Engine with electronically controlled piston cooling jets and method for controlling the same

Abstract

An engine oil system for an internal combustion engine comprises an electronic control module, an engine oil sump, an engine oil pump, an engine oil gallery, an engine oil pressure sensor, a solenoid control valve, and at least one oil receiving component. The engine oil pump is in fluid communication with the engine oil sump. The engine oil gallery is in fluid communication with at least one engine bearing and a turbocharger. The engine oil pressure sensor and at least one oil receiving component are in fluid communication with the oil gallery. The oil pressure sensor generates an output signal that is transmitted to the electronic control module. The solenoid control valve is in fluid communication with the engine oil gallery and electronic communication with the electronic control module. The solenoid control valve is moveable between at least an open position and a closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An engine oil system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
 an electronic control module:   an engine oil sump;   an engine oil pump disposed in fluid communication with the engine oil sump;   an engine oil gallery disposed in fluid communication with at least one engine bearing and a turbocharger;   an engine oil pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with the engine oil gallery, the oil pressure sensor provided for generating an output signal to be transmitted to the electronic control module;   a solenoid control valve disposed in fluid communication with the engine oil gallery and in electrical communication with the engine control module, the solenoid control valve being moveable between at least an open position and a closed position in response to at least an output signal received from the engine control module; and   at least one oil receiving component in fluid communication with the solenoid control valve.   
     
     
         2 . The engine oil system of  claim 1 , wherein the solenoid control valve is moved to the closed position when the output signal of the oil pressure sensor indicates engine oil pressure is below a first threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The engine oil system of  claim 1  further comprising an oil cooler. 
     
     
         4 . The engine oil system of  claim 1  further comprising an oil filter. 
     
     
         5 . The engine oil system of  claim 1  further comprising an engine oil gallery pressure regulating valve disposed in fluid communication with the engine oil gallery and the engine oil sump, the oil gallery pressure regulating valve being moveable between at least an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The engine oil system of  claim 5 , wherein when oil pressure within the engine oil gallery is above a predetermined pressure threshold, the engine oil gallery pressure regulating valve moves to the open position and allows oil to flow from the engine oil gallery to the engine oil sump. 
     
     
         7 . The engine oil system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one oil receiving component comprises a piston cooling jet. 
     
     
         8 . An electronically controllable piston cooling jet system for an internal combustion engine having an electronic control module and at least one piston, the piston cooling jet system comprising:
 at least one piston cooling jet providing oil to the at least one piston;   a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an oil supply to the at least one piston cooling jet, the pressure sensor provided for generating an output signal indicative of fluid pressure within the oil supply; and   a solenoid control valve having an open position and a closed position,   wherein the electronic control module operatively controls the solenoid control valve to the open position and the closed position based upon the output of the oil pressure sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The electronically controllable piston cooling jet system of  claim 8 , wherein the solenoid control valve is in the closed position when the output of the oil pressure sensor indicates engine oil pressure below a first threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The electronically controllable piston cooling jet system of  claim 9 , wherein the solenoid control valve is in the closed position when the output of the oil pressure sensor indicates engine oil pressure above a second threshold. 
     
     
         11 . The electronically controllable piston cooling jet system of  claim 10 , wherein the first threshold is lower than the second threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The electronically controllable piston cooling jet system of  claim 8 , wherein the engine has a plurality of pistons and each piston has at least one piston cooling jet. 
     
     
         13 . A method of controlling an electronically controllable oil receiving subsystem for an engine, the engine having an electronic control module, at least one piston, an oil pressure sensor, a solenoid control valve movable between at least an open position and a closed position, and at least one oil receiving component, the method comprising:
 generating an output signal indicative of the oil pressure sensor indicative of engine oil pressure;   transmitting the output signal of the oil pressure sensor to the electronic control module;   comparing oil pressure indicated by the output signal of the oil pressure sensor to at least a first predetermined value stored in a memory of the electronic control module;   transmitting an activation signal to the solenoid control valve, the activation signal containing at least an instruction to position the solenoid control valve in the open position when the output of the oil pressure sensor is greater than the at least a first predetermined value stored in the memory of the electronic control module; and   providing oil flow to the at least one oil receiving component when the solenoid control valve is in the open position.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 comparing the output of the oil pressure sensor to a second predetermined value stored in a memory of the electronic control module, the second predetermined value being less than the first predetermined value; 
 controlling the solenoid control valve to the closed position when the output of the oil pressure sensor is less than the second predetermined value stored in the memory of the electronic control module; and 
 preventing oil flow to the at least one oil receiving component when the solenoid control valve is in the closed position. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first predetermined value and the second predetermined value are equal. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first predetermined value is larger than the second predetermined value. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 monitoring engine temperature information with the electronic control module; 
 controlling the solenoid control valve to the open position when the monitoring of the engine temperature indicates the engine temperature is lower than a first predetermined engine temperature stored in the memory of the electronic control module; and 
 providing oil flow to the at least one oil receiving component when the solenoid control valve is in the open position. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the oil receiving component comprises a piston cooling jet.