System, method, and apparatus for controlling fluid flow from piston cooling nozzles
AssigneeCummins Inc.
InventorsNikhil O. Lulla, Roopak Manoharrao Ingole
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are disclosed for controlling fluid flow to piston cooling nozzles with a fluid flow control device. The fluid flow control device includes a valve that is electronically controlled to open or close a piston cooling nozzle rifle to one or more piston cooling nozzles based on one or more engine operating parameters.
Claims20
A piston cooling system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
- a reservoir from which fluid is fed;
- at least one piston cooling nozzle (PCN) coupled to the reservoir, the PCN configured to direct the fluid fed from the reservoir for spraying the fluid onto a piston in the engine;
- and
- a fluid flow control device connecting the reservoir and the PCN, the fluid flow control device including:
- a chamber fluidly connecting the reservoir to the PCN;
- and
- a valve movably received in the chamber, wherein the valve is electronically controllable to move between a first position that allows fluid to flow through the chamber to the PCN and a second position that prevents fluid from flowing through the chamber to the PCN.
A method for controlling fluid flow to a piston cooling nozzle (PCN) of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
- determining one or more operating parameters of the internal combustion engine;
- determining an open position or a closed position for a valve in a fluid flow control device in response to the one or more operating parameters, the fluid flow control device connecting a PCN rifle of the internal combustion engine to a fluid source;
- and
- controlling the valve to either remain in, or move to, the open position or the closed position in response to a current position of the valve and the determined open position or closed position for the valve.
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow to a piston cooling nozzle (PCN) of an internal combustion engine, the apparatus including:
- an electronic controller configured to receive one or more operating parameters from the internal combustion engine and provide one or more commands to a fluid flow control device that controls fluid flow to the PCN, the electronic controller further configured to:
- determine an open position or a closed position for a valve in the fluid flow control device in response to the one or more operating parameters;
- and
- control the valve to either remain in or move to the open position or the closed position in response to a current position of the valve and the determined open position or closed position for the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.