JP2006077695A - Lubricating device of engine oil - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lubricating device of engine oil for enjoying the various merits caused by reducing friction, for example, an improvement in fuel economy, by reducing the friction of a sliding part inside of an engine when starting at the low temperature. <P>SOLUTION: This lubricating device 1 of the engine has a heat accumulating tank 2 for storing the heated engine oil, and an oil pump 3 for the heat accumulating tank for sending out the engine oil from this heat accumulating tank 2. A flow passage of the engine oil sent out of the heat accumulating tank 2 by the oil pump 3 for the heat accumulating tank, that is, an engine warming-up flow passage 18a and 18b passing through the side of a crankshaft 17, is formed inside an engine body 4, to thereby avoid hindering the warming-up effect when the high temperature engine oil supplied as lubricating oil touches the low temperature crankshaft 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lubricating device for engine oil for the purpose of early warming up of an engine.

  Conventionally, engine oil has been used for engine lubrication and cooling. This engine oil is stored in an oil pan provided in the lower part of the engine, and is circulated to each part of the engine by an oil pump. The engine oil that has circulated through each part of the engine is dripped into the lower oil pan. And the engine oil dripped in the oil pan is circulated to each part of the engine again by the oil pump. During this time, the engine oil receives heat from each part of the engine and cools each part. The engine oil also has a role of forming an oil film in each part of the engine to promote lubrication between the parts and preventing oxidation of the parts.

  Here, immediately after the cold start of the engine, the engine oil stored in the oil pan is cold and has a high viscosity, and is not in a state suitable for circulating each part of the engine and lubricating each part. Therefore, immediately after the cold start, it is desired to raise the temperature of the engine oil as soon as possible so as to have a proper viscosity.

Therefore, the inventor of the present application has devised a lubricating device 60 having a structure as shown in FIG. 1 as an engine oil lubricating device that can complete warm-up as soon as possible at the time of cold start, and evaluates its performance. I went. The lubrication device 60 shown in FIG. 1 has a configuration in which an oil pan 50 and a heat storage tank 51 are connected via an oil pump 52. Such an engine lubrication device 60 stores the engine oil whose temperature has been increased during the previous engine operation in the heat storage tank 51, and supplies the heat-retained engine oil as a lubricating oil to the engine body when the engine is started. The friction of each sliding part inside the engine is reduced.
Here, the oil pan 50 has a two-tank structure having a main chamber 53 and a sub chamber 54, and an oil pan separator 55 that separates the main chamber 53 and the sub chamber 54 is formed on the upper side and has a large-diameter communication hole. 55a and a small-diameter communication hole 55b formed on the lower side. An oil strainer 56 is disposed in the sub chamber 54.

  In such a lubrication device 60, the oil pump 52 is driven when the engine is started, and the engine oil in the heat storage tank 51 circulates in the engine body and returns to the sub chamber 53. Thereafter, an oil pump (not shown) is driven, and engine oil is sucked up from the sub chamber 53 from the oil strainer 56 and supplied into the engine body.

  By the way, as an important problem in a vehicle engine, there is a problem of fuel vaporization. That is, fuel vaporization greatly affects exhaust emission and fuel consumption, and it is required that fuel vaporization be performed appropriately even when the engine is started. In particular, when starting at low temperatures, the fuel is difficult to vaporize and some measures are required. As an apparatus for promoting the vaporization of fuel at such a low temperature start, there is a proposal of Patent Document 1. In the proposal of Patent Document 1, lubricating oil (engine oil) is kept warm in a heat storage container provided separately from a lubricating oil reservoir (oil pan), and the lubricating oil is sucked up by an electric pump and injected to the back side of the piston. In order to promote the vaporization of fuel at the start-up.

Further, in Patent Document 2, an engine has a heater in an oil tank, and the oil warmed by the heater is sent to a cooling oil passage formed in one or both of the cylinder liner outer peripheral surface and the bore inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block. A warm-up device has been proposed.
JP 2003-148121 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-280451

  However, the lubrication device 60 as shown in FIG. 1 has not yet achieved a remarkable effect on the improvement of fuel consumption. When the inventor of this application analyzed the cause, it came to the following conclusions.

  That is, the lubricating device 60 supplies the engine oil kept in the heat storage tank 51 to the engine body by the oil pump 52, but the oil film formed by the engine oil in the engine body is very thin. Therefore, even if the supplied engine oil is kept warm, the oil film formed on the surface of the parts (mainly metal parts) constituting the engine that is still cold is in a cold state, and It will fall to the temperature of a metal part with a large heat capacity. In particular, the periphery of the crankshaft is one of the sliding parts in the engine, where friction is large, and the thickness of the oil film formed on the surface of the crankshaft by the engine oil is about 0.1 μm. For this reason, if the engine oil supplied from the heat storage tank 51 is about 80 ° C. and the crankshaft is about 25 ° C., the oil film formed on the surface of the crankshaft is also cooled to about 25 ° C. In this case, even if the engine oil is kept warm in advance, the friction is not reduced.

  Such a problem is not solved even by the proposals of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. That is, in the proposal of Patent Document 1, in order to promote fuel vaporization at low temperature start, the lubricating oil stored and stored in the heat storage container is sucked up by the electric pump, and injected and supplied to the back side of the piston. It does not solve the problem of engine oil temperature drop caused by the oil film thickness formed on the surface of large parts.

  Further, in the proposal of Patent Document 2, a heater is provided in the oil tank, and oil heated by the heater is transferred to a cooling oil passage formed on one or both of the cylinder liner outer peripheral surface and the bore inner peripheral surface of the cylinder block. However, no measures are taken around the crankshaft and no consideration is given to reducing the friction around the crankshaft.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an engine oil lubrication device that can reduce friction around a sliding portion inside an engine, particularly a crankshaft around a cold start.

  An engine oil lubrication device of the present invention for achieving such an object includes a heat storage tank for storing a heated engine oil, and a fluid sending means for sending engine oil from the heat storage tank. A flow path for engine oil delivered from the heat storage tank and passing through the side of the crankshaft is formed inside the engine body. The engine body is mainly an engine block. However, when other parts are interposed between the engine block and the oil pan, these parts and members are attached to the engine block. Is also included.

  Here, it is desirable that the engine warm-up flow path be bent from the engine head side toward the oil pan attached to the engine main body and close to the crankshaft side in the vicinity of the crankshaft. The engine warm-up channel is preferably formed on both sides of the crankshaft. Furthermore, the engine warm-up flow path can function as a blow-by passage for sending blow-by gas to the cylinder head after completion of engine warm-up.

  Further, the engine warm-up flow path in such an engine oil lubrication device may be shaped from the side of the crankshaft toward the inside of the engine body and then toward the oil pan attached to the engine body. it can.

  Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a heat transfer fin in the engine warm-up flow path to increase the efficiency of heat conduction.

  Further, in the lubricating device of the present invention, the engine oil in the heat storage tank that circulates in the engine warm-up flow path flows into an oil pan attached to the engine body. As such an oil pan, An oil pan separator is provided in the oil pan for partitioning into a sub chamber in which the suction port is disposed and a main chamber in which the suction port is not disposed, and the oil pan separator has a recess that forms the sub chamber, and the sub chamber Is communicated with the interior of the engine block, and the recessed portion may employ a two-tank oil pan having an on-off valve for communicating the main chamber and the sub chamber.

  Furthermore, since the lubrication apparatus of the present invention aims at early warming up of the engine particularly at the time of low temperature start, it is desirable that the lubrication apparatus is operated before the engine start. Therefore, it is desirable that the fluid delivery means be configured to start delivery of engine oil based on a predetermined operation performed before engine startup.

  According to the present invention, the engine oil in the heat storage tank is warmed before the engine oil in the heat storage tank is warmed into the engine main body before the engine oil in the heat storage tank is supplied to the engine main body. Thus, the friction at the sliding portion in the engine body can be reduced immediately after the engine is started and the fuel consumption can be improved.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the engine oil lubricating device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the side of the engine main body 4 showing a schematic configuration of the lubricating device 1. 3 is an explanatory view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the cylinder head portion 6 as viewed from above.

  The lubrication apparatus 1 has a heat storage tank 2 that stores engine oil that has been heated, and an oil pump 3 for a heat storage tank that sends engine oil from the heat storage tank 2. This heat storage tank oil pump 3 corresponds to the fluid delivery means of the present invention. An engine body 4 having cylinders 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d is configured with a cylinder head portion 6 attached to the upper side of the engine block 5. As shown in FIG. 5, an oil distribution pipe 16 is disposed at the upper portion of the cylinder head portion 6. An oil pan 7 is attached below the engine block 5. The oil pan 7 includes an oil pan separator 8 having a recess 8 a inside, and has a two-tank structure in which the inside of the oil pan 7 is divided into a main chamber 9 and a sub chamber 10. The oil pan separator 8 is provided with a thermostat valve 11 that opens and closes depending on the temperature of the engine oil in the sub chamber 10. In addition, an oil strainer 13 connected to an oil strainer oil pump 12 is provided in the sub chamber 10. In the figure, reference numeral 19 is a head bolt, and reference numeral 20 is a cap bolt.

  The heat storage tank 2 includes a short inflow pipe 2a and a long outflow pipe 2b. The inflow side pipe 2a is connected to the sub chamber 10 in the oil pan 7 by a first oil line 14 provided with a heat storage tank oil pump 3 in the middle. One outflow side pipe 2 b is connected by a second oil line 15 to an oil distribution pipe 16 disposed in the upper part of the cylinder head portion 6. The inflow side pipe 2 a is provided with a discharge hole 2 a 1 at the end located inside the heat storage tank 2, and the outflow side pipe 2 b is provided with an outflow hole 2 b 1 at the end located inside the heat storage tank 2. In this way, the length of the inflow side pipe 2a and the length of the outflow side pipe 2b are different from each other, and the discharge holes 2a1 or the outflow holes 2b1 are provided at the end portions in the heat storage tank 2, respectively. This is because the engine oil discharged into the heat storage tank 2 on the inlet side flows out from the back side of the heat storage tank 2 to smoothly circulate the engine oil in the heat storage tank 2.

  Engine warm-up passages 18 a and 18 b that pass through the sides of the crankshaft 17 are formed in the engine body 4 including the engine block 5 and the cylinder cylinder head portion 6. The engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b are both engine oil flow paths for causing the engine oil stored in the heat storage tank 2 to flow down from the cylinder cylinder head 6 to the oil pan 7 via the oil distribution pipe 16. It is. As shown in the drawing, the engine warm-up channels 18a and 18b are provided outside the water jacket 22 formed around the cylinders 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d so as to be positioned on both sides of the crankshaft 17. Is formed. Such engine stage passages 18a and 18b are provided with bent portions 18a2 and 18b2 as shown in FIG. 3, in order to warm the crankshaft 17 more efficiently when the engine oil kept in the heat storage tank 2 flows. Each has a shape approaching the crankshaft 17 side. Here, comparing the engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper end 18a1 of the engine warm-up flow path 18a is higher than the upper end 18b1 of the engine warm-up flow path 18b. Is located. This is because the engine warm-up flow path 18a functions as a blow-by passage for sending blow-by gas to the cylinder head side after the engine warm-up is completed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the engine warm-up channels 18 a and 18 b include heat transfer fins 21 inside. These heat transfer fins 21 are also provided to efficiently warm the crankshaft 17 by the engine oil kept in the heat storage tank 2 flowing in the engine warming flow paths 18a and 18b.

  The lubricating device 1 configured as described above is connected to a CPU connected to a door opening / closing sensor (not shown). The CPU drives the heat storage tank oil pump 3 when the door opening / closing sensor senses the opening of the door on the driver's seat side. That is, as an operation performed by the vehicle driver before starting the engine, it is generally considered to open the vehicle door, sit on the seat, and then turn on the ignition key to start the engine. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the door open / close sensor detects the door open state, the heat storage tank oil pump 3 is driven and the engine warm-up passages 18a and 18b are kept warm in the heat storage tank 2. Oil is allowed to flow, and the sliding portion in the engine body 4 is preheated before the engine is started.

  Hereinafter, the operation state of the lubricating device 1 having such a configuration will be described in order.

  First, it is assumed that engine oil warmed during the previous engine operation is stored in the heat storage tank 2. From this state, when the driver opens the door of the vehicle to get into the vehicle, the door opening / closing sensor detects the opening of the door and sends the information to the CPU. Further, the CPU sends a command to the heat storage tank oil pump 3 to drive the heat storage tank oil pump 3.

  The heat storage tank oil pump 3 that has started operating sucks out the engine oil in the sub chamber 10 through the first oil line 14 and feeds it into the heat storage tank 2 from the discharge hole 2a1 of the inflow side pipe 2. Along with this, the high-temperature engine oil kept in the heat storage tank 2 starts to flow out from the outflow hole 2b1 of the outflow side pipe 2b and is supplied to the oil distribution pipe 16 through the second oil line 15.

  The high-temperature engine oil that has reached the oil distribution pipe 16 sequentially flows down the engine warm-up flow paths 18 a and 18 b formed in the engine body 4. Since the engine warm-up channels 18a and 18b pass from the cylinder head portion 6 through the engine block 5 to the oil pan 7, sliding portions such as the crankshaft 17 and the like existing in the engine body 4 are provided. Warm the bores of the cylinders 5a, 5b and 5c. At this time, since the heat transfer fins are provided inside the engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b, the heat of the engine oil can be efficiently transmitted to the sliding portions.

  The engine oil that has flowed down through the engine warm-up flow paths 18 a and 18 b while warming the sliding portions is dropped into the sub chamber 10 of the oil pan 7. On the other hand, since the low temperature engine oil in the sub chamber 10 is sucked out by the heat storage tank oil pump 3, the engine oil in the sub chamber 10 is sequentially replaced with high temperature engine oil. Here, the engine oil dripping into the sub chamber 10 flows down in the engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b, and heat is applied to each sliding portion, but a slight decrease in temperature is observed. The temperature is still maintained at a sufficient viscosity to reduce friction.

  When the driver turns on the ignition key in such a state, the oil pump 12 for the oil strainer is operated to suck up the engine oil in the sub chamber 10 and supply it to each sliding portion in the engine body. Here, the bores such as the cylinder 5a in the engine body 4 and the sliding parts such as the crankshaft 17 are warmed in advance by flowing hot engine oil through the engine warm-up channels 18a and 18b. Therefore, the engine oil supplied to each sliding portion is not deprived of heat and the temperature does not decrease, and the engine can be operated with the friction reduced immediately after the engine is started.

  When the engine is started, the temperature of the engine oil is increased due to the operation of the engine. Here, since the two-tank type oil pan 7 is attached to the lubricating device 1 of the present embodiment, immediately after the engine is started, only a small amount of engine oil in the sub-chamber 10 circulates, and the temperature rises quickly. Is achieved.

  When engine oil in the sub chamber 10 becomes hot to some extent, the thermostat valve 11 is opened, and low temperature engine oil in the main chamber 9 flows into the sub chamber 10. As described above, when the low temperature engine oil in the main chamber 9 and the high temperature engine oil in the sub chamber 10 are mixed, overheating of the engine oil can be avoided and deterioration of the engine oil can be prevented.

  When the engine is started in this manner, the temperature of the engine oil is raised, and the oil temperature is stabilized, the drive of the heat storage tank oil pump 3 is stopped. When the drive of the heat storage tank oil pump 3 is stopped in this way, the engine oil does not flow in the engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b. Therefore, the engine warm-up flow path 18a functions as a blow-by passage so that blow-by gas accumulated in the crank chamber of the engine is guided to the cylinder head portion 6. The engine warm-up flow path 18b may be configured to function as a blow-by passage, but in this embodiment, only the engine warm-up flow path 18a functions as a blow-by passage.

  The heat storage tank 2 must supply high-temperature engine oil to the engine warm-up flow paths 18a and 18b at the next engine start, so that the high-temperature engine oil must be stored when the engine is stopped. Don't be. Therefore, when the CPU determines that the engine warm-up has been completed, the CPU drives the heat storage tank oil pump 3 again to transfer the high-temperature engine oil in the sub chamber 10 into the heat storage tank 2. Fill. The measure for filling the high-temperature engine oil into the heat storage tank 2 may be performed by driving the heat storage tank oil pump 3 for a short time after the engine is stopped.

  Thus, a series of operations of the lubricating device 1 is completed. In the above example, the heat storage tank oil pump 3 is driven to start the process when the door is opened, but the process is started as appropriate after the engine is started. can do.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the side of the engine body 4 showing a schematic configuration of the lubricating device 30 of the second embodiment.
The lubricating device 30 according to the second embodiment and the lubricating device 1 according to the first embodiment are the oil pan 7 attached to the lubricating device 1 according to the first embodiment is a two-tank type, whereas the lubricating device according to the second embodiment. The oil pan 21 attached to 30 is different in that it is a single tank type. The capacity of the oil pan 31 corresponds to the capacity of the sub chamber 10 in the oil pan 7 of the first embodiment, and the heat storage tank 2 is placed close to the oil pan 31 because there is no portion corresponding to the main chamber 9. It can arrange | position and can comprise the whole compactly. In addition, since the other structure is the same as that of the lubrication apparatus 1 of Example 1, it attaches | subjects the same reference number in the drawing about the same component, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  The operation of the lubrication device 30 is almost the same as that of the lubrication device 1 of the first embodiment. However, since the lubrication device 30 does not have the main chamber 9 in the lubrication device 1 of the first embodiment, the heat storage tank 2 is kept warm. There is an advantage that the engine oil that has been kept warm in the heat storage tank 2 can be used effectively without the engine oil being mixed with the low-temperature engine oil in the main chamber 9 being used. That is, in the lubricating device 1 according to the first embodiment, the low temperature engine oil in the main chamber 9 is supplied to the sub chamber 10 although the viscosity does not change to a viscosity effective for reducing friction depending on the operating temperature of the thermostat valve 11. Although there is a case where it flows into the inside and hinders the reduction of friction, the lubrication device 30 of the second embodiment does not have such a fear.

  Next, Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram in which the lubricating device 40 of the third embodiment is taken as a cross section along a line corresponding to the AA line in FIG. 2, similarly to FIG. 3 showing the lubricating device 1 of the first embodiment. The lubrication device 40 of the third embodiment is different from the lubrication device 1 of the first embodiment in that the engine warm-up channels 18a and 18b of the lubrication device 1 of the first embodiment extend from the cylinder head 6 to the lower end of the engine block 5. On the other hand, in the lubricating device 40 of Example 3, the engine warm-up flow path 41 is directed from the side of the crankshaft 17 to the inside of the engine body 4 as shown in FIG. The difference is that the shape is directed toward the oil pan 7 side. In addition, since the other structure is the same as that of the lubrication apparatus 1 of Example 1, it attaches | subjects the same reference number in the drawing about the same component, and abbreviate | omits the detailed description.

  Since the engine warm-up channels 18a and 18b of Example 1 also pass through the sides of the cylinders 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d, it is possible to warm the periphery of the cylinder bore that is one of the sliding portions. On the other hand, when the temperature reaches the periphery of the crankshaft 17, the temperature of the engine oil is somewhat lowered, and the effect of warming the crankshaft 17 may be reduced.

  Therefore, in the lubricating device 40 of the third embodiment, it is important to warm the crankshaft 17 and the high-temperature engine oil is directly introduced from the side of the crankshaft 17.

  The above-described embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to them. Various modifications of these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. It is apparent from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of the conventional lubrication apparatus. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side of the engine main body which shows schematic structure of the lubricating device of Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing made into the cross section by the AA line in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which made it the cross section by the BB line in FIG. 3, and expanded the one part. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the cylinder head part from the upper part. It is explanatory drawing seen from the side of the engine main body which shows schematic structure of the lubricating device of Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which made the lubrication apparatus 40 of Example 3 the cross section by the line equivalent to the AA line in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1, 30, 40, 60 Lubricator 2 Heat storage tank 3 Oil pump for heat storage tank 4 Engine body 5 Engine block 6 Cylinder head 7, 31 Oil pan 8 Oil pan separator 9 Main chamber 10 Sub chamber 11 Thermostat valve 12 Oil for oil strainer Pump 13 Oil strainer 14 First oil line 15 Second oil line 16 Oil distribution pipe 17 Crankshaft 18a, 18b, 41 Engine warm-up flow path 22 Water jacket

Claims (8)

A heat storage tank for storing the heated engine oil, and a fluid delivery means for sending the engine oil from the heat storage tank;
Engine oil flow path for engine oil delivered from the heat storage tank by the fluid delivery means, wherein an engine warm-up passage passing through the side of the crankshaft is formed inside the engine body. Lubrication equipment. 2. The engine warm-up flow path has a shape bent from an engine head side toward an oil pan attached to the engine body so as to approach the crankshaft side in the vicinity of the crankshaft. The engine oil lubrication device described. 3. The engine oil lubricating device according to claim 1, wherein the engine warm-up flow path is formed on both sides of the crankshaft. The engine oil lubrication device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the engine warm-up flow path functions as a blow-by passage for sending blow-by gas to the cylinder head after completion of engine warm-up. . 2. The engine oil lubrication device according to claim 1, wherein the engine warm-up flow path is directed from the side of a crankshaft toward the inside of the engine body and then toward an oil pan attached to the engine body. . The engine oil lubricating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a heat transfer fin in the engine warm-up channel. An oil pan separator is provided in the oil pan for partitioning into a sub chamber in which the suction port is disposed and a main chamber in which the suction port is not disposed, and the oil pan separator has a recess that forms the sub chamber, and the sub chamber 7. A two-tank oil pan having an open / close valve that communicates with the interior of the engine block, and the recess communicates with the main chamber and the sub chamber, and is attached to the engine body. The engine oil lubrication device according to any one of the preceding claims. 8. The engine oil lubrication device according to claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery means starts delivery of engine oil based on a predetermined operation performed before engine startup.

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