Method and Apparatus

• US 20170107873A1
• Filed: 05/21/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Castrol Limited (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Pearson, Richard, Taylor, Oliver Paul, Ali, Rana, Goodier, Steven Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,473,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/12 Closed-circuit lubricating systems not provided for in groups F01M1/02 - F01M1/10
• 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 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/12 concerning lubricant level
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 13/021 of negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/0207 characterised by the type of pump
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/126 Dry-sumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0095 Supplementary oil tank
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/0005 with systems regulating the pressure in the carter
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2013/026 with pumps sucking air or blow-by gases from the crankcase
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/00 Measuring
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/18 Level
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/36 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/28 Oils , i.e. hydrocarbon liquidsgaseous fuels G01N33/225; edible oils or edible fats G01N33/03

Abstract

In some embodiments, there is provided a method of controlling a pressure gradient between a combustion chamber and a crankcase of an engine, the method having: receiving, at a control device, a signal indicating that a lubricant container is coupled to a lubricant circulation system associated with the engine, in response to the received signal, providing data to cause operation of a suction control device for facilitating control of the pressure gradient.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a pressure gradient between a combustion chamber and a crankcase of an engine, the method comprising:

receiving, at a control device, a signal indicating that a lubricant container is coupled to a lubricant circulation system associated with the engine, and

in response to the received signal, providing data to cause operation of a suction control device for facilitating control of the pressure gradient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suction control device comprises at least an element selected from a list comprising:

a pump, a throttle, an orifice, and a venturi effect system.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sensing at least one property of the crankcase of the engine, wherein the provided data is based on the sensed property.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the property of the crankcase is at least one property selected from the group consisting of:

a pressure in the crankcase,

a temperature in the crankcase,

an amount of lubricant in the crankcase,

a viscosity of the lubricant in the crankcase,

a density of the lubricant in the crankcase, and

a chemical composition of the lubricant in the crankcase.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the data comprises:

providing the data to an engine control device; and

further comprising;

in response to the received data, the engine control device causing operation of the suction control device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the data comprises:

providing the data to a control device of the lubricant container; and

further comprising;

in response to the received data, the control device of the lubricant container causing operation of the suction control device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing of the data comprises:

providing the data to a control device of a dock for the lubricant container; and

further comprising;

in response to the received data, the control device of the dock causing operation of the suction control device.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the providing of the data comprises:

providing the data to a control device distributed in control devices selected from a list comprising;

an engine control device, a control device of the lubricant container, and a control device of a dock for the lubricant container; and

further comprising;

in response to the received data, the distributed control device causing operation of the suction control device.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the causing of the operation of the suction control device further comprises controlling the pressure gradient, based on the data, by:

controlling a device selected from a list comprising;

a pump, a throttle, an orifice, and a venturi effect system.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the control device, of the signal comprises:

receiving the signal at an engine control device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the control device, of the signal comprises:

receiving the signal at a control device of the lubricant container.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the control device, of the signal comprises:

receiving the signal at a control device of a dock for the lubricant container.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the control device, of the signal comprises:

receiving the signal at a control device distributed in control devices selected from a list comprising;

an engine control device, a control device of the lubricant container, and a control device of a dock for the lubricant container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the suction control device is coupled to the lubricant circulation system associated with the engine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the suction control device comprises a scavenging pump configured to pump the lubricant out of the crankcase.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the suction control device comprises an electric pump and/or a hydraulic pump and/or a pneumatic pump configured to pump the lubricant into the lubricant container.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the suction control device is coupled to a vent of the crankcase.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the suction control device comprises a vacuum pump configured to pump gas out of the crankcase.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the suction control device further comprises at least one of a throttle, a controllable orifice, and a venturi effect system.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the lubricant container comprises a replaceable lubricant container comprising a coupling configured to provide fluidic communication between a reservoir of the container for holding the lubricant and the lubricant circulation system associated with the engine.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the data to the control device comprises:

providing the data when positioning of the container permits fluidic communication between the reservoir and the fluid circulation system associated with the engine.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

a data provider of the container providing the signal or the data to the control device when positioning of the container permits fluidic communication between the reservoir and the fluid circulation system associated with the engine.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data comprises additional data based on at least one property of the lubricant.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the at least one property is selected from the group consisting of:

an amount of lubricant,

a temperature of the lubricant,

a pressure of the lubricant,

a viscosity of the lubricant,

a viscosity index of the lubricant,

a density of the lubricant,

an electrical resistance of the lubricant,

a dielectric constant of the lubricant,

an opacity of the lubricant, and

a chemical composition of the lubricant.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data comprises additional data based on at least one property of the engine.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the at least one property of the engine comprises information in connection with at least one of:

a geographical location of the engine;

history of operation of the engine;

load of the engine; and

an abnormal combustion event, such as occurrence of a mega-knock event.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided data comprises additional data based on at least one property of the fuel.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one property of the fuel is selected from the group consisting of:

an oxygen concentration of the fuel;

at least one characteristic of the distillation of the fuel,

a viscosity of the fuel,

a density of the fuel,

an electrical resistance of the fuel,

a dielectric constant of the fuel,

an opacity of the fuel, and

a chemical composition of the fuel.

29. The method of claim 23, comprising:

sensing the at least one property, wherein the additional data is based on the sensed property.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the received signal:

providing the data to a memory.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the providing of the data to the memory comprises:

storing the data obtained from the control device in the memory.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the memory is distributed in memories selected from a list comprising:

a memory of an engine management device, a memory of a data provider of the lubricant container, and a memory of a data provider of a dock for the lubricant container.

43. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions operable to program a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

44. A replaceable lubricant container for an engine comprising the computer readable medium of claim 43 and a reservoir for holding a lubricant.

33. A method of inhibiting or reducing entry of a lubricant from a crankcase in to a combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, comprising maintaining a pressure gradient between the combustion chamber and the crankcase using a suction control device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the suction control device is coupled to a lubricant circulation system adapted to provide lubricant to the crankcase.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the suction control device comprises a scavenging pump configured to pump the lubricant out of the crankcase.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the suction control device comprises an electric pump, a hydraulic pump, and a pneumatic pump configured to pump the lubricant into a replaceable lubricant container.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the suction control device is coupled to a vent of the crankcase.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the suction control device comprises a vacuum pump configured to pump gas out of the crankcase.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the suction control device further comprises at least one of a throttle, a controllable orifice, and a venturi effect system.

40. An apparatus configured to control a pressure gradient between a combustion chamber and a crankcase of an engine, comprising:

a control device configured to receive a signal indicating that a lubricant container is coupled to a lubricant circulation system associated with the engine,

wherein the apparatus is further configured to, in response to the received signal, provide data to cause operation of a suction control device for facilitating control of the pressure gradient.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, comprising an engine comprising a fluid circulation system adapted for fluidic communication with a reservoir of the lubricant container.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising the lubricant container.

45. A control device adapted for use with an apparatus as claimed in claim 40, wherein the control device is configured to control operation of a suction control device for facilitating control of the pressure gradient based on the provided data.

46. A vehicle comprising an apparatus of claim 40.