WO1995012060A1

WO1995012060A1 - Improved engine oiling system

Info

Publication number: WO1995012060A1
Application number: PCT/US1994/012336
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas H. Healy
Original assignee: Drs Military Systems, Inc.
Priority date: 1993-10-28
Filing date: 1994-10-28
Publication date: 1995-05-04
Also published as: AU1084095A

Abstract

A device which utilizes filtered oil to pre-oil an engine. In one embodiment of the invention, the pre-oiling device connects to the engine via a single line. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a housing, including an oil pump, is interposed between the oil filter and the engine. The pump is energized for the pre-oiling of the engine and it draws oil from the oil pan, forces it through the filter and into the oil galleries of the engine. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pre-oiling device accesses oil from the oil pan and pumps it through the passageway normally used by the engine's standard oil pump to supply the engine with oil. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the pre-oiling device comprises a motor coupled to the engine's standard oil pump. The motor drives the standard oil pump to accomplish the pre-oiling of the engine. A rachet may be interposed between the standard oil pump, and the shaft which normally drives it, so that the operation of the pre-oiling device does not cause the engine to turn.

Description

IMPROVED ENGINE OIUNG SYSTEM

Background of the Invention

Typical engines are oiied by pumps which are driven by the engine itself. These pumps begin to operate when the engine is started. When the engine is first starting or turning slowly, the pump's output of oil is low. The pumps usually draw up oil from a sump or reservoir and pump it into an empty or partly-empty system and the last parts of the engine to receive oil are the already- moving parts. As the system fills, pressure is developed and the already-moving parts which have been moving without the benefit of sufficient lubrication are finally oiied. By the time that oil, in sufficient volume and pressure, reaches the moving parts of the engine, a great deal of engine wear has occurred. It has been calculated that the starting of a typical car engine results in as much engine wear as driving the car 500 "warm" miles. Thus, it is estimated that 80 to 95 percent of mechanical engine wear occurs during startup.

Whenever an engine or other machinery sits cold or off for more than a brief period of time, the oil flows off the moving parts leaving wearing and bearing surfaces pressed together in intimate contact without adequate lubrication. Thus, as previously indicated, wear at startup is extreme. Further, it often results in unlubricated parts grating across each other which in turn can result in the shearing off particles of metal, etc. Moreover, in the case of an internal combustion engine, exhaust can blow past rings and valve guides to contaminate the oil. As a result, exhaust emissions are increased, fuel is wasted due to improper burning and general system wear and tear is increased. One class of attempts to resolve the foregoing problems involves the use of lubricants such as PTFE (polytetrafluroethylene), molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and other substances, in various suspensions, which are claimed to "form a protective coating" on the engine's wearing surfaces. These lubricants are known to be trapped and removed by the oil filter; sometimes clogging the filter prematurely and reducing its effectiveness. The actual useful quantities of these lubricants which are deposited on the bearings is questionable as is the useful life of such deposits.

Some manufacturers have attempted to mitigate engine wear problems by using anti- drainback systems in their engine design such as in the General Motors' Ventura system. While this helps to keep oil in the oil passages, it cannot prevent gravity from draining the oil out of the downhill oil passages and off the bearing, valves, etc. as the engine sits and it cannot be used to supplement the oil supply when it might be insufficient.

One class of pre-oiling systems known in the art are oil and oil pressure accumulator systems. These are known to work in some consistently hot climates but under conditions where cooler temperatures cool the system, pressure is lost and the systems fail to provide useful, if any, pre-lubrication. Also known in the art are variety of pre-oiling systems which utilize unfiltered oil to pre-oil engines. The use of such unfiltered oil can damage engines. Further, most known pre-oiling systems are complicated and expensive to manufacture. Summarv of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned shortcomings of the prior art. It is a further object of this invention to provide a engine pre-oiling device which utilizes filtered oil to pre-oil an engine and which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. These and other objects of the invention are obtained, in one embodiment of the invention, through the use of a pre- oiling device which connects to the engine via a single line. Prior to the starting of the engine, oil is forced from the pre-oiling device, through the single line, into the engine to accomplish the pre- oiling operation. After the pre-oiling operation is completed and the engine is started, a certain amount of filtered oil is bled off of the oil system, through the single line to refill the pre-oiling device so that it can be used to pre-oil the engine the next time that it is started. The rate at which oil is bled off from the engine to the pre-oiling device is controlled so that engine oil pressure is not unduly affected.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a housing, including an oil pump, is interposed between the oil filter and the engine. The pump is energized for the pre-oiling of the engine and it draws oil from the oil pan, forces It through the filter and into the oil galleries of the engine. The pre- oUing device is designed so that after the pre-oiling operation is complete, oil pumped by the engine's standard oU pump, can pass through the pre-oiling device into the oil filter and then back out again into the oil galleries.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pre-oiling device accesses oil from the oil pan and pumps it through the passage way normally used by the engine's standard oil pump to supply the engine with filtered oil.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the pre-oiling device comprises a motor coupled to the engine's standard oil pump. The motor drives the standard oil pump to accomplish the pre- oiling of the engine. A rachet may be interposed between the standard oil pump, and the shaft which normally drives it, so that the operation of the pre-oiling device does not cause the engine to turn.

The invention will next be described in connection with certain illustrated embodiments; however, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and subtractions can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 A shows a schematic representation of one embodiment of an engine using a pre-oiling device according to the present invention;

Fig. 1B shows a schematic representation of a controller for the Fig. 1A system; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation, in greater detail, of the Fig. 1A system.

Figs. 3A-3D show one design of a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with a system as set forth in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4A show an alternative design for a pre-oiler to be used in connection with the system set forth in Fig. 2. Fig. 4B shows, in greater detail, the auxiliary fill valve of the Fig. 4A pre-oiler device.

Figs. 4C-4G show various alternative designs for pre-oiler devices which can be used in connection with the system set forth in Fig. 2.

Figs. 5A and 5B show a further pre-oiler device which can be used in connection with the system set forth in Fig. 2. Fig. 6A shows an elastic bladder which is used in connection with one embodiment of the pre-oiling device according to the present invention.

Fig. 6B shows a control valve used in connection with the Fig. 6A elastic bladder.

Fig.7 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the pre-oiling device is sandwiched between the oil filter and the engine. Fig. 8 shows one design, utilizing an impeller, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Figs. 9A-9D show an alternative design, utilizing a centrifugal pump, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9E shows another alternative design, utilizing a rotary vane type of pump, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Figs. 10A - 10C show another alternative design, utilizing a gear pump, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Figs. 11A and 11B show another alternative design, utilizing a screw pump, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7. Fig. 12 shows another alternative design, utilizing a diaphragm pump, for a pre-oiling device to be used in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Fig. 13A shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein a motor drives the engine's primary oil pump to accomplish the pre-oiling function.

Fig. 13B shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a pre-oiling pump in parallel with the engine's primary oil pump.

Fig. 13C shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention which utilizes a pre-oiling pump in series with the engine's primary oil pump.

Figs. 14A-14C show an alternative embodiment of the present invention which utilize a motor to drive the engine's primary oil pump. Reference Numerals in £ ι awing engine (existing) 64 seal washer

2 146 drive gear oil pump (existing) 66 nut 160

3 pump assembly starter motor (existing) 70 elbow 162 housing driveshaft (existing) 71 pipe 164 screw starter switch (existing) 72 flow valve 165 bore _ plumbing tubing 74 valve body 166 lower orifice oil pressure sensor (ext. ) 75 orifice 168 upper orifice

"T" fitting 76 piston 170 ratchet assembly oil filter (existing) 77 orifice 172

10 housing controller 78 spring 174 dog 1 wiring harness 79 bypass 176 spring 2 bypass switch 80 vent assembly 200 3 pickup (existing) wiring harness 82 cap nut 202 4 oil passage (existing) pressure switch 83 orifice 204 5 drip return (existing) wiring harness 84 close nipple 206 6 crankshaft (existing) timer 86 floating ball 208 7 camshaft (existing) wiring harness 90 piston 210 8 oil pan ( existing) solenoid valve 91 piston 212 9 cylinder head (existing) wiring harness 92 shaft 220 pump 0 assembly 94 nipple 230 2 check valve canister 98 bladder 232 4 orifice lid 100 assembly 250 body 6 gasket 101 propeller 251 8 assembly gasket 102 belt 252 0 outlet passage assembly 104 motor pulley 254 2 inlet passage canister 105 oil passage 256 3 check valve gasket 106 housing 258 4 diaphram lid 107 gasket 260 drive mechanism 5 lid 108 pipe adapter 262 chamber 6 assembly 120 pump assembly 280 7 valve body canister 122 housing 281 assembly 8 gasket 123 oil inlet 282 9 check valve lid 124 blade 284 handle pump assembly 125 rotor 286 slot cylinder 126 shaft 288 passage orifice 127 oil outlet 290 piston screw 130 solenoid 320 relay nut 132 bore 330 float cap nut 134 spring 331 assembly setscrew 136 piston 332 gasket oil seal 138 oil inlet 334 stem pump 140 pump assembly 336 vent hole gasket 142 housing 338 retainer motor 143 oil inlet 340 standoff gap

144 driven gear DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A schematic representation of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1A. A pre-oiling device 20, containing an oil pump and oil reservoir, is connected to an engine 1 via a single line 6. When the engine's ignition is engaged, the controller temporarily shunts electricity from the starter to the oil pump which fores oil from the reservoir of pre-oiling device 20, through line 6 into the engine and its oil galleries. In this way, oil is provided to the moving parts of the engine before the starter is engaged. After the engine is "pre-oiled" in this manner, electricity is shunted back from the pump to the starter and the engine can be started. Once the engine is running and its own oil pump is providing oil pressure, the pre-oiling device 20 can be refilled with oil via line 6. In this way, a single line can be used to both supply oil to the engine from reservoir 20 and to refill the revoir after the engine has been started.

A schematic representation of a controller for the Fig. 1A system is shown in Fig. 1B. The controller, activated by the starter switch 5 through a bypass switch 12 through the normally-closed contacts of on-on pressure switch 14 through the normally-closed contacts of timer circuit 16 briefly withholds power from the starter motor 3 while supplying power to the pump assembly motor 60 which pumps oil from its reservoir through plumbing into the oil passages of the engine. When a predetermined pressure is built up and/or the time-delay relay times out, the pump assembly 20 is disconnected and power is supplied to the starter motor 3 and the engine is started in the normal manner. The Fig. 1 A embodiment of the pre-oiling system is shown in greater detail in Fig. 2. Oil pump 2 is driven by drive shaft 4. Pump 2 suctions oil through the pickup 200 from the oil sump or pan 210. The oil is then forced under pressure through oil passage 202 to oil filter 9. The oil is forced through filter 9 and then through additional oil passages 202 to the crankshaft and its oil passages and bearings 206, to the camshaft and its oil passages and bearings 208 and the rocker arm and valve assemblies in the cylinder heads 212 from which the oil drains out and drips back into the oil sump or pan 210. Oil pressure is monitored by the oil pressure sensor 7.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pre-oiling device 20 is connected to the engine, via line 6. Line 6 is connected to the engine via T fitting 8 which is attached at the point normally reserved for the oU pressure monitor. The oil pressure monitor 7 is, in turn, fitted to one leg of T fitting 8. A separate pressure sensing device, as described with respect to Fig. 1B, is located within the pump assembly.

When the ignition is initially engaged, power is shunted to the pre-oiling device 20 as described with respect to Figs. 1A and 1B. The pre-oiling device 20 then supplies oil to the engine via plumbing line 6 and fitting 8. The pre-oiling operation is completed when either a predetermined pressure is established or until a predetermined amount of time elapses. The pre- oiling device 20 must be capable of pumping approximately 1 pint of oil and building up pressure from 0 to about 10 psig in five to ten seconds.

After the pre-oiling operation is completed, electrical power is then shunted to the starter motor 3 and normal starting of the "pre-oiled" engine proceeds. As the engine begins to turn σver and the drive shaft 4 powers the primary oil pump 2 which suctions oil up through its pickup 200. As previously indicated, the oil is pumped through the oil gallery 202, up to and through the oil filter 9, then to the rest of the oil galleries, shown generally as 202. As indicated by 204, this oH eventually drips back into oil pan or sump 210. As the oil pump 2 establishes oil pressure, a small amount of oil from the system is bled off, via the T" fitting 8 and line 6 to refill the oil reservoir 20. A small vent at the top of the pre-oiler which closes when the pre-oiling device is full to avoid spillage. In the foregoing arrangement, a single line is used both to deliver oil to the engine and to refill the pre-oiling device 20. It is important to provide the pre-oiling device 20 of Fig. 2 with appropriate backflow characteristics. If the pre-oiling device were to provide unlimited backflow, then it would deprive the engine of needed pressure in the early stages of engine operation. A pre-oiling device with the preferred backflow characteristics would not cause more than a one-third increase in the amount of time needed to establish full oil pressure. Thus, by utilizing a device with limited backflow characteristics, the pre-oiler can be slowly refilled without unduly affecting oil pressure. Pre-oiling devices, for use in arrangements such as that shown in Fig. 2 can be implemented in a number of ways. On particular design is shown in Figs. 3A-3C. The pre-oiling device 20 of Fig. 3A utilizes a screw pump 40 comprised of a screw 44 housed inside tube 42. The screw is driven via motor 60. When the pre-oiling device 20 is supplying oil to the engine, oil is suctioned from canister 22 via opening 43 in tube 42 and is driven upward through tube 42 to line 6 and via T" fitting 8 to the engine. When the pre-oiling device is refilled, oil flows in the reverse direction until float actuated vent 80 is shut so that no more oil can flow into the pre-oiling device 20. The interaction of the screw pump 40 and the motor 60 provides the necessary backflow characteristics which prevent the pre-oiling device from being refilled to quickly which in turn prevent an unacceptable loss of oil pressure in the engine.

Fig. 3C shows the details of the vent 80. It comprises 2 threaded plumbing caps shown as 82 threaded onto a nipple 84. There is a small bore 83 in each of those caps. The vent allows air to escape from the canister 22 when it is being refilled with oil. When oil reaches the vent, the balls float and seal the vent thereby preventing oil leakage. Alternative vents can also be utilized and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

An alternative pre-oiling device design is shown in Fig. 4A. This design is similar to the system shown in figure 3, except that a different kind of pump is used. Pump 50 may, for example, be a common rotary, centrifugal, blade or gear pump used in a pushing manner. As previously indicated, the pump should have limited backflow characteristics in order to allow the pre-oiling device to be refilled at a rate that does not inordinately affect oil pressure. If a pump with such backflow characteristics is not available, an auxiliary fill valve shown generally at 72 can be utilized to allow the refilling of the pre-oiling device. The auxiliary fill valve 72 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 4B. When the pre-oiling device is supplying oil to the engine, piston 76 is forced against the spring 78, allowing orifices 75A and 75B to be connected to each other via passage 79. When the pre-oiling device is being refilled with oil, the oil flows from passage 75B to passage 77. Passage 77 is sized to only allow a certain amount of oil flow to prevent an undue drop in engine oil pressure during the refilling process.

Fig. 4C shows an embodiment wherein the pump is located outside of the reservoir as opposed to being mounted in the reservoir as shown in Fig. 4A. A suction tube 71 is used to draw oil up rom the reservoir and to refill it. A variation of this design is shown in Fig. 4D wherein the pump is housed in a separate chamber 34 formed above the reservoir 32. This protects the motor/pump assembly. In the embodiment of Fig. 4E, both the motor and the pump are positioned inside the reservoir 32. This requires a motor which can operate while being submerged in oil.

The embodiment of Fig. 4F utilizes an inner cylinder 32A within cylinder 32. Thus the motor and pump are located in reservoir 32 but are protected from the oil by inner cylinder 32A. A tube is used to access the oil at the bottom of the container. In a still further embodiment shown in Fig. 4G, the motor is located in the inner cylinder 32A and the pump 50 is located in the oil in reservoir 32. Inner cylinder 32A extends towards the bottom of reservoir 32 so that pump 50 does not need any tubing to access the bottom of the canister.

The canisters which are used in the aforementioned designs can be, for example, deep drawn, spun, or impact formed. Closures can be very simple, for example shallow drawn mating canisters or flat lids. In the embodiments of Figs. 4A-4G, a pump such as the PQ-12 DC pump made by the

Greylor Company of 820 N.E. 24th Lane, Unit 110, Cape Coral, Florida, can be utilized. This pump has advantageous backflow characteristics such that a valve 72 as shown in Figs. 4A is unnecessary. In figure 5A the entire canister becomes the cylinder for a pump comprised of that cylinder 22 and the piston 90. The piston is driven up and down by screw 44 powered by the motor 60 and an appropriate controller. In the diagram at the top of that screw there is a small gap between that and the outlet shown at 94 to allow the passage of oil. in an alternative embodiment of this design, shown in Fig. 5B, piston 91 is pushed up and down in the cylinder 22 by a shaft 92 which is either mechanically or manually powered.

Figures 6A and 6B shows an alternative embodiment of a pre-oiling device. Elastic bladder 98 can be filled by the primary oil pressure of the running engine and which can then either mechanically, or by its own elasticity, be used to force oil back into the engine for pre-oHing. A control valve, shown in Fig. 6B, with a manual release at the outlet of the bladder, will allow the pressurized oil to be reintroduced into the engine and pressure can be applied to the bladder mechanically to increase the flow to the engine. This is obviously not for most vehicles but rather for small motors such as those used for snow mobiles, garden tractors, lawn mowers, outboard motors, and so forth. It is preferable that the bladder be connected to the engine in such a way that it is always refilled with filtered oil.

An advantage of the pre-oiling devices discussed thus far as well as those discussed hereinafter is that they only use filtered oil for pre-oiling. In the embodiments of Figs. 1-6, the pre-oUer reservoir is refilled with oil that has just passed through the oil filter. The pre-oiling devices of the following embodiments force oil through the oil filter in the pre-oiling process. In this way, dirty oil which might damage the engine, is not used in the pre-oiiing of the engine.

Another embodiment of a pre-oiling device according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 7. In this embodiment, the pre-oiiing unit 100 is sandwiched between the oil filter and the engine. Thus, during the normal operation of the engine, the primary oil pump 2, pumps oil up through the gallery 202, through the pre-oiling device 100 and into the oil filter 9. The oil enters the filter through its periphery and exits it through the center as indicated in Fig. 7. From the center hole of the oil filter, the oil flows once again through the pre-oiling device 100 and into the upper oil gallery 202. From there it moves to the rest of the engine.

The pre-oiling device 100 of the Fig. 7 embodiment acts as a second pump in line with the primary oil pump 2. In order for this design to be able to function properly, the primary oil pump 2 must allow oil to be suctioned through it when it is not operating. Like in the operations of the previous designs, in the embodiment of Fig. 7, when the car's ignition is initially engaged, electricity is initially shunted from the starter to the pre-oiling device. Similarly, the controller will shunt the electricity back to the starter when either a predetermined level of oil pressure is established, or after a given amount of time.

Figure 8 shows one configuration of an alternative embodiment of the invention which utilizes a pump sandwiched between the oil filter and the engine. The pre-oiling device 100 is attached to the engine in the place normally reserved for the oil filter. The pre-oiling device 100 is held in place by adapter 108 and gasket 107 seals the pre-oiling device 100 against the engine. Adapter 108 also provides threads on its other end for the oil filter which in turn threads onto that adapter 108 and seals with its own provided gasket. In this configuration there is a bore shown generally as 105 through the housing 106. In bore 105 is mounted and sealed an impeiler shown as 101. The impeller is driven by motor 60 via a rotary transmission device such as belt 102. When the pre-oiler is not working, oil is free to flow past the vanes of the impeiler 101, into the oil filter 9, back out through the adapter 108, through the center bore 127 of the impeller 101 and into the engine oil galleries. In these and similar arrangements it is important to consider the cross sectional area available for oil flow through the impeller. This area should be roughly equal to or greater than the oU inlet area of the oil filter itself. The oil inlet area of an oil filter is often comprised of a series of small holes arranged around the periphery of the bottom of the oil filter. Thus the area through which oil can flow through the impeller should be greater than or equal to the cumulative area of the inlet holes for the oil filter. Similariy, the outlet area of adapter 108 should be roughly equal to or greater than the outlet area of the oil filter. Figs. 9A-9D show an alternative embodiment of the Fig. 8, sandwich type, of pre-oiling device. The embodiment of Fig. 9A uses a centrifugal pump which is shown in detail in Figs. 9B- 9D. In the pre-oiling operation, the Fig. 9A pump is driven by motor 60. Oil enters housing 122 through the lower of the oblong orifices 123. The vanes 124 drive the oil through the upper orifice 123 and into the inlets of the oil filter. The inlet area provided by the vanes when the pump is not being driven should be equal to or greater than the sum of the cross sectional areas of the inlet holes on the oil filter. Also, the oblong orifice 123 should lie entirely within the gasket area 107.

The centrifugal pump comprises an axle 126 with attached end plates 125. Four vanes 124 are pivotally mounted between the end plates 125. As shown in Fig. 9C, when the pump is being driven in the appropriate direction, the vanes will force oil up and into the oil filter. However, when the pump is not being operated during the normal operation of the engine, as shown in Fig. 9D, the vanes pivot and fall flat against the longitudinal ribs 301 on the axle 126. This allows oil to flow through the pump, to the oil filter, during the normal operation of the engine.

In figure 9E an alternate configuration is shown with the motor mounted parallel to the pump. The motor drives a rotary vane pump of a conventional type such as a flexible vane rotor. Oil is brought in through the one passage 310 and pumped out through the other 311. A bypass comprised of reed check valve 230 and orifice 232 allows normal engine oil pump circulation when the pre-oiler is not in use.

Figs. 10A - 10C show another configuration of a sandwich type unit which uses a gear pump having a driven gear 146 and an idler gear 144. During normal engine operation, solenoid valve allows oil to pass through orifice 138 to the oil filter. When the pre-oiler is in operation, the solenoid valve, comprising solenoid 130 and piston 136, closes the orifice 138. As shown in Fig. 10B, oil is then drawn by the gear pump and forced through oblong orifice 143 into the oil filter. Because orifice 138 is closed, the flows through the gear pump, into the oil filter and back out through adapter 108 and back into the engine.

The solenoid valve, which is detailed in Fig. 10C, is fail safe open. When the controller of the pre-oiler takes current away from the motor 60, it also takes current away from the solenoid valve and the spring forces the valve back open. This allows normal operation of the engine oiling system. Once again it should be noted that the cross sectional area of iniet orifice 138 must meet or exceed the inlet area of the oil filter.

Figs. 11A-11B show a sandwich type design which utilizes a screw pump. Auger 164 is driven by the motor 60 and oϋ is brought in through the lower orifice 166. The oil is driven by auger 164 out through the upper orifice 168, through the oil filter, through the adapter and back into the engine. When the pre-oiler of Figs. 11A and 11B is not operating, there is sufficient room around the threads of the auger to allow free oil flow by the engine oil pump in through 166 past the threads and out past orifice 168.

The embodiment of Fig. 12 utilizes the free-flow-in-one-direction characteristic of a diaphram pump. Normal engine flow occurs through inlet 254, through check valve 256, through the pump chamber 262, through check valve 252, through oil filter 9, through adaptor 108 and passage 127 to the engine. For pre-oiling, the diaphram pump comprising motor 60 activating 258 via drive mechanism 260 pumps oil through the system.

It should be noted that pre-oiling devices as generally shown and described with respect to Figs. 7-12, may be built in two parts: an adaptor housing mounted under the oil filter and a separate pump assembly, connected by suitable plumbing.

A third embodiment of a pre-oiling device according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 13A. The pre-oiling device comprises a motor 60 coupled to the primary oil pump 2 via ratchet assembly 170. Thus when electricity is initially shunted to pre-oiling device, motor 60 drives the primarily oil pump 2 to supply oil to the engine, through the oil filter, as it would during normal engine operation. Once the pre-oiling device is shut off, after a predetermined oil pressure has been established or after a predetermined amount of time, electricity is shunted to the starter. Ratchet assembly 170 allows the primary oil pump 2 to be driven by the engine without the motor 60 being driven.

A still further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 13B. It utilizes a separate pump 50, in the oil pan, to pre-oil the engine. Pump 50 is connected to oil passage 202 in a T manner. Thus it may, when operated, draw oil from the oil pan and supply it through the same passage utilized by the primary pump. If pump 50 does not have anti-backflow characteristics, it is necessary to install a one-way valve in line with pump 50 before the T" connection. Similarly, it may be necessary to install a one-way valve in line with the primary pump 2, before the T" connection, if the primary pump does not have anti-backflow characteristics.

In an alternative embodiment, a pump with flow through characteristics may be installed directly in line with primary oil pump 2. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 13C where motor 60 drives pre-oiler pump 50 which is in line with primary oil pump 2. In this arrangement, both of the oil pumps must have flow through characteristics to allow oil to flow through them while the other pump is operating.

In the embodiments shown in Figs. 14A and 14B, a ratchet 170 and electric motor 60 are affixed between the oU pump drive shaft 4 and the oil pump 2. Thus the electric motor 60 can drive the pump 2 independently of the oil pump drive shaft 4. In Figure 14A , the drive shaft 4 for the primary oil pump 2 is intercepted by a one-way rotary transmission device such as a ratchet mechanism shown generally as 170. Directly mounted to the primary oil pump 2, on its opposite end is a motor 60 that is wired to the controller. The ratchet 70 comprises the body of the ratchet 172, a toothed end on the primary oil pump shaft 4, a toothed mating tooth dog 174 and a spring 176. If the drive shaft 4 is rotating in the counterclockwise direction, the spring is allows the dog to be pushed back and the dog slips and the oil pump 2 is disconnected from the drive shaft 4. Thus the motor 60 can drive the oil pump 2 without driving the drive shaft 4. However, when the drive shaft 4 is active and rotating clockwise it engages with dog 174, turns the ratchet, and therefore turns the pump and the motor. So in the pre-oiling phase of the operation, the motor 60 turns, the ratchet slips and the primary oil pump is driven by the motor 60 to pre-oil the engine. During normal engine operation, the drive shaft 4, through the ratchet 170 turns the pump 2 which oils the engine. The motor 60 is dragged along with it at that point. Variations of this configuration are shown on figures 14B and 14C. In figure 14B the ratchet 170 is attached to the end of the drive shaft 4 but goes directly to the motor 60 through which pump 2 is driven. It is just a reversal of the locations of the pump and motor shown in 14A. In figure 14C the motor is simply offset and it drives the oil pump through a rotary transmission device 102, such as a belt or chain, and it turns the outside of the ratchet 170 using that as a pulley face. The ratchet can be of any common design.

Having described particular embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the precise embodiments or applications described, and that various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

It is accordingly intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:

Claims

What is claimed is: -12-

1. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine, prior to the starting of said engine, said pre-oiling device comprising: a reservoir for holding oil to be used to pre-oil said internal combustion engine; a single, bi-directional fluid communication path between said reservoir and an oil gallery of said engine, said single fluid communication path serving to both pre-oil said engine and to refill said reservoir; a pump in line with said single fluid communication path for pumping oil from said reservoir into said oil gallery; a controller operativeiy associated with said pump for operating said pump to pump oil from said reservoir to said oil gallery prior to starting said engine.

2. A pre-oiling device according to claim 1 wherein said pump allows for a limited amount of backflow of oil from said oil gallery into said reservoir when said pump is not operating.

3. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine said pre-oiiing device comprising: a housing adapted to be attached in a sealing manner to said internal combustion engine where an oil filter would normally be attached to said engine in a sealing manner, said housing having an inflow passage to allow the inflow of oil from said internal combustion engine to said oil filter, said housing also having an outflow passage to allow the flow of oil out of said oil filter to oil galleries of said engine; a pump in line with said inflow passage to draw oil from an oil reservoir and to force said oil through said inflow passage, said oil filter and said outflow passage to said oil galleries; a controller for supplying power to operate said pump prior to starting said engine.

4. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine according to claim 3 wherein said pump resides outside of said housing.

5. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine, said engine having a standard oil pump for pumping oil from an oil pan, through an oil passage way to an oil filter and from said oH filter to said engine during the normal operation of said engine, said pre-oiling device comprising: a pre-oiler oil pump for suctioning oil from said oil pan and for forcing said oil through said oil passage way, to said oil filter and from said oil filter to said engine prior to the operation of said engine; a controller for supplying power to operate said pump prior to starting said engine.

6. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine, said engine having a standard oil pump for pumping oil from an oil pan, through an oil passage way to an oil filter and from said oil filter to said engine during the normal operation of said engine, said pre-oiling device comprising: a motor coupled to said standard oil pump; and a controller for supplying power to operate said pump prior to the starting said engine.

7. A pre-oiling device according to claim 6 wherein said oil pump is driven by said engine's drive shaft during the normal operation of said engine, said pre-oiling device further comprising a one-way rotary transmission device interposed between said drive shaft and said standard oil pump which allows said motor to drive said oil pump without turning said drive shaft.

8. A pre-oiling device for supplying oil to an engine, prior to the starting of said engine, said pre-oiling device comprising: an elastic reservoir for holding oil, to be used to pre-oil said internal combustion engine; a single, bi-directional fluid communication path between said reservoir and an oil gallery of said engine, said single fluid communication path serving to both pre-oil said engine and to refill said reservoir; a valve interposed between said reservoir and said engine for releasing oil stored in said elastic reservoir prior to the operation of said engine, said valve allowing said elastic reservoir to be refilled with oil during the normal operation of said engine.