Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6488479
-
Patent Number
6,488,479
-
Date Filed
Thursday, May 17, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 3, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Freay; Charles G.
- Solak; Timothy P.
Agents
- Brooks & Kushman
- Hanze; Carlos L.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 417 310
- 417 440
- 123 196 R
- 184 63
- 184 621
- 184 34
- 137 522
- 137 523
- 251 25
-
International Classifications
- F04B4900
- F01M900
- F16N1302
- F16K1500
-
Abstract
A variable pressure oil pump assembly for use with a vehicle having a controller includes a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber, a first passage disposed between the inlet and the valve chamber, and a second passage disposed between the outlet and the valve chamber. The assembly further includes a pressure relief valve subassembly having a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet. A plunger adjustment mechanism is associated with the valve subassembly and adapted to communicate with the controller. The plunger adjustment mechanism is operable to control movement of the plunger based on control signals provided by the controller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a variable pressure oil pump for use with an engine, such as an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
A typical motor vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and a lubrication system for providing oil to various lubrication locations of the engine. Such lubrication locations include sleeve bearings that support a rotating shaft, such as a camshaft. The oil produces a viscous friction drag on the rotating shaft, and the frictional drag converts mechanical energy from the shaft into heat energy within the oil. To prevent the oil from overheating within the bearings, the bearings are continually provided pressurized, lower temperature oil from an oil pump of the lubrication system. The pressurized, lower temperature oil is forced into the bearings and displaces heated oil out of the bearings.
When the engine is cold, such as during a cold start, however, the oil in the bearings is cold and the viscosity of the oil is high. As a result, it is not desirable to replace this oil with pressurized, low temperature oil.
Systems have been developed to vary oil pressure of oil provided to bearings of an internal combustion engine. U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,776, for example, discloses a lubrication system that includes an oil pump that draws oil from an oil sump, and a bypass valve that is capable of diverting oil supplied by the oil pump back into the oil sump without routing the oil to the bearings. Because high pressure oil is dumped back into the sump, however, aeration of the oil may occur. Furthermore, the oil dumped back into the sump will likely experience significant heat loss.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention addresses the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a variable pressure oil pump assembly that can vary outlet oil pressure based on one or more operating conditions. Furthermore, outlet oil pressure may be varied without diverting high pressure oil into an oil sump.
Under the invention, a variable pressure oil pump assembly for use with a vehicle having a controller includes a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber, a first passage disposed between the inlet and the valve chamber, and a second passage disposed between the outlet and the valve chamber. The assembly further includes a pressure relief valve subassembly having a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet. A plunger adjustment mechanism is associated with the valve subassembly and adapted to communicate with the controller. The plunger adjustment mechanism is operable to control movement of the plunger based on control signals provided by the controller.
The plunger adjustment mechanism may be any suitable mechanism that is configured to affect movement of the plunger. For example, the plunger adjustment mechanism may include a solenoid subassembly connected to the pump body and adapted to be electrically connected to the controller. With such a configuration, when the solenoid subassembly is energized, the solenoid subassembly draws the plunger toward an open position for allowing oil to flow through the valve chamber.
In another embodiment of the invention, the plunger has an enlarged head having first and second sides, and the plunger adjustment mechanism includes a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the enlarged head. Furthermore, the housing including first and second apertures. The first aperture is in fluid communication with the first side of the enlarged head. The second aperture is in fluid communication with the second side of the enlarged head and is further connected to the inlet. In addition, the plunger adjustment mechanism includes a solenoid valve adapted to be electrically connected to the controller and further connected to the first aperture, the inlet and the outlet. When the solenoid valve is energized, the first aperture is exposed to the outlet oil pressure. When the solenoid valve is de-energized, the first aperture is exposed to inlet oil pressure.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the plunger has an enlarged head having first and second sides, and the plunger adjustment mechanism includes a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the enlarged head. Furthermore, the housing includes first and second apertures. The first aperture is in fluid communication with the first side of the enlarged head. The second aperture is in fluid communication with. the second side of the enlarged head and is further connected to the inlet so as to expose the second side of the enlarged head to inlet oil pressure. In addition, the plunger adjustment mechanism includes an additional pump connected between the first aperture and the inlet and adapted to be electrically connected to the controller. When the additional pump is not activated, the additional pump provides the inlet oil pressure to the first aperture. When the additional pump is activated, the additional pump provides oil pressure to the first aperture that is greater than the inlet oil pressure.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a schematic diagram of an engine that incorporates a lubrication system according to the invention, wherein the lubrication system includes an oil pump assembly that provides pressurized oil to lubrication locations of the engine;
FIG. 2
is a enlarged fragmentary view of the oil pump assembly showing a plunger of the oil pump assembly in a seated position;
FIG. 3
is a enlarged fragmentary view of the oil pump assembly showing the plunger in an open position;
FIG. 4
is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the oil pump assembly showing a plunger of the oil pump assembly in a seated position;
FIG. 5
is a schematic view of the second embodiment of the oil pump assembly showing the plunger in an open position;
FIG. 6
is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the oil pump assembly showing a plunger of the oil pump assembly in a seated position; and
FIG. 7
is a schematic view of the third embodiment of the oil pump assembly showing the plunger in an open position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1
shows an automotive internal combustion engine
10
that incorporates a lubrication system
12
according to the invention. The lubrication system
12
includes an oil sump or pan
14
and a suction pipe
16
that routes oil from the oil pan
14
to an oil pump assembly
18
. The oil pump assembly
18
provides pressurized oil to a discharge pipe
19
, which leads to an oil filter
20
. An oil passage such as a main gallery
22
leads from the filter
20
to a crankshaft
24
and a camshaft
26
of the engine
10
. Internal passages (not shown) through the crankshaft
24
provide oil to crankshaft bearings
27
and connecting rod bearings
28
. Similarly, internal passages (not shown) through the camshaft
26
provide oil to camshaft bearings
30
. Gravity drains
32
return the oil to the oil pan
14
. The lubrication system
12
also includes an electronic controller, such as electronic control unit
34
, that is connected to the oil pump assembly
18
.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 3
, the oil pump assembly
18
includes a pump body
36
and a pump element
38
disposed in the pump body
36
for pressurizing the oil. The pump body
36
has an inlet
40
connected to the suction pipe
16
, and an outlet
42
connected to the discharge pipe
19
. The pump body
36
further includes a valve chamber
44
, a first or low pressure passage arrangement
46
in fluid communication with the valve chamber
44
, and a second or high pressure passage arrangement
48
. The first passage arrangement
46
includes a first passage
50
disposed between the inlet
40
and the valve chamber
44
, and an inlet passage
51
extending between the inlet
40
and the pump element
38
. The second passage arrangement
48
includes a second passage
52
extending between the outlet
42
and the valve chamber
44
, and an outlet passage
53
extending between the pump element
38
and the outlet
42
. In addition, the pump body
36
includes a connector passage
54
extending between the valve chamber
44
and the first passage
50
.
The oil pump assembly
18
further includes a relief valve subassembly
55
and a plunger adjustment mechanism
56
associated with the valve subassembly
55
. The valve subassembly
55
includes a piston or plunger
58
that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber
44
. The plunger
58
is movable between a seated position, shown in
FIG. 2
, and an open position shown in FIG.
3
. The plunger
58
includes a plunger body
59
and a head
60
connected to the plunger body
59
. A passage (not shown) may also be provided through the head
60
to allow oil and/or air that is displaced by head
60
to flow from one side of the head
60
to the other side of the head
60
. While the plunger
58
may comprise any suitable material, in the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the plunger body
59
comprises steel, and the head
60
comprises iron.
The valve subassembly
55
also includes a spring
61
that biases the plunger
58
toward the seated position. The plunger
58
is movable against the bias of the spring
61
when a sufficient pressure differential exists between the second passage
52
and the first passage
50
. Furthermore, the plunger
58
is movable against the bias of the spring
61
when the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
is activated as described below in detail.
In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 through 3
, the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
is a solenoid subassembly that includes a housing
62
and a solenoid winding
63
attached to the housing
62
. Furthermore, the solenoid winding
63
is electrically connected to the electronic control unit
34
. When the solenoid winding
63
is de-energized, the plunger
58
moves between the seated position and the open position based on the pressure differential existing between the first and second passages
50
and
52
, respectively. When the solenoid winding
63
is energized, the head
60
of the plunger
58
is drawn toward the solenoid winding
63
, thereby causing the plunger
58
to move toward the open position shown in FIG.
3
. Thus, plunger adjustment mechanism
56
may provide a force that acts on plunger
58
, in addition to the force created by the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
, to move the plunger
58
against the bias of the spring
61
toward the open position. Alternatively, the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
may be any suitable mechanism that is configured to affect movement of the plunger
58
.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, the electronic control unit
34
is in communication with a plurality of sensors, such as oil pressure sensor
64
, oil temperature sensors
66
and
67
, engine load sensor
68
, engine speed sensor
70
, coolant temperature sensor
72
, and oil viscosity sensor
73
. Based on input received from the sensors
64
-
73
, the electronic control unit
34
generates appropriate control signals for controlling operation of the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
.
Electronic control unit
34
may be provided as part of oil pump assembly
18
. For example, electronic control unit
34
may be mounted on or proximate to pump body
36
. Alternatively, electronic control unit
34
may be provided as a separate component from oil pump assembly
18
. For example, electronic control unit
34
may be an engine controller that is mounted on or proximate to engine block
74
of engine
10
. With such a configuration, electronic control unit
34
may be used to control other components of engine
10
, such as a fuel supply system (not shown) and/or a coolant system (not shown).
Referring to
FIGS. 1 through 3
, operation of engine
10
having lubrication system
12
will now be described in detail. It is understood that bearings
27
,
28
and
30
are typically designed to have a leakage rate that will allow an adequate amount of oil to flow through the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
to maintain a non-damaging temperature under the most severe operating conditions. Under normal operating conditions, however, this flow of oil may cause the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
to operate at lower temperatures than necessary. These lower temperatures may result in more fuel consuming friction between the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
and the oil. Advantageously, the lubrication system
12
is able to adjust oil pressure under such operating conditions, as well as other operating conditions, so as to vary the amount of oil flowing through the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
.
The electronic control unit
34
continually receives input from the sensors
64
-
73
so as to monitor engine operating conditions. Based on these operating conditions, the electronic control unit
34
determines desired oil pressure for the lubrication system
12
. The electronic control unit
34
then generates appropriate control signals for controlling operation of the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
so as to regulate oil pressure.
For example, under low engine load conditions such as normal operating conditions and/or startup conditions, the electronic control unit
34
may energize the solenoid winding
63
so as to move the plunger
58
toward the open position shown in FIG.
3
. As a result, high pressure oil will flow from the second passage
52
to the first passage
50
, thereby reducing outlet oil pressure at outlet
42
.
As another example, as engine loads increase above a predetermined level, the electronic control unit
34
may de-energize solenoid winding
63
. Consequently, the plunger
58
will move between the seated and open positions based on the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
only.
The electronic control unit
34
may also generate appropriate control signals to achieve a desired duty cycle for the solenoid winding
63
. Moreover, the clearance between the head
60
and the housing
62
may be appropriately designed to achieve a damping effect as the plunger
58
moves between the seated and open positions. With such a configuration, the plunger
58
may maintain an intermediate position between the seated and open positions, or intermediate range of positions between the seated and open positions, for a particular duty cycle. Furthermore, by varying the duty cycle, the intermediate position or intermediate range of positions of the plunger
58
may be varied so as to provide desired oil pressure to the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
.
For example, at periodic intervals, measurements may be taken with the various sensors
64
-
73
, and the electronic control unit
34
may calculate an inferred oil film thickness within the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
based on the measurements. If the inferred oil film thickness is too low or too high for the particular engine speed and/or engine load, then the duty cycle for the solenoid winding
63
may be adjusted so as to increase or decrease oil pressure provided to the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
.
As oil passes through the oil pump assembly
18
, the pump element
38
consumes mechanical energy so as to increase pressure of the oil. For example, the pump element
38
may be driven either directly or indirectly by the crankshaft
24
, or by other suitable means. Part of the mechanical energy is converted to thermal energy within the oil due to such factors as friction and shearing of the oil. The rest of the mechanical energy is converted into hydraulic energy (oil pressure increase times the volume of oil pumped). When the pressure of the oil eventually drops, such as within the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
or across the relief valve subassembly
55
, this hydraulic energy is converted into thermal energy. Thus, virtually all of the mechanical energy consumed by the pump element
38
is converted into thermal energy within the oil.
When the relief valve subassembly
55
allows high pressure, high temperature oil to be passed directly from second passage
52
to first passage
50
, the temperature of the oil on the inlet side of pump element
38
is increased. Consequently oil entering the pump element
38
has reduced viscosity, which results in improved efficiency of the oil pump assembly
18
. Moreover, the temperature of oil exiting the oil pump assembly
18
is increased, and, as a result, viscous friction within the bearings
27
,
28
and
30
is reduced.
The lubrication system
12
also provides several other advantages. First, because high pressure oil is not returned to the oil pan
14
, potential aeration of the oil in the oil pan
14
is inhibited. Second, if the plunger mechanism
56
fails for any reason, the plunger
58
can still move between the seated and open positions based on the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
.
FIGS. 4 and 5
show a second embodiment
110
of the oil pump assembly. The oil pump assembly
110
includes a pump body
112
, a pressure relief valve subassembly
114
and a plunger adjustment mechanism
116
. The pump body
112
is similar to the pump body
36
of the oil pump assembly
10
. Consequently, similar elements common to both the pump body
112
and the pump body
36
have been given the same reference numerals. The pump body
112
, however, may be provided without connector passage
54
of pump body
36
.
The valve subassembly
114
is similar to the valve subassembly
55
, and includes a plunger
118
and spring
61
. The plunger
118
has a plunger body
121
and an enlarged portion, such as head
122
, having a first side
124
and a second side
126
. The plunger
118
is movable between a seated position shown in
FIG. 4
, and an open position shown in FIG.
5
.
The plunger adjustment mechanism
116
includes a housing
128
that is connected to the pump body
112
and defines a housing chamber
130
for receiving the head
122
. Preferably, the housing
128
forms a seal with the outer perimeter of the enlarged head
122
. The housing
128
further includes first and second apertures
132
and
134
, respectively. The first aperture
132
is in fluid communication with the first side
124
of the enlarged head
122
, and the second aperture
134
is in fluid communication with the second side
126
of the enlarged head
122
. The second aperture
134
is also connected to inlet
40
of pump body
112
.
The plunger adjustment mechanism
116
also includes a suitable valve, such as solenoid valve
136
, that is mounted on the pump body
112
and is connected to electronic control unit
34
. Alternatively, the solenoid valve
136
may be spaced away from the pump body
112
.
The solenoid valve
136
has first and second inlet ports
138
and
140
, respectively, and an outlet port
142
. The first inlet port
138
is connected to inlet
40
of pump body
112
, the second inlet port
140
is connected to the outlet
42
of pump body
112
, and the outlet port
142
is connected to the first aperture
132
. When the solenoid valve
136
is de-energized, both sides
124
and
126
of the enlarged head
122
are exposed to the same pressure. As a result, the plunger adjustment mechanism
116
exerts no net force on the plunger
118
, and the plunger
118
moves between the seated and open positions based on the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
. When the solenoid valve
136
is energized by electronic control unit
34
, outlet oil pressure is provided to the first aperture
132
, thereby urging the plunger
118
toward the open position shown in FIG.
5
. Thus, plunger adjustment mechanism
116
may provide a force that acts on plunger
118
, in addition to the force created by the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
, to move the plunger
118
against the bias of the spring
61
toward the open position. Furthermore, duty cycle of the solenoid valve
136
may be adjusted, in a similar manner as described above, so as to achieve a desired intermediate position between the seated and open positions, or intermediate range of positions between the seated and open positions, for the plunger
118
.
FIGS. 6 and 7
show a third embodiment
210
of the oil pump assembly. The oil pump assembly
210
includes pump body
112
and relief valve subassembly
114
of the oil pump assembly
110
, and further includes a plunger adjustment mechanism
212
. The plunger adjustment mechanism
212
is similar to the plunger adjustment mechanism
116
, and includes housing
128
. The plunger adjustment mechanism
212
further includes an additional pump
214
having an inlet
216
connected to inlet
40
of pump body
112
, and an outlet
218
connected to first aperture
132
of the housing
128
. The additional pump
214
is also connected to electronic control unit
34
. Furthermore, the additional pump
214
may be mounted on the pump body
112
, as shown in
FIG. 6
, or the additional pump
214
may be spaced away from the pump body
112
.
When the additional pump
214
is not activated, inlet oil pressure is provided to the first aperture
132
. With such an arrangement, plunger
118
moves between a seated position, shown in
FIG. 6
, and an open position, shown in
FIG. 7
, based on the pressure differential between passages
50
and
52
. When the additional pump
214
is activated by electronic control unit
34
, the additional pump
214
provides oil pressure to the first aperture
132
that is higher than inlet oil pressure. As a result, the piston
118
is urged toward the open position shown in FIG.
7
. Thus, plunger adjustment mechanism
212
may provide a force that acts on plunger
118
, in addition to the force created by the pressure differential between the passages
50
and
52
, to move the plunger
118
against the bias of the spring
61
toward the open position. Furthermore, duty cycle of the additional pump
214
may be adjusted, in a similar manner as described above, so as to achieve a desired intermediate position between the seated and open positions, or intermediate range of positions between the seated and open positions, for the plunger
118
.
In each of the above embodiments, the electronic control unit
34
provides necessary power for controlling operation of the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
,
116
or
212
. Alternatively, an additional power source (not shown) may be connected to the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
,
116
, or
212
, such as between the electronic control unit
34
and the plunger adjustment mechanism
56
,
116
or
212
.
While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention as defined by the following claims.
Claims
- 1. An oil pump assembly for use with a vehicle having a controller, the assembly comprising:a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber, a first passage disposed between the inlet and the valve chamber, and a second passage disposed between the outlet and the valve chamber; a pressure relief valve subassembly including a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet, the plunger being movable between a seated position for inhibiting flow of oil through the valve chamber and an open position for allowing oil to flow through the valve chamber; and an energizable plunger adjustment mechanism associated with the valve subassembly and adapted to communicate with the controller for controlling movement of the plunger based on control signals provided by the controller, wherein the plunger adjustment mechanism is configured to draw the plunger toward the open position when the plunger adjustment mechanism is energized, and wherein the plunger is moveable between the seated position and the open position based on pressure differences between the first and second passages when the plunger adjustment mechanism is de-energized.
- 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve subassembly comprises a spring that biases the plunger toward the seated position.
- 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the plunger adjustment mechanism includes a solenoid subassembly for controlling movement of the plunger, the solenoid subassembly being connected to the pump body and adapted to be electrically connected to the controller.
- 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the valve subassembly comprises a spring that biases the plunger toward the seated position.
- 5. An oil pump assembly for use with a vehicle having a controller, the assembly comprising:a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a valve chamber, a first passage disposed between the inlet and the valve chamber, and a second passage disposed between the outlet and the valve chamber; a pressure relief valve subassembly including a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet, the plunger including an enlarged head having first and second sides; and a plunger adjustment mechanism associated with the valve subassembly and adapted to communicate with the controller, the plunger adjustment mechanism being operable to control movement of the plunger based on control signals provided by the controller, the plunger adjustment mechanism including a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the enlarged head, the housing including first and second apertures, the first aperture being in fluid communication with the first side of the enlarged head, the second aperture being in fluid communication with the second side of the enlarged head and further being connected to the inlet so as to expose the second side of the enlarged head to inlet oil pressure, the plunger adjustment mechanism further including an additional pump connected between the first aperture and the inlet and adapted to be electrically connected to the controller, wherein the additional pump is configured to provide the inlet oil pressure to the first aperture when the additional pump is not activated, and to provide oil pressure to the first aperture that is greater than the inlet oil pressure when the additional pump is activated.
- 6. An oil pump assembly for use with a vehicle having a controller, the assembly comprising:a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a first passage arrangement in fluid communication with the inlet, a second passage arrangement in fluid communication with the outlet, and a valve chamber disposed between the passage arrangements; a pressure relief valve subassembly including a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet, the plunger including a head having first and second sides; and a plunger adjustment mechanism associated with the valve subassembly and adapted to communicate with the controller, the plunger adjustment mechanism being operable to control movement of the plunger based on control signals provided by the controller, the plunger adjustment mechanism including a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the head, the housing including first and second apertures, the first aperture being in fluid communication with the first side of the head, the second aperture being in fluid communication with the second side of the head and further being connected to the inlet, the plunger adjustment mechanism further including a valve adapted to be electrically connected to the controller and further connected to the first aperture, the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve is operable to selectively expose the first aperture to the outlet oil pressure and inlet oil pressure.
- 7. The oil pump assembly of claim 6 wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.
- 8. The oil pump assembly of claim 6 wherein the valve is an energizable valve that is configured to expose the first aperture to the outlet oil pressure when the valve is energized, and to expose the first aperture to the inlet oil pressure when the valve is de-energized.
- 9. A lubrication system for supplying oil to an engine, the system comprising:an oil pump assembly including a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a first passage arrangement in fluid communication with the inlet, a second passage arrangement in fluid communication with the outlet, and a valve chamber disposed between the passage arrangements, the oil pump assembly further including a pressure relief valve subassembly having a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet, and a plunger adjustment mechanism associated with the valve subassembly for controlling movement of the plunger, the plunger including an enlarged head having first and second sides, the plunger adjustment mechanism including a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the enlarged head, the housing including first and second apertures, the first aperture being in fluid communication with the first side of the enlarged head, the second aperture being in fluid communication with the second side of the enlarged head and further being connected to the inlet, the plunger adjustment mechanism further including a valve connected to the first aperture, the inlet and the outlet, the valve being operable to selectively expose the first aperture to the outlet oil pressure and inlet oil pressure; and an electronic controller electrically connected to the valve for controlling operation of the valve.
- 10. The lubrication system of claim 9 wherein the valve is a solenoid valve.
- 11. The lubrication system of claim 9 wherein the valve is an energizable valve that is configured to expose the first aperture to the outlet oil pressure when the valve is energized, and to expose the first aperture to the inlet oil pressure when the valve is de-energized.
- 12. A lubrication system for supplying oil to an engine, the system comprising:an oil pump assembly including a pump body having an inlet, an outlet, a first passage arrangement in fluid communication with the inlet, a second passage arrangement in fluid communication with the outlet, and a valve chamber disposed between the passage arrangements, the oil pump assembly further including a pressure relief valve subassembly having a movable plunger that is disposed at least partially in the valve chamber for controlling flow of oil through the valve chamber so as to control outlet oil pressure at the outlet, and a plunger adjustment mechanism associated with the valve subassembly for controlling movement of the plunger, the plunger having an enlarged head having first and second sides, the plunger adjustment mechanism including a housing connected to the pump body and defining a housing chamber that receives the enlarged head, the housing including first and second apertures, the first aperture being in fluid communication with the first side of the enlarged head, the second aperture being in fluid communication with the second side of the enlarged head and further being connected to the inlet so as to expose the second side of the enlarged head to inlet oil pressure, the plunger adjustment mechanism further including an additional pump connected between the first aperture and the inlet and electrically connected to the controller, wherein when the additional pump is not activated, the additional pump provides the inlet oil pressure to the first aperture, and when the additional pump is activated, the additional pump provides oil pressure to the first aperture that is greater than the inlet oil pressure; and an electronic controller electrically connected to the plunger adjustment mechanism for controlling operation of the plunger adjustment mechanism.
US Referenced Citations (22)