Scavenge pump oil level control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9657614-B2
Application number	US-201414564505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2014
Priority date	Feb 9, 2011
Publication date	May 23, 2017
Grant date	May 23, 2017

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid module, a transmission and a torque converter. The lubrication system associated with the torque converter includes an oil sump within the torque converter housing which is intended to be managed as a “dry” sump oil lubrication system. There is an oil pump in communication with the sump in order to manage the sump oil level. By monitoring an operational parameter of the oil pump motor (pressure, torque, or current) oil aeration can be detected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting an oil level of an oil sump of a hybrid electric vehicle, said oil sump including a supply of oil, said method of adjusting comprising the following steps:
(a) providing an electric oil pump;
(b) constructing and arranging said electric oil pump in flow communication between said oil sump and an oil reservoir;
(c) providing a controller;
(d) constructing and arranging said controller in electrical communication with said electric oil pump;
(e) sensing a parameter value of said electric oil pump;
(f) comparing said sensed parameter value to an acceptable range for said parameter, said acceptable range corresponding to an acceptable oil level range for said oil sump; and
(g) operating said electric oil pump as necessary to maintain the oil level of said oil sump within said acceptable oil level range.

2. The method of adjusting of claim 1 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump torque reading of said electrical oil pump.

3. The method of adjusting of claim 1 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a torque oscillation of said electric oil pump.

4. The method of adjusting of claim 1 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump speed oscillation of said electrical oil pump.

5. A method of monitoring an oil level of an oil sump of a hybrid electric vehicle, said oil sump including a supply of oil, said method of monitoring comprising the following steps:
(a) providing an electric oil pump;
(b) constructing and arranging said electric oil pump in flow communication between said oil sump and an oil reservoir;
(c) providing a controller;
(d) constructing and arranging said controller in electrical communication with said electric oil pump;
(e) sensing a parameter value of said electric oil pump; and
(f) comparing said sensed parameter value to an acceptable range for said parameter, said acceptable range corresponding to an acceptable oil level range for said oil sump;
(g) based on the comparing step, controlling said oil PUMP to maintain the oil level within said acceptable oil level range.

6. The method of monitoring of claim 5 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump torque reading of said electrical oil pump.

7. The method of monitoring of claim 5 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a torque oscillation of said electric oil pump.

8. The method of monitoring of claim 5 , wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump speed oscillation of said electrical oil pump.

9. The method of monitoring of claim 5 , wherein said electric oil pump parameter is pump torque.

10. The method of monitoring of claim 9 , wherein said sensing step is performed by taking a current reading of said electric oil pump.

11. The method of monitoring of claim 5 , wherein said electric oil pump parameter is torque oscillation.

12. The method of monitoring of claim 11 , wherein said sensing step is performed by taking a current reading of said electric oil pump.

Assignees

• Allison Transm Inc

Inventors

• Long Charles F
• Wright Thomas A

Classifications

• F04B23/02

  having reservoirs · CPC title

• B60W20/00 Primary

  Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} · CPC title

• F01M11/061 Primary

  Means for keeping lubricant level constant · CPC title

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• F04B49/20

  by changing the driving speed · CPC title