Dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including the step of connecting said container to said engine by means of a restricted conduit, whereby the oil particles condensed from said separated air and collected in said container are conducted to said engine.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said oil tank is vented to the atmosphere for relieving superatmospheric pressure in said oil tank and engine by connecting said oil tank to said container by way of a conduit, said one way valve being connected in said conduit between said oil tank and container.

Claim 5

A dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, said engine having a crankcase, the lubrication system comprising: an oil tank connected to said engine by a pressure equalizing conduit means; scavenging oil pump means connected to said crankcase to pump oil therefrom; air separating means for separating entrained air from oil pumped from the engine by said scavenging pump means and connected to said scavenging pump means to receive oil therefrom; mean for conducting oil from said separating means to said oil tank; container means connected to said separator means for receiving said separated air therefrom and for separating oil particles from said air; venting means for venting said container to the atmosphere; oil circulating pump means connected to said oil tank and said crankcase for delivering oil from said oil tank to said engine for lubrication said engine; and one way valve means for connecting said oil tank to a source of atmospheric pressure for relieving super atmospheric pressure in said engine and oil tank while permitting operation of said engine at subatmospheric pressures.

Claim 6

A dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, said engine having a crankcase, the lubrication system comprising: an oil tank connected to said engine by a pressure equalizing conduit means; scavenging oil pump means connected to said crankcase to pump oil therefrom; air separating means for separating entrained air from oil pumped from the engine by said scavenging pump means and connected to said scavenging pump means to receive oil therefrom; mean for conducting oil from said separating means to said oil tank; container means connected to said separator means for receiving said separated air therefrom and for separating oil particles from said air; venting means for venting said container to the atmosphere; oil circulating pump means connected to said oil tank and said crankcase for delivering oil from said oil tank to said engine for lubrication said engine; and one way valve means for connecting said oil tank to a source of atmospheric pressure for relieving super atmospheric pressure in said engine and oil tank while permitting operation of said engine at subatmospheric pressures.

Claim 7

The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said one way valve is connected to said container means.

Claim 8

The lubrication system of claim 1 including conduit means for conducting oil from said container means to said engine, said conduit means including restriction means to prevent pressure equalization between said engine and said container means.

Claim 9

The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said scavenging pumping means, said air separator means and said oil circulating pump means are driven from a common driving means.

Claim 10

The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said scavenging pumping means includes a plurality of scavenging pump stages, said air separator and said scavenging pumping stages comprising separable sections of a unitary assembly which are secured together by fastening means and driven by a common driveshaft.

Claim 11

The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said scavenging oil pump means, said air separator and said oil circulating pump means comprise separable sections of a unitary assembly and which are driven from a common driveshaft.

Claim 12

A dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, said engine having a crankcase, and an oil sump in said crankcase, the lubrication system comprising: an oil tank; a first pressure equalizing conduit connecting said oil tank to said engine an oil circulating conduit connecting said oil tank to said engine for oil circulating communication therewith; an oil circulating pump in said oil circulating conduit for receiving oil from said oil tank and for delivering said oil to said engine; oil scavenging pumping means for pumping oil from said sump, said oil scavenging pumping means comprising a plurality of pumping stages; centrifugal air separating means connected to said scavening pumping means for receiving oil therefrom and for separating entrained air from said oil; a second conduit connecting an oil outlet of said centrifugal air separator means to said oil tank; a second separating means comprising a container for separating oil particles from air received from said centrifugal air separating means; a third conduit for connecting the air outlet of said centrifugal air separator means to said container; a vent for venting said container to the atmosphere; a fourth conduit for connecting said container to said engine; a restrictor in said fourth conduit; a fifth conduit for connecting said oil tank to said containers; and a check valve in said fifth conduit for preventing fluid flow from said container to said oil tank and for enabling fluid flow from said oil tank to said container for relieving superatmospheric pressures in said oil tank and engine.

Claim 13

A dry sump lubrication system for an internal combustion engine, said engine having a crankcase, and an oil sump in said crankcase, the lubrication system comprising: an oil tank; a first pressure equalizing conduit connecting said oil tank to said engine an oil circulating conduit connecting said oil tank to said engine for oil circulating communication therewith; an oil circulating pump in said oil circulating conduit for receiving oil from said oil tank and for delivering said oil to said engine; oil scavenging pumping means for pumping oil from said sump, said oil scavenging pumping means comprising a plurality of pumping stages; centrifugal air separating means connected to said scavening pumping means for receiving oil therefrom and for separating entrained air from said oil; a second conduit connecting an oil outlet of said centrifugal air separator means to said oil tank; a second separating means comprising a container for separating oil particles from air received from said centrifugal air separating means; a third conduit for connecting the air outlet of said centrifugal air separator means to said container; a vent for venting said container to the atmosphere; a fourth conduit for connecting said container to said engine; a restrictor in said fourth conduit; a fifth conduit for connecting said oil tank to said containers; and a check valve in said fifth conduit for preventing fluid flow from said container to said oil tank and for enabling fluid flow from said oil tank to said container for relieving superatmospheric pressures in said oil tank and engine.

Claim 14

The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said oil scavenging pumping means and said air separator means are driven from a common driving means.

Claim 15

The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said scavenging pumping means includes a plurality of scavenging pumps, said air separator and scavenging pumping means, comprising separable sections of a unitary assembly secured together by fastening means and driven by a common driveshaft.