Pressure regulator for engine lubrication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12326103-B2
Application number	US-202318172652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2023
Priority date	Sep 2, 2020
Publication date	Jun 10, 2025
Grant date	Jun 10, 2025

Abstract

A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine includes a fluid flow control device at the outlet side of the pump that regulates pressure conditions at the outlet side of the pump upstream of the lubrication circuit in the engine. The fluid flow control device includes a chamber that is opened in response a fluid pressure exceeding a threshold to allow the fluid to pass from the outlet side of the pump back to the inlet side of the pump. The fluid flow control device also includes at least one elongated aperture in communication with the chamber for receiving fluid fed from the chamber and allowing the fluid in the chamber to flow to the inlet side of the pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
a reservoir from which fluid is fed by a pump for circulation through the lubrication system via a fluid flow path; and
a flow control device coupled to the fluid flow path downstream of an outlet side of the pump, the flow control device including an elongated body defining a chamber extending from a first end of the body toward a second end of the body, a plunger at the first end of the body configured to normally close the chamber at the first end of the body and to displace into the body to admit fluid through an opening at or adjacent the first end into the chamber in response to a fluid pressure in the fluid flow path exceeding a threshold, and at least one elongated aperture extending along a longitudinal axis of the body, the elongated aperture being configured to slow displacement of the plunger as the plunger progressively opens the at least one elongated aperture to allow fluid to flow from the chamber through the elongated aperture to an inlet side of the pump as the plunger is displaced into the body, wherein the at least one elongated aperture is two elongated apertures located on opposite sides of the body.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plunger is spring-loaded and is movable to selectively open and close the chamber from the fluid flow path.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plunger includes a base oriented toward the first end and a stem extending from the base toward the second end of the body.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated aperture is racetrack-shaped.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated aperture is located closer to the first end of the body than the second end of the body.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one elongated aperture extends from a first end of the at least one elongated aperture oriented toward the first end of the body to an opposite second end of the at least one elongated aperture and, as the plunger is moved into the body to admit fluid into the chamber, the plunger moves along the at least one elongated aperture from the first end toward the second end as the fluid pressure in the fluid flow path increases to progressively expose the at least one elongated aperture to the fluid admitted into the chamber for circulation to the inlet side of the pump through an exposed part of the at least one elongated aperture.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a grooved portion that forms a recess in an exterior of the body around the at least one elongated aperture.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the body includes a flange at the second end of the body and an exterior threaded portion that is located adjacent the flange.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the chamber extends to a blind end adjacent the second end of the body.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a hole extending therethrough adjacent the second end of the body.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow control device is located on an outlet side of the pump.

12. A flow control device for controlling a pressure in a fluid flow path of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
an elongated cylindrical body defining a chamber extending from a first end of the body toward a second end of the body, a plunger at the first end of the body configured to normally close the chamber at the first end of the body and to displace into the body to admit fluid through an opening at or adjacent the first end into the chamber in response to the pressure in the fluid flow path exceeding a threshold, and at least one elongated aperture extending along a longitudinal axis of the body that opens into the chamber and at an exterior side of the body, the elongated aperture being configured to slow displacement of the plunger as the plunger progressively opens the at least one elongated aperture to allow fluid flow from the chamber therethrough in response to the plunger being displaced into the body, wherein the at least one elongated aperture is two elongated apertures located on opposite sides of the body.

13. The flow control device of claim 12 , wherein the plunger is spring-loaded and is movable to selectively open and close the chamber from the fluid flow path.

14. The flow control device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one elongated aperture extends from a first end of the at least one elongated aperture oriented toward the first end of the body to an opposite second end of the at least one elongated aperture and, as the plunger is moved into the body to admit fluid into the chamber, the plunger moves along the at least one elongated aperture from the first end toward the second end as the fluid pressure in the fluid flow path increases to progressively expose the at least one elongated aperture to the fluid admitted into the chamber for circulation through an exposed part of the at least one elongated aperture.

15. The flow control device of claim 12 , wherein the body defines a grooved portion that forms a recess in an exterior of the body around the at least one elongated aperture.

16. The flow control device of claim 15 , wherein:
the body includes a flange at the second end of the body and an exterior threaded portion that is located adjacent the flange; and
the chamber extends to a blind end adjacent the second end of the body.

17. The flow control device of claim 16 , wherein the body includes a hole extending therethrough adjacent the second end of the body.

Assignees

• Cummins Inc

Inventors

• Tooley Simon
• Mcnish Daniel
• Rigg Jason Kenneth

Classifications

• F16K31/1221

  one side of the piston being spring-loaded · CPC title

• F05D2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title

• F05D2260/96

  Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise · CPC title

• F04D15/0011

  by-pass valves · CPC title

• F04B53/129

  Poppet valves · CPC title