FLUID PUMP, MOTOR VEHICLE, USE AND PRODUCTION METHOD

Abstract

A fluid pump for a motor vehicle, having a housing, an impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid chamber of the housing, an electric motor with a stator inside a stator space of the housing for driving an electric motor rotor coupled to the impeller, and a containment shell which separates a wet space of the fluid pump from a dry space of the fluid pump. The containment shell joined to the stator is arranged at least elastically compressed between two fastened together housing parts and rests against the stator and a pump stage housing portion, and the containment shell braces the stator against the housing and thereby fixes the stator relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid pump, such as for a motor vehicle, and also to a motor vehicle with such a fluid pump, a use of such a fluid pump in a motor vehicle, and a method for producing the fluid pump.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to improve a fluid pump.

The object is achieved by a fluid pump having the features described. A motor vehicle with at least one fluid pump described herein, a use of such a fluid pump in a motor vehicle, and a method for producing the fluid pump described herein.

A fluid pump, such as for a motor vehicle, is proposed. Here, the fuel pump has:

• • a housing;
  • an impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid space of the housing;
  • an electric motor with a stator inside a stator space of the housing for driving an electric motor rotor coupled to the impeller; and
  • a containment shell which separates a wet space of the fluid pump from a dry space of the fluid pump.

It is proposed that the containment shell joined to the stator is arranged at least elastically compressed between two fastened together housing parts and rests against the stator and a pump stage housing portion. Here the containment shell braces the stator against the housing and thereby fixes the stator relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

As well as its function as a separating element, the containment shell thus also functions as a clamping and fixing element. As a result, the proposed fluid pump solution is achieved completely without separate fasteners, e.g. in the form of screws, for fixing the stator relative to the housing. This fluid pump solution is thereby compact in construction and may be produced at low cost.

The containment shell may be joined to the stator forming a press fit. Therefore on production of the fluid pump, a spacing of a shell portion of the containment shell surrounding or containing the rotor, relative to the housing, in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump, is subject to fewer fluctuations.

Alternatively, the containment shell may be joined to the stator with play. The containment shell here rests in a transitional region between the shell portion of the containment shell surrounding or containing the rotor and a containment shell portion formed transversely on the shell portion and compressed or bent in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump. For support, in the transitional region, a closed circumferential shoulder or collar may be formed on the containment shell.

When the containment shell is joined to the stator with play however, during production of the fluid pump, a spacing of the shell portion of the containment shell relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump is subject to certain fluctuations, depending on a dimensional inaccuracy of a laminated core having a plurality of laminations, and depending on the used number of laminations of this laminated core.

In one embodiment, in a fastening region, the two fastened together housing parts are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump. This spacing allows corresponding adjustment of the compression or bending of the containment shell in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump. This compression or bending of the containment shell in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump is associated with an at least elastic deformation of the containment shell. This deformation of the containment shell may therefore be purely elastic or elastic-plastic.

In a further embodiment, an elastically or elastically-plastically compressed spring portion (or compression or bending portion) of the containment shell is arranged between the stator and the pump stage housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump and, resting against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, is bent or compressed relative to these two support points or relative to the stator and to the pump stage housing portion.

In a further embodiment, it is proposed that the fluid pump is configured as a radial pump.

A vehicle with a fluid pump of the type described above is also proposed.

A vehicle is to be understood here to mean any type of vehicle or motor vehicle which is operated by a combustion engine and/or electric motor, such as cars and/or utility vehicles. These are partially autonomously or fully autonomously operated vehicles.

A use of a fluid pump of the type described above in a vehicle is also proposed. The fluid pump may be used or provided or configured as a water pump for tempering a battery and/or for cooling a motor and/or for tempering an interior or passenger compartment of the vehicle.

A method is also proposed for producing a fluid pump of the type described above, with the steps:

• • joining of the containment shell to the stator;
  • joining of the arrangement of containment shell and stator to the rotor and the housing; and
  • fastening together of the two housing parts,
  • wherein the containment shell is at least elastically compressed between the two housing parts and thus pressed against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, wherein the stator is braced against the housing by the containment shell and thereby fixed relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages and features can be found in the exemplary embodiments. The drawing shows schematically:

FIG. 1 an embodiment of a proposed fluid pump; and

FIG. 2 an alternative to the fluid pump shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fluid pump 2 in the form of a spiral housing pump, also called a radial pump, which is provided for cooling and/or tempering in a motor vehicle.

The pump 2 includes a first housing part or housing portion in the form of a cover 4, which may be made of one or more pieces, and a second housing part or housing portion in the form of a pump stage housing portion 6, which receives an impeller conveying a fluid in the form of a cooling fluid through a fluid space 8 of the pump stage housing portion 6.

The pump 2 furthermore includes an electric motor with a stator 10 which is arranged inside a stator space of the housing 4, 6, 20 and cooperates with or drives a rotor of the electric motor. The rotor is arranged running wet inside a shell portion 12 of a containment shell ST receiving or containing the rotor, and is coupled to the impeller. The rotor is received by a portion 16 of the floor of the shell portion.

The containment shell ST firstly separates a wet space of the rotor R from a dry space of the pump 2. Secondly, the containment shell ST functions as an elastic spring or clamping element which braces the stator 10 against the cover 4 when the pump stage housing portion 6 is screwed to the cover 4, and thereby fixes it axially, i.e. in the longitudinal direction X-X of the pump 2, relative to the housing 4, 6, 20.

At the open end of the shell portion 12, a spring or clamping portion 14 is formed which is elastic in the longitudinal direction X-X of the pump 2 and arranged between the stator 10 and the pump stage housing portion 6, and extends radially outward transversely to the longitudinal direction X-X or in the transverse direction Y-Y of the pump 2. At the radially outer end of this portion 14 is an end portion 18 which is angled towards the cover 4 and extends up to a gap region close to a fastening region between the cover 4 and the pump stage housing portion 6. In the region of this end portion 18, at least one sealing element is provided against both sides of the containment shell ST, so that this end portion 18 is adequately sealed both against the cover 4 and also against the pump stage housing portion 6. The dry space and the wet space of the pump 2 are thus adequately sealed against the environment of the pump.

When the pump stage housing portion 6 is screwed to the cover 4 (see the indicated screw connection in FIGS. 1 and 2), the containment shell ST cooperates with the stator 10, wherein the containment shell ST presses the stator 10 against the contact point KP₁ of the cover 4. The containment shell ST here rests against the stator 10 at the contact point KP₂ and against the pump stage housing portion 6, 20 at the contact point KP₃ in a transitional region to the end portion 18. Because of the compression of the containment shell ST in the longitudinal direction X-X of the pump 2, the portion 14 bends around these two contact points KP₂, KP₃ which thus form or constitute bending points. The above-described bracing thus occurs.

The pump stage housing portion 20 in FIG. 1 is an optional insert for forming the fluid space of the pump stage. This pump stage housing portion 20 in turn rests against the pump stage housing portion 6 with which it forms a contact point KP₄. With such an insert 20, the efficiency of the pump hydraulics may be influenced or improved.

The shell portion 12 may be press-fitted or joined with play to the stator 10.

In the former case, or in the case of a press fit, the containment shell ST does not rest against the stator 10 via the contact point KP₂—as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2—but via its contact face or press face to the stator 10. Point KP₂ illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in this case is purely a bending point.

In the latter case, or in the case of a join with play, the containment shell ST rests on the stator 10 in the transitional region between the shell portion 12 and the portion 14, namely at the contact point KP₂. This contact or support point KP₂ is in this case also a bending point.

It is pointed out here that in a spatial observation of the proposed fluid pump 2, the contact points KP₁, KP₂, KP₃, KP₄ illustrated in the two-dimensional FIGS. 1 and 2 are actually spot-like, linear and/or superficial contact points between the interacting joint elements.

FIG. 2 differs from FIG. 1 purely by the omission of the insert 20, so the contact point KP₄ is absent. The containment shell ST accordingly rests directly on the pump stage housing portion 6.

The spacing of the flange of the pump stage housing portion 6 from the flange of the cover 4, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, serves to adjust the compression or bending of the containment shell ST with respect to its portion 14 and hence the bracing of the stator 10 against the housing 4, 6, 20 by the containment shell ST (adjustability of the elastic and/or plastic deformation of the containment shell ST).

The housing parts or portions 4, 6, 20, and also the containment shell ST, may e.g. be injection-moulded from plastic. Alternatively, it is proposed that the containment shell ST is made of metal, e.g. a special steel, in order to provide a corresponding structural stiffness and strength.

Alternatively to the above-mentioned screw fastening, the two housing parts 4, 6 may also be clipped or roll-joined together.

The above-described fluid pump solutions require no separate screws or other fasteners for connecting a laminated core carrying coil windings to the pump housing. Therefore fastening elements and also installation space are saved. These fluid pump solutions are compact and may be produced at low cost.

Although, in the preceding description, exemplary embodiments are explained, it may be noted that a large number of modifications are possible. It should be noted, furthermore, that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples which are in no way intended to limit the scope of protection, the applications, and the structure. Instead, the above description gives a person skilled in the art a guideline for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, wherein various changes may be made, especially with regard to the function and arrangement of the component parts described, without departing from the scope of protection as apparent from the combinations of features equivalent thereto.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A fluid pump for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing having at least two housing parts fastened together, one of the at least two housing parts further comprising: a pump stage housing portion;an impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid space of the housing;an electric motor further comprising a stator inside a stator space of the housing for driving an electric motor rotor coupled to the impeller; anda containment shell which separates a wet space of the fluid pump from a dry space of the fluid pump;wherein the containment shell joined to the stator is arranged at least elastically compressed between the at least two fastened together housing parts and rests against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, wherein the containment shell braces the stator against the housing and thereby fixes the stator relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

2. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the containment shell is joined to the stator forming a press fit.

3. The fluid pump of claim 1, wherein the containment shell is joined to the stator with play.

4. The fluid pump of any of claim 1, further comprising: a fastening region;wherein in the fastening region, the at least two fastened together housing parts are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

5. The fluid pump of claim 1, the containment shell further comprising: a compressed spring portion;wherein the compressed spring portion is arranged between the stator and the pump stage housing portion in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump and, resting against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, is bent relative to the stator and to the pump stage housing portion.

6. The fluid pump of claim 1, the fluid pump further comprising a radial pump.

7. A vehicle, comprising: a fluid pump, further comprising: a housing having at least two housing parts fastened together, one of the at least two housing parts further comprising:a pump stage housing portion;an impeller for conveying a fluid through a fluid space (8) of the housing;an electric motor further comprising a stator inside a stator space of the housing for driving an electric motor rotor coupled to the impeller; anda containment shell which separates a wet space of the fluid pump from a dry space of the fluid pump;wherein the containment shell joined to the stator is arranged at least elastically compressed between the at least two fastened together housing parts and rests against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, wherein the containment shell braces the stator against the housing and thereby fixes the stator relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.

8. A method for producing a fluid pump of any of claim 1, comprising the steps of: joining of the containment shell to the stator;joining of the arrangement of containment shell and stator to the rotor and the housing; andfastening together the at least two housing parts two housing parts such that the containment shell is at least elastically compressed between the at least two housing parts two housing parts and thus pressed against the stator and the pump stage housing portion, and the stator is braced against the housing by the containment shell and thereby fixed relative to the housing in the longitudinal direction of the fluid pump.