| 摘要 |
A vehicle has an engine 10 and a lubrication system 12 for the engine. The lubrication system includes a lubricant reservoir 14 for storing engine lubricant 16 and a heater 28 arranged for heating lubricant as it travels between the reservoir and the engine. The lubrication system further includes a conduit 20, 24, for conveying engine lubricant between the reservoir and the vehicle engine, and the heater is in contact with an external surface of the conduit and is able to provide heating of the conduit. The heater can be an electrically-conductive heating element, and the heater may be a helically wound resistive wire around the outside of the conduit which may be supplied with power via any one of a vehicle battery, a vehicle alternator, or regenerative breaking of the vehicle. To enhance heating, the heater may be enclosed by an insulating material 32, and the heating element may be controlled by temperature sensors 36 and an engine control unit 38. The arrangement permits improved control of lubricant temperature, for example during start-up. |
