SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AUGMENTING LOW OIL PRESSURE IN AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE

• US 20140032085A1
• Filed: 07/25/2012
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: FREE, Paul Douglas, MATTERN, Michael F., RAO, Kavana
• Granted Patent: US 9,650,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/112
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/16 Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0215 Electrical pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/123 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2260/50 After-lubrication

Abstract

A system and method of providing supplementary oil flow to an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine is described. The primary oil supply is from a mechanical oil pump. The supplementary oil supply is provided using a control system, one or more sensors, and an electrical oil pump. The system is beneficial in circumstances where the mechanical oil pump provides insufficient oil flow, including during engine shutdown.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine, comprising:

an oil circuit including a mechanical oil pump to provide oil flow to the engine and an electrical oil pump; and

a control system including a control module and at least one sensor, the control module adapted to receive a condition signal from the at least one sensor indicative of oil flow in the oil circuit and to provide a control signal to operate the electrical oil pump when the condition signal from the at least one sensor indicates the oil flow from the mechanical oil pump is insufficient to provide adequate lubrication to the internal combustion engine.

2. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the control module is adapted to compare the condition signal with a predetermined value.

3. The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is an oil pressure sensor positioned along the oil circuit downstream from the mechanical oil pump, the condition signal being an oil pressure signal, and the control module adapted to determine whether the oil pressure signal is less than a predetermined minimum oil pressure.

4. The internal combustion engine of claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor is an RPM sensor.

5. The internal combustion engine of claim 4, wherein the RPM sensor measures the speed of operation of the mechanical oil pump, the condition signal being an RPM signal, and the control module adapted to determine whether the RPM signal is less than a predetermined minimum RPM.

6. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is an operator control panel, and the condition signal from the operator control panel is indicative of a command to shut the engine down.

7. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the mechanical oil pump and the electrical oil pump are fluidly connected in parallel.

8. The internal combustion engine of claim 1, wherein the condition signal from the at least one sensor is indicative of engine shutdown, and the electrical oil pump operates until engine shutdown is complete.

9. A method of controlling operation of an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

receiving a condition signal from at least one sensor indicative of the operating condition of a mechanical oil pump of the oil circuit or indicative of a shutdown condition of the internal combustion engine;

analyzing the condition signal to determine whether the operating condition of the mechanical oil pump is adequate for the lubrication needs of the engine; and

providing a control signal to an electrical oil pump of the oil circuit to operate the electrical oil pump when the operating condition of the mechanical oil pump is inadequate for the lubrication needs of the engine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a control module receives the condition signal, analyzes the condition signal, and provides the control signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is an oil pressure sensor positioned along the oil circuit downstream from the mechanical oil pump, the condition signal being an oil pressure signal, and the control module adapted to determine whether the oil pressure signal is less than a predetermined minimum oil pressure.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one sensor is an RPM sensor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the RPM sensor measures the speed of operation of the mechanical oil pump, the condition signal being an RPM signal, and the control module adapted to determine whether the RPM signal is less than a predetermined minimum RPM.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the condition signal is from an operator control panel, and the signal from the operator control panel is indicative of a command to shut the engine down.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanical oil pump and the electrical oil pump are connected in parallel.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the signal from the at least one sensor is indicative of engine shutdown, and the electrical oil pump operates until engine shutdown is complete.

17. A method of controlling operation of an oil circuit of an internal combustion engine during shutdown of the engine, the method comprising:

receiving a condition signal from at least one sensor;

analyzing the condition signal to determine that the engine is being shut down; and

providing a control signal to an electrical oil pump of the oil circuit to operate the electrical oil pump until shutdown of the engine is complete.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is an oil pressure sensor positioned along the oil circuit downstream from the mechanical oil pump.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is an RPM sensor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the RPM sensor measures the speed of operation of the mechanical oil pump.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one sensor is an operator control panel, and the condition signal from the operator control panel is indicative of a command to shut the engine down.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the electrical oil pump operates until engine shutdown is complete.