This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to German patent application number DE 10 2018 214 555.5. filed Aug. 28, 2018. which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
This disclosure relates to a modular motor pump unit. In particular, the disclosure relates to a modular motor pump unit for hydraulic applications.
Such modular pump units are known from the state of the art, for example from the HP 2 241 753 B1. These motor pump units regularly have an outer housing with two open ends, whereby the two open ends can be closed via two attachable housing covers. The outer housing with the housing covers thus forms a hydraulic fluid reservoir. An electric motor and at least one pump element driven by the electric motor are arranged in the outer housing. The pump element can, for example, be a radial piston pump element or a gear pump element. It is also conceivable that more than one pump element is arranged in the outer housing. The electric motor regularly has a stator, which is fixed in a stator seal inside the housing.
A connection portion with at least one pressure connection and at least one return hydraulic fluid connection is regularly disposed outside on the outer housing. A pressure channel extends from the pump element to the connection portion and a return channel extends from the connection portion to the inside of the outer housing. The hydraulic fluid under pressure is fed into the hydraulic system connected to the motor pump unit via the pressure channel and the pressure connection. Areas of application for such motor pump units include mobile high-pressure hydraulic systems, hydraulic systems of machine tools, portable or mobile hydraulic devices or hydraulic adjustment devices for solar collectors. In these applications the motor pump units are used upright or horizontal. An upright operation means that the pump element is arranged below the stator.
A common feature of all hydraulic systems is that the hydraulic fluid led back via the return hydraulic fluid connection and the return channel is heated due to the mechanical load in the hydraulic system. Excessively heated hydraulic fluid can lead to problems in the hydraulic system and significantly reduce the service life of seals, for example, it is also essential to prevent the heated hydraulic fluid from being sucked directly back through the pump element and fed into the hydraulic system.
Therefore, active and passive systems for cooling the hydraulic fluid are known from the prior art. As a passive system, the outer housing can be fitted with cooling fins on the outside in order to achieve improved heat dissipation to the environment. In active systems, the returning hydraulic fluid is passed through a heat exchanger before being introduced into the hydraulic fluid reservoir.
A disadvantage of the known active systems is that they are either provided as an external component in the hydraulic system, or have to be provided in a complex manner during the manufacture of the pump unit. A modular design of such a pump unit is then regularly not possible.
It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a modular motor pump unit in which an optional and flexible cooling of the returning hydraulic fluid is possible.
A modular pump unit according to the disclosure may be characterized over the prior art in that an additional housing is provided between the outer housing and at least one housing cover. A heat exchanger element is arranged in the additional housing and the return channel is connected to the additional housing. The additional housing is connected to the hydraulic fluid reservoir.
In other words, the returning (heated) hydraulic fluid is not fed directly into the hydraulic fluid reservoir, but first is fed through the additional housing. There it is cooled by the heat exchanger element before it is fed from the additional housing into the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The motor pump unit can be flexibly constructed because the additional housing is optionally arranged between one of the two open ends of the outer housing and one of the corresponding housing covers. It is therefore possible to place the additional housing either at one or the other open end, i.e., either at the stator end of the outer housing or at the pump element end of the outer housing. This considerably simplifies the assembly of the modular motor pump unit, as the additional housing can be provided in modular form according to the customer's requirements.
It is advantageous if the heat exchanger element comprises a liquid cooling, in particular water cooling. On the one hand, liquid cooling has the advantage that sufficient cooling of the returning hydraulic fluid can be achieved. On the other hand, the hydraulic systems in which the motor pump unit according to the disclosure is used regularly already have liquid cooling circuits. Therefore, the liquid cooling of the motor pump unit can be easily integrated.
Alternatively, it is preferable if the heat exchanger element comprises an air cooling. In particular, the heal exchanger element may have an external cooling fan for this purpose. Air cooling has the advantage that only one electrical connection is required to operate the external cooling fan. This eliminates the need for additional piping for liquid cooling.
The additional housing preferably has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, wherein the return channel is connected to the inlet opening, and wherein the outlet opening is connected to the hydraulic reservoir. This allows the returning hydraulic fluid to be directed through the inlet opening into the additional housing where it is cooled and then directed through the outlet opening into the hydraulic reservoir. This effectively prevents the pump element from sucking in directly returning (and therefore heated) hydraulic fluid.
It is advantageous if the additional housing has at least one drain channel connected to the hydraulic fluid reservoir with a safely valve, in particular a pressure limiting valve or a check valve. This ensures that a possible overpressure in the additional housing does not damage the heat exchanger element. In particular, it is advisable to use a preloaded check valve.
The drain channel is provided as a branch channel of the inlet opening. This means that an overpressure building up in the area of the inlet opening can be quickly relieved into the hydraulic fluid reservoir.
It is advantageous if the outer housing has a transverse wall arranged inside the outer housing and a cover, the transverse wall with the cover defining a collection chamber with at least one connection arrangement to the additional housing, the return channel emptying into the collection chamber. By collecting the returning hydraulic fluid in the collection chamber, this can initially be steadied so that no foaming occurs. This results in better cooling of the returning hydraulic fluid, as the cooling efficiency is noticeably lower with foamed hydraulic fluid. This also has an advantageous effect on the entire hydraulic system, as the overall efficiency of the hydraulic system increases and possible wear due to foamed hydraulic fluid is reduced.
The collection chamber preferably has at least two connection openings, one of the connection openings facing toward an open end of the outer housing and the other one of the connection opening facing towards the other open end of the outer housing, and one connection opening being connected to the additional housing via the connection arrangement and the other connection opening being closed via a plug. This means that a standardized motor pump unit can be provided by the manufacturer, regardless of whether the additional housing is on the stator side or on the pump element side. The unused connection opening of the collection chamber is closed with the plug during assembly. This saves costs while at the same time allowing flexible adaptation of the motor pump unit.
Advantageously, the connection arrangement comprises a first connecting tube, the first connecting tube connecting the collection chamber to the additional housing. The return hydraulic fluid collected in the collection chamber can be channeled through the first connecting tube and directed into the additional housing in order to achieve an optimum cooling result.
Preferably, the first connecting tube has a first end disposed in the collection chamber, the first end having a plurality of radial openings. This is particularly useful if the additional housing is arranged on the stator side in order to achieve a homogeneous volume flow from the collection chamber to the additional housing.
It is preferable if the transverse wall has a plurality of axial through-holes. The already cooled return hydraulic fluid can flow between the stator end of the outer housing and the pump element end of the outer housing through these through-holes.
It is advantageous if the additional housing is connected to one of the axial through-holes via a second connecting tube. In particular, it is advantageous if the second connecting tube has a second end, wherein the second end has a plurality of radial openings, and wherein either the second end in the axial direction or the through opening is closed with a plug.
When arranging the additional housing on the stator side, it is advisable to use both connecting tubes with radial openings when the motor pump unit is operated in an upright position, in order to prevent foaming of the returning (and already cooled) hydraulic fluid by mechanical impact when it exits the outlet opening of the additional housing. The hydraulic fluid then flows through the axial openings to the pump element, or exits under the fluid level in the hydraulic fluid reservoir. In the case of a horizontal position and arrangement of the additional housing on the stator side, the second connecting lube can be dispensed as the returning (and already cooled) hydraulic fluid exits the outlet opening below the fluid level in the hydraulic fluid reservoir.
When arranging the additional housing on the pump element side, it is advisable to use two connecting tubes without radial openings in order to achieve a selective channeling of the returning hydraulic fluid from the collection chamber to the additional housing. Since the cooled hydraulic fluid exits below the fluid level in the hydraulic fluid reservoir during horizontal operation of the motor pump unit, mechanical loading—and consequently foaming—does not occur. When the motor pump unit is not in use, the returning (and already cooled) hydraulic fluid exits above the transverse wall in the stator-side area of the outer housing and runs through the axial through-opening to the pump element. Since the hydraulic fluid exits under atmospheric pressure against gravity, foaming is unproblematic here.
It is preferable for the additional housing to have at least one additional opening extending outwards from the inside of the additional housing for the connection of an external hydraulic fluid line. Through this additional opening, for example, leakage fluid occurring in the hydraulic system can be fed directly into the additional housing for cooling.
If is advantageous if the additional housing has at least two openings for mounting the heat exchanger element. If the heat exchanger element has a liquid cooling, it is advantageous if the openings can be closed using cover plates. It is advisable if one of the two cover plates has corresponding connections for the cooling medium, so that an optional arrangement of these connections on the additional housing is possible. This remarkably increases flexibility. If the heat exchanger element has air cooling, it is advantageous if an external fan is arranged at one of the openings, which directs the cooling air into the inside of the additional housing. The forced cooling fan can optionally be mounted on the additional housing, thus increasing the overall flexibility.
In the following, embodiments according to the disclosure are explained in more detail using the examples shown in the figures.
The motor pump unit 1 according to the First embodiment has an outer housing 2 with a connection portion 6 on the outer circumference. The connection portion 6 has a pressure connection and a return hydraulic fluid connection. The outer housing 2, for example, is a gravity die casted part made of light metal, such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. A transverse wall 16 with a plurality of axial through-holes 26 is arranged in the outer housing 2, which has a stator plug seat 32 to accommodate the stator 33 of an electric motor 4. The electric motor 4 drives a pump element 5 fixed in the outer housing 2 in a conventional way in such a way that hydraulic fluid is pumped from a hydraulic fluid reservoir 7 formed in the inside of the motor pump unit via a pressure channel 8 to the pressure connection of the connection portion 6. In this example the pump element 5 is a radial piston pump element.
In addition, a return channel 9 extends from the return hydraulic fluid connection of the connection portion 6 to the inside of the outer housing 2. The heated hydraulic fluid of the hydraulic system supplied by the motor pump unit 1 flows back to the hydraulic fluid reservoir 7 via the return channel 9, as described in more detail below.
The outer housing 2 further comprises two open ends 2S, 2P, namely a stator-side open end 2S and a pump element-side open end 2P. In the embodiment shown, the pump element-side open end 2P is scaled with a pump element-side housing cover 3P. At the stator-side open end 2S an additional housing 10 is arranged between a stator-side housing cover 3S and the outer housing 2. Both the housing covers 3P, 3S and the additional housing 10 can, for example, be supplied as gravity die casted parts made of light metal such as aluminum or aluminum alloy. The additional housing 10 can also be provided as a die casted part or plastic part.
A heat exchanger element 11 in the form of liquid cooling is arranged in the additional housing 10. As shown in particular in
The return channel 9 is connected to the inlet opening 12 via a connection arrangement 19, so that the returning (and heated) hydraulic fluid is not fed directly into the hydraulic reservoir 7. Rather, the returning hydraulic fluid is First led over the heat exchanger element 11 and thereby cooled down. The now cooled hydraulic fluid is then fed into the hydraulic fluid reservoir 7 via the outlet opening 13 so that it can be sucked in again by the pump element 5.
For this purpose, the pump unit has a collection chamber 18, which is formed between the transverse wall 16 and a cover 17. The return channel 9 empties into this collection chamber 18 in order to steady the returning hydraulic fluid and to prevent foaming. The collection chamber 18 has two connection openings 20, 21. A first connection opening 20 points in the direction of the stator-side open end 2S and is formed in the cover 17. The second connection opening 21 is formed in the transverse wall 16 and lies axially opposite the first connection opening 20 and points in the direction of the pump element-side open end 2P, as can be seen in particular in
As shown, a first connecting tube 23 of connection arrangement 19 extends through the first connection opening 20 into collection chamber 18. The second connection opening 21 is closed by a plug 22. The first connecting tube 23 is connected to the inlet opening 12 of the additional housing, so that hydraulic fluid from the collection chamber 18 is forced to pass through the first connecting tube 23 and the inlet opening 12 to the heat exchanger element 11.
The first connecting tube 23 has a first end 24 with a plurality of radial openings 25. The hydraulic fluid enters through these openings 25 into the interior of the connecting tube 23, see also
Furthermore the motor pump unit 1 of the variant for horizontal operation shown in
The variant shown in
To prevent damage to the heat exchanger element 11 by overpressure, the additional housing 10 has a drain channel 14 connected to the hydraulic fluid reservoir 7. The drain channel 14 is provided as a branch channel of the inlet opening 12, sec
As can be seen in
Now, with reference to
As can be seen in
In addition, the motor pump unit 100 has a second connecting tube 127, which connects the outlet opening 13 with an axial through-hole 26 of the transverse wall 16. There is no plug provided to close the through-hole 26 because the hydraulic fluid exits from the second connecting tube 127 either below the fluid level in the hydraulic fluid reservoir 7 or at atmospheric pressure against gravity. There is no need to fear mechanical load and the resulting foaming. Furthermore, a better mixing of the returning hydraulic fluid with the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic fluid reservoir is achieved. This also makes it possible for the returning hydraulic fluid to degas better.
Further, the additional housing 10 has the same design as the additional housing 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in
Thus, in addition to the arrangement of the additional housing 10, the two aforementioned embodiments differ only in the design of the first and second connecting tubes 23, 27, 123, 127 and the plug 22 for closing the first or second connection opening 20, 21 of the collection chamber 18.
This can also be seen again in
In
The additional housing 110 here has a heat exchanger element 111 in the form of air cooling arranged in the casing 34. An external fan 112 is provided for this purpose, which blows the air into the interior of the heat exchanger element 111. As shown in particular in
Please note that the connection of the additional housing 110 is identical to the connection of the additional housing 10 with liquid cooling. Thus the additional housing 110 can be attached to the stator-side open end 2S as well as to the pump element-side open end 2P of the outer housing 2. In addition, the additional housing 110 with air cooling can be used for both upright and horizontal use of the motor pump unit 10, 110.
As shown in
In addition, the casing 34 of the additional housing 110 with air cooling does not comprise ribs. Of course it is conceivable, however, that ribs will also be provided on casing 34. Finally, it should also be noted that in
1, 100 motor pump unit
2 outer housing
2S stator-side open end
2P pump element-side open end
3S stator-side housing cover
3P pump element-side housing cover
4 electric motor
5 pump element
6 connection portion
7 hydraulic fluid reservoir
8 pressure channel
9 return channel
10, 110 additional housing
11, 111 heal exchanger element
12 inlet opening
13 outlet opening
14 drain channel
15 safety valve/preloaded check valve
16 transverse wall
17 cover
18 collection chamber
19 connection arrangement
20 connection opening
21 connection opening
22 plug
23,123 first connecting tube
24 first end
25 radial opening
26 through-hole
27, 127 second connecting tube
28 second end
29 radial opening
30 plug
31 additional opening
32 stator plug seat
33 stator
34E casing
35
a,
35
b,
135 cover plate
36 Screw bolt
112 external fan
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
102018214555.5 | Aug 2018 | DE | national |