Vehicle Cooling Pump Group Axial Fixing Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cooling system pump groups have complex structures and geometries due to numerous components, making them difficult to assemble and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
A simplified pump group design featuring a radial impeller driven by an electric motor, with a main body, impeller body, and fixing element that snap-lock axially, reducing the number of components and using modular plastic and metallic parts for ease of assembly and design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pump groups contain both components in direct contact with coolant and electrical components separated from coolant, then the pump group can function properly, but the structure becomes complex with many components having complex shapes and geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coolant-containing pump component and the electrical motor component into a single integrated pump structure. The motor is positioned in the dry area above the coolant level, while the impeller operates in the wet area below, eliminating the need for separate housings and complex sealing arrangements. This integration reduces the number of components and simplifies the overall geometry while maintaining functional separation between electrical and coolant-exposed parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The single-piece pump structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it houses the electrical motor, contains the coolant, supports the impeller, and provides sealing between wet and dry areas. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized components, reducing structural complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If pump groups contain many components with complex shapes and geometries, then the pump group can achieve proper separation of coolant-contact and electrical components, but assembly becomes more difficult and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple components into a single integrated pump structure, the patent dramatically simplifies assembly. The motor, impeller, and sealing structures are formed as one piece, eliminating the need for complex assembly procedures involving multiple gaskets, seals, and fastening operations. This single-piece construction maintains proper separation between coolant-contact and electrical components while making the assembly process straightforward.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump structure is segmented into functional zones (wet area for coolant, dry area for motor) within a single monolithic component. This segmentation is achieved through internal geometry and fluid barriers rather than physical separation into multiple components, maintaining component separation benefits while simplifying manufacturing and assembly.
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 simplified design results in a pump group with easy assembly and disassembly, reduced production costs, and improved modularity, while maintaining robustness and performance.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor (5), comprised in the pump group (1), suitable to drive the impeller (2) in rotation
Implementation Method 2
it receives the coolant in a direction substantially parallel to said axis X-X and, through its rotation, moves the coolant in a radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pump group (1) for a cooling system of a vehicle, comprising an impeller (2) rotating about an axis (X-X) and an electric motor (5), having a stator (51) and a rotor (52). The pump group (1) comprises a pump structure (10) which comprises a main body (100) having a motor chamber (150) suitable to house the electric motor (5) and an impeller body (200) suitable to house the impeller (2), attached to the main body (100). The impeller body (200) comprises a first half-shell (210) and a second half-shell (220) defining an impeller chamber (250) in which is housed the impeller (2) wherein the second half-shell (220) comprises a tubular element (225) extending inside the motor chamber (150), dividing it into a stator chamber (151) and a rotor chamber (152). The pump structure (10) also comprises a fixing element (300) which may be snap-locked axially onto the main body (100), fixing the impeller body (200) axially thereto.