Electric Coolant Pump Self-Cooling Sleeve Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric coolant pumps for vehicles generate significant heat during operation, which can affect their safety and efficiency, as they lack effective self-cooling mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

The electric coolant pump incorporates a sleeve with ribs that guide coolant flow towards the control unit to absorb heat, creating a self-cooling mechanism by circulating coolant to absorb heat generated by the control unit, ensuring the pump operates at or below a desired temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the control unit is added to control the motor, then the pump can be adjusted according to different requirements and energy saving is achieved, but the control unit generates a lot of heat during operation which may affect the safety of the pump

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcontrol unit temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful heat generated by the control unit into a beneficial cooling function. The heat causes hot air to rise and flow through the radial gap between the rotor and stator, where it is cooled by the coolant, transforming the heat problem into a self-cooling mechanism that improves overall system efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The coolant serves multiple functions simultaneously: it cools the engine through the impeller, and it cools the control unit by absorbing heat through the radial gap. This multi-functionality allows a single coolant system to address both cooling needs, eliminating the requirement for separate cooling mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the control unit generates heat during operation, then the pump achieves better temperature control of the engine, but the heat generated may affect the safety of the pump if not dissipated timely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidheat accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium between the control unit and the coolant. The hot air generated by the control unit flows through the radial gap and is cooled by the coolant, acting as a heat transfer intermediary that efficiently removes heat from the control unit without requiring direct thermal contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If the pump is designed to cool the engine, then the engine operates at desired temperature, but the pump itself lacks self-cooling mechanisms and may overheat

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine temperatureVSAvoidpump safety

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump performs self-cooling by utilizing its own coolant to cool the control unit. The coolant flows through the radial gap during normal operation, automatically absorbing heat from the control unit without requiring external cooling systems or additional energy input, thereby achieving self-service cooling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 enables the pump to not only cool the engine but also achieve self-cooling, enhancing safety and reliability by maintaining optimal operating temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

at least a portion of the ribs of the sleeve guiding the coolant to flow towards the control unit to absorb heat generated by the control unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the ribs are aslant to an axis of the sleeve, and a tilt angle of each of the ribs is from 0° to 90°

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

The motor includes a stator and rotor. The stator includes coils connected to the control unit electrically. The control unit controls electric current of the coils. The rotor has magnets which generate magnetic fields interacting with that of the rotor, thereby driving the rotor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 4

The impeller is connected to and rotates with the rotor, thereby driving the coolant circulating in the cooling system to cool the engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS10001139B2Electric coolant pump

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 JOHNSON ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL AG

AI summary

An electric coolant pump includes a housing, a motor received in the housing, an impeller for driving coolant, and a control unit for controlling the motor. The control unit and the impeller are arranged at opposite ends of the motor. The motor includes a sleeve, a stator mounted around the sleeve, and a rotor rotatably received in the sleeve. The impeller is fixed to the rotor. A radial gap is formed between the sleeve and the rotor. The sleeve includes a plurality of ribs extending from an internal surface of the sleeve into the gap. At least a portion of the ribs of the sleeve guide the coolant towards the control unit to absorb heat generated by the control unit.