U.S. patent application number 13/349161 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for stepped oil-cooler.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHRYSLER GROUP LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Neil A. Murphy. Invention is credited to Neil A. Murphy.
Application Number | 20130180496 13/349161 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48779108 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180496 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Murphy; Neil A. |
July 18, 2013 |
STEPPED OIL-COOLER
Abstract
A lubricant heat exchanger may include a mounting portion and a
heat exchanger portion. The mounting portion may be configured to
engage a first end of a lubricant filter and may include a fluid
passage in fluid communication with the lubricant filter. The heat
exchanger portion may extend from the mounting portion and may be
configured to at least partially surround a circumferential surface
of the lubricant filter. The mounting portion may engage the first
end of the lubricant filter and provide fluid communication between
the heat exchanger portion and the lubricant filter. The heat
exchanger portion may include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The
fluid inlet and outlet being fluidly isolated from the lubricant
filter.
Inventors: |
Murphy; Neil A.; (White
Lake, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Murphy; Neil A. |
White Lake |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
Auburn Hills
MI
|
Family ID: |
48779108 |
Appl. No.: |
13/349161 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/196A ;
165/104.11; 165/104.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28F 2280/06 20130101;
F28D 2021/0089 20130101; F01M 2011/033 20130101; F28D 9/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/196.A ;
165/104.11; 165/104.14 |
International
Class: |
F01M 11/03 20060101
F01M011/03; F01M 5/00 20060101 F01M005/00; F28D 15/00 20060101
F28D015/00 |
Claims
1. A lubricant heat exchanger comprising: a mounting portion being
configured to engage a first end of a lubricant filter and
including a fluid passage in fluid communication with the lubricant
filter; and a heat exchanger portion extending from the mounting
portion and configured to at least partially surround a
circumferential surface of the lubricant filter, the mounting
portion engaging the first end of the lubricant filter and
providing fluid communication between the heat exchanger portion
and the lubricant filter, the heat exchanger portion including a
fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the fluid inlet and outlet being
fluidly isolated from the lubricant filter.
2. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the mounting
portion is disposed generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis
of the circumferential surface.
3. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat
exchanger portion and the lubricant filter extend from the mounting
portion in the same direction.
4. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the lubricant
filter is mounted directly to the mounting portion and the heat
exchanger portion is integrally formed with the mounting
portion.
5. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the mounting
portion includes a central aperture through which oil communicates
with the lubricant filter.
6. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 1, wherein the heat
exchanger portion includes a coolant passageway and a lubricant
passageway, the coolant passageway being in fluid communication
with the fluid inlet and outlet in the heat exchanging portions,
the lubricant passageway being in fluid communication with the
lubricant filter.
7. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 6, wherein the heat
exchanger portion includes first and second layers disposed
directly adjacent and in heat transfer relation with each other,
the coolant passageway and the lubricant passageway being at least
partially defined by the second layer.
8. The lubricant heat exchanger of claim 7, wherein the lubricant
passageway is in communication with first and second inlet passages
in the mounting portion.
9. A lubrication system including the lubricant heat exchanger of
claim 1 and further comprising a lubricant reservoir to which the
lubricant heat exchanger is mounted.
10. The lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the lubricant
reservoir extends downward from an engine of a vehicle toward a
ground upon which the vehicle is situated and the lubricant filter
extends longitudinally downward from the lubricant heat exchanger
toward the ground.
11. The lubrication system of claim 10, wherein the lubricant
reservoir extends further toward the ground than the lubricant
filter such that the second end of the lubricant filter is
sub-flush with a bottom surface of the lubricant reservoir.
12. A lubrication system for a vehicle comprising: an oil reservoir
extending downward from an engine of the vehicle toward a ground
upon which the vehicle is normally situated; an oil filter in fluid
communication with the oil reservoir and having first and second
ends and a circumferential surface disposed between the first and
second ends; and an oil heat exchanger including a heat exchanger
portion and a mounting portion, the heat exchanger portion
extending downward from the mounting portion toward the ground, the
mounting portion engaging the first end of the oil filter such that
the oil filter extends longitudinally downward therefrom toward the
ground and provides fluid communication between the oil filter and
the heat exchanger portion, wherein the oil reservoir extends
further toward the ground than the oil filter such that the second
end of the oil filter is sub-flush with a bottom surface of the oil
reservoir.
13. The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger
portion at least partially surrounds the circumferential surface of
the oil filter.
14. The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the oil filter is
mounted directly to the oil heat exchanger.
15. The lubrication system of claim 14, wherein the oil filter is
mounted directly to the mounting portion and the heat exchanger
portion is integrally formed with the mounting portion.
16. The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the mounting
portion includes a central aperture through which oil communicates
with the oil filter.
17. The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the heat exchanger
portion includes a heat-exchanging-fluid passageway and an oil
passageway, the oil passageway being in fluid communication with
the oil filter.
18. The lubrication system of claim 17, wherein the oil heat
exchanger includes first and second layers disposed directly
adjacent and in heat transfer relation with each other, the
heat-exchanging-fluid passageway and the oil passageway being at
least partially defined by the second layer.
19. The lubricant system of claim 18, wherein the oil passageway is
in communication with first and second inlet passages in the
mounting portion.
20. The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the oil heat
exchanger includes a heat-exchanging-fluid inlet port and a
heat-exchanging-fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the
heat exchanger portion.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an oil heat exchanger, and
more particularly, to a stepped oil heat exchanger for a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Vehicles typically include a lubrication system that
circulates oil through an engine to lubricate moving parts therein.
Such lubrication systems may include an oil filter and an
oil-cooler. The oil filter may be operable to remove dirt, debris
and impurities from the oil. The oil-cooler may include a heat
exchanger that transfers heat from the oil to a coolant, ambient
air and/or another fluid.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one form, the present disclosure provides a lubricant
heat exchanger that may include a mounting portion and a heat
exchanger portion. The mounting portion may be configured to engage
a first end of a lubricant filter and may include a fluid passage
in fluid communication with the lubricant filter. The heat
exchanger portion may extend from the mounting portion and may be
configured to at least partially surround a circumferential surface
of the lubricant filter. The mounting portion may engage the first
end of the lubricant filter and provide fluid communication between
the heat exchanger portion and the lubricant filter. The heat
exchanger portion may include a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The
fluid inlet and outlet being fluidly isolated from the lubricant
filter.
[0004] The lubricant heat exchanger may include a coolant inlet
port and a coolant outlet port in fluid communication with the heat
exchanger portion.
[0005] The heat exchanger portion and the lubricant filter may
extend from the mounting portion in the same direction.
[0006] The lubricant filter may be mounted directly to the mounting
portion and the heat exchanger portion may be integrally formed
with the mounting portion. The mounting portion may include a
central aperture through which lubricant communicates with the
lubricant filter.
[0007] The heat exchanger portion may include a coolant passageway
and a lubricant passageway. The lubricant passageway may be in
fluid communication with the lubricant filter. The lubricant-cooler
may include first and second layers disposed directly adjacent and
in heat transfer relation with each other. The coolant passageway
and the lubricant passageway may be at least partially defined by
the second layer. The lubricant passageway may be in fluid
communication with first and second inlet passages in the mounting
portion.
[0008] In another form, the present disclosure provides a vehicle
that may include an oil reservoir, an oil filter and an oil heat
exchanger. The oil reservoir may extend downward from an engine of
the vehicle toward a ground upon which the vehicle is normally
situated. The oil filter may be in fluid communication with the oil
reservoir and may include first and second ends and a
circumferential surface disposed between the first and second ends.
The oil heat exchanger may include a heat exchanger portion and a
mounting portion. The heat exchanger portion may extend downward
from the mounting portion toward the ground. The mounting portion
may engage the first end of the oil filter such that the oil filter
extends longitudinally downward therefrom toward the ground and
provides fluid communication between the oil filter and the heat
exchanger portion. The oil reservoir may extend further toward the
ground than the oil filter such that the second end of the oil
filter is sub-flush with a bottom surface of the oil reservoir.
[0009] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure
will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and
drawings provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the
detailed description, including the disclosed embodiments and
drawings, are merely exemplary in nature intended for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention, its application or use. Thus, variations that do not
depart from the gist of the disclosure are intended to be within
the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle having a lubrication
system according to the principles of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an oil pan, oil heat
exchanger and oil filter of the lubrication system of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the oil pan, oil heat exchanger and
oil filter of FIG. 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the oil heat exchanger
according to the principles of the present disclosure;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the oil heat exchanger according to
the principles of the present disclosure; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the oil heat exchanger
and the oil filter according to the principles of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] In an exemplary embodiment and with reference to FIGS. 1-6,
a lubrication system 10 for a vehicle 12 is provided that may
include an oil reservoir or pan 14, an oil pump 16 (FIG. 1), an oil
filter 18, an oil heat exchanger 20. The oil pan 14 may contain a
volume of oil or other lubricating fluid and may be attached to an
engine 24. The oil pan 14 may be disposed generally beneath the
engine 24 (i.e., between the engine 24 and a ground upon which the
vehicle 12 is situated). The oil pump 16 can be powered by an
electric motor or a crankshaft of the engine 24, for example, and
may pump oil through the oil pan 14, the oil filter 18, the oil
heat exchanger 20, and engine 24. The oil heat exchanger 20 may be
mounted to the oil pan 14 or to the engine 24 proximate the oil pan
14, for example. The oil filter 18 may be mounted to the oil heat
exchanger 20. Oil in the oil heat exchanger 20 may be in heat
transfer relation with a fluid (e.g., a coolant, exhaust gas, etc.)
to heat or cool the oil. As will be subsequently described, the oil
heat exchanger 20 may be configured such that the oil filter 18
does not extend further toward the ground than the oil pan 14 such
that a distal end of the oil filter 18 is sub-flush with a bottom
surface 25 of the oil pan 14 to provide additional clearance
between the ground and components of the vehicle 12. A fluid pump
22 may circulate a coolant or other liquid and/or gaseous fluid
through the oil heat exchanger 20 to warm the oil or remove heat
from oil in the oil heat exchanger 20.
[0017] The oil filter 18 can be generally cylindrical and may
include a housing 26 defining a cavity 28 and having a first end
30, a second end 32 and a circumferential surface 34 extending
between the first and second ends 30, 32 (FIG. 6). A first inlet
36, a second inlet 38, and an outlet 40 may extend through the
housing 26 at the second end 32. An annular filter element 42 may
be disposed within the cavity 28 and may define a central aperture
44. The filter element 42 may be in fluid communication with the
first and second inlets 36, 38. The central aperture 44 may be
generally axially aligned with the outlet 40 and may be in
communication with the outlet 40.
[0018] The oil heat exchanger 20 may include a mounting portion 50
and a heat exchanger portion 52. The mounting portion 50 and the
heat exchanger portion 52 may be integrally formed with each other
to form a step therebetween. That is, the mounting portion 50 may
be recessed relative to the heat exchanger portion 52. In some
embodiments, the mounting portion 50 and the heat exchanger portion
52 may be distinct components that are fixed to each other for
fluid communication therebetween.
[0019] The mounting portion 50 may include first and second sides
51, 53, first and second feed passages 54, 56 and an outlet passage
58. The second end 32 of the oil filter 18 may directly or
indirectly engage the first side 51 of the mounting portion 50 such
that the first and second inlets 36, 38 of the oil filter 18 may be
in fluid communication with the first and second feed passages 54,
56, respectively. The outlet 40 of the oil filter 18 may be in
fluid communication with the outlet passage 58 of the mounting
portion 50. In some embodiments, an annular fitting 60 may engage
the outlet 40 and the outlet passage 58 (e.g., via a snap fit,
threaded engagement, etc.) to secure the oil filter 18 to the oil
heat exchanger 20. The second side 53 of the mounting portion 50
may be attached to the oil pan 14 for fluid communication
therebetween such that oil from the oil pan 14 may flow into the
first feed passage 54. The outlet passage 58 may be fluidly coupled
with the oil pan 14 and/or the engine 24 such that oil exiting the
oil heat exchanger 20 through the outlet passage 58 can flow back
to the oil pan 14 and/or the engine 24.
[0020] The mounting portion 50 may also include first, second and
third plates 62, 64, 66. The first and second plates 62, 64 may
cooperate to form an oil-supply passage 68 therebetween. The second
and third plates 64, 66 may cooperate to form an oil-return passage
70 therebetween. The first, second and third plates 62, 64, 66 and
the oil-supply and oil-return passages 68, 70 may extend into
and/or form a part of the heat exchanger portion 52.
[0021] The heat exchanger portion 52 may extend from the mounting
portion 50 and may define an arcuate portion 72 that may at least
partially surround the circumferential surface 34 of the oil filter
18 and the first side 51 of the mounting portion 50. The heat
exchanger portion 52 may include a plurality of fourth plates 74
that may cooperate to form a plurality of oil-circulation passages
76 and a plurality of fluid-circulation passages 78. The plurality
of fourth plates 74 may be stacked or layered relative to each
other such that the oil-circulation and fluid-circulation passages
76, 78 are arranged in an alternating sequence. That is, each one
of the fluid-circulation passages 78 may be disposed directly
between adjacent oil-circulation passages 76. All of the
oil-circulation passages 76 may be in fluid communication with each
other and with the oil-supply passage 68 and the oil-return passage
70 via a plurality of oil-communication passages 80 (FIGS. 5 and 6)
that may extend substantially perpendicular relative to the
passages 68, 70, 76. In this manner, the oil pump 16, the oil pan
14, the oil-supply passage 68, the oil filter 18, the oil-return
passage 70, the oil circulation passages 76, and the
oil-communication passages 80 may cooperate to form an oil circuit.
In another embodiment, the fluid-circulation passages 76, 78 may be
integrated into the mounting portion 50 of the cooler.
[0022] All of the fluid-circulation passages 78 may be in fluid
communication with each other via a plurality of
fluid-communication passages 82 (FIG. 5) that may extend
substantially perpendicular relative to the fluid-circulation
passages 78. A fluid inlet port 84 and a fluid outlet port 86 may
extend from the heat exchanger portion 52 and may be in fluid
communication with the fluid-circulation passages 78, the
fluid-communication passages 82, and the fluid pump 22. The fluid
pump 22 may be fluidly coupled with the fluid inlet and outlet
ports 84, 86 via fluid conduits 88 (FIG. 1). In this manner, the
fluid pump 22, the fluid inlet and outlet ports 84, 86, the
fluid-circulation passages 78, the fluid-communication passages 82
and the fluid conduits 88 may cooperate to form a fluid circuit
that is fluidly isolated from the oil circuit. While the
fluid-circulation passages 78 and the fluid-communication passages
82 may be fluidly isolated from the oil-circulation passages 76,
the oil-communication passages 80, the oil-supply passage 68 and
the oil-return passage 70, fluid flowing through the
fluid-circulation passages 78 may transfer heat to or absorb heat
from oil flowing through the oil-circulation passages 76. In some
embodiments, the fluid circuit could include a radiator, coolant
passages in the engine 24, an engine-exhaust conduit, and/or other
components in communication with the oil heat exchanger 20.
[0023] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-6, operation of the
lubrication system 10 will be described in detail. The oil pump 16
may circulate oil or any other lubricant between the oil pan 14 and
the engine 24 to cool and lubricate moving parts within the engine
24. The oil heat exchanger 20 may receive a portion of the oil in
the oil pan 14. This oil may be pumped from the oil pan 14 to the
first feed passages 54. From the first feed passage 54, a first
portion of the oil may flow into first inlet 36 of the oil filter
18 and a second portion of the oil may flow into the first
oil-supply passage 68. From the first inlet 36, the first portion
of the oil may flow into the filter element 42, where dirt, debris
and/or impurities may be removed therefrom.
[0024] The second portion of the oil may flow from the first
oil-supply passage 68, into the plurality of oil-circulation
passages 76 and the oil-communication passages 80 in the heat
exchanger portion 52. From the oil-circulation passages 76 and
oil-communication passages 80, the second portion of the oil may
flow through the oil-return passage 70 to the second feed passage
56 in the mounting portion. From the second feed passage 56, the
second portion of the oil may flow into the second inlet 38 in the
oil filter 18 and into the filter element 42.
[0025] Dirt, debris and/or other impurities may be filtered from
the oil as the oil flows through the filter element 42. From the
filter element 42, the first and second portions of the oil may
flow into the central aperture 44, through the outlet passage 58,
and back to the engine 24 and/or the oil pan 14.
[0026] While the oil is being pumped throughout the engine 24, oil
pan 14, oil filter 18 and oil heat exchanger 20, fluid may be
pumped by the fluid pump 22 to the inlet port 84 and into the
fluid-circulation passages 78. Fluid flowing through the
fluid-circulation passages 78 may transfer heat to or absorb heat
from the oil in the oil-circulation passages 76. From the
fluid-circulation passages 78, the fluid may flow out of the oil
heat exchanger 20 through the outlet port 86. In some embodiments,
the fluid may flow from the outlet port 86 to coolant passages (not
shown) in the engine 24 and/or other vehicle components to absorb
heat therefrom. Additionally or alternatively, the fluid may flow
to a radiator (not show) or other heat exchanger to transfer heat
from the fluid to ambient air, for example. The fluid may then
return to the fluid pump 22. In other embodiments, relatively hot
coolant from the coolant passages in the engine 24 may flow from
the engine 24 to the oil heat exchanger 20 to transfer heat from
the coolant to the oil in the oil heat exchanger 20.
[0027] In some embodiments, the fluid inlet and outlet ports 84,
86, the fluid-circulation passages 78, the fluid-communication
passages 82 and the fluid conduits 88 may form a fluid circuit in
fluid communication with an exhaust system (not shown) associated
with the engine 24. In such embodiments, relatively warm exhaust
gas from the exhaust system may be selectively supplied to the
inlet port 84. The exhaust gas may then flow through the oil heat
exchanger 20 and transfer heat to oil therein, thereby warming the
oil. It will be appreciated that other liquid and/or gaseous fluids
could be supplied to the fluid circuit to heat or cool the oil in
the oil heat exchanger 20.
[0028] As described above, the first side 51 of the mounting
portion 50 may be recessed relative to the heat exchanger portion
52, and the arcuate portion 72 may extend at least partially around
the circumferential surface 34 of the oil filter 18. This
configuration allows the oil filter 18 to be mounted directly to
the oil heat exchanger 20 without the need for an adapter or oil
tubes that extend between prior art oil filters and oil-coolers.
Furthermore, mounting the oil filter 18 to the first side 51 of the
mounting portion 50 may allow the oil filter 18 to be sub-flush
with the bottom surface 25 of the oil pan 14 (as shown in FIG. 2).
That is, the oil pan 14 may extend downward toward the ground upon
which the vehicle 12 is normally situated further than the oil
filter 18. In this manner, the structure of the oil heat exchanger
20 may provide additional ground-clearance for the vehicle 12,
which may be especially advantageous for off-road and/or
all-terrain vehicles, such as sport-utility vehicles, for
example.
[0029] While the lubrication system 10 is described above as
filtering, cooling or heating, and circulating oil, it will be
appreciated that the oil filter 18 and/or oil heat exchanger 20
could be used to filter and heat or cool any type of lubricant or
any other fluid. Furthermore, while the oil heat exchanger 20 is
described above as receiving coolant therein to absorb heat from
the lubricant, in some embodiments, water or any other fluid may be
used to absorb heat from the lubricant in addition to or in the
alternative to the coolant. It will be appreciated that in some
embodiments, the oil filter 18 and/or the oil heat exchanger 20
could be integrated into a lubrication system of any type of land,
marine and/or aerial vehicle, for example, or any other machine or
device.
* * * * *