Electric pump unit

• US 8,876,501 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2012
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kawano, Akihiko, Kagawa, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): LETTMAN, BRYAN MATTHEW
• Application Number:
  US13/410,559
• Publication Number:
  US 20120230850A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 417/423.11, 417/423.8, 417/423.14
• US Class Current: 417/423.8
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 11/008 Enclosed motor pump units
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/008 Prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 15/0096 Heating; Cooling of machines or engines in general F01P
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2/10 of internal-axis type with the outer member having more teeth or tooth-equivalents, e.g. rollers, than the inner member
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/40 Electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/045 of the electric motor in hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/047 Cooling of electronic devices installed inside the pump housing, e.g. inverters
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0653 the motor being flooded

Abstract

A motor housing that accommodates a pump-driving electric motor and a controller that controls the electric motor is fixed to a pump body of a pump that sucks and discharges oil. A sealed motor chamber that accommodates the electric motor is formed within the motor housing. A cooling oil is filled in the motor chamber.

Claims

1. An electric pump unit comprising:

a pump that sucks and discharges a first oil, and that includes a pump body;

a pump-driving electric motor including a rotator;

a controller that controls the pump-driving electric motor;

a motor housing that has a sealed motor chamber that accommodates the pump-driving electric motor and the controller, the motor housing being fixed to the pump body; and

a coolant and air filled in the motor chamber and not in fluid communication with the first oil,

wherein the coolant is in fluid communication with at least (i) the air in the motor chamber, (ii) the rotator, and (iii) the controller.

2. The electric pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the coolant is a second oil.

3. The electric pump unit according to claim 2, wherein 80 to 90% of a volume of a space in the motor chamber is occupied by the second oil, and a remainder of 10 to 20% is occupied by the air.

4. The electric pump unit according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of a coil of the electric motor is exposed to a space in the motor chamber, and is in contact with the coolant.