Fluid supply system

Abstract

A fluid supply system may include a component and a bypass valve including a valve body arranged in a control channel. The valve body may be adjustable at least between a first position and a second position, the valve body cutting off a fluid channel to the component when in the first position and cutting off a bypass channel bypassing the component when in the second position. The valve body may divide the control channel into a first chamber and a second chamber. The valve body may include a leakage opening connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. The system may also include at least one detection device configured to detect a property of a fluid and transmit the detected property to a control device. The control device may be configured to close a switchable valve arranged in the leakage channel when the detected property reaches a predefined condition.

Claims

1. A fluid supply system comprising: a component; a bypass valve including a valve body arranged in a control channel, the valve body being adjustable at least between a first position and a second position, the valve body cutting off a fluid channel to the component when in the first position and cutting off a bypass channel bypassing the component when in the second position; the valve body dividing the control channel into a first chamber and a second chamber, the valve body including a leakage opening connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a spring element arranged in the second chamber configured to pretension the valve body in the second position; the second chamber connected to a fluid reservoir via a leakage channel; a switchable valve arranged in the leakage channel configured to at least one of i) at least partially open and ii) at least partially close the leakage channel; and at least one detection device configured to detect a property of a fluid and transmit the detected property to a control device, the control device configured to close the switchable valve to block the leakage channel when the detected property reaches a predefined condition; wherein the switchable valve is a solenoid valve; and wherein the valve body is structured as a valve piston including a first opening to the bypass channel on a casing side and a second opening to the fluid channel on the casing side.

2. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluid supply system is configured as a lubricant supply system.

3. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured as a temperature detection device and the control device is configured to close the switchable valve when a temperature of the fluid is 117 C. or greater.

4. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the leakage opening is arranged in a floor of the valve piston.

5. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leakage opening is arranged in a floor of the valve piston.

6. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve body is composed of at least one of metal and plastic.

7. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component is configured as one of a cooler device, a transmission device, and a filter device.

8. An internal combustion engine comprising a fluid supply system including: a component; a bypass valve including a valve body arranged in a control channel, the valve body being adjustable at least between a first position and a second position, the valve body cutting off a fluid channel to the component when in the first position and cutting off a bypass channel bypassing the component when in the second position, the valve body dividing the control channel into a first chamber and a second chamber, the valve body including a leakage opening connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a spring element arranged within the second chamber configured to pretension the valve body in the second position; a fluid reservoir connected to the second chamber via a leakage channel; a switchable valve structured as a solenoid valve, arranged in the leakage channel, and configured to at least one of i) at least partially open and ii) at least partially close the leakage channel; and at least one detection device configured to detect a property of a fluid and transmit the detected property to a control device, the control device configured to close the switchable valve to block the leakage channel when the detected property reaches a predefined condition; wherein the valve body is structured as a valve piston having a casing side, the valve piston including a first opening and second opening disposed on the casing side such that first opening is connectable to the bypass channel and the second opening is connectable to the fluid channel.

9. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fluid supply system is configured as a lubricant supply system.

10. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 9, wherein the detection device is configured as a temperature detection device and wherein the control device is configured to close the switchable valve when a temperature of the fluid is 117 C. or greater.

11. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fluid supply system is configured as an oil supply system.

12. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the detection device is configured as a temperature detection device and wherein the control device is configured to close the switchable valve when a temperature of the fluid is 117 C. or greater.

13. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the leakage opening is arranged in a floor of the valve piston.

14. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the valve body is composed of at least one of metal and plastic.

15. The internal combustion engine as claimed in claim 8, wherein the component is configured as one of a cooler device, a transmission device, and a filter device.

16. A fluid supply system comprising: a component; a bypass valve including a valve body and arranged in a control channel, the valve body being adjustable at least between a first position and a second position, the valve body cutting off a fluid channel to the component when in the first position and cutting off a bypass channel bypassing the component when in the second position, the valve body dividing the control channel into a first chamber and a second chamber, the valve body including a leakage opening connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a spring element arranged within the second chamber configured to pretension the valve body in the second position; a fluid reservoir connected to the second chamber via a leakage channel; and a switchable valve structured as a solenoid valve, arranged in the leakage channel, and configured to at least one of i) at least partially open and ii) at least partially close the leakage channel; and at least one temperature detection device configured to detect a temperature of a fluid and transmit the detected temperature to a control device, the control device configured to close the switchable valve to block the leakage channel when the detected temperature reaches a predefined value; wherein the valve body is structured as a valve piston having a casing side, the valve piston including a first opening and second opening disposed on the casing side such that first opening is connectable to the bypass channel and the second opening is connectable to the fluid channel.

17. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the fluid supply system is configured as a lubricant supply system.

18. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the leakage opening is arranged in a floor of the valve piston.

19. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the valve body is composed of at least one of metal and plastic.

20. The fluid supply system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the component is configured as one of a cooler device, a transmission device, and a filter device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings show, schematically in each case:

(2) FIG. 1 a fluid supply system according to the invention with a fluid property below a predefined property,

(3) FIG. 2 a representation as in FIG. 1, but with a property of the fluid above the predefined property,

(4) FIG. 3 a fluid supply system according to the invention with a different valve and with a fluid property below a predefined property,

(5) FIG. 4 a representation as in FIG. 3 but with a property of the fluid above the predefined property.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In accordance with FIGS. 1 to 4, a fluid supply system 1 according to the invention, in particular an internal combustion engine 2, for example a lubricant supply system and, in particular, an oil supply system 3, has a component 5 and also a bypass 4 bypassing this. The component 5 may be designed as a cooler, transmission or filter device, for example. According to FIGS. 1 to 4, only the fluid channel 21 to the component 5 and the bypass channel 22 to the bypass 4 are shown in this case, which means that the actual component 5 is located below the image plane shown. In this case, a bypass valve 7 with a valve body 8 is arranged in a control channel 6, said valve body being adjustable between a first position (cf. FIGS. 1 and 3) and a second position (cf. FIGS. 2 and 4) and cutting off the fluid channel 21 to the component 5 in the first position and the bypass channel 22 in the second position. The control channel 6 in this case leads indirectly via a fluid pump which is not shown to a fluid reservoir 9.

(7) If the control channel 6 is observed more closely, it is possible to see that the valve body 8 divides said control channel 6 into a first chamber 10 and a second chamber 11 and, at the same time, has a leakage opening 12 which connects the first chamber 10 to the second chamber 11. Moreover, a spring element 13 is arranged in the second chamber 11 which pretensions the valve body 8 in its second position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4. The second chamber 11 is, in addition, connected to the fluid reservoir 9 via a leakage channel 14, wherein a valve 15, in particular a solenoid valve, is arranged in the leakage channel 14 for the at least partial opening/closing of the leakage channel 14. According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the valve 15 in this case is shown in its opening position in which the second chamber 11 is connected to the fluid reservoir 9, which is in a pressureless state, via the leakage channel 14. By contrast, FIGS. 2 and 4 show the valve 15 in its closed position. As a general rule, the valve 15 in this case may be a solenoid valve, an electric switch, a bi-metal switch and/or an expansion element 23 (cf. FIGS. 3 and 4). The embodiment as a solenoid valve, as a bi-metal switch or as an electric switch, particularly allows a comparatively rapid switching and therefore fast reaction.

(8) Moreover, the fluid supply system 1 according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a detection device 16, for example a temperature detection device with a temperature sensor, which detects a property, in particular the temperature, of the fluid 17, for example oil or lubricant, and transmits it to a control device 18 which, in turn, is configured in such a manner that the valve 15, on reaching a predefined property, for example a predefined temperature T, closes and therefore cuts off the leakage channel 14. To this end, the control device 18 is naturally also connected to the valve 15.

(9) According to FIGS. 3 and 4, the detection device 16 and the control device 18 are integrated in the expansion element 23 or else are created by said element, so that a separate detection device 16 and a separate control device 18 can be dispensed with, which generates cost advantages.

(10) In FIGS. 1 to 4, the detection device 16 is configured as a temperature detection device (expansion element 23 also detects temperature) and therefore detects the temperature of the fluid 17. The predefined temperature T in this case may, for example, be 117 C., so that in FIGS. 1 and 3 a state of the fluid supply system 1 according to the invention is shown at a temperature T<117 C. and in FIGS. 2 and 4 at a temperature T117 C.

(11) If the valve body 8 is observed more closely, it can be seen that said valve body is configured as a valve piston which has a first opening 19 on the casing side and a second opening 20 on the casing side, wherein depending on the switch setting of the valve body 8, the first opening 19 is flush with the bypass channel 22 to the bypass 4, while the second opening 20 is flush with the fluid channel 21 to the component 5 in the second position. The leakage opening 12 in this case is arranged in a floor of the valve body 8. The valve body itself may, for example, by made of metal or of plastic, wherein the metal embodiment offers particularly great resistance to all fluids 17, while a plastic embodiment can be produced in a comparatively cost-effective manner.

(12) The fluid supply system 1 according to the invention operates in this case according to FIGS. 1 to 4 with a detection device 16 configured as a temperature detection device, as follows:

(13) At a temperature T<117 C., the situation according to FIGS. 1 and 3 arises, at which the temperature detection device 16 (or else the expansion element 23 in FIG. 3) detects the temperature, passes it on to the control device 18 and this then keeps the valve 15 open. The fluid 17 flowing into the control channel 6 thereby produces a pressure P.sub.1 in the first chamber 10, wherein it is able to flow via the leakage opening 12 into the second chamber 11 and via this and the open leakage channel 14 into the fluid reservoir 9. The fluid reservoir 9 in this case is usually in a pressureless state, wherein, however, a valve body 8 of the valve 15 may be configured as a throttle, for example, so that ambient pressure does not result in the second chamber 11 but only a lower pressure P.sub.2 with respect to the pressure P.sub.1 prevailing in the first chamber 10. Between the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 11 there is therefore a pressure differential P which acts against the spring force of the spring element 13. The force F.sub.1 acting on the valve body 8 from below in the present case is measured here using
F.sub.1=P.sub.1.Math.A.sub.(valve body)P.Math.A.sub.(valve body),

(14) whereas the force F.sub.2 acting on the valve body 8 from above is measured as follows:
F.sub.2=P.Math.A.sub.(valve body)+F.sub.(spring)

(15) and wherein
F.sub.1>F.sub.2.

(16) This means that the valve body 8 is displaced upwards until the first opening 19 on the casing side is flush with the bypass channel 22 leading to a filter device, for example, and the fluid 17 can flow into the bypass 4. A small leakage flow of the fluid 17 may also reach the second chamber 11 via the leakage opening 12 and the fluid reservoir 9 via the leakage channel 14.

(17) When the predefined temperature T of 117 C. is reached, the bypass valve 7 switches into the position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4, since when the predefined temperature T is reached, the control device 18 transmits a corresponding signal to the valve 15 and this then moves the valve body 8 into its closed position and blocks the leakage channel 14. If the valve 15 is configured as a solenoid valve or as an electrically switchable valve, opening and closing takes place comparatively quickly, while in the case of a valve 15 with an expansion element 23, a slower opening/closing takes place. In the last case, a separate detection device 16 and a likewise separate control device 18 and also the associated wiring can be dispensed with, since in this case these are supplied by the expansion element 23, which produces cost advantages.

(18) Since the leakage channel 14 has a substantially smaller cross section by comparison with the control channel 6, in this case, too, a valve 15 which only exhibits a small valve stroke but at the same time is fast-switching is used. Following closure of the valve 15, the pressure P.sub.2 in the second chamber 11 rises to the pressure P.sub.1 in the first chamber 10, producing a P of 0. In this case, there is consequently no further pressure-dependent adjustment of the valve body 8 of the bypass valve 7, as the pressure-dependent force F.sub.1 acting on the valve body 8 from below corresponds to the exclusively pressure-dependent force F.sub.2 acting on the valve body 8 from above. Despite this, the force F.sub.2 acting on the valve body 8 from above is naturally greater than the force F.sub.1, since in addition the force F.sub.(spring) of the spring element 13 also acts on the valve body 8 from above. The following therefore applies to the state depicted in FIGS. 2 and 4:
F.sub.2>F.sub.1 where
F.sub.2=P.sub.2.Math.A.sub.(valve body)+F.sub.(spring); and F.sub.1=P.sub.1.Math.A.sub.(valve body)

(19) With the bypass valve 7 according to the invention and the fluid supply system 1 according to the invention, control of the valve body 8 of the bypass valve 7 is possible by means of the spring force F.sub.(spring) via the fluid pressure P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and via the position of the valve body 8 of the valve 15. Depending on whether the valve 15 is open or closed, by means of a targeted design the spring force F.sub.(spring) of the spring element 13 of the valve body 8 can open or close the bypass channel 22 to the bypass 4.

(20) Insofar as the valve 15 is configured as a solenoid valve or as an electrically switchable valve, it may of course also be configured in such a manner that it performs a fail-safe function, in other words it has to be energized in order to be moved into the (opening) state depicted in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 3. The valve 15 remains de-energized in the closed state, which means that the fluid 17 or else the oil is always conducted via the component 5 and damage can be avoided.

(21) The predefined temperature T=117 C. depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 naturally represents only a possible temperature which applies to oil as the fluid 17, for example. Other parameters may of course also be used as the detection variable.

(22) With the fluid supply system 1 according to the invention, a comparatively rapid switching of the bypass valve 7 is therefore possible, without an actuation device with a comparatively large valve stroke being necessary for this, since the valve stroke of the valve 15 for controlling the valve body 8 in the leakage channel 14 is entirely sufficient to influence the pressure conditions P.sub.1, P.sub.2 and thereby control the bypass valve 7. If an electrically switching or solenoid valve is used for the valve 15, by comparison with wax expansion elements for controlling the bypass valve 7, a substantially quicker reaction time of the bypass valve 7 can be achieved. At the same time, this may have a more cost-effective and structurally simple design.