Scavenge pump oil level control system and method

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid module, a transmission and a torque converter. The lubrication system associated with the torque converter includes an oil sump within the torque converter housing which is intended to be managed as a “dry” sump oil lubrication system. There is an oil pump in communication with the sump in order to manage the sump oil level. By monitoring an operational parameter of the oil pump motor (pressure, torque, or current) oil aeration can be detected.

1 . An oil level control system for an oil sump of a hybrid electric vehicle, said oil sump including a supply of oil with an oil level, said oil level control system comprising:
 an electric oil pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication between said oil sump and an oil reservoir, said electric oil pump being constructed and arranged to pump oil from said oil sump to said oil reservoir to lower the oil level of said sump; and   a control module constructed and arranged in electrical communication with said electric oil pump for controlling the operation of said electric oil pump, said control module being programmed with an acceptable oil level range, said acceptable oil level range being based on an electric oil pump parameter, wherein said electrical oil pump is operated as required to maintain said oil level of said oil sump within said acceptable oil level range.   
     
     
         2 . The oil level control system of  claim 1  wherein said electric oil pump parameter is a pump torque reading of said electric oil pump. 
     
     
         3 . The oil level control system of  claim 2  wherein said electric oil pump torque reading is sensed by taking a current reading. 
     
     
         4 . The oil level control system of  claim 1  wherein said electric oil pump parameter is a torque oscillation of said electric oil pump. 
     
     
         5 . The oil level control system of  claim 4  wherein said electric oil pump torque oscillation is sensed by taking a current reading. 
     
     
         6 . The oil level control system of  claim 1  wherein said electric oil pump parameter is a pump speed oscillation of said electric oil pump. 
     
     
         7 . The oil level control system of  claim 1  wherein said oil sump is part of a torque converter. 
     
     
         8 . A method of adjusting an oil level of an oil sump of a hybrid electric vehicle, said oil sump including a supply of oil, said method of adjusting comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing an electric oil pump;   (b) constructing and arranging said electric oil pump in flow communication between said oil sump and an oil reservoir;   (c) providing a control module;   (d) constructing and arranging said control module in electrical communication with said electric oil pump;   (e) sensing a parameter value of said electric oil pump;   (f) comparing said sensed parameter value to an acceptable range for said parameter, said acceptable range corresponding to an acceptable oil level range; and   (g) operating said electric oil pump as necessary to maintain the oil level of said oil sump within said acceptable oil level range.   
     
     
         9 . The method of adjusting of  claim 8  wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump torque reading of said electrical oil pump. 
     
     
         10 . The method of adjusting of  claim 8  wherein said sensing step includes sensing a torque oscillation of said electric oil pump. 
     
     
         11 . The method of adjusting of  claim 8  wherein said sensing step includes sensing a pump speed oscillation of said electrical oil pump. 
     
     
         12 . The oil level control system of  claim 2  wherein said oil sump is part of a torque converter. 
     
     
         13 . The oil level control system of  claim 3  wherein said oil sump is part of a torque converter. 
     
     
         14 . The oil level control system of  claim 5  wherein said oil sump is part of a torque converter. 
     
     
         15 . The oil level control system of  claim 6  wherein said oil sump is part of a torque converter. 
     
     
         16 . A liquid control system for managing a liquid level within a supply location, said liquid control system comprising:
 a liquid pump constructed and arranged in fluid communication between said liquid supply location and a transfer location, said liquid pump being constructed and arranged to pump liquid from said liquid supply location to said transfer location to lower the liquid level of said liquid supply location; and   a control module constructed and arranged in electrical communication with said liquid pump for controlling the operation of said liquid pump, said control module being programmed with an acceptable liquid level range, said acceptable liquid level range being based on a liquid pump parameter, wherein said liquid pump is operated as required to maintain said liquid level of said liquid supply location within said acceptable liquid level range.   
     
     
         17 . The liquid control system of  claim 16  wherein said liquid pump parameter is a pump torque reading of said liquid pump. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid control system of  claim 17  wherein said liquid pump torque reading is sensed by taking a current reading. 
     
     
         19 . The liquid control system of  claim 16  wherein said liquid pump parameter is a torque oscillation of said liquid pump. 
     
     
         20 . The liquid control system of  claim 16  wherein said liquid pump parameter is a pump speed oscillation of said liquid pump.