Multiple-Oil Injector for Marine Engines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lubrication systems for large combustion engines, particularly slow-running two-stroke marine engines, face challenges in achieving precise timing and volume control of lubricant ejection, especially when switching between different lubricants, due to long conduits that cause uncertainty in timing and volume due to expansion and contraction under high pressure.

Innovation Solution

An injector system with an actuator-driven selection-valve system inside the injector allows for quick and precise selection between multiple lubricants, minimizing the distance from the selection-valve system to the nozzle and eliminating the need for long conduits, ensuring precise timing and volume control through electronic control signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If long conduits are used to supply lubricant from remote reservoirs to injectors, then the system can handle multiple lubricant types with centralized storage, but the timing and volume control precision deteriorates due to expansion and contraction under high pressure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to switch between different lubricant typesVSAvoidinjection timing and volume control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the lubricant supply into separate dedicated lines for each lubricant type (e.g., WCA and CCA oils) from reservoir to injector, eliminating the need for long switching conduits. Each lubricant has its own direct supply path, ensuring precise timing and volume control while maintaining the ability to use multiple lubricant types simultaneously or alternately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a remote valve system is used to select between different lubricants, then the injector structure can be simplified, but the reaction time increases and timing precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinjector structure complexityVSAvoidlubricant selection reaction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lubricant selection valve is integrated directly into the injector body, merging the valve function with the injection function. This eliminates separate remote valve mechanisms and long control conduits, reducing reaction time and improving timing precision while maintaining manageable injector complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If high pressure is used to atomize lubricant for SIP injection, then lubrication effectiveness improves, but the valve member mass must be reduced to achieve fast response

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication effectivenessVSAvoidvalve member mass

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces heavy electromagnetic coils and complex electromechanical valve mechanisms with a simpler spring-loaded valve member design. The high pressure lubricant itself provides the actuating force to overcome the spring and open the valve, eliminating the need for heavy electromagnetic actuators while achieving fast response times and effective atomization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution enables faster reaction times and more precise lubricant injection, allowing for multiple partial injections with different oils, reducing uncertainties in injection timing and volume, and enhancing the reliability and robustness of the lubrication system.

Implementation Method 1

The actuator may be a solenoid, which converts an electrical signal from the controller into a mechanical motion of the selection-valve member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic actuation: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

The selection-valve member may be spring-loaded towards an idle-phase position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 3

a spray with atomized droplets is achieved at a pressure of, typically, 35-40 bar

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure-driven flow: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 4

injection of a spray of atomized droplets of lubricant into the scavenging air swirl inside the cylinder

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAtomization: Aerosol

Implementation Method 5

The helically upwards directed swirl results in the lubricant being pulled towards the Top Dead Centre (TDC) of the cylinder and pressed outwards against the cylinder wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSwirl flow: Vortex Ring

Data Source

PatentEP3983658B1Multiple-oil injector, a large engine with such injector, method of lubricating and use thereof

Publication Date: 2024.10.30 HANS JENSEN LUBRICATORS AS

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Figure 3a

AI summary

A large engine, in particular a marine engine or engine for power plants, a multiple-oil injector (4) and a method of lubricating the engine with a plurality of injectors (4) wherein the injectors comprise a first and a second lubricant inlet, an internal electrically actuated selection-valve system (13) that can switch between two different types of lubricants.