Automatic additive replenishment system for IC engine lubricating oil

• US 6,938,585 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Schneider, Eric West
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US10/278,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20040079589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• Field of Search: 123/1.R, 123/1.A, 123/196.R, 123/196.S, 123/198.R, 184/1.5
• US Class Current: 123/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 9/02 having means for introducing additives to lubricant

Abstract

Method and apparatus for automatically replenishing additives lost from the lubricating oil of an IC engine, by injecting controlled quantities of the additive into the oil. The amount and frequency of injection is controlled by either the operating conditions of the oil (e.g. its thermal history), or changes the properties of the oil (e.g. its electrochemical activity, or dielectric constant).

Claims

1. Method for prolonging the useful life of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine, said oil, when fresh, comprising a first concentration of at least one perishable, life-extending additive, comprising storing a replenishable supply of liquid additive-concentrate proximate said engine so as to have a hydraulic head of said additive-concentrate great than that of said oil, said additive-concentrate having a second concentration of said additive greater then said first concentration, operating said engine under a condition that depletes said additive from said oil, and using only said head injecting said additive-concentrate into said oil at a rate controlled by said condition so as to replenish additive lost from said oil.

2. Method according to claim 1 wherein said additive is an anti-oxidant and said condition is an oil temperature greater than 60°

C.

3. Lubrication system for an internal combustion engine comprising a sump for collecting oil drained from the engine'"'"'s moving parts, said oil, when fresh, comprising a first concentration of an anti-oxidant that is depletable from said oil under a certain engine-operating condition, a plurality of passageways in said engine for delivering said oil to said moving parts, a first pump for pumping said oil from said sump into said passageways to lubricate said moving parts, a reservoir containing said anti-oxidant at a second concentration greater then said first concentration and at a predetermined viscosity that decreases as its temperature increases, a nozzle for injecting said anti-oxidant into said oil, said nozzle having at least one orifice immersed in said oil and sized to inject said anti-oxidant into said oil at increasing rates as the temperature of said oil increases above 60°

C., and a conduit communicating said reservoir and said nozzle for conducting said anti-oxidant from said reservoir to said nozzle, there being a hydraulic head of said anti-oxidant in said reservoir sufficient to alone inject said anti-Oxidant into said oil to replenish anti-oxidant lost from said oil.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising a crankcase for collecting oil drained from the engine'"'"'s moving parts, said oil, when fresh, containing a first concentration of at least one perishable, oil-life-extending additive depletable from said oil under a certain engine-operating condition, a plurality of passageways for delivering said oil to said moving ports, a pump for pumping said oil from said crankcase into said passageways under pressure to lubricate said moving parts, a reservoir within said crankcase containing an additive-concentrate having a second concentration of said additive greater then said first concentration, a nozzle beneath said reservoir and immersed in said oil in said crankcase for injecting said additive-concentrate into said oil when the temperature of said oil exceeds 60°

C., a conduit depending from said reservoir and communicating with said nozzle for conducting said additive-concentrate from said reservoir to said nozzle, a hydraulic head of said additive-concentrate in said reservoir for applying pressure on said additive-concentrate behind said nozzle to inject said additive-concentrate into said oil to replenish additive lost from sail oil, a filler opening in said reservoir for replenishing said additive-concentrate when depleted from said reservoir, and a liquid level sensor communicating with said reservoir for signaling the operator of the engine when the level of additive-concentrate in said reservoir is low.

5. Method for prolonging the useful life of lubricating oil in an internal combustion engine, said oil when fresh comprising a first concentration of at least one perishable, life-extending additive, comprising storing a replenishable supply of liquid additive-concentrate within said engine, said additive-concentrate having a second concentration of said additive greater then said first concentration, operating said engine under a condition that depletes said additive from said oil, and injecting said additive-concentrate into said oil at a rate controlled by said condition so as to replenish additive lost from said oil, said additive-concentrate having a hydraulic head sufficient to alone effect said injecting.