Fluid delivery system with load-dependent rotational speed reversal of a rotary pump
AssigneeSchwäbische Hüttenwerke Automotive GmbH
InventorsSven Peters, Gerd Jäggle
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Abstract
A fluid delivery system includes a reservoir for storing fluid, a rotary pump having a first pump port and a second pump port, a first fluid conduit connecting the first pump port to the reservoir, and a second fluid conduit connecting the second pump port to the reservoir. The rotary pump rotates in a first delivery direction in a normal mode and in a second delivery direction in an alternative mode. A first valve separates the first pump port from the reservoir when the rotary pump is in its alternative mode, and a second valve separates the second pump port from the reservoir when the rotary pump is in its normal mode.
Claims16
A fluid delivery system for supplying fluid to an engine or gear system of a motor vehicle for lubricating and/or cooling the engine or gear system, the fluid delivery system comprising:
- a) a reservoir for storing the fluid;
- b) a rotary pump having a first pump port and a second pump port;
- c) a drive for driving the pump and comprising an electric motor;
- d) a motor controller for actuating the electric motor, wherein the motor controller comprises monitoring electronics for detecting that air is being suctioned;
- e) a first fluid conduit featuring a first valve and a second fluid conduit featuring a second valve,
- f) wherein the fluid is oil for lubricating and/or cooling engine or gear system, and
- g) wherein the first fluid conduit connects the pump port to the reservoir, and the second fluid conduit connects the second pump port to the reservoir, and
- h) the rotary pump can be operated in a normal mode, in which it rotates in a first delivery direction, and an alternative mode in which it rotates in a second delivery direction, wherein
- i) the first valve is configured to separate the first pump port from the reservoir when the rotary pump is in its alternative mode, and the second valve is configured to separate the second pump port from the reservoir when the rotary pump is in its normal mode, wherein
- j) the monitoring electronics are provided to monitor a power consumption of the electric motor as a function of an actual rotational speed of the rotary pump and/or electric motor and/or an actual temperature of the fluid and/or rotary pump, and wherein
- k) the motor controller is configured to change the rotational direction of the electric motor when the power consumption falls below a threshold value.
A method for operating a fluid delivery system for supplying fluid to a machine assembly, the system comprising an electric motor which rotates in a first rotational direction when it is in a normal mode and in a second rotational direction when it is in an alternative mode, a rotary pump which is driven by the electric motor and suctions the fluid from a reservoir via a first pump port and discharges it via a second pump port when the electric motor is in its normal mode and suctions the fluid from the reservoir via the second pump port and discharges it via the first pump port when the electric motor is in its alternative mode, and a motor controller comprising monitoring electronics, the method comprising:
- a) a power consumption of the electric motor is detected;
- b) an actual rotational speed of the rotary pump and/or an actual temperature of the fluid and/or rotary pump is detected;
- c) the power consumption is compared with a threshold value for the power consumption, wherein the threshold value is predetermined or determined as a function of the detected actual rotational speed and/or the detected actual temperature of the fluid and/or rotary pump;
- and
- d) the motor controller switches the electric motor from its normal mode to its alternative mode or from its alternative mode to its normal mode, if the power consumption falls below the threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.