Engine lubrication circuit including two pumps
Abstract
A lubrication pump coupled to the engine is sized such that the it can supply the engine with a predetermined flow volume as soon as the engine reaches a peak torque engine speed. In engines that operate predominately at speeds above the peak torque engine speed, the lubrication pump is often producing lubrication fluid in excess of the predetermined flow volume that is bypassed back to a lubrication fluid source. This arguably results in wasted power. In order to more efficiently lubricate an engine, a lubrication circuit includes a lubrication pump and a variable delivery pump. The lubrication pump is operably coupled to the engine, and the variable delivery pump is in communication with a pump output controller that is operable to vary a lubrication fluid output from the variable delivery pump as a function of at least one of engine speed and lubrication flow volume or system pressure. Thus, the lubrication pump can be sized to produce the predetermined flow volume at a speed range at which the engine predominately operates while the variable delivery pump can supplement lubrication fluid delivery from the lubrication pump at engine speeds below the predominant engine speed range.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Caterpillar Inc., Deerfield, IL (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1175920
- Patent Number(s):
- 7114482
- Application Number:
- 10/419,550
- Assignee:
- Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, IL)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F01 - MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL F01M - LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC04-00AL67017
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
Citation Formats
Lane, William H. Engine lubrication circuit including two pumps. United States: N. p., 2006.
Web.
Lane, William H. Engine lubrication circuit including two pumps. United States.
Lane, William H. Tue .
"Engine lubrication circuit including two pumps". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1175920.
@article{osti_1175920,
title = {Engine lubrication circuit including two pumps},
author = {Lane, William H.},
abstractNote = {A lubrication pump coupled to the engine is sized such that the it can supply the engine with a predetermined flow volume as soon as the engine reaches a peak torque engine speed. In engines that operate predominately at speeds above the peak torque engine speed, the lubrication pump is often producing lubrication fluid in excess of the predetermined flow volume that is bypassed back to a lubrication fluid source. This arguably results in wasted power. In order to more efficiently lubricate an engine, a lubrication circuit includes a lubrication pump and a variable delivery pump. The lubrication pump is operably coupled to the engine, and the variable delivery pump is in communication with a pump output controller that is operable to vary a lubrication fluid output from the variable delivery pump as a function of at least one of engine speed and lubrication flow volume or system pressure. Thus, the lubrication pump can be sized to produce the predetermined flow volume at a speed range at which the engine predominately operates while the variable delivery pump can supplement lubrication fluid delivery from the lubrication pump at engine speeds below the predominant engine speed range.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2006},
month = {10}
}