Oil pan with air return ports for directing airflow in internal combustion engines
OwnerGale C. Banks, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for collecting lube oil in an internal combustion engine with a rotating cranktrain which reduces lube oil aeration. The system includes a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall. An oil accumulation ramp extends downwards from the second side wall to the first side wall, and separates the oil sump from the crankcase. An oil entrance aperture is arranged in the ramp near the first side wall for directing oil accumulating on the ramp into the oil sump. A plurality of air return ports extend through the oil accumulation ramp from the oil sump to the crankcase. The shape and aim of the air return ports are tuned to optimize the pressure of air and oil level in the sump.
Claims27
A system for collecting lube oil in an oil sump in an internal combustion engine with a cranktrain, a plurality of crank bays and at least one main bearing bulkhead, the system comprising:
- a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall;
- an oil accumulation ramp comprising a top, and extending downwards from the second side wall to the first side wall, and separating the oil sump from the crankcase;
- an oil entrance aperture arranged in the ramp adjacent the first side wall for directing oil accumulating on the ramp into the oil sump;
- a plurality of air return ports extending through the ramp from the oil sump to the crankcase and spaced from the first side wall;
- and wherein each of the air return ports comprises an airflow director provided at the second side wall, for guiding air across the top of the oil accumulation ramp from the oil sump, and causing oil droplets to fall into the oil sump;
- at least one flow delineator incorporated into the ramp and arranged adjacent to at least one air return ports to obstruct airflow and divert airflow into the adjacent air return ports;
- and
- wherein the air return ports and flow delineators are longitudinally located along the oil accumulation ramp such that each crank bay has one corresponding air return port and each main bearing bulkhead has one corresponding flow delineator;
- and
- wherein the plurality of air return ports and the flow delineators are positioned to aim air from the oil sump, across the oil accumulation ramp, and towards the oil entrance aperture thereby driving oil from the ramp into the oil sump.
An internal combustion engine having reduced lube oil aeration, the engine comprising:
- an engine block comprising a plurality of cylinder bores, a rotating cranktrain and a plurality of oil passages, wherein the rotating cranktrain causes oil to circulate about the cranktrain along a first flowpath;
- a crankcase arranged below the cylinder heads;
- an oil sump for collecting and storing oil arranged below the crankcase;
- an oil accumulation ramp comprising a top, and extending from a second side wall to a first side wall and separating the crankcase from the oil sump;
- and
- an entrance aperture in the ramp in the vicinity of the first wall to direct oil accumulated on the ramp into the oil sump;
- a plurality of air return ports extending through the ramp from the oil sump to the crankcase, and wherein the plurality of air return ports are shaped and arranged to aim airflow from the sump across the ramp in the same direction as the first flowpath, thereby driving oil on the ramp towards the entrance aperture and into the oil sump;
- and
- at least one flow delineator or barrier incorporated into the ramp and arranged adjacent to at least one air return port to obstruct airflow and divert airflow into the adjacent air return ports;
- and wherein each of the air return ports comprises an airflow director provided at the second side wall, for guiding air across the top of the oil accumulation ramp from the oil sump, and causing oil droplets to fall into the oil sump.
A midpan for collecting lube oil in an oil sump in an internal combustion engine with a rotating cranktrain, the system comprising:
- a first side wall comprising an upper interface to engage a first side of the crankcase, and a lower interface to engage a first side wall of the oil sump;
- a second side wall opposite the first side wall comprising an upper interface to engage a second side of the crankcase, and a lower interface to engage a second side wall of the oil sump;
- an oil accumulation ramp comprising a top, and extending downwards from the second side wall of the midpan to the first side wall of the midpan, and separating the oil sump from the crankcase;
- and
- an oil entrance aperture arranged in the ramp near the first side wall for directing oil accumulating on the ramp into the oil sump;
- a plurality of air return ports extending through the ramp from the oil sump to the crankcase;
- and wherein each of the air return ports comprises an airflow director provided at the second side wall, for guiding air across the top of the oil accumulation ramp from the oil sump, and causing oil droplets to fall into the oil sump;
- and
- at least one flow delineator or barrier incorporated into the ramp and arranged adjacent to at least one air return port to obstruct airflow and divert airflow into the adjacent air return ports;
- and wherein the plurality of air return ports and at least one flow delineator are arranged (a) to deflect oil from the rotating cranktrain onto the ramp and towards the oil entrance aperture, and (b) to aim air from the oil sump along the ramp, thereby driving oil on the ramp towards the oil entrance aperture and into the oil sump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.