Separation element for a liquid pump

Abstract

The invention relates to a separation element (1) for a liquid pump, which separation element separates a hydraulics compartment from a motor area and in the center (2) of which a passage (3) for a shaft or an axle and at least one liquids opening (4) are formed, the separation element (1) comprising a filter device (5).

Description

[0001] Title: Separator for a liquid pump

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The invention relates to a separating element for a liquid pump according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0004] In automotive engines, for example in combustion engines, the engine block is produced using sand casting processes. Sand particles remain in the engine block after casting and subsequent cleaning. In electric vehicles, contaminants such as loose burrs from a rubber hose can also occur in the cooling circuit during production on the attached components. If a liquid pump is integrated into a vehicle's thermal management module, for example into a cooling circuit, the sand particles or contaminants can be sucked into the liquid pump. In generic electric motors for liquid pumps, the air gap between the stator and rotor is designed to be as small as possible in order to generate the highest possible torque. A large air gap limits the torque that can be generated by the electric motor and negatively affects the size of the liquid pump.When sucked in from the cooling circuit of the thermal management module, sand particles or contaminants in the fluid circuit of the liquid pump enter the air gap between the stator and rotor and can cause the rotor to become blocked. Therefore, the air gap must be at least as large as the largest sand particles or contaminants. This has the further disadvantage that the unnecessarily large air gap results in less torque being generated than possible.

[0005] The object of the invention is to prevent contamination in the form of sand particles or impurities from the cooling circuit of the thermal management module from entering the air gap between the stator and rotor and blocking the rotor. Furthermore, the object is to reduce the size of the electric motor, save costs, and increase the performance of the electric motor by increasing the torque.

[0006] This object is achieved by the features according to claim 1.

[0007] A separating element for a liquid pump is proposed which separates a hydraulic chamber from a motor area and in whose center a passage for a shaft or an axle and at least one liquid opening are formed, wherein the separating element comprises a filter device. This filter device advantageously prevents sand particles or contaminants from being flushed into the air gap between the stator and rotor of the electric motor and thereby blocking the rotor. This allows the air gap between the stator and rotor to be reduced, which leads to a reduction in the size of the electric motor, cost savings, and an increase in the performance of the electric motor by increasing the torque. Furthermore, the air gap can be significantly reduced by the filter device without sacrificing the cooling effect of the liquid circuit between the stator and rotor.

[0008] Advantageously, the filter device can be formed from at least one filter element. The filter element applied to the separating element is robust and efficient. This allows sand particles or contaminants of a particle size to be determined in more detail to enter the stator interior. The filter element has a mesh or hole width that is based on the particle size distribution of the sand particles or contaminants, i.e., the size of the largest sand particle or contaminant particle in the rotor that leads to the blocking one. In a further advantageous embodiment, the at least one filter element can be formed from a filtering material such as inorganic and / or organic material. Suitable materials for a filter element include, for example, metals, plastic, ceramics, or sintered materials.

[0009] It can be provided that the at least one filter element is fixed in or at the center of the separating element without deformation. Alternatively, the filter element can be applied with an oversize to the center of the separating element, for example by pressing it in, so that it deforms, i.e., creates a bulge. The at least one filter element is applied to the separating plate, for example, on its front or underside. The filter element covers at least one fluid opening and prevents sand particles or contaminants from being flushed into the air gap between the stator and rotor.

[0010] It can further be provided that the filter element is back-injected during the production of the separating element or is injection-molded onto the separating element. Preferably, the filter element can be a back-injected stainless steel filter element.

[0011] According to a further development, the filter element can be joined to the separating element using thermal, mechanical, optical, and / or chemical processes. Examples of thermal or optical processes include ultrasonic, infrared, or laser welding, soldering, or inductive joining. Examples of mechanical processes include punching. Examples of chemical processes include gluing. The filter element can also be joined to the separating element using a combination of the aforementioned processes.

[0012] One embodiment provides for the filter element to be held in a holder and secured to the center of the separating element in a form-fitting and / or integral manner. For example, the holder can be designed in the form of a frame to which the filter element is applied with tension, so that it cannot deform upon contact with sand particles or contaminants. The filter element with the holder is advantageously fixed to a contour in the center of the separating element in a form-fitting manner, for example by clipping and / or integrally by means of gluing or laser welding or other form-fitting and / or integral fastening methods known to those skilled in the art.

[0013] Preferably, the filter element can be joined to the center of the separating element. The filter element can be glued to the center of the separating element with or without a holder, for example, so that the at least one fluid opening is covered by the filter element. Alternatively, the filter element can also be fixed to the separating element using a combination of gluing and form-fitting fastening methods.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the separating element can have at least one surface geometry in the form of a conductive path on one end face, extending from the edge region of the separating element to the at least one liquid opening. The conductive path serves to advantageously transport sand particles or contaminants to the edge region of the separating element. The geometry of the conductive path can be designed in the form of a channel, a depression, but also a protrusion or a wall. The conductive path runs from the at least one liquid opening outwards to the edge region of the separating element.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, a bearing and a thrust washer can be fastened or accommodated in the separating element. Alternatively, the filter element can represent the bearing or thrust washer and thus replace them. This eliminates the need for at least one additional component (bearing, thrust washer), which also enables cost savings. If the thrust washer is replaced by the filter element, the filter element can advantageously be designed as a metal disk or as a holder with a filter mesh in the area of ​​the bearing. The filter element thus takes over the function of the thrust washer. If the filter element replaces the bearing, the latter takes over the function of the bearing. The invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned. Rather, all embodiments that can be implemented within the scope of expert activity and minor expert modifications are included.

[0016] The invention will be explained in more detail below with regard to further features and advantages based on the description of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Fig. 1 is an exemplary plan view of the front side of the separating element with filter element;

[0018] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the underside of the separating element according to Fig. 1;

[0019] Fig. 3 is a plan view of the front side of the separating element according to a further embodiment.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an exemplary plan view of the end face of the separating element (1) with filter element (6). The separating element (1) for a liquid pump separates a hydraulic chamber from a motor area and has a passage (3) for a shaft or an axle and at least one liquid opening (4) (not visible here) formed in its center (2). The separating element (1) comprises a filter device (5). The filter device (5) is formed from at least one filter element (6). The at least one filter element (6) is formed from filtering material such as inorganic and / or organic material and is fixed in or on the center (2) of the separating element (1) without deformation. The filter element (6) is back-injected during production of the separating element (1) or is injection-molded onto the separating element (1).As a result, the filter element (6) can be joined to the center of the separating element (1) by means of thermal, mechanical, optical and / or chemical processes.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the underside of the separating element (1) according to Fig. 1 . The filter element (6) is joined to the end face (8) of the separating element (1) in its center (2) and covers the at least one liquid opening (4). The at least one liquid opening (4) is advantageously formed in the center (2) and in different sizes. However, the at least one liquid opening (4) can also be formed outside the center (2). Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the end face (8) of the separating element (1) according to a further embodiment. Here, the filter element (6) is joined to the end face (8) of the separating element (1) only covering at least one liquid opening (4) or to the underside of the separating element (1) in its center (2) and covers at least one liquid opening (4).The separating element (1) has on the end face (8) at least one surface geometry (9) in the form of a conductive path, which extends from the edge region (10) of the separating element (1) to the at least one liquid opening (4).

[0022] List of reference symbols

[0023] 1 separating element

[0024] 2 Center

[0025] 3 rounds

[0026] 4 Liquid opening

[0027] 5 Filter device

[0028] 6 filter element

[0029] 7 Bracket

[0030] 8 Front side

[0031] 9 Surface geometry

[0032] 10 Marginal area

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Separating element (1) for a liquid pump, which separates a hydraulic chamber from a motor area and in the center (2) of which a passage (3) for a shaft or an axis and at least one liquid opening (4) is formed, wherein the separating element (1) comprises a filter device (5).

2. Separating element according to claim 1, wherein the filter device (5) is formed from at least one filter element (6).

3. Separating element according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one filter element (6) is made of filtering material such as inorganic and / or organic material.

4. Separating element according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the at least one filter element (6) is fixed in or at the center (2) of the separating element (1) without deformation.

5. Separating element according to claim 4, wherein the filter element (6) is back-injected by means of an injection molding process during the production of the separating element (1) or is injection-molded onto the separating element (1).

6. Separating element according to claim 4, wherein the filter element (6) is joined to the separating element (1) by means of thermal, mechanical, optical and / or chemical processes.

7. Separating element according to claim 4 or 6, wherein the filter element (6) is held in a holder (7) and is fixed in the center (2) of the separating element (1) in a form-fitting and / or material-fitting manner.

8. Separating element according to claim 4, wherein the filter element (6) is joined to the center (2) of the separating element (1).

9. Separating element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (1) has on an end face (8) at least one surface geometry (9) in the form of a conductive path which extends from the edge region (10) of the separating element (1) to the at least one liquid opening (4).

10. Separating element according to claim 1, wherein a bearing and a thrust washer are fastened or accommodated in the separating element (1). 11 . Separating element according to claim 10, wherein the filter element (6) replaces the thrust washer.

12. Filter element (6) for a separating element (1) of claims 1 to 10.

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