Coolant Pump Integration on Engine Coupling Face

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Solution Overview

Problem

The conventional arrangement of a coolant pump in a vehicle engine's distribution facade leads to increased complexity and cost due to the need for additional belt lengths, pulleys, and idlers, as well as a larger engine size resulting from a complex cooling circuit, which complicates the circulation of coolant to various engine components.

Innovation Solution

The coolant pump is integrated into the engine's cylinder block housing, positioned below the cooling circuit, with a dynamic seal and a coupling zone that engages with the drive shaft, allowing for a more compact design and simplified belt routing, reducing the need for additional components and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the coolant pump is arranged in the distribution facade, then the pump can be driven by a transmission belt, but the belt path becomes complex requiring additional pulleys and idlers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump driving capabilityVSAvoidbelt path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is extracted from the distribution facade and relocated to the coupling facade, removing it from the belt-driven accessory system. This extraction eliminates the need for the pump to be part of the complex belt path, thereby reducing the number of pulleys and idlers required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump housing is merged with the coupling facade structure, integrating the pump into the existing engine block architecture. This merging allows the pump to share structural space and eliminates the need for separate mounting arrangements that would complicate the belt system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If the coolant pump is arranged in the distribution facade, then the pump can be positioned to drive coolant circulation, but the engine size increases due to complex cooling circuit routing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoolant circulation capabilityVSAvoidengine size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is repositioned from the horizontal distribution facade to the vertical coupling facade area, utilizing unused spatial dimension. This dimensional relocation allows coolant circulation without extending the engine's horizontal footprint, thereby maintaining compact engine size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump housing is nested within the coupling facade structure, utilizing the space already allocated for coupling components. This nesting approach allows the cooling system to be integrated within the existing engine volume without requiring additional external space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of repair

If the coolant pump is arranged in the distribution facade, then the pump can be accessed for maintenance, but additional cost is incurred due to extra components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump accessibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is extracted from the distribution facade assembly and relocated to the coupling facade, removing it from the complex multi-component belt system. This extraction eliminates the need for additional pulleys, idlers, and associated hardware, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining accessibility through the coupling facade area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 configuration reduces the size and complexity of the engine, lowers manufacturing costs, and ensures reliable coolant circulation by positioning the pump in a lower part of the engine, avoiding issues like gas bubbles and fluid absence in the circuit.

Implementation Method 1

the pump comprises at least one dynamic seal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDynamic seal:

Implementation Method 2

a blade, or turbine, adapted to circulate the fluid in the cooling circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTurbine: Turbine

Data Source

PatentEP3244034B1Internal combustion engine comprising a coolant pump
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 RENAULT SA
  • EP3244034B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3244034B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3244034B1 patent drawingFigure 6~10

AI summary

The invention relates to a thermal engine (1) comprising a heat transfer fluid pump (5) intended to circulate said heat transfer fluid in a cooling circuit (15) of said engine (1), said pump (5) being arranged in a coupling face (4a) of the engine (1) being in kinematic relationship with a drive shaft (33) of the engine (1) in particular a balancing shaft of this engine (1).