Method for the circulation of an oil quantity and an oil circuit for the performance of the method

Abstract

A procedure for the circulation of a quantity of oil in an oil circulation system of a transmission of a motor vehicle and also concerns an oil circulation system. A portion of the quantity of the oil, which oil is at a lower temperature and a higher viscosity, is retained in a stationary, porous storage medium, from which, upon increasing oil temperature and lessening viscosity, the oil may be removed and entrained in the existing circulating oil quantity. Preferably, the storage medium is placed within an oil pan.

1 - 11 . (CANCELED)  
   
   
       12 . A method of circulating of a quantity of oil in a oil circulation system of a transmission for a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: 
 upon a cold start, retaining a portion of the quantity of oil at an initial temperature and an initial viscosity in a positionally affixed, porous storage medium; and    upon the portion of the quantity of oil retained by the storage medium increasing in temperature and decreasing in viscosity, due to circulation of general oil circulating within the oil circulation system, gradually discharging oil from the storage medium and combining the discharged oil with the general oil circulating within the oil circulation system.    
   
   
       13 . The oil circulation system of a transmission of a motor vehicle, in which the oil circulation system comprises: 
 a transmission housing;    a plurality of oil lines ( 2 ,  4 ,  5 );    a fluid transport pump ( 3 ); and    an oil pan ( 1 );    wherein a porous storage medium ( 6 ) is located within the oil circulation system for acceptance of a portion of the circulating oil, upon a cold start, a portion of the quantity of oil at an initial temperature and an initial viscosity is retained in a porous storage medium; and    upon the portion of the quantity of oil retained in the storage medium increasing in temperature and decreasing in viscosity, due to circulation of general oil circulating within the oil circulation system, oil is gradually discharged from the storage medium and combined with the general oil circulating within the oil circulation system.    
   
   
       14 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is one of a foamed metal and a metal weave.  
   
   
       15 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) comprises a felt like, permeable material.  
   
   
       16 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is one of a ceramic material and a plastic material.  
   
   
       17 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is an elevated hollow space.  
   
   
       18 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the porosity of the storage medium ( 6 ) is adaptable to the viscosity of the oil.  
   
   
       19 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is placed in, and affixed within the oil circulation system as a rigid body, subjected to flow of oil around and through the storage medium ( 6 ).  
   
   
       20 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is located within least one of the transmission housing and the oil pan ( 1 ).  
   
   
       21 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is used as an oil filter.  
   
   
       22 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is used for heat insulation.  
   
   
       23 . The oil circulation system according to  claim 20 , wherein the storage medium ( 6 ) is used as a body noise damping for one of the transmission housing and the oil pan.  
   
   
       24 . An oil circulation system for circulating of a quantity of oil for a motor vehicle, the oil circulation system comprising: 
 a first portion of the quantity of oil circulating within the circulating system, the first portion of the quantity of oil being at a first temperature and a first viscosity; and    a porous storage medium within the circulation system, the porous storage medium retaining the first portion of the quantity of oil at the first temperature and the first viscosity, and upon the first portion of oil sufficiently increasing in temperature and sufficiently decreasing in viscosity, dispensing the first portion of the quantity of oil and replacing the dispensed oil with oil circulating within the oil circulation system.