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.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates to an oil heat exchanger, and more particularly, to a stepped oil heat exchanger for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

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

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.

The lubricant heat exchanger may include a coolant inlet port and a coolant outlet port in fluid communication with the heat exchanger portion.

The heat exchanger portion and the lubricant filter may extend from the mounting portion in the same direction.

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.

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.

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.

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

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle having a lubrication system according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an oil pan, oil heat exchanger and oil filter of the lubrication system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the oil pan, oil heat exchanger and oil filter of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the oil heat exchanger according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the oil heat exchanger according to the principles of the present disclosure; and

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.