Scavenge pump oil level control system and method

• US 9,657,614 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allison Transmission Incorporated (Allison Transmission Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Long, Charles F., Wright, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kramer, Devon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekarskaya, Lilya
• Application Number:
  US14/564,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20150093258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 417 36, 417 38- 39, 417 41, 747301, 747321, 747331, 701 51, 701 22, 701 291, 123196 R, 123196 A, 123196 CP, 123196 AB, 123196 M, 123196 S, 123196 V, 123196 W
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/061 Means for keeping lubricant level constant
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/00 Pumping installations or systems pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors F04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/02 having reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/021 the pump being immersed in the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 41/30 relating to venting, lubrication, cooling, circulation of the cooling medium
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

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.

Claims

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.