Vehicle Vacuum Pump Pressure Feedback to Prevent Motor Overrun
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle electric vacuum pumps face inefficiencies and wear due to prolonged operation at high altitudes or reduced efficiency, leading to excessive energy consumption and potential damage from continuous motor operation when atmospheric pressure is low or pumping efficiency declines.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle vacuum pump with a rotatable vane pump rotor, an electromagnetic motor, and a pump control unit featuring a permanent-operation-prevention control module that monitors pressure differences and adjusts motor operation to prevent continuous pumping, using a tolerance interval and timing mechanism to detect non-changing pressure and avoid useless energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electric motor operates continuously to maintain vacuum pressure, then the vacuum pressure is maintained, but the motor experiences excessive wear and energy waste
Solution Approach 1:
The control module switches the electric motor on and off periodically based on pressure sensor feedback. The motor operates only when the pressure difference falls below the critical threshold, and remains off when the threshold is met, avoiding continuous operation and reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliable vacuum pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor continuously monitors the pressure difference and provides feedback to the control module. This feedback mechanism enables the control module to make real-time decisions about motor operation, switching it off when the vacuum target is achieved and switching it on when pressure drops below the critical threshold.
2Reliability
If the electric motor operates continuously at high altitude or with worn pumping unit, then the target pressure may be reached, but the motor overheats and suffers severe damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control module implements periodic operation by switching the motor on only when the pressure difference falls below the critical threshold and switching it off when the target pressure is reached. This prevents continuous operation that would cause overheating and motor damage, especially in challenging conditions like high altitude or worn pumping units.
Solution Approach 2:
The control module is programmed with a safety mechanism that proactively switches off the motor when the target pressure is achieved, preventing the motor from operating under excessive load for extended periods. This beforehand protection prevents overheating and severe motor damage before they occur.
3Loss of energy
If the pump control unit switches off the motor when target pressure is reached, then energy consumption is reduced, but the motor may not start again if pressure drops below critical threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor continuously monitors the pressure difference and provides real-time feedback to the control module. When the pressure drops below the critical threshold, the feedback signal triggers the control module to switch the motor on again, ensuring the vacuum pressure is recovered. This feedback mechanism prevents the motor from remaining off when vacuum pressure needs to be restored.
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 ensures efficient and reliable operation by preventing continuous motor operation when pressure differences are stable, reducing wear and energy waste, and providing a mechanism for detecting malfunctions through vehicle data bus communication.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor for driving the pump rotor
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor connector for periodically receiving a difference-pressure parameter from a motor vehicle pressure sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is directed to a motor vehicle vacuum pump (10), comprising - a pumping unit (24) with a rotatable pump rotor (26), - an electric motor (30) for driving the pump rotor (26), - a pressure sensor connector (38) for periodically receiving a difference-pressure parameter (PD) provided by a motor vehicle pressure sensor (18), and - a pump control unit (34) for controlling the electric motor (30) based on the difference-pressure parameter (PD), wherein the pump control unit (34) comprises a permanent-operation-prevention control module (40) which is configured to monitor the difference-pressure parameter (PD) and to switch off the electric motor (30) if the difference-pressure parameter (PD) remains within a defined tolerance interval (In) for a defined threshold time span (TT). The permanent-operation-prevention control module (40) according to the present invention reliably avoids an energy-wasting and wear-causing permanent operation of the electric motor (30) in case of a non-changing difference-pressure parameter (PD). This provides an efficient and reliable motor vehicle vacuum pump (10).