System for providing engine lubrication for extended time periods

Abstract

A lubrication system for extending times period between changing engine lubricant may include a tank and a lubricant exchange apparatus. The lubricant exchange apparatus may comprise a first pump in fluid communication with the engine and the tank to transfer lubricant from the lubricant collection element to the tank, a second pump in fluid communication with the tank for transferring lubricant from the tank to the engine, and a control element configured to cause the first pump to operate to remove lubricant from the lubricant collection element. The control element may be configured to cause the second pump to operate to remove a quantity of lubricant from the tank and transfer the quantity to the engine.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A lubrication system for extending a time period between changing lubricant in an engine having a lubricant collection element configured to hold a quantity of lubricant, the lubrication system comprising:
 a tank configured to hold a quantity of lubricant and having a tank inlet and a tank outlet;   a lubricant exchange apparatus configured to exchange lubricant between the engine and the tank, the lubricant exchange apparatus comprising:
 a first pump in fluid communication with the lubricant collection element of the engine and the tank to transfer lubricant from the lubricant collection element to the tank when the first pump is operated, a first conduit configured to connect the first pump to the lubrication collection element, a second conduit connecting the first pump to the tank; and 
 a second pump in fluid communication with the tank for transferring lubricant from the tank to the engine, a third conduit connecting the second pump to the tank, a fourth conduit configured to connect the second pump to the engine; and 
 a control element configured to cause the first pump to operate to remove lubricant from the lubricant collection element, the control element being configured to cause the second pump to operate to remove a quantity of lubricant from the tank and transfer the quantity to the engine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control element is further configured to cause the first pump to operate to pump a quantity of lubricant from the lubricant collection element of an engine to the tank of the lubrication system and cause the second pump to operate to pump a quantity of lubricant from the tank of the lubrication system to the engine. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the quantity removed from the lubricant collection element and the quantity removed from the tank are substantially equal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the quantity of lubricant pumped from the lubricant collection element is a predetermined quantity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the quantity of lubricant pumped from the lubricant collection element is less than a capacity of the lubricant collection element. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control element is configured to operate the first pump to remove the quantity of lubricant from the lubricant collection element intermittently. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control element is configured to discontinue operation of the first pump between periods of lubricant removal. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a lubricant filter assembly configured to filter lubricant moving from the tank of the lubrication system to the engine, the filter assembly including a bank of lubricant filters configured in parallel flows to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the filter assembly includes a manifold configured to have at least two lubricant filters replaceably mounted therein, the manifold being configured to permit lubricant to flow to filters mounted thereon in parallel. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  additionally comprising a lubricant level sensor configured to monitor a current quantity of lubricant in the lubricant collection element of an engine, the lubricant level sensor being in communication with the control element to provide a lubricant level signal to the control element indicative of a lubricant level in the lubricant collection element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the control element is further configured to compare the lubricant level indicated by the lubricant level signal to a predetermined minimum lubricant level, and if the lubricant level falls below the minimum lubricant level, the control element is configured to cause the second pump to pump lubricant to the lubricant collection element, 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein if the lubricant level exceeds a predetermined maximum lubricant level, the control element is configured to cause the first pump to pump lubricant from the lubricant collection element. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 an engine including a lubricant collection element configured to hold a quantity of lubricant; and   a lubrication system for extending a time period between changing lubricant in an engine having a lubricant collection element configured to hold a quantity of lubricant, the lubrication system comprising:
 a tank configured to hold a quantity of lubricant and having a tank inlet and a tank outlet; 
 a lubricant exchange apparatus configured to exchange lubricant between the engine and the tank, the lubricant exchange apparatus comprising:
 a first pump in fluid communication with the lubricant collection element of the engine and the tank to transfer lubricant from the lubricant collection element to the tank when the first pump is operated, a first conduit fluidly connecting the first pump to the lubrication collection element, a second conduit connecting the first pump to the tank; and 
 a second pump in fluid communication with the tank for transferring lubricant from the tank to the engine, a third conduit connecting the second pump to the tank, a fourth conduit fluidly connecting the second pump to the engine; and 
 a control element configured to cause the first pump to operate to remove lubricant from the lubricant collection element, the control element being configured to cause the second pump to operate to remove a quantity of lubricant from the tank and transfer the quantity to the engine. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the control element is further configured to cause the first pump to operate to pump a quantity of lubricant from the lubricant collection element of an engine to the tank of the lubrication system and cause the second pump to operate to pump a quantity of lubricant from the tank of the lubrication system to the engine. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the quantity removed from the lubricant collection element and the quantity removed from the tank are substantially equal. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the control element is configured to operate the first pump to remove the quantity of lubricant from the lubricant collection element intermittently. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  additionally comprising a lubricant filter assembly configured to filter lubricant moving from the tank of the lubrication system to the engine, the filter assembly including a bank of lubricant filters configured in parallel flows to each other. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  additionally comprising a lubricant level sensor configured to monitor a current quantity of lubricant in the lubricant collection element of an engine, the lubricant level sensor being in communication with the control element to provide a lubricant level signal to the control element indicative of a lubricant level in the lubricant collection element. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the control element is further configured to compare the lubricant level indicated by the lubricant level signal to a predetermined minimum lubricant level, and if the lubricant level falls below the minimum lubricant level, the control element is configured to cause the second pump to pump lubricant to the lubricant collection element,