Oil pan design for drawing two sumps from a single drain plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016130995-A1
Application number	US-201414535842-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Oil pan assemblies and methods of draining oil pans are disclosed. An example oil pan assembly includes an oil pan defining first and second sumps. The first sump has a first lower surface and the second sump has a second lower surface. The second lower surface is elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface. The oil pan assembly also includes a siphon tube extending from an inlet positioned in the second sump to an outlet positioned proximate a drain hole in the first sump. The siphon tube is configured to automatically transmit oil from the second sump to the first sump upon oil being drained from the drain hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An oil pan assembly, comprising:
an oil pan defining first and second sumps, the first sump having a first lower surface, the second sump having a second lower surface, the second lower surface elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface; and a siphon tube extending from an inlet positioned in the second sump to an outlet positioned proximate a drain hole in the first sump, the siphon tube configured to automatically transmit oil from the second sump to the first sump upon oil being drained from the drain hole.

2 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the siphon tube is configured to operate as a self-priming siphon to transmit oil from the second sump to the first sump.

3 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the oil pan consists of a single drain hole.

4 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the siphon tube includes a first segment positioned in the first sump, a second segment positioned in the second sump, and a third segment connecting the first and second segments, the third segment extending over a raised portion of the oil pan between the first and second sumps, wherein the first segment defines the outlet and the second segment defines the inlet.

5 . The oil pan assembly of claim 4 , wherein the siphon tube is configured such that, upon oil being drained from the drain hole, oil within the first segment flows out of the first segment and causes a pressure reduction in the second segment, the pressure reduction causing oil within the second segment to flow through the third segment and into the first segment, wherein oil within the second sump continues to flow through the second segment, the third segment, and the first segment until a level of oil within the second sump falls below the inlet.

6 . The oil pan assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first segment is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis.

7 . The oil pan assembly of claim 4 , wherein the second segment is positioned at a non-zero angle relative to the vertical axis.

8 . The oil pan assembly of claim 4 , wherein the third segment is welded to the raised portion.

9 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outlet is shaped at an angle such that the outlet is substantially parallel with the first lower surface.

10 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is shaped at an angle such that the inlet is substantially parallel with the second lower surface.

11 . The oil pan assembly of claim 1 , wherein the siphon tube includes a first segment positioned in the first sump, a second segment positioned in the second sump, a third segment connecting the first and second segments and extending over a raised portion of the oil pan between the first and second sumps, a fourth segment extending from the first segment within the first sump, and a fifth segment extending from the second segment within the second sump, wherein the fourth segment defines the outlet and the fifth segment defines the inlet.

12 . The oil pan assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first and second segments are substantially parallel with the vertical axis, and wherein the fourth and fifth segments are substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis.

13 . The oil pan assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outlet is shaped at an angle so as to discharge oil towards the drain hole.

14 . The oil pan assembly of claim 12 , wherein the outlet includes a plurality of drainage holes positioned above the drain hole.

15 . An oil pan assembly, comprising:
an oil pan defining first and second sumps, the first sump having a first lower surface, the second sump having a second lower surface, the second lower surface elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface; a suction tube positioned within the first sump; a siphon tube including a first segment positioned within the first sump, a second segment positioned within the second sump, and a third segment fluidly coupling the first and second segments; a crossover tube fluidly coupling the suction tube and the siphon tube; and an oil pump operatively coupled to the suction tube, the oil pump configured to cause a pressure differential within each of the suction tube and the siphon tube to draw a fluid through each of the suction tube and the siphon tube.

16 . The oil pan assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first segment of the siphon tube includes an outlet, and wherein the fluid to be drawn through the siphon tube is to be discharged into the first sump through the outlet.

17 . The oil pan assembly of claim 15 , wherein the fluid to be drawn through the siphon tube is to be discharged into the suction tube via the crossover tube.

18 . The oil pan assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first sump includes a drain hole, and wherein the oil pump is configured to transfer oil from within the second sump to the first sump to facilitate draining of the oil from the second sump through the drain hole.

19 . A method for draining oil from an oil pan having first and second sumps, comprising:
removing a drain plug from a drain hole in the first sump; collecting oil that is drained from the drain hole; and causing a pressure imbalance within a siphon tube so as to cause oil within the second sump to pass through the siphon tube and into the first sump.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the causing of the pressure imbalance occurs automatically upon the removing of the drain plug.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first sump defines a first lower surface and the second sump defines a second lower surface, the second lower surface elevated along a vertical axis relative to the first lower surface.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the siphon tube includes a first segment positioned in the first sump, a second segment positioned in the second sump, and a third segment connecting the first and second segments, the third segment extending over a raised portion of the oil pan between the first and second sumps, wherein the first segment defines an outlet and the second segment defines an inlet.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein, the pressure imbalance includes a pressure reduction in the second segment, the pressure reduction causing oil within the second segment to flow through the third segment and into the first segment, wherein oil within the second sump continues to flow through the second segment, the third segment, and the first segment until a level of oil within the second sump falls below the inlet.

24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the oil pan consists of a single drain hole.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• England Roger D
• Ellison Zack D
• Kahlenbeck James D
• Irish Reid
• Quanz Peter Thomas
• Martin Jonathan W

Classifications

• F01M2011/0416

  Plugs · CPC title

• F01M2011/0037

  with different oil compartments · CPC title

• F01M11/045

  Removing lubricant by suction · CPC title

• F01M11/0004

  Oilsumps · CPC title

• F01M11/0408 Primary

  Sump drainage devices, e.g. valves, plugs · CPC title