OIL SUPPLY DEVICE

Abstract

A motor vehicle and an oil supply device for a chain drive of a combustion engine for the motor vehicle includes, but is not limited to an oil collection device for collecting leakage oil of a component in the combustion engine and a feed line connected to the oil collection device, via which the leakage oil collected in the oil collection device can be fed to the chain drive.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102010005827.0, filed Jan. 27, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The technical field relates to an oil supply device for a chain drive of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In order to be able to guarantee a perfect function of a chain drive on a combustion engine a continuous feed of lubricating oil to the chain drive has to be ensured. Through the feed of lubricating oil to the chain drive both adequate cooling as well as adequate lubrication of the chain drive or the chain of the chain drive is guaranteed. Usually, the supply of the chain drive with lubricating oil is affected by way of a nozzle connected to a high-pressure oil supply. However the oil requirement of the entire combustion engine is increased in the process, as a result of which an increased drive output of the oil pump is required at the same time.

[0004] In view of the foregoing, it is at least one object to make available an oil supply device for a chain drive of a combustion engine, which is characterized by a high efficiency and by means of which the oil requirement of the entire combustion engine can be reduced. In addition, other objects, desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description, and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

SUMMARY

[0005] The oil supply device for a chain drive of a combustion engine comprises an oil collection device for collecting leakage oil of a component of the combustion engine and a feed line connected to the oil collection device, via which the leakage oil collected in the oil collection device can be fed to the chain drive.

[0006] The leakage oil emerging from a component of the combustion engine according to the invention is collected and directly fed to the chain drive as lubricating oil, so that a separate oil supply of a chain drive can be at least reduced, if not omitted completely. Because of this, the leakage oil of the component can be efficiently further utilized before it is transported back into the oil pan via oil returns. By using the leakage oil of a component of the combustion engine as lubricating oil for a chain drive the overall oil consumption of a combustion engine can be clearly reduced. Preferentially, the component from which the leakage oil is collected is a bearing element in the combustion engine, which preferentially is arranged adjacently to the chain drive to be lubricated. In addition, it is also possible to use leakage oil of a component other than that of a bearing element of a combustion engine as lubricating oil for a chain drive in that said leakage oil is collected through the oil collection device and fed to the chain drive.

[0007] Advantageously it is provided that the oil collection device is designed in the shape of a tub. By designing the oil collection device as a tub, the leakage oil can be collected and accumulated efficiently so that it can be ensured that sufficient leakage oil is collected under all operating conditions and possible installation positions of the combustion engine in order to be able to guarantee adequate lubrication of the chain drive at any time. Alternatively to this it is advantageously provided that the oil collection device is designed in form of a beveled surface. Through the provision of a beveled surface the oil collection device has a certain slope, which is preferentially designed such that it already imposes a flow direction in the direction of the feed line on the collected leakage oil so that it can be prevented that oil deposits, which do not flow in the direction of the feed line, form in the oil collection device. The connection of the oil collection device to the feed line in this case is preferentially provided at the lowest point of the beveled surface.

[0008] Preferably it is additionally provided that the feed line is passed through an opening in a housing surrounding the chain drive. By way of the housing the leakage oil can be guided from the feed line on to the chain drive or the chain of the chain drive. The opening can for example be designed as a bore or as a passage cast into the housing, which is already molded into the sand core of the die cast mold of the housing when manufacturing the housing. The opening allows a simple feed of the leakage oil on to the chain drive.

[0009] For specific feeding of the leakage oil to the chain drive one or several guide elements adjoining the feed line are additionally provided. The guide elements preferentially extend from the opening as far as to immediately on the chain drive so that the leakage oil can be specifically fed to the chain drive in a certain desired position. If the component is designed as bearing element, preferentially as camshaft bearing, and if a chain drive directly adjacent to the camshaft bearing, for example a timing chain, is lubricated with the leakage oil of the camshaft bearing as lubricating oil, the guide elements can for example be designed as a bore in the timing case. In addition it is possible to provide an open tub on the timing case, as a result of which air accumulations can be prevented. Alternatively, it is additionally possible that the guide elements are designed in the form of a protrusion on the cylinder head or through separate guiding components, through which the leakage oil can be specifically fed to the chain drive. In addition it is advantageously provided that the feed line is designed in the form of a bore. Because of this it is possible to provide the feed line in the combustion engine in a simple manner without additional components being required for this purpose.

[0010] In addition, a combustion engine is provided comprising an oil supply device for a chain drive as designed and further developed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing FIG. 1 that shows a schematic representation of an oil supply device of a combustion engine according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit or the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description.

[0013] The oil supply device comprises an oil collection device 10 in the form of a tub, by means of which leakage oil of a component 12, in the exemplary embodiment shown here as bearing element, preferentially of a camshaft bearing, is collected. The oil collection device 10 is located below the component 12. The oil collection device 10 is connected to a feed line 14 in the bottom region 22 of the oil collection device 10, which with this exemplary embodiment is introduced into the combustion engine in the form of a bore. At the end of the feed line 14 located opposite the oil collection device 10 an opening 16 in the form of a bore is formed on the feed line 14 or on a housing 20 at least partially surrounding a chain drive 18, via which the leakage oil as lubricating oil is fed to a chain drive 18, which is preferentially arranged adjacently to the component 12 in the combustion engine. Adjoining the opening 16 additional guide elements which are not shown here can be provided for the specific feeding of the leakage oil on to the chain drive 18.

[0014] The component 12 can for example be designed as a camshaft bearing and the chain drive 18 as a timing chain of a combustion engine. However, it is also possible to provide such a lubrication by way of an oil supply device on other chain drives, for example on chains for driving balancing shafts, wherein in the case of the lubrication of a chain or a chain drive for driving balancing shafts the component 12 is designed as a crankshaft bearing.

[0015] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. An oil supply device for a chain drive of a combustion engine, comprising: an oil collection device adapted to collect leakage oil of a component in the combustion engine; and a feed line connected to the oil collection device with which the leakage oil collected in the oil collection device can be fed to the chain drive.

2. The oil supply device according to claim 1, wherein the oil collection device is a tub.

3. The oil supply device according to claim 1, wherein the oil collection device is a beveled surface.

4. The oil supply device according to claim 1, wherein the feed line is passed through an opening in a housing at least partially surrounding the chain drive.

5. The oil supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide element adjoining the feed line adapted to provide a specific feeding of the leakage oil on to the chain drive,

6. The oil supply device according to claim 1, wherein the feed line is a bore.

7. A motor vehicle, comprising: a combustion engine; a chain drive of the combustion engine; and an oil supply device for the chain drive, comprising: an oil collection device adapted to collect leakage oil of a component in the combustion engine; and a feed line connected to the oil collection device with which the leakage oil collected in the oil collection device can be fed to the chain drive.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the oil collection device is a tub.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the oil collection device is a beveled surface.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the feed line is passed through an opening in a housing at least partially surrounding the chain drive.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a guide element adjoining the feed line adapted to provide a specific feeding of the leakage oil on to the chain drive,

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the feed line is a bore.

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