Cooling oil in an engine system

Abstract

A system and method for cooling oil in an engine system. In one embodiment, the system includes an oil sump and an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump. The oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. According to the system and method disclosed herein, the overall size of the engine system and the number of external pressurized oil lines are reduced.

1 . A system comprising:
 an oil sump; and   an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump, wherein the oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling fluid is raw water. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the oil cooler comprises:
 an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid; and   an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine. 
   
   
       7 . A vehicle comprising:
 an engine comprising:
 an oil sump; and 
 an oil cooler that is integrated into the oil sump, wherein the oil cooler receives cooling fluid and ejects the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler. 
   
   
   
       8 . The vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump. 
   
   
       9 . The vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the cooling fluid is raw water. 
   
   
       10 . The vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant. 
   
   
       11 . The vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the oil cooler comprises:
 an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid; and   an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid.   
   
   
       12 . The vehicle of  claim 7  wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine. 
   
   
       13 . A method for cooling oil in an engine system, the method comprising:
 providing an oil cooler that is integrated into an oil sump;   receiving cooling fluid; and   ejecting the cooling fluid, and wherein the cooling fluid cools oil in the oil sump as the cooling fluid passes through the oil cooler.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the oil cooler is integrated into the oil sump in that the oil cooler is positioned inside of the oil sump. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the cooling fluid is raw water. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the cooling fluid is engine coolant. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the oil cooler comprises an oil cooler inlet for receiving the cooling fluid and an oil cooler outlet for ejecting the cooling fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the oil cooler is accessed via a hole in the oil sump which allows service of the oil cooler without removal of the oil sump from the engine.