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 the circulation and distribution of liquid fluid, in particular in embedded circuits, in particular pump devices or similar devices 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 liquid pump including a stator annular arrangement, a rotor annular arrangement associated with a rotating element of the turbine or impeller type and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components mounted on at least one board, said rotating element being mounted in a transfer chamber having an inlet of an incoming circulation flow of liquid, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation of the element, and at least one outlet of an outgoing circulation flow of liquid, preferably in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating element.

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

[0005] In practice, these pumps have insufficient cooling, limiting their usage and 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 mostly dissipated directly to the outside, or to a limited extent through the liquid flowing through them. This results in larger pumps, incorporating costly components (oversized electronics) or a metallic (aluminum) casing to dissipate 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 component assembly are housed. Moreover, this arrangement and assembly are located on either side of a heat transfer plate with which the arrangement and the circuit board, or at least some of its components, 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 that does not require significant construction modifications or 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 a stator annular arrangement, a rotor annular arrangement associated with a rotating element of the turbine or impeller type, and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components mounted on at least one board, said rotating element being mounted in a transfer chamber having an inlet for an incoming liquid circulation flow, preferably along the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation of the element, and at least one outlet for an outgoing liquid circulation flow, preferably along a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the element, pump in which the stator annular arrangement and the set of components are housed in the same sealed casing and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate with which said arrangement and the board, 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 by diffusing substantially over its entire surface, and in that said plate incorporates 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 accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

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

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

[0013] [Fig.3] is a detail view extracted from [Fig.1] and illustrating the fluid circulation in the pump (main and secondary flow);

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

[0015] [Fig. 5] is a top perspective view of a surface distribution structure and liquid guidance 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 variant embodiment of the structure surface distribution and guidance of the liquid.

[0018] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an electric pump (1) for liquid (1) comprising a stator annular arrangement (2), a rotor annular arrangement (3) associated with a rotating element (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').

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

[0020] The stator annular arrangement (2) and the component assembly (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 board (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 internal 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 connectors.

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

[0023] According to the invention, the heat transfer plate (8) has a partially hollow structure and is supplied by a secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L) which circulates through it, preferably diffusing substantially over its entire surface. Furthermore, 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 within said plate (8) or consisting of an added component mounted within the latter.

[0024] The pump (1) according to the invention thus comprises, with the plate (8) integrating the structure (9), an efficient means of extracting the heat generated both at the level of the stator annular arrangement (2) and of the assembly of components (5) using Advantageously, a fraction of the liquid (L) passing through the pump (1) benefits from the circulation motion imparted by the pump, but without significantly influencing its performance. Heat extraction occurs through physical contact of the lacquer (8) with the components to be cooled and its transfer via a liquid fluid, possibly a heat transfer fluid (coolant), from within the pump. This physical means (8+9), simple in construction and limited to a slice or disc-shaped structure, combined with the provision within the pump of a circulation circuit for a secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L), is fully integrated into the overall volume and dimensions of the pump (1) without significantly increasing them or altering the pump's general shape.

[0025] Furthermore, the provision of a planar surface structure (9) makes it possible to control the distribution and allocation of the liquid (L) supplied by the secondary flow F'). Thus, the configuration of the structure (9) and the resulting fluid circulation (distribution, flow rate, local thickness of the flow, ...) can possibly be defined in advance according to 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 consisting of the plate (8) with the structure (9) eliminates any constraints, 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, with low thermal conductivity, but also inexpensive, such as a plastic material, and without any features (fins, etc.) dedicated to any cooling function.

[0027] In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, and as shown by way of example in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the heat transfer plate (8) comprises two mutually spaced walls or skins (10 and 10') having thermal conductivity through their thicknesses. These two walls or skins delimit, between themselves and where applicable with the surface distribution and guidance structure (9), a sealed volume in which the secondary or derivative 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 board (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 the 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 circulation passages 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 requirements of each side.

[0030] According to a practical embodiment shown in the attached figures, the surface structure (9) for distribution and guidance consists of a plate with protruding and / or hollow formations on each of its faces, sandwiched between the two walls (10 and 10') and assembled with them with the achievement of a peripheral seal (13), for example by compression or clamping 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. These allow the secondary flux (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 parallel networks of liquid (L) circulation channels (12, 12'), one on each face. Each channel network is opposite one of the two walls (10, 10') of the heat transfer plate (8) and the channels (12, 12') of the two networks are in fluidic communication two by two (through said passages 14, 14') to form each time a distinct 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 exhaust outlet (9”) are located in 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 exhaust 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 casing and therefore of the pump, and each pair of channels (12, 12') fluidly connected together form a specific circulation path for said secondary flow in the plate (8).

[0035] In accordance with a first embodiment, illustrated in [Fig.7], each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance has a spiral arm shape, from a central region of this structure to a peripheral area, 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 embodiment, illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance has a spiraled shape like a snail shell and covers a surface in the shape of a portion of a wedge of cheese from a central region of this structure to a peripheral area, 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 can advantageously be provided that the sealed housing (7) forms in the opening of the stator annular arrangement (2) a tubular sleeve (15) receiving the axis of rotation (AR) of the rotating member (4) and that the heat transfer plate (8) incorporating the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance seals this tubular sleeve (15) opposite the rotating member (4), said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one exhaust outlet (9”) opening into this tubular sleeve (15).

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

[0039] In practical terms, said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one exhaust outlet (9”) are formed in the surface distribution and guidance 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 include a cut in its central region (8') located opposite the cylindrical tubular sleeve (15), at the level of which the surface planar structure (9) is flush with fluidic connection of its inlet(s) with one of the paths entering or leaving the secondary flow (F') and fluidic connection of its outlet(s) (9”) with the other path.

[0040] Preferably, the heat transfer plate (8) has several liquid (L) feed inlets (9') from the secondary or derivative flow (F'), namely one for each channel (12) of one of the two channel networks (12, 12'), and a liquid (L) discharge outlet (9”) returning to the secondary or derivative flow (F'), which is common to the channels (12') of the other channel network (12, 12'). The inlets (9') are then fluidly connected to the forward or incoming flow path for the feed component of the secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L) passing between said rotation axis (AR) and the tubular sleeve (15), after passing under the rotating member (4) and the rotor arrangement, while the common outlet (9”) is fluidly connected to the return or outgoing flow path passing through said hollow rotation axis (AR) and opening into the transfer chamber (4').Advantageously, the inlets (9') are arranged around the single outlet (9”), which extends as a passage from the side of the distribution plate (9) in contact with the wall (10), through said plate (9) to form an end penetrating into the bottom of the tubular sleeve (15), to connect fluidly with the shaft (AR) and define peripherally around it and with said bottom of sleeve, said supply inlets (9').

[0041] In order to optimize cooling and to best meet the needs, the heat transfer plate (8) and the surface distribution and guidance structure (9) contained therein 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).

[0042] The pump (1) may also include at the level of the stator arrangement (2) at least three intra-coil liquid flow members disposed in said predetermined intra-coil spaces, said intra-coil liquid flow members being configured to be able to be 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 accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly with regard to the composition of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. Demands Electric pump (1) for liquid (1) comprising a stator annular arrangement (2), a rotor annular arrangement (3), associated with a rotating element (4) of the turbine or impeller type and forming with the stator annular arrangement (2) the electric motor of the pump (1), and a set of electrical and electronic control and power supply components (5) mounted on at least one board (5'), said rotating element (4) being mounted in a transfer chamber (4') having an inlet (6) of an incoming circulation flow (FE) of liquid (L), preferably in the longitudinal direction of the axis of rotation (AR) of the element (4), and at least one outlet (6') of an outgoing circulation flow (FS) of liquid (L), preferably in a radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation (AR) of the element (4),pump (1) in which the stator annular arrangement (2) and the assembly of components (5) are housed in the same sealed casing (7) and are located on either side of a heat transfer plate (8) with which said arrangement (2) and the board (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), in which the heat transfer plate (8) has a partially hollow construction and is supplied by a secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L) which flows through it, preferably by diffusing substantially over its entire surface, pump (1) characterized in that said plate (8) incorporates a surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) flowing 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, and in that the heat transfer plate (8) comprises two walls or skins (10 and 10') mutually spaced and having thermal conductivity properties through their thicknesses, delimiting between themselves, and where appropriate with the surface distribution and guidance structure (9), a sealed volume in which the, secondary or derivative flow (F') of liquid (L), 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 board (5'), or at least with some of the electrical and electronic components (5) mounted on the latter.

2. Electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance comprises at least one pattern or network of formations (11, 11') which defines several channels (12, 12') for the 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').

3. Electric pump according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance consists of a plate with protruding and / or hollow formations on each of its faces, sandwiched between the two walls (10 and 10') and assembled with them with the realization of a peripheral seal (13), and in that the resulting patterns of formations (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, preferably two by two, being present in this plate.

4. Electric pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the surface structure (9) for distributing and guiding the liquid (L) defines two parallel networks of channels (12, 12') for circulating liquid (L), one on each face and each opposite one of the two walls (10, 10') of the heat transfer plate (8), the channels (12, 12') of the two networks being in fluidic 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”).

5. An electric pump according to any one of claims 2 to 4, 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 at said at least one exhaust 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.

6. Electric pump according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface distribution and guidance structure (9) has a spiral arm shape, from a central region of this structure to a peripheral area, the shapes of the channels (12, 12') of the two faces being identical or not, and where appropriate angularly offset around the central region.

7. Electric pump according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each channel (12, 12') of at least one face of the surface distribution and guidance structure (9) has a spiral shape like a snail shell and covers a pie-shaped surface from a central region of this structure to a peripheral area, 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 1 to 7, characterized in that the sealed housing (7) forms in the opening of the stator annular arrangement (2) a tubular sleeve (15) receiving the axis of rotation (AR) of the rotating member (4) and in that the heat transfer plate (8) incorporating the surface structure (9) of distribution and guidance seals this tubular sleeve (15) opposite the rotating member (4), said at least one supply inlet (9') and said at least one discharge outlet (9”) opening into this tubular sleeve (15).

9. Electric pump according to claim 8, characterized in that it has an inward or forward circulation path for a supply component of the secondary or derivative 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 outward circulation path for a discharge component of the secondary or derivative 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 preferentially hollow.

10. Electric pump according to claim 8 or 9, 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) of distribution and guidance, which closes the tubular jacket (15) by being flush with a central region (8') of the heat transfer plate (8).

11. Electric pump according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) has several supply inlets (9') for liquid (L) from the secondary or derivative flow (F'), namely one for each channel (12) of one of the two channel networks (12, 12'), and one discharge outlet (9”) for the liquid (L) returning to the secondary or derivative flow (F'), which is common for the channels (12') of the other channel network (12, 12').

12. Electric pump according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heat transfer plate (8) and the surface distribution and guidance structure (9) contained therein 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).

13. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises at least one electric pump (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, for example forming part of a cooling circuit.

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