U.S. patent application number 10/863066 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-02 for motor pump aggregate.
Invention is credited to Briesewitz, Rudiger, Dinkel, Dieter, Reinartz, Hans-Dieter, Volz, Peter.
Application Number | 20040241009 10/863066 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7926864 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040241009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dinkel, Dieter ; et
al. |
December 2, 2004 |
Motor pump aggregate
Abstract
The present invention relates to a motor-pump aggregate with a
motor and a piston pump, more particularly for electronically
controlled brake systems of motor vehicles, wherein pistons of the
pump are drivable by way of an eccentric that is connected to a
shaft of the motor and are connected by means of a coupling ring,
and wherein the motor has a holding plate. According to the present
invention, a projection is provided on the holding plate and
extends until into the range of motion of the coupling ring. This
provides a stop for the coupling ring, on the one hand, and an
improved outlet for leakage fluid of the pump, on the other
hand.
Inventors: |
Dinkel, Dieter; (Schwalbach,
DE) ; Briesewitz, Rudiger; (Frankfurt am Main,
DE) ; Volz, Peter; (Darmstadt, DE) ; Reinartz,
Hans-Dieter; (Frankfurt/M., DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HONIGMAN MILLER SCHWARTZ AND COHN LLP
32270 TELEGRAPH RD
SUITE 225
BINGHAM FARMS
MI
48025-2457
US
|
Family ID: |
7926864 |
Appl. No.: |
10/863066 |
Filed: |
June 8, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10863066 |
Jun 8, 2004 |
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10111655 |
Apr 25, 2002 |
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6745667 |
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10111655 |
Apr 25, 2002 |
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PCT/EP00/10498 |
Oct 25, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/221 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 1/0426 20130101;
H02K 5/10 20130101; F04B 1/0443 20130101; H02K 2205/09 20130101;
H02K 5/148 20130101; H02K 5/225 20130101; B60T 8/368 20130101; B60T
8/4031 20130101; F04B 17/03 20130101; H02K 7/075 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/221 |
International
Class: |
F04B 001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 25, 1999 |
DE |
19951446.1 |
Claims
1-25. (Cancelled)
26. A motor pump assembly, comprising: a piston pump having one or
more pistons; a motor having a shaft, wherein said shaft is coupled
to said piston pump; wherein said one or more pistons of said
piston pump are driven by an eccentric driver by said shaft; a
holding plate including a fire wall portion and a contact terminal
portion; wherein said fire wall portion impedes said ingress of
foreign bodies from said piston pump to said motor, and wherein
said contact terminal portion includes an electrical contact
terminal adapted to interface with an electric connector; and a
reservoir for collecting leakage fluid provided between said
housing and said holding plate, wherein, when said motor pump
assembly is in a horizontal mounting position, said reservoir is
located under said contact terminal portion.
27. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said reservoir is
positioned substantially opposite said contact terminal
portion.
28. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said reservoir is
a recess residing in said holding plate to form at least a portion
of a reservoir between said holding plate and said pump housing,
wherein said recess is positioned opposite said pump housing to
permit fluid leakage through a leakage fluid channel located
between said pump housing and said holding plate.
29. The motor pump assembly of claim 28, wherein said reservoir is
also partially formed by a wall portion of said pump housing.
30. The motor pump assembly of claim 28, wherein said reservoir
extends substantially perpendicularly to said leakage fluid channel
that extends from an outlet channel that accumulates leakage
fluid.
31. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said holding plate
includes a housing for mounting said electrical contact terminal
therein.
32. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said electrical
contact terminal is floatingly mounted to said housing.
33. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said electrical
contact terminal has a "U" shape.
34. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, where said holding plate
includes means for suppressing electrical interferences.
35. The motor pump assembly of claim 26, wherein said holding plate
includes means for housing electrical brushes.
36. A motor pump assembly, comprising: a piston pump having one or
more pistons; a motor having a shaft, wherein said shaft is coupled
to said piston pump; wherein said one or more pistons of said
piston pump are driven by an eccentric driver by said shaft; a
holding plate including a fire wall portion and a contact terminal
portion; and wherein said fire wall portion impedes said ingress of
foreign bodies from said piston pump to said motor, and wherein
said contact terminal portion includes an electrical contact
terminal adapted to interface with an electric connector.
37. The motor pump assembly of claim 36, wherein said holding plate
includes a housing for mounting said electrical contact terminal
therein.
38. The motor pump assembly of claim 36, wherein said electrical
contact terminal is floatingly mounted to said housing.
39. The motor pump assembly of claim 36, wherein said electrical
contact terminal has a "U" shape.
40. The motor pump assembly of claim 36, where said holding plate
includes means for suppressing electrical interferences.
41. The motor pump assembly of claim 36, wherein said holding plate
includes means for housing electrical brushes.
42. A motor pump assembly, comprising: a piston pump having one or
more pistons; a motor having a shaft, wherein said shaft is coupled
to said piston pump; wherein said one or more pistons of said
piston pump are driven by an eccentric driver by said shaft; a
holding plate interposed between said motor and a pump housing; and
a recess residing in said holding plate to form at least a portion
of a reservoir between said holding plate and said pump housing,
wherein said reservoir collects leakage fluid.
43. The motor pump assembly of claim 42, wherein said reservoir is
also partially formed by a wall portion of said pump housing.
44. The motor pump assembly of claim 42, wherein said reservoir is
positioned substantially opposite said contact terminal.
45. The motor pump assembly of claim 42, wherein said reservoir
extends substantially perpendicularly to a leakage fluid channel
that extends from an outlet channel that accumulates leakage
fluid.
46. A motor pump assembly, comprising: a piston pump having one or
more pistons; a motor having a shaft, wherein said shaft is coupled
to said piston pump; wherein said one or more pistons of said
piston pump are driven by an eccentric driver by said shaft; a
holding plate including a contact terminal portion, wherein said
holding plate is interposed between said motor and a pump housing;
and a recess residing in said holding plate to form at least a
portion of a reservoir between said housing plate and said pump
housing, wherein said reservoir collects leakage fluid, wherein,
when said motor pump assembly is in a horizontal mounting position,
said reservoir is located under said contact terminal.
47. The motor pump assembly of claim 46, wherein said reservoir is
also partially formed by a wall portion of said pump housing
48. The motor pump assembly of claim 46, wherein said reservoir is
positioned substantially opposite said contact terminal.
49. The motor pump assembly of claim 46, wherein said reservoir
extends substantially perpendicularly to a leakage fluid channel
that extends from an outlet channel that accumulates leakage fluid.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a motor-pump aggregate
according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
[0002] German publication DE 196 32 167 A1 discloses a generic
motor-pump aggregate which is suitable especially for
electronically controlled brake systems of motor vehicles and
comprises an electric motor with a holding plate, e.g. for contact
brushes, and a piston pump, wherein pistons of the pump are
drivable by means of an eccentric. In this publication, the pistons
are respectively urged against the eccentric by means of a
resetting spring and thus follow the eccentric's movements.
[0003] It is generally known in the art, however, that a coupling
ring which is connected to the pistons may be used instead of the
resetting springs. In the event of e.g. two opposite pistons, one
piston executes a pressure stroke movement due to the eccentric,
while the other piston that is retracted by the coupling ring
executes a suction stroke movement. This means that the coupling
ring does not rotate along with the eccentric but oscillates.
Twisting of the coupling ring may occur especially during start of
the pump, and the coupling ring may push against stationary or
rotating parts of the motor-pump aggregate, whereby undesirable
noise and friction is caused in particular when contact with
rotating parts takes place. Rubbed-off parts which are produced
thereby will also impair the operability of the motor-pump
aggregate.
[0004] In the international patent application assigned publication
No. WO 00/13951, which was published only after the priority date
of the present patent application, a stop formed fast with the
housing is therefore provided on the side of the coupling ring
opposite to the motor. On the other side which faces the motor, the
coupling ring may get into contact with an equalizing substance
rotating with the motor shaft or the eccentric or other rotating
parts during operation so that increased wear and undesirable
running noise is produced at this location.
[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is
to improve upon a motor-pump aggregate of the type referred to
hereinabove so as to reduce running noise and friction by simple
means.
[0006] According to the present invention, this object is achieved
in that in a generic motor-pump aggregate a projection is
additionally provided on the holding plate of the motor and extends
into the range of motion of the coupling ring. This achieves a
stationary stop for the coupling ring according to the present
invention, and friction and possible running noises are thereby
reduced. The fact that an existing component is modified also
permits curtailing manufacturing costs, e.g., for a separate stop,
as well as assembling costs and time.
[0007] The end of the projection itself can be used as a stop when
the material has a suitable abrasive resistance. Alternatively, a
separate stop or abutment for the coupling ring made from an
appropriate material, e.g., sheet metal, may also be provided on
the projection.
[0008] Preferably, the projection has a circular design and is
arranged around the shaft of the motor which extends into the pump
housing. Alternatively, the projection may also have individual
segments which project into the range of motion of the coupling
ring.
[0009] In motor-pump aggregates there is always the demand that the
inside of the motor be free from foreign bodies. Contaminants could
affect or damage the sensitive electronics of the motor, with the
result of malfunction of the entire aggregate. On the one hand,
these contaminants may be solid media such as dust or abraded
parts. On the other hand, they also may be liquid media such as
hydraulic fluid, especially brake fluid, of the pump and water or
salt water that enters from the outside into the aggregate. To
effectively separate the pump from the motor, a fire wall is
therefore especially favorably arranged between the projection and
the shaft and prevents or impedes the ingress of foreign media into
the inside of the motor.
[0010] Advantageously, the fire wall can be designed integrally
with the holding plate. But it is also possible that the fire wall
is designed as.an independent component part, e.g., integral with
the separate stop.
[0011] Beside the function as a stop for the coupling ring, the
projection of the holding plate which extends until into the range
of motion of the coupling ring has another advantage. Leakage fluid
of the pump always accumulates in the crank chamber, that means the
space where the eccentric is arranged, during operation of the
motor-pump aggregate. When an outlet channel for leakage fluid is
provided in the housing of the pump, and especially an outlet means
is arranged at the end of said channel remote from the eccentric or
the crank chamber, the said fluid is allowed to discharge from the
crank chamber outwards, for example, also into a controller housing
in which an electronic control unit for the motor-pump aggregate
can be accommodated in a fluid-tight fashion, that means, in any
case isolated from the discharging leakage fluid. This drain
satisfies the requirements when the motor-pump aggregate of the
present invention is e.g. mounted into a motor vehicle in the
manner shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] If, however, a vertical installation of the aggregate as
described above is not possible, discharge of the leakage fluid is
impeded. This problem exists in particular in the mounting position
of the aggregate shown in FIG. 2 which is turned by 90.degree.
compared to FIG. 1. To collect the leakage fluid, an indentation is
then arranged especially advantageously in the housing at the
outlet channel.
[0013] When the projection has a chamfer at the outside periphery
of its end facing the indentation, leakage fluid can enter easily
into the slot between projection or holding plate and pump housing.
This is because, preferably, another channel for leakage fluid is
provided between the projection or holding plate and the housing.
Due to the fact that the projection extends into the range of
motion of the coupling ring according to this invention, this
further channel starts already at a point that is relatively remote
from the motor so that the motor's inside is better protected
against the ingress of leakage fluid and other foreign bodies
contained in the fluid.
[0014] When this further channel does not extend out of the pump
housing, a reservoir for the leakage fluid may be provided between
the pump housing and the holding plate in a particularly favorable
way for fluid collection. As an alternative, it is also possible to
arrange a reservoir for leakage fluid in the motor compartment.
[0015] The present invention and further advantages and embodiments
thereof will be described in detail by way of the following
embodiments making reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings,
[0016] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
motor-pump assembly of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a mounting position of the aggregate of the
present invention, also in a longitudinal cross-sectional view,
turned by 90.degree. compared to FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a holding plate of the
motor-pump aggregate of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a detail of
an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, a motor is designated
by reference numeral 1 and a piston pump by reference numeral 2.
Accommodated in the housing of the motor 1, which is especially
configured as an electric motor, is a drive shaft 10 which extends
up into a housing 8 of pump 2. Further, a holding plate 6 is
interposed between the motor 1 and the pump housing 8, for example,
for contact brushes (not shown) of motor 1. Attached in housing 8
of pump 2 (mentioned herein only as an example and not limiting the
present invention) is a supporting axle 26 on which an eccentric 4
is arranged. Eccentric 4 which co-rotates with the shaft 10 causes
pistons 3 of pump 2 to be moved to and fro radially relative to the
drive shaft or shaft 10 in order to develop the pressure which is
e.g. required for the operation of an electronically controlled
brake system for motor vehicles. Pistons 3 are interconnected by a
coupling ring 5 so that one piston 3 is induced by the eccentric 4
to execute a pressure stroke movement, while the other piston (not
shown) is retracted by the coupling ring 5 and executes a suction
stroke movement. This means that the coupling ring 5 does not
rotate with the eccentric. 4 but oscillates in the plane of motion
of pistons 3. It is possible in this arrangement that the coupling
ring 5 will turn about the attachment points on the pistons 3 (not
shown), especially when motor 1 or pump 2 starts to operate.
[0021] To this end, a projection 7 which projects into the range of
motion of the coupling ring 5 is provided on the holding plate 6 of
motor 1 according to the present invention. Apart from centering
the holding plate 6 in the pump housing 8, this provides a
stationary stop for the coupling ring 5, whereby the friction that
is produced in operation and running noises of pump 2 are reduced
in a particularly favorable manner according to the present
invention.
[0022] The end of the projection 7 itself can be used as a stop for
the coupling ring 5 when the material has a suitable abrasive
resistance. Projection 7 is manufactured jointly with the holding
plate 6, in particular, from plastic material. As an alternative,
however, a separate stop or abutment 9 for the coupling ring 5 may
be provided on projection 7. The said stop is made of an
appropriate material, for example, of sheet metal. A stop 9 of this
type is explained in detail in connection with the description of
FIG. 4.
[0023] Projection 7 is preferably of circular design and arranged
around the shaft 10 of motor 1 which projects into the pump housing
8. Alternatively, the projection 7 may include single segments (not
shown) which e.g. serve as a stop and extend until into the range
of motion of the coupling ring 5. Another issue of the present
invention is the effective isolation of pump 2 or crank chamber,
that means, the chamber in which the eccentric 4 is arranged, and
motor 1, with the absolute need to prevent the ingress of liquid
and/or solid media into the inside of the motor 1 in which
electronic components are arranged. It is especially favorable that
a fire wall 11 is provided between projection 7 and shaft 10 which
prevents or impedes the ingress of foreign bodies into the inside
of the motor. Fire wall 11 can be designed integrally with the
holding plate 6, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0024] Beside the function as a stop for coupling ring 5, the
projection 7 of holding plate 6 which extends until into the range
of motion of the coupling ring 5 according to the present
invention, still has another essential advantage. Leakage fluid 13
of pump 2 always accumulates in the crank chamber during operation
of the motor-pump aggregate. When an outlet channel 12 for the
leakage fluid 13 is provided in housing 8 of pump 2, and especially
an outlet means 14 is still arranged at the end of the channel
remote from the eccentric 4 or the crank chamber, the said fluid 13
is allowed to discharge outwards out of the crank chamber, e.g.
into a controller housing (not shown) which e.g. accommodates an
electronic control unit for the motor-pump aggregate.
[0025] This drain or discharge channel 12 satisfies the
requirements when the motor-pump aggregate is mounted in the manner
shown in FIG. 1, e.g. into a motor vehicle. If, however, a vertical
installation of the aggregate of this type is not possible,
discharge of the leakage fluid 13 out of the crank chamber is
impeded. This problem is encountered in particular in the
installation position of the aggregate shown in FIG. 2 which is
turned by 90.degree. compared to FIG. 1. An indentation 15 in which
leakage fluid 13 accumulates is preferably and favorably arranged
in housing 8 at outlet channel 12.
[0026] When the projection 7 has a chamfer 16 at the periphery of
its end close to indentation 15, the leakage fluid 13 can easily
enter into the slot between projection 7 or holding plate 6 and
pump housing 8. Preferably, this slot is provided as another
channel 17 for the leakage fluid 13. Due to the fact that the
projection 7 extends until into the range of motion of the coupling
ring 5 according to the present invention, this further channel 17
starts already at a point which is relatively far away from the
motor 1 so that the inside of the motor is better protected against
the ingress of leakage fluid 13 and other foreign bodies which are
contained in said fluid 13.
[0027] When this further channel 17 does not extend out of the pump
housing 8, it is especially advantageous that a reservoir 18 for
leakage fluid 13 can be provided between the pump housing 8 and the
holding plate 6 for collecting fluid 13. Alternatively, it is also
possible, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, to arrange a
reservoir 19 for leakage fluid 13 in the inside of motor 1.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of holding plate 6. Beside
the projection 7 of the present invention which has been mentioned
already hereinabove, the holding plate 6 in its capacity as
interface between motor 1 and pump 2 preferably has a number of
further advantages. Thus, a contact terminal 22 for the
compensation of thermal expansions in the electric connection
system and for the compensation of tolerances is arranged so as to
be floatingly mounted in a housing (not shown) and directly
integrated at the holding plate 6. This provides a simple
electrical contacting for a straightforward electric connecting
element, e.g., a cable end, at the plate 6 so that electric
interferences can also be suppressed directly at the holding plate
6. Likewise, contact brush casings 23 are fitted directly at the
plate 6. For connection to the housing of the motor 1, one or more
catching hooks 20 may be integrated at plate 6. Furthermore, e.g.
one or more injection-molded seals 21 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), e.g.
from silicone, can be integrated at plate 6 which reliably prevent
the ingress of foreign media from outside into the aggregate. Plate
6 may also fulfil a holding or securing function for a rotor (not
referred to in detail) or a (likewise not illustrated) floating
armature of motor 1 during said's transport.
[0029] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fire wall
11 is designed as an independent component integrally with a
separate stop 9 for the coupling ring (not shown). The connection
24 between this component 9, 11, that is preferably configured as a
round sheet-metal bowl, and the projection 7 of the present
invention can be established by positive and/or operative
engagement, and a seal 25 can still be interposed between the
projection 7 of plate 6 and the component 9, 11.
* * * * *