OIL PAN AND ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE OIL PAN

Abstract

An engine assembly can heat or cool oil and includes an oil pan. The oil pan includes an oil pan body, and the oil pan body includes an inner pan surface and an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface. The inner pan surface defines a cavity configured to collect oil. The oil pan further includes a pan passageway extending through the oil pan body. The pan passageway is disposed between the inner pan surface and the outer pan surface. In addition, the pan passageway is configured to carry a heat transfer fluid in order to transfer heat between the oil disposed in the cavity of the oil pan and the heat transfer fluid.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an oil pan and an engine assembly including the oil pan.

BACKGROUND

An oil pan can collect oil used to lubricate an internal combustion engine. During operation of the internal combustion engine, oil may circulate within the internal combustion engine to lubricate moving components of the internal combustion engine, dissipate thermal energy, and protect against wear of the internal combustion engine. After lubricating the moving parts of the engine, the oil is collected by the oil pan.

SUMMARY

To maximize fuel efficiency during operation of an internal combustion engine, the oil lubricating the engine should have an optimum oil viscosity. The oil viscosity can be varied by adjusting the temperature of the oil. Accordingly, it is useful to heat or cool the oil in the oil pan in order to adjust the oil viscosity. The presently disclosed engine assembly can heat or cool the oil in the oil pan independently of the oil flowrate generated by an oil pump. In an embodiment, the presently disclosed engine assembly includes an oil pan, which may be casted. The oil pan includes an oil pan body, and the oil pan body includes an inner pan surface and an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface. The inner pan surface defines a cavity configured to collect oil. The oil pan further includes a pan passageway (e.g., jacket) extending through the oil pan body. The pan passageway is disposed between the inner pan surface and the outer pan surface. In addition, the pan passageway is configured to carry a heat transfer fluid (e.g., coolant) in order to transfer heat between the oil disposed in the cavity and the heat transfer fluid. The present disclosure also relates to an oil pan as described above and a method for exchanging heat between the oil in the oil pan and the heat transfer fluid flowing through the pan passageway.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle including an engine assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, wherein the engine assembly includes an oil pan;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of an oil pan shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, top view of the oil pan shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of the oil pan shown in FIG. 2, taken by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for exchanging heat between a heat transfer fluid and oil in the oil pan shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 10, such as a car, including an engine assembly 12. The engine assembly 12 includes an internal combustion engine 14 configured to propel the vehicle 10. The internal combustion engine 14 employs oil O for lubrication, among other things. The engine assembly 12 further includes an oil pan 16 coupled to the internal combustion engine 14. As a consequence, oil O can flow between the internal combustion engine 14 and the oil pan 16. Specifically, the oil O can lubricate the internal combustion engine 14 and then flows to the oil pan 16. The oil pan 16 then collects the oil O but the oil O does not rise above a predetermined oil level L. The engine assembly 12 further includes an oil pump 18 coupled to the oil pan 16. Consequently, the oil pump 18 can move the oil O from the oil pan 16 to another vehicle component 20, such as an oil gallery. The oil O can then flow back from the vehicle component 20 (e.g., oil gallery) to the internal combustion engine 14.

To maximize fuel efficiency during operation of the internal combustion engine 14, the oil O should have an optimum oil viscosity. The oil viscosity can be varied by adjusting the temperature of the oil O. Accordingly, it is useful to heat or cool the oil O in the oil pan 16 in order to adjust the oil viscosity. The presently disclosed engine assembly 12 can heat or cool the oil O in the oil pan 16 independently of the oil flowrate generated by the oil pump 18. This is especially important in the scenario when the internal combustion engine 14 is warming up and the engine speed is relatively low. In this scenario, heating the oil O can decrease its viscosity, thereby minimizing friction in the internal combustion engine 14. It is projected that, by using the presently disclosed oil pan 16, the fuel efficiency of the internal combustion engine 14 can be improved by about one (1) to one point five (1.5) percent over conventional engines during the warm up period.

The engine assembly 12 further includes a heat transfer fluid source 22 capable of holding heat transfer fluid F. The heat transfer fluid F can be any fluid (e.g., liquid) suitable for transferring heat. As a non-limiting example, the heat transfer fluid F may be a coolant, such ethylene glycol. The fluid source 22 is in fluid communication with an input passageway 24 (e.g., conduit, tube, pipe, etc.). The input passageway 24 is outside the oil pan 16 and is fluidly coupled between the oil pan 16 and the fluid source 22. Accordingly, the heat transfer fluid F can flow from the fluid source 22 to the oil pan 16. A fluid transfer pump 26 is also coupled to the input passageway 24 in order to move the heat transfer fluid F from the fluid source 22 to the oil pan 16 through the input passageway 24.

The input passageway 24 is in thermal communication with a heat source 28. As a consequence, the heat source 28 can heat the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the input passageway 24. As non-limiting examples, the heat source 28 can be an exhaust manifold, an exhaust gas recirculation system, a turbocharger, an engine block, an engine head, or a combination thereof. Regardless of the kind of heat source 28 used, heat H can be transferred between the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the input passageway 24 and the heat source 28.

The input passageway 24 is in thermal communication with a cooling source 30. As a consequence, the cooling source 30 can cool the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the input passageway 24. As a non-limiting example, the cooling source 30 can be the cooling system of the vehicle 10. Irrespective of the kind of cooling source 30 used, heat H can be transferred between the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the input passageway 24 and the cooling source 30.

As discussed in detail below, the oil pan 16 has a pan passageway 32 (e.g., jacket, hole, opening) formed by the oil pan body 36 and in fluid communication with the input passageway 24. Accordingly, the heat transfer fluid F can flow between the input passageway 24 and the pan passageway 32. While flowing through the pan passageway 32, heat can be transferred between the oil O disposed in the oil pan 16 and the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the pan passageway 32 as discussed below. The engine assembly 12 also includes an output passageway 34 (e.g., conduit, tube, pipe, etc.) outside the oil pan 16. The output passageway 34 is in fluid communication with the pan passageway 32. Accordingly, the heat transfer fluid F can flow between the pan passageway 32 and the output passageway 34 once heat has been transferred between the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the pan passageway 32 and the oil O disposed in the oil pan 16. It is contemplated that the oil pan 16 may include one or more pan passageways 32.

With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the oil pan 16 is wholly or partly made of a substantially rigid material, such as a rigid metallic material, and is configured to hold the oil O. It is contemplated that the oil pan 16 can be manufactured by casting. However, other suitable manufacturing methods can be used to make the oil pan 16. Regardless of the manufacturing method employed, the oil pan 16 includes an oil pan body 36 including a plurality of walls 38. For example, in the depicted embodiment, the oil pan 16 includes a plurality of sidewalls 38a and at least one bottom wall 38b interconnecting the sidewalls 38a. The oil pan body 36 defines an inner pan surface 40 and an outer pan surface 42 opposite the inner pan surface 40. The inner pan surface 40 defines an open cavity 44 configured, shaped, and sized to collect and hold the oil O.

The pan passageway 32 extends through at least one of the walls 38 and is entirely disposed between the inner pan surface 40 and the outer pan surface 42. In the depicted embodiment, the pan passageway 32 extends through at least the bottom wall 38b. It is envisioned, however, that the pan passageway 32 may also extend through the sidewalls 38a. Irrespective of its exact location, the pan passageway 32 is configured to carry the heat transfer fluid F in order to promote heat transfer between the oil O (FIG. 1) disposed in the open cavity 44 and the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the pan passageway 32.

The pan passageway 32 may have a substantially U-shape and has an inlet 46 in fluid communication with the fluid source 22 (FIG. 1) through the input passageway 24 (FIG. 1). Therefore, the heat transfer fluid F can flow between the fluid source 22 and the pan passageway 32. Further, the pan passageway 32 includes an outlet 48 in fluid communication with the output passageway 34. Thus, the heat transfer fluid F can flow from the pan passageway 32 to the output passageway 34 after the heat has been transferred between the oil O in the cavity 44 of the oil pan 16 and the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the pan passageway 32. Because the oil O in the oil pan 16 can be cooled by exchanging heat from the heat transfer fluid F, the engine assembly 12 does not need an oil cooler. Thus, the engine assembly 12 (and therefore the vehicle 10) does not have an oil cooler for cooling the oil O in the oil pan 16.

With reference to FIG. 5, to heat or cool the oil O in the oil pan 16, the engine assembly 12 can be used in accordance with the method 100. The method 100 begins in step 102. In step 102, the heat transfer fluid F is heated or cooled before being introduced into the pan passageway 32. To heat the heat transfer fluid F, heat can be transferred from the heat source 28 (e.g., exhaust manifold) to the heat transfer fluid F while the heat transfer fluid F is flowing through the input passageway 24 as discussed above. To cool the heat transfer fluid F, heat can be transferred from the heat transfer fluid F to the cooling source 30 while the heat transfer fluid F flows through the input passageway 24. Then, the method 100 proceeds to step 104.

Step 104 entails introducing the heated or cooled heat transfer fluid F into the pan passageway 32 while oil O is disposed in the cavity 44 of the oil pan 16. At this juncture, the heat transfer fluid F flows through the pan passageway 32 from the inlet 46 to the outlet 48. While the heat transfer fluid F flows through the pan passageway 32, heat is transferred between the oil O disposed in the cavity 44 of the oil pan 16 and the heat transfer fluid F flowing through the pan passageway 32 in order to cool or warm up the oil O. Then, the method 100 continues to step 106.

In step 106, the heat transfer fluid F flows out of the pan passageway 32 through the outlet 48 and into the output passageway 34. At this point, the heat transfer fluid F may be directed back to the input passageway 24 in order to be recycled.

While the best modes for carrying out the teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the teachings within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An engine assembly, comprising: an oil pan including an oil pan body, wherein the oil pan body includes: an inner pan surface defining a cavity configured to collect oil;an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface; anda pan passageway formed by the oil pan body, wherein the pan passageway is disposed between the inner pan surface and the outer pan surface; andwherein the pan passageway is configured to carry a heat transfer fluid in order to transfer heat between the oil disposed in the cavity and the heat transfer fluid.

2. The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fluid source including the heat transfer fluid.

3. The engine assembly of claim 2, further comprising a fluid transfer pump in fluid communication with the fluid source such that the fluid transfer pump is configured to move the heat transfer fluid from the fluid source to the pan passageway.

4. The engine assembly of claim 1, wherein the engine assembly is characterized by the absence of an oil cooler.

5. The engine assembly of claim 1, further comprising an input passageway in fluid communication with the pan passageway such that the heat transfer fluid is capable of flowing from the input passageway to the pan passageway, wherein the input passageway is outside the oil pan.

6. The engine assembly of claim 5, further comprising a heat source in thermal communication with the input passageway such that the heat source is capable of heating the heat transfer fluid flowing through the input passageway.

7. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat source is an exhaust manifold.

8. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat source is a turbocharger.

9. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat source is an exhaust gas recirculation system.

10. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat source is an engine block.

11. The engine assembly of claim 6, wherein the heat source is an engine head.

12. The engine assembly of claim 5, further comprising a cooling system in thermal communication with the input passageway such that cooling system is capable of cooling the heat transfer fluid flowing through the input passageway.

13. An oil pan, comprising: an oil pan body having an inner pan surface and an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface, wherein the inner pan surface defines an open cavity configured to collect oil, the oil pan defines a pan passageway disposed between the inner pan surface and the outer pan surface, and the pan passageway is configured to receive a heat transfer fluid.

14. The oil pan of claim 13, wherein the oil pan body includes a plurality of sidewalls, and a bottom wall interconnecting the sidewalls, and the pan passageway extends at least through the bottom wall.

15. The oil pan of claim 13, wherein the pan passageway includes an inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source having the heat transfer fluid such that the heat transfer fluid is capable of flowing from the fluid source to the pan passageway through the inlet.

16. A method of exchanging heat between a heat transfer fluid and oil disposed in an oil pan, the method comprising: introducing the heat transfer fluid into a pan passageway of the oil pan while the oil is in the oil pan, wherein the oil pan includes an oil pan body, the oil pan body defines an inner pan surface and an outer pan surface opposite the inner pan surface, and the inner pan surface defines a cavity holding the oil, and the pan passageway extends through the oil pan body between the inner pan surface and the outer pan surface.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising heating the heat transfer fluid before introducing the heat transfer fluid through the pan passageway.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein heating the heat transfer fluid includes transferring heat from an exhaust manifold to the heat transfer fluid.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising cooling the heat transfer fluid before introducing the heat transfer fluid through the pan passageway.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the oil pan includes a bottom wall, and the pan passageway extend at least through the bottom wall.