Automotive Vapor Pump Integrated Pressure Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automotive vapor pumps face challenges in reliably detecting the correct rotational direction and functionality of electric motors without separate Hall sensors, which is essential for environmental safety and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A brushless electric vapor pump with a canned motor and integrated pressure sensor that eliminates the need for separate position sensors, using motor driving electronics and an external control unit to ensure reliable operation and fluidic pressure detection close to the pumping wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate Hall sensor is used to detect rotational direction and motor function, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure sensor and motor driving electronics into an integrated unit that serves dual functions: monitoring fluidic pressure and detecting motor operational status. This merging eliminates the need for separate Hall sensors while maintaining reliable detection capability through the pressure sensor's ability to infer motor function from pressure changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pressure sensor serves multiple functions: it detects fluidic pressure in the outlet volute or pump outlet duct, monitors motor operational status, and determines rotational direction. This multi-functionality replaces what would traditionally require separate sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability.
2Device complexity
If no separate Hall sensor is used to reduce cost and complexity, then device complexity and manufacturing cost are reduced, but measurement precision and reliability of motor function detection deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor acts as an intermediary that indirectly detects motor function and rotational direction by monitoring pressure changes in the pump system. Instead of directly measuring motor parameters like Hall sensors do, the system uses pressure changes as a mediator to infer motor operational status, maintaining detection precision without requiring complex direct measurement sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated pressure sensor provides continuous feedback on fluidic pressure and motor operational status to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables the control unit to reliably determine motor function and rotational direction by analyzing pressure change patterns, achieving accurate detection without separate Hall sensors.
3Reliability
If an integrated pressure sensor is used to detect fluidic pressure and motor function, then device complexity is reduced and reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor and motor driving electronics are merged into a single integrated unit that is manufactured as one component. This merging simplifies the overall assembly process and reduces the number of separate parts that need to be precisely aligned and assembled, thereby reducing cumulative manufacturing precision requirements while improving reliability through fewer connection points.
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 reliable control of the vapor pump's functionality, ensuring correct rotational direction and fluidic pressure monitoring without additional sensors, enhancing safety and reducing costs while maintaining high electrical reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a centrifugal pumping wheel configured to pump the pump gas from the pump inlet opening into the outlet volute
Implementation Method 2
the electric motor comprising at least one static motor coil, a magnetic rotor body, and a motor driving electronics which is configured to drive the at least one static motor coil
Implementation Method 3
an integrated pressure sensor configured to detect a fluidic pressure in the outlet volute or in the pump outlet duct
Data Source
AI summary
An automotive vapor pump for pumping a pump gas having a fuel vapor. The automotive vapor pump includes a pump inlet opening, a pump outlet opening, an outlet volute, a pump outlet duct which is substantially tangential and which fluidically connects the outlet volute with the pump outlet opening, a centrifugal pumping wheel which pumps the pump gas from the pump inlet opening into the outlet volute and subsequently into the pump outlet duct, an electric motor which drives a pumping wheel, the electric motor including a static motor coil, a magnetic rotor body, and a motor driving electronics which drives the static motor coil, an electric connector plug which electrically connects the motor driving electronics with an external control unit, and an integrated pressure sensor which detects a fluidic pressure in the outlet volute or in the pump outlet duct.