and the guide 37 are integrally formed with the chain cover 10 by die casting.

In this alternative embodiment (e), the projecting portion 36 and the induction 37 corresponding to the intake-side valve opening/closing timing control device Va shown in FIG. 10 are shown on the right side of FIG. 3 when viewed along the intake-side rotation axis Xa. The configuration shown on the left side of FIG. 3 when viewed in the direction along the exhaust-side rotation axis Xb is the protrusion 36 and the inductor 37 that have the same shape as the configuration and correspond to the exhaust-side valve opening/closing timing control device Vb shown in FIG. It has the same shape as

By configuring in this way, there is no need for special members for forming the protrusions 36 or the inductors 37, they are formed with high strength, the positional accuracy is increased, and the number of parts is reduced.

(f) The lubricating oil supply structure using the projecting portion 36 and the like in the intake-side valve timing control device Va of the above embodiment may be applied to the exhaust-side valve timing control device Vb. The lubricating oil supply structure using the projecting portion 36 and the like may be applied to the intake side valve opening/closing timing control device Va. Further, the same lubricating oil supply structure may be applied to the intake side valve timing control device Va and the exhaust side valve timing control device Vb. You may apply a lubricating oil supply structure to only any one of, and a combination is arbitrary.

(g) For example, one timing chain 9 for linking the intake camshaft 6 and the exhaust camshaft 7 with gears and transmitting the driving force from the crankshaft 1 to either the intake camshaft 6 or the exhaust camshaft 7 applied to an engine E (internal combustion engine) equipped with a valve opening/closing timing control device V that determines the valve opening/closing timing only for the camshaft (intake camshaft 6 or exhaust camshaft 7) to which the driving force of the timing chain 9 is transmitted. do.

Also in the engine E configured as in this alternative embodiment (g), the inner surface of the chain cover 10 is provided with the protruding portion 36 protruding in the direction of the timing chain 9 to achieve good lubrication. Further, by providing the guide 37 that guides the lubricating oil from the projecting portion 36, better lubrication is achieved.

The present invention can be used for chain covers and internal combustion engines.

1 Crankshaft 6 Intake Camshaft 7 Exhaust Camshaft 9 Timing Chain 10 Chain Cover 15 Drive Side Case 23 Spool 36 Protruding Portion 37 Derivative 38 Chain Passing Space E Engine (Internal Combustion Engine)
S lubricating oil reservoir T open portion V valve opening/closing timing control device X rotation shaft center

Claims

In an internal combustion engine, a timing chain for transmitting driving force of a crankshaft to at least one of an intake camshaft and an exhaust camshaft, and a valve opening/closing timing control device for setting valve timing of at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft and a chain cover that can be attached to cover the
The chain cover receives lubricating oil discharged from the valve timing control device and guides it in the direction of the timing chain wound around the outer periphery of the valve timing control device. has in
A chain cover in which the projecting portion partially overlaps with the timing chain when viewed in a direction along the rotational axis of the valve opening/closing timing control device when the chain cover is attached.
The chain cover according to claim 1, wherein the projecting portion partially overlaps with the valve opening/closing timing control device when viewed along the rotation axis.
2. The protruding portion has an open portion that feeds the lubricating oil toward the timing chain below the rotational axis of the valve timing control device when viewed in a direction along the rotational axis. 2. The chain cover according to 2.
4. The chain cover according to claim 3, wherein the protruding portion further has a guide that guides lubricating oil delivered from the open portion to a region of the timing chain extending downward from the valve opening/closing timing control device. .
The inductor is molded into a shape that bulges downward in the direction of gravity from the rotation axis when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis,
5. According to claim 4, wherein one end of said inductor is arranged at a position to receive lubricating oil discharged from said opening, and a region of said inductor that bulges downward most is arranged close to said timing chain. Described chain cover.
The chain cover according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the derivative has a chain passage space partially cut away, and the timing chain passes through the chain passage space.
The inductor is formed in an arc shape that bulges downward in the direction of gravity around a guide shaft centered in a posture parallel to the rotation axis when viewed in a direction along the rotation axis,
7. The chain cover according to claim 6, wherein the chain passage space is formed in the portion of the guide that protrudes most downward in the arcuate region.
a chain cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7;
An internal combustion engine comprising the timing chain for transmitting the driving force of the crankshaft to at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft.
The internal combustion engine according to claim 8, further comprising the valve opening/closing timing control device for setting the valve timing of at least one of the intake camshaft and the exhaust camshaft.
The valve opening/closing timing control device has a driving side case,
10. The internal combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein lubricating oil is discharged from the front surface of the drive-side case.
The valve opening/closing timing control device has a spool,
10. The internal combustion engine according to claim 9, wherein lubricating oil is discharged from the vicinity of the projecting end of the spool.