JP2010275964A - Vane pump - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress the leakage loss of a vane pump without requiring extra dimensional accuracy with respect to components. <P>SOLUTION: This vane pump includes: a rotor 3 eccentrically stored in a pump house; a plurality of vanes 4 having front ends made to slidably contact with an inner peripheral surface in the pump house; a plurality of operating chambers surrounded by the inner surface of the pump house, the rotor 3 and the vanes 4; a suction passage allowing working fluid to flow into the operating chambers in a process of increasing volume; and a delivery passage discharging the working fluid from the operating chambers in a process of reducing volume. A communication space having a predetermined width is formed between the rotor thrust surface 3b of the rotor 3 and the bottom surface in the pump house opposed to the rotor thrust surface, and a flexible partitioning member 1 push-pressed and deformed between the rotor thrust surface 3b and the bottom surface in the pump house is arranged in the communication space. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for suppressing leakage loss of a vane pump.

  The vane pump can be formed in a small size and requires only a small operating noise. As described in Patent Document 1, etc., the vane pump is provided with a pump chamber, a rotor eccentrically housed in the pump chamber, and a pump chamber circumferential surface. And a plurality of vanes provided on the rotor so that the tips are in sliding contact with each other.

  In this vane pump, a plurality of working chambers surrounded by the pump chamber, the rotor, and the vane change the volume by rotating the rotor. Then, the working fluid can be introduced into the working chamber in the volume expansion process through the suction passage, and the working fluid can be discharged from the working chamber in the volume reduction process through the discharge passage.

  By the way, in the vane pump configured as described above, if there is a gap between the rotor thrust surface, which is the surface facing the rotor rotation axis direction, and the bottom surface of the pump chamber facing the rotor thrust surface, the working fluid is passed through this gap. This causes a problem that the pump efficiency is reduced. Here, the leakage of the working fluid is a leak in which the working fluid in the working chamber on the high pressure side flows into the other working chamber on the low pressure side.

  In order to suppress the leakage loss of the working fluid, it may be possible to set the flatness and parallelism so that the gap is minimized, but this requires extremely strict dimensional accuracy, which increases the cost. become.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-291488

  The present invention has been invented in view of the above problems, and provides a vane pump capable of suppressing leakage loss and achieving high pump efficiency without requiring more dimensional accuracy than necessary for components. Let it be an issue.

  The vane pump of the present invention capable of solving the above problems is provided in the rotor chamber 3 such that the pump chamber 2, the rotor 3 stored eccentrically in the pump chamber 2, and the tip 4a in sliding contact with the pump chamber circumferential surface 2b. A plurality of vanes 4. Furthermore, a plurality of working chambers 5 surrounded by the inner surface of the pump chamber 2, the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 and the vanes 4 and whose volume is changed by the rotational driving of the rotor 3, and the working chambers 5 in the process of expanding the volume are provided. On the other hand, a suction path 6 for allowing the working fluid to flow in and a discharge path 7 for discharging the working fluid from the working chamber 5 in the volume reduction process are provided. A communication space 12 having a predetermined width communicating with each working chamber 5 is formed between the rotor thrust surface 3b facing the rotation axis direction of the rotor 3 and the pump chamber bottom surface 2a facing the rotor thrust surface 3b. The flexible partition member 1 that is pressed and deformed between the rotor thrust surface 3b and the pump chamber bottom surface 2a is disposed in the communication space 12.

  In the vane pump of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the communication space 12 is partitioned by the flexible partitioning member 1 that is arranged in a pressed and deformed form, and the high pressure side working chamber 5 is passed through the communication space 12 to the low pressure side working chamber 5. The leakage of the working fluid can be suppressed. Accordingly, the pump efficiency can be improved without requiring more flatness and parallelism than necessary for the components such as the rotor 3. In addition, since the flexible partition member 1 is configured to partition the communication space 12 in a state of being pressed and deformed, the partition performance is ensured even if the flexible partition member 1 is worn to some extent.

  In the vane pump of the present invention, it is preferable that one end portion of the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the pump chamber bottom surface 2a and the other end portion is slidably contacted with the rotor thrust surface 3b. In this way, by fixing the flexible partition member 1 to the pump chamber bottom surface 2 a side, a range that can be partitioned by the flexible partition member 1 can be widely provided in the radial direction of the rotor 3.

  It is also preferable that one end portion of the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the rotor thrust surface 3b and the other end portion is brought into sliding contact with the pump chamber bottom surface 2a. Thus, by fixing the flexible partition member 1 to the rotor thrust surface 3b side, it is possible to more reliably suppress leakage loss that occurs particularly on the rotor thrust surface 3b.

  In these cases, the flexible partition member 1 may be arranged so that the outer peripheral end portion 1 a thereof is not positioned on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3 when viewed from the rotation axis direction of the rotor 3. preferable. By doing in this way, the leakage loss of a working fluid can be suppressed more reliably.

  It is also preferable that one end portion of the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the vane 4 and the other end portion is slidably contacted with the pump chamber bottom surface 2a. Thus, by fixing the flexible partition member 1 to the vane 4 side, it is possible to more reliably suppress leakage loss that occurs particularly on the outer surface of the vane 4.

  Furthermore, it is also preferable to arrange a plurality of flexible partition members 1 radially. By doing in this way, the communication space 12 can be partitioned into many spaces, and the leakage loss in the communication space 12 is more reliably suppressed.

  It is also preferable that the flexible partition member 1 be bent in the circumferential direction of the rotor 3 by pressing between the rotor thrust surface 3b and the pump chamber bottom surface 2a. By doing in this way, the bent convex curved surface side of the flexible partition member 1 can be slidably contacted, and the resistance at the time of sliding is minimized.

  According to the vane pump of the present invention, the leakage loss of the working fluid from the high-pressure side working chamber to the low-pressure side working chamber can be suppressed without requiring dimensional accuracy more than necessary for the parts, so that a large cost is required. There is an effect that the pump efficiency can be improved.

  In addition, when the flexible partition member is fixed to the bottom surface of the pump chamber, there is an effect that a wide range that can be partitioned by the flexible partition member is provided and leakage loss can be more effectively suppressed.

  In addition, when the flexible partition member is fixed to the rotor thrust surface, there is an effect that leakage loss on the rotor thrust surface can be suppressed more reliably.

  Further, by arranging the flexible partition member so that the outer peripheral end portion thereof is not located on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, there is an effect that leakage loss of the working fluid can be further reliably suppressed.

  In addition, when the flexible partition member is fixed to the vane, there is an effect that leakage loss on the outer surface of the vane can be suppressed more reliably.

  Further, when a plurality of the flexible partition members are arranged radially, there is an effect that the communication space is partitioned into a large number of spaces and leakage loss can be further reliably suppressed.

  In addition, when the flexible partition member is bent in the circumferential direction of the rotor by pressing, the sliding resistance is minimized.

It is a principal part perspective view of the vane pump of the 1st example in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the state which opened the casing upper part of the vane pump same as the above. It is principal part sectional drawing of a vane pump same as the above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ in FIG. 3. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the modification of a vane pump same as the above. It is a principal part perspective view of the vane pump of the 2nd example in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part perspective view of the vane pump of the 3rd example in the embodiment of the present invention.

  The present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 4 show a first example of a vane pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the vane pump of the first example, the rotor 3 is eccentrically stored in the pump chamber 2 provided in the casing 10, and the rotor 3 is provided with a plurality of vanes 4 so that the tip 4a is in sliding contact with the pump chamber circumferential surface 2b. The casing 10 is provided with a suction passage 6 and a discharge passage 7 so as to reach the pump chamber 2.

  With the above configuration, a plurality of working chambers 5 surrounded by the inner surface of the pump chamber 2, the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3, and the vanes 4 are formed in the casing 10. When the rotor 3 is driven to rotate, the volume of the working chamber 5 increases or decreases, and the working fluid flows into the working chamber 5 in the volume expansion process through the suction passage 6 and discharges from the working chamber 5 in the volume reduction process. The working fluid is discharged through 7 (see arrow in FIG. 2). Hereinafter, each configuration will be further described.

  The rotor 3 has a circular outer shape in plan view, and a bearing portion 8 is provided at the center thereof. A plurality of (four in the first example) vane grooves 9 are radially formed in the upper portion of the rotor 3, and a magnetic body 11 made of a magnet is integrally attached to the lower portion of the rotor 3.

  A fixed shaft (not shown) penetrating the pump chamber 2 up and down is rotatably inserted into the bearing portion 8 of the rotor 3. By inserting the fixed shaft, the rotor 3 is rotatable to the pump chamber 2 in such a posture that the upper rotor thrust surface 3b faces the pump chamber bottom surface 2a and the outer surface 3a faces the pump chamber peripheral surface 2b. Placed in. The rotor thrust surface 3b is a flat surface formed in the rotor 3 so as to face the rotation axis direction (vertical direction in the figure).

  In each vane groove 9 of the rotor 3, the vane 4 is accommodated and disposed so as to be slidable in the radial direction of the rotor 3. The vane 4 can protrude and retract from the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 by sliding in the radial direction.

  A stator (not shown) is arranged at the lower part of the casing 10 so as to be adjacent to the magnetic body 11 of the rotor 3 arranged in the pump chamber 2. The adjacent magnetic body 11 and the stator constitute a drive unit that drives the rotor 3 to rotate.

  When the rotor 3 housed in the pump chamber 2 is driven to rotate by the drive unit, each vane 4 receives a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the rotor 3 and protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3. The vane 4 protruding outward has its tip 4 a slidably contacted with the pump chamber circumferential surface 2 b, and as described above, the inner surface of the pump chamber 2 (the pump chamber bottom surface 2 a and the pump chamber circumferential surface 2 b) and the outer periphery of the rotor 3. A plurality of working chambers 5 surrounded by the surface 3 a and the vanes 4 are formed.

  Here, since the rotating shaft of the rotor 3 is in the eccentric position of the pump chamber 2, each volume of the working chamber 5 changes in size while moving in the rotating direction of the rotor 3 by rotating the rotor 3. When each working chamber 5 is in a position communicating with the suction path 6, the volume increases as the rotor 3 rotates. Further, when the position is in communication with the discharge path 7, the volume decreases as the rotor 3 rotates. Therefore, when the rotor 3 is rotationally driven, the working fluid flows into the working chamber 5 from the suction passage 6, is compressed in the working chamber 5, and is then discharged from the discharge passage 7.

  The basic configuration of the present invention has been described above. In the following, a more characteristic configuration of the present invention will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the pump chamber 2, a flat rotor thrust surface 3b of the rotor 3 and a similarly flat pump chamber bottom surface 2a facing the rotor thrust surface 3b are provided in parallel. A communication space 12 communicating with each working chamber 5 is formed between the both surfaces 3b and 2a. In this communication space 12, one rod-like flexible partition member 1 for preventing leakage of working fluid is disposed.

  The flexible partition member 1 is disposed in the communication space 12 by fixing one end portion (upper end portion in the drawing) in the rotation axis direction to the pump chamber bottom surface 2a. The flexible partition member 1 is provided so as to be pressed and deformed between the rotor thrust surface 3b and the pump chamber bottom surface 2a. The flexible partition member 1 is brought into sliding contact with the rotor thrust surface 3b at the other end portion (lower end portion in the figure) in the rotation axis direction in a state where the flexible partition member 1 is bent due to elastic deformation. The flexible partition member 1 is formed such that the thickness at the other end side is thinner than the thickness at the one end side so that the other end side is easily bent in the rotation direction of the rotor 3 by pressing in the vertical direction.

  The rod-shaped flexible partition member 1 is disposed in the communication space 12 so that the longitudinal direction thereof coincides with or substantially coincides with the radial direction of the rotor 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). At this time, the outer peripheral end 1 a of the flexible partition member 1 is arranged so that the outer peripheral end 1 a is not positioned on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3 when viewed from the rotation axis direction. In other words, the flexible partition member 1 is disposed so that the outer peripheral end 1 a is positioned on the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3, or is positioned so as to be positioned outward from the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3. To do.

  Furthermore, the flexible partition member 1 is preferably disposed so as to be in sliding contact with the entire radial width of the rotor thrust surface 3b. In the first example, the length of the flexible partition member 1 in the longitudinal direction is substantially matched with the radial width of the rotor thrust surface 3 b, and the outer peripheral end 1 a of the flexible partition member 1 is the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3. It is provided so as to be located above.

  The location where the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the pump chamber 2 is preferably the location shown in FIG. Specifically, the flexible partition member 1 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge passage 7, and the flexible partition member 1 is provided in sliding contact with the rotor thrust surface 3 b in the vicinity of the rotation direction of the opening portion of the discharge passage 7. Yes.

  In the vane pump of the first example having the above-described configuration, the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the casing 10, and when the rotor 3 is incorporated, the communication space 12 is pressed and deformed in the vertical direction (rotating axis direction). The leakage of the working fluid can be efficiently suppressed. Therefore, high pump efficiency can be achieved without requiring unnecessarily high dimensional accuracy for components such as the rotor 3 and the casing 10.

  Furthermore, in the first example, the flexible partition member 1 is arranged so that the outer peripheral end portion 1a thereof is not positioned on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 (that is, on the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 or above. Therefore, the reduction of leakage in the communication space 12 is further ensured. The outer peripheral end 1a of the flexible partition member 1 may protrude until it contacts the pump chamber peripheral surface 2b.

  Further, in the first example, the flexible partition member 1 is provided so as to be bent in the circumferential direction of the rotor 3 by pressing deformation, and as shown in FIG. 1, the convex curved surface of the flexible partition member 1 bent in an arc shape. The side is in sliding contact with the rotor thrust surface 3b. As a result, the resistance during sliding can be minimized.

  Note that the number of the flexible partition members 1 arranged is not limited to one, and a plurality of the flexible partition members 1 may be arranged in the communication space 12. In arranging a plurality of flexible partition members 1, it is preferable to arrange each flexible partition member 1 so as to extend radially along the radial direction of the rotor 3, as shown in FIG. In this case, since the communication space 12 is partitioned into a large number of spaces by the radial flexible partition member 1, the leakage of the working fluid from the high pressure side working chamber 5 to the low pressure side working chamber 5 is further reliably suppressed. The

  In the first example, the communication space 12 for arranging the flexible partition member 1 is formed only on the upper side of the rotor 3, but the same communication space 12 is also formed on the lower side of the rotor 3, It is good also as a structure which distributes the flexible partition member 1 in the communication space 12 of both sides.

  Next, the vane pump of the 2nd example in embodiment of this invention is described based on FIG. In addition, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the thing similar to the structure of the above-mentioned 1st example among the structures of a 2nd example, and only the structure peculiar to a 2nd example is explained in full detail below.

  In the vane pump of the second example, the pair of flexible partition members 1 are fixed to the rotor thrust surface 3 b side of the rotor 3. That is, in the second example, one end portion (the lower end portion in the figure) of the flexible partition member 1 in the rotation axis direction is fixed on the rotor thrust surface 3b, and the other end portion of the flexible partition member 1 in the rotation axis direction is fixed. (The upper end in the figure) is configured to be in sliding contact with the pump chamber bottom surface 2a.

  Here, the pressing deformation of the flexible partition member 1 is performed such that the other end slidably contacting the pump chamber bottom surface 2 a is bent in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor 3. Thereby, the convex curved surface side of the flexible partition member 1 bent in an arc shape is brought into sliding contact with the bottom surface 2a of the pump chamber, thereby minimizing resistance during sliding.

  The flexible partition member 1 is arranged so that the outer peripheral end 1a is not positioned on the inner side of the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 when viewed from the rotation axis direction. That is, the outer peripheral end 1a of the flexible partition member 1 is provided so as to be positioned on the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3 or on the outer side. When the outer peripheral end 1a of the flexible partition member 1 is projected outward from the outer peripheral surface 3a of the rotor 3, the outer peripheral end 1a may be provided so as to be in sliding contact with the pump chamber peripheral surface 2b.

  The flexible partition member 1 is preferably fixed to the entire radial width of the rotor thrust surface 3b. In the second example, the length in the longitudinal direction of the flexible partition member 1 is made to substantially coincide with the width in the radial direction of the rotor thrust surface 3 b, and the outer peripheral end 1 a of the flexible partition member 1 is connected to the outer peripheral surface 3 a of the rotor 3. Located above.

  Moreover, the flexible partition member 1 may arrange three or more. When a plurality of flexible partition members 1 are arranged, it is preferable to arrange them at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  In the vane pump of the second example configured as described above, the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the rotor 3 side, and when the rotor 3 is incorporated, the communication space is obtained by pressing and deforming in the vertical direction (rotating axis direction). The leakage of the working fluid at 12 can be efficiently suppressed. Therefore, high pump efficiency can be achieved without requiring unnecessarily high dimensional accuracy for components such as the rotor 3 and the casing 10.

  Next, the vane pump of the 3rd example in embodiment of this invention is described based on FIG. In addition, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted about the thing similar to the structure of the above-mentioned 1st example and 2nd example among the structures of a 3rd example, and only the structure peculiar to a 3rd example is explained in full detail below.

  In the vane pump of the third example, the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the vane 4. That is, in the third example, one end portion (lower end portion in the drawing) of the flexible partition member 1 in the rotation axis direction is fixed to the surface (upper surface) facing the communication space 12 of the vane 4, and the flexible partition member The other end portion (upper end portion in the figure) of the rotational axis direction of 1 is in sliding contact with the pump chamber bottom surface 2a.

  Here, the pressing deformation of the flexible partition member 1 is performed such that the other end slidably contacting the pump chamber bottom surface 2 a is bent in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotor 3. As in the second example, the resistance during sliding can be minimized by this.

  The flexible partition member 1 is preferably arranged so that its outer peripheral end 1 a is positioned on the outer peripheral end of the vane 4 when viewed from the rotation axis direction. In the third example, the length of the flexible partition member 1 in the longitudinal direction is made substantially equal to the width of the vane 4 in the sliding direction, and the flexible partition member 1 is fixed over the entire width of the vane 4 in the sliding direction. is there.

  In the third example, the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to all four vanes 4. However, the flexible partition member 1 may be disposed only on some of the vanes 4. . In any case, it is preferable that the flexible partition members 1 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  In the vane pump of the third example having the above-described configuration, the flexible partition member 1 is fixed to the vane 4, and when the rotor 3 is incorporated, the communication space 12 is pressed and deformed in the vertical direction (rotational axis direction). The leakage of the working fluid can be efficiently suppressed. Therefore, high pump efficiency can be achieved without requiring unnecessarily high dimensional accuracy for components such as the rotor 3 and the casing 10.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of the above examples. It is possible to change the design of the above and to apply a combination of the configurations of the examples as appropriate.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Flexible partition member 1a Outer peripheral edge 2 Pump chamber 2a Pump chamber bottom surface 2b Pump chamber inner surface 3 Rotor 3a Outer surface 3b Rotor thrust surface 4 Vane 4a Tip 5 Actuation chamber 6 Suction path 7 Discharge path 12 Communication space

Claims (7)

  Surrounded by a pump chamber, a rotor housed eccentrically in the pump chamber, a plurality of vanes provided on the rotor so that the tip is in sliding contact with the peripheral surface of the pump chamber, the pump chamber inner surface, the outer peripheral surface of the rotor, and the vane A plurality of working chambers whose volume is changed by the rotation of the rotor, a suction passage for flowing the working fluid into the working chamber in the volume expansion process, and a discharge for discharging the working fluid from the working chamber in the volume reduction process In the vane pump provided with a passage, a communication space having a predetermined width communicating with each working chamber is formed between a rotor thrust surface facing the rotation axis direction of the rotor and a bottom surface of the pump chamber facing the rotor thrust surface, A vane pump, characterized in that a flexible partition member that is pressed and deformed between a rotor thrust surface and a pump chamber bottom surface is disposed in the communication space.   The vane pump according to claim 1, wherein one end of the flexible partition member is fixed to the bottom surface of the pump chamber, and the other end is brought into sliding contact with the rotor thrust surface.   The vane pump according to claim 1, wherein one end of the flexible partition member is fixed to the rotor thrust surface, and the other end is slidably contacted with the bottom of the pump chamber.   The flexible partition member is arranged so that an outer peripheral end portion thereof is not positioned on an inner side of an outer peripheral surface of the rotor when viewed from a rotation axis direction of the rotor. Vane pump as described.   The vane pump according to claim 1, wherein one end of the flexible partition member is fixed to the vane and the other end is brought into sliding contact with the bottom surface of the pump chamber.   The vane pump according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a plurality of flexible partition members are arranged radially.   The flexible partition member is arranged by being bent in the circumferential direction of the rotor by pressing between the rotor thrust surface and the bottom surface of the pump chamber. Vane pump.

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