Oil strainer structure of engine and oil return structure of engine

Abstract

An oil strainer includes: a lower member having an oil suction hole opening in oil stored in an oil pan; an upper member having an oil discharge hole leading to an oil pump; and a strainer element. The lower member and the upper member are joined to each other with the strainer element held between joint surfaces of the upper and lower members. Thus, it is possible to form the oil strainer into a flat shape so as to be compactly arranged in a narrow space, and also maximize an area of the strainer element to prevent clogging. Further, the lower member and the upper member, which are die-molded articles, are highly flexible in their shapes, whereby the oil suction hole and the oil discharge hole can be arranged in the most suitable positions, and the cross-sectional area of oil flow can be sufficiently secured.

1 . An oil strainer structure of an engine, comprising: 
 an oil strainer for filtering oil in an oil pan, the oil strainer being arranged between a balancer housing and the oil pan of the engine and supported by the balancer housing, the oil strainer including: 
 a lower member which is a die-molded article having an oil suction hole opening in the oil stored in the oil pan,  
 an upper member which is a die-molded article having an oil discharge hole leading to the oil pump, and  
 a strainer element,  
 the lower member and the upper member being joined to each other with an outer peripheral portion of the strainer element held between joint surfaces of the upper and lower members.  
   
   
   
       2 . The oil strainer structure of an engine according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil strainer has a cross-sectional area decreasing from the oil suction hole to the oil discharge hole.  
   
   
       3 . An oil strainer structure of an engine, comprising: 
 an oil strainer for filtering oil in an oil pan, the oil strainer including two members joined to each other and being supported on a lower surface of a balancer housing of the engine,    wherein an oil return member for returning oil separated from blowby gas is formed by two members joined to each other, and    wherein one of the two members forming the oil return member is commonly used as one of the two members forming the oil strainer.    
   
   
       4 . The oil strainer structure of an engine according to  claim 3 , wherein the commonly used member is a lower member; and the lower member and a first upper member that is joined to the balancer housing constitute the oil strainer, and the lower member and a second upper member that is joined to the balancer housing constitute the oil return member.  
   
   
       5 . An oil strainer structure of an engine, comprising: 
 an oil strainer for filtering oil in an oil pan, the oil strainer being supported on a lower surface of a balancer housing of the engine,    wherein the oil strainer is supported so as to provide a bridge between opposite ends of the balancer housing.    
   
   
       6 . The oil strainer structure of an engine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a rib which is projectingly provided on an upper or lower surface of the oil strainer.  
   
   
       7 . The oil strainer structure of an engine according to  claim 5 , further comprising an oil return member for returning oil separated from blowby gas to the oil pan, the oil return member being integrally formed at a joint portion where an end of the oil strainer is joined to the balancer housing.  
   
   
       8 . The oil strainer structure of an engine according to  claim 6 , further comprising an oil return member for returning oil separated from blowby gas to the oil pan, the oil return member being integrally formed at a joint portion where an end of the oil strainer is joined to the balancer housing.  
   
   
       9 . An oil return structure of an engine, comprising: 
 an oil return member for returning oil separated from blowby gas to an oil pan, the oil return member being arranged between a balancer housing and the oil pan of the engine, the oil return member including:    an upper member which is a die-molded article having an oil inlet hole leading to an oil return passage in the balancer housing; and    a lower member which is a die-molded article having an oil outlet hole opening in the oil in the oil pan,    the upper and lower members being joined to each other.