Engine Crank Control Using Oil Pressure to Prevent Dry Running
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in determining a sufficient amount of lubrication for engine operation, particularly during engine start-up, as existing sensors may not provide reliable indications of lubricant presence or flow, leading to potential engine damage from dry running.
Innovation Solution
An engine crank controller that monitors oil pressure and amount, preventing cranking if insufficient, requesting user confirmation, and allowing cranking only when sufficient lubrication is detected, with adaptive monitoring to ensure stable oil pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing sensors are used to detect lubricant presence, then the system can provide some indication of oil level, but the sensors do not provide reliable indications of lubricant presence or flow during engine start-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary oil pressure sensor that indirectly measures lubrication sufficiency by monitoring oil pressure in the lubrication system. This mediator provides reliable information about actual lubricant flow and pressure conditions during engine cranking, overcoming the limitations of direct level sensors that cannot accurately indicate whether sufficient lubrication is present during start-up.
2Productivity
If the engine allows cranking without sufficient oil, then engine startup is faster and more convenient, but the engine may suffer damage from dry running
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of oil pressure conditions before allowing engine cranking to proceed. The controller checks whether adequate oil pressure is present before enabling the cranking operation, preventing dry running damage while minimizing delay to startup. This preliminary check ensures lubrication is sufficient before the high-stress cranking phase begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the oil pressure sensor continuously monitors lubrication conditions during cranking, and the controller adjusts cranking permission based on this feedback. If oil pressure drops below threshold levels during cranking, the system provides feedback to stop or prevent further cranking, preventing engine damage from insufficient lubrication while allowing normal operation when conditions are adequate.
3Reliability
If the system monitors oil pressure continuously during cranking, then engine protection is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the critical monitoring function to a dedicated oil pressure sensor and simple controller logic that specifically monitors only the essential parameter (oil pressure) needed for cranking protection. By focusing on this single key parameter rather than comprehensive multi-parameter monitoring, the system achieves reliable engine protection during cranking while keeping the added complexity minimal and targeted.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures proper engine lubrication by preventing damage from dry running, enhancing engine reliability and safety by ensuring adequate lubrication before and during cranking.
Implementation Method 1
monitors a pressure of an oil of a lubrication system
Data Source
AI summary
An engine crank controller is provided. The engine crank controller permits cranking of an engine responsive to receiving an indication of a sufficient amount of an oil for the cranking of the engine, monitors, during a period subsequent to initiation of the cranking of the engine, a pressure of the oil of a lubrication system, in response to the pressure being less than a threshold, stops the engine by preventing the cranking, and, in response to the pressure being equal to or greater than the threshold, continues permitting the cranking.