Vehicle Pump Electrical Contact for Resistor-Based Addressing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pump designs in vehicles face challenges with cost and wiring constraints, and there is a need for efficient address assignment and control signal management in the event of control failures or power loss.

Innovation Solution

A pump system with a pinout configuration that includes electrical connectors for control signals, power, and address selection, utilizing a system controller to identify pumps based on resistor values and enable address assignment, allowing for efficient communication and operation even in failure scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate electrical contact is added to the pump housing, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and number of parts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contact is integrated directly into the impeller assembly, merging the electrical connection function with the mechanical impeller component. This eliminates the need for a separate electrical contact part in the pump housing, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable electrical connection between the motor and impeller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the pump housing is made more complex to accommodate electrical contacts, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contact is combined with the impeller assembly as a single integrated component. This merging approach simplifies the pump housing design and manufacturing process, as the electrical contact is formed as part of the impeller assembly rather than requiring separate housing modifications or additional assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If separate electrical contacts are used in the pump housing, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but the pump becomes more susceptible to water damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidwater damage susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contact is integrated into the impeller assembly, which is already positioned within the sealed pump housing. This integration ensures that the electrical contact is protected from water exposure by the existing pump housing seal, eliminating the need for additional protective measures while maintaining reliable electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4500016B1Pump with combined electrical contact
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 MODINE MFG CO
  • EP4500016B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4500016B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4500016B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle system including a pump having a motor and a pinout configuration with an electrical contact. The electrical contact receives and transmits signals related to an operation of the pump and an address selection. The pump also includes a motor controller. The vehicle system also includes a system controller bus communicatively connected to the pinout configuration and a system controller communicatively connected to the pump via the system controller bus. The system controller determines that the electrical contact is energized, determines that a resistor is electrically connected to the electrical contact after determining that the electrical contact is energized, determines a resistance value of the resistor after determining that the resistor is electrically connected to the electrical contact, identifies the pump based on the resistance value, and transmits a control signal to the motor controller to control the operation of the pump.