KR20200030460A - Pump unit for providing a hydraulic pressure for actuating an actuator in the drive train of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a pump unit for providing hydraulic pressure to actuate an actuator in a drive train of a vehicle and, more specifically, to a pump unit for providing hydraulic pressure to actuate an actuator in a drive train of a vehicle, in particular a clutch actuator or gearbox actuator. The pump unit includes a pump (2), a storage container (6) for a working fluid, and two pressure outlets (20). The storage container (6) for a working fluid is divided into two chambers (40, 42), wherein a first suction opening (44) of the pump (2) is disposed in one chamber (40), and a second suction opening (44) of the pump (2) is disposed in the other chamber (42).

Description

PUMP UNIT FOR PROVIDING A HYDRAULIC PRESSURE FOR ACTUATING AN ACTUATOR IN THE DRIVE TRAIN OF A MOTOR VEHICLE}

The present invention relates to a pump unit having a pump, a storage container for a working fluid, and two pressure outlets, to provide hydraulic pressure to operate an actuator, in particular a clutch actuator or a gearbox actuator, in a drive train of an automobile. It is about.

The pump unit serves to provide hydraulic pressure that is controlled or regulated by the operation of a solenoid valve. Hydraulics can be used to switch the clutch between open and closed positions, or, in the case of gearbox actuators, a specific gear stage.

Each of the two pressure outlets acts on one of the two clutches of the dual clutch gearbox. For example, the first clutch is used to switch 1, 3, 5, and 7 gear stages, and the second clutch is used to switch 2, 4, 6, 8 gear stages.

It is an object of the invention to improve the operational reliability of the pump unit.

To achieve this object, according to the present invention, in the case of the pump unit of the initially mentioned type, the storage container is divided into two chambers, the first suction opening of the pump is arranged in one chamber, and the pump is removed. 2 The suction opening is placed in the other chamber. This ensures that in the event of a hydraulic leak in one circuit, only this circuit is dried to reach inoperability, while the other circuit is guaranteed to remain operable as before. This allows the driver of the vehicle to continue operating the vehicle in a limited way, ie with only even or odd gear stages. At the very least, it is possible to drive a vehicle from a busy street to a parking area, for example on a pavement or even a house or garage.

Preferably, the suction openings are arranged near the base of the corresponding chamber. This reduces the dead volume of the corresponding chamber, thus increasing the volume of working fluid available as the working volume.

To divide the storage container into two chambers, a substantially horizontally extending bulkhead can be used, and the bulkhead has a vertically extending end wall. Alternatively, the storage container can be divided into two chambers by substantially vertically extending bulkheads. In each case, the contour of the partition wall can be selected in such a way that the external dimensions of the storage container meet the corresponding specifications.

According to a preferred embodiment, the normal filling level of the storage container is placed on the top edge of the end wall or bulkhead. This ensures that in normal conditions the working fluids are exchanged between the two circuits. In the case of small leaks, the time to failure is prolonged, since in the beginning, a circuit that loses the working fluid can take the working fluid at a common volume over the top edge of the end wall or bulkhead.

The volume common to the two circuits and included in the storage container is within each chamber, between the top edge of the end wall or bulkhead and the normal filling level, to the top edge of the end wall or bulkhead so that the storage container can be compactly configured. It is smaller than the sum of the separate volumes formed.

The storage container is preferably attached directly to the pump housing so that a short suction path of the pump can be secured.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two solenoid valves are provided in which the fluid pressure at the pressure outlet can be controlled, one of the solenoid valves being disposed in a chamber of a storage vessel, and the other solenoid valve being the other. It is placed in the chamber. This has the advantage that the two solenoid valves can be cooled directly by the working fluid. Furthermore, solenoid valves are protected from environmental influences and corrosion. If the working fluid also surrounds the armature of the solenoid valve, a constant damping behavior is ensured.

The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
1 shows a pump unit in perspective;
2 shows the pump unit from FIG. 1 in an exploded perspective view;
3 shows the pump unit from FIG. 1 in side view;
FIG. 4 shows the pump unit from FIG. 3 in a first sectional view;
FIG. 5 shows the pump unit from FIG. 3 in a second sectional view;
6 shows a hydraulic circuit diagram of the pump unit;
FIG. 7 shows the circuit diagram from FIG. 6 showing the hydraulic flow for two different operating states;
8 shows the circuit diagram from FIG. 6 with the additional operating state shown;
9 shows the circuit diagram from FIG. 6 with the filters used in the pump unit added;
10 shows a side view of a storage container used in the pump unit;
11 shows a partial view of an alternative configuration of a storage container;
12 shows a schematic view of various volumes in a storage container;
13 shows a cross-sectional view of a solenoid valve used in a pump unit;
14 shows a solenoid valve from FIG. 13 with fluid flow in during operation;
15 shows a cross-section through a pump unit showing a conductor element used to transmit signals between the pressure sensors and the printed circuit board;
FIG. 16 shows a perspective view of the conductor element from FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 shows the conductor element from FIG. 16 in longitudinal section;
18 shows the conductor element from FIG. 16 in a sectional view;
19 shows a variant embodiment of the conductor element;
20 shows the details of the contact connection of the pressure sensor;
21 shows a sectional view through the pump of the pump unit.

The figures show a pump unit that serves to provide hydraulic pressure (and working fluid flow) that can be converted into an actuating stroke by an actuator in the drive train of a motor vehicle. The actuation stroke can be used, for example, to open or close the clutch, or to switch the gear stage of the gearbox or bring the gear stage of the gearbox to the neutral position.

As essential components (in particular, see FIGS. 1 and 2), the pump unit comprises a drive motor 1; Pump 2; Electronic control system 3; Two solenoid valves 4; Two pressure sensors 5 accommodated in a common housing; And a storage container 6.

The central component of the pump unit is the pump housing 7 in which the solenoid valves 4 are mounted and the storage container 6 is also mounted. The pressure sensor 5 is also mounted on the pump housing 7.

On the opposite side of the storage container 6, an electronic housing 8 is mounted on the pump housing 7, the electronic housing first accommodating the electronic control system 3, and secondly the electric motor 1 Includes stator. A cover 9 is mounted on the electronic housing 8, which serves to close the electronic control system 3 and dissipate the heat lost from the electronic control system 3 to the environment.

4 and 5, the solenoid valves 2 are arranged in the storage container 6.

The electric motor 1 is a brushless electric motor on which the pump 2 is driven.

The pump 2 is a rotary vane pump (see FIG. 21) with a rotor 10 having a plurality of chambers 12 in which rotary vane elements 14 are each disposed. The rotating vane elements 14 are cylindrical rollers. Therefore, the pump is a roller vane pump.

The cylindrical roller is rolled on the inner contour of the stator 16 defining a variable volume in the circumferential direction. Thus, while rotating the rotor 10 by 360 °, each rotating vane element passes through a series of intake regions A and pressure regions D twice. Thus, the pump has two suction connections and two pressure outlets.

Due to the two independent pressure outlets D of the pump 2, the pump units likewise have two pressure outlets 20 which are independent of each other.

The pump is configured symmetrically by all components to be described later as being present for each pressure outlet. Therefore, for example, when the "above" solenoid valve is described below, it applies to two solenoid valves because there is one for each pressure outlet.

The basic operation of the pump unit is now described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

The pump unit has two pressure outlets 20 provided with hydraulic pressure generated by the pump unit to operate the actuator.

The backflow prevention valve 22 is arranged downstream of each pressure outlet D of the pump 2. The backflow prevention valve 22 is provided with a valve seat made of rubber.

The inlet 24 of the solenoid valve 4 is located downstream of the outlet of the backflow prevention valve 22. Depending on the actual pressure and the desired pressure measured at the pressure sensor 5, each of the solenoid valves 4 is operated in such a way that the desired hydraulic pressure is present at the pressure outlet 20 of the pump unit. The excess working fluid is guided directly back into the storage container 6 by a return line 26.

The solenoid valves 4 are designed as proportional valves and, as valve elements, have a ball, together with the valve seat, so that the solenoid valve 4 is ensured not to leak in the closed state.

The right side of FIG. 7 shows the fluid flow in the intended state such that no hydraulic pressure is provided to the right pressure outlet 20.

All working fluid goes from the pressure outlet D of the pump 2 into the solenoid valve 4 and is pumped back to the storage vessel 6 through the recovery line 26; Therefore, the pump operates in circulation.

The left side of FIG. 7 shows a state in which a regulated hydraulic pressure is provided at the pressure outlet 20 of the pump unit. In this case, the solenoid valve 4 is operated by the electronic control system 3 in such a way that the actual pressure corresponds to the desired pressure.

8 shows the pump unit with the pump 2 stopped. The solenoid valve 4 on the right is open, so there is no pressure on the right pressure outlet 20.

In contrast, the left pressure outlet 20 is closed because the solenoid valve 4 is completely closed. Therefore, the hydraulic pressure formed downstream of the pressure outlet 20 will be maintained even if the pump 2 is not operated further.

The filters used in the pump unit will now be described with reference to FIG. 9.

The essential feature of the concept of keeping impurities away from the pump unit is that no suction-side filter is used; All filters are placed on the pressure side. Therefore, the pump sucks directly from the storage container 6.

The first filter 30 is located downstream of the corresponding pressure outlet of the pump 2. The filter serves to filter the impurities from the working fluid before they are delivered to the solenoid valve 4. Since a significant portion of the working fluid is guided by the pump 2 to the solenoid valve 4 and from there through the return line 26 to the storage container 6, through the two filters 30, the working fluid Due to its internal circulation, it is ensured that impurities are continuously filtered from the working fluid.

The second filter 32 is downstream of the solenoid valve 4 but is still provided upstream of the pressure outlet 20. The filter prevents impurities from entering the pump unit. The impurities are, in particular, the original soilings of the lines and actuators and the abrasion from the actuator provided with the working fluid by the pump unit.

The filters 30, 32 are configured to be effective over the entire service life of the pump unit, without the need for cleaning or replacement.

In the exemplary embodiment described, the filters have a cross section on the order of 65 mm2. The mesh width of the filters is on the order of 0.1 mm.

In the storage container 6, the filling filter 34 is arranged in such a way that any working fluid filled into the storage container 6 through the filling opening 33 flows through the filling filter 34. ) Is provided.

In the described exemplary embodiment, the filling filter 34 has a mesh width on the order of 0.3 mm, and the material constituting the filling filter has a diameter on the order of 0.2 mm. Through the filling filter 34, it is ensured that no impurities are introduced into the storage container 6 from the outside.

The storage container 6 is divided into two chambers 40, 42, and in each chamber 40, 42 a suction opening 44 leading to the suction connection A of the pump 2 is arranged. By dividing the inner volume of the storage container 6 into two separate chambers 40, 42, whenever there is a leak in one of the hydraulic circuits, a certain residual volume in the other hydraulic circuit ) Is still available, which allows the nondefective hydraulic circuit to continue operating for a period of time.

Thus, for example, after the driver has received a warning about the failure of the first hydraulic circuit, for example, in the case of a dual clutch gearbox, the clutch and associated gearbox switching As the stage is still ready to operate, the vehicle can still be safely driven into a parking bay or parking space.

To divide the storage container 6 into two chambers 40, 42, a substantially horizontally extending bulkhead 46 having a vertically extending end wall 48 (see FIG. 10), or a substantially vertically extending bulkhead 50 ( 11).

Each chamber 40, 42 has a dead volume T corresponding to the volume under the corresponding suction opening 44. The working volume W is located above the dead volume. The working volume W is determined by the uppermost edge of the end wall 48 or the partition wall 50. The common working volume GW is located above the working volume W.

Whenever the common working volume GW drops to zero, the hydraulic circuits are separated from each other, and only each hydraulic circuit still sucks from its own working volume W.

2, 4 and 5, solenoid valves 4 are arranged in the storage container 6. Solenoid valves are here arranged in the chambers 40 and 42 in each case.

Each of the solenoid valves 4 has a housing 60 (see FIG. 13) surrounding the components of the corresponding solenoid valve 4.

The solenoid valve 4 has a non-return valve 62, a valve seat 64, a valve element 66, an armature 68 and a coil 70. The working fluid flows through the intake 72 (see FIG. 14) to the pressure outlet 20 of the pump unit, or through an opening cross section between the valve seat 64 and the valve element 66. Flows to line 26.

A specific feature is that the path to the recovery line 26 runs through the interior of the housing 60. The corresponding corresponding return output 67 of the solenoid valve is indicated in FIG. 14 by a vertical downward pointing arrow, and the return output starts behind the valve seat and continues into the space within the housing 60.

By this arrangement of the return output of the solenoid valve 4, the encircling, in particular annular free space 74, present between the housing 60 and the coil 70 is completely flushed with the working fluid.

Here, the backflow prevention valve 62 integrated in the solenoid valve 4 corresponds to the backflow prevention valve 22 shown in FIGS. 6 to 9.

A more specific feature is that the bearing gap existing between the armature 68 and the bearing 76 inserted in the coil 70 and the solenoid valve housing is likewise completely flushed with the working fluid.

A more specific feature of the solenoid valve 4 is that it is self-cleaning as the path to the recovery line 26 removes any particles from the open valve seat and valve element.

How the pressure sensors 5 are connected to the electronic control system 3 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the cable is still used for this purpose, but in the case of the construction according to Figures 15 to 20, two conductor elements 80 which are essentially stable are used. Each conductor element 80 includes, for example, three electrical conductors composed of spring bronze. The conductors 82 are surrounded by plastic, in particular, insert molded to form a conductor element 80.

The conductors 82 are bent by approximately 180 ° on the side facing the pressure sensor 5, so that the spring contacts 86 are formed. The spring contacts are placed in a spring-elastic manner with respect to the corresponding connection contacts with the pressure sensor and serve to create electrical contacts (see Fig. 20).

The pressure sensor 5 is sealed on the side not facing the conductor element 80 by various seals 114.

At the opposite end, the electrical conductors 82 are designed as contact pins 88 that can be inserted into the plug of the printed circuit board 90 on which the electronic control system 3 is constructed.

The conductor element 80 extends from the printed circuit board 90 into the receptacle 94 of the pump housing 7 through the lead through 92 of the electronic housing 8. Conductor element 80 is sealed for both lead through 92 and receptacle 94. For this purpose, two seals 96, 98 are provided that seal within the leadthrough 92, and a seal 100 is provided that seals against the receptacle 94.

The seals 96, 98, 100 are O-rings received in corresponding receiving grooves 102, 104, 106 provided on the conductor element 80.

In the variant embodiment shown in Figure 19, a total of four receptacles are used for the seals.

The conductor element 80 is provided with a channel 110 that extends along the longitudinal direction of the conductor element 80, which channel is, in particular, on the side, which is arranged on the receptacle 94, ie the pressure sensor 5. From the assigned side, it leads into the recess 112 between the seals 96, 98, i.e. into the lead through 92.

The channel 110 serves to check at a low cost whether the two conductor elements 80 are mounted correctly, in particular, the seals 96, 98, 100 are sealing in a desired way.

The test is made by applying a negative pressure to the area of the pressure sensors. After a short settling time, it can be determined whether the applied negative pressure remains constant or if the pressure rises.

If the pressure remains constant, this means that all seals are sealing in the desired way. When the negative pressure is lowered, this means that at least one of the seals is not sealing properly. It may be the seal 96 that is not sealing properly, so that air is drawn from the area of the printed circuit board 90 into the lead through 92 and through the recess 112 into the channel 110. Also, it may mean that the seal 98 is not sealing, and therefore ambient air is drawn from the area between the lead through 92 and the receptacle 94 towards the recess 112. have. Eventually, it may mean that the seal 100 does not provide a seal, and thus ambient air is drawn through the receptacle 94 towards the region of the pressure sensor 5.

Claims (8)

A pump unit having a pump 2, a storage container 6 for the working fluid and two pressure outlets 20, for providing hydraulic pressure to operate the actuator, in particular the clutch actuator or gearbox actuator, in the drive train of the vehicle As, the storage container for the working fluid 6 is divided into two chambers 40, 42, the first suction opening 44 of the pump 2 is disposed in one chamber 40, the pump The second suction opening 44 of (2) is disposed in the other chamber 42, the pump unit. According to claim 1,
The suction openings 44 are arranged near the base of the corresponding chambers 40, 42, pump unit. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The storage container (6) is divided into two chambers (40, 42) by a substantially horizontally extending partition wall (46), the partition wall (46) having a vertically extending end wall (48). The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The storage container (6) is divided into two chambers (40, 42) by a substantially vertically extending partition wall (50). The method of claim 3 or 4,
A pump unit, wherein the normal filling level of the storage container 6 is placed on the top edge of the end wall 48 or the partition wall 50. The method of claim 5,
The volume GW common to the two circuits and contained in the storage container 6 is between the top edge of the end wall 48 or the partition wall 50 and the normal filling level, the end wall 48 Or smaller than the sum of the separate volumes (W, T) respectively formed in each chamber (40, 42) to the top edge of the partition wall (50). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The storage container (6) is attached directly to the pump housing (7), the pump unit. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Two solenoid valves 4 are provided, wherein the fluid pressure at the pressure outlet 20 can be controlled, and one of the solenoid valves 4 is disposed in the chamber 40 of the storage container 6 , The other solenoid valve 4 is disposed in the other chamber 42, the pump unit.

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