JPH112126A - Drain structure for water pump - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily perform the waste water treatment for the leaked coolant, by communicating one edge of a draining passage which is mounted on a pump body for exhausting the leaked coolant to a bearing part of a driving shaft through a sealing device, with a fluid channel for supplying the coolant to a pump. SOLUTION: An pump impeller 16 is rotated on an axis of rotation 18 through a pulley 20 by the rotation of an engine in a water pump 10, and the coolant is discharged from an introducing passage 28 by this rotation. The coolant leaked from a sliding part 27 of a mechanical seal 26 at that time, is recovered to a circular space 30, and is flown to a pocket part 36 through a vertical part 34 of a draining passage 32. The pocket part 36 comprises a hollow float 48, and the hollow float 48 is located at a high position when a water level of the coolant stored in the pocket part 36 is elevated, whereby a valve part 38 is opened through a rod 44 which is rotated on a support axis 50. The coolant stored in the pocket part 36 is circulated to the introducing passage 28 by this opening of the valve part 38.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a water pump for circulating cooling water, and more particularly to a structure for recovering cooling water leaking from a seal portion of a bearing of the water pump.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this kind of technology has been
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-32335. The conventional configuration disclosed in this publication includes a pump disposed in a pump body for circulating cooling water, a drive shaft for driving the pump, a sealing device for sealing a bearing of the drive shaft from the cooling water, and a pump body. And a drain passage for discharging cooling water leaked to the bearing portion of the drive shaft via the sealing device.

[0003]

In the cooling water recovery structure described above, the leaked cooling water is recovered in a reserve tank. However, when this configuration is used for an automobile engine, the reserve tank is often arranged at a position higher than the water pump, and a relief valve is provided in the reserve tank and the drain passage, and the reserve tank is recovered by adjusting the pressure in the passage. Needed. Further, it is necessary to connect the drainage passage from the water pump to the reserve tank, which causes a space problem due to piping and the like.

[0004] Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-41222, if a drain hole is provided and the water is discharged to the outside of the water pump, if the operation time of the engine is prolonged, the cooling water discharged to the outside is used. In addition, there is a possibility that the total amount of the cooling water is insufficient and overheating occurs.

The present invention provides a water pump drainage structure that solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0006]

Means taken in the first aspect of the present invention are a pump arranged in a pump body for circulating cooling water, a drive shaft for driving the pump, and a cooling water for a bearing of the drive shaft. In a water pump draining structure comprising a sealing device for sealing from the water and a draining passage disposed in the pump body and discharging the cooling water leaking to the bearing portion of the drive shaft via the sealing device, one end of the draining passage is connected to the pump. This is a configuration that communicates with a fluid passage for supplying cooling water. With this configuration, the leaked cooling water can be drained only by the configuration of the drainage passage in the pump body, and an arrangement that does not affect the mounting structure of the water pump can be achieved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a pocket for storing leaked cooling water and a valve for opening and closing the communication between the drain passage and the fluid passage are provided in the drain passage. It is configured to open when a predetermined amount of cooling water is stored. With this configuration, the leaked cooling water is temporarily stored in the pocket portion, the valve is opened only when the cooling water in the pocket portion reaches a predetermined amount, and the cooling water is discharged from the pocket portion to the fluid passage. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the operation of the pump that does not affect the flow of the fluid passage due to the communication of the drainage passage with the fluid passage.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the valve is configured to be opened and closed by a float disposed in the pocket and floating in the cooling water and a link mechanism disposed between the float and the valve. is there. With this configuration, the opening and closing of the valve can be controlled by the float floating in the cooling water in the pocket and the link mechanism, and a water pump drainage structure that is inexpensive, simple, and highly reliable can be obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the valve body of the valve comprises a rigid valve connected to a link mechanism and an elastic valve joined to the rigid valve. With this configuration, since the operation of the link mechanism opens and closes the elastic valve via the rigid valve, a smooth closing can be achieved by utilizing the elastic force of the elastic valve when closing the valve.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a water drainage structure of a water pump according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a water draining structure of a water pump according to an embodiment using the present invention.

In a water pump 10 shown in FIG. 1, a pump body is formed by a cylinder block 12 of an engine and a housing 14 fixed to the cylinder block 12. In this pump body, there is a pump impeller 1
6 are arranged. The pump impeller 16 is attached to an end of a rotating shaft 18 that penetrates the housing 14 so as to be unable to rotate relative to the rotating shaft 18. At the other end of the rotating shaft 18, a timing pulley 20 located outside the housing 14 is attached so as not to rotate relative to the rotating shaft 18. The timing pulley 20 is configured to transmit the torque of the crankshaft of the engine (not shown) via a timing belt (or a timing chain). Further, a groove 22 engraved in the circumferential direction is formed on the rotating shaft 18, and the rotating shaft 18 is supported by the ball bearing 24 engaged with the groove 22 while supporting the rotation of the rotating shaft 18 in the axial direction. Axial positioning is performed so as not to move. A well-known mechanical seal 26 is arranged between the pump impeller 16 and the ball bearing 24. The mechanical seal 26 seals a gap between the housing 14 and the rotating shaft 18 in a watertight manner. An introduction passage 28 for supplying cooling water from a reservoir (not shown) to the pump impeller 16 is formed in the cylinder block 12.
Leading to 6. Also, in the cylinder block 12,
A discharge passage (not shown) is formed, and the rotation of the pump impeller 16 supplies the cooling water supplied through the introduction passage 28 through the discharge passage.

An annular space 30 is formed between the mechanical seal 26 and the ball bearing 24, and a drain passage 32 is formed between the annular space 30 and the introduction passage 28. The drain passage 32 is connected to a vertical portion 34 formed in the housing 14 below the annular space 30 and communicates below the vertical portion 34 with the cylinder block 12 and the housing 14.
And a valve portion 38 for partitioning the pocket portion 36 and the introduction passage 28. As is well known, the purpose of forming the drainage passage 32 is to completely close the gap between the housing 14 and the rotary shaft 18 with a water-tight seal due to the structure of the mechanical seal 26, and to prevent rotation of the rotary shaft 18 without rotation loss. It is difficult to secure the rotation of the rotating shaft 18, so that leakage of the cooling water in the sliding portion 27 of the mechanical seal 26 is allowed,
It is formed to collect the leaked cooling water.

As shown in an enlarged view of FIG.
An outer lid 40 made of a rubber material or a resin material having elasticity is disposed on the introduction passage 28 side, and the outer lid 40 is fixed to a rigid inner lid 42 with an adhesive or the like. Outer lid 40 and inner lid 42
The bonding margin 41 is only the upper part of each of the outer lid 40 and the inner lid 42, and the lower part of the joint surface between the outer lid 40 and the inner lid 42 is separable. In addition, the outer lid 40
Is firmly fixed to the cylinder block 12 with an adhesive or the like. On the pocket portion 36 side of the inner lid 42,
A rod 44 is provided via a joint 46. At the other end of the rod 44, a hollow float 48 formed of a synthetic resin material and floating on water is attached. The rod 44
Is held by the support shaft 50 closer to the joint 46 than the center of the rod 44. In addition, cylinder block 1
When the rod 44 rotates within a predetermined range around the support shaft 50, the inner cover 42
A groove 37 is formed so that the groove does not contact the pocket portion 36.

The water pump 10 configured as described above
The water draining action of will be described.

The rotation of the engine rotates a crankshaft (not shown), and this rotation is transmitted to the rotary shaft 18 via a pulley 20 and a timing belt (or a timing chain). As the rotating shaft 18 rotates,
The pump impeller 16 attached to the end of the rotating shaft 18 so as not to rotate relatively rotates. The rotation of the pump impeller 16 discharges the cooling water from the introduction passage 28 to a discharge passage (not shown).

At this time, the space between the housing 14 and the rotary shaft 18 is sealed by a mechanical seal 26 disposed behind the pump impeller 16, but cooling water leaking from a sliding portion 27 of the mechanical seal 26 is annularly formed. Space 30
Will be collected. The cooling water in the annular space 30 is supplied to the drain passage 3
It flows into the pocket portion 36 through the second vertical portion 34. As described above, a hollow float 48 connected to the inner lid 42 of the valve portion 38 via the rod 44 is disposed in the pocket portion 36, and the hollow float 48 is provided on the surface of the cooling water stored in the pocket portion 36. Floating. When the level of the cooling water stored in the pocket portion 36 rises, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the hollow float 48 is at a high position, and the inner lid 42 is moved by the rod 44 rotating about the support shaft 50. The valve part 38 is opened by bending the outer lid 40 having elasticity. By opening the valve part 38, the cooling water stored in the pocket part 36 is returned to the introduction passage 28. When the water level of the cooling water stored in the pocket portion 36 decreases due to the reflux, the position of the hollow float 48 is lowered and the rod 44 is rotated, and the elasticity of the outer lid 40 acts, so that the valve portion 38 is actuated. Is closed.

Therefore, the sliding portion 2 of the mechanical seal 26
The cooling water leaked from 7 can be returned to the introduction passage 28 without being discharged from the oil pump 10 to the outside, and there is no need to connect the oil pump 10 and an external engine such as a reservoir with a pipe. Further, the provision of the pocket portion 36 makes it possible to temporarily store the leaked cooling water until a predetermined amount is reached, and when the valve portion 38 is closed, the cooling water flowing through the oil pump 10 is provided. A good operation of the oil pump can be obtained without any influence on the flow. Furthermore, by using a very simple system in which the hollow float 48 floats in the pocket portion 36, the cooling water can be automatically refluxed, and a highly reliable drainage structure can be provided.

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a pump disposed in a pump body for circulating cooling water, a drive shaft for driving the pump, and a seal for sealing a bearing of the drive shaft from the cooling water. In a water pump drainage structure including a device and a drainage passage disposed in a pump body and discharging cooling water leaked to a bearing portion of a drive shaft via a sealing device, one end of the drainage passage supplies cooling water to the pump. That is, it is configured so as to communicate with the fluid passage. With this configuration, the leaked cooling water can be drained only by the configuration of the drainage passage in the pump body, and an arrangement that does not affect the mounting structure of the water pump can be achieved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the drain passage is provided with a pocket for storing leaked cooling water, and a valve for opening and closing communication between the drain passage and the fluid passage. Is released when a predetermined amount is stored. With this configuration, the leaked cooling water is temporarily stored in the pocket portion, the valve is opened only when the cooling water in the pocket portion reaches a predetermined amount, and the cooling water is discharged from the pocket portion to the fluid passage. Therefore, the pump can be operated without affecting the flow in the fluid passage due to the communication of the water drain passage with the fluid passage.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the valve is configured to be opened and closed by a float disposed in the pocket portion and floating in the cooling water and a link mechanism disposed between the float and the valve. With this configuration, the opening and closing of the valve can be controlled by the float and the link mechanism floating in the cooling water in the pocket portion, and a water pump drainage structure that is inexpensive, simple, and highly reliable can be provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the valve body of the valve comprises a rigid valve connected to the link mechanism and an elastic valve joined to the rigid valve. With this configuration,
Since the operation of the link mechanism opens and closes the elastic valve via the rigid valve, the elastic force of the elastic valve is applied to the operation of the link mechanism when the valve is closed, so that the operation can be smoothly closed. The opening time of the valve affecting the flow of the fluid can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a water drainage structure of a water pump according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a valve section 38 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Water pump 14 ... Housing (pump body) 18 ... Rotating shaft (drive shaft) 26 ... Mechanical seal (seal device) 32 ... Drainage passage 36 ... Pocket part 38 ...・ Valve (valve) 40 ・ ・ ・ Outer lid (elastic valve) 42 ・ ・ ・ Inner lid (rigid valve) 44 ・ ・ ・ Link mechanism 48 ・ ・ ・ Hollow float (float)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pump disposed in a pump body for circulating cooling water, a drive shaft for driving the pump, a sealing device for sealing a bearing of the drive shaft from the cooling water, and disposed on the pump body. A drain passage for discharging cooling water leaked to the bearing portion of the drive shaft via the sealing device, wherein one end of the drain passage communicates with a fluid passage for supplying cooling water to the pump. The drain structure of the water pump. 2. The water drain passage is provided with a pocket portion for storing leaked cooling water, and a valve for opening and closing communication between the water drain passage and the fluid passage. 2. The drain structure for a water pump according to claim 1, wherein the water pump is opened when a fixed amount is stored. 3. The valve according to claim 2, wherein the valve is opened and closed by a float disposed in the pocket portion and floating in the cooling water, and a link mechanism disposed between the float and the valve. Water pump drain structure. 4. The water pump drain structure according to claim 3, wherein the valve body of the valve comprises a rigid valve connected to the link mechanism and an elastic valve joined to the rigid valve.