Variable Coolant Pump Control Sleeve Guiding Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current variable mechanical automotive coolant pumps are cost-intensive due to high manufacturing accuracy requirements and wear issues between metallic contact surfaces, leading to increased production costs and potential tilting of the control sleeve.
Innovation Solution
A variable mechanical automotive coolant pump design featuring a non-rotatable, axially slidable control sleeve guided by a separate plastic guiding device that reduces friction and wear, allowing for adaptable flow regulation without direct contact between metallic surfaces, and utilizing a hydraulic actuation system with a spring return mechanism for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a small hydraulic gap is used between the control sleeve and guiding cylinder to reduce leakage, then pressure level stability is improved, but manufacturing accuracy requirements and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic guiding device is introduced as an intermediary element between the control sleeve and the guiding cylinder. This mediator absorbs dimensional tolerances and prevents direct contact between the metallic surfaces, eliminating the need for high manufacturing accuracy while maintaining low leakage and stable pressure levels.
2Strength
If metallic materials are used for the control sleeve and guiding cylinder to ensure strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but wear between contact surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic guiding device serves as a mediator that prevents direct contact between the metallic control sleeve and guiding cylinder. This eliminates wear between the metallic surfaces while maintaining the mechanical strength provided by the metallic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines metallic materials (control sleeve and guiding cylinder) with plastic material (guiding device) to create a composite structure that leverages the strength of metals and the wear-resistant, low-friction properties of plastic.
3Reliability
If high manufacturing accuracy is applied to the control sleeve and guiding cylinder to reduce gap leakage, then sealing efficiency is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic guiding device acts as a mediator that compensates for manufacturing tolerances. It maintains consistent spacing and prevents leakage without requiring high-precision machining, thereby reducing production costs while preserving sealing efficiency.
4Device complexity
If direct metallic contact is used between control sleeve and guiding cylinder to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but friction and wear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic guiding device is a relatively simple component that mediates between the control sleeve and guiding cylinder. It introduces minimal structural complexity while dramatically reducing friction and wear compared to direct metallic contact.
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 design significantly reduces production costs and wear, enhances sealing efficiency, and lowers hydraulic actuation forces, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective coolant pump with improved reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The control sleeve is actuated by a hydraulic actuation system which is provided with pressurized coolant from the pumping chamber
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a hydraulic actuation system with a spring return mechanism for efficient operation
Data Source
AI summary
A variable mechanical automotive coolant pump includes a rotatable rotor shaft, an impeller wheel which is co-rotatably connected with the rotor shaft, a static guiding cylinder, a control sleeve, and at least one guiding device. The impeller wheel has a discharging radial outside. The control sleeve has a hollow-cylindrical control sleeve body having a radial outside. The control sleeve does not rotate and is guided axially slidable within the static guiding cylinder so as to regulate a flow rate of the variable mechanical automotive coolant pump by closing or opening the discharging radial outside of the impeller wheel. The at least one guiding device guides the radial outside of the control sleeve within the static guiding cylinder.