Packaged vacuum pump and oil pump, and system and method thereof

Abstract

A packaged vacuum pump and oil pump for use in a vehicle generally includes an oil pump module and a vacuum pump module. The oil pump module is configured to circulate oil, and is fitted to a first drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the oil pump module. The vacuum pump module is configured to generate a vacuum, and is fitted to a second drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the vacuum pump module. The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump also includes a clutch. The clutch connects the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, and is configured to transfer torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft when the clutch is engaged. The clutch may be a hydraulic clutch configured to receive a pressurized fluid, which may be oil received from the oil pump module, to engage the clutch.

1 . A packaged vacuum pump and oil pump for a vehicle, the packaged vacuum pump and oil pump comprising:
 an oil pump module configured to circulate oil, the oil pump module being fitted to a first drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the oil pump module;   a vacuum pump module configured to generate a vacuum, the vacuum pump module being fitted to a second drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the vacuum pump module; and   a clutch connecting the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, the clutch being configured to transfer the torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft when the clutch is engaged.   
     
     
         2 . The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum pump module is a mechanical vacuum pump. 
     
     
         3 . The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump of  claim 1  wherein the clutch is a hydraulic clutch configured to receive a pressurized fluid to engage the clutch. 
     
     
         4 . The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump of  claim 3  wherein the pressurized fluid is oil received from the oil pump module. 
     
     
         5 . The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump of  claim 3  further comprising a control valve configured to control the pressurized fluid received by the clutch. 
     
     
         6 . The packaged vacuum pump and oil pump of  claim 5  wherein the control valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         7 . A vehicular vacuum system comprising:
 a packaged vacuum pump and oil pump having:
 an oil pump module configured to circulate oil, the oil pump module being fitted to a first drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the oil pump module; 
 a vacuum pump module configured to generate a vacuum, the vacuum pump module being fitted to a second drive shaft configured to transmit torque to the vacuum pump module; and 
 a clutch connecting the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, the clutch being configured to transfer the torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft when the clutch is engaged; and 
   a vacuum canister configured to maintain a negative pressure.   
     
     
         8 . The vehicular vacuum system of  claim 7  wherein the vacuum pump module of the packaged vacuum pump and oil pump is a mechanical vacuum pump. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicular vacuum system of  claim 7  wherein the clutch of the packaged vacuum pump and oil pump is a hydraulic clutch configured to receive a pressurized fluid to engage the clutch. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicular vacuum system of  claim 9  wherein the pressurized fluid is oil received from the oil pump module. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicular vacuum system of  claim 9  wherein the packaged vacuum pump and oil pump further comprises a control valve to control the pressurized fluid received by the clutch. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicular vacuum system of  claim 11  wherein the control valve is a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a vehicular vacuum system having a packaged vacuum pump and oil pump, and a vacuum canister, the packaged vacuum pump and oil pump having an oil pump module fitted to a first drive shaft, a vacuum pump module fitted to a second drive shaft, and a clutch connecting the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft, the method comprising:
 providing torque to the first drive shaft such that the oil pump module is in operation;   engaging the clutch to transfer the torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft such that the vacuum pump module is in operation; and   generating, by the vacuum pump module, a vacuum to be stored in the vacuum canister such that it maintains a negative pressure.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the clutch is a hydraulic clutch operating on oil received from the oil pump module. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the engaging of the clutch comprises opening, by a control valve, a supply of oil from the oil pump module to the clutch. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the control valve is a solenoid valve 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising disengaging the clutch such that the vacuum pump module is not in operation. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the disengaging of the clutch comprises closing, by a control valve, a supply of oil from the oil pump module to the clutch.