Coolant Pump Rotor Outlet Design for Bearing Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motor vehicle coolant pumps are prone to bearing wear due to particle deposits in the cooling fluid, particularly when the fluid is discharged through the bearing area, leading to hydro-abrasive flow and reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
The outlet openings are strategically placed at the ends of the blade elements facing away from the motor rotor's center, utilizing centrifugal force to carry away dirt particles and prevent them from reaching the bearing area, with a pot-shaped motor rotor and cylindrical drive element design to collect particles safely, and annular gap inlet design for efficient fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid is discharged through the bearing area of the motor rotor shaft, then the motor unit is cooled effectively, but hydro-abrasive flow occurs leading to high radial and axial bearing wear
Solution Approach 1:
The discharge path is segmented into two separate routes: one for cooling fluid and another for particle-laden fluid. The outlet openings in the impeller element discharge particles through a different path than the bearing area, separating the cooling function from the particle discharge function to prevent bearing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful particles are extracted from the cooling fluid stream before it reaches the bearing area. The outlet openings positioned at the ends of blade elements extract particles from the flow and discharge them separately, removing the contaminant that would otherwise cause bearing wear.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If outlet openings are provided in the impeller element to discharge dirt particles, then particle removal is improved, but the bearing area is still contaminated
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet openings are positioned at specific locations - the ends of the blade elements facing away from the center of the motor rotor. This localized positioning creates a specific flow pattern where particles are directed away from the bearing area, giving different regions of the impeller element different functional qualities.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a spatial dimension to particle discharge by positioning outlets at the radial ends of blade elements rather than at the center. This dimensional change in outlet positioning creates a flow trajectory that directs particles in a different spatial path, away from the bearing area.
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 effectively prevents dirt particles from reaching the critical bearing area, reducing radial and axial bearing wear and enhancing the service life of the motor vehicle coolant pump while maintaining efficient fluid flow and cooling.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing centrifugal force to carry away dirt particles and prevent them from reaching the bearing area
Implementation Method 2
allowing a cooling fluid to flow through the motor unit from a pressure side of the pump unit to a suction side of the pump unit
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric automotive coolant pump with a housing (4) comprising a pump unit (8) and a motor unit (6), wherein the motor unit (6) has a motor rotor (22) mounted in the housing (4) by means of bearing means (24) and a motor stator (20), wherein the motor rotor (22) has an impeller element (10) with blade elements (12) of the pump unit (8) and an axially extending drive element (20), wherein inlet and outlet openings (30, 34) are provided which allow a coolant fluid to flow through the motor unit (6) from a pressure side (24) of the pump unit (8) to a suction side (25) of the pump unit, wherein the outlet openings (34) for fluidic connection with the suction side (36) of the pump unit (8) are provided in the impeller element (10).