Oil control unit for high-performance vehicles

• US 5,568,842 A
• Filed: 09/02/1994
• Issued: 10/29/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Akesama Otani
• Original Assignee: Akesama Otani
• Inventors: Otani, Akesama
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US08/300,463
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.4, 184/6.5, 184/6.6, 184/6.7, 184/6.8, 184/6.9, 184/6.13, 184/6.22, 184/18, 184/103.1, 184/103.2, 184/104.3, 184/105.1, 184/108, 123/196 R, 123/196 AB
• US Class Current: 184/6.22
• 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 11/04 Filling or draining lubricant of or from machines or engines
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/061 Means for keeping lubricant level constant
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/12 concerning lubricant level
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/123 using two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/007 Thermostatic control
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/101 of cam surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/102 of camshaft bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/108 of auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2275/18 DOHC [Double overhead camshaft]
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/02 Microprocessor; Microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/04 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/18 Level

Abstract

A control unit for circulating lubricating oil to vehicle engine parts comprising an oil tank for collecting lubricating oil; a hydraulic circuit which directs the lubricating oil to the appropriate parts and returns the lubricating oil to the oil tank; an oil pump provided in the hydraulic circuit for circulating the lubricating oil therein; at least one sub-oil tank which can contain an appropriate amount of lubricating oil; at least one hydraulic pipe which connects the sub-oil tank with the hydraulic circuit; and an oil pump which transfers, via the hydraulic pipe, lubricating oil from the sub-oil tank to the hydraulic circuit and from the hydraulic circuit to the sub-oil tank. The unit may also have a cooling bypass for diverting the lubricating oil from the hydraulic circuit to oil cooling means and means for regulating the amount of oil circulated in the hydraulic circuit and in the cooling bypass.

Claims

1. A control unit for circulating lubricating oil to vehicle engine parts comprising:

(a) a main oil sump for collecting said lubricating oil;

(b) a hydraulic circuit for supplying the oil to the engine parts and returning the oil to the main oil sump;

(c) an oil pump provided in the hydraulic circuit for circulating the oil therein;

(d) at least one sub-oil sump which is capable of holding an optimum amount of lubricating oil;

(e) at least one hydraulic tube which connects the sub-oil sump and the hydraulic circuit;

(f) means for transferring the oil from the sub-oil sump to the hydraulic circuit and from the hydraulic circuit to the sub-oil sump;

(g) means for cooling the lubricating oil;

(h) a cooling bypass for diverting the lubricating oil from the hydraulic circuit to the oil cooling means and for transferring the oil from the cooling means to the hydraulic circuit;

(i) a thermostat for regulating the path of the lubricating oil in accordance with its temperature, said thermostat having a first position where the oil circulates only through the hydraulic circuit and a second position where the lubricating oil circulates through the hydraulic circuit and cooling bypass;

(j) means for detecting the pressure of the lubricating oil flowing through the cooling bypass; and

,

(k) means for controlling the transfer means in response to changes in the pressure of the lubricating oil detected by the pressure detecting means.

2. A control unit according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means comprises means responsive to said means for detecting the pressure of the lubricating oil in the cooling bypass for supplying information to the transfer means to cause it to regulate the oil pressure in the cooling bypass within a predetermined range.

3. A control unit according to claim 1 further comprising:

(a) means for detecting the amount of lubricating oil in the hydraulic circuit; and

(b) control means for supplying information to the transfer means to direct the flow of oil to or from the hydraulic circuit.

4. A control unit according to claim 3 further comprising:

(a) means for determining whether the amount of lubricating oil in the hydraulic circuit is within a predetermined optimum range, said determining means providing information to the transfer means, said transfer means being responsive to the information to regulate the amount of oil in the hydraulic circuit.

5. A control unit according to claim 3 wherein said main oil sump comprises an oil tank separate from the engine.

6. A control unit according to claim 3, wherein the main oil sump comprises an oil pan mounted to the engine.

7. A control unit according to claim 5, wherein the sub-oil tank contains lubricating oil of a type different from that circulating through the hydraulic circuit.

8. A control unit according to claim 7, wherein the oil in the sub-oil tank has a higher ratio of oil additives to base oil than the oil circulating in the hydraulic circuit.

9. A control unit according to claim 6, wherein the sub-oil tank contains lubricating oil of a type different from that circulating through the hydraulic circuit.

10. A control unit according to claim 9, wherein the oil in the sub-oil tank has a higher ratio of oil additives to base oil than the oil circulating in the hydraulic circuit.