System for automatically controlling engine lubricating fluid flow
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorWalter E. Earleson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for automatically controlling lubricating fluid flow in an internal combustion engine having an engine bearing lubricating system, an intake oiling system and a pair of lubricating fluid reservoirs for carrying separate lubricating fluid for delivery to the engine bearing and intake oiling systems is provided. In response to the fluid level in one of the reservoirs being delivered to the intake oil system being at a predetermined low level, the controller swaps reservoirs and delivers fluid flow from the other reservoir to the intake oiling system. The controller commands filling of the low level reservoir prior to delivery of lubricating fluid from this reservoir to the engine bearing lubricating system. The system eliminates the need for lubricating fluid changes.
Claims16
A system for automatically controlling the flow of lubricating fluid in an internal combustion engine having an intake oiling system and an engine bearing lubricating system;
- comprising:
- a first reservoir and a second reservoir each having a lubricating fluid carried therein, said lubricating fluids being separate from one another;
- a first fluid control means for passing fluid flow from said second reservoir to the engine bearing lubricating system and from the said first reservoir to the intake oiling system;
- a first sensing means for sensing the lubricating fluid level in the first reservoir and delivering a first signal in response to said lubricating fluid being at a preselected low level;
- a control means for receiving said first signal and responsively conditioning said first fluid control means to swap reservoirs and deliver fluid flow from said second reservoir to the intake oiling system and from the first reservoir to the engine bearing lubricating system.
A system for automatically controlling the flow of lubricating fluid in an internal combustion engine having an intake oiling system and an engine bearing lubricating system;
- comprising:
- a first reservoir having a lubricating fluid therein;
- a second reservoir having a lubricating fluid therein, said lubricating fluids in said first and second reservoirs being separate from one another;
- a first sensor connected to the first reservoir and sensing a level of the lubricating fluid therein, said first sensor delivering a first fluid level signal in response to the lubricating fluid in the first reservoir being at a predetermined low level;
- a second sensor connected to the second reservoir and sensing a level of the lubricating fluid therein, said second sensor delivering a second fluid level signal in response to the lubricating fluid in the second reservoir being at a predetermined low level;
- a first valve having first and second fluid directing positions and being movable therebetween, said first valve being connected to the first and second reservoirs and the intake oiling and engine bearing lubricating systems, said first valve passing fluid flow from the second reservoir to the engine bearing lubricating system and from the first reservoir to the intake oiling system at the first position, and passing fluid flow from the second reservoir to the intake oiling system and from the first reservoir to the engine bearing lubricating system at the second position;
- a second valve having first and second fluid directing positions and being movable therebetween, said second valve being connected to the engine lubricating system and the first and second reservoirs, said second valve passing fluid flow from the engine lubricating system to the first reservoir at the second position and from the engine lubricating system to the second reservoir at the first position;
- a controller connected to the first and second sensors and being adapted to receive said first and second fluid level signals, said controller being connected to said first and second valves and delivering a valve control signal to said first and second valves in response to receiving one of said first and second fluid level signals, said first and second valves moving to said second position in response to said controller receiving said first fluid level signal and to said first position in response to said controller receiving said second fluid level signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.