EP1600611B1 - Oil pan for an engine or transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

The sump (14) has a basin-shaped collecting section (16) with an opening (18) in the bottom that can be closed by a cover (20) containing a heat exchanger (24) for the oil with a coolant inlet (30), a coolant outlet (32) and fluidic coolant channels (34) between the inlet and outlet. At least either the coolant inlet or outlet is a pipe connector that is fitted into a corresponding connector opening in the collection section.

Description

The invention relates to an oil pan for a motor and / or a transmission, with a trough-shaped collecting portion having a bottom-side opening which is closed by a lid.

An oil pan of the type mentioned is known from DE 38 30 966 Cl. In it, oil, which is required for the lubrication of the moving parts of the engine and / or the transmission, collected and fed via an oil suction pipe back to the cooling circuit. At a Oil pan of this known type is outside of the oil pan an oil cooler available, through which the oil is cooled. From DE 31 42 327 Al an oil pan is known, which is partially double-walled, wherein flows through the cavity between the two walls, a coolant. As a result, a heat exchanger is formed, which transfers heat from the oil into the coolant.

Object of the present invention is to develop an oil pan of the type mentioned so that they can be produced as inexpensively. At the same time, the integration of the heat exchanger and the oil pan into the engine or transmission should be simplified.

This object is achieved in an oil pan of the type mentioned above in that the cover comprises a heat exchanger for the oil, which has a coolant inlet, a coolant outlet, and fluidly intervening coolant channels.

By integrating the heat exchanger in the lid of the collection section remains free of heat exchanger elements, which makes its production easier and cheaper. At the same time, space is saved in the area of the engine since the heat exchanger is arranged outside the engine on the oil sump. Furthermore, the production of the heat exchanger itself is simplified, since the lid is generally a generally flat and flat part, which thus has simple geometric shapes. In addition, the lid according to the oil pan can be comparatively large, which allows the production of a large and powerful heat exchanger. Finally, the lid is usually located in the region of the lowest point of the oil pan, from which the oil again is sucked into the cooling circuit. By having there the heat exchanger, the oil is cooled immediately before the re-feeding into the cooling circuit, which is thermally favorable for the engine.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in subclaims.

In a first development of the oil sump according to the invention, it is proposed that at least either the coolant inlet or the coolant outlet is designed as a pipe socket which is inserted into a corresponding connection opening in the collecting section. This is a first advantageous possibility with which the coolant connections are automatically produced during assembly of the cover to the collecting section. The design of the coolant inlet and / or the coolant outlet as a pipe socket allows a comparatively low precision in the production, since the seal between the heat exchanger and the collecting section can be made by radially acting seals on the pipe socket.

Alternatively, it is also possible that at least either the coolant inlet or the coolant outlet is designed as a pipe socket, which is inserted through a recess in the collecting section. In this case, the coolant circuit of the heat exchanger is not connected to the collecting section at all. Instead, the pipe sockets provide their own and separate from the collection section through pipes, through which the coolant is passed through the collecting section therethrough. This results in a particularly good sealing of the coolant circuit with respect to the oil circuit guaranteed. The recess protects the pipe socket from damage. It should be noted that the recess does not have to be closed on all sides to fulfill this function.

A further alternative may be that at least either the coolant inlet or the coolant outlet is formed as a flat opening on the side of the lid facing the collecting portion, at the edge region of which a connecting portion bears in an axially sealing manner a coolant channel formed in the collecting portion. Also in this design manufacturing tolerances are compensated in a simple manner, which reduces the total manufacturing and assembly costs.

Particularly advantageous is the oil sump according to the invention, in which the pipe socket and the connection opening and / or the pipe socket and the recess and / or the flat opening and the connecting portion are arranged outside a seal between the lid and the collecting portion / is. As a result, a double seal of the coolant circuit is created with respect to the oil circuit, which improves the reliability of the oil pan according to the invention.

A particularly good efficiency of the heat exchanger can be achieved if the heat exchanger has an oil inlet, an oil outlet, and fluidly intervening oil channels.

In a further development, it is proposed that the oil outlet is designed as an oil suction tube, which is inserted through a recess in the collecting section.

As a result, the assembly of the cover or the heat exchanger is further simplified at the collecting section, and it is ensured that the cooled oil does not mix with the oil accumulated within the collecting section.

Alternatively, the oil outlet may be formed as an oil suction pipe, which is inserted into a corresponding connection opening in the collecting section. As a result, the cover with the heat exchanger has a smaller overall size and is therefore easier to handle. In addition, the connection opening in the collecting section can be assigned an oil suction channel, which enables optimum oil guidance for the respective installation situation.

As has already been explained in the case of the coolant circuit, the oil outlet can also be designed as a flat opening in the side of the cover facing the collecting section, at the edge region of which a connection section of an oil channel formed in the collecting section rests in an axially sealing manner. As a result, a simple tolerance compensation is possible while reliable sealing.

The oil inlet of the heat exchanger can be designed as a flat suction opening in the side of the lid facing the collecting section. This is particularly inexpensive to produce.

In the region of the oil inlet, a filter device can be arranged which is preferably integral with the heat exchanger or the cover. As a result, impurities of the oil are filtered out and kept away from the oil pump. Their life is thereby extended.

A further advantageous embodiment of the oil sump according to the invention provides that are arranged on the collecting section facing side of the lid and / or on the collecting oil guide ribs, which guide oil present in the oil pan to the oil inlet present in the lid. This prevents dead zones forming within the collecting section in which oil is present which does not reach the heat exchanger.

It is also proposed that the heat exchanger made of metal, preferably of aluminum, and the collecting section are made as a plastic injection molded part. Such a heat exchanger is very stable and has a high efficiency, whereas a collecting section produced in the said manner is inexpensive. In addition, the seal between plastic and metal can be reliably and easily realized.

It is furthermore particularly advantageous if the lid has lamellae and / or ribs on its side facing away from the collecting section. As a result, the cover or the heat exchanger is stabilized and protected, for example, from falling rocks. On the other hand, the heat exchanger can be cooled by the slats themselves, which increases its efficiency.

The maintenance of the engine or of the transmission is simplified when a closable opening for the oil and / or a closable opening for the coolant is present at a fluidically in the horizontal position of use fluid deepest point of the heat exchanger, because this ensures that, if necessary, the entire oil and / or all the coolant can be drained.

For safe operation of the engine and / or the transmission contributes when at least one sensor is arranged on and / or in the heat exchanger, which detects an operating variable of the oil and / or the coolant. Since the cover can normally be removed from the collecting section of the oil sump, the sensor is easily accessible when the sensor is attached to or in the heat exchanger.

It is also proposed that the sealing takes place on at least one interface between the cover and the collecting section through a seal with activatable self-expansion. Such activation can be done for example by applying heat, and it leads to a secure seal even on inaccessible areas of the oil pan.

Figur 1

eine vereinfachte Seitenansicht eines Motors, eines Getriebes, und einer Ölwanne;

Figur 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Ölwanne von Figur 1;

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Deckels der Ölwanne von Figur 3, der einen Wärmetauscher umfasst;

Figur 4

eine Ansicht von unten auf einen Sammelabschnitt der Ölwanne von Figur 2;

Figur 5

einen Schnitt durch eine fluiddichte Verbindung zwischen dem Wärmetauscher und dem Sammelabschnitt;

Figur 6

eine Darstellung ähnlich Figur 3 einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Deckels mit einem Wärmetauscher;

Figur 7

einen Teilschnitt durch eine Ölwanne mit dem Deckel von Figur 6;

Figur 8

einen Teilschnitt durch eine fluiddichte Verbindung des Wärmetauschers mit dem Sammelabschnitt der Ölwanne von Figur 7;

Figur 9

eine Darstellung ähnlich Figur 7 einer nochmals geänderten Ausführungsform einer Ölwanne; und

Figur 10

eine Darstellung ähnlich Figur 8 der Ölwanne von Figur 9.

Hereinafter, particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings are explained in more detail-In the drawing:

FIG. 1

a simplified side view of an engine, a transmission, and an oil pan;

FIG. 2

a perspective view of the oil pan of Figure 1;

FIG. 3

a perspective view of a lid of the oil pan of Figure 3, comprising a heat exchanger;

FIG. 4

a bottom view of a collecting portion of the oil pan of Figure 2;

FIG. 5

a section through a fluid-tight connection between the heat exchanger and the collecting section;

FIG. 6

a representation similar to Figure 3 of a second embodiment of a lid with a heat exchanger;

FIG. 7

a partial section through an oil pan with the lid of Figure 6;

FIG. 8

a partial section through a fluid-tight connection of the heat exchanger with the collecting portion of the oil pan of Figure 7;

FIG. 9

a representation similar to Figure 7 of a further modified embodiment of an oil pan; and

FIG. 10

a representation similar to Figure 8 of the oil pan of Figure 9.

In Figure 1, an engine carries the reference numeral 10, a gearbox flanged to the engine 10 carries the reference numeral 12, and an oil pan connected to the engine 10 and gearbox 12 the reference numeral 14. The oil pan comprises a trough-shaped collecting portion 16 having a bottom opening 18. This is located Overall, in the region of the lowest point of the oil pan 14. The bottom-side opening 18 is closed by a cover 20 (see also Figures 2 and 3).

The cover 20 has a flange plate 22 and a fixed to the flange 22 heat exchanger 24. Die Flange plate 22 projects laterally beyond the heat exchanger 24, whereby a circumferential mounting flange 26 is formed, with which the lid 20 is attached to a corresponding mounting flange 28 of the collecting portion 16.

The heat exchanger 24 is used for cooling of oil, which is collected in the oil pan 14, and here in particular in the trough-shaped collecting portion 16. It comprises a coolant inlet 30, a coolant outlet 32, and coolant channels 34 interposed therebetween and only shown schematically in FIG. 1. The coolant inlet 30 and the coolant outlet 32 are shown in more detail with a coolant pump 36 and a heat exchanger (not shown). connected. The heat exchanger 24 also includes an oil inlet 38, an oil outlet 40, and fluidly interposed and only schematically illustrated in Figure 1 oil passages 42. The oil outlet 40 is also shown in more detail of the way connected to an oil pump 44.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show an embodiment of the oil sump 14 in which the coolant inlet 30 and the coolant outlet 32 are each designed as a flat opening on the flat and flat side 46 of the flange plate 22 facing the collecting section. Also, the oil outlet 40 is formed as such a flat opening on the collecting section 16 facing side 46 of the flange plate 22. As is apparent from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, coolant passages 48 and 50 and an oil passage 52 are formed in the collecting section 16. These white to the engine 10 through connecting pieces 54, 56, and 58, with which the connections to the coolant pump 36 and the oil pump 44th will be produced.

The channels 48, 50, and 52 open to the cover 20 in connection portions 60, 62, and 64, which, as exemplified in Figure 5 for the connection portion 60 for the coolant inlet 30, at the top 46 of the flange plate 22 of the lid 20th issue. The sealing of the respective connection points takes place by means of axially acting sealing rings 66, 68, and 70. The latter comprise a self-expanding component upon activation. The activation can be carried out by applying a temperature.

As can be seen from FIG. 3, the oil inlet 38 is also designed as a flat opening in the upper side 46 of the flange plate 22. A filter device 72 in the form of a grid is placed over the oil inlet 38 on the flange plate 22. The filter device 72 can be soldered, for example, with the flange plate 22 and thereby integrally connected. For sealing between the mounting flange 26 of the cover 20 and the mounting flange 28 of the collecting portion 16 is a seal 74, which is shown in phantom in Figure 4 only schematically. It can be seen that in the area of the connection sections 60 and 62 for the coolant, the seal 74 is guided such that the connection sections 60 and 62 are located outside the area sealed by the seal 74.

FIG. 4 also shows that oil collecting ribs 76 are arranged on the collecting section 16, which guide oil present in the oil pan 14 to the oil inlet 38 present on the upper side 46 of the flange plate 22. By the oil guide ribs 76 is further the collecting portion 16th stiffened especially in the area of the bottom-side opening 18. Furthermore, it can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the cover 20, and here in particular the heat exchanger 24, has fins 78 on its side facing away from the collecting section 16, by means of which the heat exchanger 24 itself is cooled.

On the upper side 46 of the flange plate 22, a sensor 80 is mounted, with which the temperature of the oil collecting above the flange plate 22 is detected. On the flange plate 22 also other sensors may be present, for example, those with which the contamination of the collecting oil on the flange plate 22 can be detected. In the fluidically lowest point of the heat exchanger 24, which is located in the horizontal position of use of the unit consisting of engine 10, transmission 12, and oil pan 14, there is an opening (not shown) which can be closed by a screw plug 82 (see FIG. By means of this opening, the oil or the coolant can be drained.

In Figures 6, 7, and 8, an alternative embodiment of an oil pan is shown. In this case, it applies here and below that those elements and regions which have equivalent functions to previously described elements and regions have the same reference numerals and are normally not explained again in detail.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the coolant inlet 30, the coolant outlet 32, and the oil outlet 40 are each designed as short pipe sockets, which are inserted into corresponding coolant channels in the collector section 16 and sealed by means of radially acting sealing rings (of which, by way of example, FIG Figures 7 and 8, only the sealing ring 66 of the coolant inlet 30 and the coolant channel 48 shown).

Yet another alternative is shown in Figures 9 and 10: There, the coolant inlet 30, the coolant outlet, and the oil outlet are formed as long pipe sockets, which are inserted through a corresponding recess in the collecting section 16 and are connected directly to the engine-side cooling circuit. This is illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 9 and 10 for the coolant inlet 30 and the corresponding recess 48 in the collecting section 16. Similarly, the oil outlet is formed as an elongated of the oil suction, which is inserted through a corresponding passage in the collecting section 16 and is connected directly to the engine-side oil circuit.

The heat exchanger 24 and the flange plate 22 are made of aluminum. The heat exchanger 24 is constructed of individual layers, which are alternately flowed through by oil or coolant. As a coolant, for example, the cooling water of the engine comes into question. The flange plate 22 may be stamped from a larger plate. In contrast, the collecting section 16 can be produced as a plastic injection-molded part, in one piece (depending on the embodiment) with the areas required for the coolant guide or oil guide.

In an embodiment not shown, the heat exchanger is not integrated in the lid. Instead, it is inserted as an insert in the collection section.

Claims (17)

1. An oil pan (14) for an engine (10) and/or a transmission (12), having a basin-shaped collecting part (16) that has a base-side opening (18), which is closed off by a cover (20), wherein the cover (20) includes a heat exchanger (24) for the oil, having a coolant intake (30), a coolant outlet (32), and coolant channels (34) that are fluidically situated between them.
2. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claim 1, wherein, at a minimum, either the coolant intake (30) or the coolant outlet is configured as a pipe segment, which is inserted into a corresponding connecting opening (48) in the collecting part (16).
3. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claims 1 or 2, wherein, at a minimum, either the coolant intake (30) or the coolant outlet is configured as a pipe segment, which is inserted through a cutout (49) in the collecting part (16).
4. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claim 1, wherein, at a minimum, either the coolant intake (30) or the coolant outlet (32) is configured as a planar opening on the side (46) of the cover (20) that is facing the collecting part (16), adjoining whose edge area so as to provide an axial seal (66, 68) is a connecting segment (60, 62) of a coolant channel (48, 50) that is configured in the collecting part (16).
5. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the pipe segment (30, 32) and the connecting opening (48) and/or the pipe segment (30) and the cutout (49) and/or the planar opening (30, 32) and the connecting segment (60, 62) is/are arranged outside of a seal (74) between the cover (20) and the collecting part (16) .
6. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (24) has an oil intake (38), an oil outlet (40), and oil channels (42) that are fluidically situated between them.
7. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claim 6, wherein the oil outlet (40) is configured as an oil suction pipe, which is inserted through a cutout in the collecting part (16).
8. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claim 6, wherein the oil outlet (40) is configured as an oil suction pipe, which is inserted into a corresponding connecting opening in the collecting part (16).
9. The oil pan (14) as recited in Claim 6, wherein the oil outlet (40) is configured as a planar opening in the side (46) of the cover (20) that is facing the collecting part (16), adjoining whose edge area so as to provide an axial seal (70) is a connecting segment (64) of an oil channel (52) that is configured in the collecting part (16).
10. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the oil intake (38) is configured as a planar suction opening in the side (46) of the cover (20) that is facing the collecting part (16).
11. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of Claims 6 to 10, wherein a filter device (72), which is preferably an integral part of the heat exchanger (24), is arranged in the area of the oil intake (38).
12. The oil pan as recited in any of Claims 6 to 11, wherein, on the side of the cover facing the collecting part and/or on the collecting part (16) itself, oil guidance ribs (76) are arranged, which guide the oil that is in the oil pan (14) toward the oil intake (38) situated in the cover (20).
13. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the heat exchanger (24) is made of metal, preferably aluminum, and the collecting part (16) is made of a plastic injection-molding part.
14. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (20) on its side facing away from the collecting part (16) has lamellae (78) and/or ribs.
15. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein, at a location of the heat exchanger (24) that in the horizontal position of use is the fluidically lowest point, a closable (62) opening is provided for the oil and/or a closable opening is provided for the coolant.
16. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein on and/or in the heat exchanger (24) at least one sensor (8) is arranged, which measures a performance quantity of the oil and/or of the coolant.
17. The oil pan (14) as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein a seal is created at at least one interface between the cover (20) and the collecting part (16) by a gasket (66, 68, 70) having an activatable self-expansion capacity.

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