Oil atomizer lubrication system

Abstract

A lubricant delivery system for an oil consumption-type engine utilizes an atomizer to atomize lubricant obtained from a lubricant reservoir of the engine. The lubricant from the reservoir may be used to lubricate auxiliary components prior to being atomized and consumed in the combustion chamber of the engine. The atomizer can be a turbocharging device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lubricant delivery system, comprising:
 an engine having a lubricant reservoir associated therewith;   an atomizer having an air intake and an air output wherein the air output provides air to the engine; and   a lubricant conduit in fluid communication between the lubricant reservoir of the engine and the air intake of the atomizer, the lubricant conduit thereby providing lubricant to the atomizer which at least partially atomizes the lubricant prior to delivery through the air intake.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the atomizer comprises a turbocharger. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pitot tube connected to the lubricant conduit and configured to deliver lubricant to the air intake of the atomizer.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary component wherein the lubricant conduit provides lubricant to the auxiliary component prior to introducing the lubricant to the air intake of the atomizer.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the auxiliary component is a bearing housing of the atomizer. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the auxiliary component is a turbocharger. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a pitot tube connected to the lubricant conduit and configured to deliver lubricant to the air intake of the atomizer.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a lubricant pump in communication with the lubricant conduit between the air intake of the atomizer and the lubricant reservoir.   
     
     
         9 . A method of providing lubrication to an engine and auxiliary components comprising:
 obtaining an engine having a lubricant reservoir containing an amount of lubricant therein;   providing at least a portion of the lubricant from the reservoir to at least one auxiliary component;   routing the at least a portion of the lubricant from the at least one auxiliary component to an air stream in an air intake of an atomizer;   atomizing at least some of the at least a portion of the lubricant in the atomizer into the air stream using the atomizer; and   feeding the atomized lubricant and air into a combustion area of the engine.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one auxiliary component is a bearing housing of the atomizer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the atomizer is a turbocharger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 positioning a pitot tube within the air stream of the air intake of the atomizer; and   configuring the pitot tube to deliver the portion of lubricant to the air stream in the air intake of the atomizer.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing a lubricant pump; and   pumping the lubricant through the at least one auxiliary component and to the air intake.   
     
     
         14 . A lubricant delivery system, comprising:
 an engine having a lubricant reservoir associated therewith;   a turbocharger having an air intake and an air output wherein the air output provides air to the engine, the turbocharger being operable to atomize lubricant passed therethrough; and   a lubricant conduit in fluid communication between the lubricant reservoir of the engine and the air intake of the turbocharger, the lubricant conduit thereby providing lubricant to the turbocharger which at least partially atomizes the lubricant prior to delivery through the air intake.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a pitot tube connected to the lubricant conduit and configured to deliver lubricant to the air intake of the turbocharger.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an auxiliary component wherein the lubricant conduit provides lubricant to the auxiliary component prior to introducing the lubricant to the air intake of the turbocharger.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary component is a bearing housing of the turbocharger.