Oil pump with integral fast acting valve for controlling planetary system torque
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsPerry Edward Phelan, Joseph Palazzolo, Todd Alan Kendall
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Abstract
This invention provides the use of a pump to regulate torque in a planetary gear system. The pump is provided with a bore and a valve, which operates to control the flow of fluid within the bore. When the valve is positioned within the bore to block the flow of fluid between the inlet and outlet of the pump, pressure is generated within the pump. The pump pressure is sufficient to generate torque in the planetary gear system.
Claims20
A system of regulating torque in a planetary gear system, said system comprising:
- a pump adjacent said planetary gear system, said pump comprising an inner rotor, an outer rotor, an inlet port for a fluid, an outlet port for said fluid, and at least one bore;
- a valve for selectively controlling fluid flow within said at least one bore of said pump;
- a valve drive device coupled to said valve;
- a controller to control said valve drive device;
- and
- an output shaft coupled to said outer rotor and said planetary gear system, wherein pressure generated by said pump slows said outer rotor and transmits torque through said planetary gear system.
A system for controlling vehicle wheel torque in an automobile, said system comprising:
- a planetary gear system comprising a sun gear, at least one planet gear, a planet carrier, and a ring gear;
- an input shaft coupled with said planetary gear system;
- a pump coupled to said planetary gear system, said pump comprising an inner rotor, an outer rotor, an inlet port, an outlet port, and a bore;
- a valve for controlling fluid flow within said bore of said pump;
- a valve drive device coupled to said valve;
- a controller linked to said valve drive device;
- and
- an output shaft coupled to said planetary gear system.
A method of regulating torque in a planetary gear system, the method comprising the steps of:
- controlling the position of a valve in a pump;
- generating pressure within said pump;
- and
- transferring torque through said planetary gear system using a sun gear coupled to a rotor of said pump, wherein generating pressure in said pump slows said rotor of said pump and generates torque in the planetary gear system through said sun gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.