A drive unit, method, and control system are provided that warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a vehicle. The control system and method are configured to fill a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to a
A drive unit, method, and control system are provided that warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a vehicle. The control system and method are configured to fill a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to a predetermined fill level. In a warm-up mode, the method and control system operate the electric motor to heat the drive unit fluid within the main sump while the vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid within the main sump. Further in the warm-up mode, the method and control system are configured to operate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor.
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1. A drive unit for a motor vehicle, the drive unit comprising: an electric motor configured to generate torque, the electric motor comprising a rotor configured to rotate with respect to a stator;a housing surrounding the electric motor;a main pump configured to pump drive unit fluid into the housi
1. A drive unit for a motor vehicle, the drive unit comprising: an electric motor configured to generate torque, the electric motor comprising a rotor configured to rotate with respect to a stator;a housing surrounding the electric motor;a main pump configured to pump drive unit fluid into the housing;a main sump configured to collect the drive unit fluid pumped into the housing;a scavenge pump configured to pump at least a portion of the drive unit fluid from the main sump;an auxiliary reservoir configured to hold drive unit fluid pumped by the scavenge pump; anda control system configured to operate the electric motor in a warm-up mode while the motor vehicle is stationary and the drive unit fluid is disposed within the main sump to at least a predetermined fill level, the electric motor being configured to heat the drive unit fluid disposed within the main sump in the warm-up mode, the control system being configured to operate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid into the auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor in the warm-up mode. 2. The drive unit of claim 1, wherein the stator of the electric motor is configured to heat the drive unit fluid as the rotor moves through the drive unit fluid. 3. The drive unit of claim 2, further comprising a planetary gear transmission coupled to the electric motor to power an axle of the motor vehicle. 4. The drive unit of claim 3, wherein the main pump is an electric pump. 5. The drive unit of claim 4, wherein the main pump is a 12 Volt DC electric pump. 6. The drive unit of claim 4, further comprising structure defining a leak passage fluidly connecting the auxiliary reservoir to the main sump, the leak passage being configured to allow drive unit fluid to drain from the auxiliary reservoir to the main sump to at least the predetermined fill level. 7. The drive unit of claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to cause the main pump to pump the drive unit fluid into the main sump to the predetermined fill level at a turn-off time of the motor vehicle, the turn-off time being a time when the motor vehicle is turned off. 8. The drive unit of claim 4, the control system being configured to determine whether the main pump and the scavenge pump are turned off prior to the electric motor being operated in the warm-up mode, the control system being configured to cause the main pump and scavenge pump to be turned off prior to operating the electric motor in the warm-up mode if the control system determines that at least one of the main pump and the scavenge pump are not turned off. 9. The drive unit of claim 8, wherein the main pump is configured to pump the drive unit fluid onto the electric motor and the planetary gear transmission during a normal operating mode of the drive unit, the scavenge pump being configured to pump the drive unit fluid out of the main sump into the auxiliary reservoir in the normal operating mode. 10. A method of warming drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a motor vehicle, the method comprising: filling a main sump of the drive unit with drive unit fluid to at least a predetermined fill level;in a warm-up mode, operating the electric motor to heat the drive unit fluid within the main sump while the motor vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid within the main sump; andoperating the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor in the warm-up mode. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the main pump as an electrically operated pump. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising leaking drive unit fluid through a leak passage from the auxiliary reservoir to the main sump until the main sump is filled with the drive unit fluid to at least the predetermined fill level. 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising pumping the drive unit fluid via the main pump into the main sump to the predetermined fill level at a turn-off time of the motor vehicle, the turn-off time being a time when the motor vehicle is turned off. 14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: determining whether the main pump and the scavenge pump are running prior to the electric motor being operated in the warm-up mode; andif at least one of the main pump and the scavenge pump are running prior to the electric motor being operated in the warm-up mode, shutting off at least one of the main pump and the scavenge pump until both of the main pump and the scavenge pump are shut off during the operating of the electric motor in the warm-up mode. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: pumping the drive unit fluid via the main pump onto the electric motor and a planetary gear transmission connected to the electric motor in a normal operating mode of the drive unit; andpumping the drive unit fluid via the scavenge pump out of the main sump into the auxiliary reservoir in the normal operating mode. 16. A control system configured to warm drive unit fluid in a drive unit having a main pump, a scavenge pump, and an electric motor for powering an axle of a motor vehicle, the control system comprising an instruction set configured to execute the following instructions: in a warm-up mode, operate the electric motor to heat drive unit fluid disposed within a main sump to at least a predetermined fill level while the motor vehicle is stationary and the electric motor is at least partially disposed in the drive unit fluid disposed within the main sump; andoperate the scavenge pump to pump the drive unit fluid from the main sump into an auxiliary reservoir after the drive unit fluid has been heated by the electric motor in the warm-up mode. 17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the control system is further configured to pump the drive unit fluid via the main pump into the main sump to the predetermined fill level at a turn-off time of the motor vehicle, the turn-off time being a time when the motor vehicle is turned off. 18. The control system of claim 17, the control system being further configured to determine whether the main pump and the scavenge pump are running prior to the electric motor being operated in the warm-up mode; and if at least one of the main pump and the scavenge pump are running prior to the electric motor being operated in the warm-up mode, the control system is configured to shut off at least one of the main pump and the scavenge pump until both of the main pump and the scavenge pump are shut off prior to beginning the warm-up mode. 19. The control system of claim 18, the control system being further configured to execute the following instructions: pump the drive unit fluid via the main pump onto the electric motor and a planetary gear transmission connected to the electric motor during a normal operating mode of the drive unit; andpump the drive unit fluid via the scavenge pump out of the main sump into the auxiliary reservoir in the normal operating mode. 20. The control system of claim 19, wherein the control system is further configured to fill the main sump of the drive unit with the drive unit fluid to at least the predetermined fill level.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
Barrie Woodrow L. (Clarkston MI) Lemieux George E. (Livonia MI), Lubrication and cooling system for a powertrain including an electric motor.
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