FR3136127A1 - Fluid circulation module with at least two pumps and cooling system comprising at least one such module - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid circulation module with at least two pumps and cooling system comprising at least one such module. The present invention relates to a fluid circulation module (1) with at least two electric pumps (3, 3'), each pump (3 , 3') comprising a stator (4, 4') and a rotor (5, 5') secured to a turbine (6) housed in a clean transfer chamber (7, 7') comprising at least one fluid inlet (8, 8') and at least one fluid outlet (9, 9'), said module (1) also comprising electronic power (10) and control (11) components for the pumps (3, 3'). Module (1) characterized in that said at least two stators (6, 6') and the different electronic components (10 and 11) of said at least two pumps (3, 3') are housed together in a single common housing (12). ) waterproof, the rotors (5, 5') being mounted externally on said single housing (12). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig.1

Description

Fluid circulation module with at least two pumps and cooling system comprising at least one such module

The present invention relates to the field of fluid circulation and distribution equipment, in particular in on-board circuits, in particular pump devices or similar fluid circulation and transfer devices, in particular multi-pump devices, and more specifically electric water or functional liquid pump devices.

In this context, the subject of the invention is a fluid circulation module with at least two pumps and a cooling system comprising at least one such module.

Such a module and such a system will find particular application in cooling systems for thermal or electric motor vehicles.

In a known manner, many vehicle cooling systems require at least two different circuits for circulating a cooling fluid, each being provided with its own hydraulic pump generating the circulation of the fluid within its circuit.

In these known cooling systems with at least two distinct and separate circuits, each pump has its own hydraulic structure, its own motor, its own control electronics and/or its own connections: they thus constitute distinct and separate physical units, even if they can possibly be mounted on the same mounting support. More particularly, in these systems, each pump, belonging to a given circulation circuit, has its specific dedicated electrical operating elements, that is to say its own power electronics and its own management electronics, which together control its activation and its operation to allow the circulation of the fluid to be controlled.

Thus, within known cooling systems, it is currently necessary to multiply these individual operating elements, specific to each pump, and often identical, by the number of pumps present within the system.

Consequently and disadvantageously, the multiplication of individual and separate pumps increases the structural complexity of the circulation system which integrates them, generates a significant amount of space, complicates the configurations and connections of the fluidic and electrical circuits and multiplies the problematic interface zones (sealing, electrical insulation). In addition, the multiplication of components integrating the electrical/electronic operating elements specific to each pump generates a cost price which increases proportionally to the number of pumps present. In addition, these standard components are often underutilized when they are only assigned to the operation of a single pump.

As a result, the creation and construction of the circulation system can become very complex. Indeed, and in particular when these operating elements are at least partly housed in housings separate from the pumps themselves, it is necessary to manage both the connection of these different elements between them, as well as their positioning within the pump. system or even their space requirement, in order to guarantee the operation of the pumps distributed within the system.

Thus, the present invention aims to overcome at least the main drawbacks of the state of the art exposed above by proposing an alternative multi-pump solution allowing the circulation of a fluid in a system with at least two circuits of traffic.

The present invention aims to propose a fluid circulation module with at least two separate pumps, with reduced manufacturing costs, of simplified design, minimizing and limiting as much as possible the number of elements necessary for the operation of said pumps and their size. in space, while maintaining fluid circulation performance identical to separate pumps. In addition, the proposed solution should allow easy maintenance and/or replacement of wearing parts.

This aim is achieved by the invention which proposes a fluid circulation module with at least two electric pumps, each pump comprising a stator and a rotor secured to a rotary member of the turbine or paddle wheel type, each rotary member being housed in a clean transfer chamber comprising at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, said module also comprising electronic power components and electronic management and control components ensuring the power supply and operation control of the pumps , module characterized in that said at least two stators and the different electronic components of said at least two pumps are housed together in a single waterproof common housing, the rotors with their respectively associated rotary member being mounted externally on said single housing and the chambers of transfer being formed by cooperation of at least one hollow body with said housing on which this hollow body(s) is(are) attached.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description which follows of non-limiting embodiments of the invention, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

is a schematic sectional profile view of a two-pump module according to the invention;

And

are perspective views from two opposing points of view of a practical embodiment of a module as shown schematically on the ;

And

are identical views in elevation and in section along a plane containing the axes of rotation of the turbines of the two pumps of the module shown in Figures 2, the circulation of the fluid in the transfer chambers and around the axes of rotation and the rotors being indicated schematically on there ;

is an elevational view in section along a plane perpendicular to that of Figures 3 of one of the two pumps of the module shown in Figures 2 and 3, said sectional plane also containing the axis of rotation of the turbine of this pump;

is a sectional view similar to that of , but in an offset parallel plane, illustrating the constitution of the housing and the transfer chamber of the pump concerned (certain functional elements having been removed from the figure for better understanding);

And

are perspective views from two opposite points of view of a practical embodiment of a structural and functional unit comprising a module as shown in Figures 2 to 5;

is a partial view in elevation and in section along a plane perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the turbines of the two pumps of the module of Figures 6A and 6B, the section being made at the level of the transfer chambers;

is a simplified schematic representation of two circulation circuits of a cooling system integrating a two-pump module of the invention.

Figures 1 to 5 in particular show a fluid circulation module (1) with at least two electric pumps (3, 3'). Each pump (3, 3') comprises a stator (4, 4') and a rotor (5, 5') secured to a rotary member (6, 6') of the turbine or paddle wheel type, each rotary member ( 6, 6') being housed in a clean transfer chamber (7, 7') comprising at least one fluid inlet (8, 8') and at least one fluid outlet (9, 9'). Said module (1) also comprises electronic power components (10) and electronic management and control components (11) ensuring power supply and operational control of the pumps (3, 3'). These components are known in themselves and do not require a more detailed description.

According to the invention, said at least two stators (6, 6') and the different electronic components (10 and 11) of said at least two pumps (3, 3') are housed together in a single common waterproof housing (12). , the rotors (5, 5') with their respectively associated rotary member (6, 6') being mounted externally on said single housing (12) and the transfer chambers (7, 7') being formed by cooperation of at least a hollow body (13) with said housing (12) on which this hollow body(s) is(are) attached.

Preferably, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2B, each pump has its own hollow body, but of course all the transfer chambers of the different pumps can be defined by sealed assembly of a single hollow body (13) with the housing ( 12).

Thanks to this physical grouping of the components of the different pumps in the same constructive structure, the result is optimal use of the available space and a pooling of resources (limiting complexity, reducing costs and easier maintenance). The electrical and fluidic interfacing is therefore also simplified. In addition, by grouping the pumps in the same housing, the printed circuit board(s) can be larger (internal volume of a single piece of the single housing greater than the volumes of several individual boxes, and use of intermediate volumes between pumps), allowing better distribution of electronic circuits (10, 11) grouped together and therefore better heat dissipation. Finally, the connection to the outside can possibly be combined into a single connector.

Of course, the operations of the different pumps (3, 3') integrated into the module (1) can have completely independent, partially independent or dependent operations.

Likewise, each pump can have its own components, even when their operations are mutually dependent.

However, advantageously, and with a view to optimization in terms of exploitation of resources and limitation of costs, complexity and size, it is provided that at least certain power electronic components (10) and/or electronic management and control components (11) are functionally assigned to both, or at least two, of the pumps (3, 3'), through a mutually shared and/or alternative use of these components, for example through complementary operating time windows or through sharing of hardware and/or software resources.

Likewise, when a given component is oversized in relation to its use by a single pump, or when it has several treatment channels, it can also be shared by at least two different pumps, even if they have different operations. totally independent.

In accordance with a very favorable embodiment, all of the electronic power components (10) and the electronic management and control components (11) are mounted on a single printed circuit board (14), the electronic components of power (10) advantageously comprising at least one insulated gate field effect transistor and the electronic management and control components (11) advantageously comprising at least one microcontroller.

In order to secure the operation of the motor of each pump, in particular its electronics grouped with those of the other motor(s), the module can include, as shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, at least one bridge. heat transfer and dissipation (15, 16) connecting at least the power electronic components (10), preferably a majority or all of the different components (10 and 11), or one or more zones of a printed circuit board (14) carrying these components (10, 11), to the fluid (F) transferred, the heat transmission taking place through a portion of wall (151), preferably exposed directly to the flow of fluid (F).

Of course, and as shown schematically in the , each power component (10) in particular or each zone of the card (14) carrying the latter can be in direct contact or not (interposition of a thermal transfer layer 16-cf as an example) with such a wall portion. In addition, the aforementioned wall portion (151) can of course consist of a portion of the wall forming the housing (12) or one of the constituent parts of the latter (in particular a thinned zone of the wall of the housing when this the latter is made of plastic material).

However, according to a preferred embodiment ensuring better heat transfer, and also emerging from the aforementioned figures, the heat transfer and dissipation bridge (15, 16) comprises a plate (15) made of a material that is a good thermal conductor, such as a metal (steel sheet, aluminum plate, etc.), a portion (151) of which is in direct contact with the circulating fluid (F) and constitutes part of the wall of the sealed housing (12), this plate (15) being in direct contact, or via a thermal transfer layer or pads (16), with at least the power electronic components (10), preferably with a majority or all of the different components (10 and 11), said plate serving where appropriate as a support for the printed circuit board (14). In the latter case, it also participates in the structural reinforcement of the module.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 in particular, the axes or rotation shafts (6'') of the rotary members (turbines 6, 6') and the rotors (5, 5') are for example each mounted in a hollow housing (25) of the housing (12) extending into the winding of the corresponding stator (4, 4') and traversed by the fluid (this housing being in fluid communication with the associated transfer chamber). The wall portion (151) forming part of the corresponding thermal bridge (15, 16) advantageously constituting the bottom of this housing (25), which it closes in a watertight manner (seal 26) and the rotation shaft considered having a hollow structure allowing loop circulation of the fluid flow (F) in this housing (see ).

In order to allow control of the fluid circulation integrated at the module level and suitable management of the pumps, said module (1) may comprise at least one sensor (17) for measuring a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F), in particular a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and/or a level sensor, at least the electronic part of the or of each of said sensors (17) being mounted on the printed circuit board or a printed circuit board also carrying the power electronic components (10) and the management and control electronic components (11).

By integrating a certain number of control and security functions into the module (1), we arrive at a so-called “intelligent” module that can operate autonomously, at least partially.

This at least partial functional independence of the module (1) also facilitates its connectivity with the outside.

Thus, it can comprise (Figures 2A and 6A) at least one connector, preferably a single connector (18), comprising power supply pins and bidirectional signal transmission pins, the latter being preferably configured to form a network bus locally interconnected according to ISO 17987 or LIN bus.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the module (1) comprises two pumps, identical or not, for circulating a liquid fluid (F), in particular a cooling liquid, each defining through its chamber respective transfer (7, 7'), a traffic lane between its entrance(s) and its exit(s). As shown in Figures 1, 3B and 6C, the flow of liquid enters the transfer chamber of a pump in an axial direction (axis of rotation of the turbine) and leaves in a tangential direction in a plane perpendicular to this axis.

In order to be able to create in particular a safety or default operating mode, the module (1) can also comprise, or be associated with, at least one switching member (19), such as a multi-way or slide valve. , making it possible to move from a configuration of separate traffic lanes arranged in parallel to a configuration of traffic lanes interconnected and arranged in series, the electronic management and control components (11) advantageously comprising a microcontroller, in particular configured to control the state of this organ (19), for example following the evaluation of a signal coming from a sensor (17) measuring a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F).

Typically, the body of the housing (12) can consist of two constituent parts (12', 12'') of thermoplastic material, assembled together at a single joint plane (PJ), said body possibly integrating sites fixing (22) of the module (1). The watertight assembly of these two constituent parts can be carried out by welding, riveting, screwing, gluing or clipping, for example. A second joint plane (PJ’) exists between the housing (12) and the or each hollow body (13).

The invention also provides a multi-pump module whose mobile components are easily interchangeable.

The invention also relates, as shown schematically in Figure 6, to a cooling system (20) of a vehicle, in particular a thermal or electric motor vehicle, comprising at least two circuits (21, 21') circulation of a cooling liquid (F), arranged in parallel, each circuit (21, 21') comprising a pump (3, 3') intended for the circulation of said cooling liquid (F) in the circuit considered.

According to the invention, this system is characterized in that the at least two pumps (3 and 3') are an integral part of a fluid circulation module (1) as mentioned above.

This system can further comprise, preferably located near the pumps (3, 3'), and possibly integrated into the fluid circulation module (1), at least one switching member (19) arranged to be crossed by the flow of fluid. fluid (F) of the two circulation circuits (21 and 21') and configured to allow said system (20) to move selectively from a first configuration with a parallel and separate arrangement of the circulation circuits (21, 21') to a second configuration with a series and interconnected arrangement of the latter, and vice versa.

In accordance with an even more integrated embodiment variant, illustrated by way of example in Figure 6, a multi-channel distribution part (23), preferably in the form of a plate and integrating parts of conduits (24) constituting portions circulation circuits (21, 21'), is attached to the circulation module (1) on the side of the hollow body(s) (13) of said module to form with it a structural and functional unit, said conduit parts (24) being tightly connected to the fluid inlets and outlets (8, 8', 9, 9') of the transfer chambers (7, 7'). We thus constitute a structural and functional unit which can, if necessary, incorporate the switching member (19) in said distribution part (23). Some of the fixing sites (22) of the module (1) can then be used for its assembly with said part (23). And said part (23) can include its own fixing sites (22') for mounting the unit (1, 23) in the installation environment (space under the hood of a vehicle for example).

As also shown in Figures 6, and depending on the desired or imposed connection configuration, the openings of the conduit parts (24) of the multi-channel distribution part (23) not connected to the fluid inlets and outlets (8, 8 ', 9, 9') open out, at least for some of them, at the edge of the plate formed by the multi-channel distribution part (23).

According to a preferred constructive variant, the cooling system (20) comprises two separate circulation circuits (21 and 21'), the module (1) comprises two pumps (3 and 3') and said switching member (19) is actuated , in particular to switch said system (20) from a parallel configuration to a series configuration, in the event of a malfunction or failure of one or the other of the two pumps (3, 3') each integrated in the one of the two circulation circuits (21 and 21') of coolant (F), for example detected by a sensor (17) for measuring a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F) in the circulation circuit (21 or 21') of the faulty pump (3 or 3').

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (15)

Fluid circulation module (1) with at least two electric pumps (3, 3'), each pump (3, 3') comprising a stator (4, 4') and a rotor (5, 5') secured to a rotary member (6, 6') of the turbine or paddle wheel type, each rotary member (6, 6') being housed in a clean transfer chamber (7, 7') comprising at least one fluid inlet (8, 8') and at least one fluid outlet (9, 9'), said module (1) also comprising electronic power components (10) and electronic management and control components (11) ensuring power supply and pump operation control (3, 3'),
module (1) characterized in that said at least two stators (6, 6') and the different electronic components (10 and 11) of said at least two pumps (3, 3') are housed together in a single common housing (12 ) waterproof, the rotors (5, 5') with their respectively associated rotary member (6, 6') being mounted externally on said single housing (12) and the transfer chambers (7, 7') being formed by cooperation of at least one hollow body (13) with said housing (12) on which this hollow body(s) is(are) attached. Fluid circulation module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least certain electronic power components (10) and/or electronic management and control components (11) are functionally assigned to both, or to at least one of them. at least two of the pumps (3, 3'), this by mutually shared and/or alternative use of these components, for example through complementary operating time windows or through sharing of hardware resources and/or software. Fluid circulation module (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that all of the electronic power components (10) and the electronic management and control components (11) are mounted on a single circuit card printed (14), the power electronic components (10) advantageously comprising at least one insulated gate field effect transistor and the electronic management and control components (11) advantageously comprising at least one microcontroller. Fluid circulation module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one transfer and heat dissipation bridge (15, 16) connecting at least the power electronic components ( 10), preferably a majority or all of the different components (10 and 11), or one or more zones of a printed circuit board (14) carrying these components (10, 11), to the fluid (F) transferred, the heat transmission taking place through a portion of wall (151), preferably exposed directly to the flow of fluid (F). Fluid circulation module (1), according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the transfer and heat dissipation bridge (15, 16) comprises a plate (15) made of a material that is a good thermal conductor, such as a metal, a portion of which (151) is in direct contact with the circulating fluid (F) and constitutes part of the wall of the sealed housing (12), this plate (15) being in direct contact, or via a layer or thermal transfer pads (16), with at least the power electronic components (10), preferably with a majority or all of the different components (10 and 11), said plate serving where appropriate as a support for the card printed circuit (14). Fluid circulation module (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one sensor (17) for measuring a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F), in particular a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor and/or a level sensor, at least the electronic part of the or each of said sensors (17) being mounted on the or a printed circuit board also carrying the components power electronics (10) and electronic management and control components (11). Fluid circulation module (1), according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one connector, preferably a single connector (18), comprising power supply pins and bidirectional transmission pins of signals, the latter being preferably configured to form a local interconnected network bus according to the ISO 17987 standard or LIN bus. Fluid circulation module (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises two pumps, identical or not, for circulating a liquid fluid (F), in particular a liquid cooling system, each defining, through its respective transfer chamber (7, 7'), a circulation path between its entrance(s) and its exit(s). Fluid circulation module (1), according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises, or is associated with, at least one switching member (19), such as a multi-way or slide valve, making it possible to pass from a configuration of separate traffic lanes arranged in parallel to a configuration of traffic lanes interconnected and arranged in series, the electronic management and control components (11) advantageously comprising a microcontroller, in particular configured to control the state of this organ (19), for example following the evaluation of a signal coming from a sensor (17) for measuring a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F). Fluid circulation module (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the body of the housing (12) consists of two constituent parts of thermoplastic material, assembled together at a single joint plane, said body possibly integrating fixing sites (22) of the module (1). Cooling system (20) of a vehicle, in particular of a thermal or electric motor vehicle, comprising at least two circuits (21, 21') for circulating a cooling liquid (F), arranged in parallel, each circuit (21, 21') comprising a pump (3, 3') intended for the circulation of said cooling liquid (F) in the circuit considered, system characterized in that the at least two pumps (3 and 3') are an integral part of a fluid circulation module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. Cooling system (20) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises, preferably located near the pumps (3, 3'), and possibly integrated into the fluid circulation module (1), at least one control member. switching (19) arranged to be crossed by the fluid flows (F) of the two circulation circuits (21 and 21') and configured to allow said system (20) to selectively switch from a first configuration with a parallel arrangement and separated from the circulation circuits (21, 21') to a second configuration with a series and interconnected arrangement of the latter, and vice versa. Cooling system (20) according to any one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that a multi-channel distribution part (23), preferably in the form of a plate and integrating parts of conduits (24) constituting portions of the circuits (21, 21') of circulation, is attached to the circulation module (1) on the side of the hollow body(s) (13) of said module to form with it a structural and functional unit, said conduit parts (24) being connected sealingly at the fluid inlets and outlets (8, 8', 9, 9') of the transfer chambers (7, 7'). Cooling system (20) according to claim 13, characterized in that the openings of the conduit parts (24) of the multi-channel distribution part (23) not connected to the fluid inlets and outlets (8, 8', 9, 9 ') open out, at least for some of them, at the level of the edge of the plate which forms the multi-channel distribution part (23). Cooling system (20) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it comprises two separate circulation circuits (21 and 21'), in that the module (1) comprises two pumps (3 and 3') and in that said switching member (19) is actuated, in particular to switch said system (20) from a parallel configuration to a series configuration, in the event of a malfunction or failure of one or the 'other of the two pumps (3, 3') each integrated in one of the two circulation circuits (21 and 21') of coolant (F), for example detected by a measuring sensor (17) of a physical quantity linked to the fluid (F) in the circulation circuit (21 or 21') of the faulty pump (3 or 3').