Integrated Motor Pump Assembly for Zero-Turn Vehicle Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive systems in vehicles like lawn and garden tractors lack an efficient combination of electric deck motors and circulating pumps, which limits effective cooling and power distribution, particularly in zero-turn applications.
Innovation Solution
A combined electric deck motor and circulating pump configuration is mounted on a housing member, where the circulating pump is integrated with the electric deck motor to provide cooling for vehicle components, including a generator and battery, using a gerotor-style pump with separate coolant reservoirs and heat exchangers for enhanced heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a combined electric deck motor and circulating pump configuration is used, then cooling efficiency is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the circulating pump and electric deck motor into a single integrated assembly, where the pump is mounted on the motor housing and shares common structural elements. This merging allows the cooling system to benefit from the motor's thermal management capabilities while reducing the number of separate components, thereby enhancing cooling efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The combined assembly serves multiple functions: the electric deck motor provides cutting power, while the integrated circulating pump delivers cooling fluid to the generator and other components. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would traditionally require separate motor and pump units, improving thermal management while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Temperature
If separate coolant reservoirs and heat exchangers are used for motor and pump, then temperature differential is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate coolant reservoirs and heat exchanger paths for the motor and pump components. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of each component, maintaining optimal temperature differentials for efficient operation. The motor has its own coolant reservoir and heat exchanger, while the pump has separate cooling provisions, enabling tailored thermal control without requiring a completely separate cooling system for each component.
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 integration enhances cooling efficiency, improves power distribution, and maintains a temperature differential between the motor and pump, ensuring effective operation in vehicles with zero-turn capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a circulating pump is mounted on a housing member of at least one electric deck motor... wherein at least one apparatus on the vehicle is cooled by the circulating pump
Implementation Method 2
using a gerotor-style pump with separate coolant reservoirs and heat exchangers for enhanced heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
A power and cooling assembly is disclosed for use with a vehicle having a deck for a rotatable tool such as a mowing blade. An electric motor is mounted on the deck and used to drive the blades by an output shaft. A circulating pump is connected to a housing of the electric motor and is also driven by the electric motor. The circulating pump is hydraulically connected to at least one sump on the vehicle and at least one electrical component of the vehicle to provide cooling thereto. Additional cooling pumps may be provided on the vehicle and may provide cooling to additional electrical components.