Patent Application
20160130995
The present disclosure relates generally to oil pan assemblies and methods of draining oil pans.
Oil is used to lubricate the moving parts of an internal combustion engine. Oil moves from its reservoir, is pressurized by an oil pump, and is pumped through an oil filter to remove contaminants. The oil is then provided to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings and onto the cylinder walls. Eventually, the oil drips off into the bottom of the crankcase. In a wet sump system, oil remains in a reservoir at the bottom of the crankcase. The bottom of the crankcase is often referred to as an oil pan. In a dry sump system, the oil is instead pumped to an external reservoir.
Conventionally, oil pans have included a single sump (e.g., reservoir). However, modern engine systems have become increasingly complicated over time, with more components being fit into tighter spaces. Therefore, in some arrangements, oil pans include complex geometry in order to fit in a constrained space proximate other vehicle components (e.g., structural cross-members, tie rods, steering racks, etc.). For example, some oil pans include two sumps. However, in certain arrangements, it may be difficult for technicians or users to properly drain oil from each of the two sumps.
Various embodiments relate to an oil pan assembly including an oil pan defining first and second sumps. The first sump has a first lower surface and the second sump has a second lower surface. The second lower surface is elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface. The oil pan assembly also includes a siphon tube extending from an inlet positioned in the second sump to an outlet positioned proximate a drain hole in the first sump. The siphon tube is configured to automatically transmit oil from the second sump to the first sump upon oil being drained from the drain hole.
Further embodiments relate to an oil pan assembly including an oil pan defining first and second sumps. The first sump has first lower surface and the second sump has a second lower surface. The second lower surface is elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface. The oil pan assembly also includes a suction tube positioned within the first sump. The oil pan assembly further includes a siphon tube that includes a first segment positioned within the first sump, a second segment positioned within the second sump, and a third segment fluidly coupling the first and second segments. Further yet, the oil pan assembly includes a crossover tube fluidly coupling the suction tube and the siphon tube. Still further, the oil pan assembly includes an oil pump operatively coupled to the suction tube. The oil pump is configured to cause a pressure differential within each of the suction tube and the siphon tube to draw a fluid through each of the suction tube and the siphon tube.
Further embodiments relate to a method for draining oil from an oil pan having first and second sumps. The method includes removing a drain plug from a drain hole in the first sump. The method also includes collecting oil that is drained from the drain hole. The method further includes causing a pressure imbalance within a siphon tube so as to cause oil within the second sump to pass through the siphon tube and into the first sump.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the illustrative embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and that such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates are contemplated and protected.
The present disclosure relates to a dual sump oil pan assembly that is capable of draining both sumps from a single drain hole. In particular, the oil pan assembly includes a self-priming siphon tube that automatically transmits oil from the second sump to the first sump when the oil is drained, such that both sumps may be drained from a single drain hole in the first sump.
The oil pan 102 defines a first drain hole 112 at the bottom of the first sump 106 and defines a second drain hole 114 at the bottom of the second sump 108. Each of the first and second drain holes 112, 114 include respective threaded inserts 116, 118 to accept drain plugs (not shown). To change the oil, the drain plugs are removed, and oil within each of the first and second sumps 106, 108 drains from the oil pan assembly 100 through the corresponding first and second drain holes 112, 114.
For various reasons, technicians and users are more likely to conduct oil changes improperly with oil pans having multiple drain plugs than with those having a single drain plug. Because technicians and users are typically used to working with oil pans having a single drain plug, they may forget or may simply not know to remove each drain plug. If each sump is not drained, the spent oil remaining in the un-drained sump will mix with fresh oil, thereby reducing the useful life of the oil and reducing the interval time until the next oil change is required. Further, because other vehicle components are likely to be arranged in close proximity to the oil pan assembly 102, it may be difficult for a technician or operator to access one of the drain plugs. In fact, close proximity of other vehicle components is one of the reasons why certain oil pans have multiple sumps. Therefore, one of the drain plugs—typically the drain plug of the second drain hole 114—may be difficult to access. Therefore, it may be difficult to locate, remove, and/or properly tighten the drain plug of the second drain hole 114. Thus, it is desirable to provide a system in which both sumps of a dual sump oil pan can be drained from a single drain hole.
The oil pan assembly 200 also includes a siphon tube 216 disposed within the oil pan 202. The siphon tube 216 has a first segment 218 positioned in the first sump 206. The first segment 218 defines an outlet 220 positioned proximate the drain hole 212 in the first sump 206. The siphon tube 216 also has a second segment 222 positioned in the second sump 208. The second segment 222 defines an inlet 224 positioned proximate the second lower surface 211 of the second sump 208. A third segment 228 extends over the raised portion 210, fluidly coupling the first segment 218 and the second segment 222.
According to an example embodiment, the siphon tube 216 is formed by bending a unitary tube (e.g., ¼″-½″ or larger steel or aluminum tubing) at a first point 227 defining an interface between the first segment 218 and the third segment 228, and at a second point 229 defining an interface between the second segment 222 and the third segment 228. In some examples, the siphon tube 216 is bent or otherwise formed such that each of the first and second segments 218, 222 are positioned at non-zero angles relative to the vertical axis 213. According to one non-limiting example, the first segment 218 is angled at about 45 degrees relative to the vertical axis 213 and the second segment 222 is angled at approximately 30 degrees relative to the vertical axis. As shown in
In some arrangements, the outlet 220 of the first segment 218 is cut or shaped at an angle such that the outlet 220 is substantially parallel with the first lower surface 209 of the first sump 206. Similarly, in some arrangements, the inlet 224 of the second segment 222 is cut or shaped at an angle, such that the inlet 224 is substantially parallel with the second lower surface 211 of the second sump 208. By angling the first segment 218 and the outlet 220, the height differential between the outlet 220 and the oil level in the second sump 208 is maximized, thereby maximizing the pressure along the streamline of the siphon tube 216. Further, by angling the second segment 222 and the inlet 224, the maximum amount of oil may be removed from the second sump 208.
The siphon tube 216 provides fluid communication between the second sump 208 and the first sump 206. In particular, the siphon tube 216 is configured to transmit oil within the second sump 208 into the inlet 224 of the siphon tube 216; through the second segment 222, the third segment 228, and the first segment 218 of the siphon tube 216; and out of the outlet 220 of the siphon tube 216 and into the first sump 206, such that the oil may ultimately be drained from the oil pan 202 through the drain hole 212. As discussed in further detail below in connection with
The siphon tube 216 may be attached to the oil pan 202 in various ways. In some arrangements, the third segment 228 of the siphon tube 216 is attached to the raised portion 210 of the oil pan 202 via one or more couplings 230. In one arrangement, the couplings 230 include welds such that the siphon tube 216 is fixedly coupled to the oil pan 202. In another arrangement, the couplings 230 include removable fasteners (e.g., hose clamps or other fasteners) such that the siphon tube 216 is removably coupled to the oil pan 202.
During steady-state conditions (e.g., when oil is not being drained from the oil pan 202), the oil within the first sump 206 fills the first segment 218 of the siphon tube 216 up to the first oil level 236. Similarly, oil within the second sump 208 fills the second segment 222 of the siphon tube 216 up to the second oil level 238. When the oil is being drained from the drain hole 212 of the oil pan 202, the siphon tube 216 operates as a siphon such that the oil flowing out of the first segment 218 due to gravity reduces the pressure in the third segment 228. The reduced pressure in the third segment 228 causes the oil within the second segment 222 to flow upwards into the third segment 228, through the third segment 228 into the first segment 218, and from the outlet 220 of the first segment 218 into the first sump 206, eventually exiting the oil pan 202 through the drain hole 212. Oil within the second sump 208 continuously flows through the second segment 222, the third segment 228, and the first segment 218 until the second oil level 238 falls below the inlet 224.
The first segment 306 is connected, at a first end thereof, to a first end of a third segment 312. Similarly, the second segment 308 is coupled at a first end thereof to a second end of the third segment 312. The siphon tube 302 of
The oil pan assembly 400 also includes a suction tube 420 disposed at least partially within the first sump 404. The suction tube 420 includes a pickup portion 422 and a transfer portion 424. The transfer portion 424 is operatively coupled to an oil pump 426. The oil pump 426 is configured to cause a pressure differential within the suction tube 420 to draw oil from the first sump 404 to various components of the engine. In various implementations, the oil pump 426 draws oil through an oil filter and sometimes an oil cooler, before the oil is transferred through the engine's oil passages and is dispersed to lubricate various engine components, such as pistons, rings, springs, valve stems, etc.
As illustrated in
The oil pan assembly 400 also includes a siphon tube 430 disposed within the oil pan 402. The siphon tube 430 has a first segment 432 positioned in the first sump 404. The first segment 432 defines an outlet 434. The siphon tube 430 also has a second segment 436 positioned in the second sump 406. The second segment 436 defines an inlet 438 positioned proximate the second lower surface 412 of the second sump 406. A third segment 440 extends over the raised portion 408, fluidly coupling the first segment 432 and the second segment 436.
The oil pan assembly 400 further includes a crossover tube 442 that fluidly couples the suction tube 420 and the siphon tube 430. More specifically, as illustrated in
According to various embodiments, each of the suction tube 420, the siphon tube 430, and the crossover tube 442 may be constructed of various materials, such as bent metal (e.g., steel or aluminum) tubing, braided metal (e.g., steel) tubing, polymer (e.g., nitrile, chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), etc., which may be reinforced, for example, with Hypalon®) tubing, and other types of tubing known to those having ordinary skill in the art. Each of the suction tube 420, the siphon tube 430, and the crossover tube 442 may be constructed of the same or different materials. For example, in one embodiment, each of the suction tube 420 and the siphon tube are formed from steel tubing and the crossover tube 442 is formed from polymer tubing. Further, each of the of the suction tube 420, the siphon tube 430, and the crossover tube 442 may include various types of fittings as known to those having ordinary skill in the art to facilitate the fluid couplings described above.
The oil pan assembly 400 of
At 502, a drain plug is removed from the drain hole 212 in the first sump 206. Drain plugs are often threadedly coupled to drain holes and can typically be removed using a wrench. Upon removing the drain plug at 502, oil begins to flow from the drain hole 212. At 504, oil is collected from the drain hole 212. For example, the oil may be collected in a receptacle such as a drain pan.
At 506, a pressure imbalance is caused within the siphon tube 216 so as to cause oil within the second sump 208 to pass through the siphon tube 216 into the first sump 206. In an embodiment, upon the drain plug being removed at 502, oil within the first segment 218 of the siphon tube 216 flows out of the first segment 218 and causes the pressure imbalance, which includes a pressure reduction in the second segment 222 of the siphon tube 216. In other embodiments, the oil pump 426 causes the pressure imbalance. The pressure reduction causes oil within the second segment 222 to flow from the second segment 222 through the third segment 228 and into the first segment 218. The oil then flows out of the first segment 218, into the first sump 206, and through the drain hole 212. The oil within the second sump 208 continues to flow through the second segment 222, the third segment 228, and the first segment 218 of the siphon tube 216 until a level of oil within the second sump 208 falls below the inlet 224 of the siphon tube 216.
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of the invention as recited in the appended claims.
It should be noted that the terms “example” and “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiments are intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.
