Abstract:
A dynamic engine oil pickup system is disclosed. The dynamic engine oil pickup system includes a scavenge pump and a pickup tube assembly in fluid communication with the scavenge pump. The pickup tube assembly includes at least two oil pickup portions operable to pickup engine oil from at least two different oil pickup locations and a flow control operable to control a flow of engine oil between the at least two different oil pickup locations and the scavenge pump. The flow control includes a suction valve, and movement of the suction valve is controlled by selectively applying a high pressure oil to a head of the suction valve.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to engine oil pickup systems and, more particularly, to a dynamic engine oil pickup system that scavenges engine oil from more than one pickup point. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Known engine lubrication systems include an oil pump, an oil pump pickup tube, an oil filter and a sump including an oil pan. Engine oil is sucked out of the oil pan by the oil pump via the oil pump pickup tube. The engine oil is then run through the oil filter to remove any debris, and squirted under high pressure to lubricate various engine components. The engine oil then flows by gravity down to the bottom of the sump or the oil pan, where it is collected again and the cycle repeats. 
         [0003]    Dry sump lubrication systems are commonly used in high performance engine applications where the vehicle is exposed to high “g” maneuvers, such as those experienced in race course driving. During these maneuvers, forces are created, which act to inhibit the ability of the engine oil to flow back to the oil pump pickup tube. By using a dry sump lubrication system, multiple pumps scavenge engine oil from various locations within the engine crankcase environment. These multiple pumps then transfer the scavenged engine oil to a container, which is typically remotely located external to the engine. Once in the remotely located container, a second pump draws the engine oil from the container to pressurize the engine&#39;s lubrication system. 
         [0004]    One known engine lubrication system incorporates a dry sump lubrication system including a single scavenging pump that scavenges engine oil from a single location within the engine. However, in this known application, packaging constraints prevent multiple pumps, which could scavenge from multiple locations, from being incorporated. 
         [0005]    Another known engine lubrication system incorporates a dry sump lubrication system including a single scavenging pump with multiple inputs, or pickup points. However, in this known application, the single scavenging pump draws engine oil from all pickup points into the scavenging pump whenever the scavenging pump is activated, regardless of whether engine oil is present at each of the pickup points, resulting in reduced scavenging pump performance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A dynamic engine oil pickup system is disclosed. The dynamic engine oil pickup system includes a scavenge pump and a pickup tube assembly in fluid communication with the scavenge pump. The pickup tube assembly includes at least two oil pickup portions operable to pickup engine oil from at least two different oil pickup locations. 
         [0007]    The dynamic engine oil pickup system further includes a flow control is in fluid communication with both the scavenge pump and the pickup tube assembly. The flow control is operable to control a flow of engine oil between the at least two different oil pickup locations and the scavenge pump. The flow control includes a suction valve, and movement of the suction valve is controlled by selectively applying a high pressure oil to a head of the suction valve. 
         [0008]    The suction valve is moveable from a first position to a second position. The suction valve blocks the flow of engine oil from one of the at least two different oil pickup locations when the suction valve is in the first position and blocks the flow of engine oil from another of the at least two different oil pickup locations when the suction valve is in the second position. 
         [0009]    The dynamic engine oil pickup system further includes an electric solenoid valve in communication with the suction valve. Actuation of the electric solenoid valve results in the application of the high pressure oil to the head of the suction valve. 
         [0010]    A dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly is also disclosed. The dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly includes a manifold portion and at least two oil pickup portions extending from the manifold portion. The at least two pickup portions are operable to pickup engine oil from at least two different oil pickup locations and a flow control in fluid communication with the at least two pickup tube portions. The flow control is operable to control a flow of engine oil between the at least two different oil pickup locations and a scavenge pump. 
         [0011]    The flow control is moveable within the manifold portion from a first position to a second position. The flow control includes a suction valve, and movement of the suction valve is controlled by selectively applying a high pressure oil to a head of the suction valve. 
         [0012]    The suction valve blocks the flow of engine oil from one of the at least two different oil pickup locations when the suction valve is in the first position and blocks the flow of engine oil from another of the at least two different oil pickup locations when the suction valve is in the second position. 
         [0013]    The suction valve further includes a return spring and an electric solenoid valve in communication with the suction valve. The return spring is operable to move the suction valve to the second position when the high pressure oil is removed from the head of the suction valve. Actuation of the electric solenoid valve results in the application of the high pressure oil to the head of the suction valve. 
         [0014]    An internal combustion engine including the dynamic engine oil pickup system discussed above is also disclosed. 
         [0015]    The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an internal combustion engine including a dry sump engine lubrication system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a schematic illustration of a dry sump engine lubrication system including a dynamic engine oil pickup system according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3A  is a schematic illustration of a dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3B  is a schematic illustration of the dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly of  FIG. 3A  with the suction valve in a second position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly of  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a schematic illustration of a portion of the solenoid valve in a de-energized state; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic illustration of a portion of the solenoid valve is an energized state; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of a dynamic engine oil pickup system according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components,  FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of an internal combustion engine, indicated generally at  10 , including a dry sump lubrication system, indicated generally at  12 . The dry sump lubrication system  12  includes a scavenging oil pump  14  that scavenges engine oil  16  from an oil pan  18  and sucks the scavenged engine oil  16  into an external container  20 . An engine oil pump  22  then delivers the scavenged engine oil  16  to an engine crankcase  24  to lubricate various engine components. 
         [0025]    A switching device, schematically illustrated at  26 , which may include but is not limited to a computer and/or a mercury switch, is in operable communication with the dry sump lubrication system  12 . The switching device  26  is operable to detect a vehicle characteristic, which may include but is not limited to a vehicle attitude characteristic and/or a vehicle dynamic characteristic. 
         [0026]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the dry sump lubrication system  12  is a dynamic engine oil pickup system, which includes an oil pan  18  and a dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly  30  in fluid communication with a scavenging pump (not shown). The dynamic pickup tube assembly  30  includes a first pickup portion  32  and a second pickup portion  34  both extending from a scavenging manifold section  36 , and a flow control generally indicated at  38 , which includes an electric solenoid valve  40 . It should be appreciated, however, that the dynamic engine oil pickup assembly  30  may have more than two pickup portions extending from the scavenging manifold section  36 , and that the flow control  38  would be in communication with all of the pickup portions. 
         [0027]    The first pickup portion  32  is operable to pick up engine oil from a first pickup location  32 A through a first baffle  32 B that is optimized for best performance. The second pickup portion  34  is operable to pick up engine oil from a second pickup location  34 A through a second baffle  34 B that is optimized for best performance. It should be appreciated that the more available pickup point locations the better the scavenging system performs. 
         [0028]    High pressure oil is delivered to the dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly  30  through a high pressure oil feed line  42  from a high pressure oil gallery  44  within the oil pan  18 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3A , the high pressure oil is delivered to a pressure chamber  50  located within the scavenging manifold section  36 . A suction valve  52  moves from a first position A to a second position B ( FIG. 3B ) within the scavenging manifold section  36  in response to the high pressure oil being received within the pressure chamber  50  from the high pressure oil feed line  42  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0030]    The switching device, schematically illustrated at  26 , is in operable communication with the electric solenoid valve  40  and the suction valve  52 . The switching device  26  is operable to selectively control a position of the suction valve  52 , allowing the high pressure oil to be delivered through the solenoid valve  40  when energized. 
         [0031]    The pressure chamber  50  is located at one end of the suction valve  52 , while a return spring  54  is installed at the opposite end of the suction valve  52 . The return spring  54  is operable to return the suction valve  52  to the first position A in the absence of high pressure oil within the pressure chamber  50 . 
         [0032]    An air/oil vent hole  56  is provided at one end of the scavenging manifold portion  36 , while a suction valve access plug  58  is provided at the other end of the scavenging manifold portion  36  to provide access to the suction valve  52 . Alternatively, the air/oil vent hole  56  can be provided within the suction valve  52 . 
         [0033]    As the suction valve  52  moves from the first position A to the second position B, first and second heads,  52 A and  52 B respectively, of the suction valve are operable to selectively block flow of engine oil from the first pickup portion  32  and/or the second pickup portion  34  to the scavenge pump (not shown). 
         [0034]    As discussed above, the suction valve  52  moves from the first position A to the second position B in response to an increase in oil pressure within the pressure chamber  50 . 
         [0035]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , high pressure oil from the high pressure oil feed line  42  is received within a high pressure oil supply portion  60  of the solenoid control valve  40 . Upon receipt of an activation signal from the switching device, schematically illustrated at  26 , the solenoid valve  40  is energized, as illustrated further in  FIG. 4B . Once energized, a plunger  62  within the solenoid control valve  40  is actuated, allowing the high pressure oil to enter a high pressure control port  64 . The high pressure control port  64  then feeds the high pressure oil to the pressure chamber  50 , activating the suction valve  52  and moving it from the first position A to the second position B ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0036]    Upon discontinuation of the activation signal or receipt of a deactivation signal from the switching device  26 , the solenoid valve  40  is de-energized, as illustrated further in  FIG. 4A . Once de-energized, the plunger  62  returns, preventing the high pressure oil from flowing into the high pressure control port  64  and pressurizing the pressure chamber  50  to activate the suction valve  52 , thus returning the suction valve  52  from the second position B back to the first position A ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the solenoid valve  40  is in a de-energized state. In the de-energized state, the plunger  62  is located in a first position that prevents the high pressure oil from the high pressure oil feed line  42  from flowing into the high pressure control port  64 . Thus preventing the high pressure oil from feeding the pressure chamber  50 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , upon receipt of the activation signal from the switching device, schematically illustrated at  26 , the solenoid valve  40  is in an energized state. In the energized state, the plunger  62  moves from the first position to a second position that allows the high pressure oil from the high pressure oil feed line  42  to flow into the high pressure control port  64  and feed the high pressure oil to the pressure chamber  50 , activating the suction valve  52  and moving it from the first position A to the second position B ( FIG. 3A ). 
         [0039]    It should be appreciated that the dynamic engine oil pickup system  112  may include more than one dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly  130 , each in fluid connection with a separate scavenging pump and, as discussed above, each dynamic engine oil pickup tube assembly  130  includes at least two pickup portions  132  and  134 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0040]    While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.