Motor Vehicle Cooling Pump Assembly with Single-Piece Elastomeric Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle cooling fluid control units face challenges in vibration isolation, noise transmission, and assembly complexity due to separate components, leading to increased costs and installation difficulties in limited engine compartments.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece elastomeric support plate with varying stiffnesses is used to secure and align cooling fluid pumps, reducing the overall size and facilitating integration by minimizing connections between components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate metal parts are used to support multiple pumps, then the pumps can be secured to the support, but the assembly requires multiple components increasing manufacturing complexity and assembly time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate metal support parts into a single integrated support structure. This single piece of support includes multiple pump mounting positions and vibration isolation elements integrated into one component, eliminating the need for separate metal parts while maintaining vibration isolation performance through the elastomeric material properties
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure uses composite materials by integrating elastomeric vibration isolation elements with rigid pump mounting features in a single piece. This combination allows the support to provide both structural integrity for securing pumps and vibration isolation through the elastomeric material, reducing the number of separate components needed
2Reliability
If separate metal support parts are used, then pumps can be secured, but assembly time and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple pump mounting functions into a single integrated support piece, the patent eliminates the assembly steps required to join separate metal parts. The single piece of support is manufactured as one component and installed as a unit, significantly reducing assembly time while maintaining stable connections for multiple pumps through its integrated structure
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used for pump support, then vibration isolation can be achieved, but the overall assembly size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple vibration isolation functions into a single integrated support structure. By combining multiple pump mounting positions and vibration isolation elements into one piece, the overall assembly footprint is reduced compared to using separate metal parts that would require additional space for connections and assembly clearance
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates elastomeric material that provides vibration isolation through its flexible properties. This elastomeric material absorbs vibrations while maintaining a compact structure, allowing effective vibration isolation in a smaller overall assembly footprint compared to rigid metal constructions
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
The solution enhances vibration isolation, reduces noise transmission, simplifies assembly, and decreases manufacturing and installation costs while optimizing space utilization in vehicle powertrains.
Implementation Method 1
the plate forms a single piece comprising several elastomeric materials having different stiffnesses
Implementation Method 2
adjust the vibration isolation between these pumps and the support, in order to avoid transmission of vibrations and noise
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Assembly comprising a plurality of fluid control units (2) for a motor vehicle, each comprising a body (4) and rotational axes (A) parallel to each other, and comprising a support member for said control units (2) which comprises a plate (20) forming a single part arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axes (A), and having holes passing through said plate (20), ea4ch hole receiving a body of a control unit (4).