Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
  • F04D15/00—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems
  • F04D15/0005—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems by using valves
  • F04D15/0022—Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or systems by using valves throttling valves or valves varying the pump inlet opening or the outlet opening

Definitions

• This invention relates to a pump group for a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine suitable for moving a predefined quantity of, coolant liquid.
• an automobile is found in innumerable conditions such as to require different cooling modes.
• in some phases such as when the engine starts, but also when it is in motion, it does not need to be cooled, or requires less cooling compared to when it is used at full power or for extended periods of time.
• the desirable method for cooling the engine may also vary as a function of the conditions surrounding the automobile, such as, for example, environmental or road conditions.
• the purpose of this invention is to provide a pump group that solves this problem of the prior art, namely to provide a pump group that provides the ability to adjust in a customised way, namely on the basis of the needs and the varying conditions of use of the motor vehicle, the methods ' of cooling the motor and, more generally, of the cooling system of the automobile that, in addition to the aforesaid engine, could comprise even other components.
• FIGS. 1 and la are two perspective views showing the pump group covered by this invention according to a possible embodiment, respectively with and without the coverage of the adjustment means;
• Figures 2a and 2b are two perspective views in separate parts of the pump group of Figure 1 respectively from above and below;
• Figures 3a, 3b and 3c are three sectional views of the pump group of Figure 1, in which the obturator is respectively in a closed position, in one of the innumerable partializing positions in which it can be positioned, and in an open position.
• reference number 1 identifies, in its totality, a cooling pump group for a cooling circuit of an engine, preferably an internal combustion engine, according to an embodiment variant of the invention.
• the pump group 1 is suitable to circulate a predefined amount of coolant liquid in a cooling circuit of an internal combustion engine, for example of a motor vehicle or a motorcycle.
• the pump group 1 of this invention is suitable to adjust the outlet opening of the pump group by means of an obturator element, thus varying the flow rate of coolant liquid moved by the pump group 1.
• the pump group A A
• 1 comprises a pump body 2 comprising, upstream, at least one entry channel 21 and, downstream, at least one exit channel 22.
• the pump group 1 comprises a rotor 3 placed in a rotor chamber 20 made in the pump body 2 between said channels, suitable for moving the coolant liquid through the exit channel 22.
• the rotor 3 is of the radial type: the entry channel 21 reaches the front of the radial rotor 3 while the exit channel 22 is positioned tangentially circumferentially to this.
• the pump body 2 comprises a pump shell 291 and a support shell 292 wherein through their mutual engagement the rotor chamber 20 is delimited.
• the pump body 2 serves as a load- bearing element for all the components comprised in the pump group 1, having special housing cavities or seats for the various components or having special supports to which the components are solidly connected, all in accordance with the description provided below and the accompanying drawings.
• the aforesaid shells are made of aluminium.
• the aforesaid shells are made by die-casting.
• the pump group 1 also comprises adjustment means 10 suitable to regulate the amount of liquid moved by the rotor 3.
• said adjustment means 10 are housed in, and/or supported by, the pump body 2.
• the pump group 1 has adjustment means 10 that operate downstream of the rotor 3 in such a way as to regulate the amount of coolant liquid moved by it .
• the adjustment means 10 comprise a valve group 100 having the specific purpose of regulating the coolant liquid.
• the valve group 100 is placed in a position substantially transverse to the exit channel 22 and is adjustable in innumerable configurations in which is obtained a desired adjustment of the passage of coolant liquid, thereby resulting in a desired cooling mode.
• valve group 100 is housed, in a seat 25 correspondingly formed in the pump body 2 that, as said, is located along the exit channel 22.
• valve group 100 extends along a main axis X-X in a direction substantially transverse to the exit channel 22.
• the valve group 100 comprises an obturator 130 rotatable around the main rotation axis X-X, suitable to be moved into innumerable angular positions in which it permits, partializes or obstructs the passage of coolant liquid into the exit channel 22.
• the obturator 130 is suitable to be placed in an angular opening position, in which it allows the passage of cooling liquid, not obstructing the flow; an angular obstruction, or closing, position in which it obstructs the passage of cooling liquid, preventing circulation in the cooling circuit; innumerable angular chocking positions in which it obstructs the passage of the coolant liquid, thereby adjusting the amount of liquid circulating in the cooling circuit.
• the angular opening position and the angular obstruction position are limit positions, while the angular chocking positions are intermediate positions between them.
• the obturator 130 comprises includes an active portion 131 suitable to perform the action of obstructing or partializing, placing itself, as a function of the angular position of the obturator 130, in innumerable positions substantially transverse to the direction of the coolant outlet.
• the active portion 131 is offset with respect to the main axis X-X so as to rotate at a distance around said main axis X-X.
• the active portion 131 has a circular sector shape or irregular geometric structure similar to a circular sector, for example comma-shaped (an embodiment example with active portion is shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c) .
• the obturator 130 comprises a rotation shaft 135, which preferably extends in height parallel to the main axis X-X or along said main axis X-X so that the actions on it involve a rotation thereof and the consequent angular positioning of the obturator 130.
• valve group 10 is insertable in a removable manner, like a cartridge, along the main axis X-X, in the seat 25. So, advantageously, the valve group 100 is replaceable with simple and minimum maintenance operations, for example not requiring the complete disassembly of the pump group 1 itself or of the pump group 1 of the motor vehicle.
• the valve group 100 comprises a valve body 120, formed of an element elongated along the main axis X-X, such as to identify a through channel 120' for the coolant liquid in which the obturator 130 is housed so that its angular position obstructs, partializes or allows the exit of the coolant liquid from the channel 120' .
• the adjustment means 10 comprise an actuating device 200 engaged with the obturator 130 and suitable to adjust the angular positioning of the obturator 130 in the aforesaid predefined angular positions.
• the actuating device 200 comprises an electric motor 210.
• the electric motor 210 includes a drive shaft 215, typically commanded in rotation as the output of the electric motor 210 itself .
• the actuating device 200 comprises transmission means 250 suitable to. allow the engagement between the rotation shaft 135 and the drive shaft 215, in such a way that a rotation commanded, by the motor 210, of the drive shaft 215 corresponds to a rotation of the rotation shaft 130, and thus the obturator 130 in a predefined angular position.
• the angular adjustment of the drive shaft 215 and the simultaneous positioning of the obturator 130 is executable on 360°.
• the transmission 'means 250 comprise at least one motor gear 251 engaged to the drive shaft 215 and at least one shutter gear 253 engaged with the rotation shaft 135.
• the term "gear” means all types of mechanical motion transmission elements, such as toothed wheels, worm screws, rack and pinion couplings, and the like.
• the at least one motor gear 251 and the at least one obturator gear 253 are mutually connected so as to achieve a reduction of the rotation revolutions of the rotation shaft 135 in relation to the revolutions of the drive shaft 215.
• the transmission means 250 also provide for one or more worm gears .
• the number of revolutions of the electric motor 210, and thus of the drive shaft 215 is quite high compared to what is necessary in the actuation of the obturator 130, requiring a high reduction ratio between the number of revolutions of the drive shaft 215 and the number of revolutions of the obturator 135, in order to allow an angular adjustment of the obturator 130 as accurate as possible .
• the transmission means 250 are structured so as to have reduction ratios of the obturator shaft 135/drive shaft 215 between 1:300 and 1:600, for example 1:500.
• the transmission means 250 are structured so result in control speeds of the rotation of the obturator shaft 135 preferably between 4 and 10 revolutions /min .
• the obturator 135 has an angular precision of a tenth of a degree centigrade.
• the pump group 1 covered by this invention is not limited to the types of kinematic chains and to the types of gears, for example the number and shape of the teeth of the gears or the type of gear itself, conical rather than in line of said gears if not for the purposes and characteristics illustrated herein.
• the transmission means 250 and thus the kinematic transmission chain, is designable so as to be suitable to allow a positioning of the electric motor 210 in which the drive shaft 215 is positioned parallel to the main axis X-X or perpendicular the main axis -X-X.
• the electric motor 210 is housable in a specially shaped housing seat.
• the actuating device 200 further comprises a rotation sensor 280 suitable to detect the angular position of the rotation shaft 135.
• a rotation sensor 280 suitable to detect the angular position of the rotation shaft 135.
• the rotation sensor 280 thanks to the rotation sensor 280 the angular position of the obturator 130 is monitored over time thus making possible a precise management of the adjustment of the pump group 1.
• said rotation sensor 280 is placed on the obturator gear 253 and/or on the rotation shaft 135.
• the rotation sensor ⁇ 280 comprises a first sensor element 281 suitable to be placed in motion with the rotation of the obturator 130 and a second sensor element 282 suitable to detect said change of position of the first sensor element 281.
• the first sensor element 281 and the second sensor element 282 are mutually magnetically sensitive.
• the second sensor element 282 is suitable to detect the change of position of the first sensor element 281 by detecting a magnetic field change as a function of the position of the first sensor element 281, or vice versa
• the first sensor element 281 is made of magnetic material
• the second sensor element 282 is made of a ferromagnetic material or is an electric circuit.
• first sensor element 281 is made of a ferromagnetic material or is an electrical circuit and, vice versa
• the second sensor element 282 is made of magnetic material.
• the angular positioning of the first sensor element 281 being directly a function of the angular position of the . obturator 130 ensures a constant and precise monitoring of the same.
• the actuating device 200 is controllable by an electronic control unit, suitable for controlling the ignition and the direction of movement of the electric motor 210.
• said electronic control unit is comprised, in turn, in the pump group 1 itself.
• the management of the actuating device 200 is obtained either by input of an electronic control unit comprised in the pump group 1 or by input of the control unit of the motor vehicle.
• the actuating device 200 is integrated into the pump body 2, for example, respectively housed and/or supported by the pump shell 291 and/or by the support shell 292.
• the valve group 10 is insertable and is removable from the seat 25 on the opposite side to that on which it is engaged to the actuating device 200.
• the pump group 1 comprises a protective cover 300, preferably mounted on the pump body 2 suitable to protect, by ensuring the seal, the actuating device 200 from external agents.
• some components for example some gears comprised in the transmission means are supported by the protective cover 300.
• the pump group is suitable to solve the problems of the prior art and, in particular, is suitable to ensure a customised and continuous adjustment of the flow of coolant liquid.
• the pump group covered by this invention ensures an effective and versatile adjustment of the cooling of the motor vehicle.
• the adjustment of the angular position of the obturator is variable as a function of any need that emerges for example of any surrounding condition that occurs in the motor vehicle, i.e., the mode of use of the motor vehicle, but also any surrounding condition that occurs in the vehicle, i.e., the environmental conditions around it, the type of road, its slope, and the like.
• the pump group allows a continuous adjustment over time of the desired cooling modes, such as for example, related to the speed of the motor vehicle or of the type of road.
• the adjustment of the pump group is not limited to on/off situations, or to open-closed situations, providing for a plurality of situations, with innumerable positionxngs of the obturator itself.
• an efficient adjustment of the cooling of the vehicle leads to an overall improvement of the performance of the motor vehicle itself, such as by way of example the modes of gas emission, with a lowering of carbon dioxide emissions.
• a further advantage lies in the fact that the adjustment of the position of the obturator takes place in a controlled manner by means of the actuating device and, in particular, by the actuation, of the electric motor, which gives an immediate response to the desired conditions to be obtained.
• the extraordinary versatility of the pump group and its adjustment modes allow an instantaneous adjustment of cooling, for example by increasing it or decreasing it on command, i.e., by actuating the rotation of the obturator in an opening or closing direction.
• a still further advantage is linked to the mode of transmission of the motion of the drive shaft ' to the obturator shaft that, in turn, ensure a specific precision of the positioning of the obturator.
• valve group is mechanically reliable, providing for the engagement of the actuating device directly on the obturator shaft, which is therefore scalable to smaller sizes.
• the pump group achieves the aforementioned purposes by maintaining substantially the same dimensions and footprint, since the adjustment means are, for the most part, housed in the pump body.
• a still further advantage lies in the presence of special sensors that allows the control, in real-time, of the angular position of the obturator, thus allowing feedback related to the positioning of the obturator.
• the management of the actuation modes of the electric motor is delegated to special electronic control units, or to the electronic control unit of the motor vehicle itself, which are remotely programmable as a function of the needs.
• a still further advantage lies in the fact the obturator is adjustable in a preferred angular position according to large angles of rotation (even up to 360° around the main axis) in contrast to the solutions of the known art in which the rotation of the obturator is substantially limited to predefined angles, for example up to 70°. So, advantageously, the exit channels are designable for example in their positioning, in their number or in their shape, without such a limitation being linked to the obturator.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structures Of Non-Positive Displacement Pumps (AREA)
• Details And Applications Of Rotary Liquid Pumps (AREA)

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Publications (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 2015
  • 2015-12-04 CN CN201580073508.7A patent/CN107208645B/zh active Active
  • 2015-12-04 WO PCT/IB2015/059357 patent/WO2016113612A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2015-12-04 EP EP15820271.3A patent/EP3245406B1/en active Active
  • 2015-12-04 HU HUE15820271A patent/HUE053343T2/hu unknown

Patent Citations (3)

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