Automotive Coolant Pump Housing Fixation via Clamping Protrusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automotive coolant pumps require multiple variations to accommodate different rotational angles and fixation needs, leading to complex and costly constructions that are not space-efficient and often unsuitable for repeated assembly.

Innovation Solution

A coolant pump design featuring separate pump and motor section housings with a simple, space-saving fixation arrangement using radially protruding clamping protrusions, axially extending clamping tongues, and a flexible locking ring, allowing for adjustable rotational positioning and repeated assembly with minimal mechanical tolerances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a bordering ring with bulging construction is used to fix the pump section housing to the motor section housing, then the rotational position can be varied, but the construction requires a lot of circumferential space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational position variationVSAvoidcircumferential space
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation arrangement is segmented into separate clamping protrusions and clamping tongues that can be independently positioned, allowing rotational angle variation without requiring a bulky bordering ring structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixation mechanism transitions from a circumferential bordering ring to an axial clamping arrangement, moving the fixation dimension from radial to axial direction, thereby reducing circumferential space requirements

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If a bordering ring fixation is used to allow rotational position variation, then adaptability is improved, but the construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational position variationVSAvoidfixation construction
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping protrusions and clamping tongues form a universal fixation mechanism that can accommodate multiple rotational angles while maintaining a simple, standardized construction that reduces overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex bordering ring to achieve rotational adaptability, the invention inverts the approach by using simple axial clamping elements that naturally allow rotational positioning through their geometric arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a bordering ring fixation is used, then rotational positioning is enabled, but the fixation is unsuitable for more than a one-time closing procedure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational position variationVSAvoidrepeated assembly suitability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fixation arrangement incorporates dynamic elements including an elastic locking ring that can be repeatedly engaged and disengaged, allowing the pump section housing to be fixed to the motor section housing multiple times while maintaining reliable connection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic locking ring can be temporarily disengaged for adjustment or disassembly and then recovered by re-engaging it, enabling repeated assembly procedures while maintaining the rotational positioning capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP3417174B1Automotive electrical coolant pump
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 PIERBURG PUMP TECH
  • EP3417174B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3417174B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The Invention refers to an automotive electrical coolant pump (10) comprising a pump section (20) with a pump wheel (28) and a motor section (30) with a motor rotor (33) and a motor stator (32). A pump housing comprises a pump section housing (21) and a separate motor section housing (31) which is fixed to the pump section housing (21). The pump section housing (21) comprises a coolant inlet (22) and a coolant outlet (23). The fixation of the pump section housing (21) at the motor section housing (31) is provided by a fixation arrangement (40). The fixation arrangement (40) is defined by at least two clamping protrusions (24) protruding radially outwardly from one of the section housings (21, 31), at least two clamping tongues (34) protruding axial!y from the other section housing (21, 31), and a separate locking ring (41). The clamping protrusions (24) and the clamping tongues (34) define a circumferential clamping channel (42), and the locking ring (41) is arranged in the clamping channel (42) and extends through the clamping channel (42) circumferentially so that the clamping protrusions (24) and the clamping tongues (34) are interlocked against each other by the locking ring (41).