Oil sump

Abstract

The present invention relates to an oil sump, wherein the oil sump comprises an upper and a lower thermoplastic part that each contains one or more ribs and wherein the upper and lower part are being joined such that at least one rib of the upper part is joined to at least one rib of the lower part.

1 . An oil sump, wherein the oil sump comprises an upper thermoplastic part ( 1 ) and a lower thermoplastic part ( 2 ) that each contains one or more ribs ( 3   a,    3   b,    5   a,    5   b,    8 ) and wherein the upper and lower part are being joined such that at least one rib of the upper part is joined to at least one rib of the lower part. 
     
     
         2 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the joining of the ribs is effected by welding or gluing. 
     
     
         3 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil sump is single-walled. 
     
     
         4 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil sump contains ribs on the interior surface ( 3   a,    3   b,    8 ) and ribs on the exterior surface ( 5   a,    5   b ). 
     
     
         5 . An oil sump according to  claim 4 , wherein the interior ribs ( 3   a,    3   b ), when joined, extend over one of the longitudinal sides of the oil sump and over the bottom of the lower part of the oil sump. 
     
     
         6 . An oil sump according to  claim 5 , wherein the interior ribs ( 3   a,    3   b ) are not connected to the wall of the other longitudinal side of the oil sump 
     
     
         7 . An oil sump according to  claim 4 , wherein the exterior ribs ( 5   a,    5   b ), when joined, extend over the other longitudinal side of the oil sump. 
     
     
         8 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper and the lower thermoplastic part are welded or glued via their respective fixing surfaces. 
     
     
         9 . An oil sump according to  claim 8 , wherein the welding is effected by laser welding, mirror welding or hot air welding. 
     
     
         10 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil sump consists of a reinforced polyamide. 
     
     
         11 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic material is a glass fibre reinforced polyamide. 
     
     
         12 . An oil sump according to  claim 10 , wherein the polyamide is polyamide 6 or polyamide 6,6 or a blend thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An oil sump according to  claim 1 , wherein the oil sump is a part of an oil sump assembly further containing (a) an engine block, (b) a gearbox or a coupling, and (c) a support bracket ( 9 ) that is attached to the gearbox or to the coupling and to the engine block. 
     
     
         14 . An oil sump according to  claim 13 , wherein the bracket ( 9 ) consists of one part.