Dual Pump Clutch Actuation with Prefill Line for Fast Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump units for clutch actuation in motor vehicle drivetrains face challenges in providing high-pressure fluid flow quickly while also lubricating and cooling the clutch, while minimizing energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A dual pump unit with a single drive motor, featuring a high-pressure port, a low-pressure port, and a prefilling line with a check valve, allowing for efficient diversion of lubricant flow to prefill the clutch actuator and subsequent high-pressure fluid control, along with optional throttle and control valves for optimized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single pump is used to provide both high-pressure actuation flow and low-pressure lubricant flow, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide high volumetric flow rate at low pressure and high pressure at low volumetric flow rate simultaneously becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into two distinct pumping chambers: a low-pressure chamber with a first drive mechanism that delivers high volumetric flow rate at low pressure for lubrication, and a high-pressure chamber with a second drive mechanism that delivers low volumetric flow rate at high pressure for actuation. This segmentation allows each chamber to be optimized for its specific function while sharing a common housing and output interface.
2Speed
If high-pressure fluid is provided quickly for clutch actuation, then clutch response time is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump employs variable displacement mechanisms where the volumetric flow rates of both the low-pressure and high-pressure chambers can be dynamically adjusted based on real-time clutch actuation requirements. The drive mechanisms can vary their speed and displacement to provide high-pressure flow quickly when needed while reducing overall energy consumption during normal operation or when high-pressure flow is not required.
3Productivity
If a dual pump system with separate high-pressure and low-pressure pumps is used, then fluid delivery performance is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Two separate pump functions (high-pressure actuation pump and low-pressure lubrication pump) are merged into a single integrated pump unit with a common housing and output port. The low-pressure chamber and high-pressure chamber are arranged side-by-side within the same housing, sharing common structural elements and fluid pathways, thereby reducing overall system complexity and space requirements while maintaining the performance benefits of dual-pump architecture.
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
Enables rapid clutch actuation, lubrication, and cooling with reduced energy consumption by utilizing a single pump to deliver high-pressure and low-pressure fluid flows, ensuring efficient clutch operation and quick actuation times.
Implementation Method 1
a check valve, which blocks flow in a flow direction from the high-pressure line to the low-pressure line, is arranged in the prefilling line
Implementation Method 2
a dual pump, which is driven by the drive motor and has a high-pressure outlet, which is connected to the high-pressure port by means of a high-pressure line, and a low-pressure outlet, which is connected to the low-pressure port by means of a low-pressure line
Data Source
AI summary
A pump unit for clutch actuation, having a high-pressure port for clutch actuation, a low-pressure port for a lubricant flow, a single drive motor and a dual pump, which is driven by the drive motor and has a high-pressure outlet, which is connected to the high-pressure port with a high-pressure line, and a low-pressure outlet, which is connected to the low-pressure port with a low-pressure line, wherein a prefilling line which leads from the low-pressure line to the high-pressure line is provided.