JP2008082314A - Oil strainer - Google Patents

Abstract

An oil strainer having a case in which a plurality of tubular bodies are combined is provided with an oil inlet by forming a bent portion in the case while reducing the cost by simplifying the structure of a mold for forming the tubular body as much as possible. Can be placed at a desired position.
An oil inlet 11a and an oil outlet 10a are formed at both ends of a cylindrical case 3. A dividing surface is set at the center portion in the center line direction of the case 3, and the case 3 is divided into the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11. The dividing surface is a surface inclined with respect to the center line of the outflow side tubular body 10. The outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 are joined and integrated by an ultrasonic welding method, whereby a bent portion 23 is formed at the joint portion between both tubular bodies 10 and 11.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an oil strainer that is disposed in an oil pan of an internal combustion engine of an automobile, for example, and filters oil circulating in the internal combustion engine.

Conventionally, as an oil strainer disposed in an oil pan, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, a case formed in a cylindrical shape extending linearly as a whole and disposed inside the case. Further, there is known one constituted by a filter for oil filtration. The case is configured by welding the end of the first tubular body made of resin and the end of the second tubular body. An oil inlet is formed at the end of the first tubular body opposite to the welded portion, and an oil outlet is formed at the end of the second tubular body opposite to the welded portion. The oil in the oil pan sucked from the oil inlet of the first tubular body is filtered by passing through the filter, and then flows out from the oil outlet of the second tubular body to be used for lubricating each part. Is done.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-210310

  By the way, the oil inlet of the oil strainer should be arranged at a location where the oil level can be sufficiently secured in the oil pan in order to prevent the oil from being sucked into the case. However, since the shape of the oil pan is complicated or an obstacle such as a cylinder block protrudes in the oil pan, the cylindrical oil strainer that extends linearly as in Patent Document 1 has an obstacle. Therefore, it is difficult to arrange the oil inlet at a desired position. On the other hand, it is conceivable to form the oil strainer case by bending. In such a case, the tubular body constituting the case has to be bent, and an undercut portion is formed at the time of molding. Accordingly, the structure of the molding die for molding the tubular body is corresponding to this. This complicates and in turn increases the cost of the oil strainer.

  The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of a mold for forming a tubular body as simple as possible in an oil strainer including a case in which a plurality of tubular bodies are combined. Thus, while reducing the cost of the oil strainer, a bent portion is formed in the case so that the oil inlet can be arranged at a desired position.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the first aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical shape having an oil inlet and an oil outlet at one end and the other end, respectively, is divided by a dividing surface at the center line direction intermediate portion. An oil strainer comprising a case in which a first tubular body and a second tubular body are joined to each other, and a filter for oil filtration housed in the case, the dividing surface of the case being the first tubular body A bent portion is formed in the case by inclining with respect to the center line of the portion.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, one end of one tubular body of the first tubular body and the second tubular body is joined to the other tubular body, and the other end of the one tubular body. A flange for mounting is formed on one of the tubular bodies, and a bent portion is formed at an intermediate portion of the one tubular body.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a bent portion is formed at an intermediate portion of the other tubular body of the first tubular body and the second tubular body.

  According to the invention of claim 1, since the dividing surface of the case is inclined with respect to the center line of the first tubular body, for example, when the first tubular body and the second tubular body are formed to extend linearly, However, the second tubular body can be joined to the first tubular body in a state where the second tubular body is inclined with respect to the center line of the first tubular body, and the case has a bent shape at the joint portion of both tubular bodies. Thereby, the case can be bent and the oil inlet can be arranged at a desired position while simplifying the structure of the mold for forming the first tubular body and the second tubular body and reducing the cost of the oil strainer. . In addition, the bending angle and direction in the bending part of a case can be arbitrarily changed by changing the inclination angle and direction of the division surface of a case with respect to the centerline of a 1st tubular part.

  According to the invention of claim 2, by forming, for example, one bent portion in the intermediate portion of one tubular body of the first tubular body and the second tubular body, the bent portion and the bent portion at the joint portion are formed. A case having two bent portions can be obtained. In other words, while the other tubular body is linear, the structure of the mold can be simplified, and a plurality of bent portions can be formed in the case, and the degree of freedom in setting the shape of the case can be increased and the oil inlet can be easily positioned at a desired position. Can be arranged.

  According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible to form three bent portions in the case while dividing the case into two of the first tubular body and the second tubular body. As a result, the degree of freedom in setting the shape of the case can be further increased, so that the oil strainer can be arranged more easily while avoiding other obstacles in the oil pan.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiment is merely illustrative in nature, and is not intended to limit the present invention, its application, or its use.

  FIG. 1 shows an oil strainer 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oil strainer 1 includes a filter 2 for oil filtration (shown in FIG. 2), and a case 3 having an oil inlet 11a and an oil outlet 10a at both ends and accommodating the filter 2. For example, although not shown, it is arranged in an oil pan constituting an oil storage space of an internal combustion engine of an automobile and attached to a cylinder block.

  The case 3 has a cylindrical shape in which the center line extends substantially vertically when attached to the cylinder block. As shown in FIG. 2, the case 3 is divided on a dividing surface W set at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction. It consists of an outflow side tubular body 10 constituting the upper side and an inflow side tubular body 11 constituting the lower side. The outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 are made of resin. The vertical dimension of the outflow side tubular body 10 is set to be longer than the vertical dimension of the inflow side tubular body 11, and therefore the dividing surface W of the case 3 is located closer to the lower side of the case 3. Further, the dividing surface W of the case 3 is inclined with respect to the lower center line X <b> 1 of the outflow side tubular body 10.

  In the state in which the filter 2 is disposed inside the outflow side tubular body 10, a lower end portion that is one end portion in the center line direction of the outflow side tubular body 10 and one end portion in the center line direction of the inflow side tubular body 11. The upper end is welded. The outflow side tubular body 10 is the first tubular body of the present invention, and the inflow side tubular body 11 is the second tubular body of the present invention.

  A bent portion 13 is formed above the outflow side tubular body 10. The upper end opening of the outflow side tubular body 10 constitutes the oil outlet 10a and is connected to an inlet (not shown) of an engine oil pump. As shown in FIG. 1, a mounting flange 14 is formed at the upper end of the outflow side tubular body 10 so as to surround the oil outlet 10a. The flange 14 is formed with an insertion hole 14a through which a fastening member (not shown) for fastening to the cylinder block is inserted, and a groove 14b into which an O-ring (not shown) as a seal member is fitted. It is formed so as to surround the oil outlet 10a. The lower side of the bent portion 13 of the outflow side tubular body 10 extends substantially linearly. The lower side of the outflow side tubular body 10 from the substantially central portion in the vertical direction is a filter housing portion 15 that houses the filter 3, and is higher than the upper portion of the outflow side tubular body 10 corresponding to the outer diameter of the filter 3. The diameter has been expanded. The center line of the filter housing portion 15 coincides with the lower center line X 1 of the outflow side tubular body 10.

  A large-diameter portion 16 larger in diameter than the filter housing portion 15 is connected to the lower end side of the filter housing portion 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the center line of the large-diameter portion 16 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the dividing surface W, and is therefore inclined with respect to the center line X <b> 1 of the filter housing portion 15. On the inner peripheral surface of the outflow side tubular body 10, a stepped portion 10 c is formed corresponding to the formation portion of the large diameter portion 16. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the outflow side tubular body 10, a first surface 10 d extending in the radial direction and a second surface 10 e extending in the center line direction of the large diameter portion 16 correspond to the shape of the large diameter portion 16. Is formed.

  The inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 16 has the center line X3 of the large-diameter portion 16 (the left side in FIG. 2) on the side where the angle between the center line X1 of the filter housing portion 15 and the dividing surface W is small (only in FIG. 3). 2), while the side (the right side in FIG. 2) between the center line X <b> 1 of the filter housing portion 15 and the dividing surface W is extended along the center line X <b> 1 of the filter housing portion 15. . The inner peripheral surface of the large-diameter portion 16 is formed in this manner because a mold that molds the inner peripheral surface of the outflow side tubular body 10 when the outflow side tubular body 10 is removed in the molding step (see FIG. This is because it can be pulled out in the direction of the center line X1 of the filter housing portion 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an outflow side step portion 16a and an inflow side step portion 16b located away from the outflow side step portion 16a are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 16. Yes. A portion between both stepped portions 16 a and 16 b on the inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 16 is a welded portion 16 c that is welded to the inflow side tubular body 11. The outflow side stepped portion 16a, the inflow side stepped portion 16b, and the welded portion 16c extend annularly continuously in the circumferential direction of the large diameter portion 16.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the inflow side tubular body 11 includes a cylindrical main body wall portion 21 extending substantially linearly and an outer cylinder portion 22 formed so as to surround the upper end portion of the main body wall portion 21. It has. End faces on the outflow side of the main body wall portion 21 and the outer cylinder portion 22 are formed along the dividing surface W. The center line X2 of the inflow side tubular body 11 extends in a straight line substantially orthogonal to the dividing surface W, and the inflow side tubular body 11 has a straight tube shape. Accordingly, the case 3 of the oil strainer 1 is formed with a bent portion 23 at the joint portion between the tubular bodies 10 and 11.

  Moreover, the outer diameter of the main body wall portion 21 is smaller than the filter housing portion 15 of the outflow side tubular body 10 and has a loosely tapered shape that decreases in diameter toward the lower side. The lower end opening of the main body wall portion 21 constitutes the oil inlet 11a. An annular portion 24 that protrudes radially outward and extends in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper end portion of the main body wall portion 21. The outer cylinder portion 22 is integrally formed at the projecting direction tip portion of the annular portion 24. A gap is formed between the outer cylinder portion 22 and the upper end portion of the main body wall portion 21, and a plurality of ribs 25 that connect the main body wall portion 21 and the outer cylinder portion 22 are formed in the gap. 22 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.

  An outer diameter of the outer cylinder portion 22 is set smaller than that of the large diameter portion 16, and an outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 22 is formed to extend along an inner peripheral surface of the large diameter portion 26. As shown in FIG. 3, on the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 22, an outflow side step portion 22a and an inflow side step portion 22b located away from the outflow side step portion 22a to the inflow side are formed. A portion between the portions 22a and 22b is a welded portion 22c that is welded to the welded portion 16c. The outflow side step portion 22a of the outer cylinder portion 22 is positioned so as to face the outflow side step portion 16a of the outflow side tubular body 10 in the welding step described later, and the inflow side step portion of the outer cylinder portion 22 is also positioned. Similarly, the portion 22b is positioned so as to face the inflow side step portion 16b of the outflow side tubular body 10.

  A filter pressing portion 22d that protrudes toward the outflow side and extends in an annular shape is formed at the end on the outflow side of the outer cylinder portion 22. The cross-sectional shape of the filter holding portion 22d is pointed toward the outflow side, and the end on the outflow side is positioned above the end on the outflow side of the main body wall portion 21.

  The filter 2 has a bottomed cylindrical shape extending along the center line of the filter housing portion 15 as a whole, and is disposed in the filter housing portion 15 so that the bottom wall portion side is located on the outflow side. . A mesh part 2 a constituting a mesh for oil filtration is formed on the bottom wall part and the peripheral wall part of the filter 2. On the opening side opposite to the bottom wall portion of the filter 2, a flange 2 b extending outward in the radial direction is formed. The flange 2 b intersects the center line of the filter 2 and extends along the dividing surface W. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer diameter of the flange 2 b is set to be larger than the inner diameter of the filter housing portion 15 and slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the large diameter portion 16. The flange 2b is fitted into the stepped portion 10c of the outflow side tubular body 10, and is sandwiched in the thickness direction by the stepped portion 10c and the filter pressing portion 22d. Thereby, the filter 2 is fixed to the case 3. The mesh part 2a is provided with a plurality of ribs 2c, and the ribs 2c, the mesh part 2a, and the flange 2b are integrally formed of a resin material.

  Next, the manufacturing method of the oil strainer 1 comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. First, the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 are formed by an injection molding method. The filter 2 is also molded by an injection molding method. At this time, since the inflow side tubular body 11 has a straight pipe shape, the structure of the molding die can be simplified.

  Then, it moves to the welding process which welds and integrates the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 by an ultrasonic welding method. As shown in FIG. 3, the ultrasonic welding machine A used at this time has a receiving jig A <b> 1 that holds the outflow side tubular body 10, a horn A <b> 2 that holds the inflow side tubular body 11, and a horn A <b> 2. A vibration exciter A3 that vibrates with sound waves is provided, a receiving jig A1 is disposed on the lower side, and a horn A2 and a vibration exciter A3 are disposed on the upper side. The receiving jig A1 is provided with a block A11 that is slid in the vertical direction when the outflow side tubular body 10 is detached.

  First, the filter 2 is inserted from the large diameter portion 16 side of the outflow side tubular body 10. When the flange 2b of the filter 2 reaches the stepped portion 10c of the outflow side tubular body 10, the filter 2 is positioned by the stepped portion 10c. And the outflow side tubular body 10 is hold | maintained at the receiving jig | tool A1 in the state which the large diameter part 16 side faced upwards. In that case, first, the block A11 of the receiving jig A1 is lowered, and in this state, the receiving side tubular body 10 is inserted into the receiving jig A1, and then the block A11 is raised, whereby the outflow side tubular body 10 is moved. Positioning and holding is completed. Further, the inflow side tubular body 11 is held by the horn A2 with the outer cylinder portion 22 side facing downward. That is, in the welding process, the positional relationship between the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 is upside down with respect to the use state of the finished product, and the outflow side tubular body 10 is positioned on the lower side, The inflow side tubular body 11 is located on the upper side. At this time, the center line X3 of the large-diameter portion 16 of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the center line X2 of the main body wall portion 21 of the inflow side tubular body 11 coincide with each other.

  In the state where the outflow side tubular body 10 is received and held by the jig A1, the large diameter portion 16 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the filter housing portion 15, and thus is formed corresponding to the large diameter portion 16. The receiving jig A1 is in contact with the first surface 10d and the second surface 10e. Similarly, since the outer cylindrical portion 22 of the inflow side tubular body 11 protrudes radially outward from the main body wall portion 21, the horn A2 is in contact with the end surface on the inflow side of the outer cylindrical portion 22.

  Then, as indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 3, when the horn A <b> 2 is moved downward, the outer cylindrical portion 22 of the inflow side tubular body 11 is inserted into the large diameter portion 16 of the outflow side tubular body 10. Eventually, the welded portion 16c of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the welded portion 22c of the inflow side tubular body 11 come into contact with each other. At this time, the outflow side step portion 16a of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the outflow side step portion 22a of the inflow side tubular body 11 face each other, and the inflow side step portion 16b of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 exist. The inflow side step portion 22b of each other faces.

  Thereafter, the horn A2 is pressed downward and is vibrated ultrasonically by the vibrator A3, and the welded portion 16c of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the welded portion 22c of the inflow side tubular body 11 are melted by frictional heat. As the welded portions 16c and 22c melt, the inflow side tubular body 11 moves downward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, a space is formed by the two outflow side step portions 16a and 22a, and this becomes an outflow side welding burr accommodating portion S1 positioned on the outflow side, and both inflow side step portions 16b, A space is also formed by 22b, and this becomes the inflow side welding burr accommodating portion S2 located on the inflow side. That is, the outflow side welding burr accommodating portion S1 and the inflow side welding burr accommodating portion S2 are formed on the outflow side and the inflow side of the welding portions 16c and 22c, respectively. When the downward movement distance of the inflow side tubular body 11 reaches a predetermined distance, the filter pressing portion 22d comes into contact with the flange 2b of the filter 2, and the flange 2b is brought into contact with the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11. The sandwiched state is entered, and the vibration of the vibrator A3 is stopped, and the downward movement of the horn A2 is stopped.

  In the welding step, a welding burr extending toward the outflow side from the welded portions 16c and 22c of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 and a welding burr extending toward the inflow side are generated. The welding burr extending toward the outflow side is accommodated in the outflow side welding burr accommodating portion S1, and the welding burr extending toward the inflow side is accommodated in the inflow side welding burr accommodating portion S2.

  As described above, according to the oil strainer 1 according to this embodiment, since the dividing surface W of the case 3 is inclined with respect to the center line X1 of the outflow side tubular body 11, the straight pipe shape inflow side tubular body 11 is provided. Can be joined to the outflow side tubular body 10 while being inclined with respect to the center line X 1 of the outflow side tubular body 10, and the bent portion 23 can be formed in the joint portion of the tubular bodies 10 and 11 in the case 3. Accordingly, the shape of the case 3 is set by forming the two bent portions 13 and 23 in the case 3 while simplifying the structure of the mold for forming the inflow side tubular body 11 and reducing the cost of the oil strainer 1. The degree of freedom can be improved and the oil inlet 11a can be arranged at a desired position in the oil pan.

  The position of the bent portion 23 in the joint portion of the case 3 can be easily changed by changing the position of the dividing surface W. Further, the bending angle and direction of the bent portion 23 of the case 3 can be arbitrarily changed by changing the inclination angle and direction of the dividing surface W of the case 3 with respect to the center line X2 of the inflow side tubular portion 11.

  Further, the welding burrs generated so as to extend from the welding portions 16c and 22c to the outflow side and the inflow side can be accommodated in the outflow side and the inflow side welding burr accommodating portions S1 and S2, respectively. As a result, the welding burr does not fall off from the case 3, so that it is not sucked into the oil strainer 1 together with oil, and the filter 2 can be prevented from being clogged.

  In this embodiment, the bent portion 13 is formed in the outflow side tubular body 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the bent portion of the outflow side tubular body 10 is not limited thereto. 13 may be omitted and the outflow side tubular body 10 may be formed into a straight pipe shape. Thereby, the structure of both the shaping | molding die of the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 can be simplified, and the cost of the oil strainer 1 can be reduced further.

  Further, in this embodiment, the annular portion 24 of the inflow side tubular body 11 is positioned on the outflow side with respect to the welded portion 22c. The center line direction may be provided at the same position as the welded portion 22c. Thereby, the welding part 22c is supported from the inner side by the annular part 24, and the rigidity can be improved. As a result, in the welding process, it is possible to prevent the welding portion 22c from being displaced inward and escaping.

  Moreover, you may form the bending part 33 in the inflow side tubular body 11 like the modification 2 shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7. As a result, three bent portions 13, 23, and 33 can be formed in the case 3 while the case 3 is divided into the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11. Thereby, since the freedom degree of the shape setting of case 3 can further be raised, it becomes much easier to arrange the oil strainer 1 while avoiding other obstacles in the oil pan.

  In this embodiment, the case 3 and the filter 2 are separated from each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the case 3 and the filter 2 may be integrally formed on the main body wall portion 21 of the filter 2 inflow side tubular body 11. Thereby, the number of parts which comprise oil strainer 1 can be decreased, and an assembly man-hour can be reduced. The filter 2 may be integrally formed with the outflow side tubular body 10.

  Further, in this embodiment, the dividing surface W of the case 3 is inclined with respect to the center line X1 of the outflow side tubular body 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and is inclined with respect to the center line X2 of the inflow side tubular body 11. You may make it make it.

  Further, in the welding step, the outflow side tubular body 10 may be held by the horn A2, the inflow side tubular body 11 may be held by the jig A1, and the outflow side tubular body 10 may be vibrated.

  Further, the outflow side tubular body 10 and the inflow side tubular body 11 may be welded by using, for example, a vibration welding method or a hot plate welding method in addition to the ultrasonic welding method.

  Further, the strainer 1 can be used not only as an internal combustion engine but also as an oil filtration part for an automatic transmission of an automobile or other power machine.

  As described above, the oil strainer according to the present invention is suitable for being disposed in, for example, an oil pan of an internal combustion engine of an automobile.

It is a perspective view of the oil strainer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is an expanded sectional view equivalent to the II-II line of Drawing 1 showing the state where the outflow side tubular body and the inflow side tubular body were held in the welding machine. FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 in a state where welding of the outflow side tubular body and the inflow side tubular body is completed. It is an expanded sectional view concerning modification 1 of an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 according to a second modification of the embodiment. It is the VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oil strainer 2 Filter 3 Case 10 Outflow side tubular body (1st tubular body)
10a Oil outlet 11 Inflow side tubular body (second tubular body)
11a Oil inlet 13 Bent part 23 of outflow side tubular body Bent part W in joint part Dividing surface

Claims (3)

A cylindrical shape having an oil inlet and an oil outlet at one end and the other end, respectively, is formed by joining together a first tubular body and a second tubular body that are divided by a dividing surface in an intermediate portion in the center line direction. An oil strainer comprising a case and a filter for oil filtration accommodated in the case,
An oil strainer characterized in that a bent portion is formed in the case by inclining the dividing surface of the case with respect to the center line of the first tubular portion. The oil strainer according to claim 1,
One end of one tubular body of the first tubular body and the second tubular body is joined to the other tubular body, and an attachment flange is formed at the other end of the one tubular body. An oil strainer characterized in that a bent part is formed in an intermediate part of the body. The oil strainer according to claim 2,
An oil strainer, wherein a bent portion is formed in an intermediate portion of the other tubular body of the first tubular body and the second tubular body.

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