Electronic pressure relief valve for engine oil pump

Abstract

A pressure regulator for an oil pump of a motor vehicle comprises a plunger and a coil. The plunger is normally disposed to cover a flow release chamber, and the coil is energizable to move the plunger to uncover the flow release chamber.

1 . A pressure regulator for an oil pump of a motor vehicle, the pressure regulator comprising: 
 a plunger normally disposed to cover a flow release chamber; and    a coil energizable to move the plunger to at least partially uncover the flow release chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The pressure regulator of  claim 1  further comprising a spring disposed between the plunger and the coil.  
     
     
         3 . The pressure regulator of  claim 2  wherein the spring normally biases the plunger to cover the flow release chamber.  
     
     
         4 . The pressure regulator of  claim 1  further comprising an electronic control unit in communication with the coil.  
     
     
         5 . The pressure regulator of  claim 4  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of engine speed.  
     
     
         6 . The pressure regulator of  claim 4  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of oil temperature.  
     
     
         7 . The pressure regulator of  claim 4  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of throttle position.  
     
     
         8 . An oil pump for a motor vehicle, the oil pump comprising: 
 an inner gear;    an outer gear engaged with the inner gear to pump oil to a flow release chamber;    a plunger normally disposed to cover the flow release chamber; and    a coil energizable to move the plunger to at least partially uncover the flow release chamber.    
     
     
         9 . The oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising a spring disposed between the plunger and the coil.  
     
     
         10 . The oil pump of  claim 9  wherein the spring normally biases the plunger to cover the flow release chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising an electronic control unit in communication with the coil.  
     
     
         12 . The oil pump of  claim 11  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of engine speed.  
     
     
         13 . The oil pump of  claim 11  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of oil temperature.  
     
     
         14 . The oil pump of  claim 11  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of throttle position.  
     
     
         15 . An oil pump having a flow release chamber, the oil pump comprising: 
 a plunger normally disposed to cover the flow release chamber;    a coil energizable to move the plunger to at least partially uncover the flow release chamber; and    an electronic control unit in communication with the coil.    
     
     
         16 . The oil pump of  claim 15  further comprising a spring disposed between the plunger and the coil.  
     
     
         17 . The oil pump of  claim 16  wherein the spring normally biases the plunger to cover the flow release chamber.  
     
     
         18 . The oil pump of  claim 15  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of engine speed.  
     
     
         19 . The oil pump of  claim 15  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of oil temperature.  
     
     
         20 . The oil pump of  claim 15  wherein the electronic control unit controls the coil as a function of throttle position.