Lubrication fluid storage system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11840945-B2
Application number	US-202217651122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2022
Priority date	Mar 9, 2021
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

An internal combustion engine includes an engine lubrication fluid storage system with a primary storage volume and a secondary storage volume that is separate from the primary storage volume. The secondary storage volume is linked to the primary storage volume with a fluid flow path that is throttled so that lubrication fluid is stored in the secondary storage volume during engine operation, and drains from the secondary storage volume to the primary storage volume when the engine is not running.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an internal combustion engine including a block, a cylinder head, a plurality of components in the cylinder head, and a lubrication fluid for lubricating the plurality of components;
a lubrication fluid storage system for storing a supply of the lubrication fluid to lubricate the plurality of components, the lubrication fluid storage system including:
a primary storage volume for storing the lubrication fluid to circulate to the plurality of components of the internal combustion engine;
a secondary storage volume in or adjacent to the cylinder head for storing a portion of the lubrication fluid circulated during operation of the internal combustion engine;
a fluid flow path connecting the secondary storage volume to the primary storage volume, wherein:
the secondary storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path to throttle the fluid flow path so that lubrication fluid is retained in the secondary storage volume during operation of the internal combustion engine; and
the lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path in response to stopping operation of the internal combustion engine.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary storage volume is located within the cylinder head.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder head includes a compartment housing the plurality of components, and the compartment is in fluid communication with the secondary storage volume via a plurality of inlets into the secondary storage volume.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the secondary storage volume is located at least partially below the compartment of the cylinder head.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the compartment includes a drain in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, and the compartment and secondary storage volume are configured so lubrication fluid from the compartment drains to the primary storage volume via the drain in response to the secondary storage volume being full of lubrication fluid.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the secondary storage volume includes a divider wall including the throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow path extends through the block from the cylinder head to the primary storage volume.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the primary storage volume is a sump below the block.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary storage volume includes at least one wall with a serpentine shape that is located between the secondary storage volume and the compartment.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lubrication fluid drains into the secondary storage volume faster than a rate of drainage of the lubrication fluid through the throttled fluid flow path.

11. A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a primary storage volume for providing lubrication fluid to an internal combustion engine; and
a secondary storage volume for retaining the lubrication fluid received from a cylinder head of the internal combustion engine, wherein the secondary storage volume and the cylinder head are connected to the primary storage volume via a fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path and the cylinder head includes a drain in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume and cylinder head are configured so lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path, and the lubrication fluid in the cylinder head drains into the primary storage volume through the drain and the fluid flow path once the secondary storage volume is filled with lubrication fluid.

12. The lubrication system of claim 11 , wherein the secondary storage volume is located in a fluid drain cavity of the cylinder head below a compartment in the cylinder head, the compartment housing a plurality of components for the cylinder head.

13. The lubrication system of claim 12 , wherein the compartment of the cylinder head is in fluid communication with the secondary storage volume via a plurality of inlets that are spaced along the secondary storage volume to drain lubrication fluid from the compartment into the secondary storage volume.

14. The lubrication system of claim 11 , wherein the lubrication fluid drains via gravity to the primary storage volume through the fluid flow path.

15. The lubrication system of claim 11 , wherein the cylinder head includes a drain collector that fluidly connects the throttled outlet and the drain with the fluid flow path.

16. The lubrication system of claim 15 , wherein the throttled outlet is provided in a wall separating the secondary storage volume from the drain collector.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the drain is above the drain collector and the throttled outlet.

18. A cylinder head for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a body forming a compartment for housing a plurality of components of the internal combustion engine, the body including a storage volume within or adjacent to the compartment, wherein the storage volume is in fluid communication with the compartment via at least one inlet to permit lubrication fluid to drain from the compartment into the storage volume, and further wherein the compartment includes a drain in fluid communication with a fluid flow path for the lubrication fluid and the storage volume includes a throttled outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path, wherein the secondary storage volume and cylinder head are configured so lubrication fluid in the secondary storage volume drains into the primary storage volume through the throttled outlet and the fluid flow path, and the lubrication fluid in the cylinder head drains into the primary storage volume through the drain and the fluid flow path once the secondary storage volume is filled with lubrication fluid.

19. The cylinder head of claim 18 , wherein the body of the cylinder head includes a drain collector, and the drain is connected to the drain collector above a connection of the throttled outlet to the drain collector.

20. The cylinder head of claim 18 , wherein the storage volume includes multiple inlets from the compartment for receiving lubrication fluid from the compartment, and the storage volume includes at least one wall having a serpentine shape that is located between the compartment and the storage volume.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Diaz Poueriet Pablo F
• Morris Ella Michelle

Classifications

• F01M11/0004 Primary

  Oilsumps · CPC title

• F01M11/02

  Arrangements of lubricant conduits · CPC title

• F02F1/24 Primary

  Cylinder heads · CPC title

• F01M2011/0037

  with different oil compartments · CPC title

• F01M2011/0095

  Supplementary oil tank · CPC title