Description:AN ENGINE OIL STRAINER STRUCTURE INTEGRATED WITH AN ENGINE OIL RETURN CIRCUIT
[0001] The present subject matter, in general, relates to an engine oil strainer in an engine, in particular, the present subject matter relates to an engine oil retainer structure integrated with an engine oil return circuit.

BACKGROUND
[0002] In existing engines, oil pump receives oil from an oil sump via a strainer and supplies the same by pressurizing, to multiple galleries for lubrication of engine parts. After lubricating moving parts, oil is collected in cylinder head and is returned to oil sump through galleries carved in cylinder head and cylinder block oil known as return circuit.
[0003] Fig. 1 illustrates a line diagram 100 depicting an oil gallery circuit 102 in an engine, in accordance with an existing prior art. Upon a lubrication of engine parts, return oil is returned and collected in an oil sump.
[0004] However, this leads to a number of disadvantages. Oil pump pressure increases with increase in engine rpm which leads to more oil in cylinder head. Thus, oil with more force return to oil sump leading to splashing of oil which accelerates oil aeration. During oil in circulation in running condition of engine, oil level in engine gets reduced, which sometimes lead to sucking of air, reducing the lubricating efficiency of engine. Moreover, depth of oil in oil sump is directly proportional to force required by oil pump, thus force gets increased with increased rpm of engine.
[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed below.
[0007] It is a general or primary object of the present subject matter to provide an engine oil strainer structure integrated with an oil return circuit in an engine.
[0008] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide the engine oil strainer structure that receives return engine oil from the oil return circuit.
[0009] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide the engine oil strainer structure that receives the return engine oil and increases an efficiency of an oil pump in lubricating moving parts of the engine.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to an engine oil strainer structure. The engine oil strainer structure including an engine oil strainer configured to receive engine oil from an oil sump and supply the engine oil to an oil pump. The engine oil is supplied through a plurality of galleries to one or more moving engine parts by the oil pump, characterized in that, the engine oil strainer structure having a bridge structure permanently fixed with the engine oil strainer, attached to an oil return circuit for receiving return engine oil from the oil return circuit.
[0012] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the engine oil strainer further comprises a first end dipped in the oil sump containing the engine oil, and a second end attached to the oil pump for supplying the engine oil from the oil sump to the oil pump.
[0013] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the oil return circuit includes a plurality of first cylinder head pipes having a plurality of carved return galleries configured to pass the return engine oil, between a first side attached to a cylinder head oil reserve area from one side, and a second side. The oil return circuit includes a second cylinder head pipe having a plurality of carved return galleries configured to pass the return engine oil, between a top side attached to the cylinder head oil reserve area from another side, and a bottom side. The bottom side is attached to the oil sump for passing the return engine oil to the oil sump. The oil return circuit also includes a first cylinder block pipe including a receiving port configured to receive the return engine oil from the second side via the plurality of carved galleries and supply the return engine oil, and a cylinder block pipe configured to receive the return engine oil from the receiving port and supply the return engine oil to the bridge structure. The oil return circuit further includes a second cylinder block pipe including a top end attached to the bottom side and configured to receive the return engine oil via the plurality of carved galleries and supply the return engine oil, and a bottom end configured to receive the return engine oil from the top end and supply the return engine oil to the oil sump.
[0014] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the bridge structure is an inclined surface including a front end connected to the engine oil strainer, a rear end extending away from the front end, and a pipe extending in an upwards direction from the rear end to be connected with a cylinder head pipe via a first cylinder block pipe for receiving the return engine oil.
[0015] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the engine oil supplied to the one or more moving parts is used for lubrication of the one or more moving parts.
[0016] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the oil pump creates a pressure for supplying the engine oil to the one or more moving parts via the plurality of galleries.
[0017] In an aspect of the present subject matter, the plurality of galleries includes a main gallery configured to receive the engine oil from the oil pump and supply the engine oil to the one or more moving parts and other galleries amongst the plurality of galleries, a plurality of auxiliary galleries configured to receive the engine oil from the main gallery. The plurality of auxiliary galleries supplies the engine oil to the one or more moving parts. The plurality of galleries also includes a connecting gallery configured to connect the main gallery with the plurality of auxiliary galleries. The connecting gallery receives the engine oil from the main gallery and supplies the engine oil to the one or more moving parts and the plurality of auxiliary galleries
[0018] In an aspect of the present subject matter, supplying the return engine oil to the engine oil strainer increases an efficiency of the oil pump in supplying the engine oil to the one or more parts.
[0019] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a line diagram depicting an oil gallery circuit in an engine, in accordance with an existing prior art;
[0022] Fig. 2 illustrates a line diagram depicting an engine oil strainer structure in a connection with an oil pump in an engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;
[0023] Fig. 3 illustrates a line diagram depicting the engine oil strainer structure integrated with the oil return circuit, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0024] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the engine oil strainer structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0026] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0027] Fig. 2 illustrates a line diagram 200 depicting an engine oil strainer structure 202 in a connection with an oil pump in an engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may be configured to provide engine oil to the oil pump that may be used for a lubrication of one or more moving parts of the engine. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may further be configured to receive return engine oil once the lubrication of the one or more moving parts is complete.
[0028] In accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter, the engine oil strainer structure 202 may be integrated with an oil return circuit 204 in order to receive return engine oil from the oil return circuit 204 after the lubrication of the one or more moving parts of the engine. The oil return circuit 204 may be configured to supply the return engine oil to both the engine oil strainer structure 202 and the oil sump. In a preferred embodiment of the present subject matter, the engine oil strainer structure 202 may be a one-piece structure that may be attached with the oil return circuit 204 such that an entire assembly of the engine oil strainer structure 202 and the oil return circuit 204 may act as a one-piece structure.
[0029] The engine oil strainer structure 202 disclosed in the present subject matter may be configured to receive the return engine oil in order to increase an efficiency of the oil pump in supplying the engine oil to the one or more moving parts of the engine. The engine oil in a cylinder head pipe of the oil return circuit 204 is in a stable condition due to a stabilization time. The engine oil in the cylinder head pipe may receive the stabilization time due to a low efficiency of oil return circuit 204 as the oil return circuit 204 uses natural gravity as a force to drive the engine oil towards the engine oil strainer structure 202.
[0030] Continuing with the above embodiment, the engine oil strainer structure 202 may include an engine oil strainer 206 and a bridge structure 208 permanently attached to the engine oil strainer 206. The engine oil strainer 206 may be in connection with the oil sump and the oil pump for supplying the engine oil from the oil sump to the oil pump. One end of the engine oil strainer 206 may be dipped in the oil sump while another end may be connected to a receiving pipe of the oil pump. The oil pump may further be configured to supply the engine oil to the one or more moving parts of the engine in order to lubricate the one or more moving parts. The engine oil may be supplied to the one or more moving parts via a number of galleries in the engine. The number of galleries may include a main gallery, a number of auxiliary galleries, and a connecting gallery. The oil pump may create a pressure for supplying the engine oil to the one or more moving parts via the plurality of galleries.
[0031] To that understanding, the bridge structure 208 may be an inclined surface horizontally attached to the engine oil strainer 206 at an angle. The bridge structure 208 may be configured to be attached to oil return circuit 204 for receiving the return engine oil after the lubrication of the one or more moving parts is complete. The bridge structure 208 may be attached to the oil return circuit via one or more fasteners. The bridge structure 208 may include a pipe extending in an upwards direction and attached to the oil return circuit 204 for receiving the return engine oil.
[0032] Fig. 3 illustrates a line diagram 300 depicting the engine oil strainer structure 202 integrated with an oil return circuit 204, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may be a multi functionary one-piece structure vital in a processing of lubricating one or more moving engine parts. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may be configured to supply engine oil for lubrication of the one or more moving parts to the oil pump 303 and may further be configured to receive return engine oil from the oil return circuit 204 once the lubrication of the one or more moving parts is complete. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may include the engine oil strainer 206 and the bridge structure 208 as referred in the fig. 2.
[0033] Continuing with the above embodiment, the engine oil strainer 206 may be configured to provide the engine oil to the oil pump 303 for the lubrication of the one or more moving parts while the bridge structure 208 may be configured to receive the return engine oil from the oil return circuit 204. The engine oil strainer 206 may include a first end 302 and a second end 304. The first end 302 may be dipped in the oil sump and the second end 304 may be attached to the oil pump 303 so as to provide the engine to the oil pump 303 from the oil sump. The engine oil may be supplied to the one or more moving parts via a number of galleries 308 in the engine. The number of galleries 308 may include a main gallery 308a, a number of auxiliary galleries 308b, and a connecting gallery 308c. The main gallery 308a may be configured to receive the engine oil from the oil pump 303 and may further be configured to supply the engine oil to the connecting gallery 308c, the number of auxiliary galleries 308b, and the one or more moving parts of the engine. The number of auxiliary galleries 308b may be configured to receive the engine oil from the main gallery 308a via the connecting gallery 308c. The number of auxiliary galleries 308b may be configured to supply the engine oil to the one or more moving parts. The connecting gallery 308c may be configured to connect the main gallery 208a with the number of auxiliary galleries 208b and may further supply the engine oil to the number of auxiliary galleries 308b and the one or more moving parts. The oil pump 303 may create a pressure for supplying the engine oil to the one or more moving parts via the number of galleries 308.
[0034] In particular, the second end 304 of the engine oil strainer 206 may be attached to the oil pump 303 while the first end 302 is dipped in the oil sump. Moving forward, the bridge structure 208 may include a front end 310 and a rear end 312 extending away from the front end 310. The front end 310 may be attached to the engine oil strainer 206 at the outer surface of the first end 302 while the rear end 312 may be attached to oil return circuit 204. The rear end 312 of the bridge structure 208 may include a pipe 314 extending in an upwards direction configured to receive the return engine oil from the oil return circuit 204. The pipe 314 may be extending from the rear end 312 of the bridge structure 208 and may be attached with the oil return circuit 204. The bridge structure 208 may be receiving the return engine oil upon the lubrication of the one or more parts.
[0035] The oil return circuit 204 may include a plurality of first cylinder head pipes 316, a second cylinder pipe 317, and a first cylinder block pipe 320, and a second cylinder block pipe 322. The plurality of first cylinder head pipes 316 may include a first side 316a, and a second side 316b. The first side 316a may be attached to a cylinder head oil reservoir area 318 for receiving the return engine oil upon the lubrication. Further second end 304 may be connected to the first cylinder block pipe 320. The plurality of cylinder head pipes 316 may include a number of carved return galleries between the first side 316a and the second side 316b, configured to pass the return engine oil from the cylinder head oil reservoir area 318 to the bridge structure 208 via the first cylinder block pipe 320. The second cylinder head pipe 317 may include a top side 317a, and a bottom side 317b. The second cylinder head pipe 317 may include a number craved return galleries between the top side 317a, and the bottom side 317b, configured to pass the return engine oil from the cylinder head oil reservoir area 318 to the oil sump via the second cylinder block pipe 322.
[0036] The first cylinder block pipe 320 may include a receiving port 320a, and a cylinder block pipe 320b. The receiving port 320a may be configured to receive the return engine oil from the second side 316b of the plurality of first cylinder head pipes 316 via the number of carved galleries and may further be configured to pass the return engine oil to the cylinder block pipe 320b. The cylinder block pipe 320b may be configured to further supply the return engine oil to the bridge structure 208 via the pipe 314. The pipe 314 may be connected with the plurality of cylinder head pipes 316 via the first cylinder block pipe 320 for receiving the return engine oil.
[0037] In furtherance, the second cylinder block pipe 322 may be configured to pass the return engine oil from the cylinder head oil reserve area 318 to the oil sump. The second cylinder block pipe 322 may include a top end 322a, and a bottom end 322b. The top end 322a may be attached to the bottom side 317b, and the bottom end 322b may be attached to the oil sump. The top end 322a may be configured to receive the return engine oil via the number of carved galleries from the bottom side 317b and supply the return engine oil further ahead. The bottom end 322b may be configured to receive the return engine oil and supply the return engine oil to the oil sump.
[0038] Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view 400 of the engine oil strainer structure 202, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The engine oil strainer 206 and the bridge structure 208 of the engine oil strainer structure 202 may be configured to be attached to an oil pump and the oil return circuit and may be sealed via an 0-ring 402 configured to seal each component with the other component. The engine oil strainer structure 202 may be attached to an engine via a nut 404, a first bolt 406 and a washer 408. The engine oil strainer 206 may be attached to the engine via a second bolt 410.
[0039] The engine oil strainer structure 202 disclosed in the present subject matter includes a number of advantages such as:
a. A force required by an oil pump 303 may get reduced due to a reduction in potential depth of oil for suction, improving efficiency of oil pump 303.
b. The suction force of oil pump 303 may help in a fast return of oil and thus improves oil level while engine running.
c. It will reduce the oil aeration of engine due to reduction in splashing of oil with oil film in oil sump and feeding of oil from return circuit.
d. Even in case of low oil level during engine running at high rpm, oil in circulation gets increased, the oil pump in proposed solution always have oil for suction, reducing probability of air suction which will maintain overall lubricating efficiency of engine.
[0040] While the detailed description describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions, or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
, Claims:We claim:
1. An engine oil strainer structure (202), comprising:

an engine oil strainer (206) configured to receive engine oil from an oil sump and supply the engine oil to an oil pump (303), wherein the engine oil is supplied through a plurality of galleries to one or more moving engine parts by the oil pump (303),
characterized in that,
the engine oil strainer structure (202) having a bridge structure (208) permanently fixed with the engine oil strainer (206), attached to an oil return circuit (204) for receiving return engine oil from the oil return circuit (204).

2. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engine oil strainer (206) further comprises:

a first end (302) dipped in the oil sump containing the engine oil; and
a second end (304) attached to the oil pump (303) for supplying the engine oil from the oil sump to the oil pump (303).

3. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil return circuit (204) comprises:

a plurality of first cylinder head pipes (316) having a plurality of carved return galleries configured to pass the return engine oil, between a first side (316a) attached to a cylinder head oil reserve area (318) from one side, and a second side (316b);

a second cylinder head pipe (317) having a plurality of carved return galleries configured to pass the return engine oil, between a top side (317a) attached to the cylinder head oil reserve area (318) from another side, and a bottom side (317b); wherein the bottom side (317b) is attached to the oil sump for passing the return engine oil to the oil sump;

a first cylinder block pipe (320) comprising:

a receiving port (320a) configured to receive the return engine oil from the second side (316b) via the plurality of carved galleries and supply the return engine oil; and
a cylinder block pipe (320b) configured to receive the return engine oil from the receiving port (320a) and supply the return engine oil to the bridge structure (208); and

a second cylinder block pipe (322) comprising:
a top end (322a) attached to the bottom side (317b) and configured to receive the return engine oil via the plurality of carved galleries and supply the return engine oil; and
a bottom end (322b) configured to receive the return engine oil from the top end (322a) and supply the return engine oil to the oil sump.

4. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bridge structure (208) is an inclined surface comprising:
a front end (310) connected to the engine oil strainer (206);
a rear end (312) extending away from the front end (310); and
a pipe (314) extending in an upwards direction from the rear end (312) to be connected with a cylinder head pipe (316) via a first cylinder block pipe (320) for receiving the return engine oil.

5. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engine oil supplied to the one or more moving parts is used for lubrication of the one or more moving parts.
6. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the oil pump (303) creates a pressure for supplying the engine oil to the one or more moving parts via the plurality of galleries (308).

7. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of galleries (308) comprises:

a main gallery (308a) configured to receive the engine oil from the oil pump (303) and supply the engine oil to the one or more moving parts and other galleries amongst the plurality of galleries (308);
a plurality of auxiliary galleries (308b) configured to receive the engine oil from the main gallery (308a), wherein the plurality of auxiliary galleries (308b) supplies the engine oil to the one or more moving parts; and
a connecting gallery (308c) configured to connect the main gallery (308a) with the plurality of auxiliary galleries (308b), wherein the connecting gallery (308c) receives the engine oil from the main gallery (308a) and supplies the engine oil to the one or more moving parts and the plurality of auxiliary galleries (308b).

8. The engine oil strainer structure (202) as claimed in claim 1, wherein supplying the return engine oil to the engine oil strainer (206) increases an efficiency of the oil pump (303) in supplying the engine oil to the one or more parts.