Vehicle Cooling Pump Group with Dual Drive and One-Way Couplings

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling pumps for vehicles lack flexibility in cooling management, have limited delivery power, and lack a 'fail-safe' feature, with dual-driven pumps being complex and bulky.

Innovation Solution

A dual-action pump group with a compact structure, featuring a radial impeller and both mechanical and electric drives, including an electromagnetic pulley for simplified drive management and a joint group with one-way couplings for efficient power distribution, allowing for flexible cooling control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a dual-driven pump with both electric and mechanical drives is implemented, then cooling management versatility is improved, but device complexity and structure bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling management versatilityVSAvoiddrive management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines electric and mechanical drives into a single integrated pump unit with a common impeller, merging two separate drive systems into one cohesive structure. This reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate pumps while maintaining the versatility of dual-drive operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The pump is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both electric motor drive and mechanical engine-driven capabilities into a single device. The impeller can be driven by either the electric motor or the mechanical drive, allowing the same pump to serve multiple cooling management functions across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a dual-driven pump with both electric and mechanical drives is implemented, then cooling management versatility is improved, but device complexity and structure bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling management versatilityVSAvoidpump structure size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines electric and mechanical drives into a single integrated pump unit with a common impeller, merging two separate drive systems into one cohesive structure. This reduces the overall complexity compared to having separate pumps while maintaining the versatility of dual-drive operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design nests the electric motor within the mechanical drive structure, with the electric motor positioned inside the pump housing that is already driven by the mechanical engine connection. This nested arrangement allows both drive systems to share the same spatial envelope, reducing the overall volume compared to separate pump installations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Adaptability or versatility

If an electric drive with electronic control is used, then cooling management versatility is improved, but delivery power is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling management versatilityVSAvoiddelivery power
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both electric motor drive and mechanical engine-driven capabilities into a single device. The impeller can be driven by either the electric motor or the mechanical drive, allowing the same pump to serve multiple cooling management functions across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between electric and mechanical drive modes based on operating conditions. The electric motor provides controlled power for versatility, while the mechanical drive provides high power when needed, creating a dynamic hybrid system that adapts power delivery to actual requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Power

If a mechanical pump with adjustment elements is used, then delivery power is improved, but cooling management versatility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedelivery powerVSAvoidcooling management versatility
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The pump is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both electric motor drive and mechanical engine-driven capabilities into a single device. The impeller can be driven by either the electric motor or the mechanical drive, allowing the same pump to serve multiple cooling management functions across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between electric and mechanical drive modes based on operating conditions. The electric motor provides controlled power for versatility, while the mechanical drive provides high power when needed, creating a dynamic hybrid system that adapts power delivery to actual requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 pump group provides flexible and efficient cooling management, is compact and reliable, and maintains operation even in 'after-run' conditions, with simplified electronic management and reduced power absorption.

Implementation Method 1

an electromagnetic pulley for simplified drive management

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3426926B1Pump group with electric drive and mechanical drive comprising a joint group
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 IND SALERI ITALO
  • EP3426926B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3426926B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3426926B1 patent drawingFigure 2a

AI summary

A pump group (1) for a cooling circuit of a motor of a vehicle, comprising: - an impeller (2) rotatable around an axis (X-X) moved by an impeller shaft (200); - a mechanical drive (3) and a mechanical shaft (300) rotatable by the mechanical drive (3) and operatively connected to the impeller shaft (200); - an electric drive (4) and an electric shaft (400) rotatable by the electric drive (4) and operatively connected to the impeller shaft (200); - a joint group (5) comprising respectively an impeller shaft joint end (205), a mechanical shaft joint end (305) and an electric shaft joint end (405), in which the respective ends are operatively connected to each other by means of a first one-way coupling (51) and a second one-way coupling (52).