Patent Publication Number: US-6988590-B1

Title: Oil delivery system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to an oil delivery system for a combustion engine. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Internal combustion engines, both two and four cycle, typically include an oil pump which transfers oil to a crank case of the combustion engine. The oil pump typically draws oil from a remote reservoir that is separate and spaced from the oil pump. For two cycle engine applications, the oil pump may deliver measured amounts of oil directly into the crank case for lubrication. 
     In addition to the oil pump communicating with a remote oil reservoir, typically a remote oil pressure sensor that is separate and spaced from the oil pump and oil reservoir communicates with the oil pump to monitor the pressure of oil discharged from the oil pump. Also, a remote oil level sensor that is a separate and spaced component may be incorporated to communicate with the oil reservoir to indicate to a user when the level of oil is low. 
     Both in manufacture and in service, by having the oil pump, the oil pressure sensor, and the oil level sensor as separate and individual components, the manufacture, assembly, and serviceability is relatively costly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular oil delivery system is arranged in a self contained package that can be mounted at least partially within an oil reservoir as a single unit. The modular oil delivery system has a mount with at least one passage and a flange with a body depending from the flange. A mounting bracket is carried by either the flange or the body. A float arm is pivotally supported relative to the mounting bracket. The float arm is constructed and arranged to be responsive to the level of the oil in the reservoir. An oil pump is supported by the mounting bracket and has an oil outlet in fluid communication with at least one passage in the mount. An oil pressure sensor is supported by either the mounting bracket, the body, or the flange. An oil pressure sensor is in fluid communication with at least one passage in the mount and with the oil outlet of the oil pump. 
     Objects, features and advantages of this invention include a modular oil delivery system providing a self contained package that can be mounted as a single unit within an oil reservoir, is of relatively simple design and economical manufacture, the assembly is cooled by being immersed in the oil reservoir, and facilitates the ease of serviceability and assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and best mode, appended claims and accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a modular oil pump assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a mount of the modular oil pump assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the mount taken along line  3 — 3  in  FIG. 2  with a manifold attached thereto; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a mounting bracket from the modular oil pump assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial front view of a float arm pivotally supported by a hinge pin of the modular oil pump assembly of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 6  is a view looking in the direction of arrow  6  in  FIG. 5  showing the float arm making electrical contact with the mounting bracket indicating a low oil condition. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a presently preferred construction of a modular oil pump assembly is shown generally at  10 . The assembly  10  has an oil pump  12 , an oil pressure sensor  14 , and an oil level sensor  16  arranged in a self-contained package depending from a mount  18 . The assembly  10  can be mounted at least partially within an oil reservoir  20  as a single unit. 
     The oil reservoir  20 , shown in part in  FIG. 1 , has a wall  22  with an inner surface  24  and an outer surface  26 . The reservoir  20  has at least one opening  28  sized to receive at least in part the modular oil pump assembly  10 . The assembly  10  is preferably mounted to the outer surface  26  of the wall  22 . Fastener openings  30  may be formed in the wall  22  to facilitate attachment of the assembly  10  to the reservoir  20  via fasteners  31 . However, it should be recognized that any suitable mechanism for attaching the assembly  10  to the reservoir  20  may be used, such as clamps or clips, adhesives, threaded cap, and the like. 
     The mount  18  has a flange  32  overlying the outer surface  26  of the reservoir wall  22 , a lower boss  34  received in the opening  28  and an upper boss  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the upper boss  36  has a pair of generally concentric outer and inner annular walls  37 ,  40  with an annular channel  48  defined therebetween. The inner wall  40  has an inner surface  42  defining a passage  38  extending through the upper boss  36  and into the flange  32 . The channel  48  is preferably sized for receiving a seal  50 , for example an O-ring to facilitate a fluid tight seal between the upper boss  36  and a mating surface of a manifold  138  (FIG.  1 ). The upper boss  36  preferably has at least one, and as shown here has a pair of protrusions  54  extending radially outwardly from the outer wall  37  having threaded openings  56  formed therein for fastening the manifold  138  to the upper boss  36 . Preferably, at least one locating pin  58  is formed extending upwardly from the upper boss  36  for positioning the mount  18  relative to the manifold  138  during assembly. 
     The passage  38  preferably branches into a pair of passages  60 ,  62  within the flange  32  for fluid communication with the oil pressure sensor  14  and the oil pump  12 , respectively. As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the passages  60 ,  62  extend generally away from one another laterally through the flange  32 . Preferably, a plug  64  is pressed or otherwise inserted and maintained in an end of each passage  60 ,  62  near the perimeter of the flange  32  to prevent fluid from flowing out of the ends of the passages  60 ,  62 . It should be recognized that the necessity for the plugs  64  results from the fact that the passages  60 ,  62  are preferably formed as a through passage in manufacture. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the flange  32  preferably has an opening  66  formed therethrough so an electrical connector  65  ( FIG. 1 ) can be plugged and sealed therein. Wires from a wire harness  67  are plugged into the electrical connector  65  at both ends of the connector  65  enabling the wires to effectively pass through the mount  18  to the fuel pump  12 , the oil pressure sensor  14 , and the oil level sensor  16 . Preferably a tie-wrap  73  is fastened around the wires inside the reservoir  20  to secure them in place, and to prevent a user from disrupting the wire connections within the assembly  10 . Additionally, at least one and preferably a pair of openings  68  are formed adjacent the perimeter of the flange  32  and in alignment with the openings  30  in the oil reservoir  20  to facilitate attaching the mount  18  to the oil reservoir  20  using suitable fasteners. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , the lower boss  34  depending from the flange  32  has at least one and preferably a pair of passages  69 ,  70  that intersect the passages  60 ,  62 , respectively. The passages  69 ,  70  extend downwardly from passages  60 ,  62  and exit the lower boss  34  for fluid communication with the oil pressure sensor  14  and the oil pump  12 , respectively. The lower boss  34  is sized to fit within the opening  28  of the oil reservoir  20  and is preferably sized to facilitate a fluid tight seal therein. To further facilitate a fluid-tight seal between the mount  18  and the oil reservoir  20 , a seal  71  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ), for example an O-ring may be disposed between the lower boss  34  and the opening  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the mount  18  preferably has a body  72  depending from the lower boss  34 . The body  72  has a free end  74  and a pair of opposing sides  75 ,  76  that are preferably generally concave in form. Preferably, one of the sides  75  has a pair of lateral slots  78  extending therein and terminating at a generally enlarged annular opening  80  for receiving at least in part a mounting bracket  82 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the mounting bracket  82  of the oil level sensor  16  is preferably formed from a continuous piece of electrically conductive material, such as a metallic wire. The mounting bracket  82  preferably has a pair of generally c-shaped fingers  84  terminating in bent free ends  86 . The fingers  84  are spaced laterally from one another and are arranged so that they can be received in the slots  78  of the body  72 . The fingers  84  are preferably sized to be received in the openings  80  to retain the bracket  82  on the body  72 . The fingers  84  transition into a pair of generally parallel arms  88  that extend to a pair of laterally extending and generally parallel legs  90 . The legs  90  preferably transition into a generally circular base  92  that is sized to fit around a portion of the oil pump  12  to maintain the oil pump  12  adjacent the body  72 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , the oil pump  12  has a main body  94  with upper and lower portions  96 ,  98 , respectively. The upper and lower portions  96 ,  98  are preferably necked down from the main body  94  and extend generally axially therefrom. An inlet  100  and an outlet  102  extend preferably axially from the lower and upper portions  98 ,  96  providing for oil flow from the reservoir  20  into the oil pump  12 , and out of the oil pump  12  to the engine, respectively. The outlet  102  of the oil pump  12  is connected to the passage  70  of the mount  18 , preferably by a hose  120 , providing for fluid communication of the outlet  102  with the passage  70 . The inlet  100  of the oil pump  12  is preferably connected to a filter  122  located near the bottom of the reservoir  20  by a hose  124  providing for fluid communication between the filter  122  and the inlet  100 . An electrical connector  104  is preferably formed integrally with a top portion of the main body  94  and is arranged to receive wires from the wire harness  67  to provide power to the oil pump  12 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the main body  94  has a base  105  preferably having an isolator plate  106  attached thereto. The isolator plate  106  is preferably constructed from a non-electrically conductive material such as plastic, rubber, or any suitable polymer. The isolator plate  106  has a pair of clip fingers  108  extending outwardly therefrom and at least one and preferably a pair of flanges  112  with clip fingers  114  extending outwardly therefrom. The clip fingers  108 ,  114  receive and retain a portion of a hinge pin  110  between them to secure the hinge pin  110  to the isolator plate  106 , while the flanges  112  facilitate alignment of a float arm  126  relative to the mounting bracket  82 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the hinge pin  110  is generally L-shaped and preferably constructed from an electrically conductive metallic material. One leg  116  of the hinge pin  110  extends generally perpendicular to the isolator plate  106  for disposal within the clip fingers  108 , while another leg  118  extends generally parallel to the isolator plate  106  for disposal within the clip fingers  114 . The leg  116  is preferably provided with a mechanism for attaching a wire of the wire harness  67  thereto. It should be recognized that any suitable mechanism may be used to attach a wire from the wire harness  67  to the leg  116  of the hinge pin  110 , for example, a male plug and a female socket arrangement, a spring clip, a soldered connection, or the like. 
     The oil level sensor  16  comprises the mounting bracket  82 , the hinge pin  110 , and the float arm  126 . As best shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the float arm  126  has an upper end  130  that transitions into a preferably coiled portion  132  wrapped around the hinge pin  110 . The float arm  126  has an intermediate portion  134  of a predetermined length extending from the coiled portion  132  such that a lower end  136  of the float arm  126  ( FIG. 1 ) extends generally adjacent to a bottom surface of the oil reservoir  20  (not shown) when there is a low level of oil within the oil reservoir  20 . The lower end  136  is preferably u-shaped and wraps around a float  128  to secure the float  128  to the float arm  126 . The float  128  is constructed from any suitable material that is buoyant in oil to maintain the float  128  on the surface of the oil within the oil reservoir  20 . In this manner, the float  128  and float arm  126  are responsive to the level of oil in the reservoir  20 . 
     The float arm  126  is pivotally supported by the hinge pin  110  so that when there is a low level of oil within the oil reservoir  20 , the upper end  130  of the float arm  126  makes electrical contact with one of the legs  90  of the mounting bracket  82 . When the contact results between the float arm  126  and the mounting bracket  82 , an electrical circuit is completed between the wire from the wire harness  67  attached to the hinge pin  110 , the hinge pin  110 , the float arm  126 , the mounting bracket  82 , and the wire from the wire harness  67  attached to the mounting bracket  82 . In this manner, the float arm  126  triggers a switch that completes the circuit when closed to send an alert signal that is conveyed to an operator of a vehicle so the operator is aware of the low oil level. For example, the signal may activate a light on an instrument panel (not shown). The circuit is only completed when the upper end  130  of the float arm  126  contacts the mounting bracket  82 . Depending on the particular arrangement of the system  10 , when the electrical circuit is completed, the vehicle may be subjected to a safe operating mode, such as that provided by limiting the operational performance of the engine. Otherwise, the operator may simply be notified of the low oil level condition such as, for example, with an indicator light (not shown). Other mechanisms or switches may be used to indicate the low oil level condition in the reservoir  20 . 
     The oil pressure sensor  14  is preferably received against the side  75  of the body  72 . A tie-wrap  123  is preferably used to facilitate attachment of the oil pressure sensor  14  to the body  72 , though any suitable fastening mechanism may be used. The tie-wrap  123  preferably extends around the oil pressure sensor  14 , the body  72 , and the upper portion  96  of the oil pump  12 . As such, the tie-wrap  123  maintains the position of the sensor  14 , and the oil pump  12  relative to the body  72 . The oil pressure sensor  14 , though shown supported by the body  72 , could otherwise be supported by the mounting bracket  82  or the mount  18 . The oil pressure sensor  14  has an upper end  127  in fluid communication with the passage  69  of the mount  18 . As such, the oil pressure sensor  14  is in fluid communication with the outlet  102  of the oil pump  12  via the mount  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the manifold  138  is mounted to the upper boss  36  of the mount  18  and has at least one passage  140  in fluid communication with the passage  38  of the mount  18 . The passage  140  preferably branches into a plurality of passages  142  to provide oil flow where needed, such as a crank case (not shown), and/or a fuel rail (not shown) of a fuel injection engine. 
     While the forms of the invention herein disclosed constitute presently preferred embodiments, many others are possible. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible equivalent forms or modifications of the invention. It is further understood that the terms used herein are merely descriptive rather than limiting, and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the following claims.