U.S. patent application number 10/868733 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for oil tank valve system.
Invention is credited to Centmayer, Ralf, Wizgall, Eberhard.
Application Number | 20040255896 10/868733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33394944 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040255896 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wizgall, Eberhard ; et
al. |
December 23, 2004 |
Oil tank valve system
Abstract
Disclosed is a valve arrangement for selectively holding engine
oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line. The valve arrangement
includes an oil tank and a valve. The oil tank supplies engine oil
to the engine lubrication circuit of a vehicle's internal
combustion engine. The oil tank includes a vent opening that vents
the oil tank. The valve closes the vent opening as a function of
the oil pressure in the engine lubrication circuit.
Inventors: |
Wizgall, Eberhard;
(Illingen, DE) ; Centmayer, Ralf; (Frickingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP
FREDRIKSON & BYRON, P.A.
200 SOUTH SIXTH STREET
SUITE 4000
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
33394944 |
Appl. No.: |
10/868733 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
123/196S ;
123/196R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01M 13/023 20130101;
F01M 11/067 20130101; B63H 21/386 20130101; F01M 13/0011
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/196.00S ;
123/196.00R |
International
Class: |
F01M 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2003 |
DE |
103 28 178.9 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A valve arrangement in a vehicle for selectively holding engine
oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line, comprising: an oil
tank for supplying engine oil to an engine lubrication circuit of
an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the oil tank having a
vent opening that vents the oil tank; and a valve that closes the
vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in the engine
lubrication circuit.
2. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the valve is
hydraulic.
3. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the oil tank has an
oil inlet opening and an oil outlet opening.
4. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the valve is biased to
close the vent opening.
5. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the valve taps into a
high pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit in order to
close the vent opening as a function of the oil pressure.
6. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pressure of a
high-pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit provides the
pressure to close the vent opening.
7. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein oil acts on the valve
via a pressure oil connection within the engine lubrication circuit
to close the vent opening.
8. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vent opening is
opened by the valve at an engine lubrication circuit oil pressure
above a switchover pressure and is closed by the valve below the
switchover pressure.
9. The valve arrangement of claim 8, wherein the switchover
pressure is at least 0.5 bar.
10. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the vent opening is
opened by the valve when the internal combustion engine is running
and is closed by the valve when the internal combustion engine is
at a standstill.
11. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the closure of the
vent opening by the valve is airtight and oiltight.
12. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the valve is a plate
valve.
13. The valve arrangement of claim 1, wherein the valve is located
in the oil tank.
14. An oil tank for holding and supplying engine oil to an engine
lubrication circuit of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle,
the oil tank having a vent opening, an oil inlet opening, and an
oil outlet opening, the vent opening venting the oil tank, the oil
outlet opening returning oil from the oil tank back to the engine
via the engine lubrication circuit, and a hydraulic valve that
closes the vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in
the engine lubrication circuit.
15. The oil tank of claim 14, wherein the valve is in the oil
tank.
16. The oil tank of claim 14, wherein the pressure of a
high-pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit provides the
pressure to close the vent opening.
17. The oil tank of claim 14, wherein the vent opening is opened by
the valve at an engine lubrication circuit oil pressure above a
switchover pressure and is closed by the valve below the switchover
pressure.
18. The oil tank of claim 14, wherein the valve is a plate
valve.
19. The oil tank of claim 14, wherein the vent opening is opened by
the valve when the internal combustion engine is running and is
closed by the valve when the internal combustion engine is at a
standstill.
20. A valve arrangement in a vehicle for selectively holding engine
oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line, comprising: means for
supplying engine oil to an engine lubrication circuit of an
internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the means for supplying
having a vent opening that vents the oil tank; and a means for
closing the vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in
the engine lubrication circuit.
Description
PRIORITY
[0001] This patent application claims priority to German Patent
Application No. 103 28 178.9, filed Jun. 16, 2003; inventors:
Eberhard Wizgall and Ralf Centmayer.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The disclosure relates to a valve arrangement for
temporarily closing a vent opening of an oil tank, an oil tank for
supplying an engine lubrication circuit and a method for
temporarily closing a vent opening of an oil tank.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a suitable oil is used as lubricant for an engine
lubrication circuit of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle.
This oil is stored in an oil tank or reservoir that is incorporated
in the engine lubrication circuit. For venting purposes the oil
tank is connected to a venting line via a vent opening. The vent
opening is provided on the oil tank such that when the oil tank is
positioned in the normal way, i.e. when the vehicle is operating
normally, no or only a little oil can escape through the vent
opening.
[0004] In the event of a non-regular position of the vehicle, e.g.
if the vehicle turns on its side or turns right over, the oil tank
of the combustion engine and hence the vent opening of the oil tank
should be closed off in an oiltight manner. The irregular position
of the vehicle mentioned above may occur for example in a water
sports vehicle known as a jet ski.
[0005] Jet skis are used for playing a water sport in which a
person riding the jet ski travels over the surface of the water in
the manner of a motorcycle. When performing acrobatic maneuvers or
if the driver loses control of the jet ski, it may happen that
instead of its normal position (essentially perpendicular to the
surface of the water), the jet ski adopts an essentially horizontal
recumbent position. This horizontal position may also occur when
after traveling over the surface of the water the jet ski is set
down on its side on the beach, for example.
[0006] In such cases of horizontal or upside down positioning of
the jet ski, it follows that the oil tank will also be positioned
horizontally. The result of this is that when the vent opening is
not closed the oil contained in the oil tank escapes into the vent
line.
[0007] When the engine is running or newly started up this oil
would be taken in with the combustion air by the engine. Depending
on the amount of oil this may cause malfunction or damage to the
components.
[0008] Typically, the vent opening or the attached venting line is
closed off using electromagnetically operated valves (needle
valves). A valve of this kind can be shut off by a break in the
ignition circuit. Such an arrangement is expensive, however. The
valve has to be suitably wired up and in addition it has to have a
constant current supply. This results in additional costs both
during manufacture and in use.
[0009] When a valve of this kind is used in a jet ski the
construction of an electromagnet for opening and closing the valve
presents additional problems, as the valve also has to be resistant
to salt water.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0010] In some embodiments of the invention there is a valve
arrangement in a vehicle for selectively holding engine oil from
leaking into an oil tank vent line. The valve arrangement includes
an oil tank that supplies engine oil to an engine lubrication
circuit of an internal combustion engine. The oil tank has a vent
opening that vents the oil tank. The valve arrangement also
includes a valve that closes the vent opening as a function of a
pressure of the oil in the engine lubrication circuit.
[0011] In some alternate embodiments there is an oil tank for
holding and supplying oil to an engine lubrication circuit of an
internal combustion engine of a vehicle. The oil tank has a vent
opening, an oil inlet opening, and an oil outlet opening. The vent
opening vents the oil tank and the oil outlet opening returns oil
from the oil tank back to the engine via the engine lubrication
circuit. A hydraulic valve is also included that closes the vent
opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in the engine
lubrication circuit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows in diagrammatic side view, partly in section, a
preferred embodiment of the invention in a first state.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows in sectional side view, from a different
perspective, the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a second state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] FIG. 1 shows an oil tank 2 with a valve arrangement
according to one embodiment of the invention. The oil tank 2, which
is partly cut open at the top, has a valve 4 in its upper part. The
valve 4 comprises a piston 10 sealed off by an O-ring, a closing
spring or spring 8 and a closing ram 6. A vent opening 3 of the oil
tank 2 opens directly on to the closing ram 6 of the valve 4.
[0015] The oil tank 2 also has an inlet opening 13 for the oil,
shown at the top in FIG. 1, and a return 15 for the oil to flow
back to the engine at the bottom.
[0016] The valve 4 is controlled by the pressure oil connection 12
to which is secured to a pressure line 7 of the engine lubricating
or lubrication circuit. The oil, which is under pressure in the
pressure line 7 in the engine lubrication circuit, presses against
the piston 10 at the pressure oil connection 12, this piston 10
acting upon or positioning the spring 8 and hence the closing ram 6
as a function of the force of the pressure of the oil.
[0017] Thus, according some embodiments of the invention, the valve
is connected to a pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit
via a pressure oil connection, and the oil opens and closes the
vent opening using the valve via the pressure oil connection as a
function of the pressure. With these embodiments, variations in the
pressure of the oil within the engine lubrication circuit can be
utilized directly. The valve can easily be connected via the
pressure oil connection. This is particularly the case when the oil
tank is located close to the internal combustion engine.
[0018] Any change in pressure essential to the operation of the
valve arrangement or valve is passed on within a short time. For
this purpose the engine lubrication circuit can be tapped and
provided with the pressure line at any suitable point without any
problem.
[0019] In the view shown in FIG. 1, the valve arrangement or the
oil tank 2 is in a closed state. This may be the case when the
engine is switched off. In this case, the pressure of the oil
inside the engine lubrication circuit is below a switchover
pressure, with the result that the force of the pressure of the oil
acting on the piston 10 at the pressure connection 12 within the
engine lubrication circuit is not sufficient to counteract the
force of the spring 8 to such an extent that the closing ram 6 is
pressed downwards and the vent opening 3 is opened.
[0020] In this embodiment, the vent opening is opened by means of
the valve above a switchover pressure of the oil and closed below
the switchover pressure. In an alternative embodiment, the vent
opening is closed by means of the valve above a switchover pressure
of the oil and opened below the switchover pressure. The operation
of the valve may be adapted to suit specific and/or particularly
favorable conditions. Depending on whether the pressure of the oil
is built up or broken down faster within the engine circuit, the
construction of the valve and/or actuation of the valve by
connection to the pressure line via the pressure oil connection may
be suitably or favorably designed.
[0021] Additionally the switchover pressure may be set at a defined
level so that any changes in the pressure conditions within the
engine lubrication circuit can be taken into account in a flexible
manner. This may be the case after assembly, for example. However,
this also makes it possible to fit a valve arrangement to oil tanks
of different combustion engines having correspondingly different
oil pressures during operation.
[0022] In some embodiments of the invention, it is provided that
the vent opening is opened by means of the valve when the engine is
running and shut when the engine is at a standstill. Venting of the
oil tank only occurs and/or is necessary in these embodiments as
long as the engine is running. Once the engine has been switched
off, which may be caused for example by an unforeseen non-regular
operational situation of the vehicle in which the engine is
mounted, the valve arrangement according to the invention promptly
shuts off the oil tank. This ensures that the oil cannot be sucked
in accidentally. The combustion of oil and the resulting harmful
emissions can be avoided. When there is too much oil and high
pressure loading, burnt oil may be deposited, which detracts from
the efficiency of the engine and, in the worst-case scenario,
causes damage.
[0023] In one embodiment, it may be specified in this respect that
the switchover pressure is at least 0.5 bar. The vent opening and
hence the oil tank are consequently opened at a pressure of more
than 0.5 bar. In a normally operating internal combustion engine
there is generally a pressure of at least 0.5 bar within the engine
lubrication circuit. In another embodiment, the switchover pressure
is at least 1.5 bar.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the valve arrangement according to one
embodiment of the invention and the oil tank 2 in cross-section in
side view, rotated through 90.degree.. In addition to the
components described in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows venting channels
5, vent line 22, the inside 14 of the oil tank 2 holding oil 9, a
welded-in mesh 17 in the return means 15, a cooling water inlet 18,
a cooling water jacket 19 and a cooling water outlet 20.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the valve arrangement and hence the oil tank 2
in an open state. The force of the pressure of the oil on the
pressure oil connection 12 on the piston 10 is sufficient to
overcome the force of the spring 8 and press the closing ram 6
downwards. This is the case particularly when the pressure of the
oil prevailing in the engine lubrication circuit exceeds the
switchover pressure of the valve arrangement, which can be set to a
defined level. In this state, it is possible for air to escape from
the interior 14 of the tank through the venting channels 5, as
indicated by the arrows.
[0026] Thus, according to certain embodiments of the invention, the
valve may have a spring counteracting the pressure of the oil. As a
result of this construction the valve can react directly and
straightforwardly to the pressure of the oil within the engine
lubrication circuit.
[0027] As both FIGS. 1 and 2 show when viewed together, the valve
arrangement is actuated by the pressure of the oil in the engine
lubrication circuit. In the event of the motor coming to a
standstill (pressure of the oil is less than the switchover
pressure) the valve 4 is shut, actuated by the spring 8. When the
engine is running (oil pressure present, pressure of the oil is
greater than the switchover pressure) the valve 4 opens. An opening
or closing movement occurs as the result of the interaction between
a force of the spring 8 and a force of the pressure of the oil
acting upon the piston 10 at the pressure oil connection in this
embodiment of the invention.
[0028] A sealing seat for the valve 4 in the form of a plate valve,
in particular, is constructed as a conical seat. The oil tank 2 is
closed off in airtight and/or oiltight manner by the closing ram 6
that engages on the vent opening 3.
[0029] Thus, according to certain embodiments of the invention, the
valve of the valve arrangement that temporarily closes a vent
opening of an oil tank is constructed as a plate valve. By means of
the plate valve the vent opening of the oil tank or a venting line
for the oil tank can be opened and closed over a large cross
section. The high level of force of the oil acting upon the spring
of the valve prevents accidental closure of the valve. Thus, the
operation of the valve is not affected and/or impaired by for
example, forces of gravity or inertia generated by acceleration
processes. The operation of the valve arrangement is also
unaffected by vibrations. The high differential force which
influences the function of the valve arrangement according to the
invention by the interaction between the spring on the one hand and
the pressure of the oil on the other hand ensures that the valve
and hence the vent opening and the oil tank can be closed off
tightly, in order to be airtight and/or oiltight, in
particular.
[0030] In contrast to the known solution with an
electromagnetically operated valve, no external electrical control
is required. This regulation is carried out directly hydraulically,
i.e. in particular not electromagnetically and thus indirectly. The
operation of the combustion engine or engine lubrication circuit in
this respect is not dependent on external systems or equipment but
is self-sufficient. The hydraulic actuation by means of the
pressure of the oil allows a relatively high level of force for
both the opening and closing movement. As a result, this
mechanically actuated construction is unaffected by oscillations
and closes with a strong sealing force.
[0031] In addition, the construction is not critically affected by
loss of seal at the actuating piston of the internal combustion
engine as any oil leaks are diverted into the oil tank 2.
[0032] The oil tank valve arrangement above may be used in any
internal combustion engine having an engine lubrication circuit
with an oil tank. Obviously, in other embodiments, it may be that
another device inside an internal combustion engine is affected by
the pressure-dependent switching between two possible states. This
is particularly advantageous when the running and stoppage of the
engine are critical determinants for a change of state.
[0033] The oil tank valve arrangement above may be applied to
engines of all kinds of vehicles. It may be used to particular
advantage in substantially "single-track" vehicles and/or vehicles
which change their position even during normal operation. This may
apply to motorcycles or snowmobiles, provided that they are not
tipped on to their sides to park them when they are not
operational.
[0034] In a further embodiment the invention may be used in marine
sports equipment of all kinds and particularly in jet skis. In the
event of the engine cutting out, i.e. when no forward propulsion is
possible, a jet ski traveling on the water tips on to its side.
However, since the valve arrangement or the oil tank is sealed off
in airtight and/or oiltight manner once the internal combustion
engine has ceased operation, harmful escape of oil into the vent
line 22 is prevented.
[0035] Thus, different embodiments are disclosed. One skilled in
the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced
with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed
embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not
limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims
that follow.
* * * * *