Motor oil heating system, product and method

• US 20080178830A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Sposato
• Original Assignee: Richard Sposato
• Inventors: Sposato, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,918,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/142.5E
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/001 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/021 by heating

Abstract

A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; one or more heaters thermally coupled to the motor oil, wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heaters and power the heaters based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heaters warm the engine oil.

Claims

1. An oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; and

one or more heating elements physically externally connected to an oil reservoir of an engine,

wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heating elements and power the heating elements based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heating elements warm the oil above ambient temperatures reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the heater is a heating pad affixed to an exterior of an oil pan.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the heating element is physically positioned to enter into either an interior of an engine block or an oil pan.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one battery; and

at least one control module electrically coupled to the battery, the solar panel and the heating element,

wherein the control module switches power to the heating element between the battery and the solar panel.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the control module is a timer.

2. An oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; and

one or more heating elements physically connected to an oil pan of an engine,

wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heating pads and power the heating pads based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heating pads warm the oil above ambient temperatures reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

3. An oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; and

one or more heating pads physically connected to a transmission oil pan,

wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heating pads and power the heating pads based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heating pads warm the oil above ambient temperatures reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

4. A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells; and

one or more heating elements thermally coupled to the motor oil reservoir,

wherein the solar panels are electrically coupled to the heating elements and power the heating elements based on a voltage generated by the solar panel such that the heating elements warm the engine oil above ambient temperature reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

9. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

at least one battery electrically coupled to said solar panel; and

at least one voltage regulator for controlling power between the battery, the solar panels and the heating elements,

wherein the voltage regulator controls power to heater based on the output of the solar panel and the charge state of the battery.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a control module; and

an electrical connector connected to a power supply,

wherein the control module switches power to the heating elements between the power supply and the solar panel.

11. The system of claim 4 further comprising a temperature probe for measuring the temperature of the oil and selectively applying an electrical current to the heating elements based on the temperature of the oil.

12. A motor oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells;

one or more heating elements physically connected to the motor oil,

a timer; and

a battery,

wherein the solar panels are electrically connected to the battery, said battery being electrically connected to the timer, said timer providing power to the heating element at a predetermined interval such that the heating elements heat the motor oil above ambient temperatures thus reducing the viscosity of the oil and facilitating pumping the motor oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

13. A transmission oil heating system for a vehicle comprising:

one or more solar panels comprised of one or more photovoltaic cells;

one or more heating elements physically connected to the transmission oil,

a timer; and

a battery,

wherein the solar panels are electrically connected to the battery, said battery being electrically connected to the timer, said timer providing power to the heating elements at a predetermined interval such that the heating elements heat the transmission oil above ambient temperatures thus reducing the viscosity of the oil and facilitating pumping the motor oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

27. The system of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of oil reservoirs.

14. A method of increasing fuel efficiency of an engine comprising the following steps in any order:

connecting at least one heating element to an oil reservoir of the engine, and

coupling the heating element to one or more solar panels,

wherein when the engine is not operating, the temperature of the oil is raised above ambient temperatures reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

15. The method of claim 14 for increasing fuel efficiency of an engine further comprising the following steps in any order:

thermally coupling at least one heating element to an oil reservoir of the engine;

coupling the heating element to one or more control modules; and

coupling the control modules to one or more solar panels,

wherein when the engine is not operating, the temperature of the oil is raised above ambient temperature reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the control module is a timer for providing power to the heaters at a predetermined interval such that the oil is not continuously heated.

17. A method of increasing fuel efficiency of an engine comprising the following steps in any order:

thermally coupling at least one heating element to an oil reservoir of the engine;

coupling the heating element to one or more power sources, and

wherein when the engine is not operating, the temperature of the oil is raised above ambient temperature reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the power source is a solar panel comprising one or more photovoltaic cells.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the heating element is coupled to the power source though a control module so that power sources are selectively coupled to the heating element.

20. The method of claim 24 wherein the control module is a timer.

21. The method of claim 24 wherein the control module is a voltage regulator.

22. The method of claim 24 wherein the control module is a switch.

23. The method of claim 24 wherein the heater is a heating pad.

24. The method of claim 19 further wherein one of the one or more power sources is 120 VAC power.

25. The method of claim 24 for increasing the fuel efficiency of an engine further comprising:

connecting at least one heating element to an oil reservoir of the engine;

coupling the heating element to one or more solar panels; and

heating the oil from a cold start temperature to the operating temperature of the engine,

wherein the cold start temperature is greater than the freezing point of the oil,

wherein when the engine is not operating, the temperature of the oil is raised reducing the viscosity of the oil thus facilitating pumping the oil when the engine initially begins to operate.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the increased fuel efficiency is maximized in a temperature range from about a cold start temperature of greater than 32 degrees Fahrenheit to an optimal heated temperature of 112 degrees Fahrenheit.