Pumps – With condition responsive pumped fluid control – Pressure responsive relief or bypass valve
Reexamination Certificate
1997-07-18
2002-10-08
Tyler, Cheryl J. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
With condition responsive pumped fluid control
Pressure responsive relief or bypass valve
C417S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461118
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid pump which operates in connection with a starter motor used on an internal combustion engine; and, in particular, to an oil pump which is driven by a starter motor armature drive shaft and which pump includes a bypass valve to provide non-pumping when the starter motor is used in a normal mode.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the fluid pump of the present invention is an improvement over pumps shown U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,553,512, 4,875,551 and 4,502,431. These pumps are used to lubricate the engine during the initial phase of the cranking of the starter motor to turn over an engine. Typically, oil is used as a lubricant to allow engine parts to slide freely and easily with reduced friction. Notwithstanding the use of lubricants having high lubricity there continues to be abrasive wear between metal parts in internal engine components such as the turbocharger, camshaft, crank shaft and rocker assembly, for example. It has been known for some time that the greatest wear on internal engine parts is at the commencement of ignition cranking and engine start-up. During that time, there is insufficient oil pressure in the engine to provide lubrication to the various parts throughout the engine. Accordingly, for these initial moments during start-up, there is metal rubbing against metal without a sufficient lubricant interface so that deterioration in the internal engine components takes place over time.
A particularly important solution to this problem was provided by a prelubrication system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,502,431 in which oil is introduced in the engine prior to cranking and start-up. The starter motor is utilized as the means for powering the pump to provide prelubrication. In that patent, the starter motor armature shaft is connected to the pump's pumping gears which are rotated to provide the pumping action to the engine to prelubricate prior to the starter motor's solenoid engaging the starter to crank the engine for start-up. One particular embodiment of the starter motor and pump combination is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,512 which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention provides a similar pump assembly as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,512 to provide a selectable means for either prelubricating the engine or pumping the oil out for a quick efficient oil change. This is particularly useful to large fleet operators of vehicles which require frequent oil changes.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pump mechanism to pump the oil out of an engine sump without having to open the sump's oil plug. It is a further object of the invention to provide a bypass valve which is selectively operable in the prelubrication mode as well as a oil exchange mode either from the engine compartment and/or from a time delayed mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a gear-type pump which is integrated to the starter motor of a vehicle. As disclosed in the forementioned prior art, the base portion of the pump generally comprises the back or bearing end or the starter motor and includes a sealed opening through which an extended armature shaft can be mounted to rotate or power the pump gears. A pump housing is integrally formed on the base plate which provides a cavity in which the pump gears are mounted and includes an inlet and outlet port. In addition, the present invention provides an additional port for operation of the bypass mechanism to permit the oil to be pumped and bypassed as an outlet during cavitation. By rendering the bypass valve ineffective, oil can be pumped to the outlet port for either prelubrication or for changing the oil of the vehicle. Other advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a perusal of the following description of a presently preferred embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2887058 (1959-05-01), Aspelin et al.
patent: 3146720 (1964-09-01), Henry
patent: 4813853 (1989-03-01), Otto et al.
patent: 5759013 (1998-06-01), Miyazaki et al.
patent: 5797732 (1998-08-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5823750 (1998-10-01), Hoffmann et al.
Apostolides John K.
Lusco Ronald
Cohen & Grigsby P.C.
RPM Industries, Inc.
Tyler Cheryl J.
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