JP3801860B2 - Oil strainer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an oil strainer that swings a suction port following the flow of oil stored in an oil pan.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An engine mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and an automatic transmission that automatically shifts driving force from the engine according to a driving state and transmits the driving force to driving wheels are provided with an oil pan that stores oil. An oil strainer is disposed in the oil pan.
[0003]
FIG. 6 shows an oil strainer 2 disposed in an oil pan 1 provided at the bottom of the automatic transmission. The oil stored in the oil pan 1 is sucked up by the oil pump 3 through the oil strainer 2 and supplied to each element in the control valve unit 4 constituting the hydraulic circuit, a necessary lubricating part in the transmission case, and the like. Then, excess oil is returned to the oil pan 1.
In the oil strainer 2, a plate-shaped filter medium 5 such as a wire mesh or a non-woven fabric is disposed. When the oil passes through the filter medium 5, metal powder mixed in the oil is removed.
[0004]
By the way, if the amount of oil returned to the oil pan 1 is small, the oil level in the oil pan 1 becomes low, and as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. When one side of the oil pan 1 is shifted, there is a problem that at least part of the suction port 2a of the oil strainer 2 is exposed from the oil surface and air is sucked together with the oil, so that normal oil pressure cannot be generated.
[0005]
For example, in JP-A-6-323120, a box-shaped valve that opens in accordance with the movement of the vehicle in the front-rear direction is provided at the inlet of the oil strainer, and the box-shaped valve is opened on the oil flowing side. Thus, a technique for preventing air suction is disclosed.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H8-4886 discloses that oil is stored in the oil pan when the vehicle is suddenly accelerated or decelerated or suddenly turned by forming a deep oil reservoir in which the oil strainer suction port faces the oil pan. Even when one side is shifted to one side, a technique is disclosed in which oil is always stored in a deep oil reservoir.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-323120 can cope with the case where the oil is deviated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body due to the rapid acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle. If it is offset in the left-right direction, it cannot be handled.
[0008]
In addition, since the oil is sucked by opening the box-type valve, the opening area of the suction port becomes unstable when the oil level is stable or when driving at constant speed, and the amount of oil sucked in There is a problem that it is likely to vary.
Further, since the slide mechanism is provided at the suction port, the structure is complicated and the assembly is complicated.
[0009]
On the other hand, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-4886, even when the oil is shifted to the front, rear, left, or right of the oil pan, the oil stays in the deep oil reservoir. Although it is possible to prevent air from being sucked in from the suction port, a protrusion projecting downward must be formed in the oil pan in order to secure a deep oil reservoir, which causes a problem in layout.
Furthermore, since the suction port is disposed at a position biased to one side with respect to the filter medium, the distance between the suction port and the filter medium becomes long, and resistance when sucking in oil is caused.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to have a simple structure, easy to manufacture and assemble, and no air is sucked from the suction port even if the oil is deviated in any of the front, rear, left and right directions of the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide an oil strainer that can be housed in a container and has low suction resistance.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention provides an upper case having a discharge port, a lower case having a suction port opposed to the bottom surface of the oil pan, and an internal space formed by joining the two cases. Provided with a holder having a spherical receiving surface on the bottom surface of the lower case, forming an opening in the center of the holder, and standing from the outer periphery of the holder on the bottom surface of the lower case, A holding member having a curved portion provided at a predetermined interval with respect to the receiving surface of the holder is provided, an opening is formed at the center of the holding member, and the spherical movable suction member formed in a bowl shape is provided above. A guide groove formed between the holder and the pressing member is slidably interposed so as to swing following the flow of oil stored in the oil pan, and the spherical movable suction On the bottom of the member There is provided an oil strainer, characterized in that a serial inlet.
[0012]
According to the invention, the spherical movable suction member that swings following the flow of oil stored in the oil pan is disposed on the bottom surface of the lower case, and the spherical movable suction member is provided with the suction port. When the vehicle is shifted to one side due to sudden acceleration / deceleration or sudden turn of the vehicle, the suction port can be swung following the movement.
[0013]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the oil strainer according to the first aspect, wherein an annular seal surface is provided on the upper surface of the spherical movable suction member and / or the lower surface of the pressing member facing the upper surface. It is to provide.
[0014]
According to the invention, when oil is sucked, the inside of the oil strainer becomes negative pressure, the spherical movable suction member comes into contact with the annular seal surface, and the sealing performance is maintained. Air can be prevented from entering the oil strainer.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the oil strainer according to the first or second aspect, wherein a weight is provided at a lower portion of the spherical movable suction member.
According to the above invention, the movable suction member 22 is swung in a state where the oil surface of the oil is stable, such as when traveling at a constant speed, by the weight attached and fixed to the outer periphery of the spherical movable suction member. Can be suppressed.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the oil strainer.
[0017]
Reference numeral 11 in the figure denotes an oil pan, which is fixed to the bottom surface of an automatic transmission case (not shown). The automatic transmission case is internally provided with an automatic transmission mechanism constituted by a planetary gear device or the like.
[0018]
In addition, a control valve unit 12 constituting a hydraulic circuit, which is fixed to the automatic transmission case, is provided in the vicinity of the opening end of the oil pan 11. The control valve unit 12 includes a hydraulic servo that engages and disengages a friction engagement element of an automatic transmission mechanism built in the automatic transmission case, a solenoid valve that switches a hydraulic pressure supplied to each hydraulic servo, Various elements such as a valve for regulating hydraulic pressure and a solenoid valve for switching the valve are disposed. Reference numeral 13 denotes an engine-driven or motor-driven oil pump.
[0019]
An oil strainer 14 is disposed below the control valve unit 12. The oil strainer 14 is formed by an upper case 15 and a lower case 16 joined to the upper case 15. Further, a discharge port 17 communicating with the oil pump 13 is formed on the upper surface of the upper case 15. On the other hand, in the oil strainer 14, a filter medium 18 formed of a wire mesh, a nonwoven fabric or the like is disposed.
[0020]
In addition, a holder 19 is formed substantially at the center of the bottom surface of the lower case 16. The holder 19 carries a movable suction member 22 described later, and is formed radially toward the center as shown in FIGS. The bottom receiving surface 19a of each holder 19 is curved in a spherical shape, and the converging central portion of each holder 19 is opened.
[0021]
Further, the outer cylinder portion 20 a of the presser member 20 is mounted and fixed to the outer periphery of the holder 19. A curved portion 20b that is depressed downward is formed at the center of the pressing member 20, and an opening 20c is opened at the center of the curved portion 20b.
[0022]
Also, an upper receiving surface 20d is formed on the lower surface of the curved portion 20b, and the upper receiving surface 20d and the lower receiving surface 19a of the holder 19 are formed in a spherical shape having a common center with a predetermined interval. A guide groove 21 is formed between the receiving surfaces 19a and 20d.
[0023]
A movable suction member 22 formed in a bowl shape as shown in FIG. 5 is slidably interposed in the guide groove 21. The movable suction member 22 is formed in a spherical shape, and the guide groove portion 21 holds the movable suction member 22 in a state where the movable suction member 22 is allowed to swing.
Therefore, the movable suction member 22 is allowed to swing in the 360 ° direction in the guide groove 21 while being supported by the guide groove 21.
[0024]
Further, a suction port 22 a is formed on the bottom surface of the movable suction member 22, and the suction port 22 a passes through an opening 19 b formed at the center where each holder 19 converges and projects toward the bottom surface of the lower case 16. Has been. The opening 19b is formed to a size that allows the suction port 22a to swing in the 360 ° direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the base of each holder 19 formed radially is a cantilever structure integrally formed with the lower case 16, but the tips of the holders 19 may be connected to each other, or may be radial. Alternatively, a spherical shape along the guide groove may be used. Also, the holder can be manufactured as a separate body and welded later.
[0025]
In addition, two seal surfaces 23a and 23b having a semicircular cross section are formed on the upper receiving surface 20d in a ring shape with a predetermined interval. The sealing surfaces 23a and 23b prevent air from being mixed into the oil strainer 14 from the guide groove portion 21, and the oil stored in the oil pan 11 is sucked from the suction port 22a when the oil pump 13 is operated. Then, the inside of the oil strainer 14 becomes negative pressure, and the upper surface of the movable suction member 22 comes into contact with the seal surfaces 23a and 23b, and the sealing performance is maintained.
[0026]
This sealing surface may be provided not on the upper receiving surface 20 d but on the inner peripheral surface of the movable suction member 22, or on the inner peripheral surface of the upper receiving surface 20 d and the movable suction member 22. In the case of dispersive arrangement, the seal surface on the upper receiving surface 20d side is preferably near the opening 20c, and the seal surface on the movable suction member 22 side is preferably near the outer periphery. The number of the annular sealing surfaces is not particularly limited and may be one or more than two.
[0027]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, even when the movable suction member 22 swings to the maximum, at least the lower seal surface 23b is set so as to be always in sliding contact with the upper surface of the movable suction member 22. ing.
[0028]
Furthermore, an annular weight 24 is attached and fixed to the outer periphery of the suction port 22a. By mounting the weight 24 on the outer periphery of the suction port 22a, it is possible to suppress the swing of the movable suction member 22 when the oil level is stable, such as during constant speed running, When accelerating / decelerating or turning suddenly, the inertial force makes the swing more smooth.
[0029]
In this case, by adopting a magnet as the weight 24, the metal powder mixed in the oil can be adsorbed, and the cleaning of the oil is promoted.
[0030]
Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 3, if the opening area of the suction port 22a of the movable suction member 22 was set to pi] r ^2, the relation between the distance H between the proboscis and the bottom of the oil pan 11 of the suction port 22a, the following If the conditions shown in the equation are satisfied, the resistance when oil is sucked from the suction port 22a is reduced.
[0031]
[Expression 1]
2πr · H ≧ πr ² ∴H ≧ r / 2
The length of the downward protrusion of the suction port 22a is ensured as much as possible within a range that satisfies the above formula and does not contact the bottom surface of the oil pan 11 when swinging. By making the protrusion length of the suction port 22a as long as possible, the suction port 22a becomes resistant to the flow of oil, and the followability to the flow of oil is improved.
[0032]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When the oil pump 13 is operated, the oil stored in the oil pan 11 is sucked from the suction port 22a of the oil strainer 14, and when passing through the oil strainer 14, the filter medium disposed in the oil strainer 14 18 removes metal powder or the like mixed in the oil and supplies the oil pump 13 through the discharge port 17.
[0033]
The oil discharged from the oil pump 13 is supplied to each element in the control valve unit 12, supplied to each member in the automatic transmission case, and returned to the oil pan 11.
[0034]
When the vehicle stops on a flat road or is in steady running, the oil stored in the oil pan 11 is in a stationary state as shown in FIG. The suction port 22a opened at the bottom surface of the movable suction member 22 is maintained in a state of being directed substantially vertically with respect to the bottom surface of the oil pan 11 by the weight 24 attached and fixed to the outer periphery thereof. The
[0035]
Further, since the oil strainer 14 is in a negative pressure state due to the operation of the oil pump 13, the entire movable suction member 22 is sucked and its upper surface is formed in an annular shape on the upper receiving surface 20d of the presser member 20. The guide grooves 21 and the inside of the oil strainer 14 are sealed by being in line contact with the seal surfaces 23a and 23b.
[0036]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the oil stored in the oil pan 11 is shifted to one side due to sudden acceleration / deceleration or sudden turning of the vehicle, the suction port 22a of the movable suction member 22 and its surroundings are Pressed by the oil, the movable suction member 22 is supported by the guide groove 21 and swings in the same direction, and the suction port 22a moves in a direction along the flow of the oil.
[0037]
As a result, even if the oil stored in the oil pan 11 is shifted in any direction of 360 °, the suction port 22a is always kept immersed in the oil. Will not be inhaled. Further, since the space between the guide groove 21 and the movable suction member 22 is sealed by the seal surfaces 23a and 23b, air is not sucked into the oil strainer 14 from the guide groove 21.
[0038]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the movable suction member 22 is swingably supported at the bottom of the oil pan 11 and the suction port 22a is formed at the bottom of the movable suction member 22. Even if the oil stored in the oil pan 11 by decelerating and turning suddenly flows in any direction, the suction port 22a swings following the oil flow. The mouth 22a is always kept immersed in the oil, and the suction of air from the suction port 22a can be effectively prevented.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the spherical movable suction member that swings following the flow of oil stored in the oil pan is disposed on the bottom surface of the lower case, and the spherical movable suction member is provided with the suction port. Therefore, if the oil is shifted to one side due to sudden acceleration / deceleration or sudden turning of the vehicle, the suction port swings following it. Inhalation of air can be effectively prevented.
[0040]
In addition, since it has a simple structure in which a spherical movable suction member is disposed on the bottom surface of the lower case, it is easy to manufacture and assemble, and it is not necessary to form a protrusion at the bottom of the oil pan. Can be accommodated as is, and is highly versatile.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of an oil strainer according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the oil strainer with a movable suction member tilted.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the oil strainer.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the oil strainer as viewed in the direction of arrow IV.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of a movable suction member of the oil strainer.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a prior art oil strainer.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Oil pan 14 Oil strainer 15 Upper case 16 Lower case 17 Discharge port 18 Filter medium 20 Holding member 21 Guide groove 22 Movable suction member 22a Suction port 23a, 23b Seal surface 24 Weight

Claims (3)

An upper case having a discharge port, a lower case having a suction port facing the bottom surface of the oil pan, and a filter medium disposed in an internal space formed by joining the two cases,
A holder having a spherical receiving surface is provided on the bottom surface of the lower case, and an opening is formed in the center of the holder.
A holding member is provided which has a curved portion which is erected from the outer periphery of the holder on the bottom surface of the lower case and which is opposed to the receiving surface of the holder with a certain interval, and has an opening at the center of the holding member. Forming,
A spherical movable suction member formed in a bowl shape is slidably interposed in a guide groove formed between the holder and the presser member to follow the flow of oil stored in the oil pan. Configured to move,
An oil strainer characterized in that the suction port is provided at the bottom of the spherical movable suction member.   2. The oil strainer according to claim 1, wherein an annular seal surface is provided on the upper surface of the spherical movable suction member and / or on the lower surface of the press member facing the upper surface.   3. The oil strainer according to claim 1, wherein a weight is provided at a lower portion of the spherical movable suction member.

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