DISTRIBUTION DEVICE FOR DISTRIBUTING FLUID FLOWS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

Abstract

A distribution device for distributing fluid flows, having a main passage and having a multiplicity of discharge passages branching off from the main passage, wherein the distribution device is designed to distribute a fluid flow entering the main passage among the discharge passages. An inner passage is arranged inside the main passage, wherein the inner passage is designed to conduct fluid that enters the inner passage to at least one of the discharge passages, and wherein the distribution device has a shutoff device for shutting off a fluid flow entering the inner passage from the main passage.

Claims

1. A distribution device for distributing fluid flows, the distribution device comprising: a main passage; at least two discharge passages branching off from the main passage, the distribution device being designed to distribute a fluid flow entering the main passage among the at least two discharge passages; an inner passage arranged inside the main passage, the inner passage adapted to conduct fluid that enters the inner passage to at least one of the at least two discharge passages; and a shutoff device to shut off a fluid flow entering the inner passage from the main passage.

2. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the distribution device is configured such that the fluid flow entering the inner passage from the main passage first flows around the inner passage when passing through the main passage.

3. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the inner passage is formed by a tube pressed into the main passage.

4. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the main passage is formed by a cast component.

5. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff device is inserted into the main passage, or wherein the shutoff device is pushed onto a pressed-in tube.

6. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff device has a housing that is arranged inside the main passage and through which the fluid flow entering the inner passage from the main passage initially travels when coming from the main passage before the fluid flow enters the inner passage.

7. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff device has a shutoff element for shutting off the fluid flow entering the inner passage from the main passage, which element moves parallel to the main direction of extent of the main passage in order to shut off the fluid flow.

8. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff device is configured such that the shutoff element is subjected to mutually opposing forces acting in both directions of motion of the shutoff element due to the pressure of the fluid.

9. The distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the shutoff device is a solenoid valve.

10. A method for operating an internal combustion engine, the method comprising: operating the internal combustion engine via a distribution device according to claim 1; and interrupting a fluid flow conducted to a piston to be cooled via the shutoff device when the cylinder to which this piston belongs is not being fired on account of a cylinder shutdown while at least one of the pistons of another cylinder that is being fired continues to be cooled via a fluid flow branching off of the interrupted fluid flow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary distribution device;

[0027] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the shutoff device of the exemplary distribution device from FIG. 1 in the open state; and

[0028] FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the shutoff device in the closed state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The distribution device 10 shown by way of example in the figures has a main passage 12. This passage can have a circular cross-section, as shown, and extend along a main direction of extent X. The distribution device 10 additionally has a multiplicity of discharge passages branching off from the main passage 12. In the example shown, these are the discharge passages 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24. The distribution device 10 can be an oil gallery of an engine block, for example. The discharge passages 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 depicted in the example shown can, in particular, be associated with different elements of an internal combustion engine to be lubricated and/or to be cooled and can supply these elements with the fluid, which can be an oil, for example. Thus, for example, the discharge passage 14 can supply the cylinder head, the discharge passage 18 can supply a bearing, while the individual discharge passages 16, 20, 22, and 24 are associated with individual piston cooling nozzles for cooling the pistons of the cylinders of the engine. For example, each of the discharge passages 16, 20, 22, and 24 can be associated with one piston of a cylinder of a four-cylinder engine.

[0030] In the example shown, an inner passage 26 is arranged inside the main passage 12. This inner passage 26 is designed to conduct fluid entering the inner passage 26 to at least one of the discharge passages, for example to the discharge passages 20 and 22 as shown. The distribution device 10 additionally has a shutoff device 28 for shutting off a fluid flow entering the inner passage 26 from the main passage 12.

[0031] The distribution device 10 in this case can, as in the example shown, be configured such that the fluid flow entering the inner passage 26 from the main passage 12 first flows around the inner passage 26 when passing through the main passage 12. This can be made possible, as in the example shown, by the means that the inner passage 26 is formed by a tube whose outer dimensions, or rather whose outer diameter, is smaller than the dimensions of the main passage 12, in particular the diameter thereof. The arrangement of the inner passage 26 spaced apart from the wall of the main passage 12 can be made possible, as in the example shown, in that an attachment of the inner passage 26 in the main passage 12 is accomplished with suitable spacer elements 30. The embodiment represented in the figures shows an inner passage 26 that can be pressed into the main passage 12 in a simple manner. The inner passage 26 can have branches 31 in this design. In this case, the inner passage 26 can be positioned in the main passage 12 such that the branches 31 are positioned at locations where the discharge passages that are to be shut off by the shutoff device 28 branch off from the main passage 12. In the example shown, these are the discharge passages 20 and 22.

[0032] As in the example shown, the shutoff device 28 can be inserted into the main passage 12. In this case, the shutoff device 28 can be arranged at least partially inside the main passage 12, as in the example shown. This makes it possible for the fluid that enters the inner passage 26 from the main passage 12 to first enter a housing 32 of the shutoff device 28. For this purpose, the housing 32 can have openings 34 that permit the fluid to enter the housing 32.

[0033] The shutoff device 28 can have a shutoff element 36, as is shown by way of example. As depicted in the figures, the shutoff element 36 can move along the direction X in order to shut off the fluid flow that reaches the inner passage 26 coming from the main passage 12 through the housing 32 of the shutoff device 28. This process is depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the fluid can flow through the openings 34 as far as the inner passage 26. In FIG. 3, the flow path is interrupted by the shutoff element 36.

[0034] The shutoff device 28 can be pushed onto the inner passage 26, as in the example shown. For this purpose, shutoff device 28 and/or inner passage 26 can have suitable end regions 38, 40. These regions can, as shown, have lead-in bevels, for example, in order to facilitate a mating of shutoff device 28 and inner passage 26.

[0035] When the distribution device 10 is used in a method described above for operating an internal combustion engine, for example, it can have the advantageous effect that a perfect seal need not be present between the shutoff device 28 and the inner passage 26 or between the branches 31 and the wall of the main passage 12. It is sufficient when the bulk of the fluid flow that is to be shut off is interrupted; in such a use, minimal leakage at the sealing points will not result in a cooling action that would negate the effect of the shutoff of the fluid flow with regard to piston cooling.

[0036] Accordingly, the shutoff device 28 can have a seal for the main passage 12. This is implemented by an O-ring 42 in the example shown. In this way, a simple seal can be achieved between the shutoff device 28 and the inner passage 26. The shutoff device 28 can be attached at its prescribed position with, for example, a removable fastener such as a screw. In this way, the shutoff device 28 can easily be removed and installed, for example for repair and/or maintenance purposes.

[0037] The features of the invention disclosed in the present description, in the drawings, and in the claims can be essential, both individually and in any combinations, for implementing the invention in its various embodiments. The invention can be varied within the scope of the claims and taking into account the knowledge of the relevant person skilled in the art.

[0038] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.