Electric liquid pump with improved cooling

Abstract

Electric pump for liquid featuring improved cooling The invention relates to a pump (1) comprising a stator annular arrangement (2), a rotor annular arrangement (3) associated with a turbine (4) and control and power supply components mounted on a board (5'), said rotating member (4) being mounted in a transfer chamber (4') with an inlet (6) and an outlet of a liquid flow, pump (1) in which the stator annular arrangement (2) and the components are housed in the same sealed housing (7) and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate (8) with which they are in contact.Pump (1) characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) has a partially hollow construction and is supplied by a secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L), and in that said plate (8) incorporates a surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) circulating in this plate (8), between supply inlets (9') and a discharge outlet (9''), said structure (9) consisting of an added part mounted in the latter. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Electric liquid pump with improved cooling

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices and equipment for circulating and distributing liquid fluid, in particular in on-board circuits, in particular pump devices or similar members for circulating and transferring fluid, in particular electric pumps for water or functional liquid, in particular heat transfer fluid.

[0002] It relates to an electric pump for liquid having improved cooling and a vehicle comprising at least one such pump.

[0003] The invention relates more specifically to pumps comprising an electric pump for liquid comprising an annular stator arrangement, an annular rotor arrangement associated with a rotary member of the turbine or bladed wheel type and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components mounted on at least one card, said rotary member being mounted in a transfer chamber comprising an inlet for an incoming circulation flow of liquid, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation of the member, and at least one outlet for an outgoing circulation flow of liquid, preferably in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the rotary member.

[0004] Pumps of this type are for example known from documents US 200060245956 and US 8303268.

[0005] In practice, it turns out that these pumps have insufficient cooling, limiting their level of use and their lifespan. To overcome this problem, it is known to size and / or configure these pumps so that the heat emitted by the motor and the power electronics they contain is evacuated mainly directly to the outside, or in a limited way through the liquid passing through them. This results in larger pumps, including expensive devices (oversized electronics) or metal bodies (aluminum) to release the heat to the outside.

[0006] Furthermore, a two-pump module of the aforementioned type is known from patent application FR 22 05041 in the name of the applicant, which comprises a sealed housing in which the stator annular arrangement and the assembly of components are housed. In addition, this arrangement and this assembly are located on either side of a heat transfer plate with which said arrangement and the card, or at least some of the components of the latter, are in contact, this heat transfer plate also being in contact with the liquid.

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned limitations by proposing a simple, inexpensive solution requiring neither significant constructive modification nor costly artifice, more particularly by improving the transfer of heat to the circulating liquid and its evacuation by the latter.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a liquid pump comprising an annular stator arrangement, an annular rotor arrangement associated with a rotary member of the turbine or impeller type and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components mounted on at least one card, said rotary member being mounted in a transfer chamber comprising an inlet for an incoming circulation flow of liquid, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation of the member, and at least one outlet for an outgoing circulation flow of liquid, preferably in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the member, pump in which the annular stator arrangement and the set of components are housed in the same sealed housing and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate with which said arrangement and the card, or at least some of said components,are in contact, this heat transfer plate also being in contact with the liquid, ,

[0009] pump characterized in that the heat transfer plate has a partially hollow constitution and is supplied by a secondary or derived flow of liquid which circulates through it, preferably diffusing substantially over its entire surface, and in that said plate integrates a surface structure for distributing and guiding the liquid circulating in this plate, between at least one supply inlet and at least one discharge outlet, said structure being formed in said plate or consisting of an added part mounted in the latter.

[0010] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

[0011] [Fig-1] is a simplified sectional view, along a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the rotor and the turbine, of a pump according to the invention;

[0012] [Fig.2] is a top view, along the axis of rotation of the rotor and the turbine, of the pump of [Fig.l], the cover closing the transfer chamber being removed;

[0013] [Fig.3] is a detail view taken from [Fig.l] and illustrating the circulation of the fluid in the pump (main and secondary flow);

[0014] [Fig.4] is a sectional view of the pump according to the invention, similar to that of the [Fig.l] and showing more details of the said pump;

[0015] [Fig.5] is a perspective view from above of a distribution surface structure and liquid guide forming part of a heat transfer plate included in the pump of figures 1, 2 and 3;

[0016] [Fig.6] is a bottom view of the structure of [Fig.5];

[0017] [Fig.7] is a top view of another alternative embodiment of the structure surface area for distribution and guidance of the liquid.

[0018] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an electric pump (1) for liquid (1) comprising an annular stator arrangement (2), an annular rotor arrangement (3) associated with a rotary member (4) of the turbine or bladed wheel type and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components (5) mounted on at least one card (5').

[0019] The rotary member (4) is mounted in a transfer chamber (4') comprising an inlet (6) for an incoming circulation flow (FE) of liquid (L), preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation (AR) of the member (4), and at least one outlet (6') for an outgoing circulation flow (FS) of liquid (L), preferably in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation (AR) of the member (4).

[0020] The stator annular arrangement (2) and the set of components (5) are housed in the same sealed housing (7) and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate (8) with which said arrangement (2) and the card (5'), or at least some of said components (5), are in contact, this heat transfer plate (8) also being in contact with the liquid (L).

[0021] This plate (8) thus subdivides, as shown for example in figures 1, 3 and 4, the interior volume of the housing (7) into two compartments, one of which houses the stator arrangement (2) and the other the set of components (5), and also the associated connections.

[0022] The housing (7) itself can be formed by sealed assembly of two elementary parts (16, 16') and the transfer chamber (4') which houses the assembly [rotary member (4) + rotor arrangement (3)] is for example formed by sealed assembly of a third part (16”) forming a cover and integrating the inlet (6) with one of the two previous elementary parts.

[0023] According to the invention, the heat transfer plate (8) has a partially hollow construction and is supplied by a secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) which circulates through it, preferably diffusing substantially over its entire surface. In addition, said plate (8) incorporates a surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) circulating in this plate (8), between at least one supply inlet (9') and at least one discharge outlet (9”), said structure (9) being formed in said plate (8) or consisting of an added part mounted in the latter.

[0024] The pump (1) according to the invention thus comprises, with the plate (8) integrating the structure (9), an effective means of extracting the heat generated both at the level of the stator annular arrangement (2) and of the set of components (5) using advantageously a fraction of the liquid (L) passing through the pump (1), taking advantage of the circulation movement driven by the latter, but without significantly influencing its performance. Heat extraction is done by physical contact of the lacquer (8) with the components to be cooled and its transfer by means of a liquid fluid, possibly of the heat transfer type (coolant), and this from inside the pump. This physical means (8 + 9) of simple construction and limited to a structure in the form of a slice or wafer, associated with the arrangement in the pump of a circulation circuit of a secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L), is also completely integrated into the volume and overall size of the pump (1) without increasing them significantly, nor modifying the general shape of the pump.

[0025] Furthermore, the provision of a flat surface structure (9) makes it possible to control the distribution and distribution of the liquid (L) brought by the secondary flow F'). Thus, the configuration of the structure (9) and the resulting circulation of the fluid (distribution, flow rate, local thickness of the flow, etc.) can possibly be defined in advance depending on the location of the components to be cooled and the intensity of the heat release at a given location.

[0026] Finally, the provision of the integrated cooling means constituted by the plate (8) with the structure (9) makes it possible to overcome any constraint, potentially induced by cooling considerations, in terms of construction (structure, shape, wall thickness, material) at the level of the housing (7). The latter can thus be made of a non-metallic material, weakly conducting heat, but also inexpensive, such as a plastic material and not include any artifice (fins, etc.) dedicated to any cooling function.

[0027] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and as emerging by way of example from Figures 1, 3 and 4, the heat transfer plate (8) comprises two mutually spaced walls or skins (10 and 10') with thermal conduction properties through their thicknesses. These two walls or skins delimit between them, and where appropriate with the surface distribution and guide structure (9), a sealed volume in which the secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) circulates, one (10) of the walls (10, 10') being in contact with thermal transfer properties with the stator annular arrangement (2) and the other (10') of the walls (10, 10') being in contact with thermal transfer properties with the card (5'), or at least with some of the electrical and electronic components (5) mounted on the latter.

[0028] The surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance preferably comprises at least one pattern or network of formations (11, 11') which defines several channels (12, 12') for circulation of liquid (L), these channels being closed by the two walls or skins (10 and 10') between which this structure (9) is arranged to form passages of circulation for the liquid (L) circulating in these channels (12, 12').

[0029] The patterns or networks of the two opposite faces of the planar structure (9), for example a metal plate molded or formed by pressure conformation of a planar plate, may be similar or different, and symmetrical or regular, or not, possibly depending on the specific cooling needs of each side.

[0030] According to a practical variant embodiment emerging from the attached figures, the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance consists of a plate with projecting and / or hollow formations on each of its faces, sandwiched between the two walls (10 and 10') and assembled with them with the creation of a peripheral seal (13), for example by compression or tightening during the assembly of the housing (7).

[0031] The resulting formation patterns (11, 11') form channels (12, 12') on each of its two opposite faces, and through passages (14, 14') connect the channels (12, 12') of the two faces, preferably two by two, being present in this plate. The latter allow the secondary flow (F') to pass from one face of the plate (9) to the other.

[0032] Advantageously, the surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) defines two networks of parallel liquid (L) circulation channels (12, 12'), one on each face. Each network of channels faces one of the two walls (10, 10') of the heat transfer plate (8) and the channels (12, 12') of the two networks are in fluid communication two by two (through said passages 14, 14') to form each time a separate liquid (L) circulation path, between said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9").

[0033] In relation to a simple construction of the cooling means (8, 9), illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4, said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) are located at a central region (8') of the heat transfer plate (8). In addition, each of the channels (12, 12') is connected either to said at least one supply inlet (9') or to said at least one discharge outlet (9”), and extends between said central region (8') and the peripheral region of the heat transfer plate (8), the latter advantageously having a circular shape.

[0034] Thus, the inlet and outlet of the secondary flow (F') in the hollow plate (8) are located in the same central region (8') of the housing and therefore of the pump, and each pair of channels (12, 12') fluidly connected to each other form a specific circulation path for said secondary flow in the plate (8).

[0035] In accordance with a first variant embodiment, illustrated in [Fig.7], each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface structure (9) for distribution and guide has a spiral arm shape, from a central region of this structure to a peripheral zone, the shapes of the channels (12, 12') of the two faces being identical or not, and where appropriate angularly offset around the central region.

[0036] In accordance with a second variant embodiment, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface distribution and guide structure (9) has a snail-shaped coiled shell shape and covers a surface in the form of a portion of a camembert from a central region of this structure to a peripheral zone, the shapes of the channels (12, 12') of the two faces being identical or not, and where appropriate angularly offset around the central region.

[0037] As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, it may advantageously be provided that the sealed housing (7) forms in the opening of the stator annular arrangement (2) a tubular jacket (15) receiving the axis of rotation (AR) of the rotary member (4) and that the heat transfer plate (8) integrating the surface distribution and guide structure (9) seals this tubular jacket (15) opposite the rotary member (4), said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) opening into this tubular jacket (15).

[0038] Preferably, the pump (1) has, on the one hand, a forward or incoming circulation path for a supply component of the secondary or diverted flow (F') of liquid (L) from the transfer chamber (4') to said at least one supply inlet (9'), passing between said axis of rotation (AR) and the tubular jacket (15), and, on the other hand, a return or outgoing circulation path for a discharge component of the secondary or diverted flow (F') of liquid (L) from said at least one discharge outlet (9”) to said transfer chamber (4') passing through a passage in said axis of rotation (AR), which is preferably hollow. Advantageously, the passage sections of the two paths are substantially similar and adapted for sufficient circulation of the diverted flow (F') in the different parallel passages formed by the channels (12, 12') whose flow rates are added at the level of the inlet(s) (9') and exit(s) (9”).

[0039] In a practical manner, said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) are formed in the surface distribution and guide structure (9), which closes the tubular jacket (15) by being flush with a central region (8') of the heat transfer plate (8). As shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the wall (10) of the plate (8) may comprise a cutout in its central region (8') located opposite the cylindrical tubular jacket (15), at which the surface planar structure (9) is flush with fluid connection of its inlet(s) with one of the paths entering or leaving the secondary flow (F') and fluid connection of its outlet(s) (9”) with the other path.

[0040] Preferably, the heat transfer plate (8) comprises several supply inlets (9') for liquid (L) coming from the secondary or derived flow (F'), namely one for each channel (12) of one of the two networks of channels (12, 12'), and a discharge outlet (9") for the liquid (L) returning to the secondary or derived flow (F'), which is common for the channels (12') of the other network of channels (12, 12'). The inlets (9') are then fluidically connected to the outgoing or incoming circulation path for the supply component of the secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) passing between said axis of rotation (AR) and the tubular jacket (15), after having passed under the rotary member (4) and the rotor arrangement, while the common outlet (9") is fluidically connected to the returning or outgoing circulation path passing through said hollow axis of rotation (AR) and opening into the transfer chamber (4').Advantageously, the inlets (9') are arranged around the single outlet (9”), which extends in the form of a passage from the side of the distribution plate (9) in contact with the wall (10), through said plate (9) until it forms a nozzle penetrating into the bottom of the tubular jacket (15), to fluidically connect with the axis (AR) and peripherally define around it and with said jacket bottom, said supply inlets (9').

[0041] With a view to optimizing cooling and to best meet the needs, the heat transfer plate (8) and the surface distribution and guide structure (9) that it contains are configured in such a way that the liquid circulating inside said plate (8) firstly contacts a wall (10) of said plate (8) in contact with the stator annular arrangement (2) and secondly a wall (10') in contact with the card (5'), or at least some of said components (5).

[0042] The pump (1) may also comprise at the stator arrangement (2) at least three intra-coil liquid flow members arranged in said predetermined intra-coil spaces, said intra-coil liquid flow members being configured to be capable of being supplied by the secondary flow (F') derived from the main flow.

[0043] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one electric pump (1) as described above and for example part of a cooling circuit.

[0044] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without to go beyond the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Electric pump (1) for liquid (1) comprising an annular stator arrangement (2), an annular rotor arrangement (3) associated with a rotary member (4) of the turbine or impeller type and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components (5) mounted on at least one card (5'), said rotary member (4) being mounted in a transfer chamber (4') comprising an inlet (6) for an incoming circulation flow (FE) of liquid (L), preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation (AR) of the member (4), and at least one outlet (6') for an outgoing circulation flow (FS) of liquid (L), preferably in a radial direction relative to the axis of rotation (AR) of the member (4),pump (1) in which the stator annular arrangement (2) and the set of components (5) are housed in the same sealed housing (7) and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate (8) with which said arrangement (2) and the card (5'), or at least some of said components (5), are in contact, this heat transfer plate (8) also being in contact with the liquid (L), pump (1) characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) has a partially hollow constitution and is supplied by a secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) which circulates through it, preferably diffusing substantially over its entire surface, and in that said plate (8) integrates a surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) circulating in this plate (8), between at least one supply inlet (9') and at least one discharge outlet (9”),said structure (9) being formed in said plate (8) or consisting of an added part mounted in the latter.,

2. Electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) comprises two mutually spaced walls or skins (10 and 10') with thermal conduction properties through their thicknesses, delimiting between them, and where appropriate with the surface distribution and guide structure (9), a sealed volume in which the secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) circulates, one (10) of the walls (10, 10') being in contact with thermal transfer properties with the stator annular arrangement (2) and the other (10') of the walls (10, 10') being in contact with thermal transfer properties thermal with the card (5'), or at least with some of the electrical and electronic components (5) mounted on the latter.

3. Electric pump according to claim 2, characterized in that the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance comprises at least one pattern or network of formations (11, 11') which defines several channels (12, 12') for circulation of liquid (L), closed by the two walls or skins (10 and 10') between which this structure (9) is arranged to form circulation passages for the liquid (L) circulating in these channels (12, 12').

4. Electric pump according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance consists of a plate with projecting and / or hollow formations on each of its faces, sandwiched between the two walls (10 and 10') and assembled with them with the creation of a peripheral seal (13), and in that the resulting formation patterns (11, 11') form channels (12, 12') on each of its two opposite faces, through passages (14, 14') connecting the channels (12, 12') of the two faces together, preferably two by two, being present in this plate.

5. Electric pump according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) defines two networks of parallel liquid (L) circulation channels (12, 12'), one on each face and each facing one of the two walls (10, 10') of the heat transfer plate (8), the channels (12, 12') of the two networks being in fluid communication two by two to form each time a separate liquid circulation path (L) between said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”).

6. Electric pump according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) are located at a central region (8') of the heat transfer plate (8) and in that each of the channels (12, 12') is connected either to said at least one supply inlet (9') or to said at least one discharge outlet (9”), and extends between said central region (8') and the peripheral region of the heat transfer plate (8), the latter advantageously having a circular shape.

7. An electric pump according to any one of claims 3 to 6, ca- characterized in that each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface distribution and guide structure (9) has a spiral arm shape, from a central region of this structure to a peripheral zone, the shapes of the channels (12, 12') of the two faces being identical or not, and where appropriate angularly offset around the central region.

8. Electric pump according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface distribution and guide structure (9) has a snail-shaped coiled shape and covers a surface in the form of a portion of a camembert from a central region of this structure to a peripheral zone, the shapes of the channels (12, 12') of the two faces being identical or not, and where appropriate angularly offset around the central region.

9. Electric pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sealed housing (7) forms in the opening of the stator annular arrangement (2) a tubular jacket (15) receiving the axis of rotation (AR) of the rotary member (4) and in that the heat transfer plate (8) integrating the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance seals this tubular jacket (15) opposite the rotary member (4), said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) opening into this tubular jacket (15).

10. Electric pump according to claim 9, characterized in that it has a forward or incoming circulation path for a supply component of the secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) from the transfer chamber (4') to said at least one supply inlet (9'), passing between said axis of rotation (AR) and the tubular jacket (15), and a return or outgoing circulation path for a discharge component of the secondary or derived flow (F') of liquid (L) from said at least one discharge outlet (9”) to said transfer chamber (4') passing through a passage in said axis of rotation (AR), which is preferably hollow.

11. Electric pump according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) are formed in the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance, which closes the tubular jacket (15) by being flush with a central region (8') of the plate of heat transfer (8).

12. Electric pump according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) comprises several supply inlets (9') for liquid (L) coming from the secondary or branch flow (F'), namely one for each channel (12) of one of the two networks of channels (12, 12'), and a discharge outlet (9”) for the liquid (L) returning to the secondary or branch flow (F'), which is common for the channels (12') of the other network of channels (12, 12').

13. Electric pump according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) and the surface distribution and guide structure (9) which it contains are configured in such a way that the liquid circulating inside said plate (8) contacts firstly a wall (10) of said plate (8) in contact with the stator annular arrangement (2) and secondly a wall (10') in contact with the card (5'), or at least some of said components (5).

14. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one electric pump (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, for example forming part of a cooling circuit.

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