Patent ID: 8235022

Claim:
An internal combustion engine with a lubricating oil supply system, comprising: an oil reservoir; an off pump driven by said engine, with said oil pump having an inlet and an outlet, with the oil pump picking up oil from said reservoir and pressurizing said oil; a lubrication distribution network connected with said pump; a pressure relief bypass valve, connected downstream from said oil pump, for limiting the oil pressure within said distribution network to a maximum permissible value by transferring high pressure oil from the outlet of the oil pump to the oil pump's inlet; and a pressure controller, operatively connected with said distribution network downstream from said pressure relief valve, for controlling the pressure within said distribution network by returning oil from the distribution network to the oil reservoir, with said pressure controller selectively limiting the pressure within the distribution network to a pressure value which is less than the maximum pressure regulated by the pressure relief valve, with said pressure controller comprising at least one control valve operated by an engine controller, wherein said control valve comprises a proportional control valve.