Noise reducing oil pan for automotive engine
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMichael Choi, Mike K. Rao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A noise reducing oil pan assembly for a motor vehicle engine, adapted for attachment to the engine block underside, includes outer and inner nested pan units supported in spaced relation defining an oil chamber between the units. An inflow gap between the upper opposed edge portions of the units upstanding walls is positioned subjacent the outflow of engine block return oil passages. With the engine running, the return oil flow fills the chamber and thereafter the overflow is received by the inner unit reservoir for re-circulation to the engine. The chamber oil provides a barrier that dampens engine noise radiating from the oil pan assembly.
Claims10
An oil pan assembly for the lubrication system of a vehicle internal combustion engine having an engine block formed with oil return passage means, the oil pan assembly comprising;
- outer and inner pan units having substantially complementary upstanding wall means and bottom wall means, the inner unit of a predetermined reduced size supported in spaced fixed relation within the outer unit forming an oil capturing chamber between the units, the upper edge portions of the each outer and inner upstanding wall means defining there-between an inflow gap, such that upon the pan assembly being secured to the bottom of the engine block, the inflow gap is positioned subjacent one or more engine block return oil passage means and, with the engine running, a portion of the return oil flow exiting the passage means fills the chamber, whereby the captured chamber oil reduces engine noise radiating from the oil pan assembly.
A method for reducing the engine noise radiating from an internal combustion engine oil pan assembly, an engine block formed with gravity flow passage means for returning oil to the oil pan assembly secured to the bottom of the block, feed passage means in the block through which a pump supplies pressurized oil from the pan to a cylinder head secured to the top of the block, the method comprising:
- forming outer and inner oil pan units, with the pan units defining upstanding opposed wall means, and opposed bottom wall means, the inner unit having a reduced size relative to the outer unit that conforms generally to the shape of the outer unit;
- supporting the inner unit within the outer unit in a spaced nested manner, defining an oil capturing chamber between the units, the inner pan unit providing a oil reservoir, and the opposed upper edge portions of the upstanding wall means defining a return oil inflow gap there-between;
- and
- securing the oil pan assembly on the bottom of the engine block such that, with the engine running, the chamber oil inflow gaps being located subjacent gravity flow oil exiting the block return passage means thereby filling the chamber with oil, and wherein subsequent return oil flow by-passing the filled chamber and over flowing into the inner unit reservoir for re-circulation to the engine, whereby the oil filled chamber reduces engine noise radiating from the oil pan assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.