One-Piece Liquid Pump Housing for Leak-Safe Force Absorption

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid pumps in motor vehicles suffer from inefficient force absorption and long tolerance chains due to multipart housings, leading to suboptimal operation and potential hydraulic leaks.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece housing design with a base and side walls, where the pump assembly and electric motor are mounted from a single side, using a potting compound for mechanical support and thermal dissipation, and a separating pot with a flange to separate hydraulic and electronic sides, ensuring reliable sealing and force absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a multipart housing design is used, then the pump can be assembled with separate components, but the forces during operation cannot be absorbed optimally and long tolerance chains occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidforce absorption and tolerance control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple housing parts into a single-integral housing structure that receives both the pump assembly and electric motor. This unified housing absorbs operational forces more effectively and eliminates tolerance accumulation between multiple housing components, while still allowing separate assembly of pump and motor units within the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate housing parts are used for pump assembly and motor, then manufacturing is simplified, but tolerance chains become long and force absorption is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehousing manufacturingVSAvoidtolerance chain length

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is designed as a single-integral structure formed from one piece of material, eliminating the need to assemble multiple housing parts. This reduces the tolerance chain to zero for the housing itself, ensuring precise relative positioning of the pump assembly and motor while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through appropriate forming processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a one-piece housing is used, then tolerance chains are shortened and force absorption is improved, but the structure becomes more complex to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce absorption uniformityVSAvoidhousing production complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing combines multiple functional elements into a single-integral structure that receives both pump and motor assemblies. While the structure is more complex than simple housing parts, the unified design provides uniform force absorption pathways and eliminates tolerance accumulation, with the complexity managed through appropriate manufacturing processes for integral structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single-integral housing performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the structural container for both pump and motor, provides force absorption pathways, establishes precise relative positioning, and offers mounting surfaces for external components. This multi-functionality justifies the increased manufacturing complexity by eliminating the need for separate structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multipart housing is used, then assembly is flexible, but hydraulic forces are not absorbed optimally leading to potential leaks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly configuration flexibilityVSAvoidhydraulic sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single-integral housing provides continuous, uninterrupted force absorption pathways from the hydraulic pump to the housing exterior, eliminating weak points at housing joints where hydraulic forces could cause leakage. The unified structure ensures uniform distribution of hydraulic loads while maintaining the flexibility to accommodate different pump and motor configurations within the housing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 one-piece design simplifies assembly, minimizes tolerance chains, uniformly absorbs operational forces, and prevents hydraulic leaks, enhancing reliability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

The potting compound supports the separating pot from outside, so that the hydraulic forces that occur during operation can readily be absorbed.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical support and force absorption:

Implementation Method 2

the potting compound has good heat-conducting properties, so that the thermal losses that occur are readily dissipated.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4006302B1Liquid pump, in particular for a component of a drive train of a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.11.12 VALEO POWERTRAIN GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a liquid pump having an electric motor (22, 24), a pump assembly (16, 18, 20), which is driven by the electric motor (22, 24), and a housing (10) in which the electric motor (22, 24) and the pump assembly (16, 18, 20) are arranged, characterized in that the housing (10) is in the form of a one-piece, injection-moulded pot having a base (12) and side walls (14), wherein the pump assembly (16, 18, 20) bears against the base (12), and the electric motor (22, 24) is arranged on the open side of the housing (10) remote from the base (12).