Control Of Variable Displacement Vane Pump Used As Scavenge Pump

Abstract

A system includes a first scavenge oil pump that draws oil from a first draw location within a vehicle according to a first variable displacement associated with the first scavenge oil pump. The first variable displacement is based on a first modified scavenge ratio assigned to the first scavenge oil pump. An oil pump control module determines a first scavenge ratio, determines a first scavenge ratio multiplier based on at least one of vehicle acceleration and vehicle orientation, and applies the first scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the first modified scavenge ratio.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a first scavenge oil pump that draws oil from a first draw location within a vehicle according to a first variable displacement associated with the first scavenge oil pump, wherein the first variable displacement is based on a first modified scavenge ratio assigned to the first scavenge oil pump; and   an oil pump control module that determines a first scavenge ratio, determines a first scavenge ratio multiplier based on at least one of vehicle acceleration and vehicle orientation, and that applies the first scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the first modified scavenge ratio.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oil pump control module sets a first duty cycle of a first solenoid associated with the first scavenge oil pump based on the first modified scavenge ratio. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle orientation corresponds to at least one of pitch and yaw of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first draw location corresponds to a location in an oil pan. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oil pump control module determines the first scavenge ratio multiplier using a scavenge ratio multiplier map. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oil pump control module determines the first scavenge ratio based on engine speed, engine oil temperature, and engine load. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second scavenge oil pump that draws oil from a second draw location within the vehicle according to a second variable displacement associated with the second scavenge oil pump, wherein the second variable displacement is based on a second modified scavenge ratio assigned to the second scavenge oil pump, and wherein the oil pump control module determines a second scavenge ratio multiplier based on the at least one of the vehicle acceleration and the vehicle orientation, and applies the second scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the second modified scavenge ratio. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first draw location and the second draw location correspond to different locations within the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the first scavenge ratio multiplier and the second scavenger ratio multiplier are different. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 using a first scavenge oil pump, drawing oil from a first draw location within a vehicle according to a first variable displacement associated with the first scavenge oil pump, wherein the first variable displacement is based on a first modified scavenge ratio assigned to the first scavenge oil pump;   determining a first scavenge ratio;   determining a first scavenge ratio multiplier based on at least one of vehicle acceleration and vehicle orientation; and   applying the first scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the first modified scavenge ratio.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising setting a first duty cycle of a first solenoid associated with the first scavenge oil pump based on the first modified scavenge ratio. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle orientation corresponds to at least one of pitch and yaw of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first draw location corresponds to a location in an oil pan. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining the first scavenge ratio multiplier includes determining the first scavenge ratio multiplier using a scavenge ratio multiplier map. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein determining the first scavenge ratio includes determining the first scavenge ratio based on engine speed, engine oil temperature, and engine load. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, using a second scavenge oil pump, drawing oil from a second draw location within the vehicle according to a second variable displacement associated with the second scavenge oil pump, wherein the second variable displacement is based on a second modified scavenge ratio assigned to the second scavenge oil pump, determining a second scavenge ratio multiplier based on the at least one of the vehicle acceleration and the vehicle orientation, and applying the second scavenge ratio multiplier to the first scavenge ratio to generate the second modified scavenge ratio. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first draw location and the second draw location correspond to different locations within the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first scavenge ratio multiplier and the second scavenger ratio multiplier are different.