Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crankcase oil sump overfill protection

• US 9,334,769 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2013
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Plahn, Paul H., Norrick, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Low, Lindsay
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRAUCH, CHARLES JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/750,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 123/196.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/02 using lubricating pumps pumps in general F04; lubricating pumps per se F16N
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/02 Arrangements of lubricant conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/061 Means for keeping lubricant level constant
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/025 two
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 2075/027 four

Abstract

Generally, an overflow conduit is described in apparatuses, systems, and methods to protect a crankcase oil sump from overfill. The overflow conduit is to be connected to a crankcase oil sump of an engine, and is configured to passively receive oil from the crankcase oil sump to avoid an overfill condition from occurring in the crankcase oil sump. The overflow conduit is configured to deliver excess oil received to a sub-base tank located relatively below the crankcase oil sump, or in particular at or below an oil level in the crankcase oil sump.

Claims

1. A method of preventing overfill of a crankcase oil sump in an engine of a generator set, the method comprising:

receiving excess oil from the crankcase oil sump in the engine of the generator set by an inlet of an overflow conduit, including excess oil passively entering the inlet of the overflow conduit when an excess amount of oil inside the crankcase oil sump is above an amount of oil to be contained within a predetermined oil level inside the crankcase oil sump;

directing the excess oil through the inlet of the overflow conduit, through a passage of the overflow conduit, and through an outlet of the overflow conduit, wherein directing the excess oil includes directing the excess oil out of the engine crankcase oil sump when the excess oil exceeds the predetermined oil level to a reservoir located relatively at or lower than the predetermined oil level;

and

controlling a flow of oil through the inlet of the overflow conduit to limit the amount of oil inside the engine crankcase oil sump to a level at or lower than the predetermined oil level,

wherein one of the outlet and the inlet of the overflow conduit is positioned above the predetermined oil level of the crankcase oil sump.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the excess oil comprises directing the excess oil to a reservoir that comprises a fuel tank positioned relatively lower than a predetermined excess oil level of the engine crankcase oil sump.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising diluting the excess oil with fuel present in the fuel tank, which fuel is burned during generator set operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the excess oil comprises directing the excess oil to a reservoir that comprises an oil source of an engine oil make-up system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising recirculating the excess oil to the engine crankcase oil sump and supplying the recirculated excess oil to the engine of the generator set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the excess oil is received when a failure or malfunction of an engine oil make-up system has occurred.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the excess oil through the inlet of the overflow conduit, through the passage of the overflow conduit, and through the outlet of the overflow conduit to the reservoir includes directing the excess oil through a liquid gas trap of the overflow conduit.

8. A system of a power genset to prevent overfill of a crankcase oil sump of the power genset comprising:

an oil source that includes an oil outlet;

an engine to drive the power genset, the engine including the crankcase oil sump with an oil inlet and an oil outlet;

a conduit connected to the oil outlet of the oil source and connected to the oil inlet of the crankcase oil sump;

an oil level regulator disposed along the conduit to regulate delivery of oil from the oil source to the crankcase oil sump;

an overflow conduit including an inlet connected to the outlet of the crankcase oil sump, the inlet being configured to passively receive excess oil from the crankcase oil sump when an excess amount of oil inside the crankcase oil sump is above an amount of oil to be contained within a predetermined oil level inside the crankcase oil sump, the overflow conduit being configured to maintain an oil level inside the crankcase oil sump at or lower than the predetermined oil level, the overflow conduit including an outlet; and

a reservoir located relatively at or lower than predetermined oil level in the crankcase oil sump, the reservoir including an inlet connected to the outlet of the overflow conduit,

wherein the overflow conduit is configured to deliver excess oil received by the inlet of the overflow conduit through the outlet of the overflow conduit and into the reservoir through the inlet of the reservoir when the excess oil exceeds the predetermined oil level,

wherein the predetermined oil level is set based on a relative placement of the inlet of the overflow conduit in the crankcase oil sump, and

wherein one of the outlet and the inlet of the overflow conduit is positioned above the predetermined oil level of the crankcase oil sump.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein one of the outlet and the inlet of the overflow conduit is positioned above the predetermined oil level, the predetermined oil level being below a crankshaft present in the engine.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the reservoir comprises a fuel tank positioned relatively lower than the crankcase oil sump.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the oil source includes a portion to receive excess oil,

the portion of the oil source comprises the reservoir, and

the portion of the oil source is located relatively at or lower than the predetermined oil level in the crankcase oil sump, and

the portion further comprises a recirculation line in fluid communication with the oil source to communicate the excess oil back to the oil source.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein

the overflow conduit includes a side extending portion in fluid communication with the inlet of the overflow conduit and an upright portion in fluid communication with the outlet of the overflow conduit,

the side extending portion is connected to the upright portion, and

the side extending portion has a length that is shorter than the upright portion.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the overflow conduit penetrates the crankcase oil sump below the predetermined oil level, and the inlet of the overflow conduit is disposed at or above the predetermined oil level in the crankcase oil sump.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the inlet to the overflow conduit is coupled to the side or bottom of the crankcase oil sump below the predetermined oil level, and the outlet of the overflow conduit is disposed on the reservoir at a location approximately at or above the predetermined oil level.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the overflow conduit includes a liquid gas trap.

16. A crankcase oil overflow system to prevent overfill of a crankcase oil sump of a power genset comprising:

an engine to drive the power genset, the engine including the crankcase oil sump;

an overflow conduit including an inlet connected to an outlet of the crankcase oil sump, the inlet adapted to passively receive excess oil from the crankcase oil sump when oil inside the crankcase oil sump is above a predetermined oil level inside the crankcase oil sump, the overflow conduit including an outlet;

and

a reservoir located relatively at or below the predetermined oil level in the crankcase oil sump, the reservoir including an inlet connected to the outlet of the overflow conduit,

wherein the overflow conduit is adapted to deliver excess oil received by the inlet of the overflow conduit into the reservoir through the inlet of the reservoir when the excess oil exceeds the predetermined oil level, and

wherein the predetermined oil level is set based on a relative placement of the inlet of the overflow conduit in the crankcase oil sump, and

wherein one of the outlet and the inlet of the overflow conduit is positioned above the predetermined oil level of the crankcase oil sump.

17. The crankcase oil overflow system of claim 16, wherein the reservoir comprises a fuel tank positioned relatively at or lower than predetermined oil level of the crankcase oil sump.

18. The crankcase oil overflow system of claim 16, wherein a portion of an oil source for the engine comprises the reservoir, and the portion of the oil source is located relatively at or lower than the predetermined oil level of the crankcase oil sump.