Patent Application
20180195422
The present disclosure relates generally to a dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a tank having an integrated filter housing for the dry sump lubrication system for the internal combustion engine.
Engines either include a wet sump lubrication system or a dry sump lubrication system for lubricating various engine components. In the wet sump lubrication system, lubricating oil is stored within the engine in an oil pan that is disposed below a crankcase of the engine. However, storing the lubricating oil within the engine may cause an increase in an overall size of the engine. Due to the increased size of the engine, an assembling of the engine may be difficult in constrained spaces.
To overcome such space constraints, the dry sump lubrication system may be applied. In the dry sump lubrication system, the lubricating oil is stored in a reservoir or a tank, which is separate from a sump portion of the crankcase of the engine. Such a tank is generally located externally to the engine. During operation of the engine, the lubricating oil is pumped from this tank to the engine and is returned to the tank. However, the dry sump lubrication system may include additional components that may add to the cost and complexity of the engine.
WIPO Application 2012171620 relates to an oil tank for a motor vehicle with dry sump lubrication. The oil tank includes two components which define a closed hollow space for accommodating an oil. The first component is a cast component and the second component is a sheet metal component.
In one aspect, the disclosure is directed towards a tank for a dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine. The tank includes a body having a first portion, a second portion, and defines an inner chamber. The tank also includes a filter housing integrally formed with the first portion and disposed inside the inner chamber. The filter housing is configured to receive a filter. Further, the body and the filter housing are formed by a blow molding process.
In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine. The dry sump lubrication system includes a tank that is configured to store a lubricating oil. The tank includes a body having a first portion, a second portion, a filter housing, and a filter. The tank defines an inner chamber. The filter housing is integrally formed with the first portion and is disposed inside the inner chamber. Further, the body and the filter housing are formed by a blow molding process. The filter is disposed inside the filter housing and is configured to filter the lubricating oil received from the internal combustion engine.
Referring to
The dry sump lubrication system 104 may be configured to supply oil, such as a lubricating oil, to the engine 102 and certain associated components of the engine 102, for lubrication purposes. The dry sump lubrication system 104 may include a tank assembly 106, a supply conduit 108, and a pump 110 that is configured to pump the lubricating oil from the tank assembly 106 to the engine 102 via a supply path defined by the supply conduit 108. A return conduit 112 may also be provided that facilitates a return of a used lubricating oil, back to the tank assembly 106. In an implementation, a pump 113 may pump the lubricating oil from the engine 102 to the tank assembly 106. The tank assembly 106 of the dry sump lubrication system 104 is placed remotely from the engine 102, and is fluidly connected to the engine 102 via the supply conduit 108 and the return conduit 112.
Referring to
In certain implementations, the first portion 122 may be adapted to be vertically arranged and assembled atop the second portion 124 in one configuration of the tank 114 as shown in
As shown in
Further, the second portion 124 may include an outlet passage 160 formed in the base 138 that facilitates an exit of lubricating oil from the inner chamber 120 of the tank 114 into the supply conduit 108, and in turn into the engine 102 and the engine's associated components. As the side walls 140, 142 are inclined relative to the base 138, the lubricating oil is directed towards the outlet passage 160 formed in the base 138, minimizing retention of an unutilized amount of the lubricating oil inside the tank 114. The outlet passage 160 may be formed during the blow molding process or may be formed by performing a drilling operation on the base 138.
Also, the side structure 134 may include one or more bulged portions to increase a volume of the inner chamber 120. For example, as shown in
Again referring to
Further, the vent port 176 is formed in the header plate 170 and facilitates venting of air (or gases) from the inner chamber 120 to an outside of the tank 114. In an embodiment, the vent port 176 may be formed during the blow molding process of the first portion 122 of the tank 114. Alternatively, the vent port 176 may be formed by performing a drilling operation on the header plate 170. In certain implementations, a check valve (not shown) may be positioned in the vent port 176 to regulate an exit of the air (or gases) from the inner chamber 120, and prevent an entry of air from the atmosphere into the inner chamber 120.
The dipstick opening 178 may be adapted to facilitate an insertion of a dipstick 184 into the inner chamber 120 to measure a level of lubricating oil (or any fluid) stored in the tank 114, at any given point. In an assembled position of the dipstick 184 with the tank 114, the dipstick 184 is positioned to extend through the dipstick opening 178. To check a level of lubricating oil in the inner chamber 120, an operator may remove the dipstick 184 from the dipstick opening 178 and visually analyze a length of the dipstick 184 on which the lubricating oil is present. In an embodiment, the dipstick opening 178 may be formed during the blow molding process of the first portion 122 of the tank 114. Alternatively, the dipstick opening 178 may be formed by performing a drilling operation on the header plate 170.
Further, the tank 114 includes an inlet conduit 186 that extends from the first portion 122 of the body 118 of the tank 114 to the filter housing 126. The inlet conduit 186 facilitates a flow of a lubricating oil from the engine 102 to the filter housing 126. As shown, a portion of the inlet conduit 186 extends outwardly from the wall 172 and a remaining portion of the inlet conduit 186 extends inwardly from the wall 172 into the inner chamber 120 to the filter housing 126. The inlet conduit 186 includes an inlet opening 188, and an outlet opening 190 formed in the filter housing 126.
The filter housing 126 may be disposed inside the inner chamber 120, and is configured to receive the filter 116. The filter housing 126 includes a wall 192 extending at least partially from the header plate 170 of the first portion 122 into the inner chamber 120. The wall 192 may include a cylindrical structure that defines a cavity 194 (see
The filter housing 126 further includes a bottom wall 210 integrally formed at a lower end 208 of the wall 192. The bottom wall 210 faces the header plate 170 and is substantially perpendicular to the wall 192. An outlet port 212 is formed into the bottom wall 210 and provides an opening for an exit of a filtered lubricating oil from the filter housing 126 to the inner chamber 120.
The filter housing 126 may further include a bypass conduit 214 that fluidly couples the cavity 194 of the filter housing 126 to the inner chamber 120 of the body 118. The bypass conduit 214 may extend outwardly from the wall 192 into the inner chamber 120. In an embodiment, the bypass conduit 214 may include a unidirectional valve (not shown) coupled to the bypass conduit 214, which allows a quantity of lubricating oil to flow only in one direction—that is from the cavity 194 towards the inner chamber 120. The unidirectional valve may be check valve that allows an exit of the lubricating oil into the inner chamber 120 when a pressure of the lubricating oil inside the cavity 194 exceeds a threshold value.
In one implementation, the body 118 (i. e. both the first portion 122 and the second portion 124) and the filter housing 126 may be formed from the same material. For example, the material may include polyamide, fibrous polyamide, high-grade plastic, nylon, and similar such materials. The material may be suitable for storing the lubricating oil at relatively high temperatures.
As shown in
During operation, the pump 110 may power a flow of the lubricating oil from the tank 114 to the engine 102 via the outlet passage 160 and the supply conduit 108. A return of the lubricating oil may be facilitated through the return conduit 112. During a return, the lubricating oil may travel through the inlet conduit 186 and enter into the cavity 194 of the filter housing 126, and subsequently into the cylindrical structure 220 of the filter 116 positioned within the filter housing 126. As the lubricating oil enters the filter housing 126, the lubricating oil may flow around the filter 116 (in an annular space defined between the wall 192 and the outer surface 222 of the filter 116), cause a pressure to build-up in the annular space, and steadily flow into the cylindrical structure 220, so as to be filtered by the filter 116. During filtration, lubricating oil may flow across the cylindrical structure 220 of the filter 116, along a direction lateral to a height of the filter 116 and enter and accumulate into the space 226 of the filter 116. Since the space 226 of the filter 116 is fluidly coupled to the outlet port 212, the filtered lubricating oil flows into the inner chamber 120 through the outlet port 212. As a result, a filtered lubricating oil is received from the filter housing 126 by the inner chamber 120 and is stored by the tank 114 within the inner chamber 120.
On occasions, such as during cold conditions, when a pressure exerted by the lubricating oil on the outer surface 222 of the filter 116 becomes relatively high, the bypass conduit 214 may open (that is the unidirectional valve positioned in the bypass conduit 214 may open) and permit the lubricating oil to bypass the filter 116. Such a scenario may be contemplated when the lubricating oil becomes more viscous due to temperature of the lubricating oil dropping below a threshold temperature.
Given the inclusion and integration of the filter housing 126 within the inner chamber 120, a need for additional space for the filter housing 126 may be well avoided, making the tank 114 space efficient. Further, as the tank 114 may be formed of plastic and manufactured by the blow molding process, an overall cost of the tank 114 may be reduced. Also, an integration of the filter housing 126 with the body 118 of the tank 114 helps in reducing a cost and complexity associated with the dry sump lubrication system 104. This is because a separate positioning may include a use of clamps and fixtures to mount the filter 116, dedicated flow channels to route the lubricating oil flow to and from the filter 116, and similar such components and accessories, all of which may increase an overall cost and complexity of the dry sump lubrication system 104.
