Fluid Pump Heat-Conducting Element for Embedded Thermal Dissipation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fluid pumps face challenges in efficiently dissipating waste heat from electronic power components while maintaining reliability and low production costs, particularly in aggressive environments with high temperatures and vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A fluid pump design that embeds a stator, control unit, and a plate-like heat-conducting element in a casting compound, distributing waste heat over a large surface area for efficient dissipation through the compound and housing, with the element being electrically conductive to enhance EMC compatibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control unit and stator are embedded in the drive housing by means of a casting compound, then the fluid pump can be produced simply and cost-effectively, and reliability is improved, but the waste heat from electronic power components cannot be dissipated reliably

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidwaste heat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is segmented into multiple sections (first section, second section, third section) with different functions. The first section contacts the control unit for heat dissipation, the second section provides structural support, and the third section interfaces with the housing. This segmentation allows the base body to simultaneously achieve heat dissipation and maintain the integrity of the casting compound embedding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base body acts as an intermediary element between the control unit and the casting compound. It provides a thermal conduction path for heat dissipation while also serving as a mechanical interface that allows the control unit to be embedded in the casting compound. The base body mediates between the need for heat dissipation and the need for secure embedding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the base body has a large surface area, then waste heat can be dissipated over a larger area, but the production complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaste heat dissipationVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides heat dissipation surface area, mechanical support for the control unit, thermal conduction path, and structural interface with the housing. By making the base body multi-functional, the design avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in production complexity while achieving effective heat dissipation.

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

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

Effectively dissipates waste heat without hot spots, maintains reliability under adverse conditions, and improves EMC compatibility by using a conductive heat-conducting element embedded in the casting compound.

Implementation Method 1

the heat-conducting element with a plate-like base body... distributing the locally occurring waste heat over a larger surface area by means of the heat-conducting element such that it can then be emitted to the outside through the casting compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the heat-conducting element and the housing are electrically conductive... the emission of electromagnetic radiation to the outside is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4386178B1Fluid pump
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 VALEO POWERTRAIN GMBH
  • EP4386178B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4386178B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4386178B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a fluid pump (10), in particular an oil pump for supplying a clutch actuator, a gearbox actuator, a lubrication system and/or a cooling system of a drive train, with a housing (12), a stator (14), a control unit (16) which is arranged at one end of the housing (12), and a heat-conducting element (30) with a plate-like base body (32), wherein the stator (14), the control unit (16) and the plate-like base body (32) are embedded in a casting compound (26).