Patent ID: 6941922

Claim:
A lubrication system for an engine including a sump for lubricant, a main pump operable to pump lubricant to first lubrication positions within the engine, and an auxiliary lubricant pump operable to pump lubricant to second lubrication positions, different from said first lubrication positions, within the engine and wherein the auxiliary pump is an electrically driven pump which is controlled by a system controller, the output of the auxiliary pump being controlled according to engine operating conditions, the main pump in use, pumping lubricant to the first lubrication positions within the engine along a main lubricant feed line, and the auxiliary pump when operated pumping lubricant to the second lubrication positions within the engine along an auxiliary feed line, and wherein the main and auxiliary feed lines, are connected via a communication passage which includes a closeable communication valve, the communication valve when closed preventing the flow of lubricant from the auxiliary feed line to the first lubrication positions, and when open permitting the flow of lubricant from the auxiliary feed line to the first lubrication positions.