Oil tank valve system

Abstract

Disclosed is a valve arrangement for selectively holding engine oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line. The valve arrangement includes an oil tank and a valve. The oil tank supplies engine oil to the engine lubrication circuit of a vehicle's internal combustion engine. The oil tank includes a vent opening that vents the oil tank. The valve closes the vent opening as a function of the oil pressure in the engine lubrication circuit.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A valve arrangement in a vehicle for selectively holding engine oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line, comprising: 
 an oil tank for supplying engine oil to an engine lubrication circuit of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the oil tank having a vent opening that vents the oil tank; and    a valve that closes the vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in the engine lubrication circuit.    
     
     
         2 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is hydraulic.  
     
     
         3 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the oil tank has an oil inlet opening and an oil outlet opening.  
     
     
         4 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is biased to close the vent opening.  
     
     
         5 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the valve taps into a high pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit in order to close the vent opening as a function of the oil pressure.  
     
     
         6 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure of a high-pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit provides the pressure to close the vent opening.  
     
     
         7 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein oil acts on the valve via a pressure oil connection within the engine lubrication circuit to close the vent opening.  
     
     
         8 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the vent opening is opened by the valve at an engine lubrication circuit oil pressure above a switchover pressure and is closed by the valve below the switchover pressure.  
     
     
         9 . The valve arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the switchover pressure is at least 0.5 bar.  
     
     
         10 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the vent opening is opened by the valve when the internal combustion engine is running and is closed by the valve when the internal combustion engine is at a standstill.  
     
     
         11 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the closure of the vent opening by the valve is airtight and oiltight.  
     
     
         12 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is a plate valve.  
     
     
         13 . The valve arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is located in the oil tank.  
     
     
         14 . An oil tank for holding and supplying engine oil to an engine lubrication circuit of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, the oil tank having a vent opening, an oil inlet opening, and an oil outlet opening, the vent opening venting the oil tank, the oil outlet opening returning oil from the oil tank back to the engine via the engine lubrication circuit, and a hydraulic valve that closes the vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in the engine lubrication circuit.  
     
     
         15 . The oil tank of  claim 14 , wherein the valve is in the oil tank.  
     
     
         16 . The oil tank of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure of a high-pressure line of the engine lubrication circuit provides the pressure to close the vent opening.  
     
     
         17 . The oil tank of  claim 14 , wherein the vent opening is opened by the valve at an engine lubrication circuit oil pressure above a switchover pressure and is closed by the valve below the switchover pressure.  
     
     
         18 . The oil tank of  claim 14 , wherein the valve is a plate valve.  
     
     
         19 . The oil tank of  claim 14 , wherein the vent opening is opened by the valve when the internal combustion engine is running and is closed by the valve when the internal combustion engine is at a standstill.  
     
     
         20 . A valve arrangement in a vehicle for selectively holding engine oil from leaking into an oil tank vent line, comprising: 
 means for supplying engine oil to an engine lubrication circuit of an internal combustion engine of the vehicle, the means for supplying having a vent opening that vents the oil tank; and    a means for closing the vent opening as a function of a pressure of the oil in the engine lubrication circuit.