A hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid module, a transmission and a torque converter. The lubrication system associated with the torque converter includes an oil sump within the torque converter housing which is intended to be managed as a dry sump oil lubrication system. There is an oil pump in communication with the sump in order to manage the sump oil level. By monitoring an operational parameter of the oil pump motor (pressure, torque, or current) oil aeration can be detected.

A method for monitoring an oil level in a machine includes transmitting a light beam into an optical system to be reflected or refracted to a receiver to generate a reception signal. The light beam is emitted at a set transmission power, and an oil deficiency is recognized when the reception signal exceeds a predefined level value. The transmission power of the light beam is settable between a minimum and a maximum transmission power, and contamination of the optical system is analyzed by: (a) the transmitter transmits a first light beam at the maximum transmission power to generate a first reception signal, and (b) analyzing the difference between the first reception signal and a second reception signal generated by a light beam at less than the maximum transmission power, the magnitude of the difference representing a measure of the degree of contamination of the optical system.

An oil separator is provided that makes it possible to minimize the number of times of operation for recovering separated oil. The oil separator separates and recovers oil by causing air that contains oil and has been introduced into a casing to strike an impingement member. The oil separator supplies the oil that has been separated from the air to the oil pan of an engine, thereby allowing the oil to be used as lubricant for the engine.

Embodiments of the present invention provides an oil balancing apparatus, applied to at least three compressors connected in parallel. The oil balancing apparatus includes a first oil balancing pipe and a second oil balancing pipe. The first oil balancing pipe connects oil sumps of all the compressors, and the second oil balancing pipe only connects oil sumps of oil-rich compressors but not an oil sump of an oil-starved compressor.

A hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid module, a transmission and a torque converter. The lubrication system associated with the torque converter includes an oil sump within the torque converter housing which is intended to be managed as a dry sump oil lubrication system. There is an oil pump in communication with the sump in order to manage the sump oil level. By monitoring an operational parameter of the oil pump motor (pressure, torque, or current) oil aeration can be detected.

An active fluid reservoir for transmission fluid of an automatic transmission, in a first embodiment, comprehends an elongate reservoir disposed adjacent fluid lines from the automatic transmission to the transmission fluid cooler. The reservoir may be associated with either the supply or return line or include two smaller reservoirs associated with both lines. Thermally actuated valves at each end of the reservoir(s) open to allow fluid flow through the reservoir as fluid temperature increases and a diverter valve in the cooler line(s) closes to divert flow into the reservoir. In a second embodiment, the fluid reservoir comprehends a container, tank or similar storage device in fluid communication with a transmission oil cooler line. Again, the device includes three thermally actuated valves.

An internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle includes a crankcase. The crankcase has having at least two oil separation devices and having a return device. The return device has at least one first return channel that is flowable through by a first portion of the oil separated from the blow-by gas with a first of the oil separation devices, through which the first portion of the separated oil is guided from the first oil separation device into the reservoir. The return device also has at least one second return channel that is at least partially spaced apart from the first return channel and is flowable through by a second portion of the oil separated from the blow-by gas via the second oil separation device, through which second return channel the second portion of the separated oil is guided from the second oil separation device into the reservoir.