Electric pump

• US 20040028539A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pierburg Pump Technology UK Limited (Rheinmetall AG)
• Original Assignee: Dana Automotive Limited (Dana, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, David John, Black, David Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/366
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/064 Details of the magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0686 Mechanical details of the pump control unit pump control F04D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5806 Cooling the drive system
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5813 Cooling the control unit

Abstract

A pump including an electric motor mounted in a motor casing, and a rotatable pumping member, the pumping member when rotated by the motor pumping a first fluid, there being a first fluid flow path for the first fluid from a high pressure side of the pumping member, into the motor casing to cool the motor, and to a low pressure side of the pumping member, the pump further including a heat exchanger located between a wall of the motor casing and a heat load, the heat exchanger including a second fluid flow path for a second fluid so that in use, heat is exchanged between the first and second fluids.

Claims

1. A pump including an electric motor mounted in a motor casing, and a rotatable pumping member, the pumping member when rotated by the motor pumping a first fluid, there being a first fluid flow path for the first fluid from a high pressure side of the pumping member, into the motor casing to cool the motor, and toga low pressure side of the pumping member, the pump further including a hat exchanger located between a wall of the motor casing and a heat load, the heat exchanger including a second fluid flow path for a second fluid so that in use, heat is exchanged between the fist and second fluids.

2. A pump according to claim 1 wherein the heat load is provided by electronic components for controlling the motor.

3. A pump according to claim 2 wherein the electric motor is a brushless DC motor.

4. A pump according to claim 1 wherein the first fluid-flow path passes through laminations of a motor stator.

5. A pump according to claim 1 wherein the first fluid flow path passes around a motor rotor.

6. A pump according to claim 1 further including a filter adapted to filter the first fluid as it passes along the first fluid flow path.

7. A pump according to claim 6 wherein the filter is a centrifugal filter which is integral with or mounted on a common shaft with the motor rotor.

8. An engine cooling system including a pump adapted to pump a first cooling fluid around the engine, the pump including an electric motor mounted in a motor casing, and a rotatable pumping member, the pumping member when rotated by the motor pumping the first cooling fluid, there being a first fluid flow path for the first cooling fluid from a high pressure side of the pumping member, through the motor casino to cool the motor, and to a low pressure side of the pumping member, the cooling system her including a heat exchanger located between a wall of the motor casing and a heat load, the heat exchanger including a second fluid flow path for a second cooling fluid so that in use, heat is exchanged between the first and second fluids.

9. An engine cooling system according to claim 9 wherein the first cooling fluid, or the second cooling fluid is engine oil.

10. An engine cooling system according to claim 10 wherein the other of the first or second cooling fluid is a water-based coolant.