JP6855390B2 - A device that supplies lubricant to the camshaft - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an engine assembly for an automatic vehicle, including a camshaft and a lubricant feeder.

In the field of motor vehicles, camshafts are mechanical components used to synchronize valve control.

The camshaft carries as many cams as there are controlled valves and is driven by a drive chain to rotate, which causes the cams to alternately open and close the valves.

The camshaft is rotatably mounted on the bearing of the cylinder head of the engine. These bearings may be, for example, ball bearings, needle bearings, hydrostatic bearings, or even sleeve bearings.

These bearings need to be lubricated to ensure sufficient rotation of the camshaft within the bearings.

In the prior art, it is known to equip an oil pump designed to deliver pressurized oil in the vicinity of a radial orifice formed in the camshaft. In that case, the oil enters the oil flow path via the radial orifice and spreads inside the camshaft under pressure. The oil then flows along the camshaft, specifically through the bearing and another radial opening formed in the vicinity of the cam, thereby spreading the lubricating oil along the outer wall of the camshaft.

However, such a solution requires the use of energy-consuming oil pumps, which are relatively expensive to manufacture and require regular maintenance.

Therefore, there is a need for an inexpensive, relatively robust, camshaft lubrication solution.

An engine assembly for an automated vehicle comprising a camshaft and, for example, a lubricant supply device for supplying oil, wherein the camshaft is, on the one hand, a flow path for lubricant and, on the other hand, the supply device. An engine assembly is proposed having a lubricant inlet supplied by the camshaft and at least one radial outlet opening capable of draining the lubricant from the camshaft so that the camshaft can be lubricated. ..

The lubricant inlet is formed at one end in the axial direction of the camshaft.

This makes it possible to supply the lubricant to the flow path of the camshaft without the need to pressurize the oil as in the prior art.

In fact, the natural flow of oil, for example under gravitational action, allows the oil to enter the flow path axially. This can simplify engine assembly, in particular by eliminating the need for a pump to push the lubricant into the flow path. Such a solution provides a more robust and cheaper engine assembly for manufacturing and servicing.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the engine assembly may include a drive chain designed to drive and rotate the camshaft, which carries the lubricant from the lubricant tank to the lubricant feeder. It is designed to be.

That is, the drive chain is used to carry the lubricant, for example the lubricant that collects in the tank at the bottom end, and lift the lubricant towards the upper end where the cylinder head and camshaft are incorporated. Can be done. This eliminates the need for a pump to pump oil from the bottom edge to the top edge.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the feeder may include a scoop having an opening and a bottom designed to collect the lubricant carried by the drive chain, the lubricant exerting a gravity effect on the bottom. The scoop further has a flow orifice formed in the vicinity of the bottom, and the supply device has a nozzle that connects the flow orifice of the scoop to the lubricant inlet of the camshaft.

This allows the lubricant to be collected by the scoop upstream of the camshaft when the camshaft is mounted in the engine. The oil can then flow naturally under gravitational action, thereby being passively guided towards the camshaft flow path.

The cross-sectional diameter of the nozzle can advantageously make it possible to control the flow rate of oil entering the flow path of the camshaft.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the internal flow diameter of the nozzle can be greater than 5 mm.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the nozzle can be tightly coupled to the camshaft.

According to the alternative form, the nozzle can be tightly connected to the scoop.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the engine assembly may include a timing case and is designed to release the lubricant towards the inner wall of the timing case as the drive chain is driven and moved. The scoop is arranged so that the lubricant released towards the inner wall can flow towards the bottom.

In this way, the drive chain allows the oil to be easily supplied to the scoop by discharging the oil towards the wall of the timing case by the centrifugal action of the oil accumulated between the links of the chain. Allows the scoop to guide the oil towards the lubricant inlet of the camshaft.

This provides a feeder that is relatively simple and specifically does not require any hardware in addition to the hardware normally found in internal combustion engines.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the scoop can be hermetically attached to the timing case at the edge of contact with the wall element of the timing case.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the camshaft can be rotatably mounted on at least one bearing and the at least one radial opening is located in the vicinity of the cam on the bearing or camshaft. ..

Advantageously, but not limited to, the at least one radial opening can be formed in the camshaft to lead to the bearing.

Specifically, the flow path extends axially and distributes the oil to multiple radial openings, particularly such that all bearings and / or all cams are lubricated by the oil flowing through the flow path. Allows to be done.

This makes it possible to lubricate all bearings and / or all cams on the camshaft, thereby improving the rotation of the camshaft.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the engine assembly may further comprise a screw that mounts the camshaft to the wall of the engine assembly, the mounting screw of the camshaft being hollow and inserted into the end of the camshaft. The fluid feeder is designed to feed the lubricant inlet through the hollow mounting screw.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the lubricant may include oil. Specifically, the lubricant may be oil. The lubricant may also be of any other type known to those of skill in the art, such as any oil-based lubricant.

Advantageously, but not limited to, the diameter of the at least one radial opening can be 2 mm to 4 mm. In this way, lubrication to the cams and / or bearings is relatively effective while allowing the lubricant to flow sufficiently through the flow path.

Specifically, radial openings prevent large amounts of oil from flowing out through one or more openings near the inlet, allowing oil to flow to the farthest opening from the inlet. The dimensions are set so that.

The present invention also relates to an automatic vehicle comprising the engine assembly described above.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reading the description of a particular embodiment of the invention set forth below as a non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is sectional drawing of the engine assembly by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is another cross-sectional view of the engine assembly according to the embodiment of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the camshaft by embodiment of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a camshaft mounted on a bearing according to the embodiment of FIG.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are described together with respect to one and the same embodiment.

An engine assembly 1 for an automatic vehicle (not shown), in this case an internal combustion engine assembly for an automatic vehicle, comprises a camshaft 2 and a lubricant supply device 3, in this case an oil supply device 3.

The camshaft 2 is mounted on the cylinder head of the engine, and a plurality of cams (not shown) are mounted on the camshaft 2 and operate under the rotational action of the camshaft 2 around the rotation axis. The cam is designed to alternately open and close the valves of the internal combustion engine.

The camshaft 2 is also firmly connected to the cylinder head by a mounting screw 40, in this case a hollow mounting screw 40. The mounting screw 40 has a screw shaft 41 in the form of a hollow cylinder with a thread on the outer circumference. The screw shaft 41 is inserted into one end 9 of the camshaft 2. The mounting screw 40 also has a hollow head 42 supported on the wall of the cylinder head.

The hollow portion of the mounting screw 40 is formed in the direction of the screw shaft 41 from one end to the other end of the screw 40 in parallel with the axis of the screw shaft 41.

In other words, the mounting screw 40 is hollow from end to end so that the fluid flowing into the opening of the head 42 can flow through the screw 40 and out of the free end of the screw shaft 41. There is.

The camshaft 2 is rotatably mounted on a bearing 10 installed in the cylinder head of the engine. The bearing 10 allows the camshaft 2 to rotate about a rotation axis and reduces friction associated with this rotation. The camshaft 2 is mounted, for example, on a plurality of bearings 10 arranged substantially regularly along the overall length of the camshaft 2.

The cams and bearings 10 are lubricated with a lubricant, in this case oil, to improve their operation. However, the cam and bearing 10 form a partition between the cylinder head and the outside of the camshaft 2 that blocks the movement of oil in the axial direction of the camshaft 2.

Therefore, the camshaft 2 is distributed along the flow path 5 that allows the oil to flow into the camshaft 2 and the entire length of the camshaft 2 that allows the oil to be discharged from the camshaft 2. It also has a plurality of radial openings 7.

In other words, the oil is poured into the camshaft 2 and drained at various points in order to enable good distribution of the lubricating oil to the outside of the camshaft 2, especially in the axial direction thereof.

In this case, the flow path 5 is an opening formed along the length of the camshaft 2 substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the camshaft 2. Specifically, the flow path 5 is centered on the rotation axis of the camshaft 2.

The flow path 5 forms a substantially cylindrical opening inside the camshaft 2.

In other words, the flow path 5 forms the inner radius of the camshaft 2.

In this embodiment, the flow path 5 extends from one end 9 of the camshaft 2 over a certain length of the camshaft 2. For example, the flow path 5 extends within the camshaft 2 so that oil can flow near all bearings 10 and / or all cams that work with the camshaft 2.

However, the flow path 5 is open to the outside only at one end 9 of the camshaft 2. In this case, the camshaft 2 is open to the outside at the end 9 where the hollow mounting screw 40 is screwed.

The flow path 5 is axially open outward at the end 9.

The camshaft 2 has a radial opening 7 that opens outward in the radial direction between the flow path 5 and the outer surface of the camshaft 2.

The diameter of the radial opening 7 is 2 mm to 4 mm.

Specifically, the camshaft 2 has a pair of radial openings 7 facing each other on the diameter. In fact, these radial openings 7 are formed by passing through holes from one end to the other end of the camshaft 2 in the radial direction.

In this way, the radial opening 7 allows the oil flowing through the flow path 5 to flow out of the camshaft. As a result, the outside of the camshaft 2 can be lubricated.

Specifically, there may be as many pairs of radial openings 7 as there are cams and / or bearings 10.

Radial openings 7 are formed in the vicinity of bearings 10 or cams so that oil can lubricate them.

In this way, the flow path and the radial opening 7 allow the oil to spread to all cams and / or bearings 10 in which the radial opening 7 is formed in the vicinity. This improves the lubrication of the camshaft 2.

The bearing 10 can be arranged, for example, between two cams. In other words, the camshaft 2 may have alternating arrangements of bearings 10 and cams aligned in the axial direction of the camshaft 2.

In this case, the bearing 10 is a bearing 10 made of a ball bearing 12. The bearing 10 includes a ring 11 into which the camshaft 2 is inserted.

A plurality of balls 12 are arranged in the ring 11 between the inner wall of the ring 11 and the outer wall of the camshaft 2, thereby reducing the friction caused by the rotation of the camshaft 2 in the ring 11. In this way, the bearing 10 allows the camshaft 2 to rotate in the cylinder head while suppressing friction caused by rotation.

In an alternative form not shown, the bearing 10 may be a needle bearing. In this alternative form, the ball 12 is replaced by a needle extending in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the camshaft 2. Needle bearings have the advantage that they occupy a relatively small radial thickness, but require a circular ring 11 that has a significantly larger axial length than ball bearings.

According to another embodiment not shown, the bearing 10 is also made of, for example, a copper alloy or polymer, lubricated and optionally sintered, usually in a normal circle, to improve lubricity. A sleeve bearing, which is a ring-shaped sleeve, may be used.

Oil is supplied to the flow path 5 of the camshaft 2 by a supply device 3 provided with a scoop 20.

The scoop 20 has an opening 21 for collecting oil and a bottom 22 for collecting oil therein.

The scoop 20 is mounted on the engine assembly 1 so that the oil flows between the opening 21 and the bottom 22 under the action of gravity. In other words, when the scoop 20 is mounted on the automatic vehicle, the opening 21 is located upstream of the bottom 22 with respect to the vertical line of the automatic vehicle.

The flow orifice 23 is formed in close proximity to the bottom 22 of the scoop 20. Specifically, the flow orifice 23 can be formed directly on the bottom of the scoop 20 so that all the oil accumulated in the bottom 22 can be discharged. According to the alternative form, the flow orifice 23 can be formed on the wall of the scoop 20 close to the bottom 22, especially at a distance sufficient to drain most of the oil accumulated in the bottom 22.

The nozzle 24 connects the flow orifice 23 to the oil inlet 6 of the camshaft 2.

The nozzle 24 is a pipe, the diameter of which determines the oil supply flow rate of the camshaft 2. In other words, since the oil flows into the scoop 20 only by the action of gravity without being pre-pressurized, the maximum oil flow rate that can flow between the scoop 20 and the camshaft 2 is only the diameter of the nozzle 24. Determined by. According to a preferred embodiment, the nozzle 24 has a downstream end that is firmly inserted into the oil inlet 6 of the camshaft, and the nozzle 24 has an internal flow diameter of about 6 mm. As a result, oil can flow from the scoop 20 to the flow path 5 of the camshaft.

According to another embodiment, the upstream end of the nozzle 24 can be firmly connected to the scoop 20. In that case, the downstream end is fitted into the oil inlet 6 of the camshaft, at which time the downstream end is surrounded by at least one lip-shaped sealing gasket.

The nozzle 24 may have any shape that allows the flow orifice 23 to be connected to the oil inlet 6, for example L-shaped or linear.

The nozzle 24 flows oil into the oil inlet 6 in the axial direction of the camshaft 2. As a result, the oil poured into the camshaft 2 in the axial direction can be spread along the flow path 5 without the need to pressurize the oil.

Further, the rotation of the camshaft 2 helps to distribute the oil in the flow path 5 and allows the oil to flow out through the radial opening 7 to lubricate the bearing 10 and / or the cam.

The engine assembly also includes a drive chain 30 that drives and rotates the camshaft 2.

The drive chain 30 is first protected by a chain housing (not shown) and secondly by a timing case 31.

The drive chain 30 is driven by a crankshaft (not shown) at the bottom end to drive and rotate the camshaft 2.

The chain 30 is formed by assembling the links. The chain 30 takes in oil between the links of the chain at the bottom end. For example, the chain can pass through a tank of lubricant, in which case the oil tank is located at the bottom of the bottom edge.

The scoop is preferably mounted abutting the timing case 31 surrounding the drive chain 30 and has a substantially sealed edge that contacts the wall of the case to optimize the collection of released oil. Form a part.

The oil is carried between the links by the chain 30.

At the upper end, the chain 30 discharges the oil stored between the links toward the inner wall 32 of the timing case 31 by the centrifugal action.

The inner wall 32 from which the oil is discharged by the chain 30 can be, for example, a wall 32 that is substantially vertical when the engine assembly 1 is mounted on the vehicle, or a wall that is substantially inclined. ..

Specifically, the inner wall 32 allows the released oil to flow along or drip from the wall 32 under the action of gravity when the engine assembly 1 is mounted on the vehicle. ..

The scoop 20 is arranged so that its opening 21 can collect the oil released toward the inner wall 32 of the timing case 31.

In other words, the scoop opening 21 naturally flows along the wall 32 of the timing case 31 under the action of gravity, or oil dripping from this wall 32 under the action of gravity is guided toward the bottom of the scoop 20. It is placed near this wall 32 so that it can be struck.

In this way, the lubricating oil can be pumped from the bottom end to the upper end by the chain 30 and then discharged toward the inner wall 32 of the timing case 31 by the chain 30.

The released oil then flows into the scoop 20, falls to the bottom 22 of the scoop 20, then enters the nozzle 24 leading to the inlet 6 of the flow path 5 of the camshaft 2 and passes through the hollow mounting screw 40.

Under the action of gravity, the flow of oil entering the scoop 20 and flowing between the scoop 20 and the inlet 6 of the flow path 5 allows the oil to spread sufficiently along the flow path 5 and of the camshaft 2. Under rotational action, it allows oil to come out of the radial opening 7 formed in the wall of the camshaft 2.

That is, this makes it possible to effectively lubricate the cam and the bearing 10 of the camshaft 2 in which the radial opening 7 is formed in the vicinity. This solution is robust and inexpensive to implement.

Claims (11)

An engine assembly (1) for an automatic vehicle, comprising a camshaft (2) and a lubricant supply device (3).
The camshaft (2) has a lubricant inlet (6) to which the lubricant is supplied by the lubricant supply device (3) and the length of the camshaft (2) inside the camshaft (2). The lubricant is discharged from the flow path (5) for the lubricant formed along the flow path (5) of the camshaft (2) so that the flow path (5) for the lubricant and the camshaft (2) can be lubricated. With at least one radial exit opening (7) that can be
The lubricant inlet (6) is formed at one end (9) in the axial direction of the camshaft (2).
The engine assembly comprises a drive chain (30) designed to drive and rotate the camshaft (2), the drive chain (30) supplying the lubricant from the lubricant tank. Designed to carry to device (3)
The lubricant supply device (3) is configured to supply the lubricant carried by the drive chain (30) to the lubricant inlet (6) of the camshaft (2).
The feeder (3) comprises a scoop (20) having an opening (21) and a bottom (22) designed to collect the lubricant carried by the drive chain (30). The lubricant flows toward the bottom due to the gravitational effect,
The scoop (20) further has a flow orifice (23) formed in the vicinity of the bottom (22), and the feeder (3) provides the flow orifice (23) of the scoop (20). and having a nozzle (24) for connecting to the lubricant inlet (6) of said camshaft (2), the engine assembly (1). The engine assembly (1) according to claim 1 , wherein the internal flow diameter of the nozzle (24) is larger than 5 mm. The engine assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the nozzle (24) is firmly connected to the camshaft (2). The engine assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the nozzle (24) is firmly connected to the scoop (20). It comprises a timing case (31) and is designed to release the lubricant towards the inner wall (32) of the timing case (31) when the drive chain (30) is driven and moved. Claims 1 to 4 , wherein the scoop (20) is arranged so that the lubricant discharged toward the inner wall (32) can flow toward the bottom (22). The engine assembly (1) according to any one of the above. The engine assembly (1 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the scoop (20) is hermetically attached to the timing case (31) at an edge of the timing case in contact with an element of the wall. ). An engine assembly (1) for an automatic vehicle, comprising a camshaft (2) and a lubricant supply device (3).
The camshaft (2) has a lubricant inlet (6) to which the lubricant is supplied by the lubricant supply device (3) and the length of the camshaft (2) inside the camshaft (2). The lubricant is discharged from the flow path (5) for the lubricant formed along the flow path (5) of the camshaft (2) so that the flow path (5) for the lubricant and the camshaft (2) can be lubricated. With at least one radial exit opening (7) that can be
The lubricant inlet (6) is formed at one end (9) in the axial direction of the camshaft (2).
The engine assembly comprises a drive chain (30) designed to drive and rotate the camshaft (2), the drive chain (30) supplying the lubricant from the lubricant tank. Designed to carry to device (3)
The lubricant supply device (3) is configured to supply the lubricant carried by the drive chain (30) to the lubricant inlet (6) of the camshaft (2).
The camshaft (2) is rotatably mounted on at least one bearing (10) and the at least one radial opening (7) is in the vicinity of the bearing (10) or on the camshaft (2). An engine assembly (1) , characterized in that it is located in the vicinity of a cam. The engine assembly (1) according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one radial opening (7) is formed in the camshaft (2) so as to pass through the bearing (10). An engine assembly (1) for an automatic vehicle, comprising a camshaft (2) and a lubricant supply device (3).
The camshaft (2) has a lubricant inlet (6) to which the lubricant is supplied by the lubricant supply device (3) and the length of the camshaft (2) inside the camshaft (2). The lubricant is discharged from the flow path (5) for the lubricant formed along the flow path (5) of the camshaft (2) so that the flow path (5) for the lubricant and the camshaft (2) can be lubricated. With at least one radial exit opening (7) that can be
The lubricant inlet (6) is formed at one end (9) in the axial direction of the camshaft (2).
The engine assembly comprises a drive chain (30) designed to drive and rotate the camshaft (2), the drive chain (30) supplying the lubricant from the lubricant tank. Designed to carry to device (3)
The lubricant supply device (3) is configured to supply the lubricant carried by the drive chain (30) to the lubricant inlet (6) of the camshaft (2).
A mounting screw (40) for attaching the camshaft (2) to the wall of the engine assembly (1) is further provided, and the mounting screw (40) of the camshaft (2) is hollow and the camshaft ( The lubricant supply device (3) has a screw shaft (41) inserted into the end portion (9) of the 2), and supplies the lubricant inlet (6) through the hollow mounting screw (40). An engine assembly (1) , characterized in that it is designed to. The engine assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the diameter of the at least one radial opening (7) is 2 mm to 4 mm. An automatic vehicle having the engine assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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