The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-149461 filed on Aug. 8, 2018, including specification, drawings and claims is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to an installation structure of an oil control valve unit and a vehicle.
In recent years, engines in which a variable valve timing device configured to control valve timings of an intake valve and an exhaust valve in correspondence to a driving state of an engine is mounted for high output, low-fuel consumption and low exhaust gas have been increasingly used. In this type of engines, an engine has been known in which a hydraulic pressure in the variable valve timing device is controlled with an oil control valve unit installed on an outer surface of a cylinder (for example, see Patent Document 1). The variable valve timing device is supplied with oil from the oil control valve unit, and the valve timing is adjusted by changing the rotational phase of a camshaft with respect to a crankshaft to an advance side or a retard side.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5345448 B
The oil control valve unit described in Patent Document 1 includes a plurality of mounting holes formed in a bracket of a valve housing, and is fixed by screwing bolts inserted into the mounting holes into screw holes on the outer surface of the engine. However, since the outer surface of the engine vibrates, there is a possibility that the adhesion of the oil control valve unit to the engine cannot be secured by fastening with the bolts. Even if the adhesion between the engine and the oil control valve unit can be ensured, a large number of bolts must be prepared.
It is at least one of objects of the present disclosure to provide an installation structure of an oil control valve unit that can be installed with a small number of bolts while ensuring adhesion to an engine, and a vehicle.
According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided an installation structure of an oil control valve unit configured to control a hydraulic pressure for a variable valve timing device of an engine by a control valve supported by a valve housing, wherein the engine is formed with an installation surface on which the valve housing is installed, the valve housing is installed to the installation surface by a plurality of bolts, and two bolts of the plurality of bolts are attached at facing positions across a center of the valve housing in a direction along a cylinder axial direction of the engine.
Since the valve housing is fixed at the facing positions in the cylinder axial direction, the vibration of the valve housing due to engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction of the engine is suppressed. Thus, the oil control valve unit can be installed to the engine by the small number of bolts while ensuring adhesion of the valve housing to the installation surface of the engine.
In the accompanying drawings:
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, an example in which an installation structure of an oil control valve unit according to the present embodiment is applied to a sport-type motorcycle will be described, but the application target is not limited thereto and can be appropriately changed. For example, the oil control valve unit may be applied to other types of motorcycles.
As shown in
A part of a front side portion of the main frame 12 is a tank rail 14, and a fuel tank 21 is installed on the tank rail 14. A rear side portion of the main frame 12 is configured as the body frame 15, and a swing arm pivot 17 swingably supporting a swing arm 18 is formed at a substantially intermediate position of the body frame 15 in an upper-lower direction. A seat rail (not shown) and a back stay 16 extending rearward are provided on an upper portion of the body frame 15. A rider seat 23 and a pillion seat 24 connected to the fuel tank 21 is provided on the seat rail.
The vehicle body frame 10 is mounted with various covers as external parts of a vehicle body. For example, a front half part of the vehicle body is covered with a front cowl 26, a side surface of the vehicle body is covered with a side cowl 27. Also, the seat rail is covered with a rear cowl 28, and a front lower part of the engine 41 is covered with an under cowl 29. A pair of right and left front forks 32 is supported to be steerable to the head pipe 11 via a steering shaft (not shown). A front suspension for front wheel buffering is installed in the front fork 32. A front wheel 33 is rotatably supported by lower portions of the front forks 32, and the upper of the front wheel 33 is covered with a front fender 34.
The swing arm 18 extends rearward from the swing arm pivot 17. A rear suspension 36 for rear wheel buffering is provided between the swing arm 18 and the body frame 15. The rear suspension 36 has one end supported by an upper end side of the body frame 15 and the other end connected to the swing arm 18 via a suspension link 37. A rear wheel 38 is rotatably supported by a rear end of the swing arm 18. The engine 41 and the rear wheel 38 are coupled via a deceleration mechanism, and the power from the engine 41 is transmitted to the rear wheel 38 via the deceleration mechanism. The upper of the rear wheel 38 is covered with a rear fender 39 provided at a rear portion of the rear cowl 28.
The engine 41 is configured by attaching a cylinder head 43 (see
For the engine 41 configured as described above, a variable valve timing system which controls driving timings of an intake valve in accordance with an operation state of the engine is adopted. An oil control valve unit 61 (see
The oil control valve unit 61 is partially inserted into an opening formed in an outer wall of the cylinder head 43, and an internal flow path of the oil control valve unit 61 communicates with an internal flow path of the cylinder head 43. At this time, the oil control valve unit 61 is screwed to an installation surface of the cylinder head 43 with bolts, so that the oil control valve unit 61 is strongly pressed against the installation surface. However, engine vibration occurs in a cylinder axial direction in the cylinder head 43, and the adhesion between the oil control valve unit 61 and the installation surface of the cylinder head 43 is reduced by this engine vibration.
For example, as shown in a comparative example of
By forming an opening 83 (see
Hereinafter, the installation structure of the oil control valve unit according to the present embodiment is described with reference to
As shown in
In this case, the down frames 13 are configured to support a front side of the engine 41. The down frames 13 support a front side of the cylinder head 43, and have a substantially triangular shape in which a width of the down frame 13 becomes wider gradually in a front-rear direction from a support position 19 to the engine 41 toward the head pipe 11. Unlike a structure in which a lower portion of the engine 41 is supported with the down frames 13, the cylinder head 43 provided at the upper portion of the engine 41 is supported with the down frames 13, so that it is possible to suppress the width of the down frame 13 from being widened in the front-rear direction and to secure the installation space 49 of the oil control valve unit 61 at a side of the cylinder head 43.
At a side of the engine 41, the oil control valve unit 61 is installed in the installation space 49 between the main frame 12 and the down frame 13, so that a space between the radiator 47 and the oil control valve unit 61 is blocked by the down frame 13. Accordingly, the heat from the radiator 47 is shielded by the down frame 13, which is a part of the vehicle body frame 10, so that the deterioration of the operation characteristics of the oil control valve unit 61 due to an increase in temperature is suppressed. Further, the oil control valve unit 61 is positioned between the main frame 12 and the down frame 13, so that the oil control valve unit 61 is protected from flying stones in front of the vehicle body.
Since the front of the oil control valve unit 61 is blocked by the down frame 13, the influence of heat from the radiator 47 is suppressed. However, the traveling wind is difficult to collide with the oil control valve unit 61. Therefore, regarding a pair of front and rear IN cam axis O1 and EX cam axis O2 of the cylinder head 43, the down frame 13 is configured to pass through a front side of the EX cam axis O2 and the main frame 12 is configured to pass through a rear side of the IN cam axis O1, so that the installation space 49 of the oil control valve unit 61 is widened. The installation space 49 is widened, so that the heat is difficult to be retained in the installation space 49 and an ambient temperature is thus lowered.
Further, a transmission is housed in the crankcase 42, and the engine case 42 is provided with a transmission cover 45 to cover the transmission from a side. The transmission cover 45 bulges sideward, and the oil control valve unit 61 is installed above the transmission cover 45. The oil control valve unit 61 is surrounded by the transmission cover 45, the main frame 12, and the down frame 13, and a space surrounded by the transmission cover 45, the main frame 12 and the down frame 13 is effectively utilized as the installation space 49. Accordingly, the oil control valve unit 61 is protected from the flying stones in front of the vehicle body by the down frame 13, and the oil control valve unit 61 is protected from the flying stones below the vehicle body by the transmission cover 45.
An upper portion of the transmission cover 45 is formed such that an interval with the oil control valve unit 61 becomes wider toward the front. The upper portion of the transmission cover 45 is inclined obliquely downward toward the front, and a vertical interval between the upper portion of the transmission cover 45 and the oil control valve unit 61 is increased. The transmission cover 45 and the oil control valve unit 61 are spaced apart from each other, so that the installation space 49 of the oil control valve unit 61 can be widened, the heat is difficult to be retained in the installation space 49 and the surrounding temperature is thus lowered. In this way, the installation space 49 having a sufficient area is secured at a side surface of the engine 41 by the main frame 12, the down frame 13 and the transmission cover 45.
The pair of left and right main frames 12 extends obliquely rearward from the head pipe 11, and a facing interval of the main frames 12 is narrowed at the rear of the installation space 49 of the oil control valve unit 61 (particularly, refer to
A radiator hose 48 extends rearward from the radiator 47, and the oil control valve unit 61 is installed above the radiator hose 48 at the side surface of the engine 41. The cooling water is supplied from the radiator 47 to the engine 41 by the radiator hose 48, and the oil control valve unit 61 is cooled by the cooling water in the radiator hose 48. Since the radiator hose 48 traverses immediately below the oil control valve unit 61, the oil control valve unit 61 is protected from the flying stones below the vehicle body by the radiator hose 48. Since the radiator hose 48 is formed of rubber or the like, the radiator hose 48 is difficult to be damaged due to the flying stones.
As shown in
The oil control valve unit 61 is installed at a more inner side than all of the transmission cover 45, the main frame 12 and the down frame 13 as seen from the front-rear direction. The oil control valve unit 61 is protected from a shock upon turnover of the vehicle body and the other external shock by the transmission cover 45, the main frame 12, and the down frame 13. The oil control valve unit 61 is housed in the vehicle body frame 10 as seen from the front-rear direction, so that an increase in entire vehicle width dimension of the vehicle body is suppressed. Note that, the inner side as seen from the front-rear direction may be a more inner side than the outermost surfaces of the transmission cover 45, the main frame 12 and the down frame 13.
The oil control valve unit 61 is screwed to the installation space 49 of the cylinder head 43 at two positions by a pair of bolts 81. As described above, since the engine vibration is generated in the engine 41 in the cylinder axial direction (see
As shown in
The control valve 62 is likely to generate heat by the energization of the solenoids 66, and the operating characteristics are deteriorated due to the increase in temperature of the solenoid 66. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the solenoid 66 side of the control valve 62 faces rearward. Since the solenoid 66 is spaced from the radiator 47 (see
For example, as shown in a comparative example of
Hereinafter, the installation structure of the oil control valve unit is described with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The oil enters the supply port 72a at the center of the housing body 64, and the oil filtered by the filter 73 of the supply port 72a is supplied to the control valve 62. When the control valve 62 is switched, the supply port 72a communicates with one of the advance port 72b and the retard port 72c, and the drain port 72d communicates with one of the advance angle port 72b and the retard port 72c. Accordingly, the oil is supplied from the supply port 72a to one of the advance chamber or the retard chamber of the variable valve timing device, and the oil is discharged from the other through the drain port 72d.
As shown in
As shown in
All of the oil ports 72a to 72d and the mounting holes 71a, 71b of the housing main body 64 are formed parallel to a die removing direction at the time of casting of the valve housing 63. Accordingly, the outer die forming an outer shape of the valve housing 63 and the casting pins forming the oil ports 72a to 72d and the mounting holes 71a, 71b of the valve housing 63 can be removed in the same direction at the time of casting, and the number of working steps can be reduced to improve productivity. In this way, each of the oil ports 72a to 72d of the oil control valve unit 61 is formed in a straight shape in consideration of not only the pressure loss of oil but also the number of manufacturing steps.
As shown in
As shown in
When the mounting holes 71a, 71b (see
The cylinder axial direction is a reciprocating direction of a piston in the engine 41, and engine vibration is mainly generated in the cylinder axial direction by the reciprocating motion of a piston in the cylinder head 43. Since the facing portions of the oil control valve unit 61 are fixed by the pair of bolts 81 in the direction along the cylinder axial direction, the vibration of the valve housing 63 due to the engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction is suppressed. Accordingly, the adhesion of the oil control valve unit 61 to the installation surface 80 (see
More specifically, as shown in
Further, in the valve housing 63, the oil ports 72a to 72d are formed closer to the center of the valve housing 63 than the pair of mounting holes 71a, 71b in the cylinder axial direction (see
Referring back to
As shown in
The configuration of installing a member at the inner side of the cam chain 56 is not preferable from a standpoint of the mounting workability. However, the oil control valve unit 61 is detachably mounted, so that the oil control valve unit 61 is not an obstacle upon the mounting of the cam chain 56. In case of the motorcycle 1 (refer to
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit 61 is configured to be detachably mounted, and after the cam chain 56 is mounted to the engine 41, the valve housing 63 of the oil control valve unit 61 is inserted to the inner side of the cam chain 56. Accordingly, interference does not occur upon the mounting of the cam chain 56, and a dead space of the inner side of the cam chain 56 is effectively used. The valve housing 63 of the oil control valve unit 61 is configured to pass through the inner side of the cam chain 56, so that the oil control valve unit 61 is brought close to the variable valve timing device.
Thus, the internal flow path from the main gallery 53 (see
The chain chamber 84 is widened at the inner side of the cylinder head 43, and the opening 83 communicating with the chain chamber 84 is formed in the outer wall 85 of the cylinder head 43. Therefore, the cylinder head 43 and the crankcase 42 are fastened by a pair of bolts 87 to compensate for the rigidity of the outer wall 85 of the cylinder head 43. By increasing the rigidity of the outer wall 85 of the cylinder head 43, vibration noise is reduced, and the sealing performance between the O-ring 82 mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the valve housing 63 and the inner peripheral surface of the opening 83 is improved. Further, since the bolts 87 are not provided on the inner wall 86 of the cylinder head 43, the cam housing 89 can be installed on the inner wall 86.
More specifically, as shown in
Particularly, since the pair of bolts 87 fasten the cylinder head 43 to the crankcase 42 from the cylinder axial direction, the engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction is effectively suppressed by the pair of bolts 87. The pair of bolts 87 is formed in a long shape that is strong against compressive load and weak against shear load. Therefore, the shear load due to the engine vibration is suppressed with the axial direction of the bolts 87 facing the cylinder axial direction. The outer wall 85 of the cylinder head 43 is provided with a suspension bracket 59 suspending a front surface of the engine 41 with the vehicle body frame 10 (see
As shown in
In this case, it is preferable that no member is present on the supply path of the oil which falls from the outlet of the drain port 72d to the cam chain 56. By directly supplying the oil from the outlet of the drain port 72d to the inner peripheral surface of the cam chain 56, the amount of oil supplied to the cam chain 56 can be sufficiently ensured. As described above, with a simple structure in which the oil discharged from the drain port 72d of the oil control valve unit 61 is used, the cam chain 56 can be well lubricated without providing a dedicated oil passage, a chain jet, or the like in the cylinder head 43.
Further, as the valve housing 63 abuts on the inner wall 86 (see
The flow path structure of the engine will be described with reference to
As shown in
The first oil passage 91 includes an in-case passage 92 extending toward the cylinder head 43 side through the bearing of the crankshaft, a branch passage 93 extending in the cylinder axial direction, and supply passages 94, 95 for camshafts and a chain adjuster branched by the branch passage 93. The supply passage 94 for the camshafts extends obliquely forward from a lower end side of the branch passage 93, and branches halfway toward bearings of the pair of camshafts. The supply passage 95 for the chain adjuster extends obliquely rearward from an upper end side of the branch passage 93. Although the first oil passage 91 is branched in various ways, appropriate hydraulic pressure is ensured for the chain adjuster and the camshafts.
The first half of the second oil passage 96 includes a bypass passage 97 extending forward from the main gallery 53, a parallel passage 98 extending parallel to the main gallery 53 from the midway of the bypass passage 97, and a supply passage 99 extending from the parallel passage 98 to the cylinder head 43 bypassing the crankshaft. Since the bypass passage 97 and the parallel passage 98 are formed at substantially the same height as the main gallery 53, a high hydraulic pressure also acts on the bypass passage 97 and the parallel passage 98 similar to that acting on the main gallery 53. The supply passage 99 is connected at a shortest distance from the parallel passage 98 to the oil control valve unit 61 to supply high hydraulic pressure to the oil control valve unit 61.
The supply passage 99 of the second oil passage 96 combines a plurality of straight passages, and is formed substantially parallel to the in-case passage 92 of the first oil passage 91. At the time of manufacturing the crankcase 42, the supply passage 99 of the second oil passage 96 and the in-case passage 92 of the first oil passage 91 are formed by removing core pins from the same direction, thereby improving the productivity. The second half of the second oil passage 96 includes an advance passage 100 directing from the oil control valve unit 61 to the advance chamber and a retard passage 101 directing from the oil control valve unit 61 to the retard chamber.
A bend exists in the advance passage 100 and the retard passage 101, and a bend loss of the oil occurs in the advance passage 100 and the retard passage 101. However, the oil control valve unit 61 is installed near the variable valve timing device 110 (see
As described above, since the hydraulic pressure for the variable valve timing device 110 (see
Next, the variable valve timing system will be briefly described with reference to
As shown in
A case 111 of the variable valve timing device 110 is fixed to the sprocket 112 on which the cam chain 56 is put. The sprocket 112 is rotatably supported by one end portion of the camshaft 55 together with the case 111. Further, a rotor 114 having vanes 113 is fixed to one end portion of the camshaft 55, and is housed to be relatively rotatable inside the case 111. A plurality of hydraulic pressure chambers is formed at an inner side of the case 92, and each vane 113 of the rotor 114 is housed in each hydraulic pressure chamber. Each hydraulic pressure chamber is partitioned into an advance chamber S1 and a retard chamber S2 by each vane 113.
The advance chamber S1 and the retard chamber S2 are configured to communicate with the oil paths formed in the camshaft and the cam housing. When a volume of the advance chamber S1 is increased by the hydraulic pressure, the rotor 114 is rotated relative to the case 111 toward the advance side. Thereby, the camshaft 55 fixed to the rotor 114 rotates, so that the valve timing changes toward the advance side. On the other hand, when a volume of the retard chamber S2 is increased by the hydraulic pressure, the rotor 114 is rotated relative to the case 111 toward the retard side. Thereby, the camshaft 55 fixed to the rotor 114 rotates, so that the valve timing changes toward the retard side.
The variable valve timing device 110 is operated by the hydraulic pressure from the oil control valve unit 61. The oil is pumped up from an oil pan 51 to the main gallery 53 via a filter or the like by the oil pump 52, and the oil is supplied to the intake control valve 62 of the oil control valve unit 61 through the crankcase and the internal flow path of the cylinder head. Then, the communication states between the advance port, the retard port, the input port and the exhaust port of the control valve 62 are switched, so that the variable valve timing is switched to the advance side or retard side.
At this time, the first oil passage 91 of the valve system and the second oil passage 96 for the oil control valve unit 61 are formed in the crankcase and the cylinder head. Since the second oil passage 96 is branched at the main gallery 53 and forms a hydraulic circuit independent of the first oil passage 91, the hydraulic pressure of the second oil passage 96 is not used for other hydraulic circuits. Further, since the second oil passage 96 is formed by combining substantially linear passages with minimal bending, pressure loss in the passage such as hydraulic bending loss of the second oil passage 96 is suppressed (see
Further, since the oil control valve unit 61 is installed near the variable valve timing device 110, the oil can be sent out to the vicinity of the variable valve timing device 110 through the second oil passage 96 with high hydraulic pressure. Thus, the oil is supplied from the control valve 62 to the variable valve timing device 110 with high hydraulic pressure, and the response speed of the variable valve timing device 110 is increased. Further, the dead space at the inner side of the cam chain 56 can be effectively used in the oil passage of the oil control valve unit 61, and the oil passage inside the engine is not complicated.
Next, an assembling operation of the vehicle body frame will be described with reference to
As shown in
In this case, the oil control valve unit 61 and the bulging portion of the transmission cover 45 are installed between a forefront part 15a of the body frame 15 below the transmission cover 45 and a last part 13a of the down frame 13, in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. When the vehicle body frame 10 is downward mounted from the upper of the engine 41 in the vertical direction, moving loci L4, L5 are depicted by the forefront part 15a of the body frame 15 and the last part 13a of the down frame 13. Since the moving loci L4, L5 deviate from the oil control valve unit 61 and the transmission cover 45, it is possible to mount the vehicle body frame 10 to the engine 41 in a state where the oil control valve unit 61 is installed on a side surface of the cylinder 43.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the valve housing 63 is fixed at the facing positions in the cylinder axial direction, the vibration of the valve housing 63 due to the engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction of the engine 41 is suppressed. Thus, the oil control valve unit 61 can be installed to the engine 41 by the small number of bolts while ensuring adhesion of the valve housing 63 to the installation surface of the engine 41.
Note that, in the present embodiment, the parallel four-cylinder engine is exemplified as the engine, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The configuration of the engine is not particularly limited, for example, a single cylinder engine, a parallel two-cylinder engine, a V-shaped engine, a horizontal opposed type engine, an in-line two-cylinder engine, or the like.
In the present embodiment, the twin spar frame is exemplified as the vehicle body frame, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The vehicle body frame may have any shape capable of securing the installation space of the oil control valve unit for the engine. For example, the vehicle body frame may be configured by a cradle frame.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit is installed on the right side of the engine, but the oil control valve unit may be installed on the left side of the engine.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit is installed on a side of the cylinder, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may be installed on a side of the engine. For example, the oil control valve unit may be installed on a side of the engine case.
In the present embodiment, a spool valve is illustrated as the oil control valve unit, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may have any configuration capable of controlling the hydraulic pressure to the variable timing device of the engine, and the type of the valve is not particularly limited.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit includes the intake control valve, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may include any one of the intake control valve and the exhaust control valve.
In the present embodiment, the oil is supplied to the oil control valve unit through the internal flow path extending from the main gallery, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil may be supplied to the oil control valve unit from an external pipe extending from the main gallery.
In the present embodiment, the outlet of the drain port is directed to the inner peripheral surface of the cam chain, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The outlet of the drain port may be directed to the outer peripheral surface of the cam chain, or the outlet of the drain port may not be directed to the cam chain.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit is installed on the cylinder head, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may be installed on the engine. For example, the oil control valve unit may be installed on the crankcase.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit is screwed to the inner wall of the engine, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may be screwed to the outer wall of the engine.
In the present embodiment, the oil control valve unit is attached to the engine with the pair of bolts, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The oil control valve unit may be attached by at least two bolts at the facing positions across the center of the valve housing in the direction along the cylinder axis direction, and for example, the oil control valve may be attached by three or more bolts.
In the present embodiment, each oil passage of the supply port, the advance port, the retard port, and the drain port is formed to be straight, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. Each oil passage may be formed to communicate with the lower surface of the valve housing and the valve case.
In the present embodiment, the supply port, the advance port, the retard port are formed in parallel to the die removing direction at the time of casting, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The valve housing may be molded by a method other than casting, and each oil passage may not be formed parallel to the die removing direction.
In the present embodiment, the vehicle body frame can be assembled to the engine by installing the valve housing on the engine such that the solenoid faces the rear of the engine, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The valve housing may be installed in the engine such that the solenoid faces the front of the engine. Since the oil control valve can be attached later, the vehicle body frame can be assembled to the engine.
Although the present embodiment and the modification have been described, the present embodiment and the modification may be combined in whole or in part as another embodiment of the present invention.
The technology of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment and modification, and various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made without departing from the technical spirit. Further, when the technical spirit of the present invention can be implemented with other methods by advance in technology or by the other deriving technology, the present invention can be implemented using the methods. Therefore, the claims cover all implementations that can be included in the technical spirit of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, although the configuration in which the present invention is applied to the motorcycle is described, but the present invention is not limited this configuration. The present invention can be appropriately applied to other vehicles in which the oil control valve unit is installed, for example, a special machine such as a jet ski, a lawn trimmer, an outboard motor and the like, in addition to an automatic four-wheeled vehicle and a buggy-type motor tricycle.
Features of the above embodiment are summarized below.
The installation structure of the oil control valve unit described in the present embodiment is an installation structure of an oil control valve unit configured to control a hydraulic pressure to a variable valve timing device of an engine by a control valve supported by a valve housing, wherein the engine is formed with an installation surface on which the valve housing is installed is formed, the valve housing is installed to the installation surface by a plurality of bolts, and two of the plurality of bolts are attached at facing positions across a center of the valve housing in a direction along a cylinder axial direction of the engine. According to the configuration, since the valve housing is fixed at the facing positions in the cylinder axial direction, the vibration of the valve housing due to the engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction of the engine is suppressed. Thus, the oil control valve unit can be installed to the engine by the small number of bolts while ensuring adhesion of the valve housing to the installation surface of the engine.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit described in the above embodiment, the opening into which the valve housing can be inserted is formed in the outer wall of the engine, and the inner wall of the engine is formed with an installation surface on which the valve housing inserted through an opening is installed. According to this configuration, the adhesion of the valve housing to the inner wall of the engine can be ensured.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit described in the above embodiment, two mounting holes for the two bolts are formed in the valve housing, and an oil passage is formed closer to the center of the valve housing than the two mounting holes in the cylinder axial direction. According to this configuration, since the oil passage is positioned between the two bolts, oil leakage is prevented by the close contact of the valve housing to the installation surface of the engine.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit described in the above embodiment, the oil passage is formed straight in the valve housing toward the control valve. According to this configuration, the pressure loss due to the passage shape of the oil passage is reduced, the flow of oil becomes smooth and the response performance of the variable valve timing device can be improved.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit described in the above embodiment, the oil passage is formed in the valve housing in parallel to the die removing direction at the time of casting. According to this configuration, the outer die forming an outer shape of the valve housing and a casting pin forming the oil passage of the valve housing can be removed in the same direction at the time of casting, and the number of working steps can be reduced to improve productivity.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit according to the above embodiment, the control valve is a spool-type valve, and the valve housing is installed on the installation surface such that the valve axial direction intersects the cylinder axial direction. According to the configuration, when the valve axial direction intersects the engine vibration in the cylinder axial direction, a vibration component in the valve axial direction acting on the control valve can be reduced. Thus, operation stability can be improved by suppressing an erroneous operation of the control valve due to the vibration component in the valve axial direction.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit according to the above embodiment, the valve housing is installed on the installation surface such that the valve axial direction intersects the cylinder axial direction at 45 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less. According to the configuration, the vibration component in the valve axial direction acting on the control valve can be reduced.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit according to the above embodiment, the control valve includes a driving unit which drives a valve element, a valve case which houses the valve body is integrally formed on the valve housing, and a boss to which at least one of the two bolts is attached and a boss to which a bracket of the driving unit is attached are integrally formed. According to this configuration, each part of the valve housing is integrally formed, and it is possible to increase an attachment rigidity of the driving portion to the valve housing.
In the installation structure of the oil control valve unit according to the above embodiment, the valve housing is installed such that the driving portion faces the rear of the engine. According to this configuration, since the driving unit is positioned behind a front surface of the engine in a side view, a vehicle body frame can be assembled to the engine with the oil control valve mounted on the engine.
A vehicle described in the above embodiment includes the above installation structure of the oil control valve unit. According to this configuration, it is possible to eliminate oil leakage, improve the response of the variable valve timing device, and realize high output, low-fuel consumption, and low exhaust gasification.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2018-149461 | Aug 2018 | JP | national |