A control device for a driving device, the driving device includes a transmission and a hydraulic pressure generating device. The hydraulic pressure generating device includes an oil pump and a first mechanism. The first mechanism is configured to decrease hydraulic pressure of an oil passage connected with the oil pump. The control device includes an ECU. The ECU is configured to control the engine rotational speed to a first rotational speed and maintain vehicle speed by gear shifting, in a case where, while a vehicle is running in a predetermined running state, fuel consumption is smaller when the engine is driven at the first rotational speed, compared to fuel consumption in the predetermined running state, the first rotational speed is a rotational speed at which the hydraulic pressure is decreased, the predetermined miming state being a miming state in which the hydraulic pressure is not decreased.

A hydraulic pump is described, comprising at least one inlet duct for a fluid, at least one outlet duct for the fluid and at least one pumping unit interposed between the inlet and outlet ducts. At least one multifunction valve is interposed between the inlet duct, upstream of the pumping unit, and the outlet duct, downstream of the pumping unit, which valve is configured to divert the flow of fluid from the inlet duct to the outlet duct without the fluid flowing into the pumping unit. The multifunction valve comprises a valve body that defines an inner bypass channel in which a shutter element is axially movable, an actuator member operatively associated with the shutter element and configured to move it from a closing position to an opening position of the bypass channel, and an elastic contrast element operatively associated with the shutter element and configured to keep it in the first closing position of the bypass channel when such shutter element is not actuated by the actuator member. The actuator member consists of a bias spring manufactured with a shape memory alloy, configured to move the shutter element from the first closing position to the second opening position of the bypass channel when a predefined temperature value is reached.

A variable displacement vane pump includes: a restrictor configured to impart resistance to flow of working fluid discharged from the pump chambers; a control valve configured to introduce the working fluid which is discharged from the pump chambers to the first fluid pressure chamber as a differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the restrictor is increased, the control valve being configured to discharge the working fluid in the first fluid pressure chamber as the differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the restrictor is reduced; a suction passage configured to guide the working fluid to be sucked into the pump chambers, the suction passage being configured to always communicate with the second fluid pressure chamber; and a guiding passage configured to allow communication between the control valve and the second fluid pressure chamber, the guiding passage being configured to guide the working fluid, which is discharged from the first fluid pressure chamber to the control valve, to the second fluid pressure chamber.

A variable displacement vane pump includes: a restrictor configured to impart resistance to flow of working fluid discharged from the pump chambers; a control valve configured to introduce the working fluid which is discharged from the pump chambers to the first fluid pressure chamber as a differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the restrictor is increased, the control valve being configured to discharge the working fluid in the first fluid pressure chamber as the differential pressure between upstream and downstream of the restrictor is reduced; a suction passage configured to guide the working fluid to be sucked into the pump chambers, the suction passage being configured to always communicate with the second fluid pressure chamber; and a guiding passage configured to allow communication between the control valve and the second fluid pressure chamber, the guiding passage being configured to guide the working fluid, which is discharged from the first fluid pressure chamber to the control valve, to the second fluid pressure chamber.

A pump device 1 includes a relief valve 42 having a ball 45 and a valve seat 44. The valve seat 44 has a ring-shaped seat surface 52 having a wide portion 52a and a narrow portion 52b on which the ball 45 is seated. Upon valve opening, the ball 45 is pressed in a valve opening direction by a pressing force F1 according to a pressure P of working fluid while being pressed against the wide portion 52a. The ball 45 rolls on the seat surface 52 upon the valve opening while continuing or keeping contact with the wide portion 52a. At this time, the ball 45 is stably held with the ball 45 contacting the wide portion 52a of the seat surface 52. Noise of the relief valve 42 caused by vibration of the ball 45 is therefore suppressed.

Systems and methods for extracting hydrocarbon gas utilize a vacuum chamber with a mud chamber portion that is expandable and contractible. Gas is extracted at vacuum pressures.

Systems and methods for extracting hydrocarbon gas utilize a vacuum chamber with a mud chamber portion that is expandable and contractible. Gas is extracted at vacuum pressures.

A lubricant vane pump for providing a pressurized lubricant for an internal combustion engine includes a pump housing, a pump chamber, a shiftable control ring comprising a pressure-relief-valve, a pump rotor, a pretensioning element which pushes the control ring into a high pumping volume position, a control chamber, and a pump outlet cavity fluidically connected to the control chamber. The pump chamber comprises pump compartments which rotate from a charge to discharge zone. The control ring envelops the pump chamber. The pump rotor comprises radially slidable vanes which rotate in the control ring to provide the pump chamber with the pump compartments. A high lubricant pressure in the control chamber moves the control ring into a low pumping volume direction against the pretensioning element. The pressure-relief-valve of the control ring connects or disconnects the control chamber with one of the pump compartments between the charge zone and the discharge zone.

A lubricant vane pump for providing a pressurized lubricant for an internal combustion engine includes a pump housing, a pump chamber, a shiftable control ring comprising a pressure-relief-valve, a pump rotor, a pretensioning element which pushes the control ring into a high pumping volume position, a control chamber, and a pump outlet cavity fluidically connected to the control chamber. The pump chamber comprises pump compartments which rotate from a charge to discharge zone. The control ring envelops the pump chamber. The pump rotor comprises radially slidable vanes which rotate in the control ring to provide the pump chamber with the pump compartments. A high lubricant pressure in the control chamber moves the control ring into a low pumping volume direction against the pretensioning element. The pressure-relief-valve of the control ring connects or disconnects the control chamber with one of the pump compartments between the charge zone and the discharge zone.

A control valve for a pump for delivering a fluid. The control valve includes: a valve housing which delineates a piston chamber; a piston which can be moved within the piston chamber; and a fluid channel which ports into the piston chamber via a port opening, wherein the port opening defines a port control edge. The valve housing includes a recess which extends into the fluid channel, wherein the recess defines a recess control edge which is axially offset with respect to the port control edge, and/or the piston includes a piston recess which defines a piston recess control edge.