Hydraulic starter and pre-lubrication system for an internal combustion engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9926901-B2
Application number	US-201615156748-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	May 17, 2016
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

An internal combustion engine oil utilization system, comprising one or more oil pumps to receive and discharge engine oil including an engine oil circulation loop comprising a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path receives at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and utilizes the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine. The second flow path receives at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and accumulates the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An internal combustion engine oil utilization system, the system comprising:
one or more oil pumps to receive and discharge engine oil;
an engine oil circulation loop comprising a first flow path and a second flow path;
the first flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and utilize the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine; and
the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and accumulate the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the second flow path includes a hydraulic accumulator.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein:
the second flow path includes a hydraulic starter motor, and the hydraulic starter motor is in fluid communication with the hydraulic accumulator to receive oil stored in the hydraulic accumulator to start the engine.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein:
the second flow path includes a solenoid valve located upstream of the hydraulic starter motor; and
the solenoid valve is configured to control flow of the oil from the hydraulic accumulator to the hydraulic starter motor.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein:
the hydraulic starter motor is mechanically coupled to a clutch to engage to a crankshaft of the engine and disengage from the crankshaft of the engine.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein:
the hydraulic starter motor is integrated with an electric starter motor of an electric starter motor assembly.

7. The system of claim 2 wherein:
the second flow path includes an oil gallery of the engine, and the oil gallery is in fluid communication with the hydraulic accumulator to receive oil stored in the hydraulic accumulator to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein:
the second flow path includes a solenoid valve located upstream of the oil gallery; and
the solenoid valve is configured to control flow of the oil from the hydraulic accumulator to the oil gallery.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein:
the second flow path includes a pressure regulator; and the pressure regulator is in fluid communication with the hydraulic accumulator to receive oil stored in the hydraulic accumulator; and
the pressure regulator is configured to reduce a pressure of the oil received from the hydraulic accumulator.

10. The system of claim 2 wherein:
the second flow path includes a hydraulic pressure intensifier upstream of the hydraulic accumulator, and the hydraulic pressure intensifier is in fluid communication with the hydraulic accumulator to provide oil to the hydraulic accumulator.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein:
the hydraulic pressure intensifier is arranged to pressurize the oil received by the second flow path to at least 1,000 psi.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein:
the hydraulic pressure intensifier is arranged to pressurize the oil received by the second flow path to a range of 1,000-5,000 psi.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein:
the second flow path includes a pressure relief valve upstream of the hydraulic pressure intensifier.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more oil pumps comprise a first oil pump; and
the first flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the first oil pump and utilize the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine; and
the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the first oil pump and accumulate the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:
the engine oil circulation loop comprises a diverter valve configured to divert oil discharged from the first oil pump from the first flow path to the second flow path.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein:
the diverter valve is configured to open and divert oil to the second flow path when oil pressure in the first flow path equals a predetermined value.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more oil pumps to receive and discharge engine oil comprise at least a first oil pump and a second oil pump.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:
the first flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the first oil pump and utilize the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine; and
the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the second oil pump and accumulate the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:
the second flow path is selectively disposable in a first arrangement mode or a second arrangement mode;
wherein, in the first mode, the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the second oil pump and utilize the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine; and
wherein, in the second mode, the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the second oil pump and accumulate the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:
the second flow path is selectively disposable in the first arrangement mode or the second arrangement mode with a diverter valve.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:
the diverter valve is configured to operate in the first arrangement mode when oil pressure in the first flow path is below a predetermined value, and configured to operate in the second arrangement mode when the oil pressure in the first flow path equals or exceeds the predetermined value.

22. A method of engine oil utilization for an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
providing one or more oil pumps to receive and discharge oil;
providing an engine oil circulation loop comprising a first flow path and a second flow path;
the first flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and utilize the oil to lubricate the engine during running operation of the engine; and
the second flow path to receive at least a portion of the oil discharged from the one or more oil pumps and accumulate the oil to start the engine and/or to lubricate the engine during at least one of a pre-starting operation and a starting operation of the engine, the second flow path including a hydraulic accumulator;

starting the engine with a hydraulic starter motor, wherein the hydraulic oil pump is driven with engine oil stored in the hydraulic accumulator of the second flow path;
operating the engine;
while operating the engine, providing oil to the first flow path from the one or more oil pumps and lubricating the engine with at least a portion of the oil provided in the first flow path; and
while operating the engine, providing oil in the second flow path from the one or more oil pumps and storing at least a portion of the oil in the hydraulic accumulator.

Assignees

• Southwest Res Inst

Inventors

• Burrahm Robert W
• Wendel Glenn R

Classifications

• F01M1/12 Primary

  Closed-circuit lubricating systems not provided for in groups F01M1/02 - F01M1/10 · CPC title

• F02N11/003 Primary

  said electric motor being also used as a drive for auxiliaries, e.g. for driving transmission pumps or fuel pumps during engine stop · CPC title

• F01M1/20

  concerning lubricant pressure · CPC title

• F02N9/04

  the pressure fluid being generated otherwise, e.g. by compressing air · CPC title

• F01M1/16

  Controlling lubricant pressure or quantity (rendering machines or engines inoperative or idling on lubricant pressure failure F01M1/22) · CPC title