A cooling and lubrication system for a motor vehicle drive unit includes a drive unit sump, a first mechanically-driven pump, a second mechanically-driven pump, and an oil/air separator reservoir, among other possible components. The drive unit sump holds drive unit fluid. The first mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump, and the second mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump. The oil/air separator reservoir resides downstream of the first mechanically-driven pump and resides downstream of the second mechanically-driven pump.

A cooling and lubrication system for a motor vehicle drive unit includes a drive unit sump, a first mechanically-driven pump, a second mechanically-driven pump, and an oil/air separator reservoir, among other possible components. The drive unit sump holds drive unit fluid. The first mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump, and the second mechanically-driven pump fluidly communicates with the drive unit sump. The oil/air separator reservoir resides downstream of the first mechanically-driven pump and resides downstream of the second mechanically-driven pump.

In hybrid electric vehicles having increased battery storage capacity and plug-in capability, electric-only operation of significant duration is available. To supplement lubrication for the electric and mechanical components provided in a fluid circuit by an engine-driven mechanical pump, an electric pump is provided in parallel to the mechanical pump. When the electric pump is operating, a diagnostic can be performed to determine system integrity. According to one embodiment, an actual quantity provide to the circuit is determined; an expected quantity is estimated; and a fault is determined when the actual and expected quantities differ by more than a predetermined amount. The fault may indicate a leak or plug in the fluid circuit or a failure of a component in the fluid circuit.

In hybrid electric vehicles having increased battery storage capacity and plug-in capability, electric-only operation of significant duration is available. To supplement lubrication for the electric and mechanical components provided in a fluid circuit by an engine-driven mechanical pump, an electric pump is provided in parallel to the mechanical pump. When the electric pump is operating, a diagnostic can be performed to determine system integrity. According to one embodiment, an actual quantity provide to the circuit is determined; an expected quantity is estimated; and a fault is determined when the actual and expected quantities differ by more than a predetermined amount. The fault may indicate a leak or plug in the fluid circuit or a failure of a component in the fluid circuit.

An oil supply system of a vehicle includes: a first pump generating a first quantity of oil to cool a driving motor of a hybrid vehicle; a second pump generating a second quantity of oil to lubricate a friction lubrication element of the hybrid vehicle; a flow channel switching valve selectively switching a flow channel of the first quantity of oil and a flow channel of the second quantity of oil to connect the flow channel of the first quantity of oil to the friction lubrication element or connect the flow channel of the second quantity of oil to the driving motor; and a controller controlling an operation of the flow channel switching valve to supply a portion of the first quantity of oil to the friction lubrication element or a portion of the second quantity of oil to the driving motor.

An oil supply system of a vehicle includes: a first pump generating a first quantity of oil to cool a driving motor of a hybrid vehicle; a second pump generating a second quantity of oil to lubricate a friction lubrication element of the hybrid vehicle; a flow channel switching valve selectively switching a flow channel of the first quantity of oil and a flow channel of the second quantity of oil to connect the flow channel of the first quantity of oil to the friction lubrication element or connect the flow channel of the second quantity of oil to the driving motor; and a controller controlling an operation of the flow channel switching valve to supply a portion of the first quantity of oil to the friction lubrication element or a portion of the second quantity of oil to the driving motor.

A vehicle lubrication system includes a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and configured to sense operational characteristics of the vehicle, a pump disposed on the vehicle and configured to deliver lubricant to a plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle, and a controller device operatively coupled to the pump. The controller device is configured to receive sensor data corresponding to the operational characteristics of the vehicle sensed by the plurality of sensors, and determine, based on the received sensor data, a lubricant delivery frequency at which lubrication is to be delivered to the plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle. The controller device is further configured to provide control commands to cause the pump to deliver the lubricant to the plurality of lubricated regions according to the determined lubricant delivery frequency.

A vehicle lubrication system includes a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and configured to sense operational characteristics of the vehicle, a pump disposed on the vehicle and configured to deliver lubricant to a plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle, and a controller device operatively coupled to the pump. The controller device is configured to receive sensor data corresponding to the operational characteristics of the vehicle sensed by the plurality of sensors, and determine, based on the received sensor data, a lubricant delivery frequency at which lubrication is to be delivered to the plurality of lubricated regions of the vehicle. The controller device is further configured to provide control commands to cause the pump to deliver the lubricant to the plurality of lubricated regions according to the determined lubricant delivery frequency.

During the travel of a vehicle, the oil level of lubricating oil is lowered due to the suction by at least a first oil pump and the scraping-up by the rotation of a differential ring gear and so on. In particular, until the oil level becomes equal to or lower than an upper end of a first partition wall, the oil level is lowered due to both the suction by the first oil pump and the scraping-up by the rotation of the differential ring gear and so on, and therefore, a region, that is immersed in the lubricating oil, of the differential device rapidly becomes smaller. Since a suction port of the first oil pump is disposed in a second oil storage portion, the oil level in the second oil storage portion during the travel of the vehicle can be adjusted independently of that in a first oil storage portion.

During the travel of a vehicle, the oil level of lubricating oil is lowered due to the suction by at least a first oil pump and the scraping-up by the rotation of a differential ring gear and so on. In particular, until the oil level becomes equal to or lower than an upper end of a first partition wall, the oil level is lowered due to both the suction by the first oil pump and the scraping-up by the rotation of the differential ring gear and so on, and therefore, a region, that is immersed in the lubricating oil, of the differential device rapidly becomes smaller. Since a suction port of the first oil pump is disposed in a second oil storage portion, the oil level in the second oil storage portion during the travel of the vehicle can be adjusted independently of that in a first oil storage portion.