Reduced parasitic lube system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a lubrication system comprising: a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant source and an outlet; a cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet; a lubrication filter having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the cooler and an outlet; a first delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the lubrication filter, the first delivery path being configured to deliver cooled, filtered lubricant to a bearing system of an engine; and a second delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump, the second delivery path being configured to deliver uncooled, unfiltered lubricant to piston cooling nozzles of the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubrication system, comprising:
 a pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant source and an outlet;   a cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet;   a lubrication filter having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and an outlet;   a first delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the lubrication filter, the first delivery path being configured to deliver filtered lubricant to a bearing system of an engine; and   a second delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the cooler, the second delivery path being configured to deliver cooled, unfiltered lubricant to piston cooling nozzles of the engine.   
     
     
         2 . The lubrication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a return path in fluid communication with the bearing system and the piston cooling nozzles to return lubricant to the lubricant source. 
     
     
         3 . The lubrication system of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen disposed in the second delivery path for inhibiting passage of large particles to the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         4 . The lubrication system of  claim 3 , wherein the screen is a 300 micron screen. 
     
     
         5 . The lubrication system of  claim 3 , wherein the screen is disposed between the cooler and the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         6 . The lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first delivery path is configured to deliver uncooled, filtered lubricant to the bearing system. 
     
     
         7 . The lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the first delivery path is configured to deliver cooled, filtered lubricant to the bearing system. 
     
     
         8 . The lubrication system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is a variable flow pump, and wherein the lubrication system is configured to regulate flow through the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         9 . The lubrication system of  claim 8 , wherein the lubrication system is further configured to regulate flow through the piston cooling nozzles based on thermal load. 
     
     
         10 . A method of providing lubricant to a bearing system of an engine and piston cooling nozzles of the engine, comprising:
 pumping lubricant from a lubricant source to a pump outlet;   routing a first portion of the pumped lubricant to the piston cooling nozzles without being filtered;   routing a second portion of the pumped lubricant from an outlet of a filter to the bearing system, wherein the second portion of the pumped lubricant is cooled by a cooler.   
     
     
         11 . A lubrication system, comprising:
 a variable flow pump having an inlet in fluid communication with a lubricant source and an outlet;   a cooler having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the variable flow pump and an outlet;   a lubrication filter having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the variable flow pump and an outlet;   a first delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the lubrication filter, the first delivery path being configured to deliver filtered lubricant to a bearing system of an engine;   a second delivery path in fluid communication with the outlet of the cooler, the second delivery path being configured to deliver cooled, unfiltered lubricant to piston cooling nozzles of the engine;   a return path in fluid communication with the bearing system and the piston cooling nozzles to return lubricant to the lubricant source; and   a screen disposed in the second delivery path for inhibiting passage of large particles to the piston cooling nozzles, the screen disposed between the cooler and the piston cooling nozzles,   wherein the lubrication system is configured to regulate flow through the piston cooling nozzles.   
     
     
         12 . The lubrication system of  claim 11 , wherein the lubrication system is further configured to regulate flow through the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first portion of the pumped lubricant is cooled by the cooler and routed to the piston cooling nozzles from an outlet of the cooler. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising: routing the first portion of the pumped lubricant from the piston cooling nozzles along a return path to the lubricant source; and
 routing the second portion of the pumped lubricant from the bearing system along the return path to the lubricant source.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising regulating flow of the first portion of the pumped lubricant through the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein regulating flow of the first portion of the pumped lubricant is based on thermal load. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the lubricant is pumped with a variable flow pump. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising routing the first portion of the pumped lubricant through a screen disposed between the cooler and the piston cooling nozzles. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the flow is regulated based on thermal load. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the screen is a 300 micron screen.