Oil cooling system to provide enhanced thermal control for combustion engines

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.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The oil cooling system of the present invention may be manufactured into new engines or may be independent and retrofit to existing engines.

2. Description of the Prior Art

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system having it'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.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an oil cooling system for combustion engines that is simple and easy to use.

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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS

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.10Oil Cooling System for Combustion Engines12engine14oil sump of1216oil18oil pump20electric heat switch22temperature sensor of2024thermo-reactive valve26thermo-static expansion valve27electric by-pass valve28oil filter30oil conduit32intake line34intake port36return line37counter-backflow loop of3638outlet port40by-pass conduit42oil-cooling radiator43heat sinks of4244oil lubrication circuit of1246fan48power source50liquid coolant system of1252strainer element54cylinder head56oil fill port57fill cap58oil drain60first electrical wire from positive terminal to electric heat switch62second electrical wire from electric heat switch to fan64third electrical wire from fan to negative terminal66fourth electrical wire from electric by-pass valve to6268fifth electrical wire from electric by-pass valve to6470negative terminal of4872positive terminal of48

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the present invention10. The present invention10is an oil cooling system10that serves to provide thermal control for combustion engines12. The present invention10includes an oil pump18that continuously draws oil16from the oil sump14of the engine12through an intake port34with a strainer element52that will prevent any particulate matter in the sump14from entering the oil cooling system10and returns the oil16to the sump14through a return line36which is the portion of the oil conduit30proximal the oil outlet port38which serves as the point of egress of the oil16back into the sump. The intake port34is disposed on the distal end of the intake conduit32which is the portion of the oil conduit30proximal the point of entry of the oil16in the sump14. The conduit30of the return line36has a counter-backflow loop37with the peak portion thereof level with or higher than the highest point of said intake conduit32to prevent the oil16from draining back into the sump14from the radiator42when the engine12is turned off. The temperature sensor22of the electrical heat switch20monitors the temperature of the oil16during operation of the engine12. A thermo-reactive valve24such a thermo-static expansion valve26remains closed during normal operating conditions routing the oil16through a by-pass conduit40back to the sump14and responds accordingly to a high oil16temperature condition by gradually opening as the heat of the oil16increases thereby permitting the flow of oil16into the radiator42. An electrical by-pass valve27is in line with the by-pass conduit40and is always open until the thermo-reactive valve24is fully open whereupon the by-pass valve27closes and remains as such until the electric heat switch20opens the circuit. The oil16is diverted through an oil filter28to a radiator42cooled by a fan46that is activated by the temperature sensor22of the electrical heat switch20closing the circuit between the power source48and the fan46when a high temperature condition is detected and the by-pass valve27closes simultaneously. The DC power source48has a positive terminal72and a negative terminal70. The value of the high temperature condition required to activate the electrical heat switch20should be equal to the temperature required to fully open the thermo-reactive valve24. The present invention10works in conjunction with the oil lubricating system44of the engine12and may be manufactured integral with new engines12or retrofit to existing ones. The electrical circuit includes a first electrical wire60from the positive terminal72of the power supply48to the electrical heat switch20, a second electrical wire62from the electrical heat switch20to the fan46, a third electrical wire64from the fan46to negative terminal70, a fourth electrical wire66from the electric by-pass valve27to the second electrical wire62and a fifth electrical wire68from by-pass valve27to the third electrical wire64.

FIG. 2is a schematic view of the present invention10during normal operating conditions. Shown is the present invention10in use with an operating engine12. The oil pump18is drawing oil16from the oil sump14and transporting it through the strainer element52in the intake port34to the intake line32past the temperature sensor22of the electrical heat switch20which is open to a thermo-reactive valve24such as a thermostatic expansion valve26that remains closed for as long as the oil16remains below a specified range thereby returning the oil16to the oil sump14via the by-pass conduit40and by-pass valve27which is open and leading to the return line36. The oil16is returned to the oil sump14through the outlet port38where it is introduced to the engine's12standard oil lubrication circuit44. The oil pump18operates continuously during the operation of the engine12to provide for accurate and constant monitoring by the sensor22and the thermo-reactive valve24of the temperature of the oil16in the oil sump14being used to lubricate the engine12components. The first electrical wire60is connected to the positive terminal72of the battery48and is energized once the motor12is operating but current (indicated by arrows) is stopped at the electrical heat switch20which is open.

FIG. 3is a schematic view of the present invention10. Shown is the present invention10in use with an operating engine12during a high oil16temperature condition. The operation of the engine12mechanically drives the oil pump18during all phases of operation. The sensor22of the electrical heat switch20detects the high temperature condition and closes to complete the circuit between the power source48and the fan46to initiate the operation thereof. The by-pass valve27is simultaneously closed by the electrical current introduced thereto by the closing of the electrical heat switch20thereby prohibiting oil16through the by-pass conduit40. The thermostatic expansion valve26opens due to the high temperature of the oil16and diverts it through the radiator42where the heat is transferred to the oil conduit30and drawn away by the heat sinks43and dispersed by the air flow created by the fan46. The cooled oil16is returned to the sump14through the return line36where it is then used by the standard lubrication circuit44to lubricate and cool the engine12components. The present invention10serves to maintain a reasonable operating temperature of the engine12even during extreme conditions and to prevent viscosity breakdown of the oil that occurs under such conditions. The oil filter28of the present invention10serves to remove any small solids which may have passed through the strainer element52upon entry. The strainer element52, oil filter28of the present invention10and conventional oil filter of the engine12serve to provide multi-tiered filtration of the oil16.

FIG. 4is a schematic view of the present invention10and engine12during a high temperature condition wherein the path of the oil16in the sump14that is cooled by the present invention10and used by the engine12through a standard oil lubrication circuit44for the lubrication and cooling of the engine12is shown. The path of a typical liquid coolant system50through the engine12is shown in hidden line. Please note that the present invention10used in conjunction with a standard oil lubrication circuit44and typical liquid coolant system50provides the engine12with a vastly greater degree of thermal control than the typical liquid coolant system alone50which only cools the cylinder head54. The oil-cooling radiator42has an oil fill port56with fill cap57and an oil drain58to provide flexibility when performing maintenance thereupon due to the difficulties that would be encountered due to the presence of the counter-backflow loop37.

FIG. 5is an electrical schematic of the present invention Depicted is the electrical path of the electrical heat switch20, the electric by-pass valve27and the fan46in relation to a DC power source48. Current is applied to the first electrical wire60from the positive terminal72as soon as the engine starts operating but travels no further upon reaching the electrical heat switch20which remains open until a high temperature condition is detected by the temperature sensor22. When the oil reaches a preset temperature, the temperature sensor22will close the electrical heat switch20to deliver current to the second electrical wire62and enable the cooling fan46and to the fourth electrical wire66to close the by-pass valve27with the fifth electrical wire68connecting with the third electrical wire64leading back to the negative terminal70. When the oil temperature drops below the preset temperature, the electrical heat switch20opens in response to the temperature sensor22and disables the fan46and opens the by-pass valve27. The temperature sensor22may be variable thereby permitting the preset temperature for fan46and by-pass valve27activation to be adjusted accordingly but is preferably set to respond to a temperature equal to that required to fully open the thermo-reactive valve.

FIG. 6is a detail view of the radiator42of the present invention demonstrating the oil16flow through the conduit30passing therethrough. The conduit30of the return line36has a counter-backflow loop37with the peak portion thereof level with or higher than the highest point of said intake conduit32to prevent the oil16from draining back into the sump from the radiator42when the engine is turned off.

FIG. 7is a detail view of the oil pump18, the electrical heat switch20and its sensor22, the oil filter28, the open thermo-reactive valve24shown here as a thermo-static expansion valve26which is fully open and the closed by-pass valve27during a high oil16temperature condition.