GB1121695A - Oil level maintaining means for the lubricating systems of internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

1,121,695. Lubricating; valves. S. z. MILLEDGE. 3 Jan., 1967 [4 Oct., 1965], No. 42033/65. Headings F2A and F2V. Oil in an engine sump is automatically maintained at a predetermined level by means of the fluctuating pressure in the induction manifold of an engine. An auxiliary reservoir is provided and is constructed in two parts, a lower part containing oil and an upper part forming a suction dome; the parts being separated by a flexible diaphragm or by bellows. In an embodiment, a reservoir 1 is connected to a sump 3 of an internal combustion engine 2 by means of a pipe 4 and a tube 5, the latter being located in a dip-stick opening in a lug 6 on the side of a crank-case 7 and extending to the required oillevel 8. The reservoir 1 is also connected, via a cover 12, to a manifold 10 of the engine by means of a pipe 9; the cover 12 also extends to form a valve-guide 14 for a valve 15. The latter makes a sealing engagement with an upper surface of either a rolling-diaphragm 13 or a bellows 13a, one of which is provided and has a lower portion clamped between the cover 12 and the body of the reservoir. The valve is urged into a closed position by means of a spring 19, having one end engaging a washer 20 which is mounted on a stem 16 of the valve by means of a retainer 21 and having the other end engaging a ring 18 which is attached to the reservoir. The upward movement of the valve 15 is limited when the diaphragm or bellows have been fully extended and engage protuberances 22 formed in the cover 12; thus allowing air to pass from the reservoir, through the valve 15, via grooves 17 in the stem 16, into the space above the diaphragm or bellows. In use, when the manifold pressure is low, the diaphragm or bellows will lift or expand so as to draw excess oil from the sump 3 into the reservoir 1, the opening of the valve 15 will then control the flow until the required oil-level is attained. When the manifold pressure rises as the engine speed increases, the valve closes and a quantity of oil is returned to the sump due to the volume of the reservoir decreasing when the diaphragm lowers or the bellows contract. Thus the oil-level in the sump 3 is maintained constant by being progressively topped-up from the reservoir 1. The cover 12 may be transparent and made of plastics material, an oil-level indicator 11 may be provided in the reservoir 1, an oil resistant plastics bag containing a resilient open-cell sponge may replace the diaphragm, baffles may be provided to prevent frothing, and an oil-trap may be provided between the manifold and the reservoir.