Pump Group Segmented Cooling for Vehicle Engine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump groups for vehicle cooling systems with electric drives face challenges in compact design and effective cooling of both electrical and mechanical components, often resulting in complex geometries and large dimensions that do not suit the automotive sector's space requirements.
Innovation Solution
A pump group with a radial impeller and electric motor, where the cooling liquid and oil circulate in separate compartments, utilizing oil for convection cooling of electrical components and preventing mixing, with a sealing member and lubrication conduits to ensure effective lubrication and cooling in any vehicle position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the cooling liquid is used to cool the electric motor and its components, then the cooling effectiveness is improved, but the hydraulic portion geometry becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The pump group is divided into two separate compartments: a hydraulic compartment for the impeller and cooling liquid, and an electrical compartment for the electric motor. The separating element with integrated sealing member creates distinct fluid pathways, allowing independent optimization of cooling circuits for mechanical and electrical components without geometric complexity
2Temperature
If the pump group is designed with separate compartments for cooling liquid and oil, then the cooling of electrical components is improved, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical compartment is positioned concentrically around the hydraulic compartment, with the separating element forming a cylindrical structure that encloses the impeller chamber while containing the electric motor windings and electronic components in the annular space between the impeller housing and outer casing
Solution Approach 2:
The separating element and sealing member are integrated into a single component that simultaneously performs multiple functions: separating hydraulic and electrical compartments, providing rotational sealing between compartments, and supporting the impeller shaft assembly
3Reliability
If the sealing member prevents mixing of cooling liquid and oil, then the reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is constructed as a monolithic component with uniform material properties throughout, featuring integrated sealing lips and cooling channels that are molded or machined as a single piece rather than assembled from multiple components, simplifying manufacturing while ensuring reliable fluid separation
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 solution provides efficient cooling of both electrical and mechanical components, maintains compact dimensions, ensures optimal lubrication, and allows for easy assembly and positioning within a vehicle, effectively addressing the limitations of prior art designs.
Implementation Method 1
the cooling liquid present in the chamber where the impeller is housed is also used to cool the electric motor and its related components
Implementation Method 2
utilizing oil for convection cooling of electrical components
Implementation Method 3
a sealing member and lubrication conduits to ensure effective lubrication and cooling in any vehicle position
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is a pump group for a cooling system of an operating group of a vehicle, preferably the engine group. The pump group (1) extends with respect to an axis (X-X) and comprises an impeller (2), a shaft (3) on which the impeller (2) is integrally mounted, and an electric motor (4) comprising a rotor (41) integrally mounted on the shaft (3) and a stator (41) that surrounds the rotor (41) axially and circumferentially. The pump group (1) comprises a pump body (5) comprising, along the axis (X-X): an impeller casing (6) in which the impeller (2) is housed; a separating and supporting element (7) comprising a collar (70) that engages and rotatably supports the shaft (3); a motor casing (8) in which the electric motor (4) is housed. Said impeller chamber (60) and said motor chamber (80) are sealingly separated from each other and the motor chamber (80) contains a quantity of oil suitable for cooling the rotor (41) and the stator (42) by convection, in which the rotation of the rotor (41) propells the oil.