Lubricating system, an engine and method for providing lubricant to an engine

An internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine comprising:

• a lubricating system, the lubricating system comprising:
• a first conduit means connecting a lubricant supply source to the internal combustion engine for supplying lubricant to the internal combustion engine,
• a second conduit means connecting a gas supply source to the first conduit means for supplying gas to the first conduit means such that gas bubbles are formed in the first conduit means,
• a sensor configured to detect whether the lubricant or whether the gas is present in a certain part of the first conduit, said certain part being located downstream the connection of the second conduit means to the first conduit means, and
• a control unit connected to the sensor, the control unit being configured to determine, in response to the detections of the sensor, whether the lubricant is flowing through the first conduit means to the internal combustion engine,
• wherein an intake of the engine comprises a throttle valve,
• wherein the throttle valve is positioned downstream of a venturi disposed at the intake in relation to a flow direction in the intake, and
• wherein the second conduit means is connected to the intake upstream of the throttle valve.

An internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine comprising:

• a lubricating system, the lubricating system comprising:
• a first conduit means connecting a lubricant supply source to the internal combustion engine for supplying lubricant to the internal combustion engine,
• a second conduit means connecting a gas supply source to the first conduit means for supplying gas to the first conduit means such that gas bubbles are formed in the first conduit means,
• a sensor configured to detect whether the lubricant or whether the gas is present in a certain part of the first conduit, said certain part being located downstream the connection of the second conduit means to the first conduit means, and
• a control unit connected to the sensor, the control unit being configured to determine, in response to the detections of the sensor, whether the lubricant is flowing through the first conduit means to the internal combustion engine,
• wherein the second conduit means is connected to an intake of the engine as the gas supply source.

A method for providing lubricant to an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• providing the lubricant from a lubricant supply source via a first conduit means to the internal combustion engine,
• providing gas to the first conduit means via a second conduit means such that intermittent gas bubbles form in the first conduit means,
• using a sensor to detect whether the lubricant or whether the gas is present in a certain part of the first conduit means, the certain part being located downstream of a supply of the gas from the second conduit means to the first conduit means,
• in response to detections of the sensor, determining by a control unit connected to the sensor if the lubricant is flowing through the first conduit means to the internal combustion engine, and
• evacuating lubricant from the first conduit means with aid of the gas from the second conduit means if flow of the lubricant stops such that the sensor only detects the gas in the first conduit.