FLUID PUMP, MOTOR VEHICLE, USE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid pump, in particular for a motor vehicle, as well as a motor vehicle with such a fluid pump, a use of such a fluid pump in a motor vehicle and a method for producing the fluid pump.

[0002] From the prior art, the document US 2017302133 A1 is known, which describes a generic fluid pump.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve such a fluid pump.

[0004] This object is achieved by a fluid pump having the features of claim 1. Claims 7, 8, and 9 protect a motor vehicle having at least one fluid pump described herein, a use of such a fluid pump in a motor vehicle, and a method for producing the fluid pump described herein. The subclaims relate to advantageous developments.

[0005] A fluid pump, particularly for a motor vehicle, is proposed. The fluid pump comprises: a housing; a pump impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid chamber of the housing; an electric motor with a stator within a stator chamber of the housing for driving a rotor of the electric motor coupled to the pump impeller; and a containment shell separating a wet chamber of the fluid pump from a dry chamber of the fluid pump.

[0006] It is proposed that the containment shell be joined to the stator between two housing parts fastened to one another, at least elastically compressed, and be supported against the stator and a pump stage housing section. The containment shell clamps the stator against the housing and thereby fixes the stator relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

[0007] In addition to its function as a separating element, the containment shell also functions as a clamping and fixing element. As a result, the proposed fluid pump solution completely eliminates the need for separate fastening elements, such as screws, to secure the stator to the housing. This fluid pump solution is therefore compact and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0008] The containment shell can be joined to the stator by forming a press fit. This has the advantage that during the manufacture of the fluid pump, the spacing of a section of the containment shell, which encloses or encompasses the rotor, from the housing is subject to fewer fluctuations in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

[0009] Alternatively, the containment shell can be joined to the stator with some clearance. The containment shell is supported in a transition area between the said shell section, which surrounds or encompasses the rotor, and a shell section formed transversely on the shell section and compressed or bent in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump. For support, a continuous, circumferential shoulder or recess can be formed on the containment shell in the transition area.

[0010] With such a play-affected joining of the containment shell with the stator, it is accepted that during the manufacture of the fluid pump - depending on a dimensional inaccuracy of a stator laminated core having a plurality of laminated core layers and depending on a number of laminated core layers used in this stator laminated core - a spacing of the pot section of the containment shell from the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump is subject to certain fluctuations.

[0011] In one embodiment, the two or both of the housing parts fastened to one another are spaced apart in a fastening area in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump. This spacing allows the compression or bending of the containment shell in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump to be adjusted accordingly. This compression or bending of the containment shell in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump is accompanied by at least an elastic deformation of the containment shell. This deformation of the containment shell can therefore be purely elastic or elastic-plastic.

[0012] In a further embodiment, an elastically or elastically-plastically compressed spring section (or compression or bending section) of the containment shell is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump between the stator and the pump stage housing section, which, supported against the stator and the pump stage housing section, is bent or compressed relative to these two support points or relative to the stator and the pump stage housing section.

[0013] In a further embodiment, it is proposed to design the fluid pump as a radial pump.

[0014] A vehicle with a fluid pump of the type described above is also proposed.

[0015] A vehicle is defined as any type of vehicle or motor vehicle powered by either an internal combustion engine and / or an electric motor, but in particular passenger cars and / or commercial vehicles. These are preferably semi-autonomous and, in particular, fully autonomous vehicles.

[0016] Furthermore, the use of a fluid pump of the type described above in a vehicle is proposed. The fluid pump can be used as a water pump for controlling the temperature of a battery and / or for cooling an engine and / or for controlling the temperature of an interior or passenger compartment of the vehicle, or can be provided or configured for this purpose.

[0017] Furthermore, a method for producing a fluid pump of the type described above is proposed, comprising the steps: Joining the containment shell to the stator; joining the arrangement of containment shell and stator to the rotor and the housing; and fastening the two housing parts to one another, wherein the containment shell is at least elastically compressed between the two housing parts and is thereby pressed against the stator and the pump stage housing section, wherein the stator is clamped against the housing by the containment shell and is thereby fixed relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

[0018] Further advantages and features emerge from the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments. These are shown schematically: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a proposed fluid pump; and Fig. 2 shows an alternative to the Fig. 1 shown fluid pump.

[0019] Fig. 1 illustrates a fluid pump 2 in the form of a spiral casing pump, also called a radial pump, which is intended in particular for cooling and / or temperature control in a motor vehicle.

[0020] The pump 2 comprises a first housing part or housing section in the form of a cover 4, which can be in one or more parts, and a second housing part or housing section in the form of a pump stage housing section 6, in which a pump wheel is accommodated, which pumps a fluid in the form of a cooling liquid through a fluid chamber 8 of the pump stage housing section 6.

[0021] The pump 2 further comprises an electric motor with a stator 10, which is arranged within a stator chamber of the housing 4, 6, 20 and which interacts with or drives a rotor of the electric motor. The rotor is arranged in a wet-running manner within a can section 12 of a containment shell ST that accommodates or encloses it and is coupled to the pump impeller. The rotor is held by a section 16 of the bottom of the can section.

[0022] On the one hand, the containment shell ST separates a wet chamber of the pump 2 from a dry chamber of the pump 2. On the other hand, the containment shell ST acts as an elastic spring or tensioning element which clamps the stator 10 against the cover 4 when the pump stage housing section 6 is screwed to the cover 4 and thereby fixes it axially, ie in the longitudinal direction X - X of the pump 2 relative to the housing 4, 6, 20.

[0023] At the open end of the pot section 12, a spring or tensioning section 14 is formed which is elastic in the longitudinal direction X-X of the pump 2 and, arranged between the stator 10 and the pump stage housing section 6, extends radially outward transversely to the longitudinal direction X-X or in the transverse direction Y-Y of the pump 2. At the radially outer end of this section 14, an end section 18 is formed which is angled towards the cover 4 and extends into a gap region near a fastening area between the cover 4 and the pump stage housing section 6. In the area of this end section 18, at least one sealing element is provided on both sides of the containment can ST, so that this end section 18 provides sufficient sealing both against the cover 4 and against the pump stage housing section 6. The dry space and the wet space of the pump 2 are thus sufficiently sealed against the pump's surroundings.

[0024] When screwing the pump stage casing section 6 to the cover 4 (see the indicated screw connection in the Fig. 1 and 2 ) the containment can ST interacts with the stator 10, whereby the containment can ST presses the stator 10 against the contact point KP 1 of the cover 4. The containment can ST is supported against the stator 10 at the contact point KP 2 and against the pump stage housing section 6, 20 - in a transition area to the end section 18 - at the contact point KP 3. As a result of the compression of the containment can ST in the longitudinal direction X - X of the pump 2, the section 14 bends around these two contact points KP 2 , KP 3 , which as such form or represent bending points. The previously described tension occurs.

[0025] The pump stage casing section 20 in Fig. 1is an optional insert for forming the fluid chamber of the pump stage. This pump stage housing section 20, in turn, rests on the pump stage housing section 6, with which it forms a contact point KP 4. With such an insert 20, the efficiency of the pump hydraulics can be influenced or improved.

[0026] The said pot section 12 can be pressed onto the stator 10 or joined with play.

[0027] In the first case or in the case of a pressed joint, the containment shell ST is not supported - as in the Fig. 1 and 2 illustrated - not via the contact point KP2, but via its contact or pressing surface with the stator 10 against the stator 10. The Fig. 1 and 2 In this case, the point KP 2 shown is merely a bending point.

[0028] In the latter case, or in the case of a joint with play, the containment shell ST is supported against the stator 10 in the transition area between the shell section 12 and the section 14, specifically at the contact point KP2. This contact or support point KP2 is also a bending point in this case.

[0029] It should be noted at this point that the two-dimensionally represented Fig. 1 and 2 illustrated contact points KP 1 , KP 2 , KP 4 , KP 4 in a spatial view of the proposed fluid pump 2 are actually point-shaped, line-shaped and / or surface-shaped contact points between the interacting joining elements.

[0030] Fig. 2 differs from the Fig. 1only by eliminating the insert 20, so that the contact point KP 4 or the contact point KP 4 is eliminated. The containment shell ST is therefore supported directly on the pump stage housing section 6.

[0031] About the Fig. 1 and 2 The spacing of the flange of the pump stage housing section 6 from the flange of the cover 4 shown allows the compression or bending of the containment shell ST with respect to its section 14 and thus the bracing of the stator 10 against the housing 4, 6, 20 by the containment shell ST to be adjusted (adjustability of the elastic and / or plastic deformation of the containment shell ST).

[0032] The housing parts or sections 4, 6, 20 can be injection-molded from a plastic, for example, just like the containment shell ST. Alternatively, it is proposed to construct the containment shell ST from metal, e.g., from stainless steel, in order to advantageously provide appropriate structural rigidity and strength.

[0033] As an alternative to the screw connection mentioned above, the two housing parts 4, 6 can also be clipped or rolled together.

[0034] The fluid pump solutions described above do not require separate screws or other fasteners to connect a stator core carrying coil windings to the pump housing. This saves on fasteners and thus also saves installation space. These fluid pump solutions are compact and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0035] Although exemplary embodiments are explained in the foregoing description, it should be noted that numerous modifications are possible. Furthermore, it should be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applications, or structure in any way. Rather, the foregoing description provides a guide to the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, whereby various changes, particularly with regard to the function and arrangement of the described components, can be made without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. Fluid pump (2), in particular for a motor vehicle, having: a housing (4, 6, 20); an impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid space (8) of the housing (4, 6, 20); an electric motor with a stator (10) inside a stator space of the housing (4, 6, 20) for driving an electric motor rotor coupled to the impeller; and a containment shell (ST) which separates a wet space of the fluid pump (2) from a dry space of the fluid pump (2), characterized in that the containment shell (ST) joined to the stator (10) is arranged at least elastically compressed between two fastened together housing parts (4, 6) and rests against the stator (10) and a pump stage housing portion (6, 20), wherein the containment shell (ST) braces the stator (10) against the housing and thereby fixes it relative to the housing (4, 6, 20) in the longitudinal direction (X - X) of the fluid pump (2).

2. Fluid pump (2) according to Claim 1, wherein the containment shell (ST) is joined to the stator (10) forming a press fit.

3. Fluid pump (2) according to Claim 1, wherein the containment shell (ST) is joined to the stator (10) with play.

4. Fluid pump (2) according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein in a fastening region, the two fastened together housing parts (4, 6) are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction (X - X) of the fluid pump (2).

5. Fluid pump (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a compressed spring portion (14) of the containment shell (ST) is arranged between the stator (10) and the pump stage housing portion (6, 20) in the longitudinal direction (X - X) of the fluid pump (2) and, resting against the stator (10) and the pump stage housing portion (6, 20), is bent relative to the stator (10) and to the pump stage housing portion (6, 20).

6. Fluid pump (2) according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the fluid pump (2) is formed as a radial pump.

7. Vehicle with a fluid pump (2) according to any of Claims 1 to 6.

8. Use of a fluid pump (2) according to any of Claims 1 to 6 in a vehicle.

9. Method for producing a fluid pump according to any of preceding Claims 1 to 6, with the steps: - joining of the containment shell (ST) to the stator (10); - joining of the arrangement of containment shell and stator (10) to the rotor and the housing (4, 6, 20); and - fastening together of the two housing parts (4, 6), wherein the containment shell (ST) is at least elastically compressed between the two housing parts (4, 6) and thus pressed against the stator (10) and the pump stage housing portion (6, 20), wherein the stator (10) is braced against the housing (4, 6, 20) by the containment shell (ST) and thereby fixed relative to the housing (4, 6, 20) in the longitudinal direction (X - X) of the fluid pump (2).