Axial Coolant Pump Assembly for Low-RPM and Shutdown Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump designs for recirculating cooling fluids in vehicle engines face challenges in size constraints, performance reduction, and inability to provide adequate cooling at low engine rpm or shutdown conditions, due to their cylindrical shape and large drive pulley diameter, which limits their application and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pump assembly with a longitudinally developed body featuring a reduced radial section for a pulley, integrating a hydraulic pump, electric motor, and friction clutch, allowing for axial symmetry and easy belt connection, enabling efficient recirculation of cooling fluids while maintaining a compact size and high torque capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the pump assembly uses a cylindrical shape with a large drive pulley diameter, then the pump can provide high torque and sufficient cooling flow rate, but the radial size becomes too large for easy housing and installation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly transitions from a radially-oriented design to an axially-oriented design. The drive pulley is positioned at one end of the assembly, and the electric motor is arranged axially adjacent to the pump impeller, extending in the axial direction. This dimensional reorganization allows the pulley diameter to be reduced while maintaining torque capability through axial motor placement, thereby reducing the overall radial footprint for easier housing and installation.
2Area of stationary object
If the electric motor size is reduced to limit radial development, then the pump assembly becomes more compact, but the pump performance significantly decreases and cannot provide sufficient cooling flow rate
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is repositioned from a radial arrangement to an axial arrangement, extending in the axial direction adjacent to the pump impeller. This allows the motor to provide sufficient power for high flow rates without increasing the radial footprint, as the motor's length extends axially rather than radially, maintaining compact radial dimensions while ensuring adequate cooling performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly merges the electric motor, pump impeller, and drive pulley into a single integrated unit. The motor and pump share a common axial space, with the motor positioned axially adjacent to the impeller. This integration allows for optimized space utilization where the motor's axial extension provides necessary power without compromising the compact radial size of the overall assembly.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the pump operates through the clutch driven by the heat engine shaft, then the pump can be driven by engine power, but the cooling is insufficient when the engine is shutdown or operating at low rpm
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is designed with dual drive capability, functioning as a hybrid system that can operate in two modes: (1) clutch-driven mode when the heat engine is running, utilizing engine power through the friction clutch; and (2) electric motor-driven mode when the engine is shutdown or operating at low rpm. This multi-functionality ensures continuous cooling availability across all operating conditions while maintaining energy efficiency by selecting the appropriate power source.
4Ease of operation
If the pump assembly has a compact design with reduced radial section, then it is easier to house and install, but the manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly merges multiple components (electric motor, pump impeller, drive pulley, and clutch mechanism) into a single integrated unit with a compact design featuring a reduced radial section. The motor and pump are positioned axially adjacent to each other, sharing common mounting structures and housing. This integration, while achieving compact dimensions for easier installation, does increase manufacturing and assembly complexity due to the precise alignment and integration of multiple functional components in a constrained space.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for versatile cooling fluid recirculation, suitable for high-flow applications, reduces wear and energy consumption, and ensures adequate cooling even at low engine rpm or shutdown conditions, while being easy to produce, assemble, and install without special belt adaptations.
Implementation Method 1
a friction clutch control device, with electromagnetic, pneumatic and hydraulic drive
Implementation Method 2
with electromagnetic, pneumatic and hydraulic drive
Data Source
AI summary
Pump assembly for recirculating a cooling fluid of a heat engine, comprising:a pump body, an impeller driven by a driven shaft and inserted in a chamber of the circuit for recirculating the cooling fluid of the heat engine;at least a reversible friction clutch, adapted to transmit the motion from motion generating means, coupled to the motor shaft of the vehicle, to the driven shaft,an electric motor to drive said driven shaft independently of the heat engine; whereinsaid electric motor and said friction clutch are arranged in an axially external position with respect to the motion generating means of the clutch.Preferably, said electric motor is axially opposed to the friction clutch with respect to the motion generating means, and is axially adjacent to the chamber of the impeller in the axial direction.