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US 11,840,945 B2Granted
Lubrication fluid storage system
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsPablo F. Diaz Poueriet, Ella Michelle Morris
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An internal combustion engine includes an engine lubrication fluid storage system with a primary storage volume and a secondary storage volume that is separate from the primary storage volume. The secondary storage volume is linked to the primary storage volume with a fluid flow path that is throttled so that lubrication fluid is stored in the secondary storage volume during engine operation, and drains from the secondary storage volume to the primary storage volume when the engine is not running.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine including a block, a cylinder head, a plurality of components in the cylinder head, and a lubrication fluid for lubricating the plurality of components;
- a lubrication fluid storage system for storing a supply of the lubrication fluid to lubricate the plurality of components, the lubrication fluid storage system including:
- a primary storage volume for storing the lubrication fluid to circulate to the plurality of components of the internal combustion engine;
- a secondary storage volume in or adjacent to the cylinder head for storing a portion of the lubrication fluid circulated during operation of the internal combustion engine;
- a fluid flow path connecting the secondary storage volume to the primary storage volume, wherein:
- the secondary storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path to throttle the fluid flow path so that lubrication fluid is retained in the secondary storage volume during operation of the internal combustion engine;
- and
- the lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path in response to stopping operation of the internal combustion engine.
5 more elements
A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a primary storage volume for providing lubrication fluid to an internal combustion engine;
- and
- a secondary storage volume for retaining the lubrication fluid received from a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, wherein the secondary storage volume and the cylinder head are connected to the primary storage volume via a fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path and the cylinder head includes a drain in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume and cylinder head are configured so lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path, and the lubrication fluid in the cylinder head drains into the primary storage volume through the drain and the fluid flow path once the secondary storage volume is filled with lubrication fluid.
A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a body forming a compartment for housing a plurality of components of the internal combustion engine, the body including a storage volume within or adjacent to the compartment, wherein the storage volume is in fluid communication with the compartment via at least one inlet to permit lubrication fluid to drain from the compartment into the storage volume, and further wherein the compartment includes a drain in fluid communication with a fluid flow path for the lubrication fluid and the storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume and cylinder head are configured so lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path, and the lubrication fluid in the cylinder head drains into the primary storage volume through the drain and the fluid flow path once the secondary storage volume is filled with lubrication fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.