US 12,378,904 B2
Flotation-based valve to prevent oil from exiting a vehicle oil sump
Lukas Bartmann, Union City, CA (US); Dimitri Bassis, Union City, CA (US); and Markus Hose, San Ramon, CA (US)
Assigned to Atieva, Inc., Newark, CA (US)
Filed by Atieva, Inc., Newark, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/490,150.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/380,287, filed on Oct. 20, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0133324 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0229691 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F01M 11/04 (2006.01); F16K 31/20 (2006.01)
CPC F01M 11/0408 (2013.01) [F16K 31/20 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A motor for a vehicle, the motor comprising:
a motor housing;
an oil sump mounted to the motor housing for oil to drain from the motor housing into the oil sump, a width of the oil sump being greater than a depth of the oil sump, the oil sump having an oil pickup for circulating the oil;
a first oblong valve member mounted at a first pivot point inside the oil sump, the first oblong valve member enclosing a first air cavity for buoyancy, wherein the first oblong valve member is configured to rotate about the first pivot point due to being buoyed by the oil to open or close a first opening, the first oblong valve member having a first end and a second end and a first longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the first oblong valve member has a first extent along the first longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the first oblong valve member, which is greater than an extent of the first oblong valve member in a direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis, the first longitudinal axis being aligned with a first axis corresponding to forward and rearward travel of the vehicle; and
a second oblong valve member mounted at a second pivot point inside the oil sump, the second oblong valve member enclosing a second air cavity for buoyancy, wherein the second oblong valve member is configured to rotate about the second pivot point due to being buoyed by the oil to open or close a second opening, the second oblong valve member having a first end and a second end and a second longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the second oblong valve member has a second extent along the second longitudinal axis between the first and second ends of the second oblong valve member, which is greater than an extent of the second oblong valve member in a direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis being aligned with a second axis corresponding to left and right lateral acceleration of the vehicle.