Patent ID: 8346459
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: F01M,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling oil flow between an oil accumulator and an internal combustion engine (‘engine’), comprising: monitoring an engine oil pressure indicating signal provided by an engine oil pressure sensor coupled to an oil passage of the engine; monitoring Minimum Engine Lubrication Oil Pressure (MELOP) threshold computing information for the engine, wherein the MELOP threshold is proportional to an operating speed of the engine or is a function of a plurality of load computing parameter values; and causing a flow control device to discharge oil from an engine oil accumulator into the oil passage in response to the engine oil pressure indicating signal indicating that pressure of oil in the oil passage is less than the MELOP threshold for the engine; and causing the flow control device to direct oil from an oil pump of the engine into the engine oil accumulator in response to the engine oil pressure indicating signal indicating that pressure of oil in the oil passage is greater than the specified MELOP threshold, monitoring an accumulator oil pressure indicating signal; and causing the flow control device to inhibit oil from the oil pump being directed into the engine oil accumulator in response to the accumulator oil pressure indicating signal indicating that pressure of oil within the engine oil accumulator is less than said pressure of oil in the oil passage when the engine oil pressure indicating signal indicating that said pressure of oil in the oil passage is less than the MELOP threshold.