U.S. patent application number 11/600822 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for pump.
This patent application is currently assigned to Weber Technology AG. Invention is credited to Ralf Centmayer, Eberhard Wizgall.
Application Number | 20070122294 11/600822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37745614 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070122294 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wizgall; Eberhard ; et
al. |
May 31, 2007 |
Pump
Abstract
The invention relates to a pump (2) which is constructed to
convey coolant in an engine and wherein a tensioning element (4)
designed for tensioning a drive member of the engine is integrated.
Also integrated in this pump (2) is a closed pump wheel.
Inventors: |
Wizgall; Eberhard;
(Illingen, DE) ; Centmayer; Ralf; (Frickingen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael M. Zadrozny;SHLESINGER, ARKWRIGHT & GARVEY LLP
Suite 600
1420 King Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Weber Technology AG
|
Family ID: |
37745614 |
Appl. No.: |
11/600822 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/362 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01P 5/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/362 |
International
Class: |
F04B 17/00 20060101
F04B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 17, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 056 507.7 |
Claims
1. Pump which is designed for conveying coolant in an engine (24)
and in which a tensioning element (4) is integrated, which is
designed to tension a drive member of the engine (24).
2. Pump according to claim 1 which comprises a pump housing (3),
the tensioning element (4) being inserted in the pump housing
(3).
3. Pump according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning element (4) is
accommodated by a hydroelement.
4. Pump according to claim 1 wherein the tensioning element (4) is
in the form of a chain tensioner.
5. Pump according to claim 1 which is to be driven by the drive
member of a primary control assembly of the engine (24).
6. Pump according to claim 1 which comprises a shaft (10) mounted
on a plain bearing (26).
7. Pump according to claim 6, wherein a drive wheel (8) cooperating
with the drive member is attached to the shaft (10).
8. Pump according to claim 1 in which a closed pump wheel (6) is
integrated.
9. Pump which is designed for conveying coolant in an engine (24)
and in which a closed pump wheel (6) is integrated.
10. Pump according to claim 9, wherein a washer (12) is arranged on
a rear side of the closed pump wheel (6), a face seal (14) pressing
this washer (12) against the closed pump wheel (6).
11. Pump according to claim 9 wherein the closed pump wheel (6) is
screwed on a shaft (10), while a drive wheel (8) cooperating with
the drive member is attached to the shaft (10).
12. Pump according to claim 11, wherein the shaft (10) is mounted
on a plain bearing (26).
13. Pump according to claim 9 wherein the shaft (10) is sealed off
by a radial seal.
14. Pump according to claim 9 in which is integrated a tensioning
element (4) which is designed to tension the drive member of the
engine (24).
15. Pump according to claim 1 which has a leakage chamber, this
leakage chamber being separated from an oil chamber by a shaft seal
(11).
16. Pump according to claim 15, wherein the leakage chamber is
sealed off from the oil chamber and a water chamber (34) by an
O-ring (32).
17. Pump according to claim 15 wherein the leakage chamber is
vented through a bore via an annular chamber between the pump
housing (3) and a cylinder crank case (25) of the engine (24).
18. Pump according to claim 1 and which is in the form of a water
pump
19. Tensioning element which is designed to tension a drive member
of an engine (24) and for integration in a pump (2) which serves to
deliver coolant within this engine (24).
20. Tensioning element according to claim 19, which is constructed
as a chain tensioner.
21. Engine which comprises a drive member and a pump (2) according
to claim 1.
22. Engine according to claim 21, wherein the drive member
cooperates with at least one component of the pump (2).
23. Engine according to claim 22, wherein the drive member
cooperates with a tensioning element (4) integrated in the pump
(2).
24. Engine according to claim 23, wherein the drive member
cooperates with a pump wheel (6) integrated in the pump.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a pump, a tensioning element and an
engine.
[0002] An engine is typically equipped with a cooling system which
comprises a coolant pump designed to convey coolant within the
cooling system. The coolant pump is driven by a chain or belt of
the engine for this purpose.
[0003] The present invention provides a pump having the features of
claim 1, a pump having the features of claim 9, a tensioning
element having the features of claim 19 and an engine having the
features of claim 21.
[0004] The pump according to claim 1 of the present invention is
designed for conveying coolant in an engine. Integrated in this
pump is a tensioning element which is designed for tensioning a
drive member of the engine.
[0005] Thus, a pump is provided having an integrated function for
conveying coolant in a cooling system of the engine or an internal
combustion engine. The drive member which is looped around a number
of shafts in the engine and is also designed to drive the pump may
be tensioned by the tensioning element of the pump. The tensioning
element can compensate changes in length which occur during the
operation of the drive member.
[0006] The tensioning element may be inserted in a pump housing of
the pump. It is thus readily possible to equip a pump with the
tensioning element as a later add-on. However, the tensioning
element may also be constructed as an integral part of the pump,
preferably of the pump housing.
[0007] Incorporating the tensioning element in the pump may be
carried out for example by means of a hydro-element. If the
tensioning element has been inserted in the pump housing steps are
taken to supply it with pressurised oil from a main oil channel of
the engine.
[0008] A shaft of the pump which is connected to a drive wheel,
this drive wheel being rotated by the drive member, is mounted in a
preferably hydrodynamic plain bearing. This plain bearing is
lubricated through a first bore which is connected to the main oil
channel. This first bore inside the pump housing connects the main
oil channel of a cylinder crank case of the engine with a
subsidiary oil channel of the pump.
[0009] Depending on the coolant used the pump may be constructed as
a coolant pump or as a water pump. The drive member is then
constructed as a component of a primary control assembly of the
engine. This drive member may take the form of a chain, belt,
particularly a toothed belt, V-belt or flat belt.
[0010] The pump preferably has a shaft mounted on the plain
bearing. At one end of the shaft there is usually a drive wheel
which cooperates with the drive member, so that the shaft is set in
rotation by means of the drive wheel when the engine is
running.
[0011] A closed pump wheel may additionally be integrated in the
pump with the integrated tensioning element. This closed pump wheel
is preferably attached to another end of the shaft, rotates with
the rotating shaft and thus provides a delivery of a volume flow of
the coolant needed to cool the engine.
[0012] The pump according to claim 9 of the invention is designed
for conveying coolant in an engine. Integrated in this pump is a
closed pump wheel.
[0013] As the pump wheel is closed, an optimum gap situation is
obtained within the pump. The closed pump wheel is easy to
manufacture.
[0014] The pump is preferably constructed as part of a cooling
system of the engine. During operation of the cooling system with
the pump, the coolant or a cooling liquid can flow axially over the
rotating pump wheel.
[0015] A washer may be provided on a rear side of the pump wheel.
In addition, a face seal may press this washer against the pump
wheel. Thanks to this washer, which may for example be constructed
as a rotary washer, the pump wheel may be produced in its finished
shape without the need for any further machining.
[0016] Thanks to the preferred constructed of the pump wheel as a
closed wheel the gap may be very easily and accurately formed by
cylindrical machining in a cylinder crank case of the engine, thus
obtaining a optimum gap situation in the pump. Owing to the fact
that the washer on the back of the pump wheel is pressed against
the pump wheel by the face seal, there is no need for a mechanical
connection between the washer and the pump wheel. The use of the
washer means that the closed pump wheel can easily be installed in
the pump.
[0017] According to a further feature the shaft is mounted radially
on a preferably hydrodynamic plain bearing, this plain bearing
being supplied with pressurised oil by a main oil channel from a
cylinder crank case of the engine. Thus, an inexpensive mounting
can be provided for the shaft of the pump. This arrangement
improves the fit of the closed pump wheel into the pump housing.
Usually, shafts are axially sealed in pumps of this kind, which may
result in problematic axial play of the shaft. This is avoided in
the present pump by a radial seal for sealing off the shaft
radially.
[0018] A drive wheel or a pump wheel of the pump can be driven by
the drive member from the primary control assembly of the engine.
The pump has a spiral geometry, for example, and is cast in a
V-shaped space in a cylinder crank case of the engine.
[0019] For manufacture or assembly the pump wheel and the drive
wheel may be screwed onto the shaft by means of a thread counter to
a direction of rotation of the shaft when the pump is operated,
either clockwise or anticlockwise, as the case may be.
[0020] According to a further feature an axial bearing of the shaft
is provided by a flange on the plain bearing, arranged between the
shaft and the drive wheel. In this case a relief bore
simultaneously forms a lubricating pocket for this axial bearing on
the pump wheel side. Moreover, the present pump may have a closure
for a main oil bore. Furthermore, suitable distribution may be
provided for a main oil current.
[0021] The pump may also have a pump cover, this pump cover being
designed to close off a pump chamber of the pump.
[0022] According to one feature, the pump according to claim 9
additionally has a tensioning element integrated into it which is
designed to tension the drive member of the motor.
[0023] The present pump may thus have at least one component
cooperating with the drive member of a control assembly of the
engine. This minimum of one component is constructed either as the
tensioning element provided for tensioning the drive member and/or
as the pump wheel driven by the drive member. High integration of
component functions can be achieved with the pump according to the
invention.
[0024] Regardless of which of these two above-mentioned components
the pump comprises, it may have a leakage chamber which is
separated from an oil chamber of the pump by a shaft seal.
[0025] This leakage chamber is preferably sealed off from the oil
chamber and a water chamber by an O-ring. Furthermore, the leakage
chamber may be vented to the outside by a bore or through an
annular chamber between the pump housing and the cylinder crank
case of the engine.
[0026] Should the face seal within the pump malfunction, this can
be detected by the escape of coolant at the bore in the cylinder
crank case provided as a vent. Accordingly, it is possible to
locate a fault irrespective of whether it has been caused by a
defective face seal or by a defective radial shaft seal, without
taking the engine apart. Such detection is assisted by a suitable
arrangement of a leakage channel inside the engine and/or pump.
[0027] The pump is constructed, for example, as a water pump. If
the coolant used in the cooling system of the engine is a mixture
of water and a coolant such as an antifreeze, for example, this
pump is constructed as a coolant pump.
[0028] The cooling system with the pump ensures a sufficient
cooling performance of the engine or of an internal combustion
engine under all operating conditions.
[0029] The pump for conveying the coolant inside the cooling system
is usually mechanically driven by a toothed or poly-V-belt or a
chain as drive member. The tensioning element integrated in the
pump according to the invention tensions the drive member of the
engine to the extent which is suitable for the particular
operational situation.
[0030] Thus, the drive member is sufficiently highly tensioned in
all the operational situations of the engine, so that rotary
movements can be effectively transmitted between the individual
wheels of shafts of the engine around which the drive member is
looped.
[0031] All in all, irrespective of any specific embodiment, a pump
is provided for conveying coolant for an internal combustion engine
with integrated function, this pump incorporating at least one of
the following components, namely the tensioning element, the closed
pump wheel and/or the leakage chamber.
[0032] The tensioning element according to the invention is
constructed for tensioning a drive member of an engine and is
integrated in a pump which is constructed for conveying coolant
within this engine.
[0033] This tensioning element may be constructed as a chain or
belt tensioner depending on the design of the drive member.
[0034] The engine according to the invention may comprise a drive
member and the pump according to the invention, in one of the
possible embodiments. Accordingly, the drive member of this engine
cooperates with at least one component of the pump. This minimum of
one component of the pump may be constructed as the tensioning
element integrated in the pump, so that the drive member cooperates
with tensioning element, and/or as the pump wheel integrated in the
pump, so that the drive member cooperates with this pump wheel.
[0035] Further features and embodiments of the invention will
become apparent from the description and the accompanying
drawings.
[0036] It should be understood that the features mentioned above
and those yet to be described can be used not only in the
particular combination stated but also in other combinations or on
their own, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0037] The invention is schematically illustrated by an
exemplifying embodiment shown in the drawings and is hereinafter
described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a
pump.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the pump of FIG.
1.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an engine
comprising the pump of FIG. 2.
[0041] The Figures are described together and in overlapping
manner, with identical reference numerals used to denote identical
components.
[0042] FIG. 1 shows a pump 2 or water pump in schematic view. This
pump 2 has a pump housing 3 and is designed for conveying coolant
in a cooling system of an engine, not shown in FIG. 1.
[0043] In the present embodiment a tensioning element 4 is
integrated in the pump housing 3 of the pump 2. This tensioning
element 4 is designed to tension a drive member of the motor, not
shown here. In the pump 2 illustrated by this embodiment, a closed
pump wheel 6 is also integrated.
[0044] The pump 2 also comprises a drive wheel 8. Once the pump 2
has been installed in the engine, it is envisaged that the drive
member of the engine, which is preferably in the form of a chain
or, alternatively, a belt, loops around the drive wheel 8 which is
in the form of a chain wheel in the present embodiment. The drive
member of the engine also loops around a number of wheels which are
mounted on shafts of the engine.
[0045] When the engine is running, a rotary movement is transmitted
through the drive member between the shafts of the engine and the
pump 2, via the drive wheel 8. By means of the tensioning element 4
integrated in the pump 2, and in the form of a chain tensioner in
this instance, the drive member is tensioned in all the operational
situations during the running of the engine, so that effective
transmission of the rotary movement is possible. The pump housing 3
additionally has encircling grooves 9 to accommodate O-rings.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the pump 2 illustrated
in FIG. 1, along the dotted line II-II. This view shows a shaft 10
of the pump 2. It is envisaged that the pump wheel 6 and the drive
wheel 8 are screwed on this shaft 10 by means of a thread counter
to a direction of rotation of the shaft 10. When the engine is
running, rotary movement of the drive wheel 8 is transmitted via
the shaft 10 to the pump wheel 6. A shaft seal 11 is arranged
around the shaft 10.
[0047] The closed pump wheel 6 opens into a coolant channel of the
cooling system of the engine. When the engine is running, coolant
contained within the cooling system flows onto the closed pump
wheel 6 from the axial direction, as indicated by the double arrow.
The closed pump wheel 6 causes the coolant to flow within the
cooling system, so that the engine or an internal combustion engine
in which the pump 2 is arranged is adequately cooled at all
operating points under all operating conditions.
[0048] A washer 12 on the back of the closed pump wheel 6 is
pressed against the closed pump wheel 6 by a face seal 14. This
does away with the need for a mechanical connection between the
washer 12 and the closed pump wheel 6. Moreover, the closed pump
wheel 6 can be produced in its finished state by the mounting of
the washer 12 and needs no further machining.
[0049] In addition, the pump housing 4 with a pump element 16
comprises a first bore 18, a venting bore 20 and a second bore
22.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows, in schematic sectional view, the pump 2 inside
an engine 24 constructed as a V-engine. The pump 2 of the V-engine
integrates the face seal 14 and a plain bearing 26 as well as the
tensioning element 4 for a control assembly or primary control
assembly of the engine 24. When the engine is running the drive
wheel 8 has a drive member (not shown here) looping around it and
causing it to rotate. The tensioning element 4 integrated in the
pump 2 is designed to tension this drive member.
[0051] The closed pump wheel 6 is driven by the drive member via
the drive wheel 8 and the shaft 10. The closed pump wheel 6 is of
helical construction and is cast in a V of a cylinder crank case 25
of the engine 24. Arranged in this cylinder crank case 25 is a
water channel 27 of a cooling system for the engine 24. During the
operation of the engine 24 coolant from the water channel 27 flows
axially over the closed pump wheel 6.
[0052] A gap in the closed pump wheel 6 can be provided very easily
and accurately by cylindrical machining in the cylinder crank case
25.
[0053] The pump shaft 10 is mounted radially on the preferably
hydrodynamic plain bearing 26, which is supplied with pressurised
oil by a main oil channel 28 from the cylinder crank case 25
through the second bore 22 shown in FIG. 2.
[0054] An axial bearing 30 of the pump shaft 10 is provided by a
flange on the plain bearing 26, which is arranged between the pump
shaft 10 and the drive wheel 8. The venting bore 20 from FIG. 2
also constitutes a lubricating pocket for the axial bearing 30 on
the drive wheel side.
[0055] The tensioning element 4 is inserted in the water pump
housing 3 and is supplied with pressurised oil by the main oil
channel 28 while the engine 24 is running. The plain bearing 26 is
lubricated through the second bore 22 from this main oil channel
28. The pump housing 3 simultaneously connects the main oil channel
28 to secondary oil channels.
[0056] The shaft seal 11 separates an oil chamber from a leakage
chamber arranged behind the face seal 14 and covered by the face
seal 14 in FIG. 3. This leakage chamber is vented to the outside
through the first bore 18 via an annular chamber between the pump
housing 3 and the cylinder crank case 25. The leakage chamber is
sealed off from a water chamber and the oil chamber by at least one
O-ring 32, which is arranged in one of the grooves 9 formed in FIG.
1 or 2.
[0057] In the event of malfunction of the face seal 14 or shaft
seal 11, this can be detected by the escape of coolant or oil from
a relief bore 36 on the cylinder crank case 25, i.e. it is possible
to locate the fault without taking the engine apart, depending on
whether the fault is on the face seal 14 or on the shaft seal
11.
* * * * *