Pre-oiler

Abstract

A pre-oiling system for automatically injecting oil into the oil gallery lubricating system of an automotive engine prior to start up. The assembly includes an outer vessel, a manifold valve block, which is attached to the outer vessel and includes a solenoid valve, and a control circuit for logic control of the solenoid valve. An air replenishment assembly is positioned on the outer vessel permitting measurement of the pressure in the outer vessel and also allowing for air to be added to the outer vessel to pressurize oil contained within the outer vessel. In one embodiment, the air replenishment assembly includes a schrader valve which provides replacement air to the outer vessel and the spare tire. Oil is automatically injected into the oil gallery lubricating system upon the engine starting. Specifically, the solenoid valve is opened in response to the engine being started which allows pressurized oil to flow from the outer vessel to the oil gallery of the engine. During operation of the engine, oil is pumped into the outer vessel and the air is pressurized for subsequent starting operations of the engine. In one embodiment, the outer vessel also includes an additional inner vessel that has pressurized air and oil which will provide the oil upon the engine turning off to a turbocharger.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.