Pump comprising a motor housing and an electronics housing detachably mounted on the motor housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, comprising: a drive motor mounted inside a motor housing; and an electronics housing mounted on the motor housing, the electrical connection between the drive motor and the electronics housing being established by means of a plug connection, characterised in that at least one first plug part is surrounded by a plug skirt which is formed by a wall that surrounds the first plug part and projects from the housing base, the wall projecting beyond the first plug part and thereby forming a guide aid for a complementary second plug part when joining together the housings.

Description

[0001] Pump with motor housing and electronics housing detachably mounted on the motor housing

[0002] The invention relates to a pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, with a drive motor mounted within a motor housing and an electronics housing mounted on the motor housing, wherein the electrical connection between the motor and the electronics is realized by means of a plug connection comprising a first plug part and a complementary second plug part.

[0003] Modern variable-speed pumps incorporate an electric motor drive. A frequency converter, typically housed in a dedicated electronics housing, is used to control the pump's speed. The electronics housing is often located on the circumference or front of the metal motor housing. Previously, if the pump electronics failed, the entire unit had to be replaced; there was no provision for a separate replacement of the electronics or the entire electronics housing.

[0004] However, with a view to sustainability, it is desirable to offer better repair options to enable the uncomplicated replacement of the defective individual component in the event of a defect. This applies in particular to the pump electronics, which should be fully replaceable as a separate component in the event of a defect, ideally even by a non-specialist or non-technical person. This requires that both the mechanical connection of the electronics housing to the motor housing and the electrical contact between the electronics housing and the drive can be easily removed and restored without manual effort.

[0005] For this purpose, the electrical connection can be realized by means of a plug-in connection, for example, using a first plug part and a complementary second plug part, e.g., a plug-socket pair. Certain manufacturing tolerances can be problematic, both in the area of ​​the installed housing blanks and in the mounting of the plug parts on the respective housing part or the circuit boards / motor windings. This can result in the plug parts not being precisely aligned during pump assembly. This complicates the connection and can lead to damage or faulty contact.

[0006] There is therefore a desire for an improved design of such a plug connection, which can, in the best case, compensate for any manufacturing tolerances and yet still ensure a simple mechanical connection that can be implemented without problems by a technical layperson.

[0007] This object is achieved by a pump according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the pump are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, at least a first connector part is surrounded at least in sections, ideally over its entire circumference, by a connector skirt formed by a wall projecting from the housing base. Typically, an opening is present in the housing wall of the respective housing part (electronics or motor housing), through which the first connector part is accessible from the outside. According to the invention, the housing surface has a wall in the opening region projecting outwards, for example, perpendicularly from the housing surface, which completely surrounds the connector part or at least in sections in the form of a connector skirt.

[0009] The plug part preferably protrudes from the opening, but this is not mandatory. A key aspect of the invention is that the formed plug skirt extends beyond the plug part. The plug skirt thus provides guidance when joining the plug parts, because when joining the housing parts, the complementary second plug part of the other housing part must first be inserted into the interior of the skirt. The plug skirt thus ensures pre-alignment of the complementary second plug part until it comes into contact with the plug part within the skirt as the housing parts are further joined, resulting in a complete connection between the plug parts.

[0010] Preferably, the first connector part surrounded by the connector apron is firmly connected to an electronic component within the electronics housing. The connector apron is thus formed by a housing surface of the electronics housing. The complementary second connector part is firmly connected to the motor and protrudes through an opening in the motor housing. Alternatively, the first connector part and the connector apron could be provided on the motor, with the complementary second connector part then becoming an integral part of the electronics within the electronics housing.

[0011] It is particularly advantageous if the complementary connector part is mounted on its housing, particularly on the motor housing, in a floating and / or tiltable manner. This floating mounting provides additional degrees of freedom to compensate for any positioning inaccuracies during the connector connection. Floating mounting in the horizontal direction, i.e., perpendicular to the connector axis, is ideal. In addition, the connector part can also be mounted vertically in a floating and / or tiltable manner, particularly tiltable about a horizontal and / or vertical axis.

[0012] As already explained above, the first plug part is preferably a component of the electronics housing. The electronics housing can generally comprise a heat sink for cooling the power electronics accommodated therein. The electronics housing can be designed in one piece or in multiple pieces. The electronics housing is preferably mounted on the motor housing by means of the heat sink, i.e. the electronics housing rests circumferentially on the motor housing with the heat sink. The heat sink then has a corresponding opening through which the first plug part is accessible from the outside or led out to the outside. Furthermore, the corresponding plug apron is formed on the heat sink base in the area of ​​the heat sink opening, ideally in the form of an outwardly projecting rib.

[0013] Between the first plug part and the shaped plug apron, there can be a circumferential clearance of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, at least in sections. This provides sufficient space for the complementary second plug part to achieve proper pre-alignment. Preferably, a clearance of between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm is sufficient. Ideally, there should be a clearance of approximately 0.5 mm between the apron wall and the first plug part. The clearance does not have to be completely constant, but can vary over the circumference. According to a preferred embodiment, the clearance is predominantly in the area defined above. In at least one partial section, however, the apron wall is located at a significantly greater distance from the first plug part in order to create additional receiving space for geometries formed in the area around the complementary second plug part.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the complementary second plug part can be located within a border formed by the base of the housing. Similar to the connector skirt of the other housing part, such a border can completely surround the complementary second plug part, although it is essential that the complementary second plug part protrudes beyond the border. Preferably, the border of the complementary second plug part is dimensioned such that it is also inserted into the interior of the connector skirt of the first plug part.

[0015] The border can surround the complementary second plug part at least in sections, with a play of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.4 and 0.8 mm, and ideally of approximately 0.5 mm. The complementary second plug part can be designed with a fixing surface, in particular a tab-like fixing surface, projecting perpendicularly from the plug axis. A shoulder surface formed in the border surface serves to support the fixing surface. An additional mechanical connection between the fixing surface and the shoulder surface serves to limit play, in particular the axial play. The fixing surface is preferably screwed to the shoulder surface.

[0016] As already described above, the connector skirt of the first connector part can have a partial area forming a recess, through which geometries can be accommodated during the joining process. The recess can preferably be adapted to the shape of the shoulder surface of the border of the complementary second connector part, so that the shoulder surface, along with the fixing surface and, if applicable, the screw connection, can be accommodated within the connector skirt.

[0017] Both connector parts can be designed with insertion chamfers at their outer ends as an additional insertion aid. The insertion chamfers can also be formed by draft angles during production. The inner skirt wall and / or the outer surface of the border of the complementary second connector part can also be provided with insertion chamfers.

[0018] Further advantages and properties of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the figures.

[0019] Figure 1 : a perspective side view of the pump according to the invention,

[0020] Figure 2: a bottom view of the electronics housing of the pump according to the invention,

[0021] Figure 3: a top view of the motor housing including the hydraulic pump part,

[0022] Figure 4a: a front view of the front end of the pump motor at the beginning of the assembly of the electronics housing, Figure 4b: a sectional view along the axis AA of Figure 4a,

[0023] Figure 4c: a detailed enlargement of Figure 4b,

[0024] Figures 5a-5c: the representations of Figures 4a, 4b, 4c during the assembly of the electronics housing and

[0025] Figures 6a-6c: the representations of Figures 4a-4c after assembly of the electronics housing.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of the pump according to the invention, here designed as a centrifugal pump, for example, with a hydraulic pump part 1, an electric drive motor 2 with a metallic motor housing 3 and an electronics housing 10 mounted on the circumference of the motor housing 3 for accommodating a frequency converter and a pump control or pump regulation.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a plan view of the underside of the electronics housing 10 for the pump according to the invention. The underside of the electronics housing 10 is designed as a heat sink 11, which is characterized by a plurality of parallel cooling fins 12, which, in the assembled position, extend toward the motor housing 3. The electronics housing 10 is constructed in two parts, namely the aforementioned metallic, in particular aluminum-containing, heat sink n on the bottom, and a cover part 13 placed thereon, which is preferably made of plastic.

[0028] The electronics housing 10 sits circumferentially on the motor housing 3; the necessary electrical contact between the electric drive motor, in particular the stator windings, and the power electronics of the converter is realized via a detachable plug connection. The plug connection comprises a plug socket 20, which forms the first plug part assigned to the electronics housing 10 and is located near the central axis at one end of the housing 10. The plug socket 20 is accessible from the outside via an opening 22 in the heat sink base. At the edge of the opening, a rib-like wall 21 projects vertically outwards from the base of the heat sink 11, completely surrounding the plug 20 or the opening 22 and thereby forming an apron 21 enclosing the socket 20. The apron 21 projects beyond the socket 20 in the direction of the motor housing 3, which can be clearly seen, for example, in the sectional view in Figure 4c.

[0029] The distance between the connector skirt 21 and the connector socket 20 is kept constant, except for a partial area of ​​the skirt 21, and amounts to approximately 0.5 mm. The partial area of ​​the skirt wall has a significantly greater distance from the connector socket 20, thereby creating additional space to accommodate a geometry of the motor housing 3.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a view of the top of the motor housing 3 of the pump according to the invention with the adjacent hydraulic part 1. The motor housing 3 is also made of a metallic material and includes longitudinal ribs 31 on parts of its circumference for cooling the motor. On the upper circumferential surface of the motor housing 3 shown in the illustration, a type of pedestal is formed by a vertically formed wall 32 of the motor housing 3. Extending centrally within this wall 32 is the complementary second plug part 33, which is designed here as a male plug. The second plug part 33 projects beyond the wall 32 in the direction of the electronics housing 10.

[0031] The process of joining the two housing parts 3, 10 is illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, with Figures 4a to 4c showing the housing parts 3, 10 before contacting, Figures 5a to 5c during joining, and Figures 6a to 6c after the connector has been connected. At the beginning of the assembly process, the plug part 33 and also the surrounding wall 32 are inserted into the opening of the skirt 21, so that the plug 33 is pre-centered relative to the plug socket 20. The outer contour of the wall 32 is matched to the inner contour of the skirt 21. The plug 33 is also mounted in a floating manner on or within the wall 32, which provides an additional degree of freedom in the mutual alignment of the plug pair 20, 33. As can be seen, for example, in Figure 4c, the border 32 is dimensioned larger than the circumference of the plug 33. In particular, a shoulder surface 34 is formed.This serves to support a fixing surface 35 that protrudes perpendicularly from the connector wall. The shoulder 34 has a hole for screwing the fixing surface 35 to the shoulder surface 34 using the screw 36. The head of the fixing screw 36 presses the fixing surface 35 against the shoulder surface 34, but the outer end of the fixing surface is located at a certain distance from the screw 36, which provides a certain horizontal play for a floating mounting of the connector 33. The recess 23 provided in the skirt 21 creates sufficient space to accommodate the shoulder surface 34 of the motor housing 3.

Claims

Claims: Pump, in particular centrifugal pump, with a drive motor mounted within a motor housing (3) and an electronics housing (10) mounted on the motor housing (3), wherein the electrical connection between the drive motor and the electronics is realized by means of a plug connection (20, 33), characterized in that at least a first plug part (20) is at least partially surrounded by a plug apron (21) formed by a wall projecting from the housing base around the first plug part (20), wherein the wall projects beyond the first plug part (20) and thereby forms a guide for a complementary second plug part (33) when the two housings (3, 10) are joined. Pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary second plug part (33) is mounted on its housing (3) in a floating and / or tiltable manner, in particular in a floating manner in the vertical and / or horizontal direction.Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connector part (20) is part of the electronics housing (10) and the complementary second connector part (33) is part of the motor housing (3). A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first connector part (20) is arranged in the area of ​​a heat sink (11), in particular a heat sink (11) of the electronics housing (10), wherein the connector skirt (21) is formed by a projecting rib of the heat sink (11). A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a partial circumferential clearance of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm, ideally of about 0.5 mm, is provided between the first connector part (20) and the connector skirt (21). A pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the complementary second connector part (33) lies within a rim (32) formed by the base of the housing (3), but the second connector part (33) projects beyond the rim (32).Pump according to claim 6, characterized in that at least a partial circumferential clearance of between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, preferably between 0.4 mm and 0.8 mm, ideally of about 0.5 mm, is provided between the second connector part (33) and the rim (32). Pump according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the complementary second connector part (33) comprises a fixing surface (34) projecting perpendicularly from its connector wall, which rests on a shoulder surface (35) of the rim (32) and can be fixed there by means of a fixing means (36). Pump according to claim 8, characterized in that the connector skirt (21) has a complementary recess (23) for receiving the shoulder surface (35). Pump according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first plug part (20) is a socket or coupling and the complementary second plug part (33) is a plug that can be inserted into the socket or coupling.

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