Pump unit with ventilation of electronics space

• US 10,686,346 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Original Assignee: Grundfos Holding A/S (POUL DUE Jensen's FOND)
• Inventors: Jacobsen, John B., Krog, Jens Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Stimpert, Philip E
• Application Number:
  US14/377,057
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,713 Days
• Field of Search: 4174238, 417366, 417372, 361678, 361690
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/32 Collecting of condensation water; Drainage ; Removing solid particles
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 1/00 Radial-flow pumps, e.g. centrifugal pumps; Helico-centrifugal pumps adapted for pumping specific fluids F04D7/00; priming or boosting F04D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0606 Canned motor pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/002 Axial flow fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/325 for axial flow fans blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/40 Casings; Connections of working fluid bleed or by-pass valves F04D15/0011, F04D27/0215
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/545 Ducts
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/00 Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection casings, enclosures or supports H02K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2205/09 Machines characterised by drain passages or by venting, breathing or pressure compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/10 with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/14 Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06

Abstract

A pump assembly has at least one electronics receiving space (54; 54; 54″). The electronics receiving space (54; 54; 54″) includes at least one defined ventilation opening (40; 40; 40″). The ventilation opening (40; 40; 40″), at an outer side of the electronics receiving space (54; 54; 54″), runs out into an air duct (41; 41; 46; 46; 48, 48′) which is led along at least one condensation surface (60; 60; 60″).

Claims

1. A pump assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a pump housing portion, a motor housing portion and a separate electronics housing portion, the separate electronics housing portion comprising a separate electronics housing inner surface, the motor housing portion comprising a motor housing portion outer surface;

a pump impeller provided in the pump housing portion;

an electrical drive motor provided in the motor housing portion;

one or more electronic components for a control and regulation of the electrical drive motor, the one or more electronic components being positioned in an electronics receiving space defined by one or more of the motor housing portion and the separate electronics housing portion, the separate electronics housing inner surface being located outside of the electronics receiving space, wherein;

the electronics receiving space comprises at least one defined ventilation opening at an outer side of the electronics receiving space, wherein the electronics receiving space is a closed space with the exception of the at least one ventilation opening; and

the ventilation opening is in fluid connection with an air duct which is led along an at least one condensation surface, the at least one condensation surface comprising an extent extending adjacent to the motor housing portion outer surface, the air duct being defined by at least the separate electronics housing inner surface and the motor housing portion outer surface, whereby the air duct is located outside of the electronics receiving space, the air duct, the ventilation opening and the electronics receiving space being in fluid communication with an environment located outside of the housing, at least the ventilation opening, the at least one condensation surface and the air duct defining a fluid delivery path, wherein fluid moves along the fluid delivery path such that the fluid passes the at least one condensation surface prior to entering the ventilation opening and the electronics receiving space, wherein one of;

the pump housing portion comprises the at least one condensation surface; and

the at least one condensation surface is thermally connected with the pump housing portion.

2. A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the air duct comprises an air channel between the separate electronics housing inner surface and the motor housing portion, the motor housing portion being located between the pump housing portion and the separate electronics housing portion, the at least one condensation surface being located outside of an axial extent of the separate electronics housing portion that defines at least a portion of the electronics receiving space, the housing comprising a motor receiving space, the motor housing portion defining at least a portion of the motor receiving space, the air duct being located outside of the motor receiving space.

3. A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the separate electronics housing portion comprises a first electronics housing inner wall and a second housing inner wall, each of the first electronics housing inner wall and the second housing inner wall being located in the electronics receiving space and extending in a direction of the ventilation opening, the first electronics housing inner wall and the second electronics housing inner wall defining a fluid guide channel for guiding fluid in a direction of the ventilation opening, wherein the first electronics housing inner wall and the second housing inner wall define a V-shaped wall arrangement, wherein at least the at least one ventilation opening and the ventilation channel define a single flow path, wherein the fluid passes from the electronics receiving space to an external environment via the single flow path and the fluid passes from the external environment to the electronics receiving space exclusively via the single flow path.

4. A pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a fluid channel, wherein;

the condensation surface is cooled by a medium delivered by the pump impeller, the condensation surface being located outside of the electronics receiving space; and

the condensation surface is in thermally conductive connection with at least one wall delimiting the fluid channel.

5. A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the condensation surface is in thermally conductive connection with the motor housing and/or the pump housing of the pump assembly, or part of a motor housing and/or the pump housing of the pump assembly, the condensation surface being located external to the electronics receiving space.

6. A pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a motor receiving space, the motor housing portion defining at least a portion of the motor receiving space, the air duct being located outside of the motor receiving space.