Apparatus and Method for Rapid Warming of the Oil in an Oil Pan of an Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

A lubrication system for an internal combustion engine includes a baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region comprising an upper flange partially closing the oil sump region having an oil pick-up well opening therethrough that is defined by a wall portion, for receipt of heated oil returning from the internal combustion engine. An oil reservoir is defined in the oil sump region by the wall portion wherein oil in the oil reservoir is separated from heated oil in the oil pickup well. A viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage extends between the oil pick-up well and the oil reservoir and defines fluid communication therebetween. An oil pick-up for fluid communication with an oil pump of the internal combustion engine, and having a pick-up inlet disposed in the oil pick-up well, is configured to withdraw the heated oil therefrom.

1 . A baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine comprising:
 an upper flange partially closing the oil sump region;   an oil pick-up well opening through the upper flange and defined by a wall portion extending from the upper flange and associated with an engine oil return for receipt of oil returning from the internal combustion engine;   an oil reservoir defined in the oil sump region by the wall portion;   a viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage extending between the oil pick-up well and the oil reservoir defining fluid communication therebetween; and   an oil pick-up for fluid communication with an oil pump of the internal combustion engine and having a pick-up inlet disposed in the oil pick-up well that is configured to withdraw the oil therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion of the oil pick-up well opens through a lower flange extending outwardly from the wall portion in spaced relationship from a surface of the oil sump region to define the viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of flow modifiers extending between the lower flange and the bottom surface of the oil sump region. 
     
     
         4 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 3 , wherein the flow modifiers comprise a plurality of ribs extending between the lower flange of the baffle assembly into the viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage. 
     
     
         5 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the baffle assembly is constructed of an insulative material configured to reduce thermal transfer between the oil reservoir and the oil pick-up well. 
     
     
         6 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 5 , wherein the insulative material comprises a double wall. 
     
     
         7 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion extends to a location adjacent a bottom surface of the oil sump region to thereby close one end of the oil pick-up well. 
     
     
         8 . The baffle assembly for disposition in the oil pan sump region of an internal combustion engine of  claim 7 , further comprising a series of viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passages extending through the wall portion. 
     
     
         9 . An internal combustion engine lubrication system comprising:
 an internal combustion engine;   an oil pan attached to the internal combustion engine and having a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom to define an open top end for sealing engagement with a mating surface of the internal combustion engine and an oil sump region therein;   a baffle assembly disposed in the oil sump region and configured to divide the oil sump region into an oil pick-up well located within an oil reservoir;   an oil pick-up for fluid communication with an oil pump of the internal combustion engine and having a pick-up inlet disposed in the oil pick-up well; and   a viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage disposed between the oil pick-up well and the oil reservoir for fluid communication therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 9 , the baffle assembly further comprising:
 an upper flange configured to partially close the oil sump region and associated with an engine oil return;   a lower flange disposed in spaced relationship with a surface of the oil sump region; and   an interconnecting wall portion opening through the upper flange to define the oil pick-up well.   
     
     
         11 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 10 , wherein the lower flange of the baffle assembly and a surface of the oil sump region define the viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage therebetween. 
     
     
         12 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of oil flow modifiers extending between the lower flange of the baffle and the bottom of the oil pan. 
     
     
         13 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow modifiers comprise a plurality of ribs extending between the lower flange of the baffle assembly and the bottom of the oil sump region. 
     
     
         14 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the baffle assembly is constructed of an insulative material configured to reduce thermal transfer between the oil reservoir and the oil pick-up well. 
     
     
         15 . The internal combustion engine lubrication system of  claim 14 , wherein the insulative material comprises a double wall. 
     
     
         16 . A method for rapidly warming the engine oil in the oil pan of an internal combustion engine comprising:
 defining an oil pick-up well in an oil pan;   disposing an oil pick-up, in fluid communication with an oil pump of an internal combustion engine in the oil pick-up well to withdraw oil therefrom;   directing heated oil returning from the internal combustion engine to the oil pick-up well; and   defining a viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage in the oil pick-up well to define fluid communication with oil in the oil pan.   
     
     
         17 . The method for rapidly warming the engine oil in the oil pan of an internal combustion engine of  claim 14  further comprising selecting the dimensions of the viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage to control the direction of oil flow, the rate of oil flow or both through the viscosity sensitive oil flow restrictive passage and between the oil in the oil pan and the oil pick-up well.