Dual pump assembly

• US 20070098567A1
• Filed: 11/02/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Johnson, Kent, Schultz, John, Ujvary, Csilla
• Granted Patent: US 7,695,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/199.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 11/00 Combinations of two or more machines or pumps, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type combinations of such pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C23/00; Pumping installations F04C13/00 takes precedence; specially adapted for elastic fluids F04C23/00; fluid gearing F16H

Abstract

The apparatus of the present invention provides a compact dual-pump assembly for an automotive transmission. The dual-pump assembly preferably includes a housing having a valve assembly mounted thereto. The valve assembly includes a shuttle valve disposed in fluid communication with a pressure regulating valve. An on-axis pump is mounted to the housing in fluid communication with the shuttle valve and the pressure regulating valve. An off-axis pump in fluid communication with the shuttle valve is mounted to the housing in close proximity to the on-axis pump such that the dual-pump assembly is compact.

Claims

1. A dual-pump assembly for a transmission comprising:

a housing;

an on-axis pump mounted to said housing; and

an off-axis pump mounted to said housing in close proximity to said on-axis pump such that said dual-pump assembly is compact and a fluid transfer length between said pumps is minimized.

2. The dual-pump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a valve body mounted to said housing, said valve body including a shuttle valve and a pressure regulating valve.

3. The dual-pump assembly of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of fluid transfer channels defined by said housing and said valve body, one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels being configured to facilitate the transfer of fluid between the on-axis pump, the off-axis pump, the shuttle valve and the pressure regulating valve.

4. The dual-pump assembly of claim 3, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is configured to facilitate the transfer of fluid to a transmission.

5. The dual-pump assembly of claim 4, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said housing.

6. The dual pump assembly of claim 4, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said valve body.

7. The dual pump assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing is composed of die cast aluminum.

8. The dual pump assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing is composed of cast iron.

9. A dual-pump assembly for a transmission comprising:

a housing;

a shuttle valve mounted to said housing;

a pressure regulating valve mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said shuttle valve;

an on-axis pump mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said shuttle valve and said pressure regulating valve; and

an off-axis pump mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said shuttle valve wherein said off-axis pump is mounted to said housing in close proximity to said on-axis pump such that said dual-pump assembly is compact.

10. The dual pump assembly of claim 9, further comprising a valve body mounted to said housing.

11. The dual-pump assembly of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fluid transfer channels defined by said housing and said valve body, one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels being configured to facilitate the transfer of fluid between the on-axis pump, the off-axis pump, the shuttle valve and the pressure regulating valve.

12. The dual-pump assembly of claim 11, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said housing.

13. The dual pump assembly of claim 12, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said valve body.

14. The dual pump assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing is composed of die cast aluminum.

15. The dual pump assembly of claim 14, wherein the housing is composed of cast iron.

16. A dual-pump assembly for a transmission comprising:

a housing;

a valve body mounted to said housing, said valve body including a shuttle valve in fluid communication with a pressure regulating valve;

an on-axis pump mounted to said housing in fluid communication with said shuttle valve and said pressure regulating valve;

an off-axis pump in fluid communication with said shuttle valve, said off-axis pump mounted to said housing in close proximity to said on-axis pump such that said dual-pump assembly is compact; and

a plurality of fluid transfer channels defined by said housing and said valve body, one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels being configured to facilitate the transfer of fluid between the on-axis pump, the off-axis pump, the shuttle valve and the pressure regulating valve.

17. The dual-pump assembly of claim 16, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said housing.

18. The dual pump assembly of claim 17, wherein one or more of said plurality of fluid transfer channels is integrally cast into said valve body.

19. The dual pump assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing is composed of die cast aluminum.

20. The dual pump assembly of claim 18, wherein the housing is composed of cast iron.