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Variable displacement gerotor pumpRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, With Condition Responsive Pumped Fluid Control, Pressure Responsive Relief Or Bypass Valve, Rotary Expansible Chamber PumpVariable displacement gerotor pump description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080019846, Variable displacement gerotor pump. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/788,324 entitled "VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT PUMP" filed on Mar. 31, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/849,659 entitled "VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT GEROTOR PUMP" filed on Oct. 5, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/849,673 entitled "VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT GEROTOR PUMP" filed on Oct. 5, 2006; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/850,466 entitled "VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT GEROTOR PUMP" filed on Oct. 10, 2006; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/850,666 entitled "VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT GEROTOR PUMP" filed on Oct. 10, 2006, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention generally relates to an oil pump for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a variable displacement gerotor pump. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Combustion engine vehicles require lubrication systems designed to deliver clean oil at the correct temperature and pressure to the engine. The oil pump is the center of the lubrication system and pumps oil from the oil reservoir through a wire screen to strain out any large particles and then through a filter to clean the oil. The oil is pumped to different parts of the engine to assist in cooling and lubrication before returning the oil to the oil reservoir, to continue the process. [0004] Known oil pumps are designed to deliver oil in greater quantities and pressures than the engine actually requires. Typically, the drive element of a vehicle oil pump is coupled to the crankshaft so that the oil pump runs continuously while the engine is running. Such a continuously running oil pump provides consistently greater quantities of oil to the engine than are required. In order to maintain constant oil pressure, a pressure-regulating valve is installed in the oil pump or the engine block. The valve allows excess oil pressure to bleed off. However, the valve is designed with narrow tolerances and foreign material entering the valve hinders the operation of the valve or destroys the valve. [0005] One type of pump frequently utilized as an oil pump is an internal tooth gear pump, or gerotor pump. The gerotor pump is a positive displacement pump that delivers a fixed amount of fluid per engine revolution. A gerotor pump consists of an inner rotor (gerotor) and an outer rotor. During a first part of the rotation cycle, the area (e.g. voids or chambers) between the inner and outer rotor increases to create vacuum suction to intake the lubrication fluid, such as oil. During a second part of the rotation cycle, the area between the rotors decreases, causing compression. During the compression period, fluid is pumped out of the pump at the outlet. [0006] A typical automotive engine requires the largest amount of oil per engine revolution at idle speeds and a smaller amount of oil per engine revolution at higher engine speeds. Since the gerotor pump continues to deliver a fixed amount of oil per engine revolution, more oil is delivered to the engine at higher engine speeds than is actually required. For example, known gerotor pumps deliver about double the amount of oil required at very high engine speeds. The "surplus" oil must be returned to the engine oil pump through a pressure-regulating valve. Otherwise, oil pressure will become excessive at higher engine speeds. [0007] Therefore, there is a need in the art to improve upon positive displacement pumps that relieve excess pressure and capacity through a relief valve. Accordingly, a need exists for an oil pump that is capable of operating without a pressure regulating valve to minimize the delivery of excess oil. Furthermore, a need exists for a pump capable of pumping and/or transferring a reduced amount of oil per engine revolution at higher engine speeds. In addition, a need exists for a gerotor pump having a movable outer rotor to adjust the amount of oil transferred from the pump per revolution. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention provides an oil pump capable of reducing the amount of oil pumped per revolution so as not to pump excess oil at high engine speeds. Specifically, the present invention relates to a variable displacement gerotor pump capable of providing variable amounts of oil per revolution of the engine. In known gerotor pumps, the position of the outer rotor is fixed. As a result, the gerotor rotates to transfer a fixed amount of fluid per revolution. [0009] However, the present invention advantageously provides a movable outer rotor that changes the amount of fluid transferred per gerotor revolution. Therefore, the present invention eliminates, or at least minimizes, the pumping of excess oil. In addition, the present invention has the potential to eliminate the pressure-regulating valve. In a vehicle, for example, the present invention reduces fuel consumption by reducing drive horsepower required to operate the pressure regulating valve and the gerotor pump. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING [0010] Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: [0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a pump having a winged portion in an embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 2 illustrates the pump of FIG. 1 at a rotated position. [0013] FIG. 3 illustrates an interior view of the pump of FIGS. 1 and 2. [0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a pump having an eccentric ring and a winged portion in an embodiment of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a pump having an outer rotor movable with respect to the inner rotor. [0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a pump having a relief channel in an embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the pump o FIG. 6 whereby an eccentric ring engages a rack. [0018] FIG. 8 illustrates the pump of FIG. 7 at a rotated position. [0019] FIG. 9 illustrates a pump having a divider in an embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading about Variable displacement gerotor pump... Full patent description for Variable displacement gerotor pump Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Variable displacement gerotor pump patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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