Pump Device Flange Vibration Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pump devices mounted on automatic transmissions experience significant vibration amplification, leading to premature wear of O-rings and other components due to friction, as vibrations are easily transmitted through the flange portion to the inlet and outlet ports.

Innovation Solution

The pump device incorporates a design with a radially extending flange portion and a precisely fitted exposure portion that overlaps with the pump chamber, preventing vibration propagation from the vehicle component to the inlet and outlet ports, thereby reducing wear on sealing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the pump device is mounted on the automatic transmission via the flange portion, then the pump device can be securely fixed to the transmission, but vibration from the transmission is transmitted to the inlet and outlet ports causing O-ring wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting strengthVSAvoidsealing reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pump device body is separated into distinct functional sections: the motor portion, the pump portion, and the exposure portion. This segmentation allows the exposure portion to be specifically designed for vibration isolation while maintaining the mounting function of the flange portion, thus resolving the contradiction between secure mounting and vibration prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The exposure portion acts as an intermediary element between the pump device body and the automatic transmission. It provides a precise fitting interface that interrupts the vibration transmission path from the transmission to the inlet and outlet ports, while still allowing secure mounting through the flange portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the inlet and outlet ports are connected to the hydraulic path on the inner surface of the mounting hole, then hydraulic connection is achieved, but vibration amplification occurs causing component wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehydraulic connectionVSAvoidvibration amplification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inlet and outlet ports are extracted from the mounting hole inner surface and relocated to the pump cover. This extraction removes them from the direct vibration path through the mounting hole, eliminating the vibration amplification effect while maintaining hydraulic connection functionality through the pump chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The hydraulic connection is repositioned from a two-dimensional interface on the mounting hole inner surface to a three-dimensional configuration within the pump chamber. This dimensional change allows the inlet and outlet ports to be positioned in a location less susceptible to vibration amplification while maintaining effective hydraulic flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the flange portion extends radially outward for mounting, then secure attachment to the vehicle component is achieved, but it becomes a vibration transmission path to the pump ports

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pump device structure is segmented into the flange portion for mounting and the pump body for fluid handling. This segmentation isolates the vibration-generating mounting function from the vibration-sensitive pump ports, allowing the flange to provide secure attachment while the pump body remains protected from vibration transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The exposure portion serves as an intermediary between the flange portion and the pump chamber. It provides a precise fitting interface that blocks the vibration transmission path from the flange portion to the inlet and outlet ports, while allowing the flange to maintain its attachment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3839208B1Pump device
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 NIDEC TOSOK CORP
  • EP3839208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3839208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3839208B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A pump device (10) for a vehicle includes a motor portion (20) having a shaft (41) having a center thereof on an axially extending center axis (J), a rotor (40) which is fixed to the shaft (41), and a stator (50) which is arranged on a radially outer side of the rotor (40), wherein the axis (J) includes a first axial side and a second axial side opposite to the first axial side; a pump portion (30) which is arranged on the first axial side of the motor portion (20), and driven by the motor portion (20); and a case (11) having a lid portion (18) which is arranged on the second axial side of the motor portion (20), a tube portion (17, 14) including a first tube section (17) which is arranged on the lid portion (18) and a second tube section (14) which is arranged on the first axial side of the first tube section (17), and a flange portion (15, 19) arranged between the first tube section (17) and second tube section (14) and extending radially outward from the tube portion (17,14). The pump portion (30) includes an inner rotor (61) which is attached to the shaft (41); an annular outer rotor (62) which surrounds a radially outer side of the inner rotor (61); a pump body (31) which accommodates the inner rotor (61) and the outer rotor (62); and a pump cover (32) which is attached to the first axial side of the pump body (31). The pump body (31) has a pump chamber (33) which is recessed from a surface on the first axial side toward the second axial side and accommodates the inner rotor (61) and the outer rotor (62), and a through-hole (31a) which axially penetrates through the pump body (31) and through which the shaft (41) passes. The pump cover (32) has an inlet (32a) and an outlet (32b) which are in communication with the pump chamber (33). A surface on the first axial side of the flange portion (15) is in contact with a surface (CBS) of a component (CB1) of the vehicle and the pump device (10) fixed to the component (CB1) via the flange portion (15). The component (CB1) has a pump device accommodation portion (BD1) which is recessed from the surface (CBS) toward the first axial side. The pump device accommodation portion (BD1) has an accommodation main body portion (BD1a) and a fitting portion (BD1b). At least a portion of the motor portion (20) is arranged in a radially inner side of the accommodation main body portion (BD1a) opening toward the surface (CBS). The fitting portion (BD1b) which is arranged on the first side of the accommodation main body portion (BD1a) is fitted with the pump body (31).