Engine Oil Gallery Pressure Control to Cut Pump Work
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil systems for internal combustion engines often operate inefficiently due to unnecessary high oil pump work when dimensioned for maximum pressure requirements, leading to energy inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling oil pressures in different galleries of an internal combustion engine using feedback control based on sensed pressures, with a controllable pump arrangement and flow control devices, allowing for precise adjustment of oil pressures according to engine speed, load, and temperature, and switching between control states based on predefined threshold ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the oil system is dimensioned for maximum possible pressure requirement, then the oil pressure requirement is satisfied, but the oil pump work becomes unnecessarily high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the oil system by using multiple controllable pump arrangements with different characteristics (high pressure/low flow and low pressure/high flow) that can be selectively activated based on real-time pressure requirements in different galleries, rather than operating a single pump at fixed maximum capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting which pump arrangement operates and at what flow rate based on the ratio of minimum required pressures between galleries, thereby adapting the oil delivery characteristics to match actual engine needs
2Device complexity
If a single pump arrangement is used for all galleries, then the device complexity is reduced, but the precision of oil pressure control in different galleries deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The oil system is segmented into multiple controllable pump arrangements, each responsible for specific pressure zones or galleries, allowing independent control of pressure delivery to different engine components based on their specific requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that receives pressure feedback from sensors in different galleries and dynamically adjusts pump operation to achieve precise pressure control, coordinating between multiple pump arrangements and galleries
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an oil system (7) comprising a pump arrangement(11); a first gallery (13) for providing oil to a first engine site (14); a second gallery (15) for providing oil to a second engine site (16);a second gallery flow control device (25) for controlling flow of oil from the pump arrangement (11) to the second gallery (15); control circuitry (5); a first pressure sensor (27) for sensing the oil pressure in the first gallery (13); and a second pressure sensor (29) for sensing the oil pressure in the second gallery (15). The oil system (7) is controllable between:a first state in which the control circuitry (5) controls the second gallery flow control device (25) to an open state, and controls an oil pressure in the second gallery (15) by controlling the pump arrangement (11); and a second state in which the control circuitry (5) controls an oil pressure in the first gallery (13) by controlling the pump arrangement (11), and controls the oil pressure in the second gallery (15) by controlling the second gallery flow control device (25).