PUMP HOUSING AND PUMP

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to German Patent Applications No. 102025122058.1 filed Jun. 5, 2025, and No. 102024122101.1, filed Aug. 2, 2024, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a pump housing for accommodating a pump unit, in particular a rotary pump, and to a pump.

BACKGROUND

Pumps for conveying fluids are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, various types of pumps are used in motor vehicles in order to convey fluids such as coolants, lubricants or the like. Such pumps generally form a unit consisting of a pump housing in which a pump unit is accommodated, the pump housing comprising various connections, e.g. fluid inlets, fluid outlets or the like, for supplying the pump unit. Due to the continuously increasing number of motor vehicle components and the growing complexity of motor vehicles, only a limited installation space is available therein for the respective components. In order to integrate the pumps into the motor vehicles, they must have an increasingly compact design and at the same time ensure a permanently reliable mode of operation. Functionally reliable sealing properties must, inter alia, thereby be ensured, which must be maintained over the service life of the vehicles, during vehicle operation, under a variety of pressure conditions, under a variety of thermal influences or due to component tolerances. Increasing cost pressure also requires simple, cost-effective and high-quality production.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is based on the object of providing a pump housing for a pump as well as a pump, both of which have a compact design, enable a functionally reliable mode of operation and can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner.

A pump housing is shown and described herein.

The pump housing according to the invention for accommodating a pump unit is configured to be inserted at least partially into an external pump receptacle in an operating configuration of the pump housing. The pump housing comprises a housing body having a receiving space into which the pump unit can be inserted and having an end-face access opening that forms an access to the receiving space, and comprises a housing member that can be coupled to the housing body in order to close the end-face access opening of the housing body in a fluid-tight manner, wherein a coupling device is provided, by means of which the housing member can be coupled to the housing body such that the housing member can be moved relative to the housing body along a longitudinal direction of the pump housing in the operating configuration.

The pump unit that can be accommodated in the pump housing is, in particular, a rotary pump that is used in motor vehicles, for example electric vehicles, to supply vehicle components or vehicle assemblies with coolant, lubricant and/or the like. The pump housing is in particular configured such that it can be installed in an installation space in the vehicle that is specifically provided for the pump housing, i.e. the external pump receptacle. The pump receptacle may comprise various connections, for example fluid connections for the pump unit, which can be coupled to the pump housing.

The pump housing, in particular the housing base body, preferably has a substantially cylindrical basic shape, at least in sections. With a substantially cylindrical housing section of the pump housing, the pump housing can be installed in the external pump receptacle.

The housing member that can be arranged at the end-face access opening preferably forms a movable pressure plate that can be coupled to the housing body at the end face of the pump housing facing the external pump receptacle in order to close the end-face access opening in a fluid-tight manner. The housing member, i.e. the pressure plate, is preferably made of aluminium or another metal. The housing member may also be made of a plastic, in particular a thermoplastic material, or of a composite material.

Since the housing member can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the pump housing in the operating configuration, influences due to pressure conditions inside the pump housing, thermal influences, influences due to vehicle operation or due to component tolerances can be compensated by shifting the housing member relative to the housing body and, at the same time, the sealing properties between the housing member and the housing body can be ensured. Tolerances can be compensated by means of the housing member that can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the pump housing, which enables the pump housing to be adapted to the external pump receptacle and ensures a functionally reliable operation.

A further development of the pump housing may provide that the coupling device forms a displacement area for the housing member coupled to the housing body, the housing member being displaceable within the displacement area along the longitudinal direction of the pump housing.

If the pump housing is configured to accommodate a rotary pump, the longitudinal direction of the pump housing preferably corresponds to an axial direction of the rotary pump. In this case, the housing member can be displaced in the axial direction of the rotary pump within the displacement area of the coupling device. A displacement movement of the housing member of approximately 20 mm or less, preferably approximately 10 mm or less, more preferably approximately 5 mm or less, along the longitudinal direction of the pump housing can be formed by the displacement area of the coupling device.

In one embodiment of the pump housing, a variable axial length of the pump housing can be formed by the coupling device, the variable axial length being adaptable to a depth of the external pump receptacle by means of the displacement movement of the housing member.

The variable axial length is in particular formed by the displacement area of the coupling device or by a length of this displacement area. In other words, tolerances are compensated by the variable axial length of the pump housing, as a result of which the pump housing can be adapted to depths of external pump receptacles that have slightly different insertion depths due to manufacturing tolerances. The axial length of the pump housing may be variably adjustable by approximately 20 mm or less, preferably approximately 10 mm or less, more preferably approximately 5 mm or less. This means that the axial length of the pump housing is variably adjustable by approximately the amount of the displacement path of the housing member within the displacement area. As a result of the displacement area of the coupling device, a displacement movement of the housing member of approximately 20 mm or less, preferably approximately 10 mm or less, more preferably approximately 5 mm or less, can be provided.

In an advantageous embodiment of the pump housing, the coupling device may comprise at least one first force storage member that acts between the housing body and the housing member and by means of which the displacement movement of the housing member can be controlled in at least one displacement direction of the displacement area.

A force of the at least one first force storage member in particular acts in a displacement direction that is directed away from the pump housing. In this manner, the displacement movement of the housing member coupled to the housing body, which can be controlled by the at least one first force storage member, faces in a direction away from the housing body. In the operating configuration, the displacement movement of the housing member coupled to the housing body, which can be controlled by the at least one first force storage member, is in particular directed in the direction of the external pump receptacle, preferably in the direction of a base section of the pump receptacle. In the operating configuration of the pump housing, the at least one first force storage member is furthermore configured to compensate for changing operating conditions inside the pump housing by compressing or expanding the force storage member. The changing operating conditions are caused in particular by different pressure conditions inside the pump housing and/or by thermal expansion.

A further development of the pump housing may provide that the at least one first force storage member is arranged between the housing member and the pump unit that can be inserted into the housing body, wherein the first force storage member controls the displacement movement of the housing member in the at least one displacement direction and fixes the pump unit in the receiving space of the housing body.

If a rotary pump is accommodated in the pump housing, the at least one first force storage member is preferably arranged between the movable housing member and a stator of the rotary pump. An axial fixation of the pump unit in the housing body can advantageously be formed by the at least one first force storage member. A force flow for fixing the pump unit in the housing body can thereby be provided from the housing member via the at least one force storage member to the pump unit, preferably to the stator of the rotary pump.

In one embodiment of the pump housing, the at least one first force storage member may be configured as a coil spring, a wave spring, a disc spring, a rubber member and/or another type of force storage member.

A spring force of the at least one first force storage member is directed in particular in the longitudinal direction of the pump housing or the axial direction of the rotary pump.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the pump housing, at least one second force storage member may be provided on the housing member, which acts between the housing member and the external pump receptacle in the operating configuration of the pump housing.

A preferred embodiment of the pump housing may provide that the at least one second force storage member is arranged on an outer wall section of the housing member, in particular on an outer base section of the housing member facing the external pump receptacle.

As a result, the at least one second force storage member can abut against a base of the pump receptacle in the operating configuration and act on the housing member in the direction of the housing body or the pump unit due to the spring force resulting from the compression of the at least one second force storage member.

In a preferred further development of the pump housing, it may be provided that a force of the at least one first force storage member and a force of the at least one second force storage member act on the housing member in opposite directions in the operating configuration of the pump housing, such that the displacement movement of the housing member can be controlled by the first and second force storage members in opposite displacement directions of the displacement area.

In this manner, a tolerance compensation is formed in the operating configuration by the two force storage members acting in opposite directions on the housing member in conjunction with the displacement area for the housing member since the housing member can be moved in opposite displacement directions within the displacement area. The axial length of the pump housing can be adjusted in this manner.

The spring constants of the at least one first force storage member and the at least one second force storage member can advantageously be matched to one another in such a way that the housing member is only moved within the defined displacement area of the coupling device in the operating configuration in which the pump housing is inserted into the external receptacle and under operating conditions. In the operating configuration, a force flow preferably runs from the base of the pump receptacle via the compressed at least one second force storage member to the housing member coupled to the housing body, from the housing member via the compressed at least one first force storage member to the pump unit, in particular the stator of the rotary pump, and from there to the housing body.

An advantageous further development of the pump housing may furthermore provide that the at least one second force storage member is configured as an elastic sealing member which, in the operating configuration, seals a fluid inlet and/or a fluid outlet on the housing member and controls the displacement movement of the housing member in the opposite direction to the at least one second force storage member.

A fluid connection to the pump unit that can be inserted into the receiving space can be formed by the fluid inlet and/or fluid outlet provided on the housing member. The fluid inlet and/or the fluid outlet may be coupled to corresponding connections of the external pump receptacle. The elastic sealing member in particular forms an axial seal which, in the operating configuration, seals the fluid inlet and/or the fluid outlet on the housing member to the external pump receptacle. The clastic sealing member is, for example, configured as an O-ring. Due to the elastic compressibility of the elastic sealing member, it can compensate for the displacement movement of the housing member and at the same time maintain the scaling function in the operating configuration. Due to its clastic compressibility, the elastic sealing member can provide an axial tolerance compensation of approximately 1 mm or less, preferably approximately 0.5 mm or less, more preferably approximately 0.1 mm or less. An axial tolerance compensation of approximately 0.05 mm, +/−20%, can be advantageously provided by the elastic sealing member.

In the pump housing, it may furthermore be provided that the coupling device comprises a limiting unit that limits the displacement movement of the housing member in the coupling configuration at least in a decoupling direction in which the housing member can be decoupled from the housing body.

By means of the limiting unit, the housing member can be prevented from detaching from the housing body in the coupling configuration. The limiting unit thus ensures that the pump housing is held together after the housing member is coupled to the housing body during assembly. The limiting unit may furthermore limit a displacement path of the housing member within the displacement area.

A further development of the pump housing may provide that the limiting unit has a snap-in connection, a clip connection or the like, by means of which the housing member can be coupled to the housing body in a coupling direction and by means of which a limit stop for the displacement movement of the housing member is formed in the decoupling direction.

By configuring the limiting unit as a snap-in connection, clip connection or other suitable connecting device, simple mounting of the housing member to the housing body is made possible. For this purpose, one or more corresponding snap-in or clip members may be provided on the housing member and on the housing body, which are pushed over one another, snapped together or clipped together when mounting the housing member to the housing body, thereby forming the coupling connection between the housing member and the housing body. In the case of the snap-in connection, clip connection or other suitable connecting device, it is in particular provided that this forms the limit stop for the housing member in the decoupling direction and allows movement of the housing member within the displacement area in the coupling direction.

Advantageously, at least the housing body of the pump housing may be made of a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic material, and/or a composite material.

Forming at least the housing body from a plastic material, for example from polyamide and/or polypropylene, enables a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process for the housing body. In addition, the housing body may also comprise other members made of a different material, for example stiffening members made of a metallic material such as aluminum.

A pump according to the invention serves to realise the advantages described above. Such a pump comprises a pump unit, in particular a rotary pump, and a pump housing with a receiving space in which the pump unit is accommodated, the pump housing being configured in accordance with one of the embodiments described above.

The pump is in particular a coolant pump or a lubricant pump that is used to convey a coolant or lubricant, for example in a motor vehicle, preferably an electric vehicle. For this purpose, the pump unit is advantageously configured as a rotary pump. Such a pump preferably operates in a low-pressure range, for example in a pressure range of approximately 1 bar or less. Such a pump may also be used in a medium-pressure range of approximately 1 bar to 10 bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of a device, a use and/or a method are apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings show the following:

FIG. 1 a schematic side view of an embodiment of a pump according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 a schematic sectional view of the pump of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 a detailed view of a coupling device of a pump housing of the pump before coupling a housing member to a housing body;

FIG. 4 a detailed view of the coupling device after coupling the housing member to the housing body in a transport configuration;

FIG. 5 a detailed view of the coupling device after coupling the housing member to the housing body in an operating configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Identical reference numbers used in different figures designate identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a pump 10 according to the disclosure and FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the pump 10 in FIG. 1. The pump 10 is intended in particular for use in a motor vehicle, preferably an electric vehicle, and serves as a coolant pump or lubricant pump for conveying a coolant or lubricant. It should be understood that the pump 10 is not limited to such use, but can also be used in other areas of application.

The pump 10 comprises a pump housing 11 with a substantially cylindrical basic shape. The pump housing 11 comprises a housing body 12 that forms a receiving space 13 for a pump unit 14. The housing body 12 comprises an upper end-face access opening 15, which can be closed by a cover member 16, and a lower end-face access opening 17, which can be closed by a base member, hereinafter referred to as housing member 18.

The pump housing 11 of the pump 10 is configured such that it can be inserted into a schematically indicated external pump receptacle 19 and installed therein. The pump receptacle 19 preferably forms an installation space in a motor vehicle that is specifically adapted to the pump 10. In order to fix the pump 10 in the pump receptacle 19, a peripheral attachment section 20, in particular a screw section, is formed on the pump housing 11. This can be screwed to a wall section of the pump receptacle 19.

Various types of connections 21 are provided on the pump housing 19 in order to supply the pump unit 14 with power, a fluid and/or the like. A fluid inlet 22 and a fluid outlet 23 are in particular formed on the housing member 18, i.e. the base member, via which a fluid connection to the receiving space 13 of the housing body 12 is formed for the fluid to be conveyed, i.e. the lubricant or coolant. In an operating configuration 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the pump 10 is installed in the pump receptacle 19, the fluid inlet 22 and the fluid outlet 23 can be coupled to corresponding fluid connections 25 of the pump receptacle 19. The fluid connections 25 form, for example, a fluid connection to the components or assemblies of the motor vehicle to be supplied with the lubricant or coolant.

The pump unit 14 is configured as a rotary pump. Such a pump unit 14 is preferably provided for operation in a low-pressure range, for example in a pressure range of approximately 1 bar or less. The pump unit 14 may also be operated in a medium-pressure range of approximately 1 bar to 10 bar. The rotary pump is arranged in its axial direction 26 along a longitudinal direction 27 of the pump housing 11. In other words, the axial direction 26 of the pump unit 14 corresponds to the longitudinal direction 27 of the pump housing 11.

The housing member 18 can be inserted into the lower end-face access opening 17 of the housing body 12 in such a way that the end-face access opening 17 is closed in a fluid-tight manner. For this purpose, the end-face access opening 17 forms a receptacle for the housing member 18, which has an inner circumference or inner diameter that is adapted to an outer circumference or outer diameter of the housing member 18. In this way, the housing member 18 can be fitted or pushed into the end-face access opening 17 in a plug-like manner and close it in a fluid-tight manner. The housing member 18 is also referred to as a pressure plate, which closes the end-face access opening 17 in a fluid-tight manner. A seal 28 may be provided on the outer circumference of the housing member 18, which forms a seal between the housing member 18 and the housing body 12. A centring device 29 may furthermore be formed between the housing member 18 and the housing body 12 in order to couple the housing member 18 to the housing body 12 in a defined orientation.

In order to couple the housing member 18 to the housing body 12, a coupling device 30 is provided, by means of which the housing member 18 can be coupled to the housing body 12 in such a manner that it can be axially displaced relative to the housing body 12 in the axial direction 26 of the pump unit 14. The coupling device 30 is formed by an outer wall section of the housing member 18 and a corresponding end-face inner wall section of the housing body 12, whereby the housing member 18 can be inserted into the housing body 12 at the end face. The coupling device 30 allows the housing member 18 to be axially displaceable within a defined displacement area 31 of the coupling device 30 in the operating configuration 24 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. when the pump 10 is mounted in the pump receptacle 19. As a result of the displacement area 31 of the coupling device 30, a displacement movement of the housing member 18 in the axial direction 26 of approximately 20 mm or less, preferably approximately 10 mm or less, more preferably approximately 5 mm or less, can be provided.

Since the housing member 18 can be displaced in the axial direction 26 relative to the housing body 12, a variable axial length of the pump housing 11 is formed, by means of which the pump housing 11 can be adapted to a depth T of the external pump receptacle 19. As a result of the displacement movement of the housing member 18 relative to the housing body 12 and the resulting variable axial length of the pump housing 11, a tolerance compensation, in particular due to manufacturing tolerances, is formed in the axial direction 26. This tolerance compensation may correspond to the length of the displacement area 31 for the housing member 18 in the axial direction 26, i.e. approximately 20 mm or less, preferably approximately 10 mm or less, more preferably approximately 5 mm or less.

The coupling device 30 comprises a first force storage member 32, which acts between the housing body 18 and the housing member 12 and controls the displacement movement of the housing member 18 in the displacement direction towards the base section of the pump receptacle 19, i.e. away from the housing body 12. According to the illustration in FIG. 2, the first force storage member 32 is configured as a wave spring, in particular a wire wave spring. The first force storage member 32 may also be configured as a disc spring, a coil spring, a rubber member and/or the like. A spring force of the pretensioned first force storage member 32 acts in the axial direction 26 of the pump housing 11. It should be understood that the coupling device 30 may also comprise two, three, four or more first force storage members 32.

The first force storage member 32 is arranged between the housing member 18 and a stator 39 of the rotary pump, the first force storage member 32 both controlling the displacement movement of the housing member 18 and fixing the pump unit 14 in the receiving space 13 of the housing body 12. This is necessary because the pump unit 14 is not press fitted into the housing body 12, which is preferably made of a plastic material, and the housing member 18 in conjunction with the first force storage member 32 axially fixes the pump unit 14 for this reason.

Two second force storage members 33 are also provided on the housing member 18, which are arranged on an outer base section of the housing member 18 that faces the external pump receptacle 19. The second force storage members 33 are configured as elastic sealing members and seal the fluid inlet 22 and the fluid outlet 23 to the pump receptacle 19 in the operating configuration 24. The two force storage members 33 thus each form an axial seal, for example in the form of an O-ring. In the operating configuration 24 of the pump 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second force storage members 33 thus act between the housing member 18 and the external pump receptacle 19.

In the operating configuration 24, the second force storage members 33 are in a compressed state and thus exert a force on the housing member 18 that is directed in the opposite direction to the spring force of the first force storage member 32, i.e. in the direction of the housing body 12 or the pump unit 14.

Due to the resilient properties of the sealing members 33, these control and compensate the displacement movement of the housing member 18 and at the same time ensure the sealing function in the operating configuration. Due to the resilient properties, the elastic sealing member can form an axial tolerance compensation of approximately 1 mm or less, preferably approximately 0.5 mm or less, more preferably approximately 0.1 mm or less. An axial tolerance compensation of approximately 0.05 mm, +/−20%, can in particular be provided by the elastic scaling members.

As already mentioned above, the spring force of the first force storage member 32 and the resilient force of the second force storage members 33 act in opposite directions on the housing member 18, such that the displacement movement of the housing member 18 within the displacement area 31 is controlled in both displacement directions of the axial direction 26 by the force storage members 32, 33 acting in opposite directions.

As a result, the force storage members 32, 33 acting in opposite directions on the housing member 18 form the tolerance compensation in the operating configuration 24 in such a manner that the housing member 18 can be displaced within the displacement area 31 in the opposite displacement directions and thus the axial length of the pump housing 11 can be adjusted. The spring constant of the first force storage member 32 and the spring constant of the second force storage members 33 can be adapted to one another such that in the operating configuration 24, i.e. under operating conditions, the housing member 18 is displaced only within the defined displacement area 31.

The coupling device 30 comprises a limiting unit 34 which, in particular in a transport configuration, i.e. before the pump housing 11 is inserted into the pump receptacle 19, prevents detaching or decoupling of the housing member 18 from the housing body 12. At the same time, the coupling device 30 enables the displacement movement of the housing member 18 within the displacement area 31 after the pump housing 11 is inserted into the pump receptacle 19.

The limiting unit 34 forms a snap-in connection 35, by means of which the housing member 18 and the housing body 12 interlock and are held together in the transport configuration. The snap-in connection 35 comprises a plurality of corresponding snap-in members 36 on the housing body 12 and the housing member 18, which interlock to couple the housing member 18 to the housing body 12 and prevent the displacement movement of the housing member 18 in only one direction, i.e. the decoupling direction. In order to couple the housing member 18 to the housing body 12, the snap-in members 36 are pushed over one another such that they interlock, thereby forming the coupling connection between the housing member 12 and the housing body 18. The snap-in connection 35 thus enables coupling of the housing member 18 to the housing body 12 in a coupling direction 37, i.e. when the housing member 18 is pushed into the end-face access opening 17 and the snap-in members 36 interlock, and prevents the housing member 18 from detaching from the housing body 12 after interlocking of the snap-in connection 35. In this way, a transport lock is formed in the transport configuration, which prevents the housing member 18 from detaching from the housing body 12.

FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the coupling device 30 of the pump 10 directly before coupling the housing member 18 to the housing body 12 of the pump housing 11. The illustration in FIG. 3 shows a state in which the housing member 18 is inserted into the end-face access opening 17 of the housing body 12 in the coupling direction 37. The corresponding snap-in members 36 of the snap-in connection 35 on the housing body 12 and the housing member 18 are not yet interlocked in this state.

FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the coupling device 30 of the pump 10 after coupling the housing member 18 to the housing body 12 of the pump housing 11. The state shown in FIG. 4 illustrates the transport configuration of the pump 10. The transport configuration is a state of the pump 10 in which the housing member 18 is coupled to the housing body 12 and in which the pump 10 is not yet installed in the pump receptacle 19. In the transport configuration, the corresponding snap-in members 36 of the snap-in connection 35 are interlocked, as a result of which the housing body 12 and the housing member 18 are coupled together. In order to interlock the snap-in members 36, they are pushed over one another in the coupling direction 37 until the snap-in members 36 interlock. As the illustration shows, the limit stop is formed by the snap-in members 36 of the snap-in connection 35, which prevents decoupling of the housing member 18 from the housing body 12 in the decoupling direction 38. In the transport configuration, the pretensioned first force storage member 32 fixes the two snap-in members 36 to one other.

The illustration also shows the defined displacement area 31 of the coupling device 30, in which the housing member 18 can be axially displaced in the axial direction 26.

FIG. 5 shows a detailed view of the coupling device 30 in the operating configuration 24, i.e. in a state in which the pump 10 is installed in the pump receptacle 19. In this state, the housing member 18 is pushed in the direction of the housing body 12 within the displacement area 31 by the amount V. In the operating configuration 24, the housing member 18 with the second force storage members 33 abuts against the base of the pump receptacle 19 and the pump housing 11 is fixed to the pump receptacle 19 via the attachment section 20. Since, in the transport configuration, the axial length of the pump housing 11 is slightly longer than the depth of the pump receptacle 19, the housing member 18 is pushed into the housing body 12 by the amount V, i.e. the amount by which the pump housing 11 is longer than the depth of the pump receptacle 19, when it is installed in the pump receptacle 19. Both the first force storage member 32 and the second force storage members 33 are thereby compressed. In the state of the housing member 18 shown in FIG. 5, this housing member is therefore in a sort of central position, from which the housing member 18 can shift in both axial directions 26 according to the operating conditions. For example, the housing member 18 shifts in the downwards axial direction 26, i.e. in the direction out of the housing body 12, while the first force storage member 32 is relaxed and the second force storage members 33 are compressed, thereby extending the axial length of the pump housing 11. Such a displacement movement of the housing member 18 may occur, for example, in the event of excess pressure in the pump housing 11. Conversely, for example in the event of negative pressure in the pump housing 11, the housing member 18 shifts in the upwards axial direction 26, i.e. in the direction into the housing body 12, while the first force storage member 32 is compressed and the second force storage members 33 are relaxed, thereby shortening the axial length of the pump housing 11. It is thereby in particular intended that the second force storage members 33, which are configured as elastic sealing members, maintain their sealing function in the pump receptacle 19.

It is apparent to the person skilled in the art that individual features described in different embodiments may also be implemented in a single embodiment, provided that they are not structurally incompatible. Similarly, various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be provided in several embodiments either individually or in any suitable sub-combination.