Fluid pump
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023091277
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-06-20
- Filing Date
- 2023-06-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing fluid pumps for fuel cell systems require elaborate and expensive conversion or reconfiguration to adapt to different applications, necessitating a more efficient and cost-effective solution.
The fluid pump design allows for interchangeable impeller units and housings, with the impeller outlet capable of being positioned in multiple angles relative to the motor housing, enabling easy adaptation to various applications without modifying the motor or motor housing.
This design facilitates easy and cost-effective adaptation of the fluid pump to different applications by simply replacing or rotating the impeller housing, maintaining the motor and motor housing unchanged, thus reducing conversion costs and complexity.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid pump for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cells according to the preamble of claim 1 . [Background technology]
[0002] Fluid pumps are already known from the prior art and comprise an impeller for delivering a fluid and an electric motor for driving the impeller. In particular, fluid pumps can be employed for cooling fuel cell systems comprising a number of fuel cell stacks that are cooled by a fluid delivered by the fluid pump. With respect to its structure, a fluid pump is usually used for a given application. However, more frequently, there is a demand to adapt a fluid pump to another application with less effort. However, this requires an elaborate and expensive conversion or reconfiguration of the fluid pump. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0003] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved, or at least an alternative, embodiment of a fluid pump of the general type in which the stated drawbacks are overcome. [Means for solving the problem]
[0004] According to the invention, this object is solved by the invention of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
[0005] The present invention is based on the general idea of configuring the electric motor of the fluid pump as a basic unit and configuring the impeller unit of the fluid pump to be replaceable, so that for different applications it is simply necessary to replace the impeller unit or the impeller housing of the impeller unit with the inlet / outlet connectors.
[0006] A fluid pump for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cells is provided. The fluid pump comprises an impeller unit for supplying a cooling fluid having an impeller rotatable about a rotation axis in a rotational direction, and an impeller housing for accommodating the impeller. The fluid pump further comprises an electric motor having a motor housing for driving the impeller. The impeller unit is rigidly connected to the motor housing by fastening units at its axially longitudinal ends of the motor and the impeller housing relative to the rotation axis. The impeller housing also forms a fluid inlet of the impeller unit and a fluid outlet of the impeller unit. The fluid inlet is axially oriented relative to the rotation axis, and the fluid outlet is tangentially oriented relative to a spaced circumferential line oriented in line with the rotation direction, the circumferential line being a periphery of the rotation axis. According to the invention, the impeller unit and the motor are designed such that the fluid outlet of the impeller unit can be arranged in one of at least two possible positions relative to the motor housing. The at least two possible positions differ from each other by a rotation angle about the axis of rotation in the direction of rotation.
[0007] In the fluid pump according to the invention, the fluid outlet of the impeller unit can have at least two positions different from each other. The motor and / or the motor housing and / or the fastening unit are not changed. The fluid pump can thus be more easily adapted to different applications by exchanging or rotating the impeller housing or the impeller unit. The respective possible positions differ by a rotation angle about the rotation axis in the direction of rotation. One position can be a 0° position about the rotation axis in the direction of rotation of the impeller, and a different position can be a position rotated by a rotation angle deviating from the 0° position. The 0° position can essentially be defined arbitrarily. Suitably, said rotation angle is greater than 0°.
[0008] The impeller housing and / or the impeller unit can be designed to be exchangeable. The fluid outlet in each exchangeable impeller housing and / or each exchangeable impeller unit can have one of at least two positions. In this configuration of the impeller housing and / or the impeller unit, an impeller housing and / or an impeller unit with a fluid outlet in one position can be replaced by an impeller housing and / or an impeller unit with a fluid outlet in a different position in order to adapt the fluid pump to a different application. Thus, when adapting the fluid pump to a different application, it is not necessary to exchange the motor and / or the motor housing and / or the fastening unit. If the impeller housing is formed exchangeably on the motor housing, the impeller of the impeller unit can also remain the same. Thus, the fluid pump can be adapted to different applications more easily and cost-effectively. In each exchangeable impeller housing and / or each exchangeable impeller unit, the fluid inlet and / or the fluid outlet can be adapted as described above. Thus, the flow direction cross section and / or the shape of these can be adapted.
[0009] Alternatively or additionally, the impeller housing and / or the impeller unit can be arranged or mounted or fixed in another way to the motor housing. The fluid outlet of the impeller unit can be arranged in one of at least two possible positions relative to the motor housing. The impeller housing and / or the impeller unit can be rotated by a rotation angle in a rotation direction about the rotation axis and can be arranged or mounted or fixed separately on the motor housing as a result in order to adapt the fluid pump to different applications. When adapting the fluid pump to different applications, it is not necessary to exchange the motor and / or the motor housing and / or the fastening unit and / or the impeller housing and / or the impeller unit. Thus, the fluid pump can be adapted to different applications more easily and cost-effectively.
[0010] With respect to the motor housing, the impeller of the impeller unit can be arranged in a basic position that does not change for each possible position of the fluid outlet. That is, the impeller does not have to be refitted or rotated when changing the possible positions of the fluid outlet. This is especially the case with replaceable and / or differently positionable impeller housings. The impeller of the impeller unit can form a basic unit, and each possible position of the fluid outlet does not change. In other words, the impeller does not have to be adapted or replaced when changing the possible positions of the fluid outlet. This can especially be the case with replaceable and / or differently positionable impeller housings and / or with replaceable and / or differently positionable impeller units. The motor of the fluid pump can form a basic unit, and does not change for each possible position of the fluid outlet. That is, the motor does not have to be changed or adjusted or replaced when changing the possible positions of the fluid outlet.
[0011] To allow the described flexibility, all position-related contours of the motor in the fluid pump can be formed so as to face away from the impeller unit and all position-related contours of the impeller unit can be formed so as to face away from the motor. The position-related contours are in particular such that the arrangement of the fluid outlet of the impeller unit in at least two possible positions can be prevented. In particular, the position-related contours include contours that axially engage the impeller unit and / or the motor, away from the motor and / or from the impeller unit. Thus, the motor and the impeller unit can be located in contact with each other transversely to the rotation axis, and the rotation transmission elements and / or position-independent contours of the motor and the impeller unit engage with each other axially. The impeller can be completely received in the impeller housing. Furthermore, the motor can be realized as a cover for the impeller unit and can be present on the impeller unit.
[0012] One possible position of the fluid outlet can be adequately defined as a 0° position. The 0° position can be essentially arbitrarily defined relative to the motor housing. However, since the motor housing is rotationally asymmetric, the respective already defined 0° position is already clearly defined relative to the motor housing. The other possible positions differ from the 0° position by a rotation angle. The rotation angle is appropriately greater than 0°. The rotation angle can be freely adjusted or defined. The number of possible positions in the fluid pump can be two or more and is essentially dictated by the structure of the motor and / or the impeller unit and / or the fastening unit. It is to be understood that the fluid outlet in the fluid pump can also assume unavailable positions. In the unavailable positions, further parts of the motor and / or the impeller unit can, for example, be covered by the fluid outlet and difficult to access or not enter at all. However, at least two available positions of the fluid outlet are always present in the fluid pump.
[0013] The rotation angle may be, for example, 90° or 180° or 270°. The possible positions of the fluid outlet may then correspond to a 0° position and additionally a 90° position or a 180° position or a 270° position, each position differing from the 0° position by the respectively stated rotation angle. In the fluid pump, the fluid outlet may assume one or two or three of the above-mentioned positions in addition to the 0° position. It should be understood that each possible position of the fluid outlet may correspond to one of the possible applications of the fluid pump.
[0014] The rotation angle can be, for example, 60° or 120° or 180° or 240° or 300°. The possible positions of the fluid outlet can then correspond to a 0° position and further to a 60° position or a 120° position or a 180° position or a 240° position or a 300° position. Each position differs from the 0° position by the respectively mentioned rotation angle. In the fluid pump, the fluid outlet can assume one or two, three, four or five of the above-mentioned positions in addition to the 0° position. It should be understood that each possible position of the fluid outlet can correspond to one of the possible applications of the fluid pump.
[0015] For example, the rotation angle is also freely adjustable. The possible positions of the fluid outlet can then correspond to a 0° position and additionally at least one position with any rotation angle. Besides the 0° position, the fluid inlet in the fluid pump can then assume any number of further positions.
[0016] The fastening unit can therefore be adapted to each of the possible positions such that there is no change to each of the possible positions of the fluid outlet. The motor housing and the motor can then also remain unchanged. The fastening unit can also be adapted to each of the possible positions in such a way that it is accessible regardless of each possible position of the fluid outlet. The impeller housing and / or the impeller unit are therefore always accessible to tools and can be more easily installed and removed.
[0017] The fastening unit can be, for example, a screw unit. The screw unit can comprise a number of screw groups, each with at least one screw position. The arrangement of the respective screw groups can be adapted to the possible positions of the fluid outlets in such a way that they are axially accessible on the impeller side, regardless of the respective possible positions of the fluid outlets. Preferably, the fastening unit comprises at least three screw points in order to generate the required strong compressive forces of the seal between the impeller housing and the motor housing. Advantageously, the fluid outlets can then be arranged at the respective possible positions between the screw groups adjacent to each other in the direction of rotation.
[0018] The screw points can each comprise a screw and a screw opening. The screw openings can pass through the impeller housing and the motor housing, so that the impeller housing and the motor housing can be screwed together by a screw via the screw openings. The screw openings are appropriately matched to the corresponding screws. The arrangement of the respective screw points can be matched to each possible position of the fluid outlet in such a way that they are axially accessible on the impeller side, regardless of each possible position of the fluid outlet. The screw points of the fastening units can be formed identical to each other for easy installation and removal.
[0019] The respective screw groups can be evenly arranged around the axis of rotation. In other words, the screw groups can be arranged rotationally symmetrically around the axis of rotation. The respective screw groups can be identical to each other and / or have the same distance from the axis of rotation. Due to the achieved rotational symmetry, in particular the impeller housing and / or the impeller unit can be arranged separately on the motor housing. The number of the respective screw groups or the achieved rotational symmetry is then related to the number of possible positions of the fluid outlet of the impeller unit.
[0020] Thus, the screw unit can, for example, have exactly four identical screw groups, each of which is evenly distributed around the axis of rotation and has the same distance from the axis of rotation. Thus, as mentioned above, the fluid outlet can have four possible positions: 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°. Alternatively, the screw unit can have exactly six identical screw groups, each of which is evenly distributed around the axis of rotation and has the same distance from the axis of rotation. The fluid outlet can then include six possible positions: 0°, 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300°, as mentioned above.
[0021] Instead of a screw unit, the fastening unit may be a clamping holder. The clamping holder can firmly connect the impeller housing to the motor housing in a force-fit and / or form-fit manner. For this, the motor housing and / or the impeller housing can overlap each other circumferentially around the rotation axis or radially or radially in the clamping area. The clamping holder can then comprise a belt surrounding the clamping area from the outside and a clamping unit. By means of the clamping unit, the belt can be pulled together, so that the motor housing and the impeller housing are pressed against each other radially or radially and are thus firmly connected by force and / or form-fit. The motor housing and / or the impeller housing can be formed rotationally symmetrical in the clamping area, so that the impeller housing can be rotatably attached to the motor housing if necessary. Thus, in the clamping holder, the rotation angle may be any and the fluid outlet can assume at least one further desired position besides the 0° position.
[0022] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the dependent claims, the drawings and the associated drawing description by way of the drawings.
[0023] It is to be understood that the features mentioned above and described below can not only be used in the respective combinations described, but can also be used in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0024] Preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the drawings and will be described in more detail in the following description, where like reference numbers refer to the same, similar or functionally the same components. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0025] In each case, a schematic is shown. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a front view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 0° position. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 0° position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 90° position; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a first embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 90° position. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a second embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 0° position. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a second embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 0° position. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a front view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a second embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 90° position. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a second embodiment, with the fluid outlet in a 90° position. [Figure 11]11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 12] 11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 13] 11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 14] 11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 15] 11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 16] 11A to 11C are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a third embodiment, the fluid outlets being located at different positions. [Figure 17] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Figure 18] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Figure 19] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Figure 20] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Figure 21] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Figure 22] 13A and 13B are front views of a fluid pump according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment, the fluid outlets being located in different positions. [Diagram 23] FIG. 11 is a view of a fluid pump according to the invention in a fifth embodiment, with a clamp holder. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a fluid pump 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment. The fluid pump 1 is provided or designed for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cells. The fuel cell system may in particular be provided or designed for a commercial vehicle. The fluid pump 1 comprises an impeller unit 2 with an impeller housing 3 and an impeller 4. The impeller 4 is rotatable in a rotation direction RR about a rotation axis RA.
[0027] The impeller unit 2 comprises an inlet side 2a (i.e. low pressure side) with a fluid inlet 5a or an outlet side 2b (i.e. high pressure side) with a fluid outlet 5b. The inlet side 2a and the outlet side 2b are separated or fluidly connected to each other by the impeller 4. The fluid inlet 5a and the fluid outlet 5b are formed in the impeller housing 3. With respect to the rotation axis RA, the fluid inlet 5a communicates axially with the inlet side 2a, which is formed in the impeller 4. The fluid outlet 5b is formed in the tangential direction of a spaced apart circumference line leading outward from the outlet side 2b, which is formed in the circumferential direction around the impeller 4, and extends in the circumferential direction with respect to the rotation axis RA. Suitably, the fluid outlet 5b is oriented corresponding to the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4.
[0028] Furthermore, the fluid pump 1 comprises an electric motor 6. The electric motor 6 may in particular be a permanent magnet synchronous motor. The motor 6 comprises a shaft 7 rotatable about a rotation axis RA, a rotor 8 rigidly connected to the shaft 7, and a stator 9 receiving the rotor 8. The shaft 7 is drivingly connected or non-rotatably (rotatably integrally) connected to the impeller 4. The motor 6 comprises two longitudinal ends 6a and 6b positioned opposite each other with respect to the rotation axis RA. The impeller unit 2 is arranged at the longitudinal end 6a of the motor 6.
[0029] The motor 6 further comprises a motor housing 10 with a pot-shaped housing body 11 and a bottom part 12 transverse to the axis of rotation RA. The motor housing 10 further comprises a housing seal 13 arranged and seal-clamped between the housing body 11 and the bottom part 12, sealing the relevant connection towards the outside. The housing body 11 and the bottom part 12 are screwed together by a number of housing screws 14. The housing body 11 comprises a housing wall 11a arranged at a distance from the circumferential direction relative to the axis of rotation RA and a separation wall 11b oriented transversely to the axis of rotation RA. The separation wall 11b fluidically separates the impeller 4 from the rotor 8 and the stator 9. The bottom part 12 comprises a bottom plate 12a and a cover 12b, the cover 12b closing the bottom plate 12a on the stator side or the rotor side or the impeller side. A cover seal 15 is arranged or seal clamped between the base plate 12a and the cover 12b, which seals the associated connection towards the outside. The base plate 12a and the cover 12b are screwed together by a number of cover screws 16.
[0030] The stator 9 is accommodated in a rotatably fixed motor housing 10, and the shaft 7 together with the rotor 8 is rotatably accommodated in the housing 10 or in the stator 9. For this purpose, the fluid pump 1 comprises two bearings 17a and 17b which rotatably mount the shaft 7 at the respective longitudinal ends 6a and 6b of the motor 6. At the longitudinal end 6a, an impeller seal 18 is additionally arranged on the shaft 7.
[0031] The fluid pump 1 also comprises a sliding ring seal 19, which is arranged or seal-clamped between the motor housing 10 and the impeller housing 3 and seals the associated connection towards the outside. The sliding ring seal 19 is preferentially formed from SiC. The fluid pump 1 also comprises a U-shaped seal 20, which is arranged or seal-clamped likewise between the motor housing 10 and the impeller housing 3. The impeller housing 3 and the motor housing 10 are firmly connected to each other by a fastening unit 30, here a screw unit 30a. The screw unit 30a will be explained in more detail below with the aid of Figs. 3 to 22.
[0032] Furthermore, the fluid pump 1 comprises an inverter 21 for the energy supply of the motor 6. The inverter 21 can be designed, for example, to convert a DC voltage between 400V and 860V. The inverter 21 is arranged on the bottom 12 at a longitudinal end 6b of the motor 6 facing away from the rotor 8 or the stator 9 or the impeller unit 2. The inverter 21 comprises a control board 22 and an inverter cover 23, the control board 22 being arranged between the bottom 12 or the bottom plate 12a of the motor housing 10 and the inverter cover 23 on the opposite or outer side of the rotor 8 or the stator 9 or the impeller unit 2. Furthermore, the inverter 21 comprises an inverter seal 24 arranged or seal-clamped between the bottom 12 or the bottom plate 12a and the inverter cover 23, sealing the relevant connections towards the outside. The bottom 12 or the bottom plate 12a and the inverter cover 23 are screwed together by a number of inverter screws 25.
[0033] The fluid pump 1 is designed to deliver a cooling fluid, in particular a liquid. For this purpose, the fluid pump 1 comprises a guide channel 26 which runs from the fluid inlet 5a on the inlet side 2a, via the impeller 4, to the fluid outlet 5b on the outlet side 2b. Furthermore, the guide channel 26 is formed in the area by a cooling fluid jacket 27 formed in the motor housing 10. The cooling fluid jacket 27 comprises a number of (here seven) forward channels 28a and one return channel 28b in the housing body 11, and a serpentine or labyrinth-shaped connecting channel 29 between the bottom plate 12a and the cover 12b. The cooling fluid jacket 27 is delimited towards the outside by the motor housing 10, so that the rotor 8 and the stator 9 are not directly contacted by the cooling fluid or do not flow directly around it. The cooling fluid itself may be dielectric.
[0034] The fuel cell system can be provided in particular for commercial vehicles. In this case, the fluid pump 1 can be designed in such a way that even if there are several fuel cell stacks, only one fluid pump 1 is suitable for cooling the fuel cell system. The fluid pump 1 can thus have a maximum power of 4000 W to 6000 W (in particular 4500 W) and / or a maximum delivery rate of 400 l / min to 700 l / min and / or a maximum pressure of 3 bar to 4 bar (in particular 3.5 bar) and / or a maximum rotational speed of 5000 / min to 6000 / min (in particular 5400 / min) and / or a maximum torque of 6.0 Nm to 8.0 Nm. The impeller can have a maximum efficiency of 60% to 70% (in particular 65%), where the maximum value relates to full load operation of the fluid pump 1.
[0035] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid pump 1 according to the present invention in accordance with the first embodiment. In Fig. 2, in particular, the connecting passage 29 of the cooling fluid jacket 27 between the bottom plate 12a of the motor housing 10 and the cover 12b of the bottom part 12 can be seen. The forward passage 28a and the return passage 28b are arranged adjacent to the stator 9 of the motor 6, and the connecting passage 29 is arranged adjacent to the control board 22 and the bearing 17b of the inverter 21. Therefore, the stator 9, the control board 22 and the bearing 17b can be indirectly cooled by the cooling fluid delivered by the impeller unit 2.
[0036] A front view of the fluid pump 1 according to the present invention in the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 3, and a perspective view is shown in Fig. 4. Here, the fluid outlet 5b has a position P1.1 on the impeller housing 3, which corresponds to a 0° position with respect to the rotation axis RA. A front view of the fluid pump 1 according to the present invention in the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 5, and a perspective view is shown in Fig. 6. Here, the fluid outlet 5b on the impeller housing 3 has a position P2.1, which corresponds to a 90° position with respect to the rotation axis RA.
[0037] The fluid outlet 5b at the 90° position shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 rotates by a rotation angle DW of 90° in the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4 around the rotation axis RA with respect to the 0° position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The fluid pump 1 having the fluid outlet 5b at the position P1.1 and the fluid pump 1 having the fluid outlet 5b at the position P2.1 are provided for two different applications of the fluid pump 1. The screw unit 30a at the positions P1.1 and P2.1 is configured to be accessible on the impeller side in the axial direction regardless of the respective positions P1.1 or P2.1 of the fluid outlet 5b. In other words, the fluid outlet 5b at the positions P1.1 and P2.1 does not overlap with the impeller side of the screw unit 30a. Therefore, the impeller unit 2 or the impeller housing 3 can be freely attached and detached at each position P1.1 and P2.1 of the fluid outlet 5b.
[0038] The impeller unit 2 and the motor 6 are designed in such a way that to adapt the fluid pump 1 to a different application, it is only necessary to exchange the impeller housing 3. Thus, neither the motor 6 with the motor housing 10 nor the impeller 4 of the impeller unit 2 need to be changed. Here, the exchange of the impeller housing 3 is due to the fact that the leakage pipe 35 of the motor housing 10 and the vent hole 36 of the motor housing 10 are covered by the impeller housing 3. Due to the leakage pipe 35 and the vent hole 36, the screw unit 30a is rotationally asymmetric and the impeller housing 3 must be appropriately adapted. With the cover of the leakage pipe 35 separated from the impeller housing 3 and the vent hole 36, it is not necessary to exchange the impeller housing 3.
[0039] The screw unit 30a includes a plurality of (here exactly four) screw groups 31, where each screw group 31 includes a plurality of (here exactly two) screw locations 32. Each screw location 32 is respectively formed by a screw 33 and a screw opening 34. The screw 33 and the screw opening 34 are appropriately matched to each other. The screw opening 34 penetrates the impeller housing 3 and the motor housing 10. Regardless of the positions P1.1 and P2.1 of the fluid outlets 5b in the fluid pump 1, none of the screw locations 32 is covered by the fluid outlets 5b. Furthermore, the sliding ring seal 19 can be evenly and sufficiently tightly seal-clamped between the impeller housing 3 and the motor housing 10 via the four screw groups 31.
[0040] The screw groups 31 and the screw points 32 are identical to one another and are arranged so as to be symmetrically distributed about the axis of rotation RA. The respective screw groups 31 are located in each case opposite one another with respect to the axis of rotation RA. The fluid outlets 5b are arranged at the respective positions P1.1 or P2.1 between adjacent screw groups 31 and do not cover them on the impeller side, as can be noted in particular in Figures 3 and 5.
[0041] It should be understood that in the fluid pump 1, the fluid outlet 5b can also take a 180° position or a 270° position. It should be understood that the impeller unit 2 or the impeller housing 3 are formed interchangeably. In addition, it should be understood that the impeller housing 3 is adapted so that a different arrangement of the impeller housing 3 on the motor 6 or on the motor housing 10 does not adversely affect the functionality of the fluid pump 1, in particular the functionality of the guide channels 26 or the cooling fluid jacket 27. It should also be understood that the 90° position in Figs. 5 and 6 can be defined as a new 0° position. The 0° position in Figs. 3 and 4 then corresponds to a new 270° position, which is rotated in the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4 about the rotation axis by a rotation angle DW of 270° relative to the new 0° position.
[0042] Figure 7 shows a front view and Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the fluid pump 1 according to the invention in a second embodiment, where the fluid outlet 5b on the impeller housing 3 has a position P1.2, where the position P1.2 also in relation to the axis of rotation RA corresponds to the 0° position. Figure 9 shows a front view and Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the fluid pump 1 according to the invention in a second embodiment, where the fluid outlet 5b on the impeller housing 3 has a position P2.2, where the position P2.2 also in relation to the axis of rotation RA corresponds to the 90° position.
[0043] The fluid pump 1 with the fluid outlet 5b at position P1.2 and the fluid pump with the fluid outlet 5b at position P2.2 are adapted to two different applications of the fluid pump 1. Therefore, to adapt the fluid pump 1 to the respective different applications, it is only necessary to exchange the impeller housing 3, similar to the fluid pump 1 in the first embodiment. The motor 6 with the motor housing 10 and the impeller 4 of the impeller unit 2 do not have to be exchanged for this purpose.
[0044] In the second embodiment of the fluid pump according to Figures 7 to 10, the impeller 4 has a different rotation direction RR compared to the first embodiment of the fluid pump 1 shown in Figures 1 to 6. In addition, the fluid outlet 5b is oriented appropriately according to the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4, and therefore the 0° position and the 90° position are different between the first and second embodiments of the fluid pump 1. The fluid outlets 5b at each 0° position and each 90° position are at an angle of 90° to each other.
[0045] The fluid pump 1 can be adapted for a further application by changing the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4. To adapt the fluid pump 1 for this further application, one simply has to exchange the impeller unit 2 in the fluid pump 1 in the first embodiment and change the rotation direction RR of the impeller 4 of the impeller unit 2 to be exchanged. The motor 6 with the motor housing 10 does not have to be exchanged for this purpose.
[0046] Taken together, the fluid pump 1 in the first and second embodiments is equipped with a similarly configured motor 6 and can be adapted to a number of different applications by replacing the impeller housing 3 and / or the impeller unit 2.
[0047] 11 to 16 show front views of the fluid pump 1 according to the present invention in a third embodiment. In Figs. 11 to 16, the fastening unit 30 is a screw unit 30a, which is formed differently from the screw unit 30a of Figs. 1 to 10. In Figs. 11 to 16, the screw unit 30a comprises six screw groups 31, each having a screw point 32. The screw groups 31 or screw points 32 are formed identically to one another, are evenly distributed around the rotation axis RA and have the same distance from the rotation axis RA. Thus, the screw unit 30a is formed with 60° rotational symmetry. This configuration of the screw unit 30a is possible, inter alia, because the motor housing 10 does not comprise a leakage pipe 35 and does not comprise an air hole 36. Thus, the impeller unit 2 and / or the impeller housing 3, and thus the fluid outlet 5b, can be arranged separately on the motor 6 and / or the motor housing 10. According to the 60° rotationally symmetric screw unit 30a, the fluid outlet 5b can assume six different positions which differ from each other by 60°.
[0048] In Fig. 11 the fluid outlet 5b is in the 0° position P1.3, in Fig. 12 it is in the 60° position P2.3, in Fig. 13 it is in the 120° position P3.3, in Fig. 14 it is in the 180° position P4.3, in Fig. 15 it is in the 240° position P5.3 and in Fig. 16 it is in the 300° position P6.3. The positions P2.3, P3.3, P4.3, P5.3, P6.3 differ from each other by said rotation angles of 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300° from the 0° position P1.3. The successive positions P1.3, P2.3, P3.3, P4.3, P5.3, P6.3 differ from each other by an angle of 60° defined by the configuration of the screw unit 30a. Possibly the 300° position P3.6 may not be available since the connector of the inverter 21 is axially covered.
[0049] 17 to 22 are front views of the fluid pump 1 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The screw unit 30a is formed in the same manner as in the third embodiment. The third and fourth embodiments differ only in the rotation direction RR, which faces in the opposite directions in the third and fourth embodiments. The fluid outlet 5b is located at a 0° position P1.4 in FIG. 17, a 60° position P2.4 in FIG. 18, a 120° position P3.4 in FIG. 19, a 180° position P4.4 in FIG. 20, a 240° position P5.4 in FIG. 21, and a 300° position P6.4 in FIG. 22. The positions of P2.4, P3.4, P4.4, P5.4, and P6.4 are different from each other depending on the rotation angle of 60°, 120°, 180°, 240°, and 300° from the 0° position P1.4. The following positions P1.4, P2.4, P3.4, P4.4, P5.4, P6.4 differ from each other by an angle of 60° defined by the configuration of the screw unit 30a. Possibly, the 60° position P2.4 may not be available since here the connector of the inverter 21 is axially covered.
[0050] It should be noted at this point that the fluid pump 1 in the third and fourth embodiments can be mounted to the bracket in four separate mounting positions. Each mounting position of the fluid pump 1 relative to the bracket can also differ depending on the arrangement of the inverter 21 that protrudes radially from the motor housing 10 to one side. The fluid pump 1 can include, for example, four different mounting positions relative to the bracket, all of which are rotated 90° about the rotation axis RA. Overall, there are 6x4=24 possible positions of the fluid outlet 5b in the mounted fluid pump 1 in each embodiment relative to the bracket.
[0051] FIG. 23 shows a view of the fluid pump 1 according to the invention in a fifth embodiment. For clarity, here the fluid inlet 5a and the fluid outlet 5b are not shown. In the fifth embodiment, the fastening unit 30 is a clamp holder 30b. The clamp holder 30b is composed of a belt 37 and a tightening unit 38. In the clamping area 39, the clamp holder 30b surrounds the clamp holder 30b, the impeller housing 3 and the motor housing 10 and fixes them to each other with a force fit and / or a form fit. The motor housing 10 and the impeller housing 3 are formed rotationally symmetrically in the clamping area 39 so that the fluid outlet 5b can take a position that can differ from the 0° position by any rotation angle DW that is greater than 0°.
Claims
1. A fluid pump (1) for a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell stack of a plurality of fuel cells, comprising: The fluid pump (1) an impeller unit (2) for delivering a cooling fluid, the impeller unit (2) having an impeller (4) rotating about a rotation axis (RA) in a direction of rotation (RR); and an impeller housing (3) that houses the impeller (4), The fluid pump (1) comprises an electric motor (6) that drives the impeller (4) having a rotationally asymmetric motor housing (10); The impeller unit (2) is configured such that the impeller housing (3) and the motor housing (10) are firmly connected to each other by a fastening unit (30) at an axial longitudinal end (6a) of the motor (6) relative to the rotation axis (RA), On the impeller housing (3), a fluid inlet (5a) of the impeller unit (2) axially relative to the rotation axis (RA); a fluid outlet (5b) of the impeller unit (2) oriented in the direction of rotation (RR) and tangential to a circumferential line of a periphery spaced apart from the rotation axis (RA); the impeller unit (2) and the motor (6) are configured such that the fluid outlet (5b) of the impeller housing (3) relative to the motor housing (10) can be positioned in one of at least two possible positions (P1.1, P2.1); and the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlets (5b) differ from one another in the direction of rotation (RR) by an angle of rotation (DW) about the axis of rotation (RA); A fluid pump comprising:
2. the impeller housing (3) is made replaceable, and / or The impeller housing (3) can be arranged separately on the motor housing (10), and / or The impeller unit (2) is configured to be replaceable, and / or The impeller unit (2) can be arranged separately on the motor housing (10).
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
3. the impeller housing (3) is formed to be replaceable, and the fluid outlets (5b) of the impeller units (2) each have one of at least two positions (P1.1, P2.1) in the respective replaceable impeller housings (3); and / or the impeller housing (3) can be arranged separately on the motor housing (10), whereby the fluid outlet (5b) of the impeller unit (2) can be arranged relative to the motor housing (10) in one of at least two possible positions (P1.1, P2.1); and / or the impeller units (2) are configured to be replaceable, and in each replaceable impeller unit (2), the fluid outlet (5b) of the impeller unit (2) has at least two positions (P1.1, P2.1) in each instance; and / or The impeller unit (2) can be separately positioned on the motor housing (10), whereby the fluid outlet (5b) of the impeller unit (2) relative to the motor housing (10) can be positioned in one of at least two possible positions (P1.1, P2.1).
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
4. the impeller (4) of the impeller unit (2) is arranged in a fixed basic position relative to the motor housing (10) for each possible position (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlet (5b); and / or the impeller (4) of the impeller unit (2) forms a basic unit, and each of the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlet (5b) remains unchanged; and / or The motor (6) of the fluid pump (1) forms a basic unit and is not changed in each of the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlet (5b).
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
5. the rotation angle (DW) is 90° or 180° or 270°, or the rotation angle (DW) is 60° or 120° or 180° or 240° or 300°, or The rotation angle (DW) is greater than 0° 2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
6. the fastening unit (30) is maintained unchanged in each of the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlet (5b) so as to be adapted to each of the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1); and / or The fastening unit (30) is accessible to each of the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) regardless of the respective positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlet (5b).
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
7. The fastening unit (30) is a screw unit (30a), The screw unit (30a) is made up of a plurality of screw groups (31), each of which has at least one screw portion (32); The arrangement of the respective screw groups (31) is adapted to the respective possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlets (5b) so that they are axially accessible on the impeller side, regardless of the respective possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) of the fluid outlets (5b).
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
8. The fluid outlets (5b) at each possible position (P1.1, P2.1) are arranged between adjacent threads (31) in the direction of rotation (RR).
8. A fluid pump according to claim 7.
9. each of said thread points (32) being identical to one another; and / or each of said screw groups (31) is identical to one another, and / or each of said threads (31) being evenly spaced around the axis of rotation (RA); and / or Each of the screw groups (31) has the same distance from the rotation axis (RA).
8. A fluid pump according to claim 7.
10. the fastening unit (30) is a clamp holder (30b), which firmly connects the impeller housing (3) to the motor housing (10) by force fitting and / or form fitting; and The clamp holder is formed so that the impeller housing (3) can be fastened to the motor housing (10) at any rotation angle (DW) greater than 0°.
2. The fluid pump according to claim 1, wherein:
11. the contours associated with all positions of the motor (6) are formed so as to face axially away from the impeller unit (2), and the contours associated with all positions of the impeller unit (2) are formed so as to face axially away from the motor (6); and / or the motor (6) and the impeller unit (2) are oriented transversely to each other with respect to the rotation axis (RA), and the rotation transmission elements of the motor (6) and the impeller unit (2) are axially meshed with each other; and / or The impeller (4) is completely contained within the impeller housing (3), and / or The motor (6) forms a cover for the impeller unit (2) and is located on the impeller unit (2). A fluid pump according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises: