Pump assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump assembly (1) for a cooling system of an operating assembly of a vehicle. The pump assembly (1) extends with respect to an axis (X-X) and comprises: i) a container group (2) comprising a container body (21) and an auxiliary body (22) which, in their coupling, delimit a dry chamber (201) and a wet chamber (202), wherein said wet chamber (202) comprises a central region (202') along the axis (X-X), and the dry chamber (201) comprises an annular region (201') surrounding said central region (202'); said auxiliary body (22) comprises an annular wall (220), which extends parallel to the axis (X-X) between the central region (202') and the annular region (201'), and a bottom (224) positioned at one axial end of said annular wall (220); ii) an electric motor assembly (4) comprising a stator (41), housed in the annular region (201'), and a rotor (42), housed in the central region (202'); iii) an impeller group (3), housed in the wet chamber (202), comprising a vane body (30) and a control body (35) in which the rotor (42) is at least partially housed; iv) a shaft group (5) about which the impeller group (3) rotates, comprising a shaft (50) extending between a fixed end (500) engaged with the bottom (224) and a free end (501), and an abutment head (51) suitable for providing an axial abutment to the axial movement of the impeller group (3). The bottom (224) comprises a closing cap (225) suitable for sealingly engaging a bottom edge (2200) of the annular wall (220), wherein the closing cap (225) comprises an annular protrusion (2250) permanently connectable to the bottom edge (2200), and an annular gasket (2251) positioned radially inside the annular protrusion (2250).

Description

"PUMP ASSEMBLY"DESCRIPTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a pump assembly for a cooling system of a vehicle .

[0002] In the course of the present discussion, the term "vehicle" is intended to mean any means of locomotion, without any limitation related to type or si ze , i . e . , a motor vehicle or an articulated lorry .

[0003] In other words , the present invention refers to the automotive field and, in particular, to the thermal management system of an operating assembly of a vehicle or of a plurality of operating assemblies .

[0004] In particular, in the present discussion, "operating assembly" means a component or an assembly of components speci fic for carrying out a certain operation necessary for the motion of the vehicle . In a preferred embodiment , "operating assembly" refers to the engine assembly, for example of the internal combustion type or of the electric type or of the hybrid type . In further embodiments , "operating assembly" refers to other components of the vehicle , either mechanical , such as a transmission assembly, or electric, such as a "battery assembly" or an " electric motor assembly" included in the vehicle .

[0005] In the prior art , multiple embodiments of pumpassemblies for a cooling system of an operating assembly of a vehicle are known, which di f fer according to the type of actuation .

[0006] Speci fically, the pump assembly which is the obj ect of the present invention re fers to this context , having an electric-type actuation . In other words , the pump assembly which i s the obj ect of the present invention comprises at least one electric motor which drives the rotational movement of the impeller group included therein, thus controlling the movement of the cooling liquid which flows within the cooling system to which the pump assembly is fluidically connectable .

[0007] In particular, the "cooling liquid" is a water-based liquid, for example a solution comprising water and glycol .

[0008] A multiplicity of technical solutions of pump assemblies compri sing electric actuation with an electric motor are known, in which the rotor is "wet" , that is , it is housed in the hydraulic part of the pump assembly .

[0009] In particular, embodiments of pump assemblies are known in which the impeller group and the rotor are rotationally free with respect to a fixed shaft , where said fixed shaft is cantilevered in the wet chamber .

[0010] Typical issues encountered in such embodiments o f pump assemblies are primarily related to the ef ficientcooling of the electric components , that is both of the electric motor, rotor and stator, and of the control boards .

[0011] Speci fically, in fact , known pump assembl ies comprise container assemblies that include the dry chamber and the wet chamber in addition to supporting the cantilevered shaft on which the rotor and blades rotate . Such pump assemblies , and in particular, such container assemblies , turn out to be particularly complex and inef ficient in achieving the aforementioned obj ectives : ef ficient support of the shaft and ef ficient cooling are both typically di f ficult to achieve with the desired results unless complex solutions are adopted .

[0012] The purpose of the present invention is , therefore , to provide a pump assembly for a cooling system of an operating assembly of a vehicle which solves such typical problems of the prior art . In other words , the purpose of the present invention is , therefore , to provide a pump assembly of simple construction and geometry in which the shaft is ef fectively supported, and at the same time ef fective cooling of the electric components is achieved .

[0013] This purpose is achieved by a pump assembly in accordance with claim 1 . The dependent claims refer to alternative preferred embodiments having further advantageous aspects .

[0014] The subj ect of the present invention is described in detail below, with the aid of the accompanying drawings , in which :

[0015] - Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a pump assembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0016] - Figure la shows a side view of the pump assembly of figure 1 ;

[0017] - Figure 2 represents a cross- sectional view of the pump assembly, along the sectional plane V-V of figure la ;

[0018] - Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of an auxiliary body included in the container group of the pump assembly of the present invention, according to a preferred embodiment ;

[0019] - Figure 3a shows a side view of the auxiliary body of figure 3 ;

[0020] - Figure 4 represents a cross- sectional view of the auxiliary body, along the sectional plane VI-VI of figure 3a ;

[0021] - Figure 5 represents a cross- sectional view of the auxiliary body with separated parts in a pre-assembly step of the bottom .

[0022] In the above-mentioned drawings , reference number 1 denotes , as a whole , a pump assembly for a cooling system of an operating assembly of a vehicle .

[0023] The pump assembly 1 which is the obj ect of the present invention extends predominantly in length along an axis X-X .

[0024] In accordance with the invention, the pump assembly 1 comprises a container group 2 .

[0025] Preferably, the container group 2 is suitable for containing at least the maj ority of the components of the pump assembly 1 which is the obj ect of the present invention, as described below .

[0026] Preferably, the container group 2 is fluidically connectable to the conduits of the cooling system in which the cooling liquid moved by the pump assembly 1 flows .

[0027] The container group 2 comprises a container body 21 and an auxiliary body 22 .

[0028] The container group 2 , in the coupling between container body 21 and auxiliary body 22 , delimits a dry chamber 201 and a wet chamber 202 . In other words , the cooling liquid has free access to the wet chamber 202 , while in the dry chamber 201 , sealingly separated from said wet chamber 202 , access of the cooling liquid is prevented .

[0029] The wet chamber 202 comprises a central region 202 ' along the axis X-X, and the dry chamber 201 comprises an annular region 201 ' surrounding said central region 202 ' .

[0030] In other words , according to a pre ferred embodiment , the container body 21 and the auxiliary body 22 are sealingly engaged with one another .

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment , the container body 21 is made of metallic material , for example an aluminium alloy .

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment , the container body 21 is made of plastic material , for example PPS .

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment , the auxiliary body 22 is made of plastic material , for example PPS .

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment , the container group 2 is mountable with speci fic components of the vehicle (not shown in the accompanying figures ) in which the fluidic conduits of the system are created, for example speci fic systems in which operating assemblies and / or valve assemblies are housed . For example , said components compri se speci fic volute portions in which the pump assembly 1 operates .

[0035] According to a further preferred embodiment , the container group 2 comprises a volute body (not shown in the accompanying figures ) fluidically connected to the conduits of the cooling system .

[0036] Preferably, the volute body is suitable for engaging the container body 21 and / or the auxiliary body 22 . Preferably, the container group 2 , in the couplingbetween volute body and container body 21 and / or auxiliary body 22 , delimits , in the upper part of the wet chamber 202 , a rotating portion 202" in which the impeller 3 described below is housed . Speci fically, in the coupling between volute body and container body 21 and / or auxiliary body 22 , the wet chamber 202 in which the cooling liquid flows is fully def ined .

[0037] According to a preferred embodiment , the volute body is made of plastic material , for example PPS .

[0038] According to the present invention, the auxiliary body 22 comprises an annular wall 220 , which extends parallel to the axis X-X between the central region 202 ' and the annular region 201 ' .

[0039] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the auxiliary body 22 comprises a top wall 221 positioned at the top, to close the container body 21 from above . Preferably, said top wall 221 extends radially from the annular wall 220 .

[0040] Moreover, according to the present invention, the auxiliary body 22 comprises a bottom 224 positioned at one axial end of said annular wall 220 . Preferably, the bottom 224 is at an end opposite to the top wal l 221 .

[0041] Preferably, said bottom 224 is suitable for closing the wet chamber 202 from below, and in particular the central region 202 ' . Furthermore , said bottom 224 issuitable for supporting, as described below, the shaft 50 in a cantilevered manner . In particular, said bottom 224 comprises speci fic distinct components speci fically provided for the above-mentioned purposes .

[0042] According to the invention, the bottom 224 comprises a closing cap 225 suitable for sealingly engaging a bottom edge 2200 of the annular wall 220 .

[0043] In accordance with the present invention, the closing cap 225 comprises an annular protrusion 2250 permanently connectable to the bottom edge 2200 . Preferably, the closing cap 225 is moldable to the bottom edge 2200 , preferably it is ultrasonically permanently connectable to the bottom edge 2200 .

[0044] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the annular protrusion 2250 comprises a pointed end 2250 ' which is permanently engageable with the bottom edge 2200 . Preferably, said permanent engagement is achieved by welding, and in the welding between the annular protrusion 2250 and the bottom edge 2200 , said pointed end 2250 ' is subj ect to fusion and melting . According to a preferred embodiment , the annular protrusion 2250 is also defined as an energy director .

[0045] In accordance with the present invention, the closing cap 225 comprises an annular gasket 2251 positioned radially inside the annular protrusion 2250 .

[0046] Preferably, the annular gasket 2251 is in turn suitable for engaging the bottom edge 2200 .

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment , the bottom edge 2200 comprises an inner surface 2200 ' and an outer surface 2200" . Preferably, the annular gasket 2251 is suitable for engaging said inner surface 2200 ' .

[0048] According to a preferred embodiment , the annular gasket 2251 is an o-ring .

[0049] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the closing cap 225 comprises an inner peripheral ring 2252 in which the gasket 2251 is positioned between the inner peripheral ring 2252 and the annular protrusion 2250 .

[0050] Preferably, the closing cap 225 comprises an outer peripheral ring 2254 positioned radially outs ide the annular protrusion 2250 .

[0051] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the inner peripheral ring 2252 extends in height more than the annular protrusion 2250 .

[0052] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the inner peripheral ring 2252 extends in height more than the annular protrusion 2250 with the pointed end 2250 ' melted .

[0053] According to a preferred embodiment , the outer peripheral ring 2254 extends in height more than the annular protrusion 2250 .

[0054] According to a preferred embodiment , the outer peripheral ring 2254 extends in height more than the annular protrusion 2250 with the pointed end 2250 ' melted . Preferably, the outer peripheral ring 2254 acts as a barrier to the molten material generated by the melting of the pointed end 2250 ' . Preferably, the outer peripheral ring 2254 ensures additional sealing .

[0055] As mentioned, the pump assembly 1 comprises an impeller group 3 housed in the wet chamber 202 .

[0056] The impeller group 3 comprises a vane body 30 housed in the wet chamber 202 , in which a rotating portion 202" is identi fied, wherein the vane body 30 is housed .

[0057] Preferably, the impeller group 3 is made of plastic material , preferably PPS .

[0058] Furthermore , the pump assembly 1 comprises an electric motor assembly 4 comprising a stator 41 , housed in the dry chamber 201 , and a rotor 42 , housed in the wet chamber 202 .

[0059] The stator 41 is housed in the annular region 201 ' , and the rotor 42 is housed in the central region 202 ' .

[0060] Preferably, the rotor 42 comprises a rotor body 420 .

[0061] Preferably, the rotor body 420 comprises a plurality of stacked laminar elements .

[0062] Preferably, the rotor 42 comprises rotor poles , for example compris ing speci fic magnetic elements . Inaccordance with a preferred embodiment , the laminar elements define , in their stacking, dedicated housings in which the rotor poles are positioned .

[0063] According to the present invention, the pump assembly 1 compri ses a shaft group 5 housed predominantly in the wet chamber 202 , comprising :- shaft 50 that extends along the axis X-X in the central region 202 ' between a fixed end 500 engaged with the bottom 224 and a free end 501 ;- an abutment head 51 suitable for providing an axial abutment for the axial movement of the impeller group 3 .

[0064] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the shaft50 and the head 51 are in a single piece .

[0065] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the head51 is mountable on the shaft 50 .

[0066] According to a preferred embodiment , the bottom 224 comprises a support structure 226 that extends radially from the annular wall 220 and is axially spaced apart from the closing cap 225 .

[0067] Preferably, the support structure 226 is proximal to the bottom edge 2200 .

[0068] Preferably, the support structure 226 is enbloc with the annular wall 220 .

[0069] According to a preferred embodiment , said fixed end 500 of the shaft 50 is engaged with the support structure226 .

[0070] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the support structure 226 comprises a central body 2260 positioned on the main axis X-X and support arms 2261 angularly spaced apart , extending from said central body 2260 to the annular wall 220 .

[0071] Preferably, cooling liquid flows in the space between two support arms 2261 and thus reaches and wets the closing cap 225 .

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment , the central body 2260 comprises a fixed bushing 2260 ' .

[0073] Preferably, the fixed bushing 2260 ' is made of metal .

[0074] Preferably, the shaft 50 , made of metal , is coupled with force-coupling to the fixed bushing 2260 ' .

[0075] According to a preferred embodiment , the pump assembly 1 comprises a rotating bushing 7 which extends along the axis X-X, rotationally free , externally engaged with the rotor 42 and the impeller group 3 .

[0076] According to a preferred embodiment , the pump assembly 1 has a geometry such that the rotation of the rotor 42 corresponds to the rotation of the rotating bushing 7 and of the impeller group 3 on the shaft 5 .

[0077] Preferably, the rotating bushing 7 is made of metallic material , for example it is made of s interedgraphite-loaded steel .

[0078] Preferably, the rotating bushing 7 is made of pressed graphite .

[0079] Preferably, the rotating bushing 7 is made of graphite- filled resin .

[0080] Preferably, the rotor 42 is fitted onto the rotating bushing 7 , and subsequently the impeller group 3 is overmoulded onto said components .

[0081] Preferably, the rotor 42 and the rotating bushing 7 are j oined to one another by geometric interference . Preferably, the rotor 42 and the rotating bushing 7 are integrally interconnected .

[0082] According to the present invention, the impeller group 3 comprises a control body 35 which extends in length along the axis X-X starting from the vane body 30 .

[0083] Preferably, the control body 35 is engaged with the rotating bushing 7 and the rotor 42 , further fixing them together .

[0084] In other words , the impeller group 3 is co-moulded onto the rotating bushing 7 and the rotor 42 in such a way as to form a single " complex component" whose respective parts are integrally connected .

[0085] According to a preferred embodiment , the rotor 42 is positioned on the rotating bushing 7 , and once placed in a speci fic mould, the impeller group 3 is moulded toobtain said "complex component" . Subsequently, said "composite component" is fitted onto the shaft 50 , rotationally free .

[0086] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the control body 35 extends radially from the rotating bushing 7 and at least partially contains the rotor 42 .

[0087] According to a preferred embodiment , the rotating bushing 7 has outer surfaces 71 suitable for facilitating engagement with the impeller group 3 , for example on both sides of the rotor 42 . For example , said outer surface 71 may have grooves and / or roughness .

[0088] In accordance with a preferred embodiment , the pump assembly 1 having the above-described features is the subj ect of a speci fic manufacturing method .

[0089] Speci fically, said manufacturing method comprises the step of co-moulding the impeller group 3 with the rotor 42 and with the rotating bushing 7 .

[0090] According to a preferred embodiment , the invention also relates to a step in which the rotor 42 is positioned on the rotating bushing 7 , and together, they are housed in a speci fic mould in which the impeller group 3 is moulded onto said "composite component" .

[0091] Preferably, said speci fic mould compri ses speci fic rod-shaped elements suitable for creating the sections of the cooling conduit .

[0092] According to a preferred embodiment , the pump assembly 1 comprises a control board 9 , for controlling the electric motor assembly 4 , housed in said dry chamber 201 in a region proximal to the closing cap 225 .

[0093] Preferably, the cooling liquid, by cooling the closing cap 225 , also cools the control board 9 .

[0094] Innovatively, the pump assembly fully achieves the intended purpose , overcoming the typical issues of the known art .

[0095] Advantageously, in fact , the pump assembly features the impeller group and the rotor housed in the same chamber, both wetted by the cooling l iquid .

[0096] Advantageously, the pump assembly ef fectively cool s the electronic components , including the control board .

[0097] Advantageously, the cooling liquid reaches the closing cap to cool it ef fectively .

[0098] Advantageously, the closing cap engages the bottom edge in such a way as to prevent undesired water leakage .

[0099] Advantageously, the pump assembly ef fectively supports the shaft in a cantilevered manner .

[0100] Advantageously, the pump assembly features the impeller group in a cantilevered configuration, without requiring an additional axial support beyond the single fixed end of the shaft .

[0101] Advantageously, the vibrations of the shaft areabsorbed by the auxiliary body, and in particular by its support structure .

[0102] Advantageously, the pump assembly is usable both in configurations with a volute body and in configurations in which the volute is formed on other components of the vehicle .

[0103] Advantageously, the pump assembly has a simple construction .

[0104] Advantageously, the pump assembly has a simple assembly .

[0105] It is clear that a person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent needs , could make modi fications to the invention described above , all within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A pump assembly (1) for a cooling system of an operating assembly of a vehicle, which extends with respect to an axis (X-X) and comprises: i) a container group (2) comprising a container body (21) and an auxiliary body (22) , wherein the container group (2) delimits a dry chamber (201) and a wet chamber (202) in the coupling between the container body (21) and the auxiliary body (22) , wherein said wet chamber (202) comprises a central portion (202' ) along the axis (X-X) and the dry chamber (201) comprises an annular region (201' ) surrounding said central region (202' ) , wherein the auxiliary body (22) comprises an annular wall (220) extending parallel to the axis (X-X) between the central region ( 202 ’ ) and the annular region ( 201 ’ ) , and a bottom (224) positioned at an axial end of said annular wall (220) ; ii) an electric motor assembly (4) comprising a stator (41) housed in an annular region (201' ) and a rotor (42) housed in the central region (202' ) ; iii) an impeller group (3) , housed in the wet chamber (202) , comprising a vane body (30) and a control body (35) in which the rotor (42) is at least partially housed; iv) a shaft group (5) mainly housed in the wet chamber(202) , about which the impeller group (3) rotates, comprising a shaft (50) extending along the axis (X-X) in the central region ( 202 ’ ) between a fixed end (500) engaged with the bottom (224) and a free end (501) and an abutment head (51) suitable for providing an axial abutment for the axial movement of the impeller group (3) ; wherein the bottom (224) comprises a closing cap (225) suitable for sealingly engaging a bottom edge (2200) of the annular wall (220) , wherein the closing cap (225) comprises an annular protrusion (2250) permanently connectable to the bottom edge (2200) and an annular gasket (2251) positioned radially inside the annular protrusion (2250) .

2. Pump assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bottom edge (2200) comprises an inner surface ( 2200 ’ ) and an outer surface (2200") , wherein the annular gasket (2251) is suitable for engaging said inner surface (2200' ) .

3. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular protrusion (2250) comprises a pointed end (2250' ) which permanently engages the bottom edge (2200) .

4. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing cap (225) comprisesan inner peripheral ring (2252) , wherein the gasket(2251) is positioned between inner peripheral ring (2252) and annular protrusion (2250) .

5. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing cap (225) comprises an outer peripheral ring (2254) positioned radially outside the annular protrusion (2250) .

6. Pump assembly (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the inner peripheral ring (2252) and / or the outer peripheral ring (2254) extend in height higher than the annular protrusion (2250) .

7. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (224) comprises a support structure (226) , which extends radially from the annular wall (220) and is axially spaced apart from the closing cap (225) , wherein said fixed end (500) of the shaft (50) is engaged with the support structure (226) .

8. Pump assembly (1) according to claim 7, wherein the support structure (226) comprises a central body (2260) positioned on the main axis (X-X) and support arms (2261) angularly spaced apart and extending from said central body (2260) to the annular wall (220) .

9. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central body (2260) comprises a fixed bushing ( 2260 ’ ) , wherein the shaft (50)is made of metal, wherein the fixed bushing ( 2260 ' ) is made of metal, wherein the shaft (50) is coupled with force coupling to the fixed bushing ( 2260 ’ ) .

10. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a rotating bushing (7) which extends along the axis (X-X) , rotationally free, externally engaged with rotor (42) and impeller group (3) .

11. Pump assembly (1) according to claim 10, wherein the rotor (42) is engaged, for example by force coupling, with the rotating bushing (7) .

12. Pump assembly (1) according to claim 11, wherein the control body (35) extends radially from the rotating bushing (7) and at least partially contains the rotor (42) .

13. Pump assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control board (9) , for controlling the electric motor assembly (4) , housed in said dry chamber (201) in a region proximal to the closing cap (225) .

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