# US 6,293,244 B1 · Oil flow control system for engine cylinder head

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- Number: US 6,293,244 B1
- Document ID: US6293244B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/566,709
- Filed: 2000-05-09
- Granted: 2001-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 2000-05-09
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Mullins; Matthew Byrne Diggs; Michael Joseph Schrader
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293244B1

## CPC

- F01L 1/053: overhead type
- F01L 1/34: characterised by the provision of means for changing the timing of the valves without changing the duration of opening {and without affecting the magnitude of the valve lift}
- F01M 1/16: Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity (rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22)
- F01L 2001/3443: {Solenoid driven oil control valves}
- F01L 2001/34433: {Location oil control valves}
- F01L 2001/34436: {Features or method for avoiding malfunction due to foreign matters in oil}
- F01L 2001/3444: {Oil filters}
- F01L 2820/041: Camshafts position or phase sensors
- F01L: CYCLICALLY OPERATING VALVES FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING

## Abstract

A system for controlling a flow of pressurized oil in an internal combustion engine includes a cylinder head having a generally-flat external surface featuring a pressurized oil outlet and a pressurized oil inlet; and an oil flow control module including a generally-flat mating surface secured against the first surface of the cylinder head such that a first passage in the module places the outlet of the cylinder head in fluid communication with the inlet of the cylinder head. While the module's first passage minimally includes an oil restrictor, preferably, in a downstream portion thereof, the module preferably further includes a screen filter, and a spool valve operative to direct unrestricted oil flowing through the first passage into one of a plurality of fluid lines operatively connected to the cam phaser unit, whereupon the spool valve is used to variably advance or retard engine cam timing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for controlling a flow of pressurized oil in an internal combustion engine comprising:
a cylinder head including a generally-flat external surface, wherein a pressurized oil outlet and a pressurized oil inlet are defined in the external surface; and
an oil flow control module including a generally-flat mating surface secured against the external surface of the cylinder head, wherein the module includes at least a first passage placing the outlet of the cylinder head in fluid communication with the inlet of the cylinder head, the first passage including an oil restrictor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the restrictor is defined by a first section of the first passage, the first section having a relatively-reduced hydraulic diameter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the module includes a plurality of additional passages, and wherein the system further includes a control valve operative to direct a first portion of the oil flow into a selected one of the additional passages.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the module includes a first cavity intersecting the first passage, and wherein the control valve is a spool valve received in the first cavity.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the module includes a second cavity adapted to receive a filter, and wherein the first passage intersects the second cavity such that at least the first portion of the oil flow passes through a filter received in the second cavity.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first passage is defined by opposing, complimentary surfaces defined in the external surface of the cylinder head and the mating surface of the module, respectively.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the cylinder head and the module include a plurality of aligned, right-cylindrical bores defined in complimentary, adjacent portions of the first surface and the second surface, respectively; and further including locating pins disposed in the bores.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, including a phase angle sensor supported by the module.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the first passage further defines a reservoir disposed between the restrictor and the inlet of the cylinder head.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the reservoir arranged to be positioned below the inlet of the cylinder head, whereby oil is contained in the reservoir during engine shut-off.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further including a gasket disposed between the first surface of the cylinder head and the second surface of the module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the gasket is integrated within the module.

### Claim 13

An oil supply and control module for a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, wherein the cylinder head includes a generally-flat external surface having an outlet for porting pressurized oil out of the engine and an inlet for receiving pressurized oil for lubricating a valvetrain component of the engine, the module comprising:
a generally-flat mating surface adapted to be secured against the external surface of the cylinder head; and at least a first passage in the module placing the outlet of the cylinder head in fluid communication with the inlet of the cylinder head, wherein the first passage includes an oil restrictor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, wherein the restrictor is defined by a reduced-hydraulic-diameter section of the first passage.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, wherein the module includes a plurality of additional passages, and a control valve on the module operative to direct at least a first portion of the oil flow into a selected one of the additional passages.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The module of claim 15, including a first cavity intersecting the first passage, and wherein the control valve is a spool valve disposed in the first cavity.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, wherein the module includes a second cavity adapted to receive a filter, and wherein the first passage intersects the second cavity such that at least the first portion of the oil flow passes through a filter received in the second cavity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the first passage is defined by a worm groove in the second surface of the module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, including a phase angle sensor supported by the module.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The module of claim 13, wherein the first passage further defines a reservoir downstream of the restrictor.

### Claim 21

A method of controlling a flow of pressurized oil to a valve train disposed within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, the method including:
porting unrestricted pressurized oil into a first passage external to the cylinder head;
restricting oil flow through the first passage; and
directing the restricted flow back into the cylinder head.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, including collecting a predetermined amount of restricted oil in a first section of the passage.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, including selectively diverting a first portion of the unrestricted oil to a plurality of additional passages external to the cylinder head, whereby unrestricted oil is supplied to a cam phaser unit supported on the cylinder head.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, including, before selectively diverting, filtering at least the first portion of the unrestricted oil.