Engine Coolant Pump Impeller with Concentric Ribs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional engine coolant systems for off-road vehicles face challenges such as complex machining requirements for coolant pump impellers, susceptibility to hose damage, and intricate air bleeding procedures that can lead to inefficient cooling and engine overheating.
Innovation Solution
The coolant system incorporates a coolant pump impeller with multiple concentric ribs and vanes, integrated into a simplified two-piece tooling process, and a coolant rail that eliminates external hoses, along with modular bleed fittings to accommodate various engine orientations, simplifying air removal and enhancing cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional coolant pump impeller with complex curvature is used, then tight gap tolerance between impeller and pump housing is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and machining difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by designing the impeller with a spherical or near-spherical shape instead of complex curved surfaces. This spherical geometry naturally maintains consistent radial gaps with the pump housing, achieving tight tolerances through the inherent properties of spherical geometry rather than through complex machining of irregular curves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the impeller from complex curved surfaces to simple spherical parameters (radius, center position). This parameter simplification maintains the functional requirement of tight gap control while dramatically reducing manufacturing complexity and machining difficulty.
2Ease of operation
If multiple hoses are used to circulate coolant, then coolant can be routed from engine to radiator, but susceptibility to damage and degradation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coolant circulation function into the engine block itself by integrating coolant channels directly into the engine structure. This eliminates the need for external hoses, as coolant flows through passages formed within the engine block, cylinder head, and related components, thereby removing the reliability issue of hose degradation while maintaining effective coolant routing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the engine block and cylinder head as intermediary structures that serve dual purposes: mechanical function and coolant conduit. These solid structures replace the flexible hose intermediary, providing a more durable and reliable coolant passage while maintaining the necessary fluid flow paths.
3Reliability
If multiple air bleed ports are used to remove trapped air, then air can be bled from coolant system, but system complexity and bleeding procedure difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air removal function from multiple distributed bleed ports and consolidates it into a single centralized air bleed port located at the highest point of the coolant system. This single port, combined with the system's vertical orientation and coolant flow patterns, effectively removes all trapped air without requiring multiple access points or complex procedural steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The single air bleed port serves as a universal outlet for all air trapped in different sections of the coolant system. By positioning it at the highest point and utilizing natural convection and pressure differentials, this one port performs the function that would otherwise require multiple specialized bleed ports, simplifying both the device and the bleeding procedure.
4Reliability
If conventional impeller design is used, then coolant pumping function is achieved, but impeller strength and resistance to backflow are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The spherical impeller design provides inherent structural strength through its geometry, distributing mechanical stresses uniformly across the surface. This spherical shape resists deformation and backflow forces more effectively than conventional flat or curved vane designs, while the spherical form factor maintains efficient coolant pumping through radial flow patterns.
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 design strengthens the coolant pump impeller, reduces backflow, and simplifies coolant circulation and air bleeding, enhancing cooling efficiency and modularity while reducing the risk of engine overheating and hose damage.
Implementation Method 1
The multiple concentric ribs extend toward the internal face of the pump housing forming a gap. The multiple vanes are configured to pump coolant.
Implementation Method 2
The coolant system is configured to cool the crankcase, cylinders, and cylinder head during operation of the engine assembly
Implementation Method 3
a coolant pump circulates coolant through a water jacket surrounding cylinders and the cylinder head
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a coolant system to cool an engine assembly. The coolant system includes a coolant pump impeller with multiple concentric ribs extending axially on a first side of the coolant pump impeller and multiple vanes extending axially on a second side of the coolant pump impeller. The coolant system also includes a coolant rail to collect coolant from a water jacket that surrounds portions of cylinders and a cylinder head of the engine assembly. The coolant system further includes bleed fittings to remove trapped air as the coolant system circulates coolant through the engine assembly. First and second bleed fittings are provided on opposite corners of the engine assembly such that either the first or the second bleed fitting is at a highest point of the coolant system based on an engine orientation of the engine assembly.