Engine lubrication system

Claim 2

In an engine lubrication system having a main lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level, a pump for withdrawing lubricant from the main reservoir and circulating the lubricant to operating components of an engine, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir, and a first conduit having one end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the main reservoir for transporting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir, the improvement comprising a second conduit having one end coupled to the output of the pump and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir for transporting a portion of the circulating lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir and control means operative when the pump is circulating lubricant for permitting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to be delivered to the main reservoir through the first conduit when the level of the lubricant in the main reservoir is below the predetermined level.

Claim 3

In an engine lubrication system having a main lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level, a pump for withdrawing lubricant from the main reservoir and circulating this lubricant to operating components of an engine, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir, and a first conduit having one end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the main reservoir for transporting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir, the improvement comprising a second conduit having one end coupled to the output of the pump and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir for transporting a portion of the circulating lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir and control means comprising a conduit having one end coupled to the main reservoir at the predetermined level and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir at a position above the lubricant contained therein whereby the control means permits lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to be delivered to the main reservoir through the first conduit when the level of the lubricant in the main reservoir is below the predetermined level.

Claim 4

In an engine lubrication system having a main lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level, a pump for withdrawing lubricant from the main reservoir and circulating this lubricant to operating components of an engine, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir, and a first conduit having one end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the main reservoir for transporting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir, the improvement comprising a second conduit having one end coupled to the output of the pump and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir for transporting a portion of the circulating lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir and control means comprising a conduit having one end coupled to the main reservoir at the predetermined level and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir at a position above the lubricant contained therein whereby the control means permits lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to be delivered to the main reservoir through the first conduit when the level of the lubricant in the main reservoir is below the predetermined level.

Claim 5

An engine lubrication system for an engine having a main lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level and a pump for withdrawing lubricant from the main reservoir and circulating the lubricant to operating components of the engine, comprising an auxiliary lubricant reservoir having a first opening through which lubricant may be added to the system and a second opening for discharging lubricant, a first conduit having one end coupled to the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the main reservoir for transporting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir, a second conduit having one end coupled to the output of the pump and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir for transporting a portion of the circulating lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir, a control conduit having one end coupled to the main reservoir at the predetermined level and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir at a position above the lubricant normally contained therein for controlling the flow of lubricant through the first conduit, a removable cap for hermetically sealing the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, and valve means for selectively preventing flow of lubricant through the first conduit when the cap is removed.

Claim 6

An engine lubrication system for an engine having a main lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level and a pump for withdrawing lubricant from the main reservoir and circulating the lubricant to operating components of the engine, comprising an auxiliary lubricant reservoir having a first opening through which lubricant may be added to the system and a second opening for discharging lubricant, a first conduit having one end coupled to the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the main reservoir for transporting lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir, a second conduit having one end coupled to the output of the pump and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir for transporting a portion of the circulating lubricant to the auxiliary reservoir, a control conduit having one end coupled to the main reservoir at the predetermined level and the other end coupled to the auxiliary reservoir at a position above the lubricant normally contained therein for controlling the flow of lubricant through the first conduit, a removable cap for hermetically sealing the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, and valve means for selectively preventing flow of lubricant through the first conduit when the cap is removed.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 3 wherein the valve means includes a plunger positioned in the second opening and movable between a first position in which discharge of lubricant through the second opening is prevented and a second position in which discharge of lubricant through the second opening is permitted, and biasing means for urging the plunger into the first position, and further including a spacer coupled to the plunger for engaging the cap and moving the plunger to the second position against the force of the biasing means when the cap is secured to seal the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 4 wherein the cap includes a dip stick depending therefrom for indicating the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir, and the spacer is formed with an interior chamber to receive the dip stick when the cap is secured and at least one opening for communicating the interior chamber with the interior of the auxiliary reservoir, so that the level of lubricant in the interior chamber of the spacer equals the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir.

Claim 9

In an engine lubrication system having a primary lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir having a first opening through which lubricant may be added to the system and a second opening for discharging lubricant, and a conduit having one end coupled to the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the primary reservoir for transporting lubricant from the auxiliary reservoir to the primary reservoir, the improvement comprising means for permitting the discharge of lubricant from the auxiliary reservoir to the primary reservoir through the conduit when the level of the lubricant in the primary reservoir is below the predetermined level, a removable cap for hermetically sealing the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, the cap having a dip stick depending therefrom for indicating the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir, a valve seat formed at the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir, a valve member selectively engaging the valve seat to seal the second opening, biasing means for urging the valve member against the valve seat, and spacer means coupled to the valve member for engaging the cap and displacing the valve member from the valve seat against the force of the biasing means when the cap is secured to seal the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, the spacer means formed with an interior chamber to receive the dip stick when the cap is secured and at least one opening for communicating the interior chamber with the interior of the auxiliary reservoir, so that the level of lubricant in the interior chamber of the spacer means equals the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir.

Claim 10

In an engine lubrication system having a primary lubricant reservoir for containing lubricant at a predetermined level, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir having a first opening through which lubricant may be added to the system and a second opening for discharging lubricant, and a conduit having one end coupled to the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir and the other end coupled to the primary reservoir for transporting lubricant from the auxiliary reservoir to the primary reservoir, the improvement comprising means for permitting the discharge of lubricant from the auxiliary reservoir to the primary reservoir through the conduit when the level of the lubricant in the primary reservoir is below the predetermined level, a removable cap for hermetically sealing the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, the cap having a dip stick depending therefrom for indicating the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir, a valve seat formed at the second opening of the auxiliary reservoir, a valve member selectively engaging the valve seat to seal the second opening, biasing means for urging the valve member against the valve seat, and spacer means coupled to the valve member for engaging the cap and displacing the valve member from the valve seat against the force of the biasing means when the cap is secured to seal the first opening of the auxiliary reservoir, the spacer means formed with an interior chamber to receive the dip stick when the cap is secured and at least one opening for communicating the interior chamber with the interior of the auxiliary reservoir, so that the level of lubricant in the interior chamber of the spacer means equals the level of lubricant in the auxiliary reservoir.