Fluid Pump With External Rotor Gear Drive for High-Viscosity Liquids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Internal gear ring pumps are inefficient when pumping high-viscosity liquids due to the need for higher torque, which is not optimal for electric motors.

Innovation Solution

A fluid pump design incorporating an external rotor with toothing and a drive pinion that forms a transmission mechanism, allowing the electric motor to operate at high rotational speed with low torque, using an internal gear pump as an additional stage to enhance efficiency and reduce rotational speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the internal rotor is driven directly by the electric motor, then the motor operates at low rotational speed with high torque, but the efficiency of the pump decreases when pumping high-viscosity liquids

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump efficiencyVSAvoidmotor rotational speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

A drive pinion with toothing is introduced as an intermediary transmission element between the electric motor and the internal rotor. The pinion engages with the toothing on the external rotor, forming a gear transmission mechanism that converts the motor's high-speed low-torque output into the pump's required low-speed high-torque operation, thereby resolving the contradiction between motor operating characteristics and pump efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The transmission mechanism changes the rotational speed and torque parameters of the drive system. By incorporating the gear transmission with appropriate tooth counts on the pinion and external rotor, the system transforms the motor's operational parameters to match the optimal operating range for pumping high-viscosity liquids, improving overall pump efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If the motor operates at high rotational speed with low torque, then the motor design becomes more efficient and cost-effective, but a transmission mechanism is required which increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive pinion with toothing serves a dual function: it acts as both the transmission element for the electric motor and as part of the internal gear pump mechanism. This merging of functions allows the transmission mechanism to be integrated into the existing pump structure without adding significant complexity, as the toothing on the external rotor is already necessary for the pump's operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The external rotor is designed with toothing that serves multiple purposes: it forms the gear engagement surface for the drive pinion (transmission function) and simultaneously constitutes the pumping elements of the internal gear pump. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate transmission and pumping components, reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If an internal gear pump is used as an additional pump stage, then volumetric flow and efficiency increase, but the pump length increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolumetric flowVSAvoidpump length
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive pinion is positioned inside the external rotor, and the internal rotor is located within the external rotor cavity. This nested arrangement allows the transmission mechanism and pump components to occupy the same radial space, creating a compact structure that achieves dual functionality (transmission and pumping) without proportionally increasing the overall pump length

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 high efficiency and compactness by optimizing motor operation and enabling the use of cost-effective permanent magnets, while increasing volumetric flow and reducing pump length.

Implementation Method 1

The drive pinion and the internal toothing of the external rotor can form an internal gear pump. The internal gear pump is in particular a gear mechanism which ensures a reduction in the rotational speed from the electric motor to the external rotor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

an internal rotor located in the housing, and an external rotor which surrounds the internal rotor, is rotatably mounted in the housing and, together with the internal rotor, forms an internal gear ring pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInternal gear ring pump mechanism: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP4632227A1Fluid pump
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 VALEO EMBRAYAGES SAS
  • EP4632227A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4632227A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4632227A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

What is specified is a fluid pump (10) comprising a housing (12), an internal rotor (14) located in the housing (12), and an external rotor (16) which surrounds the internal rotor (14), is rotatably mounted in the housing (12) and, together with the internal rotor (14), forms a internal gear ring pump, wherein the external rotor (16) is provided with a toothing (18) with which a drive pinion (20) meshes.