Method and apparatus for controlling oil flow in an internal combustion engine

摘要

A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine includes an oil jet configured to communicate oil onto an internal engine surface. The oil jet is fluidly connected to a pressurized oil source via an oil flow controller that is configured to control oil flowrate to the oil jet in response to a temperature of the internal engine surface.

主权项

1. A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, comprising:
an oil jet configured to communicate oil onto an internal engine surface; the oil jet fluidly connected to a pressurized oil source via an oil flow controller comprising a thermo-sensitive flow control valve including at least a first temperature-responsive bimetallic spring and a second temperature-responsive bimetallic spring; and the oil flow controller configured to control oil flowrate directly from the pressurized oil source to the oil jet, independent of an oil pressure from the pressurized oil source, such that the oil flowrate to the oil jet is controlled to increase only in response to an actual temperature of the internal engine surface increasing and to decrease only in response to the actual temperature of the internal engine surface decreasing, said first and second temperature-responsive bimetallic springs of the thermo-sensitive flow control valve configured to position a plunger in relation to a valve seat in response to the actual temperature of the internal engine surface, said first temperature-responsive bimetallic spring configured to urge the plunger towards the valve seat and said second temperature-responsive bimetallic spring configured to urge the plunger away from the valve seat to allow:
a maximum oil flowrate to flow through the thermo-sensitive flow control valve to the oil jet when the actual temperature of the internal engine surface is increased to a value that is at least an upper threshold temperature indicative of a maximum allowable operating temperature of the internal engine surface,a reduced oil flowrate to flow through the thermo-sensitive flow control valve to the oil jet when the actual temperature of the internal engine surface is less than the upper threshold temperature and greater than a lower threshold temperature, anda discontinued oil flowrate through the thermo-sensitive flow control valve when the actual temperature of the internal engine surface is decreased to a value that is less than the lower threshold temperature.