# US 5,701,862 A · Method and apparatus for replenishing the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,701,862 A - Document ID: US5701862A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/442,098 - Filed: 1995-05-16 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1994-05-26 - Assignees: Nippon Oil Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kiyoshi Inoue; Masakuni Hirata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701862A ## CPC - F01M 11/0458: {Lubricant filling and draining} - F01M 11/04: Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines - F01M 11/06: Means for keeping lubricant level constant or for accommodating movement or position of machines or engines - F01M 11/10: Indicating devices; Other safety devices - F16N 31/00: Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) - F16N 39/06: by filtration (filters in general B01D; magnetic separators B03C1/00; {centrifugal separators or filters B04B5/005}) - F01M 11/02: Arrangements of lubricant conduits - F01M 2011/0466: {Filling or draining during running} - F01M 2011/14: {for indicating the necessity to change the oil} - F02B 1/04: with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder - Y10T 137/7303: Control of both inflow and outflow of tank - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - F16N: LUBRICATING - F02B: INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL (gas-turbine plants F02C; hot-gas or combustion-product positive-displacement engine plants F02G) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method and apparatus for replenishing the lubricating oil of an internal combustion engine involving, during operation of the engine, continuously supplying a predetermined quantity of new oil from a reserve tank in which lubricating oil is stored to a holding region for lubricating oil circulated to the engine. As a result, an adequate effective extension of the life of the lubricating oil can be achieved, so that maintenance of the engine lubricating oil can be greatly reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine, comprising the step of continuously supplying, without interruption during operation of the engine, a predetermined quantity of new oil from a reserve tank in which lubricating oil is stored to a holding region for lubricating oil circulated to the engine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of periodically determining the level of the lubricating oil in the lubricating oil holding region and performing one of the substeps of supplying the lubricating oil to the oil holding region and removing the lubricating oil from the oil holding region so that the lubricating oil level in the oil holding region is maintained at a management level. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 2, wherein the substep of supplying the lubricating oil to the oil holding region is performed when the lubricating oil level in the lubricating oil holding region falls below a predetermined lower limit and wherein the substep of removing the lubricating oil from the oil holding region is performed when the lubricating oil level in the lubricating oil holding region rises above a predetermined upper limit level. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of new oil supplied to the holding region in the supplying step corresponds to engine operating conditions. ### Claim 5 An apparatus for replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine, comprising: a reserve tank for storing lubricating oil; lubricating oil supply means for supplying a predetermined quantity of lubricating oil from said reserve tank to a holding region for lubricating oil circulated to the engine; and control means for controlling, during operation of the engine, said lubricating oil supply means so that a predetermined quantity of new oil is continuously supplied, without interruption, from said reserve tank to said lubricating oil holding region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus for replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, further comprising lubricating oil removal means for removing the lubricating oil from said lubricating oil holding region, and oil quantity detection means for periodically detecting the quantity of oil in said lubricating oil holding region, said control means controlling, during operation of the engine, said lubricating oil supply means and said lubricating oil removal means, based on the engine oil quantity determined periodically by said oil quantity detection means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus for replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, further comprising an engine operating conditions detector for detecting engine operating conditions, said control means controlling the quantity of lubricating oil supplied to said lubricating oil holding region according to the engine operating conditions detected by said engine operating conditions detector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, wherein an oil pan of the engine forms the holding region for the lubricating oil. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The apparatus for replenishing lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine according to claim 5, wherein an oil pan of the engine forms the holding region for the lubricating oil.