JP2005256789A - Water pump - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water pump for quickly discharging water leaking from the inside without accumulation of the water between a flange part of a rotating part and a ball bearing end face. <P>SOLUTION: Each ball bearing 5 is interposed between an inner cylinder part 3c and a fixed side member 2 of a rotating side member 3. An axial through hole 12 is formed in an inner flange part 3b of the rotating side member 3. A space S is secured between the inner flange part 3b and the end face of the ball bearing 5 of the rotating side member 3. Four radial through holes 13 communicating with the spaces S are formed in the inner cylinder parts 3c of the rotating side members 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a water pump used for refrigerant circulation of an automobile engine.

  In the water pump, the rotating part including the shaft, pulley, and impeller is rotated with respect to the housing, which is a fixed part. Conventionally, the shaft part of the rotating part is rotatably supported by the housing by two rows of ball bearings. It had been.

In recent years, in order to reduce the size, weight, and cost of water pumps, the rotating part is made of a member molded by pressing, and the fixed side member molded by pressing is fixed to the fixed part. For the cylindrical portion, there has been proposed one in which a cylindrical pulley portion of a rotating portion is rotationally supported by a single row of ball bearings (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP 2002-089486 A JP 2002-155893 A

  In the above-described conventional water pump, the rotating part is fixed to the rotating side member in which the cylindrical part is concentrically formed through the flange part on the radially outer side of the opening end side of the hollow shaft, and the other end part of the shaft part. The flange part is located in the axial direction outer side of the ball bearing located inside the cylindrical part of the rotation side member.

  An axial through-hole is formed in the flange portion of the rotating side member for incorporating the bearing and for escaping water (water vapor) leaking outside from the mechanical seal portion between the fixed portion and the rotating portion. Has been. Water that has leaked to the outside may enter the ball bearing and break it, and this water (for example, long life coolant) will precipitate like ethylene glycol and axially Since there is a possibility that the through-hole is blocked, the accumulation of the solid matter may block the axial through-hole and lose the drainage mechanism. Therefore, it is important to quickly drain water without staying between the flange part of the rotating part and the ball bearing end face, but under the action of centrifugal force, it is not sufficient to drain only through the axial through hole. There is a concern.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a water pump that solves the above-described problems and can quickly discharge water leaking from the inside without being retained between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the ball bearing end surface. is there.

  In the water pump according to the present invention, a ball bearing is interposed between a cylindrical portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion of the rotating portion and a fixed-side member positioned inside the cylindrical portion, and the flange portion of the rotating portion is disposed on the flange portion. In the water pump in which the axial through hole is formed, a space is secured between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the ball bearing end surface, and at least one radial through hole leading to the same space is formed in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion. It is characterized by being formed.

  The rotating portion is preferably configured by connecting a plurality of members formed by pressing. The fixed side member is also preferably formed by pressing.

  In order to secure a space between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the end surface of the ball bearing, the entire flange portion of the rotating portion may be bulged outward in the axial direction, and one or more of the flange portions of the rotating portion may be swelled. The place may be bulged outward in the axial direction. At least one (preferably a plurality of) radial through holes are formed in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion so as to communicate with the space thus obtained.

  For example, the flange portion of the rotating portion is provided with a plurality of bulging portions at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the radial through hole is provided at a position corresponding to the bulging portion in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion, The axial through hole may be formed at a position where there is no bulging portion in the flange portion.

  In the water pump of the present invention, for example, the pulley portion is integrally formed on the outer side of the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion via the outer flange portion.

  If it does in this way, the number of parts of a rotation part can be reduced.

  In the water pump of the present invention, for example, the rotating part is composed of a rotating side member in which the shaft portion and the pulley portion are integrated, and an impeller fixed to the rotating side member. A cylindrical shaft portion having the other end opened; an inner flange portion integrally formed on the outer side of the open end portion of the shaft portion; and a cylindrical portion formed on the shaft portion closed end side of the outer peripheral portion of the inner flange portion; The outer flange portion integrally formed outside the shaft portion closed end side end portion of the cylindrical portion, and the pulley portion formed on the shaft portion opening end side of the outer peripheral portion of the outer flange portion. The cylindrical portion of the impeller is fixed to the closed end portion by press-fitting.

  If it does in this way, the rotation part containing a rotation side member and an impeller can be reduced in weight. Further, the outer diameter of the pulley portion is not restricted by the outer diameter of the ball bearing, and the degree of freedom in setting the outer diameter of the pulley portion is increased.

  For example, the cylindrical part of the rotating part is a pulley part.

  In this way, the rotating part can be reduced in size simply by making the diameter of the pulley part slightly larger than the outer diameter of the ball bearing.

  For example, the rotating portion is a member in which a shaft portion and an impeller are integrally formed and a member in which the remaining portion is integrally formed are connected to each other.

  Also in this case, the rotating part including the pulley part, the shaft part, and the impeller can be reduced in weight.

  According to the water pump of the present invention, since a space is secured between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the ball bearing end surface, the amount of water approaching the bearing is reduced, and at least one radial direction leading to this space Since the through hole is formed in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion, the water between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the ball bearing end surface can be quickly discharged by centrifugal force. Therefore, the axial through-hole is prevented from being blocked with a solid material, and cooling water or the like can be prevented from entering the bearing and damaging the bearing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the water pump. In the following description, the left and right in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the water pump includes a housing (1) which is a fixed portion, a fixed side member (2) fixed to the housing (1), a rotating side member (3) constituting the rotating portion, and an impeller (4 ), A row of sealed ball bearings (5) for rotating and supporting the rotating side member (3) with respect to the fixed side member (2), and a seal between the fixed side member (2) and the rotating side member (3) A sealing member (6) is provided.

  The housing (1) is provided with a water chamber (10) whose left end is open. The fixed side member (2) is integrally formed by press forming a steel plate such as a cold rolled steel plate or SPCC, and has a small diameter cylindrical portion (2a), a cylindrical portion centered on the horizontal axis in the left-right direction. The inner flange (2b) integrally formed on the outside of the right end of (2a), the large integrally formed on the right side of the outer peripheral portion of the flange (2b) so as to be concentric with the small diameter cylindrical portion (2a) It comprises a diameter cylindrical portion (2c) and an outer flange portion (2d) integrally formed outside the right end portion of the cylindrical portion (2c). The outer flange portion (2d) is fixed to the left end surface of the housing (1) around the opening of the water chamber (10) via a seal (11).

  The rotation side member (3) is integrally formed by press-forming the same steel plate as the fixed side member (2), and the right end portion is closed around the horizontal axis in the left-right direction, and the left end portion is Opened relatively long bottomed cylindrical shaft part (3a), flange formed so as to be concentric with the inner flange part (3b) and the shaft part (3a) formed integrally with the left end part of the shaft part (3a) The inner cylindrical portion (3c) integrally formed on the right side of the outer peripheral portion of the portion (3b), the outer flange portion (3d) integrally formed on the outer side of the right end portion of the cylindrical portion (3c), and the flange portion (3d ) Of a pulley portion (outer cylindrical portion) (3e) integrally formed on the left side of the outer peripheral portion. The rotation side member (3) is disposed so as to be concentric with the fixed side member (2). The shaft portion (3a) is inserted from the left side into the small diameter cylindrical portion (2a) of the fixed side member (2), and a seal member (6) is interposed therebetween. The right end portion of the shaft portion (3a) is located in the water chamber (10) of the housing (1). The inner flange portion (3b) is close to the left end portion of the small diameter cylindrical portion (2a) of the fixed side member (2). The inner cylindrical portion (3c) is located outside the small-diameter cylindrical portion (2a) of the stationary member (2), and a ball bearing (5) is interposed therebetween. In the flange portion (3b) of the rotation side member (3), axial through holes (12) for releasing water (water vapor) that has passed through the seal member (6) are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (that is, 90 °). A total of four are formed. Although not shown, a belt for transmitting the rotational driving force to the rotation side member (3) is applied to the pulley portion (3e).

  The impeller (4) is integrally formed by press-molding a steel plate, and has a relatively short bottomed cylindrical portion (4a) with the right end closed and the left end opened around the horizontal axis in the left-right direction. ), A flange portion (4b) integrally formed outside the left end portion of the cylindrical portion (4a), and a plurality of blades (4c) integrally formed on the right side of the flange portion (4b). The cylindrical portion (4a) of the impeller (4) is press-fitted and fixed from the right side to the outside of the right end portion of the shaft portion (3a) of the rotating side member (3), and the entire impeller (4) is fixed to the housing (1). Located in the water chamber (10).

  The ball bearing (5) is a deep groove ball bearing, and has an inner ring (5a), an outer ring (5b), a plurality of balls (5c) interposed therebetween, and both ends between the inner and outer rings (5a) (5b). The sealing member (5d) provided in the part is provided. The inner ring (5a) is fixed to the outer periphery of the small diameter cylindrical portion (2a) of the fixed side member (2) by press-fitting. The outer ring (5b) is fixed to the inner periphery of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) of the rotation side member (3) by press fitting.

  Detailed description of the seal member (6) is omitted, but it is a known mechanical seal, and the inner peripheral side portion is fixed to the outer periphery of the shaft portion (3a) of the rotation side member (3) by press fitting, and the outer peripheral side portion Is fixed to the inner periphery of the small-diameter cylindrical portion (2a) of the stationary member (2) by press-fitting.

  The left end surface of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) of the rotation side member (3) is protruded to the left by a predetermined length from the left end surface of the ball bearing (5). A holding space (S) for water that has passed through the seal member (6) is secured between the inner flange portion (3b) and the ball bearing (5). The left end portion of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) is slightly bulged outward in the radial direction, and the radial through holes (13) leading to the holding space (S) are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (at intervals of 90 °). 4) A total of four are formed. Note that the left protrusion amount of the left end surface of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) of the rotation side member (3) with respect to the left end surface of the ball bearing (5) is such that the radial through hole (13) passes through the inner cylindrical portion (3c) left end It is determined appropriately so that it can be formed.

  In the above embodiment, the inner flange portion (3b) of the rotation side member (3) is substantially flush and the entire inner flange portion (3b) is positioned axially outward (leftward) with respect to the ball bearing (5). However, in order to secure the water holding space (S), the inner flange portion (3b) of the rotating side member (3) may partially protrude outward in the axial direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, a total of four bulging portions (14) are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (every 90 °) on the inner flange portion (3b), and the radial through holes (13) The inner cylindrical portion (3c) is provided at a position corresponding to the bulging portion (14) of the left end portion, and the axial through hole (12) is formed in the bulging portion (14) in the inner flange portion (3b). A total of four may be formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction (that is, at intervals of 90 °) at positions where there is no gap.

  In the above water pump, the rotating side member (3) and the impeller (4) are rotated by the belt hung on the pulley portion (3e), and the outer ring (5b) of the ball bearing (5) is in contact with the inner ring (5a). Rotate.

  During operation of the water pump, the water leaking through the seal member (6) is retained in the holding space (S) between the inner flange portion (3b) of the rotating side member (3) and the ball bearing (5). ) And is discharged to the outside through the axial through hole (12) of the flange portion (3b) and is also discharged from the radial through hole (13) of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) by centrifugal force. Thus, the water leaking from the inside can be quickly discharged without being retained in the vicinity of the ball bearing (5). Water, muddy water, etc. adhering to the vicinity of the radial through hole (13) of the inner cylindrical part (3c) are swung out to the outside along with its rotation, and are prevented from entering the inner cylindrical part (3c). The Of course, the number of the axial through holes (12) and the radial through holes (13) is not limited to four.

  In the above embodiment, the rotating part is composed of the impeller (4) and the rotating side member (3) in which the remaining part is integrally formed, but the rotating part is formed integrally with the shaft portion and the impeller. You may be comprised from the member by which the remaining part was integrally formed, and the remaining part.

  In the above embodiment, the pulley portion (3e) for hanging the belt is provided on the outside of the inner cylindrical portion (3c) to which the outer ring (5b) of the ball bearing (5) is fixed via the outer flange portion (3d). However, the cylindrical portion (3c) may be the pulley portion except for the outer flange portion (3d) and the pulley portion (3e).

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a water pump showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the water pump of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

(2) Fixed side member
(2a) Cylindrical part
(3) Rotation side member
(3a) Shaft part
(3b) Inner flange
(3c) Inner cylindrical part
(3d) Outer flange
(3e) Pulley
(4) Impeller
(5) Ball bearing
(12) Axial through hole
(13) Radial through hole
(14) bulge

Claims (4)

A ball bearing is interposed between the cylindrical portion formed on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion of the rotating portion and the fixed side member located inside the cylindrical portion, and an axial through hole is formed in the flange portion of the rotating portion. Water pump
A water pump characterized in that a space is secured between the flange portion of the rotating portion and the ball bearing end surface, and at least one radial through hole communicating with the space is formed in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion.   The flange portion of the rotating portion is provided with a plurality of bulging portions at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the radial through hole is provided at a position corresponding to the bulging portion in the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion, and the axial direction The water pump according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is formed at a position where there is no bulging portion in the flange portion.   The water pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a pulley portion is integrally formed outside the cylindrical portion of the rotating portion via an outer flange portion.   The rotating portion is composed of a rotating side member in which the shaft portion and the pulley portion are integrated, and an impeller fixed to the rotating side member, and the rotating side member has a cylindrical shaft with one end closed and the other end opened. Part, an inner flange part integrally formed outside the opening end part of the shaft part, a cylindrical part formed on the shaft part closed end side of the outer peripheral part of the inner flange part, and a shaft part closed end side of the cylindrical part The outer flange portion formed integrally with the outer side of the end portion and the pulley portion formed on the shaft portion opening end side of the outer peripheral portion of the outer flange portion, and the cylindrical portion of the impeller at the closed end portion of the shaft portion The water pump according to claim 3, wherein is fixed by press-fitting.

Images