JP6062309B2 - Oil circulation device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil circulation device for an internal combustion engine.

  In an internal combustion engine, an oil pan for storing oil is provided at the lower end of the internal combustion engine body, and oil circulation in which oil in the oil pan is transported to each sliding portion (crankshaft, camshaft, piston) of the internal combustion engine by an oil pump The device is widely used.

  In such an oil circulation device, the oil in the oil pan is biased by the inertial force during acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the centrifugal force during turning, and the slope of the road surface. Therefore, the oil pump suction port is always placed in the oil. It needs some ingenuity to do. For example, in an oil circulation device according to Patent Document 1, a hollow body is provided in an oil pan, and when the oil is biased by centrifugal force or the like, the hollow body is immersed (rushed) into the oil to raise the oil level, and the suction port Is kept in the oil. In addition, in the oil circulation device according to Patent Document 1, an inflow port is provided at the upper portion of the hollow body in order to make the amount of oil level rise due to the immersion of the hollow body constant. According to this configuration, when the oil level rises and reaches the height of the inlet, the oil flows into the hollow body from the inlet, so that the oil level does not rise above the inlet. When the oil level returns to the horizontal level, the oil in the hollow body returns to the oil pan through the opening provided in the hollow body.

  In addition, in the oil circulation device, it is desired to quickly warm up the internal combustion engine, that is, quickly increase the temperature of the transported oil. In order to quickly warm up, a dish-shaped oil pan separator is placed in the oil pan, the inside of the oil pan separator is used as an inner storage chamber, and the inside of the oil pan and the outside of the oil pan separator are stored outside. There is a chamber in which an oil pump suction port and an oil return port are arranged in an inner storage chamber (for example, Patent Document 2). In the oil circulation device according to Patent Document 2, the inner storage chamber and the outer storage chamber communicate with each other when the internal combustion engine is stopped, and when the internal combustion engine is started and oil transport is started, the inner storage chamber and the outer storage chamber are communicated. The oil level of the chamber is lowered and the inner storage chamber and the outer storage chamber are divided. Accordingly, only a part of the oil stored in the inner storage chamber is circulated and the low-temperature oil stored in the outer storage chamber is not circulated, so that warm-up is performed quickly.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-81726 JP 2011-214578 A

  The oil circulation device according to Patent Document 1 is difficult to quickly warm up because it is difficult to isolate part of the oil in the oil pan so that it does not participate in the circulation when starting the internal combustion engine. . In particular, since the opening of the hollow body is disposed in the vicinity of the suction port, the oil in the hollow body may flow out into the oil pan due to the suction pressure from the suction port. Therefore, it is difficult to keep oil in the hollow body. Patent Document 2 does not mention a configuration for preventing the suction port from being exposed to the atmosphere when the oil is biased in the oil pan when the vehicle is turning or accelerating / decelerating. In addition, the oil circulation device according to Patent Document 2 is divided between the inner storage chamber and the outer storage chamber during operation of the internal combustion engine, and only the oil in the inner storage chamber is circulated. When used in such a manner that the operation is continued, the deterioration of the oil may be promoted. Thus, it is difficult to achieve both a configuration that always maintains the suction port in the oil and a configuration that enables early warm-up.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and it is an object of the present invention to maintain a suction port in oil at all times and to quickly warm up an oil circulation device for an internal combustion engine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides an oil pan (3) that is provided in a lower portion of an internal combustion engine body (2) and stores oil therein, and an intake port (24) disposed inside the oil pan. An oil suction device (21), an inner chamber (35), and a vent hole (36) communicating the inner chamber with the outside, and disposed on one side of the oil pan with respect to the suction port A position where one end communicates with the inner chamber and the other end extends to the vicinity of the side edge of the oil pan to the other side opposite to the one side and is separated from the suction port And a passage member (45) having a communication passage (46) that forms an open end (47), and when the oil level of the oil in the oil pan is in a horizontal state, When the open end is located in the oil and the oil is biased to the one side, Located above the mouth end the oil surface and immersion amount to said oil of the hollow body is characterized by increased.

  According to this configuration, warm-up can be performed quickly when the internal combustion engine is started (immediately after starting). The oil held in the communication path is highly viscous and difficult to flow when the oil temperature is low. Further, since the open end is located away from the suction port, the suction pressure from the suction port is unlikely to act on the oil in the communication path. Therefore, the oil retained in the communication path remains as it is and is difficult to mix with other oil in the oil pan. Therefore, mixing with the return oil that has circulated through the internal combustion engine and has reached a high temperature is difficult to occur, and the temperature drop is suppressed. Then, since the heated return oil is preferentially circulated, the internal combustion engine is quickly warmed up. In addition, when the oil level is in a horizontal state, if the hollow body is partly disposed so as to be immersed in the oil, the oil is held in the inner chamber, and the oil held in the communication path Similarly, it becomes difficult to mix with other oil in the oil pan.

  The oil held in the communication path receives heat from other oil in the oil pan and is heated at a slower speed than the oil in the oil pan. For this reason, after the temperature rises, the oil held in the communication passage is reduced in viscosity and flows out, and is mixed with the oil in the oil pan. Therefore, the oil is homogenized and deterioration is suppressed.

  Also, when oil is biased to one side in the oil pan due to centrifugal force or inertial force according to the running of the automobile, or inclination of the vehicle, the oil level is inclined and the oil level is increased. The hollow body that increases the amount of immersion of the oil pan into the oil raises the oil level and maintains the suction port in the oil. At this time, the open end of the communication path located on the side where the oil level is lowered protrudes upward from the oil level, so that oil does not flow from the oil pan into the communication path and the inner chamber. Further, when the amount of protrusion of the hollow volume body from the oil surface increases due to the unevenness of the oil, the oil flows out from the communication path and is mixed with other oil in the oil pan to promote homogenization.

  In the above invention, it is preferable that the hollow body and the passage member have heat insulation properties.

  According to this configuration, when the internal combustion engine is started at a low temperature, the heat flux passing through the hollow body and the passage member is reduced to exchange heat between the oil in the communication passage (and the inner chamber) and the other oil in the oil pan. At the same time, the oil viscosity in the communication passage is prevented from decreasing and mixing with other oil in the oil pan can be made difficult. Thus, the oil outside the hollow body and the communication path can be preferentially utilized for engine lubrication, and warm-up is promoted.

  In the above invention, it is preferable that the communication path is inclined so as to progress downward as it proceeds from the inner chamber to the opening end.

  According to this configuration, the oil in the inner chamber and the communication path flows into the oil pan due to gravity according to the level of the oil in the oil pan. Ejection work becomes easy.

  In the above invention, the communication path may extend from the inner chamber to the vicinity of the side edge of the oil pan, and then bend and extend along the side edge of the oil pan.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the amount of oil that can be held in the communication path by lengthening the communication path. As a result, at the time of starting (immediately after) the internal combustion engine, the amount of oil provided for circulation can be further limited to promote rapid warm-up.

  In the above invention, the hollow body may be joined to the upper surface of the bottom of the oil pan so that oil cannot enter the space between the lower surface of the hollow body and the upper surface of the bottom of the oil pan.

  According to this configuration, when bubbles are generated in the oil by blowing blow-by gas or the like, the bubbles cannot easily enter (turn around) the lower surface side of the hollow body, and thus are easily removed from the oil by buoyancy. For this reason, it is difficult for bubbles to be sucked into the suction port.

  In the invention described above, the lower surface of the hollow body may be inclined so as to advance upward as the distance from the suction port increases.

  According to this configuration, when bubbles are generated in the oil due to blow-by gas injection or the like, even if the bubbles enter the lower surface side of the hollow body, the bubbles are guided by the buoyancy along the lower surface and away from the suction port. It is burned. For this reason, it is difficult for bubbles to be sucked into the suction port.

  In the above invention, the hollow body is supported by the oil suction device.

  According to this configuration, there is no need to separately provide a structure for assembling the hollow body to the internal combustion engine main body or the oil pan. Therefore, the structure is simplified and the assembling work is facilitated.

  In the above invention, the hollow body and the oil suction device may be combined with each other to form an assembly.

  According to this configuration, the assembly work to the internal combustion engine is facilitated.

  Further, in the above invention, the suction port is disposed at an inner central portion of the oil pan, and at least one pair of the hollow body and the passage member is provided, and the suction port is provided between the paired hollow bodies. It may be arranged.

  According to this configuration, when the oil is biased to one side or the other side in directions opposite to each other, the suction port can be maintained in the oil in any case. For example, the intake port can be configured to be maintained in oil both when the vehicle is turning left and when turning right. In addition, the suction port can be configured to be maintained in the oil in both cases of acceleration and deceleration.

  According to the above configuration, in the oil circulation device of the internal combustion engine, the intake port can always be maintained in the oil, and warm-up can be speeded up.

Sectional drawing of the oil circulation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment (II sectional drawing of FIG. 2) The top view of the oil circulation device concerning a 1st embodiment III-III sectional view of FIG. Sectional drawing corresponding to FIG. 3 which shows the state which oil deviated to the left side in the oil circulation apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the oil circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the oil circulation apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The top view of the oil circulation device concerning a 3rd embodiment

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an oil circulation device of a horizontally mounted internal combustion engine 1 of an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, each direction is determined with the forward direction of the automobile as the front.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view (II cross-sectional view of FIG. 2) of the oil circulation device according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the internal combustion engine 1 has a cylinder block 2 and an oil pan 3 provided below the cylinder block 2. The lower part of the cylinder block 2 forms a crankcase 4 that opens downward. A crank chamber 5 in which a crankshaft (not shown) is rotatably arranged is formed inside the crankcase 4.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view of the oil circulation device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the oil pan 3 includes a bottom wall 11 and side walls 12 of a front wall 12 </ b> A, a rear wall 12 </ b> B, a left wall 12 </ b> C, and a right wall 12 </ b> D that are erected along the edge portion. It has a box shape that opens upward. At the upper end edges of the front wall 12A, the rear wall 12B, the left wall 12C, and the right wall 12D, a flange 13 that extends to the outside of the oil pan 3 is extended substantially at a right angle to each wall. The flange 13 is joined to the lower end of the crankcase 4 by bolt fastening or the like, and the oil pan 3 is provided so as to close the opening of the crankcase 4. The oil pan 3 is joined to the cylinder block 2 and constitutes a lower end portion of the internal combustion engine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a drain hole 14 that is a through hole is formed in the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3. The upper surface of the bottom wall 11 has a water gradient such that the drain hole 14 is at the lowest position. A drain bolt 15 is screwed into the drain hole 14 and is closed.

  Oil (engine oil) is stored in the oil pan 3. Oil is used, for example, for lubrication of sliding contact portions such as a crankshaft, a camshaft, and a piston, and operation of a cam phase variable device (VTC), a variable valve timing / lift mechanism (VTEC), and the like.

  A baffle plate 16 is interposed between the oil pan 3 and the crankcase 4. The baffle plate 16 has a plate shape and is formed with a plurality of return holes 17 that are through holes. The oil in the crank chamber 5 can flow down into the oil pan 3 through the return hole 17.

  An oil pump 20 that pumps oil in the oil pan 3 to each part of the internal combustion engine 1 is provided on the side wall of the cylinder block 2. The oil pump 20 is connected to the crankshaft via a drive transmission mechanism such as a gear or a belt, and is driven according to the rotation of the crankshaft. A suction pipe (oil suction device) 21 of the oil pump 20 extends from the oil pump 20 into the oil pan 3 through the crankcase 4 and the baffle plate 16. The suction pipe 21 has an oil strainer 22 at the tip. The oil strainer 22 has a strainer housing 23 that is formed wider than the other part of the suction pipe 21 as an outer shell. The strainer housing 23 has an opening serving as the suction port 24 of the suction pipe 21 in the lower part, and is connected to the oil pump 20 side in the upper part.

  A mesh 26 is provided inside the strainer housing 23 so as to partition the inside of the strainer housing 23 into the suction port 24 side and the oil pump 20 side. As a result, the oil sucked from the suction port 24 passes through the mesh 26 to remove foreign matter, and flows to the oil pump 20 side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the strainer housing 23 and the suction port 24 are arranged at positions corresponding to the center portions of the bottom wall 11 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in plan view. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction port 24 opens downward and faces the bottom wall 11. The suction pipe 21 and the strainer housing 23 are supported by a stay member 27 joined to the baffle plate 16 and the cylinder block 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a pair of left and right hollow bodies 30 are arranged on the left and right sides of the strainer housing 23. In the present embodiment, the left and right hollow bodies 30 are formed in the same shape and are arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of the oil strainer 22. Each hollow body 30 has a bottom portion 31, a side portion 32 that rises upward from an edge portion of the bottom portion 31, and an upper portion 33 that closes the upper end of the side portion 32. The side portion 32 includes a front side portion 32A and a rear side portion 32B arranged on the front side and the rear side, an inner side portion 32C arranged on the center side (oil strainer 22 side) of the oil pan 3 in the left-right direction, and a left-right direction. And an outer portion 32D disposed on the outside of the oil pan 3 (on the left wall 12C or right wall 12D side of the oil pan 3). Between the upper edge of the inner portion 32C and the side edge of the upper portion 33, there is provided an inclined portion 32E that is inclined so as to advance upward as it goes to the outside of the oil pan 3 in the left-right direction from the upper end of the inner portion 32C. . The hollow body 30 forms an inner chamber 35 by a bottom part 31, an upper part 33, a front side part 32A, a rear side part 32B, an inner part 32C, an outer part 32D, and an inclined part 32E. A vent hole 36 that is a through hole is formed in the upper portion 33 of each hollow body 30.

  Each hollow body 30 is supported by the strainer housing 23 by supporting the inner portion 32 </ b> C by the plurality of brackets 38 joined to the strainer housing 23. Further, the inner portions 32C of the hollow bodies 30 are joined to each other by a beam member 39, and a relative position is determined. On the lower surface of the bottom portion 31 of each hollow body 30, a cylindrical leg member 41 extending downward is projected. When the lower end portion of the leg member 41 abuts on the upper surface of the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3, the hollow body 30 is positioned at a position separated from the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3 by a predetermined distance. These beam members 39 and leg members 41 assist the positioning of each hollow body 30 with respect to the oil pan 3 and the oil strainer 22, and are omitted when the support rigidity of the hollow body 30 by the bracket 38 is sufficient. May be.

  The upper surface (inner surface) and the lower surface (outer surface) of the bottom portion 31 of each hollow body 30 are inclined so as to proceed downward in the left-right direction as it proceeds to the center side (oil strainer 22 side) of the oil pan 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the left hollow body 30 is arranged to be deviated forward from the right hollow body 30. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a communication pipe (passage member) 45 projects from the front end and the lower end of the inner part 32 </ b> C of the left hollow body 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the communication pipe 45 includes a base end side portion 45 </ b> A that extends linearly to the right and downward, and a bent portion that is bent at a substantially right angle rearward and downward from the right end of the base end side portion 45 </ b> A. 45B and a distal end side portion 45C extending linearly rearward and downward from the bent portion 45B. The inner hole of the communication pipe 45 forms a communication passage 46, and communicates with the inner chamber 35 through the inner portion 32 </ b> C of the hollow body 30 at the base end, and is opened inside the oil pan 3 at the opening end 47 formed at the tip. Communicate.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in a plan view, the base end side portion 45A passes through the front side of the right hollow body 30 and is more outward (rightward) than the outer portion 32D (outer end edge) of the hollow body 30. It extends to the vicinity of the right wall 12D of the oil pan 3. The bent portion 45B of the communication pipe 45 is disposed between the outer side portion 32D of the hollow body 30 and the right wall 12D of the oil pan 3 in the left-right direction and close to the right wall 12D of the oil pan 3. The front end side portion 45C of the communication pipe 45 extends rearward from the rear side portion 32B (rear edge) of the right hollow body 30 along the right wall 12D of the oil pan 3, and extends to the vicinity of the rear wall 12B of the oil pan 3. ing. Thus, the open end 47 of the communication pipe 45 is disposed away from the suction port 24 in the oil pan 3, and when the oil strainer 22 is disposed in the center of the oil pan 3, the edge of the oil pan 3 is The front wall 12A, the rear wall 12B, the left wall 12C, and the right wall 12D that are configured are disposed in proximity to each other. As shown in FIG. 1, the communication tube 45 and the communication passage 46 are formed so as to continuously move downward as proceeding from the proximal end to the opening end 47 at the distal end.

  Similarly, at the rear end and lower end of the inner part 32C of the right hollow body 30, a communication pipe 45 that is 180 ° rotationally symmetrical with the communication pipe 45 provided on the left hollow body 30 is projected. Yes. The communication tube 45 of the right hollow body 30 has a base end side portion 45A extending linearly to the left and downward, and a bent portion 45B on the left side of the left side wall (left edge) of the left hollow body 30. The front end portion 45C is disposed in the vicinity of the left wall 12C of the oil pan 3, and extends forward and downward along the left wall 12C of the oil pan 3 so that the front side portion 32A (front edge) of the left hollow body 30 is formed. ) And an opening end 47 is formed in the vicinity of the front wall 12 </ b> A of the oil pan 3.

  In order to suppress displacement (sagging) of each communication pipe 45, a support member that supports the communication pipe 45 may be provided on the oil pan 3 or the hollow body 30.

  The hollow body 30 including the communication pipe 45 is made of a material having high heat insulation (low thermal conductivity). In the present embodiment, the hollow body 30 is formed from a resin having a lower thermal conductivity than a metal such as iron or aluminum. In other embodiments, the communication pipe 45 and the hollow body 30 may have a double pipe or double box structure so that an air layer is included in the wall. Further, the surface may be coated with a heat insulating material.

  The suction pipe 21 including the strainer housing 23, the bracket 38, the hollow body 30 including the communication pipe 45, and the beam member 39 are combined with each other to form an assembly (sub-assembly). Each part constituting the assembly may be made of resin, and at least a part thereof may be integrally formed.

  A space defined inside the oil pan 3 and excluding the insides of the suction pipe 21, the oil strainer 22, the hollow body 30, and the communication pipe 45 is defined as an outer chamber 52. The height of the oil level S1 of the oil stored in the outer chamber 52 of the oil pan 3 is lower than when the internal combustion engine 1 is stopped because the oil is transported to each part of the internal combustion engine 1 during operation of the internal combustion engine 1. . If the internal combustion engine 1 is in operation and the oil level S1 is in a horizontal state as a reference state, the amount of oil stored in the oil pan 3 is that the height of the oil surface S1 is a hollow body in the reference state. 30 is set to be located above the bottom 31 and below the top 33. Preferably, in the reference state, the height of the oil surface S1 is higher than the bottom 31 and lower than ½ of the height of the outer side 32D. That is, the height of the oil surface S1 may be set so that a part of the lower portion of the hollow body 30 is immersed in the oil and at least the upper half of the hollow body 30 protrudes above the oil surface S1. In this state, the open end 47 of the communication path 46 is located in the oil, the communication path 46 is filled with oil, and the oil exists in the inner chamber 35 of the hollow body 30. Since the open end 47 of the communication passage 46 is located in the oil, the oil level S2 of the left inner chamber 35, the oil surface S3 of the right inner chamber 35, and the oil surface S1 of the outer chamber 52 are high. Is the same.

  As described above, the oil circulation device 60 includes the oil pan 3, the suction pipe 21 having the suction port 24, and the hollow body 30 having the communication pipe 45.

  The operation of the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described. When the internal combustion engine 1 is stopped, oil exists in the lower part of the inner chamber 35 of the hollow body 30 and the communication passage 46, and the oil level S1 of the outer chamber 52 and the oil levels S2 and S3 of the left and right inner chambers 35 have heights. Be the same. When the internal combustion engine 1 is started, the oil pump 20 is driven according to the rotation of the crankshaft, and oil is sucked from the suction port 24 and supplied to each part of the internal combustion engine 1. The oil supplied to each part of the internal combustion engine 1 is heated by receiving heat from the cylinder block 2 and the like, returns to the crank chamber 5 through a return passage (not shown), passes through the return hole 17 of the baffle plate 16 and is removed. Return to chamber 52.

  At this time, the oil retained in the left and right inner chambers 35 and the communication passage 46 having a predetermined pipe cross-sectional area is still at a low temperature and has a high viscosity and hardly flows. Therefore, the oil retained in the inner chamber 35 and the communication path 46 remains in the inner chamber 35 and the communication path 46 as it is, and mixing with the return oil whose temperature has been raised is suppressed. As a result, the return oil is maintained at a high temperature. Since the return oil has a high temperature, its viscosity decreases and easily flows to the suction port 24. Therefore, the return oil is preferentially circulated and further heated to a temperature suitable for driving the internal combustion engine 1. As described above, when the internal combustion engine 1 is started, the oil retained in the inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 becomes difficult to flow, so that the circulating oil is limited to the oil stored in the outer chamber 52. Warm-up is achieved early. When the temperature of the oil in the outer chamber 52 rises, the oil held in the inner chamber 35 and the communication path 46 is also gradually heated by heat exchange, the viscosity decreases, and the oil in the outer chamber 52 is mixed.

  In the present embodiment, since the opening end 47 of the communication passage 46 is disposed at the edge of the oil pan 3 away from the suction port 24, the suction pressure (negative pressure) from the suction port 24 is unlikely to act on the opening end 47. Therefore, low temperature oil held in the communication passage 46 and the inner chamber 35 is prevented from flowing into the outer chamber 52. Further, since the hollow body 30 including the communication pipe 45 is formed of a material having low thermal conductivity, heat exchange through the hollow body 30 and the communication pipe 45 is difficult to be performed, and the oil retained in the communication passage 46 and the inner chamber 35 The rate of temperature increase can be reduced. As a result, the oil in the inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 is likely to stay, avoiding mixing with high-temperature oil, and speeding up the warm-up is promoted. In addition, since the bent portion 45B is formed in the communication pipe 45 and the tip side portion 45C is made to follow the right wall 12D or the left wall 12C of the oil pan 3, the communication pipe 45 can be formed long, and the communication path 46 It is possible to increase the amount of oil that can be retained.

  The oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment can maintain the suction port 24 in the oil even when the automobile equipped with the horizontally mounted internal combustion engine 1 is turning. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a state in which the automobile turns right and the oil is biased to the left side in the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, when the automobile turns right, the oil in the oil pan 3 receives centrifugal force and moves to the left, and the oil level S1 is inclined. At this time, the open end 47 of the communication passage 46 of the left hollow body 30 protrudes on the oil surface S1, and the immersion amount (immersion volume) of the left hollow body 30 into the oil in the outer chamber 52 increases. At this time, since the open end 47 of the left communication passage 46 is on the oil surface S1, the oil in the outer chamber 52 does not flow into the left inner chamber 35. As a result, the oil in the outer chamber 52 is pushed away by the left hollow body 30, and the oil level S1 rises. At this time, the oil level S1 of the outer chamber 52 is higher in the upper right direction than the oil level S2 of the left inner chamber 35.

  When the oil in the outer chamber 52 moves to the left side, the right hollow body 30 protrudes out of the oil, but the oil in the right inner chamber 35 flows out to the outer chamber 52 through the communication passage 46. In the outer chamber 52, the oil level S1 of the oil does not decrease as the right hollow body 30 is detached from the oil. At this time, although not shown in FIG. 3, the oil in the right inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 forms an oil surface S <b> 3 having the same height as the oil surface S <b> 1 in the communication passage 46.

  When oil flows in or out in the left and right inner chambers 35, air flows into or out of the inner chambers 35 through the vent holes 36 according to the inflow or outflow of oil. Thereby, inflow or outflow of oil in each inner chamber 35 is smoothly performed.

  As described above, when the oil moves to the left side due to centrifugal force when the vehicle turns right, the amount of immersion of the left hollow body 30 into the oil in the outer chamber 52 increases, The oil level S1 rises and the suction port 24 is maintained in the oil. Similarly, when the automobile turns left, the amount of immersion of the right hollow body 30 into the oil that moves to the right side due to centrifugal force increases, the oil level S1 of the outer chamber 52 rises, and the suction port 24 enters the oil. Maintained.

  When the turning of the automobile is completed and the vehicle travels straight, the centrifugal force disappears, the oil level S1 of the oil in the outer chamber 52 becomes horizontal, the oil levels S2 and S3 of the oil in the inner chambers 35 also become horizontal, It returns to the same height as the oil level S1. As described above, when the automobile repeats turning and straight running, the oil in each inner chamber 35 repeats outflow and inflow, and is mixed with the oil in the outer chamber 52. Thereby, the oil in the outer chamber 52, each inner chamber 35, and the communication path 46 is homogenized. Therefore, the deterioration of the oil can be suppressed as compared with the oil circulation device in which only a part of the oil is repeatedly used.

  The oil circulation device 60 according to the present embodiment is inclined such that the lower surface of the bottom 31 of each hollow body 30 proceeds downward in the left-right direction as it proceeds to the strainer side (center side of the oil pan 3). Therefore, even when bubbles are mixed into the oil in the outer chamber 52 by blowing blow-by gas or the like and the bubbles enter below the bottom 31, the bubbles rising due to buoyancy are guided to the inclined lower surface of the bottom 31, and the suction port Move away from 24. This makes it difficult for air to be sucked into the suction port 24.

  When oil is exchanged in the oil circulation device 60, the internal oil can be discharged from the drain hole 14 by removing the drain bolt 15. Since the upper surface of the bottom 31 of the hollow body 30 and the communication path 46 are inclined so that the opening end 47 side is the lowest, the oil in the inner chamber 35 and the communication path 46 is discharged by gravity together with the oil in the outer chamber 52. Is done.

(Second Embodiment)
With reference to FIG.5 and FIG.6, 2nd Embodiment of this invention is described. The oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment differs from the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment in the support structure of the hollow body 30, and the hollow body 30 is attached to the oil pan 3. In the following description, the same components as those of the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment, the hollow body 30 has a connecting portion 71 below the bottom portion 31. The connecting portion 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a rectangular cross section, the upper end edge is joined to the edge portion of the bottom portion 31, and the outward flange 72 formed on the lower end edge is joined to the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3. Yes. That is, the bottom 31 of the hollow body 30 is joined to the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3 via the connecting portion 71. Thereby, a portion where the bottom portion 31 of the hollow body 30 and the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3 face each other forms a chamber 73 surrounded by the connecting portion 71. The joint part of the connection part 71 and the bottom part 31, and the connection part 71 and the bottom wall 11 are joined so that a gas and a liquid cannot pass, respectively. As a result, oil cannot enter the chamber 73.

  In the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment, the hollow body 30, the communication pipe 45, the connecting portion 71, and the oil pan 3 are combined with each other to form an assembly. Each part constituting the assembly may be made of resin, and at least a part thereof may be integrally formed. For example, the oil pan 3, the connection part 71, the lower half part of the hollow body 30, and the communication pipe 45 may be integrally formed.

  In the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment, since the lower part of the hollow body 30 is surrounded by the connecting portion 71, even if bubbles are mixed into the oil in the outer chamber 52 by blowing blow-by gas or the like, the bubbles are not generated. It goes under the bottom 31 and does not stay. That is, the connecting portion 71 prevents the hollow body 30 from forming a contact surface with the oil facing downward. For this reason, it is difficult for air to be sucked into the suction port 24. Further, the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment has the same effects as the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment as described above.

  As a modification of the second embodiment, the portion surrounded by the connecting portion 71 of the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3 is omitted, and the connecting portion 71 and the bottom portion 31 of the hollow body 30 constitute a part of the oil pan 3. It may be. Further, the bottom wall 11 may be protruded so as to fill the space between the communication pipe 45 and the bottom wall 11 of the oil pan 3, and the oil pan 3 and the communication pipe 45 may be integrated.

(Third embodiment)
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The oil circulation device 80 according to the third embodiment differs from the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment in the position of the hollow body 30 in the oil pan 3. In the following description, the same components as those of the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a plan view of an oil circulation device 80 according to the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, in the oil circulation device 80 according to the third embodiment, in a plan view, one of the pair of hollow bodies 30 is disposed on the left front in the oil pan 3, and the other is disposed on the right rear. The left front hollow body 30 and the right rear hollow body 30 are separated from each other without overlapping in the side view as viewed along the left-right direction, and the left front hollow body 30 and the right rear as viewed in the side view along the front-rear direction. These hollow bodies 30 are not overlapped with each other but are separated from each other. A suction pipe 21 having a suction port 24 and an oil strainer 22 is disposed between the left front hollow body 30 and the right rear hollow body 30.

  In the left front hollow body 30, the base end side portion 45A of the communication pipe 45 is joined to the rear end portion and the lower end portion of the inner portion 32C. On the other hand, in the right rear hollow body 30, the proximal end portion 45A of the communication pipe 45 is joined to the front end portion and the lower end portion of the inner portion 32C.

  In the oil circulation device 80 according to the third embodiment configured as described above, the front left hollow body 30 into the oil in the outer chamber 52 not only during turning of the horizontally mounted internal combustion engine mounted vehicle but also during acceleration and deceleration or As the amount of immersion of the right rear hollow body 30 increases, the oil level S1 of the oil in the outer chamber 52 rises, and the suction port 24 is maintained in the oil.

  When the automobile decelerates, the oil in the outer chamber 52 moves forward due to the inertial force, so that the amount of immersion in the oil in the outer chamber 52 of the left front hollow body 30 increases, and the oil in the outer chamber 52 becomes oily. Surface S1 rises. At this time, the opening end 47 of the left front communication passage 46 protrudes above the oil level S1, so that the oil in the outer chamber 52 does not flow into the left front inner chamber 35. Further, the oil in the right rear inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 flows out until the oil level S3 becomes equal to the oil level S1 of the oil in the outer chamber 52 due to the inertial force.

  On the other hand, when the automobile accelerates, the oil in the outer chamber 52 moves rearward due to the inertial force, and the amount of immersion in the oil in the outer chamber 52 of the right rear hollow body 30 increases. The oil level S1 of the oil rises. At this time, the opening end 47 of the right rear communication passage 46 protrudes above the oil surface S1, so that the oil in the outer chamber 52 does not flow into the right rear inner chamber 35. Further, the oil in the left front inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 flows out until the oil level S2 becomes the same as the oil level S1 of the oil in the outer chamber 52 due to the inertial force.

  When the automobile turns left and right, the amount of immersion of one of the left front and right rear hollow bodies 30 into the oil in the outer chamber 52 increases as in the oil circulation device 60 according to the first embodiment. The oil level S1 of the outer chamber 52 rises. In addition, oil flows out from the other inner chamber 35 and the communication passage 46 of the left front and right rear hollow bodies 30 to the outer chamber 52.

  The oil circulation device 80 according to the third embodiment may have a connecting portion 71 as in the oil circulation device 70 according to the second embodiment.

  Although the description of the specific embodiment is finished as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be widely modified. For example, in the above embodiment, the bent portion 45B and the tip end portion 45C of the communication tube 45 may be omitted. The inclination of the bottom 31 of the hollow body 30 and the communication passage 46 is a selective element and can be omitted as appropriate. In the above embodiment, a pair of hollow bodies 30 are provided. However, in other embodiments, only one hollow body 30 may be provided. For example, the suction port 24 may be disposed on one side of the oil pan 3 and the hollow body 30 may be disposed on the other side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the communication path 46 is configured by the communication pipe 45 that is a pipe, but the communication path 46 may be configured as a hole formed in a block-shaped structure. For example, the communication path 46 may be configured by projecting a wall from the oil pan 3 and forming a hole (passage) in the wall. In the above embodiment, the suction pipe 21 provided with the oil strainer 22 at the front end (upstream end) is illustrated as the suction device of the oil pump 20, but the position of the oil strainer 22 can be changed as appropriate. In some cases, this may be omitted.

  Moreover, although the above embodiment demonstrated the example of the horizontal installation internal combustion engine, this invention is not limited by arrangement | positioning of an internal combustion engine, Of course, it can apply also to an internal combustion engine of vertical installation.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Internal combustion engine, 2 ... Cylinder block (internal combustion engine main body), 3 ... Oil pan, 11 ... Bottom wall, 12 ... Side wall, 14 ... Drain hole, 15 ... Drain bolt, 20 ... Oil pump, 21 ... Intake pipe (oil) Suction device), 22 ... oil strainer (oil suction device), 23 ... strainer housing, 24 ... suction port, 30 ... hollow body, 31 ... bottom, 32 ... side, 33 ... top, 35 ... inner chamber, 36 ... communication 45, ... communication pipe (passage member), 45A ... proximal end portion, 45B ... bent portion, 45C ... distal end side portion, 46 ... communication passage, 47 ... open end, 52 ... outer chamber, 60, 70, 80 ... Oil circulation device, 71 ... connecting part

Claims (8)

An oil pan provided in the lower part of the internal combustion engine body and storing oil therein;
An oil suction device having a suction port disposed inside the oil pan;
A hollow body that has an inner chamber and a vent hole that communicates the inner chamber with the outside, and is disposed on one side of the oil pan with respect to the suction port;
A communication path having one end communicating with the inner chamber and the other end extending to the other side opposite to the one side to the vicinity of the side edge of the oil pan and forming an open end at a position away from the suction port. A passage member provided,
The communication passage is inclined so as to advance downward from the inner chamber toward the opening end,
When the oil level of the oil in the oil pan is in a horizontal state, the inlet and the open end are located in the oil, and when the oil is biased to the one side, the open end is An oil circulation device for an internal combustion engine, wherein the oil circulation device is located above an oil level and an amount of immersion of the hollow body into the oil is increased.   The oil circulation device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body and the passage member have heat insulation properties. 3. The communication path according to claim 1 , wherein the communication path extends from the inner chamber to the vicinity of a side edge of the oil pan, and then bends and extends along the side edge of the oil pan. Oil circulator for internal combustion engine. The hollow body is joined to the upper surface of the bottom of the oil pan so that the oil cannot enter the space between the lower surface of the hollow body and the upper surface of the bottom of the oil pan. The oil circulation device according to any one of claims 3 to 4. The oil circulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein a lower surface of the hollow body is inclined so as to advance upward as the distance from the suction port increases. The oil circulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and claim 5 , wherein the hollow body is supported by the oil suction device. The oil circulation device according to claim 6 , wherein the hollow body and the oil suction device are combined with each other to form an assembly. The suction port, the centrally located portion of the inner oil pan, the hollow body and the channel member is provided at least one pair, characterized in that said inlet between said hollow body in a pair are disposed The oil circulation device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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