Reciprocating Engine With Two Cylinder Banks Arranged in a v-Shape

The invention relates to a reciprocating engine with two cylinder banks arranged in a V-shape with a driving gear train originating from an engine crankshaft and leading to camshafts and to an engine clutch disposed in a center plane of the engine.

This type of a reciprocating engine is known from the DE-Z Special Printing ATZ, Automobiltechnische Zeitschrift, 71st Year, No. 9/12/1969 and 73rd Year, No. 5/1971. An output shaft to the clutch driven by the crankshaft--viewed in the vertical direction of the vehicle--extends below the crankshaft and in parallel to it. It is driven by the crankshaft by way of a gearbox which is arranged in a center plane between the two crankshaft ends. The output shaft, also by way of a gearbox, drives the oil pumps arranged in the crankcase of the engine.

It is an object of the invention to arrange the pumps required for the supply of the engine in such a manner that they are easily accessible for repair work, that, as a result of their arrangement, the center of gravity of the engine is as low as possible, and the engine as a whole has a symmetrical construction.

This object is achieved according to preferred embodiments of the invention by providing an engine wherein pump units comprising a water pump and at least one oil pump are arranged outside an engine crankcase on both longitudinal sides of the crankcase above its bottom part. If the pumps are mounted on the outside on the engine power section, they will be optimally accessible for mounting and repair work. Since they are arranged closely above the bottom part of the crankcase, they contribute desirably to lowering the center of gravity of the engine. A symmetrical construction of the engine can be achieved according to preferred embodiments with identically designed pump units consisting of the water pump and the oil pump mounted on both longitudinal sides of the crankcase.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a reciprocating engine constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top schematic view of the reciprocating engine from the Plane B--B of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a lateral schematic view and a partial longitudinal sectional view of the reciprocating engine of FIGS. 1 and 2.

A 12 cylinder reciprocating engine comprises two cylinder banks 1 and 2 having 6 cylinders respectively and arranged in a V-shape with respect to one another. A power section of the reciprocating engine comprises a lower crankcase 3 and two head casings 4 and 5 which enclose the valve gears constituting part of the driving gear train of both cylinder banks and are screwed to its top side. By means of its bottom part base plate 6, the crankcase 3 is screwed or bolted to the floor 7 of the vehicle frame.

For supplying the engine with liquid, a pump unit 9 is screwed on the outside to the crankcase 3, closely above its base plate 6, on the right longitudinal side 8, viewed in the driving direction A, and a pump unit Il is screwed on on the left longitudinal side 10. The two pump units 9 and 11 have the same design. They are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center axis 12 of the engine and to the center plane 13 disposed transversely with respect to it and pointing in the vertical direction of the engine. The center plane 13 is situated precisely in the center between the forward end 14 and the rearward end 15 of the crankshaft 16. A gear drive 17 for the left pump unit, and a gear 18 for the right pump unit are disposed in the center plane 13. The gear drives 17 and 18 each comprise a crankshaft timing gear 19, an intermediate timing gear 20 and a pump shaft gear 21.

Both pump units 9 and 11 comprise a water pump 22, an oil suction pump 23 and an oil pressure pump 24 which, in this sequence, are arranged next to one another, are coaxial with respect to one another, and are driven by the pump shaft gear 21. The housings of the pumps 22, 23, 24 and of the oil filter 26 are screwed together. The water pump 22 of the right pump unit 9 is disposed behind the center plane 13. For the mounting on the left longitudinal side 10 of the crankcase 3, the same pump unit is rotated by 180.degree. so that the water pump 22 is situated directly in front of the center plane 13. The pump shaft gear 21 is disposed between the water pump 22 and the oil suction pump 23 which takes in lubricating oil from the crankcase 3. By means of the oil pressure pump 24 of the right pump unit 9, by way of a connection elbow 27, the engine half situated in front of the center plane 13 is supplied with lubricating oil; by means of the oil pressure pump 24 of the left-hand pump unit 11, the rear engine half is supplied with lubricating oil.

It is therefore not necessary to extend the oil supply ducts for the crankshaft bearings and the bearings of the four camshafts 28 by way of the center plane 13 which is crowded with gears. The water pump 11 of the left pump unit 11 supplies the whole left cylinder bank 2 with cooling water; the right water pump 22 supplies the right cylinder bank 1 with cooling water.

In addition to the gear sets for the pump drive, a gear drive from the crankshaft 16 to a drive shaft 30 which drives the clutch 29, and the not shown driving gears for the camshafts 28 are also arranged in the center plane 13. The output drive shaft 30, which extends above the crankshaft 16 and in parallel to it, leads to the clutch 29 situated on the rearward end face 31 of the engine. Further details of the pump unit arrangements are included by reference to my co-pending, commonly assigned application Ser. No. 668,930, filed on even date herewith, and based on German Patent Application P 40 32 591.1, filed Oct. 19, 1990 in Germany.

Another gear drive leads from the crankshaft 16 to an intermediate shaft 33 by which a generator 34, which is arranged on the forward end face 32 of the engine, is driven by means of a front-side belt drive 35. The generator 34 is situated in the V-center between the two cylinder banks 1 and 2. This space can be utilized for the generators 34 because, as a result of the installation of separate suction pipe tubes 36 for each cylinder, a common air intake system, which is normally arranged in the V-center, is no longer necessary. Further details of the camshaft drive arrangements are included by reference to my co-pending commonly assigned application Ser. No. 669,011, filed on even date herewith, and based on German Patent Application P 40 32 593.8, filed Oct. 13, 1990 in Germany.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of the present invention are to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.