EP3365558B1 - Releasing a blockage in a pump - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

Methods for solving a blockage in a pump are already known. Pumps are also known which use methods for solving a blockage.

In DE 10 2010 043 391 A1 discloses a pump which is designed with a drive unit, a coupling unit and a pump unit having a pump rotor. The coupling unit couples the drive unit to the pump rotor. The pump rotor is axially displaceably mounted with a displacement path. The coupling unit is designed as a magnetic coupling, the pole arrangement of the magnetic coupling being selected such that when the pump rotor is blocked, the pump rotor is moved along the displacement path in order to release the blocking of the pump rotor. The known pump has additional degrees of freedom of movement for releasing a blockage, which is why the production of the pump is complex.

Furthermore, the DE 42 15 266 C1 a method for unblocking a rotor. EP 1 783 264 A2 discloses a washer pump control for draining water. In addition, the EP 0 771 065 A1 a method for starting speed-variable electrical machines,

Disclosure of the invention

In contrast, a pump according to the invention with the features of claim 15 and a pump in which a method according to the invention is used, according to the features of claim 1, has a significantly simplified production and a reduction in manufacturing costs.

The measures listed in the subclaims result in advantageous developments and improvements of the features specified in the main claim.

It is particularly advantageous that the rotary vibrating movement of the rotor is generated by an alternately acting force or torque in a first direction of rotation and a further force or torque in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation . This generation is technically easy to implement.

It is advantageous that the forces or the torques are generated by energizing the pump. The forces or torques are preferably generated by energizing at least one winding. It is an advantage that an easy to manufacture and inexpensive implementation of a pump is possible.

It is to be regarded as advantageous that the rotary shaking movement is generated by pulse-width-modulated energization of the pump or by pulsed energization with at least one pulse. Most electronics, in particular electrical controls, preferably control means, normally work with pulse-width-modulated control of the pump, which is why the method can be easily retrofitted.

It is advantageous that pauses are formed between the alternating action of the forces or the torques. During the breaks, no force or torque acting on the rotor is generated. The breaks in particular allow the pump to cool down.

It is particularly advantageous that the shaking movements are repeated. Vibration pauses are formed between the vibrations in which no force or torque is generated on the rotor. The shaking pauses allow cooling and a check of the blocking in a simple manner. In particular, the rotor can be turned on a solution to the blocking can be closed. It is also advantageous that the shaking pauses from shaking to shaking become longer, which means that the constant heating can be compensated for in a simple manner.

It is advantageous that the shaking movement is divided into one or more sequences. During a sequence, the strength of the forces or torques generated and the duration of the generation of the forces or torques are essentially the same.

It is advantageous that the pauses within a sequence in which no force or torque acting on the rotor is generated are essentially of the same length.

It is particularly advantageous that sequence pauses are inserted between the individual sequences in which no force acts on the rotor.

It is advantageous that the amount of the force or the torque and the duration of the formation of the force or the torque on the rotor are varied between the individual sequences. The amount of force or torque and the duration of the formation of the force or torque on the rotor are preferably increased from sequence to sequence. The increase increases the probability of the blocking being released.

It is to be regarded as advantageous that the number of generated forces or torques that act on the rotor decrease from sequence to sequence.

It is advantageous that the method is ended when a rotary movement is detected. The rotary movement can take place in particular by means of a Hall sensor, in particular the detection of a Hall edge. The rotary movement can also take place on the basis of the evaluation of a course of the energization of the pump.

It is to be regarded as advantageous that the rotary movement is monitored continuously. Furthermore, the monitoring of the Rotational movement in the breaks, in particular the shaking breaks or the sequence breaks, between the action of a force on the rotor.

It is particularly advantageous that when a blockage is detected, the energization is interrupted and an energization pause is inserted, with the rotary vibrating movement being started after the energization pause.

Figur 1

einen aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte schematische Schnittdarstellung einer bekannten Pumpe,

Figur 2

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel,

Figur 3

eine Explosionsdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Pumpe gemäß Figur 2 ,

Figur 4

eine beispielhafte Darstellung des Verfahrensablaufs und

Figur 5

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäßen Pumpe.

Further features of the invention result from the figures and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it

Figure 1

2 shows a schematic sectional illustration of a known pump, known from the prior art,

Figure 2

a first embodiment,

Figure 3

an exploded view of a pump according to the invention Figure 2 ,

Figure 4

an exemplary representation of the procedure and

Figure 5

a further embodiment of a pump according to the invention.

In Figure 1 is one of the prior art, or the document DE 10 2010 043 391 A1 known pump 100 shown. The pump has a drive unit 109, a coupling unit 112 and a pump rotor 113, the pump rotor 113 being part of a pump unit 110. The coupling unit 112 couples the pump rotor 113 and the drive unit 109. The pump rotor 113 is axially displaceably mounted with a predefined displacement path d. The coupling unit 112 is designed as a magnetic coupling, the pole arrangement of the magnetic coupling 112 being selected such that when the pump rotor 113 is blocked, the pump rotor 113 is moved along the displacement path in order to release the blocking of the pump rotor 113.

In Figure 2 A first embodiment of a pump 1 according to the invention is shown. In particular, a pump 1 according to the invention can be used as a coolant pump in a motor vehicle. Here, the pump is preferably arranged within a coolant circuit. The pump 1 comprises a pump housing 10 and a motor housing 30. The pump housing 10 and the motor housing 30 are firmly connected to one another by means of screws. The pump housing 10 has a first opening 12 and a second opening 14. The first opening 12 forms in particular an inlet and the second opening 14 an outlet for the fluid to be conveyed, in particular the cooling liquid for cooling an internal combustion engine and / or an electric motor in a means of transportation, preferably a vehicle.

In Figure 3 is an exploded view of a pump according to the invention Figure 2 shown. The pump 1 has a pump housing 10 and a motor housing 30. The pump 1 also has a pump pot 20. The pump bowl 20 forms, together with the pump housing 10, a flow area for the fluid. A seal 18 is formed between the pump housing 10 and the pump bowl 20. The seal 18 prevents the fluid from escaping from the flow area, in particular between the pump cup 20 and the pump housing 10. The seal 18 is in particular designed as an O-ring, preferably as an O-ring seal. The pump pot 20 has in particular the shape of a pot.

The pump pot 20 has a flange 26. The flange 26 is assigned to the pump housing 10. The flange 26 preferably comprised a groove in which the seal 18 is arranged. The flange 26 also has recesses that enable the pump bowl 20 to be connected to the pump housing 10. The recesses are in particular designed as four holes in the edge region of the flange.

The pump pot 20 further comprises a labyrinth 27. The labyrinth 27 prevents the ingress of dirt, in particular sand particles, into the area of the pump pot 20 in which the rotor is arranged. The labyrinth 27 is in particular circular. It has gradations running radially inwards. The gradations are circular and circumferential. For example, a ring 29 is formed between the flange 26 and the labyrinth 27. The ring 29 is arranged all around. The ring 29 separates the flange region 26 from the labyrinth 27.

The pump pot 20 has an axis 24. The axis 24 runs in the longitudinal direction of the pump bowl 20 or in the longitudinal direction of the pump 1. The axis 24 is firmly connected to the pump bowl 20. A rotor 50 is arranged within the flow area. The rotor 50 has a recess within which the axis 24 is arranged. The rotor 50 is rotatably supported by the axis 24. Furthermore, the rotor 50 comprises magnets which enable it to interact with the stator 40. Depending on the type of pump 1, the rotor 50 has at least one magnet, preferably a plurality of magnets.

In order to convey the fluid, the rotor 50 has vanes 52. The vanes 52 are designed in such a way that the rotor 50 sucks the fluid axially and presses it radially out of the pump housing 10. The suction of the fluid takes place in particular via the pump inlet 12 and the radial expression of the fluid takes place via the outlet 14. The vanes 52 are arranged on the side of the rotor 50 which faces the pump housing 10 axially. They are arranged in particular in the part of the flow area which is formed by the pump housing 10. The part of the rotor 50, which comprises the magnets, is arranged essentially within the pump pot 20. The rotor 50 is rotatably held on the axis 24 by a thrust washer 28. The thrust washer 28 also forms a slide bearing for the rotor 24. The thrust washer 28 has three feet for fastening the thrust washer to the pump housing 10. The axis 24 runs through a recess in the thrust washer 28.

The rotor 50 and the labyrinth 27 prevent dirt from penetrating into the flow area within the pump bowl.

The flange 26 of the pump bowl 20 serves to connect the motor housing 30 to the pump bowl 20. The stator 40 is arranged inside the motor housing 30. The stator 40 consists of two pole plates 42 with axial Pole teeth 44 bent against one another. In the fully assembled state, the pole plates 42 are nested in one another with a small tangential distance such that the poles of the two pole plates 42 of the stator 40 alternate on the circumference, in particular when the current is energized, the magnetic poles. The pole teeth 44 of the two pole plates 42 are in this case nested in one another in such a way that a uniform, small distance is formed in the circumferential direction between the individual pole teeth 44. Poles or the pole plate teeth 44 are wrapped by at least one winding 46. The pole teeth 44 or the poles are preferably wrapped in at least two opposite windings 46.

A yoke ring 48 is formed all around the stator 40. The return ring consists of a material suffering from the magnetic field. In particular, the yoke ring 48 consists of a sheet metal which has been formed into a circular shape.

A Hall sensor 32 is arranged within the motor housing 30 to determine the rotor position relative to the stator 40. The accuracy of the rotor position determination depends on the number of magnets of the rotor 50. The Hall sensor 32 outputs a Hall flank when a magnet is turned past. Electronics 60 recognizes this Hall flank and can use the frequency and the intervals between the detection of the Hall flanks to infer the speed of the rotor 50. It can also be concluded whether the rotor 50 is rotating.

Another sealing element 34 is arranged between the flange 26 of the pump pot 20 and the motor housing 30. The further sealing element 34 prevents fluid, in particular liquids or gases, from entering the area of the stator 40.

On the side of the motor housing 30 facing away from the pump housing 10, the motor housing 30 has an electronics area 36. The electronics 60, or the control means, or the control is arranged protected by the motor housing 30 and a cover within the electronics area 36.

The electronics 60 serve for the electrical control of the pump 1. The electronics 60 has in particular a first and a second output stage. Each output stage is connected in series with at least one winding 46. In particular, the first output stage with the first winding 46 and the second output stage with the second winding 46 are connected in series. The output stages are connected in parallel to each other. The windings are also connected in parallel to each other. Depending on the energization of the first or the second winding 46, a force or torque acts on the rotor 50, in particular the magnets of the rotor 50. If, for example, the first winding 46 is energized by means of the first output stage, a rotary movement is formed in one first direction of rotation. If, however, the second winding is energized by means of the second output stage, a rotary movement of the rotor 50 is formed in a second direction of rotation, the second direction of rotation being opposite to the first direction of rotation.

The fluid to be pumped can be contaminated. This contamination can lead to the rotor 50 or the blades 52 becoming stuck. In particular, particles can become jammed in the fluid between the rotor 50 and the labyrinth 27 of the pump pot 20 and block the pump 1. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that contaminants settle between the rotor 50 and the pump pot 20 and lead to a blockage of the pump 1. In particular, the dirt can prevent the pump 1 from restarting. The contamination during the operation of the pump 1 can also lead to the rotor 50 coming to a standstill and thus to a failure of the pump 1.

A method according to the invention enables a blocking of a pump 1 to be solved. In particular, the method can be used in motor vehicle pumps that convey cooling liquids. A blocking is released by a rotary shaking movement 82 of the rotor 50. With the rotating shaking movement 82 of the rotor 50, forces or torques alternately act in a first direction of rotation and further forces or further torques in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation , on the rotor 50. The forces or

Forces, or further torques in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, on the rotor 50. The forces or torques are generated by energizing the pump 1, in particular energizing the windings of the stator 40. By energizing the windings of the stator 40, a magnetic field is generated which attracts or repels the magnets of the rotor 50. A force or torque acts on the rotor 50 through the magnetic field.

In Figure 4 the process flow is shown as an example. The course 70 shows when the pump 1 is switched on or off. The curve 72 shows the generation of a pulse or the energization or the generation of a force or a torque in a first direction of rotation. The curve 74 shows the generation of a pulse or the energization or the generation of a force or a torque in a second direction of rotation.

Furthermore, the current supply to the windings through the output stages can be taken from the curves 72 and 74, for example. When pump 1 is started, the second winding is energized by means of the second output stage. A corresponding current supply is shown as block 80 in Figure 4 shown. At the beginning, the pump is energized for an ordinary rotary movement. If, however, after a defined time, which is chosen such that there is no damage to the windings or the pump, in particular 300 to 1000 ms, preferably 500 ms, no rotary movement is detected, it can be assumed that the pump 1 is blocked. If a blockage is found, the method according to the invention is started automatically.

The method starts after a pause, which is selected so that the heated windings 46 can cool sufficiently within the stator 40. In particular, the first pause lasts between 100 ms and 20 s, preferably one second. The process starts with the generation of a force or a torque in the direction of rotation opposite to the previous start attempt. The pump 1 is controlled by the electronics 60 in such a way that vibrations of the rotor 50 can develop. In particular, the shaking movement can also consist of only a single pulse, in particular Current pulse, force pulse or torque pulse exist if this leads in particular to a solution of the blocking. Depending on the blocking of the rotor 50, the shaking movement can be limited to an alternating action of a first force in a first direction and a second force in a second direction of rotation, but there is no significant movement of the rotor 50 in a first or second direction of rotation.

The shaking movement is generated by an alternating action of a force or the torque in a first direction of rotation and a further force or a further torque in a second direction of rotation, the first direction of rotation being opposite to the further direction of rotation. Breaks 86 are formed between the alternating effects of the forces or the torques. The length of the breaks 86 varies depending on the course of the method.

Furthermore, the pauses 86 prevent simultaneous energization of both or all of the windings 56. During a pause 86, in which no force or torque is generated in one direction of rotation, a force or torque can be generated in the opposite direction of rotation. During the generation of a force or a torque in one direction of rotation, a pause 86 is inserted in the opposite direction of rotation.

The shaking movement 82 is divided into one or more sequences. According to Figure 4 For example, the shaking movement 82 is divided into three sequences 84a, 84b and 84c. During a sequence, the strength of the forces generated or the torque and the duration of the generation of the forces or torques are essentially the same. This is achieved in that the energization during a sequence has essentially the same amplitude and the same energization time. In particular, the energization time is 3ms in sequence 84a and in sequence 84b the energization time is 5ms

The forces or torques on the rotor 50 are formed during the energization of the windings. A pulse modulation method is preferably used, the force or the torque being formed during the pulse and no force during the pulse pause or no torque acts on the rotor. The pulse-width-modulated control of the first output stage or the first winding and the second output stage or the second winding are synchronized with one another. The synchronization prevents simultaneous energization of the first and second windings. In particular, in the first sequence 84a, the second power stage is energized during the pause 90 of the first power stage.

During the first sequence, a force or torque acts in particular 35 times in the first direction and in particular 35 times a force or torque in the second direction of rotation. The current supply takes place in particular for one to 10 ms, preferably 3 ms. According to one development, the number of times the force acts is not fixed at 35. During the first sequence 84a, a rapid shaking movement should take place. The second sequence 84b follows the first sequence 84a. In the second sequence 84b, the pulse length or the length of the current supply or the length in which a force or a torque acts on the rotor 50 is increased. The pulse length or the length of the current supply is in particular 3-15 ms, preferably 5 ms. The pause between the pulses is in particular 10-50 ms, preferably 20 ms. The third sequence 84c follows the second sequence. In the third sequence 84c, the force or the torque acts on the rotor 50 over a longer period of time than in the two sequences 84a, 84b. In particular, windings are energized for 100-1000 ms, preferably 300 ms. A force or a torque is thus exerted on the rotor 50 for the period of the energization. A pause 86 is formed between the pulses, in particular the energization impulse, which leads to the formation of a force or a torque on the rotor. The pause is particularly between 10 and 100 ms, preferably 20 ms.

Sequence breaks can also be formed between the individual sequences 84a, 84b and 84c. In the sequence breaks there is no current supply and therefore no force or torque is formed which acts on the rotor 50.

The amount of force or torque is increased by lengthening the pulse. The force or the torque and the duration of the training the force or the torque on the rotor 50 varies between the individual sequences. According to Figure 4 the current impulse and thus the force or the torque is increased from sequence to sequence.

The number of generated forces or torques that act on the rotor 50 become less from sequence to sequence, while for example according to Figure 4 35 pulses per direction of rotation are generated in the first sequence 84 A, only 5 pulses are generated in the second sequence 84 b. Only a single pulse is generated in the third sequence 84c. If the first pulse already leads to a solution of the rotor, the shaking movement 82 according to the invention consists of only a single pulse. In particular, the number of forces or torques generated decreases with increasing number of sequences, but the duration of the effect increases.

If the blocking has not been released after a first shaking movement 82, the shaking movements 82 are repeated as often as desired. Vibrating pauses 88 are formed between the vibrating movements 82, with no force or torque acting on the rotor 50 during the vibrating pauses 88. The vibration pauses 88 serve to cool the stator 50, in particular the windings and the output stages. At the beginning, the vibrating pauses 88 can be smaller, since the pump 1 is cold, particularly when restarting. However, as the shaking movement 82 increases, the pump 1 is heated. In particular, the windings and the output stage are heated. In order to prevent damage to the windings and the output stages, breaks are taken. As an example, the first vibration pause 88 lasts one second between the first and the second vibration, whereas the second vibration pause already 5 seconds, the 3 further vibration pauses 10 seconds, the five further vibration pauses 20 seconds and the 10 further vibration pauses 88 2 minutes. According to the invention, the vibration pauses 88 can vary by the values specified above.

The method is ended as soon as a rotary movement of the rotor 50 is detected. The rotary movement is recognized in particular by the detection of a Hall edge of the Hall sensor 32. If a rotary movement is detected, the blockage has been released and the pump 1 can deliver the fluid. Next the detection of the rotary movement by means of the Hall sensor 32, the rotary movement can be detected by evaluating the course of the energization of the pump 1. The course of the energization with which the windings are energized is monitored. The rotary movement is monitored continuously during the shaking movement 82, in particular during the breaks and during the energization.

According to a development of the invention, the rotational movement can be monitored during the breaks, in particular during the shaking breaks

Overall, the number of repetitions of the shaking movement 82 is limited to a fixed value. If no rotation of the motor is detected after the repetitions limited to a fixed value have ended, the process is terminated and no attempt is made to start pump 1.

The method according to the invention can also be used in pumps which have no claw pole stator, in particular pumps with an EC or DC drive. The stator can also have more than two windings.

In Figure 5 Another embodiment of a pump 200 according to the invention is shown. The pump 200 comprises a large number of identical components or components with a similar function to the pump 1 Figure 2 and 3rd . In particular, the components pump housing 210, seal 218, pump cup 220, motor housing 230 essentially correspond to the corresponding components in FIG Figure 2 and 3rd . For the functionality and the interaction with other components, please refer to the description Figures 3 and 4th referred. The rotor 250 has a slightly modified structure compared to the rotor 50. The rotor 250 has a part equipped with magnets, which is arranged inside the pump pot 220. The part of the rotor 250 which carries the magnets 251 is connected to an impeller 254 via a connecting element 253. The impeller 254 has vanes that convey the fluid. The impeller conveys the fluid when rotating.

The inventive method according to claim 1 can be used in a pump corresponding to the further embodiment.

The stator 240 has a laminated core with a plurality of stator teeth directed radially inwards. The stator teeth are each wrapped by at least one winding. In order to prevent the windings from slipping, the stator teeth each have a stator head. The stator head points in the direction of the rotor 250. In addition, the stator head serves to improve the guidance of the magnetic flux to the rotor 250. The stator 240 is arranged within the motor housing 230. A fixing element 264 presses the stator in the axial direction in the direction of a stop which is formed on the motor housing 230. For this purpose, the fixing element 264 has a plurality of spring elements, which are each arranged around a guide pin. The fixation element presses itself against the pump cup flange 226.

Electronics 260 is arranged on the side of pump 1 facing away from the pump housing. The electronics are protected by a cover 239. A sealing ring 237 between the cover and the motor housing 230 prevents fluids from penetrating into the electronics 260.

The shaking movements 82 are generated by a corresponding generation of forces or torques in a first or a second direction of rotation. The forces or torques are generated by means of output stages in a bridge circuit, in particular the control of a B6 bridge. The force or the torque in one direction of rotation is generated by energization in accordance with a desired rotational movement in this direction of rotation. The control is preferably carried out by means of a pulse width modulated current. The course of the control accordingly Figure 4 and the associated description.

The pump pot 220 of the further embodiment can likewise correspond to a ring 29 and / or a labyrinth 27 Figure 3 exhibit. The mode of operation and the training are correspondingly the same.

An output stage can in particular comprise MosFETs or transistors.

Claims (12)

1. Method for releasing a blockage in the case of a pump (1, 200), in particular a motor vehicle pump, the pump (1, 200) having a stator (40, 240) and a rotor (20, 220) which is arranged such that it can be turned rotationally with respect to the stator (40, 240), a rotational wobbling movement (82) of the rotor (20, 220) being produced in the case of a blockage of the rotor (20, 220) in order to release the blockage, the rotational wobbling movement (82) of the rotor (20, 220) being produced by way of an alternating action on the rotor (20, 220) of a force or a torque in a first rotational direction and a further force or a further torque in a second rotational direction which is opposed to the first rotational direction, characterized in that the wobbling movement (82) is divided into a plurality of sequences (84a, 84b, 84c), the magnitude of the produced forces or the produced torques and the duration of the production of the forces or torques being substantially identical during one sequence (84a, 84b, 84c), and the magnitude of the force or the torque and the duration of the configuration of the force or the torque on the rotor (20, 220) being varied between the individual sequences (84a, 84b, 84c), in particular being increased from sequence (84a, 84b, 84c) to sequence (84a, 84b, 84c).
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the forces or the torques are produced by way of an energization of the pump (1, 200), in particular an energization of at least one winding (46).
3. Method according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotational wobbling movement (82) is generated by way of pulse width modulated energization of the pump (1, 200), or by way of pulse-shaped energization with at least one pulse.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that pauses (86) are configured between the alternating action of the forces or the torques, in which pauses (86) no force or torque which acts on the rotor (20, 220) is produced.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wobbling movements (82) are repeated, wobbling pauses (88) being configured between the wobbling movements, no force or no torque being produced on the rotor (20, 220) in the wobbling pauses (88), and in that, in particular, the wobbling pauses (88) become longer from wobbling movement (82) to wobbling movement (82).
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pauses (86), in which no force or torque which acts on the rotor (20, 220) is produced, are of substantially identical length within one sequence (84a, 84b, 84c).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sequence pauses, in which no force acts on the rotor (20, 220), are taken between the individual sequences (84a, 84b, 84c).
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of produced forces or torques which act on the rotor (20, 220) decreases from sequence (84a, 84b, 84c) to sequence (84a, 84b, 84c).
9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by ending of the method in the case of detection of a rotational movement, in particular by means of a Hall sensor (32), in particular the detection of a Hall flank, or on the basis of an evaluation of a profile of the energization of the pump (1, 200).
10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitoring of the rotational movement is carried out continuously or in the pauses (86, 88), in particular the wobbling pauses (88) or the sequence pauses, between the action of a force on the rotor (20, 220).
11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the case of detection of a blockage, the energization is interrupted and an energization pause (90) is taken, the rotational wobbling movement (82) being started following the energization pause (90).
12. Electric machine comprising a pump (1, 200), in particular a motor vehicle pump, with a rotor (20, 220), and a stator (40, 240) and an actuating means (60) for the actuation of the pump (1, 200), characterized in that the electric machine carries out a method according to one of the preceding claims, in order to release a detected blockage of the rotor (20, 220).

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