Lubricant Vane Pump Pressure Equilibration Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lubricant vane pumps experience prolonged priming times and pressure peaks during cold starts due to low viscosity oil, leading to inefficient engine lubrication, especially with high stiffness pretensioning elements that compromise pump performance at high temperatures.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure equilibration channel that drains lubricant from the pumping chamber into the spring chamber during the final discharge phase, allowing the control ring to shift to a high pumping volume direction, reducing pressure peaks and enabling the use of low stiffness pretensioning elements, thus improving cold start action and overall pump efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high stiffness pretensioning elements are used to force the control ring into high volume direction during cold start, then the pump can maintain high pumping volume, but the control quality deteriorates at high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The pump control system is segmented into two independent control paths: a mechanical pretensioning element providing baseline high-volume bias, and a hydraulic pressure equilibration channel providing dynamic pressure control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromising overall performance across temperature ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equilibration channel acts as an intermediary mechanism between the pumping chamber and spring chamber, mediating the pressure differential that controls ring position. This intermediary allows indirect control of the control ring through pressure equalization rather than direct mechanical forcing, improving control quality while maintaining cold start capability.
2Productivity
If the control ring is forced into low volume direction due to low viscosity lubricant in cold start, then the pump cannot pressurize lubricant effectively, but the priming time becomes too long
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equilibration channel is designed to preemptively equalize pressures during the final discharge zone phase, before the pumping chamber fully transitions to the charge zone. This preliminary pressure equalization prevents the control ring from being forced into low volume direction, ensuring immediate pressurization capability from cold start without prolonged priming time.
Solution Approach 2:
The low viscosity of cold lubricant, which normally causes it to fail to fill the spring chamber and forces the control ring into low volume direction, is converted into a benefit through the pressure equilibration channel. The channel uses the low viscosity to its advantage by allowing rapid pressure equalization that actively pushes the control ring into high volume direction, turning the harmful low viscosity effect into a useful pressure balancing mechanism.
3Reliability
If pressure peaks occur during cold start action, then the pump can overcome low viscosity lubricant, but hydraulic noise increases and pump lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure equilibration channel provides beforehand cushioning by equalizing pressures during the final discharge zone phase, before the high-pressure discharge occurs. This pre-equalization cushions against sudden pressure peaks during cold start, reducing hydraulic noise and stress on pump components while maintaining the ability to overcome low viscosity lubricant.
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 design significantly reduces priming time, hydraulic noise, and pressure peaks, while maintaining pump efficiency and extending its lifespan by allowing a low stiffness pretensioning element without compromising performance, even at maximum control ring eccentricity.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure equilibration channel (52) for draining the lubricant from the pumping chamber area between the control ring and the rotor in the final emission phase directly into the spring chamber (53)
Implementation Method 2
A pretensioning element, which is provided in a spring chamber (53), is pushing the control ring (28) to a high pumping volume direction
Implementation Method 3
The lubricant vane pump is furthermore provided with a control chamber (54), whereby lubricant pressure in the control chamber (54) causes the control ring to be moved to a low pumping volume direction against the pretensioning force of the pretensioning element
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention refers to a lubricant vane pump (10) for providing pressurized lubricant for an internal combustion engine. The lubricant vane pump (10) is provided with a pump housing (12) and a pump rotor (30), whereby the pump rotor (30) is provided with radially slidable vanes (32) rotating in a shiftable control ring (28) which envelopes a pumping cavity (18) with numerous rotating pumping chambers (19) rotating from a charge zone (22) to a discharge zone (24). A pretensioning element (72) is provided in a spring chamber (53). The pretensioning element (72) pushing the control ring (28) to a high pumping volume direction. A control chamber (54), whereby lubricant pressure in the control chamber (54) causes the control ring (28) to be moved to a low pumping volume direction against the pretensioning element (72). A pumping cavity outlet port (14), whereby the pumping cavity outlet port (14) is connected to the control chamber (54). A pressure equilibration channel (52) is provided for draining the lubricant from the pumping chamber (19) in the final discharge zone (24) into the spring chamber (53).