VEHICLE OIL PAN WITH ACTIVE NOISE REDUCTION CONTROL

• US 20160109062A1
• Filed: 10/21/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Antonakakis, Michael E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0008 with means for reducing vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 19/00 Lubricant containers for use in lubricators or lubrication systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 31/002 Drain pans
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/02 by cooling heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/04 by heating heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/0014 Devices wherein the heating current flows through particular resistances

Abstract

A vibration and noise abatement reduction method and apparatus for a fluid reservoir containing an automotive fluid and having a bottom wall. At least a portion of the fluid reservoir is formed of or carries a shape memory change material undergoing shape change at a threshold temperature. A controller detects a match between the vehicle vibration frequency at a measured vehicle operating characteristic and the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir and varies the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir by changing the stiffness of at least a portion of the reservoir through the supply of heat to the fluid reservoir resulting in a change in the shape of at least the shape memory change material in the fluid reservoir. The heat is supplied from an electrical conductor in heat transfer relation with the fluid reservoir or an elevated temperature of the automotive fluid in the fluid reservoir.

Claims

1. A method of controlling vibration in a fluid reservoir of an automotive vehicle comprising:

providing at least a portion of a fluid reservoir with a shape memory change material;

measuring at least one vehicle operating characteristic related to vehicle operating vibrations frequency; and

altering the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir when the vehicle operating vibration frequency matches the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of measuring at least one vehicle operating characteristic comprises:

measuring one of engine speed and vehicle speed; and

correlating the one of engine speed and vehicle speed with vehicle operating vibration operating frequencies at the measured one of the engine speed and vehicle speed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of changing the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir comprises:

changing a stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of changing the stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir comprises:

applying heat to at least the portion of the fluid reservoir carrying the shape memory change material causing the shape memory change material to undergo a shape change.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of applying heat comprises:

supplying electric current to an electrical conductor disposed heat transfer relation with at least a portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of applying heat further comprises:

disposing the electrical conductor in proximity with an interior wall surface of the fluid reservoir.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of applying heat further comprises:

disposing the electrical conductor in proximity with an exterior wall surface of the fluid reservoir.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of applying heat comprises:

elevating a temperature of a fluid in the fluid reservoir to transfer heat to the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

controlling an operative state of a fluid flow valve to switch fluid flow from the fluid reservoir between a first flow path through a fluid cooler and a second flow path bypassing the fluid cooler to elevate the temperature of the fluid.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

accessing, by a controller executing stored program instructions, a correlation between vibration frequency at one of engine speed and vehicle speed with a resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir; and

when the controller detects a match between a vehicle vibration frequency and the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir, changing a stiffness of at least the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material to differentiate the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir from the vehicle vibration frequency.

11. A vibration reduction apparatus for a fluid reservoir configured for containing an automotive fluid and having a bottom wall comprising:

a portion of an automotive fluid reservoir carrying a shape memory change material;

a vehicle sensor measuring a vehicle operating characteristic;

a controller executing program instructions stored vehicle vibration frequencies at the measured vehicle operating characteristic and a resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir; and

the controller, when the vehicle vibration frequency matches the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir, changing the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir from the vehicle operating vibration frequency.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising:

the controller, changing the resonant vibration frequency of the fluid reservoir by changing a stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein:

the controller changes the stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir by applying heat to the shape memory change material in the fluid reservoir causing the shape memory change material to undergo a shape change.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein:

the vehicle sensor measures one of engine speed and vehicle speed; and

the controller executes program instructions containing vehicle vibration frequencies at the measure one of the vehicle speed and engine speed.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

an electrical conductor disposed in heat transfer relation with at least a portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material; and

enabling, by the controller the supply of electric current through the electrical conductor to transfer heat to the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the electrical conductor is disposed in proximity with an interior wall surface of the fluid reservoir.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

the electrical conductor is disposed in proximity with an exterior

wall surface of the fluid reservoir.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a fluid flow circuit formed between the fluid reservoir, a fluid cooler and a vehicle component using automotive fluid partly contained in the fluid reservoir; and

a valve controlling a flow of automotive fluid from the fluid reservoir to the cooler to control a temperature of the automotive fluid when the automotive fluid returns from the vehicle component to the fluid reservoir, the controller controlling the valve wherein the automotive fluid bypasses the cooler so that the temperature of the automotive fluid is elevated when it returns to the fluid reservoir to transfer heat to the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

19. An automotive vehicle having one of an engine and a transmission and an automotive lubricating fluid supplied from a fluid reservoir to at least one of the engine and the transmission, comprising:

a portion of a bottom wall of an automotive fluid reservoir formed of a shape memory change material;

a vehicle sensor measuring a vehicle operating characteristic;

a controller executing program instructions stored vehicle vibration frequencies at the measured vehicle operating characteristic and a resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir; and

the controller, when the vehicle vibration frequency matches the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir, changing the resonant frequency of the fluid reservoir from the vehicle operating vibration frequency.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 wherein:

the controller changes the stiffness of at least a portion of the fluid reservoir by applying heat to the shape memory change material in the fluid reservoir causing the shape memory change material to undergo a shape change.

21. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein:

the vehicle sensor measures one of engine speed and vehicle speed; and

the controller executes program instructions containing vehicle vibration frequencies at the measure one of the vehicle speed and engine speed.

22. The vehicle of claim 19 further comprising:

an electrical conductor disposed in heat transfer relation with at least a portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material; and

enabling, by the controller the supply of electric current through the electrical conductor to transfer heat to the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

23. The vehicle of claim 21 further comprising:

an electrical conductor disposed in heat transfer relation with at least a portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material; and

the controller enabling the supply of electric current through the electrical conductor to transfer heat to the portion of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.

24. The vehicle of claim 21 further comprising:

a fluid flow circuit formed between the fluid reservoir, a fluid cooler and a vehicle component using the automotive fluid partly contained in the fluid reservoir; and

a valve controlling a flow of automotive fluid from the fluid reservoir to the cooler to control a temperature of the automotive fluid when the automotive fluid returns from the vehicle component to the fluid reservoir, the controller controlling the valve wherein the automotive fluid bypasses the cooler so that the temperature of the automotive fluid is elevated when it returns to the fluid reservoir to transfer heat to the portion of the bottom wall of the fluid reservoir containing the shape memory change material.