Abstract: A method for thermal management of a motor vehicle engine includes one or more of the following: determining a current lube oil temperature; determining a lube oil temperature for optimal friction; turning on piston cooling jets based on the current lube oil temperature and the lube oil temperature for optimal friction; and turning off the piston cooling jets.

Abstract: A method for thermal management of a motor vehicle engine includes one or more of the following: determining a current lube oil temperature; determining a lube oil temperature for optimal friction; turning on piston cooling jets based on the current lube oil temperature and the lube oil temperature for optimal friction; and turning off the piston cooling jets.

Abstract: A variable displacement pump for supplying fluid to a system is described. Controlling the variable displacement pump is determined based upon inputs from a fluidic pressure sensor and an accelerometer, and includes determining a desired fluidic pressure and monitoring, via the fluidic pressure sensor, an actual fluidic pressure. A pressure error term is determined based upon a difference between the actual fluidic pressure and the desired fluidic pressure. A time-integrated pressure error term is determined based upon the pressure error term, and a g-force is determined based upon an input signal from the accelerometer. The variable displacement pump is controlled in response to the time-integrated pressure error term when the g-force is greater than a threshold g-force.

Abstract: A variable displacement pump for supplying fluid to a system is described. Controlling the variable displacement pump is determined based upon inputs from a fluidic pressure sensor and an accelerometer, and includes determining a desired fluidic pressure and monitoring, via the fluidic pressure sensor, an actual fluidic pressure. A pressure error term is determined based upon a difference between the actual fluidic pressure and the desired fluidic pressure. A time-integrated pressure error term is determined based upon the pressure error term, and a g-force is determined based upon an input signal from the accelerometer. The variable displacement pump is controlled in response to the time-integrated pressure error term when the g-force is greater than a threshold g-force.

Abstract: Variable displacement pumps and methods of pumping a fluid are provided. An example pump may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor fixed for rotation with a shaft, the shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, and a plurality of radially extending vanes slidably disposed in the rotor. The pump may further include a pivotable ring member defining at least in part a control chamber about the rotor, wherein the ring member is pivotable within the housing to vary an eccentricity of the ring member with respect to the rotor. The ring member is configured to shift a pivot position of the ring member from a first pivot position to a second pivot position displaced from the first pivot position.

Abstract: Variable displacement pumps and biasing assemblies for the same are disclosed. Example pumps may include a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a rotor fixed for rotation with a shaft, with the shaft rotatably mounted within the housing. The pump may further include a plurality of radially extending vanes slidably disposed in the rotor, and a pivotable ring member defining a control chamber about the rotor, with the ring member being pivotable within the housing to vary an eccentricity of the ring member with respect to the rotor. The pump may further include a biasing assembly applying a biasing force to the ring member in a first direction about the shaft, with the biasing assembly including at least one resilient element extending longitudinally along a stand, and a sliding support slidably disposed on the stand and laterally supporting the resilient element with respect to the stand.

Abstract: A gerotor assembly is provided which includes a crankshaft, an inner drive gear, an outer driven gear and a housing defining an oil groove. The inner drive gear defines a plurality of inner gear teeth. The outer driven gear defines a plurality of outer gear teeth operatively configured to engage with the inner gear teeth. The outer drive gear may define a plurality of passageways to form a hydrodynamic film between the outer driven gear and the housing. Alternatively, a high pressure oil pump may feed oil into the oil groove in order to distribute a hydrodynamic film.

Abstract: A method and system of diagnosing a lubrication system of an engine includes determining a lubrication system fault and controlling an engine in response to the fault. The method is operative to first determine a poor state of health for a lubrication system, then determine an oil degradation or lube system fault. In response to a lube system fault, engine operation is altered in order to reduce the negative effects of the lube system fault such as increasing minimum idle speed in response to reduced oil pressure.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump includes a housing, an expandable vane control ring, a rotor, a plurality of vanes, slider ring, and biasing means. The expandable vane control ring defines a gap. The plurality of vanes may be slidably disposed in the rotor. The slider ring is pivotally affixed to the housing via a pivot. The slider ring may form a plurality of pumping chambers with the expandable vane control ring, the rotor and the vanes. The distal end of each vane in the plurality of vanes is configured to abut and slide along an inner surface of the slider ring while the rotor rotates and the expandable vane control ring is configured to temporarily contract when intermittent friction is experienced between the inner surface and any vane in the plurality of vanes—so that the plurality of vanes continuously slide along an inner surface of the slider ring.

Abstract: A method and system of diagnosing a lubrication system of an engine includes determining a lubrication system fault and controlling an engine in response to the fault. The method is operative to first determine a poor state of health for a lubrication system, then determine an oil degradation or lube system fault. In response to a lube system fault, engine operation is altered in order to reduce the negative effects of the lube system fault such as increasing minimum idle speed in response to reduced oil pressure.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a plurality of cylinders. A cylinder head is mounted to the engine block and includes intake and exhaust passages in communication with the plurality of cylinders. A cylinder head cover is mounted to the cylinder head and defines a cavity between the cylinder head and the cylinder head cover. An oil passage is disposed in the cavity and includes at least one oil jet for spraying oil at a surface of the cylinder head that is heated by the exhaust passages.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a lubrication system of an engine includes controlling an oil pump with a control signal. The control signal is a command having a value for a desired lubrication fluid pressure from the oil pump for a current operating state of the engine. A processing unit compares the value of the control signal for the current operating state of the engine to a threshold control value for the current operating state of the engine. When the processing unit determines that the value of the control signal for the current operating state of the engine deviates from the threshold control value for the current operating state of the engine, the processing unit analyzes the value of the control signal to identify a fault in the lubrication system.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine block including a plurality of cylinders. A cylinder head is mounted to the engine block and includes intake and exhaust passages in communication with the plurality of cylinders. A cylinder head cover is mounted to the cylinder head and defines a cavity between the cylinder head and the cylinder head cover. An oil passage is disposed in the cavity and includes at least one oil jet for spraying oil at a surface of the cylinder head that is heated by the exhaust passages.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a lubrication system of an engine includes controlling an oil pump with a control signal. The control signal is a command having a value for a desired lubrication fluid pressure from the oil pump for a current operating state of the engine. A processing unit compares the value of the control signal for the current operating state of the engine to a threshold control value for the current operating state of the engine. When the processing unit determines that the value of the control signal for the current operating state of the engine deviates from the threshold control value for the current operating state of the engine, the processing unit analyzes the value of the control signal to identify a fault in the lubrication system.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump with electronic oil pressure control provides efficient pumping of engine oil precise regulation of engine oil pressure. The variable displacement oil pump includes a rotor supported in a housing for rotation about an axis of rotation and a slide ring movably supported in the housing. A plurality of vanes extends between the rotor and the slide ring to define a plurality of variable displacement pumping chambers. An electronic drive mechanism is configured to position the slide ring with respect to the axis of rotation, and a controller is configured to drive the electronic drive mechanism for selectively positioning the slide ring to adjust an eccentricity of the slide ring relative to the axis of rotation such that the displacement of the pumping chambers is varied.

Abstract: A variable displacement vane pump with electronic oil pressure control provides efficient pumping of engine oil precise regulation of engine oil pressure. The variable displacement oil pump includes a rotor supported in a housing for rotation about an axis of rotation and a slide ring movably supported in the housing. A plurality of vanes extends between the rotor and the slide ring to define a plurality of variable displacement pumping chambers. An electronic drive mechanism is configured to position the slide ring with respect to the axis of rotation, and a controller is configured to drive the electronic drive mechanism for selectively positioning the slide ring to adjust an eccentricity of the slide ring relative to the axis of rotation such that the displacement of the pumping chambers is varied.

Abstract: A fluid pump includes a housing defining a cavity. An end plate is disposed within the cavity and divides the cavity into a gear section and an end section. A gear set is disposed within the gear section and comprises at least one gear rotatable about an axis. The end plate is movable longitudinally along the axis for compressing the gear set. A channel is in fluidic communication with the end section for supplying a fluid to the end section to force the plate toward the gear set.

Abstract: A gerotor assembly is provided which includes a crankshaft, an inner drive gear, an outer driven gear and a housing defining an oil groove. The inner drive gear defines a plurality of inner gear teeth. The outer driven gear defines a plurality of outer gear teeth operatively configured to engage with the inner gear teeth. The outer drive gear may define a plurality of passageways to form a hydrodynamic film between the outer driven gear and the housing. Alternatively, a high pressure oil pump may feed oil into the oil groove in order to distribute a hydrodynamic film.

Abstract: A vehicle and a method of reducing sound produced by a liquid fluid pump are disclosed. A pump is activated when a predetermined event is detected. A control valve of the pump is operated in one of an initial and a standard mode when the pump is activated. The control valve is operable to allow a gaseous fluid to vent out of the pump when in the initial mode corresponding to the pump being in a first phase. The control valve is operable to allow a liquid fluid to move through the pump when in the standard mode corresponding to the pump being in a second phase. A solenoid of the control valve is energized and de-energized, at a calibrated frequency, in a sequence when in the initial mode to reduce the sound in the pump during the initial mode.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes an engine structure defining a cylinder having an intake port and an exhaust port. A piston is disposed in the cylinder and is drivingly connected to a crankshaft. A direct injection system injects fuel directly into the cylinder. A port fuel injection system injects fuel into the intake port. An oil temperature sensor and an engine speed sensor are in communication with a controller that controls the direct injection system and the port fuel injection system based on measured oil temperature and engine speed. In particular, the controller employs a control algorithm that alters the direct injection and port fuel injection split based on the measured oil temperature and engine speed. The maximum direct injection pressure reduction is limited by a maximum allowable port fuel injection duty cycle as determined by the controller.