Integrated Coolant Pump Control Reduces Wiring Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coolant pumps require a high number of electrical lines for power supply and signal communication, making them complex, costly, and susceptible to corrosion in harsh environments, which increases assembly and installation challenges.
Innovation Solution
A coolant pump with an integrated pump controller and sensor that uses a dedicated control circuit to control the hydraulic actuator, reducing the need for separate power and communication lines, and eliminating the need for external wiring and corrosion-sensitive connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional coolant pump with separate power supply and communication lines is used, then reliable control of the coolant pump is achieved, but the number of electrical lines and plug connections increases, making the system more complex and susceptible to corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power supply unit, communication interface, and pump control into a single integrated control unit that is directly coupled to the hydraulic actuator. This merging eliminates the need for separate electrical lines and plug connections between the central engine control, power supply, communication interface, and pump control, thereby reducing system complexity and corrosion risk while maintaining control reliability through the integrated design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate electrical connections are installed for power supply and signal communication, then complete control functionality is achieved, but assembly and installation work increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the power supply unit, communication interface, and pump control into one consolidated control unit with a single plug connection to the central engine control. This integration maintains complete control functionality through internal communication between components while dramatically reducing assembly work by eliminating multiple separate electrical line installations and plug connections.
3Ease of operation
If corrosion-sensitive plug connections and outlet seals are used, then electrical power and signals can be transmitted, but the susceptibility to failure increases in harsh environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates corrosion-sensitive plug connections and outlet seals from the system by integrating the power supply and communication interface directly into the pump control housing. The integrated control unit requires only a single plug connection to the central engine control, removing multiple corrosion-prone connection points that would otherwise be exposed to harsh engine compartment environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control unit provides self-protection against corrosion by housing all electrical components within a sealed pump control housing that is part of the pump assembly. This design eliminates the need for separate outdoor-exposed plug connections and seals, as the integration itself prevents exposure to corrosive environmental factors.
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
This design simplifies the structure, reduces manufacturing and installation costs, enhances reliability by minimizing corrosion risks, and reduces the processing load on the central engine controller, while ensuring efficient heat management and compatibility with various engine controls.
Implementation Method 1
the hydraulic pressure of the actuator is not produced by a closed circuit with hydraulic oil, but is applied via a bypass flow of the coolant
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The invention relates to a coolant pump for pumping a coolant for an internal combustion engine in a vehicle which comprises the internal combustion engine and a central engine control. The coolant pump comprises a pump shaft (4) which is rotatably mounted in a pump housing (1) and is driven by the internal combustion engine via a belt drive (3). An impeller (5) is arranged on the pump shaft (4) and is accommodated in a pump chamber (2) of the pump housing (1), pumping a coolant. A axial piston pump (9), which is operated via a wobble plate (8) on a rear face of the impeller (5), conducts part of the pumped coolant away to a hydraulic circuit (11) which extends from the axial piston pump (9) via a proportional valve (13) back to the pumped coolant and has a branch-off (11b) between the axial piston pump (9) and the proportional valve (13) as the hydraulic actuator. A regulating slide valve (7), which adjusts a volume flow of the coolant pumped by the coolant pump, can be moved depending on a pressure in the hydraulic circuit (11). A sensor (19), which detects a parameter characteristic of the volume flow of the pumped coolant, outputs an actual value signal of the parameter. The coolant pump particularly comprises a dedicated pump control (21) which controls the proportional valve (13) in the hydraulic circuit (11) on the basis of the actual value signal of the sensor (19) and a desired value signal of the central engine control.