Method for monitoring adequate oil lubrication of an internal combustion engine and an internal combustion engine for carrying out the method

US6318332A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Mannesmann VDO AG · DE

Inventors

• Eckhart Kern · Hofheim, DE
• Werner Wallrafen · Schwalbach, DE
• Joachim Acht · Frankfurt am Main, DE
• Volker Wehrmeyer · Königstein, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 15, 1999
• Grant date: Nov 20, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 15, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N33/30
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

To monitor adequate oil lubrication of an internal combustion engine, air bubbles in the oil flow are detected by means of a sensor arranged in an oil line of a pressure circulation lubrication system and connected to an electronic evaluation system. These air bubbles are an early indicator of inadequate lubrication of the internal combustion engine.