Lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, and method for lubrication
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsHans Guenter Quix, Jan Mehring
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments for a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine are provided. In one example, a lubrication system for an internal combustion engine comprises a lubricant circuit, a radiator for cooling the lubricant, a heat accumulator arranged upstream of the engine for warming up the lubricant, the heat accumulator connected in parallel to the radiator, and a valve for switching over the lubricant circuit between the radiator and the heat accumulator. In this way, the oil may be rapidly heated during cold engine start conditions.
Claims20
A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a lubricant circuit;
- a radiator for cooling the lubricant;
- a heat accumulator arranged upstream of the engine for warming up the lubricant, the heat accumulator connected in parallel to the radiator;
- and
- a valve for switching over the lubricant circuit between the radiator and the heat accumulator.
A method for lubricating an internal combustion engine with a lubricant circuit, comprising:
- circulating the lubricant along a heat accumulator in a warming up mode;
- switching over to the lubricant circuit into a normal mode;
- and
- circulating the lubricant along a radiator which is connected in parallel to the heat accumulator in the normal mode.
An engine method, comprising:
- during a first condition, pumping oil to piston cooling jets of the engine through a heat accumulator;
- during a second condition:
- pumping oil to the piston cooling jets through a radiator, bypassing the heat accumulator, and
- periodically recharging the heat accumulator by pumping engine oil through the heat accumulator;
- and
- in response to operating conditions, interrupting the recharge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.