Integrated Coolant Hub Pump Housing for Precise Rotor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of fluid pumps in thermal management modules often results in misalignment of the pump housing and stator with respect to the volute, leading to efficiency losses, vibrations, and wear and tear due to improper centering during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
The integration of the pump housing with the hub housing, formed as a single piece, ensures proper alignment and eliminates misalignment issues by using an overmolding process, thereby improving assembly efficiency and reducing vibrations and wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the pump housing and stator are assembled separately to the hub housing, then the assembly process becomes more flexible and easier to manufacture, but misalignment occurs between the pump housing/stator and the rotor/volute leading to efficiency losses and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is integrally formed with the hub housing as a single piece structure. This merging eliminates the separate assembly step between pump housing and hub housing, ensuring precise alignment between the pump housing/stator and the rotor/volute while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through integrated molding processes
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are assembled together, then the device can be manufactured and assembled more easily, but the alignment and centering of components becomes difficult leading to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The hub housing and pump housing are merged into a single integral structure, eliminating the need for separate centering and alignment operations during assembly. This ensures precise positioning of the pump components relative to the rotor and volute while simplifying the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The pump housing is pre-formed as an integral part of the hub housing during the molding process, establishing precise geometric relationships and positioning features before final assembly. This preliminary formation ensures accurate centering and alignment are built-in rather than achieved through complex assembly operations
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
This integration results in optimal pump functioning, increased efficiency, and reduced vibrations and wear by ensuring precise alignment of the rotor assembly with the volute, enhancing the overall performance of the thermal management module.
Implementation Method 1
The integration of the pump housing with the hub housing, formed as a single piece, ensures proper alignment and eliminates misalignment issues by using an overmolding process
Data Source
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AI summary
A thermal management module (100) includes a hub housing (10), and a first pump (20). The hub housing (10) includes a plurality of fluid flow channels (12) and a shaft (18). The hub housing (10) receives the first pump (20). A rotor assembly (222) of the first pump (20) is disposed inside a pump housing (14) which is integrally formed with the hub housing (10).