WO2022089759A1 - Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump - Google Patents

Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022089759A1
WO2022089759A1 PCT/EP2020/080573 EP2020080573W WO2022089759A1 WO 2022089759 A1 WO2022089759 A1 WO 2022089759A1 EP 2020080573 W EP2020080573 W EP 2020080573W WO 2022089759 A1 WO2022089759 A1 WO 2022089759A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pumping chamber
cover element
chamber cover
vacuum pump
check
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2020/080573
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Steffen Schnurr
Stefan Hammer
Nabil Salim AL-HASAN
Stanislaus Russ
Tobias GRÜNE
Petra Hagen
Marcel PIOTROWSKI
Sebastian Irmer
Original Assignee
Pierburg Pump Technology Gmbh
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pierburg Pump Technology Gmbh filed Critical Pierburg Pump Technology Gmbh
Priority to PCT/EP2020/080573 priority Critical patent/WO2022089759A1/en
Priority to DE112020007741.1T priority patent/DE112020007741T5/en
Publication of WO2022089759A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022089759A1/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C18/00—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C18/30—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members
    • F04C18/34—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members having the movement defined in group F04C18/08 or F04C18/22 and relative reciprocation between the co-operating members
    • F04C18/344—Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members having the movement defined in group F04C18/08 or F04C18/22 and relative reciprocation between the co-operating members with vanes reciprocating with respect to the inner member
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C25/00—Adaptations of pumps for special use of pumps for elastic fluids
    • F04C25/02—Adaptations of pumps for special use of pumps for elastic fluids for producing high vacuum
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04C—ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00—Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/12—Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet
    • F04C29/124—Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet with inlet and outlet valves specially adapted for rotary or oscillating piston pumps
    • F04C29/126—Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet with inlet and outlet valves specially adapted for rotary or oscillating piston pumps of the non-return type
    • F04C29/128—Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet with inlet and outlet valves specially adapted for rotary or oscillating piston pumps of the non-return type of the elastic type, e.g. reed valves

Definitions

  • the present invention is directed to an automotive vacuum pump, in particular to a rotary vane vacuum pump for providing vacuum to a motor vehicle brake booster.
  • the present invention is also directed to a manufacturing method for manufacturing such an automotive vacuum pump.
  • Automotive vacuum pumps can be powered mechanically, typically by the internal combustion engine, or can be powered electrically by an electric motor integrated in the vacuum pump.
  • Automotive vacuum pumps are typically used in motor vehicles for providing vacuum to a brake booster of a motor vehicle braking system, in particular for providing vacuum to a vacuum chamber of the brake booster.
  • the vacuum pump can be the only vacuum source for the brake booster, or can be used in combination with other vacuum sources as for example an intake system of the internal combustion engine.
  • WO 2018/141419 Al discloses, for example, an electrically powered automotive vacuum pump with a pumping chamber, a rotatable pump rotor configured to rotate within the pumping chamber so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber, a pumping chamber cover element which defines the pumping chamber at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening, and a bendable check-valve tongue which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by a screw-fit and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening in an undeformed state.
  • the check-valve tongue of the disclosed vacuum pump is attached to a valve seat which axially protrudes from the pumping-chamber-remote side of the pumping chamber cover element.
  • the axially protruding valve seat is required to allow the relatively thin pumping chamber cover element to hold the screw which fixes the check-valve tongue.
  • the pumping chamber cover element with the relatively complex and axially protruding valve seat however must be manufactured by casting which is relatively complex and costly.
  • the screw-fit which fixes the check-valve tongue can loosen during pump operation which can cause an insufficient closing of the pumping chamber outlet opening by the check-valve tongue and thus can cause a malfunction of the automotive vacuum pump or of the motor vehicle brake booster connected to the automotive vacuum pump.
  • An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a durable and cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
  • the automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is provided with a pumping chamber.
  • the pumping chamber is typically substantially cylindrical.
  • the pumping chamber is typically defined by a pumping chamber base element which axially defines the pumping chamber at a first axial side, a separate pumping chamber ring element which is fluid-tightly attached to the base element and which radially defines the pumping chamber, and a separate pumping chamber cover element which is fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element and axially defines the pumping chamber at a second axial side.
  • the pumping chamber ring element can alternatively be realized integrally with the pumping chamber base element.
  • the automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a rotatable pump rotor which is arranged in the pumping chamber and which is configured to rotate within the pumping chamber so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber.
  • the pump rotor comprises a rotor body which is eccentrically arranged in the pumping chamber and which comprises several radially slidable rotor vanes.
  • the rotor vanes are in touching radial contact with the pumping chamber ring element and define several rotating pumping-chamber compartments whose volume varies within one pump rotor revolution.
  • the automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a separate pumping chamber cover element which defines the pumping chamber at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening.
  • the pumping chamber cover element extends substantially in a radial pump plane.
  • the pumping chamber cover element is typically fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element and fixed by several screws to the pumping chamber base element.
  • the automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a bendable check-valve tongue which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening in an undeformed state.
  • the check-valve tongue is arranged at the pumping-chamber-remote axial side of the pumping chamber cover element.
  • the check-valve tongue is typically relatively thin and is typically made of metal or elastic plastic.
  • the check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element only at an outlet-opening-remote end so that the outlet-opening-covering end of the check-valve tongue can be bended away from the pumping chamber cover element so as to uncover the pumping chamber outlet opening.
  • the check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by a separate retainer element which is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element.
  • the retainer element is arranged at the pumping-chamber-cover-element-remote axial side of the check-valve tongue and axially presses the outlet-opening-remote end of the check-valve tongue against the pumping chamber cover element so as to thereby fix the check-valve tongue at the pumping chamber cover element.
  • the weld-fixed retainer element according to the present invention provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue not requiring an additional welding of the check-valve tongue to the pumping chamber cover element.
  • This allows to choose a material and/or a coating of the check-valve tongue independent of the material of the pumping chamber cover element and only based on the material properties required for providing a reliable and durable check valve for the pumping chamber outlet opening.
  • This allows to provide a reliable and durable automotive vacuum pump.
  • the check-valve tongue attachment according to the present invention does not require an axially protruding valve seat or any other complex attaching-arrangement at the pumping chamber cover. This allows the pumping chamber cover element to be manufactured relatively cost-effectively which provides a cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
  • the pumping chamber cover element is a flat, plate-shaped punched-part which can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively by punching the pumping chamber cover out of a metal sheet.
  • the pumping chamber cover element is made of aluminum and is anodized.
  • the aluminum pumping chamber cover element can be manufactured cost-effectively and accurately by punching from an aluminum metal sheet.
  • the anodized aluminum furthermore provides a relatively wear-resistant surface which minimizes wear of the pumping chamber cover element caused by the rotating pump rotor.
  • the pumping chamber cover element is made of an aluminum wrought alloy.
  • the aluminum-wrought-alloy pumping chamber cover element can be anodized relatively fast which significantly reduces the manufacturing time and thus manufacturing cost of the pumping chamber cover element.
  • the aluminum-wrought-alloy pumping chamber cover element furthermore is relatively wear-resistant when anodized.
  • the check-valve tongue is provided with a tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer element is provided with a corresponding retainer-side alignment opening which overlaps with the tongue-side alignment opening.
  • corresponding in this context means that the tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer-side alignment opening are - at least partially - provided with an identically shaped opening contour.
  • the tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer-side alignment opening can be shaped completely identically or can be provided only with identically shaped sections.
  • the corresponding alignment openings allow the check-valve tongue and the retainer element to be simply and accurately aligned during the pump assembly by a respective alignment means.
  • the corresponding alignment openings in particular allow the check-valve tongue and the retainer element to be cost-effectively assembled by an automated assembling machine.
  • the retainer element is provided with an opening projection which projects inwardly from the edge of the retainer-side alignment opening.
  • the opening projection is preferably arranged in that way that a projection direction of the opening projection is parallel to a main extension direction of the check-valve tongue. The opening projection allows a reliable and accurate rotational alignment of the retainer element during pump assembly.
  • the opening projection is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element by a projection-fixing weld which is located inside the tongue-side alignment opening.
  • the opening projection preferably ends above or inside the tongue-side alignment opening and is welded to the pumping chamber cover element located below the check-valve tongue.
  • the terms "above” and “below” in the present context describe the relative locations of the pump elements with respect to each other independent of the actual spatial orientation of the vacuum pump.
  • the projection-fixing weld and the opening projection provide a slide-out protection which prevents the check-valve tongue from laterally sliding out of the gap between the retainer element and the pumping chamber cover element. This ensures a reliable attachment of the check-valve tongue.
  • the retainer element is provided with a circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge and is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element by an edge-fixing weld provided at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge.
  • the rotational symmetry of the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge allows the edge-fixing weld to be made by rotating the pumping chamber cover element with the retainer element below a static welding head. This allows the edge-fixing weld to be applied very precisely.
  • the edge-fixing weld at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge can furthermore be made very smoothly because the weld does not have any abrupt changes in direction. This provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue.
  • the retainer element is designed in the shape of a circle-segment, wherein a straight retainer element edge defined by the chord section of the circle segment is arranged transversely to a main extension direction of the check-valve tongue and defines a bending line of the check-valve tongue.
  • the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge defined by the arc section of the circle segment allows the retainer element to be reliably attached to the pumping chamber cover element as described before.
  • the straight retainer element edge defines the bending line of the check-valve tongue very accurately which ensures a reliable opening and closing of the pumping chamber outlet opening by the check-valve tongue.
  • the manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises the following steps:
  • the punched-out pumping chamber cover element is anodized so as to provide the pumping chamber cover element with a relatively wear-resistant surface and thus minimize wear of the pumping chamber cover element caused by the rotating pump rotor.
  • the check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by welding the retainer element to the already anodized pumping chamber cover element. This provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue not requiring any complex holding arrangements at the pumping chamber cover element or any additional fixation means.
  • the manufacturing method according to the present invention therefore provides a durable and cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
  • the retainer element is laser-beam-welded to the pumping chamber cover element. This allows the retainer-element-fixing weld to be applied very accurately and smoothly.
  • figure 1 shows a sectional view of a pumping unit part of an automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention
  • figure 2 shows a top view of a check valve arrangement of the automotive vacuum pump of figure 1
  • figure 3 shows a check-valve tongue of the check valve arrangement of figure 2
  • figure 4 shows a retainer element of the check valve arrangement of figure 2.
  • Fig. 1 shows a part of an automotive vacuum pump 10 which comprises a pumping unit 12 with a cylindrical pumping chamber 14.
  • the pumping chamber 14 is defined at a first axial side by the pumping chamber base element 16.
  • the pumping chamber 14 is radially defined by a cylindrical pumping chamber ring element 18 which is fluid-tightly attached to the pump base element 16.
  • the pumping chamber 14 is defined at a second axial side by a flat, plate-shaped pumping chamber cover element 20 which is fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element 18.
  • the pumping chamber cover element 20 is made of an aluminum wrought alloy and is anodized.
  • the pumping chamber cover element 20 in particular is a punched part which is punched-out from an aluminum wrought alloy metal sheet.
  • the pumping chamber cover element 20 is provided with an axially extending pumping chamber outlet opening 22 which ends in the pumping chamber 14.
  • the pumping unit 12 comprises a rotatable pump rotor 24 which is arranged in the pumping chamber 14.
  • the pump rotor 24 comprises a rotor body 25 and several radially shiftable rotor vanes 26.
  • the pump rotor 24 is configured to rotate within the pumping chamber 14 so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber 14.
  • the automotive vacuum pump 10 comprises a check-valve arrangement 28 with a bendable check-valve tongue 30.
  • the check-valve arrangement 28 is arranged in a silencing chamber 32 which is defined by a silencing-chamber cover element 34 and by the pumping chamber cover element 20.
  • the check-valve tongue 30 is arranged at a pump-rotor-remote axial side of the pumping chamber cover element 20 in that way that the check-valve tongue 30 covers the pumping chamber outlet opening 22 in an undeformed state.
  • the check-valve tongue 30 is attached to the pumping chamber cover element 20 by a separate retainer element 36.
  • the retainer element 36 is designed in the shape of a circle-segment and is arranged at the pumping-chamber-cover-element-remote side of the check-valve tongue 30.
  • the retainer element 36 comprises a circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38 and a straight retainer element edge 40 defined by the chord section of the circle segment.
  • the check-valve tongue 30 is provided with a tongue-side alignment opening 42 and the retainer element 36 is provided with a corresponding retainer-side alignment opening 44.
  • the tongue-side alignment opening 42 is designed circular.
  • the retainer-side alignment opening 44 comprises a circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 and a slot-hole-shaped opening section 48 which merge into each other.
  • the radius of the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 and the radius of the circular tongue-side alignment opening 42 are designed substantially equal.
  • the slot-hole-shaped opening section 48 extend substantially parallel to the straight retainer element edge 40.
  • the retainer element 36 is aligned with respect to the check-valve tongue 30 in that way that the retainer-side alignment opening 44 overlaps with the tongue-side alignment opening 42, i.e. the retainer-side alignment opening 44 is located above the tongue-side alignment opening 42.
  • the retainer element 36 is in particular arranged in that way that the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 is aligned with the circular tongue-side alignment opening 42 and that the straight retainer element edge 40 is positioned substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction D of the check-valve tongue 30.
  • the straight retainer element edge 40 defines a bending line of the check-valve tongue 30.
  • the retainer element 36 is provided with an opening projection 50 which projects inwardly from the edge of the retainer-side alignment opening 44.
  • the opening projection 50 in particular projects inwardly from the edge of the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 of the retainer-side alignment opening 44 and extends toward the straight retainer element edge 40 so that the free end of the opening projection 50 is located above the tongue-side alignment opening 42.
  • the retainer element 36 is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element 20.
  • the retainer element 36 is in particular fixed to the pumping chamber cover element 20 by an edge-fixing weld 52 provided at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38 and by a projection-fixing weld 54 provided at the opening projection 50.
  • the edge-fixing weld 52 is provided substantially along the complete circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38.
  • the projection-fixing weld 54 is located inside the tongue-side alignment opening 42 so as to provide a slide-out protection which prevents the check-valve tongue 30 from laterally sliding out of the gap between the retainer element 36 and the pumping chamber cover element 20.
  • the punched-out pumping chamber cover element 20 is anodized before the check-valve tongue 30 and the retainer element 36 are attached to the pumping chamber cover element 20.
  • the welding of the retainer element 36 to the pumping chamber cover element 20 is provided by laser-beam welding.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Rotary Pumps (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an automotive vacuum pump (10) comprising - a pumping chamber (14), - a rotatable pump rotor (24) configured to rotate within the pumping chamber (14) so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber (14), - a pumping chamber cover element (20) which defines the pumping chamber (14) at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening (22), and - a bendable check-valve tongue (30) which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element (20) and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening (22) in an undeformed state, wherein the check-valve tongue (30) is attached to the pumping chamber cover element (20) by a separate retainer element (36) which is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element (20), and to a manufacturing method for manufacturing the automotive vacuum pump (10). Because the check- valve tongue (30) is attached by a weld-fixed retainer element (36), the automotive vacuum pump (10) according to the present invention is durable and can be manufactured cost-effectively.

Description

D E S C R I P T I O N
Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump
The present invention is directed to an automotive vacuum pump, in particular to a rotary vane vacuum pump for providing vacuum to a motor vehicle brake booster. The present invention is also directed to a manufacturing method for manufacturing such an automotive vacuum pump.
Automotive vacuum pumps can be powered mechanically, typically by the internal combustion engine, or can be powered electrically by an electric motor integrated in the vacuum pump. Automotive vacuum pumps are typically used in motor vehicles for providing vacuum to a brake booster of a motor vehicle braking system, in particular for providing vacuum to a vacuum chamber of the brake booster. The vacuum pump can be the only vacuum source for the brake booster, or can be used in combination with other vacuum sources as for example an intake system of the internal combustion engine.
WO 2018/141419 Al discloses, for example, an electrically powered automotive vacuum pump with a pumping chamber, a rotatable pump rotor configured to rotate within the pumping chamber so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber, a pumping chamber cover element which defines the pumping chamber at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening, and a bendable check-valve tongue which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by a screw-fit and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening in an undeformed state.
The check-valve tongue of the disclosed vacuum pump is attached to a valve seat which axially protrudes from the pumping-chamber-remote side of the pumping chamber cover element. The axially protruding valve seat is required to allow the relatively thin pumping chamber cover element to hold the screw which fixes the check-valve tongue. The pumping chamber cover element with the relatively complex and axially protruding valve seat however must be manufactured by casting which is relatively complex and costly. Furthermore, the screw-fit which fixes the check-valve tongue can loosen during pump operation which can cause an insufficient closing of the pumping chamber outlet opening by the check-valve tongue and thus can cause a malfunction of the automotive vacuum pump or of the motor vehicle brake booster connected to the automotive vacuum pump.
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a durable and cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
This object is achieved with an automotive vacuum pump with the features of claim 1 and with a manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump with the features of claim 10.
The automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is provided with a pumping chamber. The pumping chamber is typically substantially cylindrical. The pumping chamber is typically defined by a pumping chamber base element which axially defines the pumping chamber at a first axial side, a separate pumping chamber ring element which is fluid-tightly attached to the base element and which radially defines the pumping chamber, and a separate pumping chamber cover element which is fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element and axially defines the pumping chamber at a second axial side. The pumping chamber ring element can alternatively be realized integrally with the pumping chamber base element.
The automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a rotatable pump rotor which is arranged in the pumping chamber and which is configured to rotate within the pumping chamber so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber. Preferably, the pump rotor comprises a rotor body which is eccentrically arranged in the pumping chamber and which comprises several radially slidable rotor vanes. During pump operation, the rotor vanes are in touching radial contact with the pumping chamber ring element and define several rotating pumping-chamber compartments whose volume varies within one pump rotor revolution.
The automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a separate pumping chamber cover element which defines the pumping chamber at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening. The pumping chamber cover element extends substantially in a radial pump plane. The pumping chamber cover element is typically fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element and fixed by several screws to the pumping chamber base element.
The automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention is also provided with a bendable check-valve tongue which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening in an undeformed state. The check-valve tongue is arranged at the pumping-chamber-remote axial side of the pumping chamber cover element. The check-valve tongue is typically relatively thin and is typically made of metal or elastic plastic. The check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element only at an outlet-opening-remote end so that the outlet-opening-covering end of the check-valve tongue can be bended away from the pumping chamber cover element so as to uncover the pumping chamber outlet opening.
According to the present invention, the check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by a separate retainer element which is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element. The retainer element is arranged at the pumping-chamber-cover-element-remote axial side of the check-valve tongue and axially presses the outlet-opening-remote end of the check-valve tongue against the pumping chamber cover element so as to thereby fix the check-valve tongue at the pumping chamber cover element.
The weld-fixed retainer element according to the present invention provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue not requiring an additional welding of the check-valve tongue to the pumping chamber cover element. This allows to choose a material and/or a coating of the check-valve tongue independent of the material of the pumping chamber cover element and only based on the material properties required for providing a reliable and durable check valve for the pumping chamber outlet opening. This allows to provide a reliable and durable automotive vacuum pump. The check-valve tongue attachment according to the present invention does not require an axially protruding valve seat or any other complex attaching-arrangement at the pumping chamber cover. This allows the pumping chamber cover element to be manufactured relatively cost-effectively which provides a cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pumping chamber cover element is a flat, plate-shaped punched-part which can be manufactured simply and cost-effectively by punching the pumping chamber cover out of a metal sheet.
Preferably, the pumping chamber cover element is made of aluminum and is anodized. The aluminum pumping chamber cover element can be manufactured cost-effectively and accurately by punching from an aluminum metal sheet. The anodized aluminum furthermore provides a relatively wear-resistant surface which minimizes wear of the pumping chamber cover element caused by the rotating pump rotor.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pumping chamber cover element is made of an aluminum wrought alloy. The aluminum-wrought-alloy pumping chamber cover element can be anodized relatively fast which significantly reduces the manufacturing time and thus manufacturing cost of the pumping chamber cover element. The aluminum-wrought-alloy pumping chamber cover element furthermore is relatively wear-resistant when anodized.
Preferably, the check-valve tongue is provided with a tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer element is provided with a corresponding retainer-side alignment opening which overlaps with the tongue-side alignment opening. The term "corresponding" in this context means that the tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer-side alignment opening are - at least partially - provided with an identically shaped opening contour. The tongue-side alignment opening and the retainer-side alignment opening can be shaped completely identically or can be provided only with identically shaped sections. In any case, the corresponding alignment openings allow the check-valve tongue and the retainer element to be simply and accurately aligned during the pump assembly by a respective alignment means. The corresponding alignment openings in particular allow the check-valve tongue and the retainer element to be cost-effectively assembled by an automated assembling machine.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retainer element is provided with an opening projection which projects inwardly from the edge of the retainer-side alignment opening. The opening projection is preferably arranged in that way that a projection direction of the opening projection is parallel to a main extension direction of the check-valve tongue. The opening projection allows a reliable and accurate rotational alignment of the retainer element during pump assembly.
Preferably, the opening projection is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element by a projection-fixing weld which is located inside the tongue-side alignment opening. The opening projection preferably ends above or inside the tongue-side alignment opening and is welded to the pumping chamber cover element located below the check-valve tongue. The terms "above" and "below" in the present context describe the relative locations of the pump elements with respect to each other independent of the actual spatial orientation of the vacuum pump. The projection-fixing weld and the opening projection provide a slide-out protection which prevents the check-valve tongue from laterally sliding out of the gap between the retainer element and the pumping chamber cover element. This ensures a reliable attachment of the check-valve tongue.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the retainer element is provided with a circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge and is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element by an edge-fixing weld provided at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge. The rotational symmetry of the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge allows the edge-fixing weld to be made by rotating the pumping chamber cover element with the retainer element below a static welding head. This allows the edge-fixing weld to be applied very precisely. The edge-fixing weld at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge can furthermore be made very smoothly because the weld does not have any abrupt changes in direction. This provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue.
Preferably, the retainer element is designed in the shape of a circle-segment, wherein a straight retainer element edge defined by the chord section of the circle segment is arranged transversely to a main extension direction of the check-valve tongue and defines a bending line of the check-valve tongue. The circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge defined by the arc section of the circle segment allows the retainer element to be reliably attached to the pumping chamber cover element as described before. The straight retainer element edge defines the bending line of the check-valve tongue very accurately which ensures a reliable opening and closing of the pumping chamber outlet opening by the check-valve tongue.
The manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention comprises the following steps:
- punching the pumping chamber cover element from an aluminum metal sheet,
- anodizing the pumping chamber cover element, and
- attaching the check-valve tongue to the pumping chamber cover element by welding the retainer element to the anodized pumping chamber cover element.
Punching out the pumping chamber cover element from an aluminum metal sheet allows the pumping chamber cover element to be manufactured relatively cost-effective.
The punched-out pumping chamber cover element is anodized so as to provide the pumping chamber cover element with a relatively wear-resistant surface and thus minimize wear of the pumping chamber cover element caused by the rotating pump rotor.
The check-valve tongue is attached to the pumping chamber cover element by welding the retainer element to the already anodized pumping chamber cover element. This provides a reliable and durable attachment of the check-valve tongue not requiring any complex holding arrangements at the pumping chamber cover element or any additional fixation means.
The manufacturing method according to the present invention therefore provides a durable and cost-effective automotive vacuum pump.
Preferably, the retainer element is laser-beam-welded to the pumping chamber cover element. This allows the retainer-element-fixing weld to be applied very accurately and smoothly.
An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein figure 1 shows a sectional view of a pumping unit part of an automotive vacuum pump according to the present invention, figure 2 shows a top view of a check valve arrangement of the automotive vacuum pump of figure 1, figure 3 shows a check-valve tongue of the check valve arrangement of figure 2, and figure 4 shows a retainer element of the check valve arrangement of figure 2.
Fig. 1 shows a part of an automotive vacuum pump 10 which comprises a pumping unit 12 with a cylindrical pumping chamber 14. The pumping chamber 14 is defined at a first axial side by the pumping chamber base element 16. The pumping chamber 14 is radially defined by a cylindrical pumping chamber ring element 18 which is fluid-tightly attached to the pump base element 16. The pumping chamber 14 is defined at a second axial side by a flat, plate-shaped pumping chamber cover element 20 which is fluid-tightly attached to the pumping chamber ring element 18.
The pumping chamber cover element 20 is made of an aluminum wrought alloy and is anodized. The pumping chamber cover element 20 in particular is a punched part which is punched-out from an aluminum wrought alloy metal sheet. The pumping chamber cover element 20 is provided with an axially extending pumping chamber outlet opening 22 which ends in the pumping chamber 14.
The pumping unit 12 comprises a rotatable pump rotor 24 which is arranged in the pumping chamber 14. The pump rotor 24 comprises a rotor body 25 and several radially shiftable rotor vanes 26. The pump rotor 24 is configured to rotate within the pumping chamber 14 so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber 14.
The automotive vacuum pump 10 comprises a check-valve arrangement 28 with a bendable check-valve tongue 30. The check-valve arrangement 28 is arranged in a silencing chamber 32 which is defined by a silencing-chamber cover element 34 and by the pumping chamber cover element 20. The check-valve tongue 30 is arranged at a pump-rotor-remote axial side of the pumping chamber cover element 20 in that way that the check-valve tongue 30 covers the pumping chamber outlet opening 22 in an undeformed state.
The check-valve tongue 30 is attached to the pumping chamber cover element 20 by a separate retainer element 36. The retainer element 36 is designed in the shape of a circle-segment and is arranged at the pumping-chamber-cover-element-remote side of the check-valve tongue 30. The retainer element 36 comprises a circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38 and a straight retainer element edge 40 defined by the chord section of the circle segment.
The check-valve tongue 30 is provided with a tongue-side alignment opening 42 and the retainer element 36 is provided with a corresponding retainer-side alignment opening 44. The tongue-side alignment opening 42 is designed circular. The retainer-side alignment opening 44 comprises a circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 and a slot-hole-shaped opening section 48 which merge into each other. The radius of the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 and the radius of the circular tongue-side alignment opening 42 are designed substantially equal. The slot-hole-shaped opening section 48 extend substantially parallel to the straight retainer element edge 40.
The retainer element 36 is aligned with respect to the check-valve tongue 30 in that way that the retainer-side alignment opening 44 overlaps with the tongue-side alignment opening 42, i.e. the retainer-side alignment opening 44 is located above the tongue-side alignment opening 42. The retainer element 36 is in particular arranged in that way that the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 is aligned with the circular tongue-side alignment opening 42 and that the straight retainer element edge 40 is positioned substantially perpendicular to a main extension direction D of the check-valve tongue 30. The straight retainer element edge 40 defines a bending line of the check-valve tongue 30.
The retainer element 36 is provided with an opening projection 50 which projects inwardly from the edge of the retainer-side alignment opening 44. The opening projection 50 in particular projects inwardly from the edge of the circle-segment-shaped opening section 46 of the retainer-side alignment opening 44 and extends toward the straight retainer element edge 40 so that the free end of the opening projection 50 is located above the tongue-side alignment opening 42.
The retainer element 36 is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element 20. The retainer element 36 is in particular fixed to the pumping chamber cover element 20 by an edge-fixing weld 52 provided at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38 and by a projection-fixing weld 54 provided at the opening projection 50. The edge-fixing weld 52 is provided substantially along the complete circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge 38. The projection-fixing weld 54 is located inside the tongue-side alignment opening 42 so as to provide a slide-out protection which prevents the check-valve tongue 30 from laterally sliding out of the gap between the retainer element 36 and the pumping chamber cover element 20.
In the manufacture of the automotive vacuum pump 10, the punched-out pumping chamber cover element 20 is anodized before the check-valve tongue 30 and the retainer element 36 are attached to the pumping chamber cover element 20. The welding of the retainer element 36 to the pumping chamber cover element 20 is provided by laser-beam welding.
Reference List
10 automotive vacuum pump
12 pumping unit
14 pumping chamber
16 pumping chamber base element
18 pumping chamber ring element
20 pumping chamber cover element
22 pumping chamber outlet opening
24 pump rotor
25 rotor body
26 rotor vanes
28 check-valve arrangement
30 check-valve tongue
32 silencing chamber
34 silencing-chamber cover element
36 retainer element
38 circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge
40 straight retainer element edge
42 tongue-side alignment opening
44 retainer-side alignment opening
46 circle-segment-shaped opening section
48 slot-hole-shaped opening section
50 opening projection
52 edge-fixing weld
54 projection-fixing weld
D check-valve tongue main extension direction

Claims

C L A I M S An automotive vacuum pump (10) comprising
- a pumping chamber (14),
- a rotatable pump rotor (24) configured to rotate within the pumping chamber (14) so as to pump gas through the pumping chamber (14),
- a pumping chamber cover element (20) which defines the pumping chamber (14) at one axial side and which is provided with a pumping chamber outlet opening (22), and
- a bendable check-valve tongue (30) which is attached to the pumping chamber cover element (20) and which covers the pumping chamber outlet opening (22) in an undeformed state, wherein the check-valve tongue (30) is attached to the pumping chamber cover element (20) by a separate retainer element (36) which is directly welded to the pumping chamber cover element (20). The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to claim 1, wherein the pumping chamber cover element (20) is a flat, plate-shaped punched-part. The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pumping chamber cover element (20) is made of aluminum and is anodized. The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pumping chamber cover element (20) is made of an aluminum wrought alloy. The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the check-valve tongue (30) is provided with a tongue-side alignment opening (42) and the retainer element (36) is provided with a corresponding retainer-side alignment opening (44) which overlaps with the tongue-side alignment opening (42). The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to claim 5, wherein the retainer element (36) is provided with an opening projection (50) which projects inwardly from the edge of the retainer-side alignment opening (44). The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to claim 6, wherein the opening projection (50) is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element (20) by a projection-fixing weld (54) which is located inside the tongue-side alignment opening (42). The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the retainer element (36) is provided with a circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge (38) and is fixed to the pumping chamber cover element (20) by an edge-fixing weld (52) provided at the circular-arc-shaped retainer element edge (38). The automotive vacuum pump (10) according to claim 8, wherein the retainer element (36) is designed in the shape of a circle-segment, and wherein a straight retainer element edge (40) defined by the chord section of the circle segment is arranged transversely to a main extension direction (D) of the check-valve tongue (30) and defines a bending line of the check-valve tongue (30). 15 Manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump (10) according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps:
- punching the pumping chamber cover element (20) out of an aluminum metal sheet,
- anodizing the pumping chamber cover element (20), and
- attaching the check-valve tongue (30) to the pumping chamber cover element (20) by welding the retainer element (36) to the anodized pumping chamber cover element (20). Manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the retainer element (36) is laser-beam-welded to the pumping chamber cover element (20).
PCT/EP2020/080573 2020-10-30 2020-10-30 Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump WO2022089759A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2020/080573 WO2022089759A1 (en) 2020-10-30 2020-10-30 Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump
DE112020007741.1T DE112020007741T5 (en) 2020-10-30 2020-10-30 Motor vehicle vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing a motor vehicle vacuum pump

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/EP2020/080573 WO2022089759A1 (en) 2020-10-30 2020-10-30 Automotive vacuum pump and manufacturing method for manufacturing an automotive vacuum pump

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WO2022089759A1 true WO2022089759A1 (en) 2022-05-05

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998243A (en) * 1975-11-19 1976-12-21 Fedders Corporation Flapper valve for a rotary compressor
DE102010026032A1 (en) * 2010-07-03 2012-01-05 Mahle International Gmbh Flatter valve i.e. non-return valve, for use in rotary vane pump in brake booster in motor car, has blank holder whose form corresponds to bending line of single-sided clamped bending bar, which is designed as cantilever arm
WO2018141419A1 (en) 2017-02-01 2018-08-09 Pierburg Pump Technology Gmbh Vane-type gas pump

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998243A (en) * 1975-11-19 1976-12-21 Fedders Corporation Flapper valve for a rotary compressor
DE102010026032A1 (en) * 2010-07-03 2012-01-05 Mahle International Gmbh Flatter valve i.e. non-return valve, for use in rotary vane pump in brake booster in motor car, has blank holder whose form corresponds to bending line of single-sided clamped bending bar, which is designed as cantilever arm
WO2018141419A1 (en) 2017-02-01 2018-08-09 Pierburg Pump Technology Gmbh Vane-type gas pump

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