Electric pump system and method

Abstract

An electric pump system and method of operating the same involves pumping a fluid through a fluid passageway defined in a mechanical pump from a pump inlet to a hollow shaft of a motor, through the hollow shaft to an internal motor cavity defined by a housing of the motor, and through another fluid passageway defined in the motor housing and mechanical pump that leads to a pump outlet. The systemand method further involve pumping the fluid through another fluid passageway defined in the mechanical pump from yet another pump inlet to the pump outlet. The temperature of fluid exiting the hollowshaft can be assessed and used by an electronic control unit (ECU) of the electric pump system to control the same. The electric pump system can be part of a cooling and lubrication system for an electric vehicle transmission, gearbox, differential or transfer case, for example.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This PCT application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 944,841, filed April 4, 2018, entitled "ELECTRIC PUMP SYSTEM ANDMETHOD," and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 944,841, filed June 30, 2017, entitled "ELECTRIC PUMP SYSTEM ANDMETHOD" PUMP SYSTEM AND TECHNIQUES" Provisional Application No. 62 / 527,699 priority. U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 944,841, filed April 4, 2018, entitled "ELECTRIC PUMP SYSTEM AND METHOD," claims U.S. Provisional Application No. filed June 30, 2017 under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) Priority No. 62 / 527,699, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes, and made a part of this PCT application. [0003] This PCT application is related to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 637,313, filed June 29, 2017, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FORMONITORING STRESS CYCLES," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. technical field [0...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Traditional oil pumps do not monitor oil condition and therefore require periodic oil changes as the condition of the oil, pump and motor cannot be independently verified

Another side effect is that conventional oil pumps are not (cannot) be designed to accurately determine temperature, partly because any temperature sensors are located outside the conventional pump system or in the area that represents the oil flowing through the pump

Furthermore, conventional oil pumps are often large and unwieldy due to the attachment mechanism of the different components and require a large physical space for the pump

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