Patent ID: 8428846

Claim:
An electronic oil pump adapted to be controlled by an electronic control unit (ECU) comprising: at least one lubricant inlet; at least one lubricant outlet; at least one piston being movable between a full stroke position and a fully retracted position to pump lubricant from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet; a body housing the at least one piston; an electrical actuator operatively connected to the at least one piston for moving the at least one piston to the full stroke position; a piston carrier being operatively connected to the actuator, the piston carrier being made of electrically conductive material, the at least one piston being mounted to the piston carrier, the piston carrier moving with the at least one piston between the full stroke position and the fully retracted position; a stopper disposed in the body, the stopper being made of electrically conductive material, the piston carrier contacting the stopper when the at least one piston is in the full stroke position; a housing housing the actuator, the housing being made of electrically conductive material; at least one fastener fastening the housing to the body, the at least one fastener being made of electrically conductive material; a first electrical lead connected to the stopper for electrically connecting the stopper to the ECU; and a second electrical lead connected to the at least one fastener for electrically connecting the at least one fastener to the ECU; wherein when the at least one piston is in the full stroke position, an electrical path between the first and second electrical leads is closed and when the at least one piston is in a position other than the full stroke position, the electrical path between the first and second electrical leads is opened.