Electronically controlled continuous lubricating oil replacement system

• US 5,881,688 A
• Filed: 01/14/1998
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Stehouwer, David M., Wang, Jerry C., Graham, John P., Hatton, Ray C., Roettgen, Leslie A., Carver, Donald P., Black, Colin I.
• Primary Examiner(s): KWON, JOHN
• Application Number:
  US09/007,048
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 123/73 AD, 123/196 R, 123/196 S, 123/381
• US Class Current: 123/73.0AD
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0458 Lubricant filling and draining
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0466 Filling or draining during running
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0475 with combustion of used lubricant in the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3005 Details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2230/02 Microprocessor; Microcomputer

Abstract

An improved system for automatically continuously replacing an engine'"'"'s used lubricating oil with fresh lubricating oil throughout operation based on engine operating conditions is disclosed. The present system includes an intermittent injection control device for intermittently injecting small amounts of used lube oil into the engine'"'"'s fuel system. An electronic controller is provided to vary the amount of used lube oil injected into the oil system based on the severity of engine operation. The system periodically determines an engine operating severity value, i.e. fuel consumption value, for an interval of engine operation and calculates a base line quantity of oil for injection based on the current fuel consumption of the engine during the current interval. The system may also include an auxiliary flow control device for directing controlled quantities of fresh oil into the engine'"'"'s lube oil system for maintaining the engine'"'"'s oil sump at a proper level. The system maintains the quality of the engine lube oil at a level necessary to provide optimal engine protection at all engine operating conditions while also maintaining the oil concentration in the engine'"'"'s fuel at an acceptable level.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled continuous lube oil replacement system for an engine having a fuel supply system for supplying fuel to the engine, comprising:

engine lube oil supply means including a lube oil supply circuit for delivering a supply of lube oil to the engine;

a lube oil injection circuit connected to said lube oil supply circuit and the fuel supply system for permitting injection quantities of used lube oil to intermittently flow from said lube oil supply circuit to said fuel supply system for mixing with the fuel;

an engine lube oil intermittent injection control means positioned along said lube oil injection circuit for intermittently injecting said injection quantities of used lube oil into said fuel supply system;

engine operating condition detecting means for detecting at least one engine operating condition and generating an engine operating condition signal indicative of said at least one engine operating condition;

processing means for receiving said engine operating condition signal, calculating an engine operating severity value based on said engine condition signal and generating an injection flow control signal based on said engine operating severity value, said injection flow control signal controlling the operation of said lube oil injection control means to vary a frequency of intermittent injection of said injection quantities of used lube oil.

2. The continuous lube oil replacement system of claim 1, further including an auxiliary lube oil supply means including an auxiliary lube oil supply circuit for providing an auxiliary supply flow of lube oil to said main lube oil supply means and an auxiliary lube oil tank containing a supply of auxiliary lube oil, further including an auxiliary lube oil flow control means positioned along said auxiliary lube oil supply circuit for controlling said auxiliary supply flow of lube oil to said engine lube oil supply means.

3. The continuous lube oil replacement system of claim 2, wherein said processing means generates an auxiliary flow control signal for controlling the operation of said auxiliary lube oil flow control means.