Cup-Shaped Rotor Pump for Manual Transmission Lubrication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric motor-driven liquid pumps for manual transmission lubrication systems in vehicles face challenges such as high space occupancy and susceptibility to wear, particularly due to the sequential arrangement of components which limits compactness and increases the overall height, and requires multiple seals which complicates assembly and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

A compact electric motor-driven liquid pump design featuring a cup-shaped magnetic rotor and annular stator with a magnetic field sensor, where the stator housing section partially covers the rotor and accommodates the sensor, allowing for a nested arrangement that reduces height and eliminates the need for sequential component placement, using a sealing element with multiple functions to simplify sealing and reduce assembly complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the electric motor and pump are arranged sequentially (one behind the other), then the pump can be driven mechanically via a shaft, but the overall height and space occupancy increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical drive reliabilityVSAvoidoverall height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the electric motor and pump into a single integrated unit where the motor is radially arranged around the pump shaft. The motor's rotor forms an impeller that directly conveys liquid, eliminating the need for separate mechanical drive components and reducing overall height while maintaining drive reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electric motor is nested radially around the pump shaft, with the motor rotor forming the impeller. This nested arrangement allows the motor to drive the pump directly through magnetic coupling, eliminating the need for external shafts and mechanical seals, thereby reducing the overall height and space requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If multiple seals are used to seal the shaft passage through the motor housing, then the pump can be sealed effectively, but the assembly complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of seals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for mechanical shaft seals by using magnetic coupling between the motor rotor and pump impeller. The shaft does not pass through the motor housing, removing the sealing requirement entirely and simplifying the assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical seal system with a magnetic coupling system. The motor rotor magnetically couples with the pump impeller without physical contact through the housing, eliminating mechanical wear and sealing requirements while maintaining effective liquid conveyance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 design achieves a lower overall height, reduces assembly effort, and enhances reliability by minimizing the number of seals needed, while maintaining effective lubrication performance and reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic field sensor for detecting the position of the rotor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

an electronically commutated electric motor accommodated therein, which has a substantially cup-shaped, magnetic rotor that can be rotated about an axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3087277B2Electric motor driven fluid pump, in particular for the forced lubrication of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 FTE AUTOMOTIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3087277B2 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3087277B2 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3087277B2 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An electric motor driven fluid pump (10), which can be used for forced lubrication of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle, comprises a housing (16) having a fluid inlet (18) and a fluid outlet (18), and an electronically commutated electric motor (26) incorporated therein. The electric motor comprises a substantially cup-shaped magnetic rotor (28) rotatable around a rotational axis (A), with means (30) for conveying fluid, an annular stator (34) having a motor winding (32) which at least partially encloses the rotor in a coaxial arrangement with respect to the rotational axis when viewed along the rotational axis, and a magnetic field sensor (36) for detecting the position of the rotor. The housing thus comprises a stator housing section (40) which holds the stator, separates same from a fluid chamber (42) in which the rotor is arranged, and extends, viewed along the rotational axis, with a housing shoulder (48) into the rotor, which housing shoulder is formed for mounting the magnetic field sensor so that the fluid pump has a low total installation height.