Back to results
US 7,018,178 B2Granted
Variable displacement pump and control therefore for supplying lubricant to an engine
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsDouglas Hunter, Dennis Koenig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control system for a variable displacement pump. The control system is operably associated with an engine control unit for passively or actively controlling the output of the pump in response to signals from the engine control unit.
Claims39
A pump system for delivering a controlled oil flow and oil pressure to a circuit in an engine, comprising:
- a variable displacement pump;
- a discharge line providing direct hydraulic communication between said pump and said engine;
- and
- a control system, including:
- an actuating member capable of selectively controlling the displacement of said pump;
- a variably actuatable solenoid operably associated with said actuating member;
- and
- an electronic control unit operably associated with said engine, wherein the electronic control unit is connected to and provides a variable input control signal to said solenoid;
- wherein said discharge line is in hydraulic communication with said control system so as to provide hydraulic power to said control system from said pump.
6 more elements
A pump system for an engine having an engine control unit, comprising:
- a variable displacement pump having an actuator that controls the pressure and flow of oil to a pressure lubricating circuit of said engine;
- a discharge line providing direct hydraulic communication between said pump and said engine;
- a pilot pressure line that has oil flow and oil pressure supplied by said engine;
- and
- a control system, including:
- a flow control valve for hydraulically varying the pump displacement by facilitating movement of said actuator;
- and
- a variably actuatable solenoid controlled by said engine control unit, said solenoid being operably associated with said flow control valve for providing control of oil flow through said flow control valve;
- wherein said discharge line is in hydraulic communication with said control system so as to provide hydraulic power to said control system from said pump.
6 more elements
A variable displacement pump for an engine comprising:
- a vane pump having an eccentric ring that controls the flow of fluid to an engine input;
- a pilot pressure line that has oil flow and oil pressure supplied indicative of a controlled oil flow and oil pressure in the engine;
- a flow control valve for mechanically varying the pump displacement by facilitating movement of said eccentric ring;
- a compression spring connectable at a first end to said flow control valve, wherein said compression spring maintains pressure on said flow control valve during regular operation, and provides return pressure in the absence of pilot pressure on said flow control valve;
- a target piston connected to the second end of said compression spring, wherein said target piston exerts force on said compression spring;
- a valve connectable between a discharge port of the pump and said target piston, wherein said valve controls the amount of pressure exerted on said target piston and said compression spring;
- a solenoid connected to and controlling said valve for providing pressure control of fluid flow through said valve;
- and
- an engine control unit connected to said solenoid, wherein said engine control unit monitors engine conditions and parameters and varies the amount of current to said solenoid for controlling the pressure exerted on said target piston in response to said conditions and said parameters sensed by said engine control unit.
6 more elements
A variable displacement pump for an engine having an engine control unit, comprising:
- a pump having an actuator that controls the pressure and flow of oil to a pressure lubricating circuit of an engine;
- a pilot pressure line that has oil flow and oil pressure supplied by the engine;
- a flow control valve for hydraulically varying the pump displacement by facilitating movement of said actuator;
- a solenoid controlled by said engine control unit, said solenoid being operably associated with said flow control valve for providing control of oil flow through said flow control valve, wherein said solenoid is a variable force solenoid;
- a compression spring connectable at a first end to said flow control valve, wherein said compression spring maintains pressure on said fluid control valve during regular operation, and provides return pressure in the absence of pilot pressure on said fluid control valve;
- and
- a target piston connected to the second end of said compression spring, wherein said target piston exerts force on said compression spring.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.