Patent ID: 7753822

Claim:
A pump drive for a vehicle transmission pump, comprising: a transmission input torque member operable to carry prime mover torque; a source of pump torque including a pump input torque member circumscribing the transmission input torque member to apply torque to the transmission pump, wherein the source of pump torque includes an electric motor and an inverter circuit coupled to the electric motor and a controller in communication with the electric motor, and wherein the controller is configured to activate the inverter circuit and electric motor to drive the pump when the pump speed is less than a threshold speed, and is configured to deactivate the inverter circuit and electric motor to allow the prime mover torque to drive the pump when the pump speed is greater than the threshold speed; and an overrunning clutch interposed between the pump input torque member and the transmission input torque member to carry the prime mover torque from the transmission input torque member to the pump input torque member.