Hybrid variable external gear pump

Abstract

A pump comprising a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity, where the first cavity has a first motor and a pump element located therein. The first cavity is also connected to an external gear connected to the outside of the housing for receiving rotation power from a vehicle engine. The second cavity has a second motor that selectively connects to the pump element in the first cavity to provide toque.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric gear oil pump comprising:
 a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity and an inlet and an outlet;   a drive gear connected to the housing;   a first motor in the first cavity;   a primary shaft extending through the first cavity, said primary shaft being connected to both the drive gear and the first motor, wherein the first motor and the drive gear supply torque to the primary shaft;   a pump element connected to and rotatable with the primary shaft for pumping fluid through the inlet and the outlet of the housing;   a second shaft extending through the second cavity, the second shaft has second shaft gear configured to selectively engage the pump element in order to input torque to the primary shaft and pump element when the drive gear is not supplying torque to the primary shaft; and   a second motor contained in the second cavity and selectively drives the second shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a clutch member connected between the drive gear and the primary shaft, wherein the drive gear selectively supplies torque to the primary shaft from an engine in one direction when the clutch member is engaged and the drive gear is disconnected from the primary shaft when the clutch member is disengaged. 
 
     
     
         3 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 2  further comprising a lead screw connected between the second shaft and the second shaft gear, wherein the lead screw causes the second shaft gear to slide in a linear direction in the second cavity when the second motor is energized, thereby engaging the second shaft gear with the pump element. 
     
     
         4 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 1  further comprising a lead screw connected between the second shaft and the second shaft gear, where in the lead screw causes the second shaft gear to slide in a linear direction in the second cavity when the second motor is energized, thereby engaging the second shaft gear with the pump element. 
     
     
         5 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 1  further comprising single controller contained in the housing, wherein the single controller is configured to control the operation of the first and second pumps. 
     
     
         6 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first failsafe spring located proximal the first end of the second shaft; 
 a second failsafe spring located proximal the second end of the second shaft, wherein the first failsafe spring and second failsafe spring move the second shaft gear to a full displacement position if there is failure of the first motor and the second motor. 
 
     
     
         7 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first seal coupled to the second shaft; 
 a second seal coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second shaft gear is located between the first seal and the second seal and the first seal and second seal allow the second shaft gear to contact the pump member and prevent fluid from entering the second cavity from the first cavity. 
 
     
     
         8 . An electric gear oil pump comprising:
 a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity and an inlet and an outlet;   a drive gear connected to the housing;   a first motor in the first cavity;   a primary shaft extending through the first cavity with one end connected to the drive gear and a second end connected to the first motor, wherein the first motor supplies torque to the primary shaft;   a clutch member connected between the drive gear and the primary shaft, wherein the drive gear selectively supplies torque to the primary shaft from an engine in one direction when the clutch member is engaged and the drive gear is disconnected from the primary shaft when the clutch member is disengaged;   a pump element rotatable with the primary shaft for pumping fluid through the inlet and the outlet of the housing;   a second shaft extending through the second cavity, the second shaft has a second shaft gear configured to selectively engage the pump element in order to input torque to the primary shaft and pump element when the drive gear is not supplying torque to the primary shaft; and   a second motor contained in the second cavity and selectively drives the second shaft.   
     
     
         9 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising a lead screw connected between the second shaft and the second shaft gear, wherein the lead screw causes the second shaft gear to slide in a linear direction in the second cavity when the second motor is energized, thereby engaging the second shaft gear with the pump element. 
     
     
         10 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising single controller contained in the housing, wherein the single controller is configured to control the operation of the first and second pumps. 
     
     
         11 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first failsafe spring located proximal the first end of the second shaft; 
 a second failsafe spring located proximal the second end of the second shaft, wherein the first failsafe spring and second failsafe spring move the second shaft gear to a full displacement position if there is failure of the first motor and the second motor. 
 
     
     
         12 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a first seal coupled to the second shaft; 
 a second seal coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second shaft gear is located between the first seal and the second seal and the first seal and second seal allow the second shaft gear to contact the pump member and prevent fluid from entering the second cavity from the first cavity. 
 
     
     
         13 . An electric gear oil pump comprising:
 a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity and an inlet and an outlet;   a first BLDC motor located in the first cavity;   a primary shaft having a first end and a second end;   an external gear coupled to the first end of the primary shaft;   a one way clutch coupling the external gear and the primary shaft such that the external gear can rotate the primary shaft in a first direction and wherein the BLDC motor is coupled to the second end of the primary shaft and selectively rotates the primary shaft in an opposite direction and the one way clutch prevents such rotation from being transferred to the external gear;   a second step motor located in the second cavity;   a second shaft having a first end rotatably supported in the housing and a second end coupled to the step motor;   a first failsafe spring located proximal the first end of the second shaft;   a first seal coupled to the second shaft;   a second seal coupled to the second shaft;   a second shaft gear coupled to the second shaft and located between the first seal and the second seal;   a second failsafe spring located proximal the second end of the step motor shaft;   a controller coupled to the BLDC motor and to the step motor; and   a cover coupled to the motor portion.   
     
     
         14 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 13  further comprising a lead screw connected between the second shaft and the second shaft gear, wherein the lead screw causes the second shaft gear to slide in a linear direction in the second cavity when the second motor is energized, thereby engaging the second shaft gear with the pump element. 
     
     
         15 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 13  further comprising single controller contained in the housing, wherein the single controller is configured to control the operation of the first and second pumps. 
     
     
         16 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first failsafe spring located proximal the first end of the second shaft; 
 a second failsafe spring located proximal the second end of the second shaft, wherein the first failsafe spring and second failsafe spring move the second shaft gear to a full displacement position if there is failure of the first motor and the second motor. 
 
     
     
         17 . The electric gear oil pump of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first seal coupled to the second shaft; 
 a second seal coupled to the second shaft, wherein the second shaft gear is located between the first seal and the second seal and the first seal and second seal allow the second shaft gear to contact the pump member and prevent fluid from entering the second cavity from the first cavity.