Control unit for controlling electric oil pumps

Abstract

A control unit ( 7 ) is configured for controlling electric oil pumps of at least one towed and switched-off vehicle ( 3.1 , 3.2 , 3.3 ). The control unit can be configured to transfer data between the electric oil pumps and the control unit and detecting a fault in one or more electric oil pumps.

1 . A control unit ( 7 ) for controlling electric oil pumps, wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to control at least one electric oil pump of at least one towed and switched off vehicle ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ). 
     
     
         2 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to control the at least one oil pump from a towing vehicle ( 2 ). 
     
     
         3 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to control a plurality of electric oil pumps in a plurality of vehicles ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ) being towed at the same time, preferably-from the towing vehicle ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to recognize a fault in one of the plurality of electric oil pumps it is controlling by evaluating signals emitted by at least one of the plurality of electric oil pump. 
     
     
         5 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to be supplied with electric power by battery ( 6 ) of the towing vehicle ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to supply the at least one electric oil pump with electric power to enable operation, wherein the the electric power is supplied via supply cables, and when the at least one towed and switched off vehicle includes a plurality of towed vehicles ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ), the supply cables are arranged in parallel or in series. 
     
     
         7 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to carry out data communication with the at least one electric oil pump, wherein the data communication takes place by way of control cables ( 4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 ,  4 . 6 ) and/or by way of radio connection. 
     
     
         8 . The control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the control unit ( 7 ) is configured to emit information to the towing vehicle ( 2 ) and/or to a display device ( 8 ) about the current conditions of the at least one oil pump and/or about recognized faults. 
     
     
         9 . A system for the external control of oil pumps in towed vehicles ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ), wherein the system comprises:
 the control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 ;   an electric power transfer system ( 4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 ,  4 . 6 ) configured for supplying power to the oil pumps;   a communication system ( 4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 ,  4 . 6 ) configured for enabling communication by way of data between the oil pump and the control unit ( 7 );   a battery ( 6 ) configured for supplying electric power to the control unit ( 7 ) and/or to the oil pumps; and
 a display device ( 8 ). 
   
     
     
         10 . A vehicle ( 2 ) comprising the control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . An electric oil pump, wherein the electric oil pump is configured to be controlled by the control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle group ( 1 ), comprising:
 a vehicle with the control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 ;   at least one towed vehicle ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 .  3 . 3 ); and   one or more electric oil pumps of the at least one towed vehicle ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ) connected to the control unit ( 7 ) by means of an electric power transfer system ( 4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 ,  4 . 6 ) configured to supply power to the one or more electric oil pumps and/or by means of a communication system ( 4 . 1 ,  4 . 2 ,  4 . 3 ,  4 . 4 ,  4 . 5 ,  4 . 6 ) configured to enable data transfer between the one or more oil pumps and the control unit.   
     
     
         13 . A method for controlling one or more electric oil pumps of at least one towed and switched-off vehicle ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ), the method comprising:
 providing the control unit ( 7 ) according to  claim 1 ;   providing at least one towed and switched off vehicle ( 3 . 1 ,  3 . 2 ,  3 . 3 ) having an electric oil pump coupled to the control unit;   transferring data between the electric oil pump and the control unit; and   detecting a fault in the electric oil pump of at one or more of the at least one towed and switched off vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . A computer program, containing commands which, when the computer program is run on a computer, enable it to carry out a method comprising:
 transferring data between an electric oil pump of one or more towed and switched off vehicles and the control unit according to  claim 1 ; and   detecting a fault in the electric oil pump of the one or more towed and switched off vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable medium, wherein the computer-readable medium contains computer program codes for carrying out a method comprising:
 transferring data between an electric oil pump of one or more towed and switched off vehicles and the control unit according to  claim 1 ; and   detecting a fault in the electric oil pump of the one or more towed and switched off vehicle.