Two-stroke engine lubrication
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsPhillip B. McGrath, Kenneth J. Buslepp
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Adjustment to the lubrication rate for a period of time after startup of a two-stroke internal combustion engine, wherein the magnitude of the adjustment over the period of time is determined from an estimate of the degree the lubricant has receded from the moving parts of the engine exposing the moving parts to an elevated potential for wear, and from an estimate of the rate at which lubricant in the engine may be recirculated to the moving parts to reduce the elevated potential.
Claims6
A method for providing an adjustment to the rate at which lubricant is provided to a two-stroke internal combustion engine, comprising the steps of:
- estimating an amount of time the engine has not been operating following a startup of the engine;
- determining a lubrication rate adjustment as a predetermined function of the estimated amount of time the engine has not been operating;
- and
- adjusting the rate at which lubricant is provided to the engine by the determined lubrication rate adjustment.
A method for adjusting a lubrication rate for a two-stroke internal combustion engine following an engine startup, comprising the steps of:
- estimating an amount of time the engine has not been operating following the engine startup;
- determining an initial lubrication rate adjustment as a predetermined function of the estimated amount of time the engine has not been operating;
- determining a lubrication rate adjustment profile as a predetermined function of the determined initial lubrication rate adjustment and as a predetermined function of time;
- periodically adjusting the lubrication rate in accord with the determined lubrication rate adjustment profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.