Abstract:
An oil cooling system to provide enhanced thermal control for internal combustion engines wherein the oil cooling system of the present invention works in conjunction with the standard oil lubrication circuit and typical liquid coolant system of an engine to maintain the engine temperature in a constant range even when operated in an environment with extreme thermal conditions for a prolonged period of time. The present invention detects when the oil temperature has exceeded a pre-determined range and sends the oil to a radiator with heat sinks and a fan for extracting the heat therefrom and dissipating it before recycling it back to the oil sump where it serves to lubricate and cool the heat-generating components it comes in contact with.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to cooling systems for combustion engines and, more specifically, to an oil cooling system to provide enhanced thermal control for combustion engines utilizing an oil cooling system that will maintain the temperature of the oil that lubricates the engine components and will work in parallel with the traditional liquid cooling systems currently in use to prevent an engine from overheating even under extreme conditions.  
         [0003]     Extreme heat conditions wreak havoc with combustion engines when the liquid coolant systems are unable to effectively maintain adequate thermal control of the engine because they only cool the cylinder head thereby resulting in overheating and possible engine damage. The oil lubricating the engine likewise increases in temperature as it passes through the heated components and serves to further transfer the heat to other related components thus contributing to the overheated condition rather than rectifying it. Furthermore, a high oil temperature greatly increases the rate of viscosity breakdown thereby compromising the effectiveness of the lubricating properties of the oil which could lead to engine damage.  
         [0004]     The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by introducing a means for maintaining the oil within the oil sump at a predetermined temperature range in order to act as a secondary coolant system working in parallel with the standard liquid coolant system to provide improved thermal control thereof. The cooled oil is returned to the sump rather than introduced to the engine so as to avoid a sudden temperature change therein which could lead to a very dangerous and expensive engine failure. The oil cooling system of the present invention serves to cool all of the engine components that the oil comes in contact with while the liquid cooling system cools only the cylinder head.  
         [0005]     The oil pump of the present invention is constantly in operation as the engine is running and the thermo-reactive valve remains closed under normal thermal conditions thereby routing the oil through a bypass conduit and by-pass valve that returns the oil to the sump. This provides a continuous flow of oil from the sump in order to maintain physical contact with the temperature sensors for accurate and immediate representation of the oil temperature being fed into the engine from the sump. The by-pass valve is always open during normal operating conditions to relieve pressure build-up since the pump is operating at all times even when the thermo-reactive valve is closed. It also prevents oil degradation from the high pressure and heat that would result therefrom. The by-pass valve closes during high temperature conditions to prevent pressure loss into the radiator due to oil traveling through the by-pass conduit.  
         [0006]     The oil cooling system of the present invention is flexible and may be adapted to accommodate a plurality of applications according to the needs of the engine to be cooled and the environmental conditions under which it will be used. There are many variables that may be factored in when designing the specifications of the oil cooling system for a particular application such as the high limit settings of the temperature sensors, the size of the radiator and fan, the rate and amount of oil flow through the radiator as determined by the oil pump and conduit diameter.  
         [0007]     The oil cooling system of the present invention may be manufactured into new engines or may be independent and retrofit to existing engines.  
         [0008]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0009]     There are other cooling systems for combustion engines, while these cooling systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.  
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION  
       [0010]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines wherein an oil cooling system works in parallel with the liquid coolant system to maintain a lower core temperature in the engine when operated for extended periods in a heated environment.  
         [0011]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines having a thermo-reactive valve that opens to provide passage to the oil cooling radiator when the oil temperature rises above a preselected point.  
         [0012]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines wherein the oil is removed from the oil sump by an oil pump where it is then cooled by the oil cooling radiator and a fan before being returned to the sump.  
         [0013]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines wherein the thermo-reactive valve gradually closes as the oil temperature drops below a predetermined level.  
         [0014]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines that will retard viscosity breakdown of the oil when used in an environment with extreme heat.  
         [0015]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system having it&#39;s own oil filter thereby providing a secondary filter to work in parallel with the oil filter integrated with the standard lubrication system of the engine.  
         [0016]     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines that is simple and easy to use.  
         [0017]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines that is inexpensive to manufacture and operate.  
         [0018]     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.  
         [0019]     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.  
         [0020]     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0021]     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the present invention during normal operating conditions;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the present invention during high temperature operating conditions;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the present invention and engine lubrication and liquid cooling systems during high temperature operating conditions;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of the electrical operation of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of the radiator of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the oil pump, the electrical heat switch and sensor, by-pass valve, thermo-reactive valve and oil filter of the present invention during a high temperature condition.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS  
       [0029]     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Oil Cooling System for Combustion Engines of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures. 
     10  Oil Cooling System for Combustion Engines      12  engine      14  oil sump of  12       16  oil      18  oil pump      20  electric heat switch      22  temperature sensor of  20       24  thermo-reactive valve      26  thermo-static expansion valve      27  electric by-pass valve      28  oil filter      39  oil conduit      32  intake line      34  intake port      36  return line      37  counter-backflow loop of  36       38  outlet port      40  by-pass conduit      42  oil-cooling radiator      43  heat sinks of  42       44  oil lubrication circuit of  12       46  fan      48  power source      50  liquid coolant system of  12       52  strainer element      54  cylinder head      56  oil fill port      57  fill cap      58  oil drain      60  first electrical wire from positive terminal to electric heat switch      62  second electrical wire from electric heat switch to fan      64  third electrical wire from fan to negative terminal      66  fourth electrical wire from electric by-pass valve to  62       68  fifth electrical wire from electric by-pass valve to  64       70  negative terminal of  48       72  positive terminal of  48     
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0066]     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.  
         [0067]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  is an oil cooling system  10  that serves to provide thermal control for combustion engines  12 . The present invention  10  includes an oil pump  18  that continuously draws oil  16  from the oil sump  14  of the engine  12  through an intake port  34  with a strainer element  52  that will prevent any particulate matter in the sump  14  from entering the oil cooling system  10  and returns the oil  16  to the sump  14  through a return line  36  which is the portion of the oil conduit  30  proximal the oil outlet port  38  which serves as the point of egress of the oil  16  back into the sump. The intake port  34  is disposed on the distal end of the intake conduit  32  which is the portion of the oil conduit  30  proximal the point of entry of the oil  16  in the sump  14 . The conduit  30  of the return line  36  has a counter-backflow loop  37  with the peak portion thereof level with or higher than the highest point of said intake conduit  32  to prevent the oil  16  from draining back into the sump  14  from the radiator  42  when the engine  12  is turned off. The temperature sensor  22  of the electrical heat switch  20  monitors the temperature of the oil  16  during operation of the engine  12 . A thermo-reactive valve  24  such a thermo-static expansion valve  26  remains closed during normal operating conditions routing the oil  16  through a by-pass conduit  40  back to the sump  14  and responds accordingly to a high oil  16  temperature condition by gradually opening as the heat of the oil  16  increases thereby permitting the flow of oil  16  into the radiator  42 . An electrical by-pass valve  27  is in line with the by-pass conduit  40  and is always open until the thermo-reactive valve  24  is fully open whereupon the by-pass valve  27  closes and remains as such until the electric heat switch  20  opens the circuit. The oil  16  is diverted through an oil filter  28  to a radiator  42  cooled by a fan  46  that is activated by the temperature sensor  22  of the electrical heat switch  20  closing the circuit between the power source  48  and the fan  46  when a high temperature condition is detected and the by-pass valve  27  closes simultaneously. The DC power source  48  has a positive terminal  72  and a negative terminal  70 . The value of the high temperature condition required to activate the electrical heat switch  20  should be equal to the temperature required to fully open the thermo-reactive valve  24 . The present invention  10  works in conjunction with the oil lubricating system  44  of the engine  12  and may be manufactured integral with new engines  12  or retrofit to existing ones. The electrical circuit includes a first electrical wire  60  from the positive terminal  72  of the power supply  48  to the electrical heat switch  20 , a second electrical wire  62  from the electrical heat switch  20  to the fan  46 , a third electrical wire  64  from the fan  46  to negative terminal  70 , a fourth electrical wire  66  from the electric by-pass valve  27  to the second electrical wire  62  and a fifth electrical wire  68  from by-pass valve  27  to the third electrical wire  64 .  
         [0068]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the present invention  10  during normal operating conditions. Shown is the present invention  10  in use with an operating engine  12 . The oil pump  18  is drawing oil  16  from the oil sump  14  and transporting it through the strainer element  52  in the intake port  34  to the intake line  32  past the temperature sensor  22  of the electrical heat switch  20  which is open to a thermo-reactive valve  24  such as a thermostatic expansion valve  26  that remains closed for as long as the oil  16  remains below a specified range thereby returning the oil  16  to the oil sump  14  via the by-pass conduit  40  and by-pass valve  27  which is open and leading to the return line  36 . The oil  16  is returned to the oil sump  14  through the outlet port  38  where it is introduced to the engine&#39;s  12  standard oil lubrication circuit  44 . The oil pump  18  operates continuously during the operation of the engine  12  to provide for accurate and constant monitoring by the sensor  22  and the thermo-reactive valve  24  of the temperature of the oil  16  in the oil sump  14  being used to lubricate the engine  12  components. The first electrical wire  60  is connected to the positive terminal  72  of the battery  48  and is energized once the motor  12  is operating but current (indicated by arrows) is stopped at the electrical heat switch  20  which is open.  
         [0069]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention  10  in use with an operating engine  12  during a high oil  16  temperature condition. The operation of the engine  12  mechanically drives the oil pump  18  during all phases of operation. The sensor  22  of the electrical heat switch  20  detects the high temperature condition and closes to complete the circuit between the power source  48  and the fan  46  to initiate the operation thereof. The by-pass valve  27  is simultaneously closed by the electrical current introduced thereto by the closing of the electrical heat switch  20  thereby prohibiting oil  16  through the by-pass conduit  40 . The thermostatic expansion valve  26  opens due to the high temperature of the oil  16  and diverts it through the radiator  42  where the heat is transferred to the oil conduit  30  and drawn away by the heat sinks  43  and dispersed by the air flow created by the fan  46 . The cooled oil  16  is returned to the sump  14  through the return line  36  where it is then used by the standard lubrication circuit  44  to lubricate and cool the engine  12  components. The present invention  10  serves to maintain a reasonable operating temperature of the engine  12  even during extreme conditions and to prevent viscosity breakdown of the oil that occurs under such conditions. The oil filter  28  of the present invention  10  serves to remove any small solids which may have passed through the strainer element  52  upon entry. The strainer element  52 , oil filter  28  of the present invention  10  and conventional oil filter of the engine  12  serve to provide multi-tiered filtration of the oil  16 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the present invention  10  and engine  12  during a high temperature condition wherein the path of the oil  16  in the sump  14  that is cooled by the present invention  10  and used by the engine  12  through a standard oil lubrication circuit  44  for the lubrication and cooling of the engine  12  is shown. The path of a typical liquid coolant system  50  through the engine  12  is shown in hidden line. Please note that the present invention  10  used in conjunction with a standard oil lubrication circuit  44  and typical liquid coolant system  50  provides the engine  12  with a vastly greater degree of thermal control than the typical liquid coolant system alone  50  which only cools the cylinder head  54 . The oil-cooling radiator  42  has an oil fill port  56  with fill cap  57  and an oil drain  58  to provide flexibility when performing maintenance thereupon due to the difficulties that would be encountered due to the presence of the counter-backflow loop  37 .  
         [0071]      FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic of the present invention Depicted is the electrical path of the electrical heat switch  20 , the electric by-pass valve  27  and the fan  46  in relation to a DC power source  48 . Current is applied to the first electrical wire  60  from the positive terminal  72  as soon as the engine starts operating but travels no further upon reaching the electrical heat switch  20  which remains open until a high temperature condition is detected by the temperature sensor  22 . When the oil reaches a preset temperature, the temperature sensor  22  will close the electrical heat switch  20  to deliver current to the second electrical wire  62  and enable the cooling fan  46  and to the fourth electrical wire  66  to close the by-pass valve  27  with the fifth electrical wire  68  connecting with the third electrical wire  64  leading back to the negative terminal  70 . When the oil temperature drops below the preset temperature, the electrical heat switch  20  opens in response to the temperature sensor  22  and disables the fan  46  and opens the by-pass valve  27 . The temperature sensor  22  may be variable thereby permitting the preset temperature for fan  46  and by-pass valve  27  activation to be adjusted accordingly but is preferably set to respond to a temperature equal to that required to fully open the thermo-reactive valve.  
         [0072]      FIG. 6  is a detail view of the radiator  42  of the present invention demonstrating the oil  16  flow through the conduit  30  passing therethrough. The conduit  30  of the return line  36  has a counter-backflow loop  37  with the peak portion thereof level with or higher than the highest point of said intake conduit  32  to prevent the oil  16  from draining back into the sump from the radiator  42  when the engine is turned off.  
         [0073]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the oil pump  18 , the electrical heat switch  20  and its sensor  22 , the oil filter  28 , the open thermo-reactive valve  24  shown here as a thermo-static expansion valve  26  which is fully open and the closed by-pass valve  27  during a high oil  16  temperature condition.  
         [0074]     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.  
         [0075]     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.  
         [0076]     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.