Engine oil makeup and extended operation oil exchange system
AssigneeOnan Corporation
InventorRandall K. Engelmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engine oil makeup and extended operation oil exchange system and method are provided for automatically maintaining the amount of engine oil and continuously exchanging engine oil in extended operation between an engine and an oil tank.
Claims18
A method of automatically maintaining the quality of oil in an engine lubrication system of an engine, comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining the level of oil in an engine oil sump of the engine by automatically regulating flow of oil along a first oil passageway from an oil tank containing oil to the engine oil sump;
- and
- (b) after the occurrence of a predetermined condition other than a pressurization of the engine lubrication system, continuously circulating oil between the engine and the oil tank by opening a second oil passageway connecting the engine and the oil tank so that oil can flow from the engine to the oil tank.
An engine oil makeup and extended operation oil exchange system for use with an engine having an oil lubrication system including an oil sump, comprising:
- (a) an oil tank interconnected to said oil sump by a first oil passageway;
- (b) means for controlling the flow of oil through the first passageway so as to maintain the level of oil in said engine oil sump;
- and
- (c) oil transfer means including a second oil passageway and an oil exchange shutoff valve, said oil transfer means interconnecting a pressurized oil source at a location along the engine's oil lubrication system on said engine to said oil tank for transferring oil through the second oil passageway from the engine to the oil tank, whereby the oil is recirculated between the oil tank and the engine.
A method of automatically maintaining the quality of oil in an engine having an oil lubrication system, comprising the steps of:
- (a) maintaining the level of oil in an engine oil sump;
- and
- (b) circulating oil between said engine and an oil tank by transferring oil from said oil tank to said oil sump of said engine and from a pressurized oil source at a location along the engine's oil lubrication system on said engine to said oil tank through an oil exchange shutoff valve.
An engine oil makeup and extended operation oil exchange system for use with an engine lubrication system of an engine having an oil sump, comprising:
- (a) an oil tank interconnected to said oil sump by an oil passageway;
- (b) means for controlling the flow of oil through said passageway so as to maintain the level of oil in sad engine oil sump;
- and
- (c) means for continuously circulating oil between said oil tank and said engine upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition other than a pressurization of the engine lubrication system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.