Combined Gas Liquid Pump for Engine Vacuum and Scavenge
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Solution Overview
Problem
The need for multiple scavenge pumps in engine systems, particularly in dry sump engines and those with exhaust gas turbochargers, is hindered by height differences and environmental factors, leading to inefficiencies in oil circulation and vacuum supply.
Innovation Solution
A multiple inlet pump that draws fluid from multiple sources, including air and liquid sources, using a movable assembly with non-return valves to ensure efficient fluid management and eliminate the need for separate pumps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate scavenge pumps are used for different fluid sources, then each pump can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple scavenge pump functions into a single integrated pump unit with multiple inlets. The pump housing contains separate inlet passages for different fluid sources (engine crankcase, turbocharger, differential) that converge into a common pumping chamber, allowing one pump to perform the work of multiple separate pumps while reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The single pump is designed with universal multi-functionality to handle different fluid sources simultaneously. The pump includes multiple inlets with individual non-return valves that allow it to scavenge oil from the engine crankcase, turbocharger bearing housing, and differential, making one pump unit capable of replacing multiple specialized pumps
2Reliability
If pump inlets are arranged to draw fluid sequentially through multiple sources, then cross-contamination between fluid sources is prevented, but the pump design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump inlet system is segmented into separate inlet passages, each serving a specific fluid source. Each inlet is equipped with its own non-return valve and flow path, allowing independent control of fluid entry from the engine crankcase, turbocharger, and differential without mixing until the common chamber
Solution Approach 2:
Non-return valves act as intermediaries at each inlet to control fluid flow direction and prevent backflow. These valves ensure that fluid from different sources enters the pump chamber in the correct sequence and prevent cross-contamination, while the common pump chamber serves as an intermediary that combines the segregated flows
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 pump effectively scavenges oil from turbochargers and supplies vacuum to brake boosters, reducing the number of required pumps and improving engine efficiency by utilizing a single pump for both functions.
Implementation Method 1
the movable assembly being movable to draw fluid into the cavity through the inlets and to move said fluid out of the cavity through the outlet
Implementation Method 2
One or both of the inlets may be provided with a non-return valve operable to prevent the flow of fluid into the cavity when the pump is not operating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a combined gas and liquid pump (46) for an internal combustion engine (10). The pump (46) includes a casing (58) having a cavity (60) containing a rotor (62) and a vane (64) slidably mounted to the rotor (62), wherein the cavity (60) is provided with an inlet (50) connectable to a gas source, a further inlet (48) connectable to a liquid source which is separate to the gas source, and an outlet (56). The rotor (62) and vane (64) are movable to draw liquid and gas into the cavity (60) through the respective inlets (50,48) and to move said liquid and gas out of the cavity (60) through the outlet (56). The inlets (50,48) are arranged through the casing (58) such that fluid is drawn first through one of the inlets and then through the other of the inlets before being discharged through the outlet (56).