Hybrid Fan-Pump Cooling Assembly for Independent Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling fluid recirculation and cooling systems for vehicles are inefficient due to the inability to independently control the pump and fan, leading to unnecessary energy consumption and wear, and are not compact enough to fit in small engine compartments.
Innovation Solution
A compact hybrid group comprising a recirculating pump and fan that share a single axis of rotation, with a friction coupling for rotational movement transmission from the driving shaft and an independent electric motor for the fan, allowing independent operation and adjustable speed based on engine requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a friction coupling is used to transmit rotational movement from the driving shaft to the fan, then the fan rotation can be controlled based on driving shaft revolutions, but the fan and pump cannot operate independently of each other
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into two independent parts: a friction coupling for transmitting rotational movement from the driving shaft to the fan, and an independent electric motor for driving the pump. This segmentation allows the fan and pump to operate independently while maintaining system manageability and reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction coupling serves multiple functions: it transmits rotational movement from the driving shaft to the fan, allows the fan to operate based on driving shaft revolutions, and enables independent pump operation through the electric motor. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If the pump impeller and fan are arranged to rotate about a single fixed axis of rotation, then the radial and axial dimensions are reduced for compact installation, but the design becomes more constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The pump impeller and fan are merged into a compact arrangement where both rotate about a single fixed axis of rotation. This combining of rotational axes reduces the radial and axial dimensions of the group, enabling installation in small engine compartments while maintaining independent operational capability through the dual-drive system.
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from separate rotational axes to a shared single axis, effectively changing the spatial dimensionality of the arrangement. This dimensional change reduces the overall footprint of the group while the independent drive systems compensate for the operational constraints imposed by the shared axis.
3Reliability
If the fan and pump are operated at full speed continuously, then sufficient cooling is ensured, but energy consumption and component wear increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static full-speed operation to dynamic speed control. The friction coupling enables the fan speed to vary based on driving shaft revolutions, while the electric motor allows independent pump speed adjustment. This dynamics ensures sufficient cooling effectiveness while reducing energy consumption and component wear by matching speeds to actual cooling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The operational parameters of the fan and pump are changed from fixed full-speed operation to variable speed operation. The friction coupling transmits rotational movement at varying speeds based on driving shaft revolutions, and the electric motor enables independent speed adjustment of the pump. This parameter change optimizes the balance between cooling effectiveness and energy consumption.
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 efficient cooling with reduced energy consumption and wear by allowing independent operation of the pump and fan, compact design for small engine compartments, and adjustable speed to match cooling needs, while maintaining high airflow coverage over the radiator.
Implementation Method 1
a friction coupling, which is designed to be connected to the driving shaft of the vehicle in order to transmit a rotational movement from the driving shaft to the fan
Implementation Method 2
a first electric motor for rotationally driving the pump; a second electric motor for imparting to the fan a number of revolutions independent of the revolutions of the said driving shaft
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Group for recirculating and cooling a cooling fluid of vehicle, comprising: - a recirculating pump (100), the impeller (101) of which is mounted on a first end of a shaft (102) supported by a fixed group (110) comprising the pump body (111) designed, during use, to be fixed to the base (11a) of a combustion engine of the vehicle; - a fan (201) fastened to a bell member (202) mounted on the pump body (111) via a bearing (240); wherein - the pump (110) and the fan (201) have a single fixed axis of rotation (X-X); and in that the group comprises: - a first electric motor (120) for rotationally driving the pump (110); - a hybrid assembly for rotationally driving the fan (201), comprising a friction coupling (250) designed to be connected to the driving shaft of the vehicle and a second electric motor (261) designed to impart to the fan (201) a number of revolutions independent of the revolutions of the said driving shaft; the fan and the pump impeller being therefore able to be operated independently of each other.