FLOW PATH STRUCTURE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority of the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-191052, filed on Oct. 30, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a flow path structure.

BACKGROUND

There is a flow path structure in which a face seal member and a shaft seal member are provided for a single flow path (for example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2017-051062).

For two flow paths, two face seals and two shaft seals are required. Thus, the number of parts increases.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a flow path structure in which an increase in the number of components is suppressed.

The above object is achieved by a flow path structure including: a first member; a second member that defines, together with the first member, first and second flow paths adjacent to each other through which cooling water for cooling an engine flows; a single face seal member; and a single shaft seal member, wherein the first member includes a first defining portion that partially defines the first flow path and a second defining portion that partially defines the second flow path, the second member includes a third defining portion that partially defines the first flow path and a fourth defining portion that partially defines the second flow path, the single face seal member is disposed between the first and third defining portions, the second and fourth defining portions are fitted to each other, and the single shaft seal member is disposed between the second and fourth defining portions.

The flow path structure may further include first and second fastening members that fasten the first and second members, wherein the first and second fastening members may be located away from each other, and the second and fourth defining portions may be located away from each of the first and second fastening members.

The flow path structure may further include a water temperature sensor, wherein the first member may include: first and second pipes respectively communicating with the first and second flow paths; and a third pipe defining a third flow path communicating the first flow path and the second flow path, and the water temperature sensor may be attached to the third pipe and may detect a temperature of the cooling water flowing through the third flow path.

The first flow path may allow the cooling water to flow from a heater core to the engine, the second flow path may allow the cooling water to flow from the engine to the heater core, the third flow path may allow the cooling water to flow from the second flow path to the first flow path, and the second member may be a cylinder head of the engine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an engine;

FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating the periphery of a cover member; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view of an engine 1. The engine 1 includes a cylinder block 2, a cylinder head 3, an oil pan 4, and a crankshaft 5. The cylinder head 3 is disposed on the cylinder block 2. The oil pan 4 is disposed below the cylinder block 2. The crankshaft 5 is rotatably supported by the cylinder block 2 and the oil pan 4. The engine 1 is mounted on a vehicle, for example, as a traveling power source.

A cover member 6 is attached to a side surface of the cylinder head 3. The cover member 6 guides the cooling water from a heater core 9 to a flow path in the engine 1 and guides the cooling water from the engine 1 to the heater core 9, which will be described in detail later. In the heater core 9, heat is exchanged between the cooling water and the air in the vehicle interior. Thus, the air in the vehicle interior is warmed.

A water stop valve 10 is disposed on a path through which the cooling water flows from the cover member 6 to the heater core 9. When the water stop valve 10 is opened, the cooling water is allowed to flow from the cover member 6 to the heater core 9. When the water stop valve 10 is closed, the cooling water is restricted from flowing from the cover member 6 to the heater core 9. The opening and closing of the water stop valve 10 is controlled by a control device that controls the driving of the engine 1. The cooling water is circulated through the engine 1 and the heater core 9 by, for example, a mechanical water pump driven by the rotation of the crankshaft 5. FIG. 2 is an external view illustrating the periphery of the cover member 6. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 illustrates a flow path structure defined by the cover member 6 and the cylinder head 3. The flow path structure in the present embodiment is defined by the cover member 6 and the cylinder head 3. The cover member 6 is an example of a first member. The cylinder head 3 is an example of a second member. The cover member 6 includes a base portion 61, a first defining portion 62, a first pipe 63, a second defining portion 64, a second pipe 65, a third pipe 66, and an attachment pipe 67. The cylinder head 3 includes a third defining portion 32 and a fourth defining portion 34.

The base portion 61 is a plate having a predetermined thickness. The first defining portion 62 is formed so as to protrude upward from the base portion 61 in FIG. 3. The second defining portion 64 is raised upward from the base portion 61 and extends downward from the base portion 61 in a substantially cylindrical shape in FIG. 3. The first defining portion 62 and the second defining portion 64 are integrally adjacent to each other. An inner surface 621 is formed inside the first defining portion 62. The inner surface 621 is open in the lower surface of the base portion 61. An inner surface 641 is formed inside the second defining portion 64.

The first pipe 63 is provided so as to be connected to the first defining portion 62. An opening edge 631 at the base end of the first pipe 63 is formed on the inner surface 621. In this way, the first pipe 63 communicates with the first defining portion 62. The second pipe 65 is provided so as to be connected to the second defining portion 64. An opening edge 651 at the base end of the second pipe 65 is formed on the inner surface 641. In this way, the second pipe 65 communicates with the second defining portion 64. The distal end of the first pipe 63 is connected to the heater core 9 via a hose or a pipe. The distal end of the second pipe 65 is connected to the heater core 9 via a hose or a pipe.

An inner surface 321 is formed inside the third defining portion 32. The inner surface 321 is connected to the inner surface 621. Therefore, a first flow path R1 is defined by the inner surface 321 of the third defining portion 32 and the inner surface 621 of the first defining portion 62. An inner surface 341 is formed inside the fourth defining portion 34. The inner surface 341 is not continuous with the inner surface 321. The inner surface 341 is connected to the inner surface 641. Therefore, a second flow path R2 is defined by the inner surface 341 of the fourth defining portion 34 and the inner surface 641 of the second defining portion 64. Each of the inner surfaces 321 and 341 extends into the cylinder head 3 in the front or depth direction of the paper in FIG. 3. The cooling water from the heater core 9 flows from the first pipe 63 through the first flow path R1 into the cylinder head 3. The cooling water from the cylinder head 3 flows from the second flow path R2 to the heater core 9 via the second pipe 65.

The third pipe 66 is formed between the first defining portion 62 and the second defining portion 64. An inner surface 661 is formed inside the third pipe 66. The inner surface 661 is continuous with the inner surface 621 and the inner surface 641. In this way, the third pipe 66 communicates with the first defining portion 62 and the second defining portion 64. The third pipe 66 defines a third flow path R1 that communicates the first flow path R2 and the second flow path R3. Therefore, a part of the cooling water flows from the second flow path R2 to the first flow path R3 via the third flow path R1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the attachment pipe 67 is connected to the third pipe 66. A water temperature sensor S is attached to the attachment pipe 67. That is, the water temperature sensor S is attached to the third pipe 66 via the attachment pipe 67. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a tip Se of the water temperature sensor S is exposed from the inner surface 661. Therefore, the water temperature sensor S detects the temperature of the cooling water flowing through the third flow path R3, in other words, the temperature of the cooling water discharged from the cylinder head 3 of the engine 1. In this way, the water temperature sensor S is attached to the cover member 6, and the functions are integrated. The detection value of the water temperature sensor S is output to the control device that controls the driving of the engine 1.

When the water stop valve 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is closed, the flow of the cooling water from the cover member 6 to the heater core 9 is regulated as described above. However, the flow from the second flow path R2 to the first flow path R1 via the third flow path R3 is allowed. Therefore, even when the water stop valve 10 is closed, the cooling water circulates in the engine 1. Further, even when the water stop valve 10 is closed, the cooling water flows through the third flow path R3, and thus the temperature of the cooling water is detected by the water temperature sensor S.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first defining portion 62 has a disc surface 622. The disc surface 622 is formed around the opening end of the inner surface 621, and is flat and substantially disc-shaped. The third defining portion 32 has a disc surface 322. The disc surface 322 is formed around the opening end of the inner surface 321, and is flat and substantially disc-shaped. The disc surface 622 and the disc surface 322 are in surface contact with each other. A single face seal member FS is disposed between the disc face 622 and the disc surface 322. The face seal member FS is made of annular rubber. The face seal member FS is a single member. That is, a plurality of surface seal members are not disposed between the disc surface 622 and the disc surface 322. In detail, the surface seal member FS is disposed in a recess 623 which is formed in the disk surface 622 and extends in a circular shape. This suppresses the leakage of the cooling water from the first flow path R1 to the outside.

A cylindrical portion of the second defining portion 64 below the base portion 61 is fitted into the fourth defining portion 34. The second defining portion 64 has an outer peripheral surface 642. The outer peripheral surface 642 is substantially cylindrical. The fourth defining portion 34 has an inner peripheral surface 342. The inner peripheral surface 342 is substantially cylindrical. The inner peripheral surface 342 is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface 642. A single shaft seal member SS is disposed between the inner peripheral surface 342 and the outer peripheral surface 642. The shaft seal member SS is made of annular rubber. Specifically, the shaft seal member SS is disposed in a recess 643 that is formed in the outer peripheral surface 642 and extends in a circular shape. The shaft seal member SS is a single member. That is, a plurality of shaft seal members are not disposed between the inner peripheral surface 342 and the outer peripheral surface 642. This suppresses the leakage of the cooling water from the second flow path R2 to the outside.

As described above, the single face seal member FS is provided for the first flow path R1, and the single shaft seal member SS is provided for the second flow path R2. That is, only two sealing members are provided in the present embodiment. For example, the number of components is reduced in the present embodiment as compared with a case where the face seal member FS and the shaft seal member SS are provided for the first flow path R1 and the face seal member FS and the shaft seal member SS are similarly provided for the second flow path R2. Further, since the number of parts is reduced in this way, the cover member 6 is miniaturized.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cover member 6 is fastened to the cylinder head 3 by the fastening members B1 and B2. Each of the fastening members B1 and B2 is a bolt that penetrates the base portion 61 and is screwed into a hole formed in the cylinder head 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second defining portion 64 is fitted to the fourth defining portion 34, whereby the cover member 6 is fastened to the cylinder head 3. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the fastening members B1 and B2 are located away from each other. The second defining portion 64 and the fourth defining portion 34 are also located away from the fastening members B1 and B2. In this way, the cover member 6 is fastened to the cylinder head 3 at three positions spaced away from one another. For example, the number of parts is reduced as compared with a case where the cover member 6 is fastened to the cylinder head 3 by using three bolts. Further, since the number of parts is reduced in this way, the cover member 6 is miniaturized.

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments but may be varied or changed within the scope of the present disclosure as claimed.