Variable fluid flow techniques for machine fluid systems

Abstract

Methods, systems, and techniques for structuring, operating, and/or controlling a variable fluid flow system of a machine are provided. In various embodiments, an electric motor can be leveraged in combination with the existing components of a machine, such as the supplemental fluid pump of the machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid flow system for an engine driven apparatus, the system comprising:
 a main pump coupled to an engine and structured to provide sufficient fluid flow for at least a highest rated speed of at least one component of the engine;   at least one supplemental pump connected for fluid communication with the main pump, wherein the supplemental pump is positioned onboard with respect to the engine, and wherein the supplemental pump is structured to provide fluid flow;   an electric motor operatively associated with the supplemental pump, wherein the electric motor is structured to drive the supplemental pump to provide fluid flow for at least one component of the engine; and   a control module including a computer processor and computer-executable instructions, which when executed cause the control module to activate or deactivate the electric motor in association with a speed of the engine; and   wherein the control module receives information regarding the speed of the engine from at least one sensor operatively associated with the at least one component of the engine.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one supplemental filter apparatus positioned in fluidic series with the supplemental pump, wherein the supplemental filter apparatus is structured with:
 (i) an inlet to receive fluid flow from the supplemental pump; and,   (ii) an outlet to direct fluid flow to at least a portion of a fluid reservoir system of the machine; and   wherein supplemental filtration by the supplemental filter apparatus is engaged according to a triggering condition such that the supplemental pump is activated for a predetermined time period according to the triggering condition.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the supplemental filter apparatus includes at least one fine filtration medium. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the triggering condition includes at least one of a threshold fluid temperature, a threshold fluid pressure, a threshold fluid contaminant level, a threshold time duration of operation, an injection timing variable, a filter condition, a fuel consumption value. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the supplemental pump includes a pre-lubrication pump. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein electric motor is structured to increase a pump speed of the supplemental pump in relation to the speed of the engine. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is coupled to the main pump by driving a normally-fixed portion of a planetary gear arrangement of the machine to provide the fluid flow. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is programmed to activate or deactivate the supplemental pump during operation of the machine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is programmed to process time stamp data associated with the at least one component of the machine. 
     
     
         10 . A method for directing fluid flow in an engine, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a control module, information regarding a speed of the engine from at least one sensor operatively associated with at least one component of the engine; and   activating or deactivating, by the control module, an electrical motor that is operatively associated with a supplemental pump according to a speed of the engine, wherein the electric motor is structured to drive the supplemental pump to provide fluid flow for the at least one component of the machine; and   wherein the supplemental pump is connected in fluid communication with a main pump of the engine, is positioned onboard with respect to the engine, and is structured to provide fluid flow for the at least one component of the engine; and   wherein the main pump of the engine is structured to provide sufficient fluid flow for at least a highest rated speed of the at least one component of the engine.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising operating at least one supplemental filter apparatus in fluidic series with the supplemental pump, wherein the supplemental filter apparatus includes:
 (i) an inlet to receive fluid flow from the supplemental pump; and,   (ii) an outlet to direct fluid flow to at least a portion of a fluid reservoir system of the machine.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising engaging, according to a triggering condition, supplemental filtration by the supplemental filter apparatus such that the supplemental pump is activated for a predetermined time period according to the triggering condition. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the triggering condition includes at least one of a threshold fluid temperature, a threshold fluid pressure, a threshold fluid contaminant level, a threshold time duration of operation, an injection timing variable, a filter condition, a fuel consumption value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the supplemental filter apparatus includes at least one fine filtration medium. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing a pre-lubrication operation with the supplemental pump. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing a post-lubrication operation with the supplemental pump. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing a periodic lubrication operation with the supplemental pump. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing a fluid refill procedure with the supplemental pump. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising performing a fluid evacuation procedure with the supplemental pump. 
     
     
         20 . A fluid flow system comprising:
 a main pump structured to provide sufficient fluid flow for at least a highest rated speed of at least one component of an engine;   at least one supplemental pump connected for fluid communication with the main pump, wherein the supplemental pump is positioned onboard with respect to the engine, and wherein the supplemental pump is structured to provide fluid flow for at least one component of the engine;   an electric motor operatively associated with the supplemental pump, wherein the electric motor is structured to drive the supplemental pump to provide fluid flow for the at least one component of the machine; and   a control module including a computer processor and computer-executable instructions which when executed cause the control module to activate or deactivate the supplemental pump in association with a speed of the engine; and   a data transmission device in communication with the control module;   wherein the control module receives information regarding the speed of the engine from at least one sensor operatively associated with the at least one component of the machine; and   wherein the data transmission device transmits the signal wirelessly.