Vane Pump

Abstract

A vane cell pump for a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a housing. A rotor defines a plurality of slots. The plurality of slots runs radially. A plurality of vanes is arranged in the plurality of slots of the rotor. An end plate is positioned in a bottom area of the housing. The end plate is configured as a fluid guide with a suction channel and a pressure channel. The end plate forms a bottom wall of the housing.

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. A vane cell pump for a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing; a rotor defining a plurality of slots, the plurality of slots running radially; a plurality of vanes arranged in the plurality of slots of the rotor; an end plate positioned in a bottom area of the housing, the end plate configured as a fluid guide with a suction channel and a pressure channel, wherein the end plate forms a bottom wall of the housing.

5. The vane cell pump of claim 4, wherein a side wall of the housing has an inwardly bent end that positively locks the end plate to the housing such that the vane cell pump is a closed, pre-assembled unit.

6. The vane cell pump of claim 4, wherein the housing does not have a separate housing bottom such that a thickness of the end plate is increased and the suction channel is optimized in terms of flow.

7. The vane cell pump of claim 4, wherein the transmission defines a vane cell pump installation space, the end plate forming the bottom wall of housing such that the vane cell pump is installation space neutral for the vane cell pump installation space of the transmission.

8. A vane cell pump for a transmission of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing; a rotor positioned within the housing, the rotor defining a plurality of radially running slots; a plurality of vanes mounted to the rotor, each vane of the plurality of vanes arranged in a respective one of the plurality of radially running slots of the rotor; an end plate mounted to the housing such that the end plate extends from the rotor to an outer surface of the housing within the housing, the end plate defining a suction channel and a pressure channel, wherein the end plate forms a bottom wall of the housing, the suction channel and the pressure channel extending from the rotor through the bottom wall of the housing.

9. The vane cell pump of claim 8, wherein a side wall of the housing has an inwardly bent end that positively locks the end plate to the housing at an edge of the end plate such that the vane cell pump is a closed, pre-assembled unit.

10. The vane cell pump of claim 8, wherein the housing does not cover the end plate at the bottom area of the housing.

11. The vane cell pump of claim 8, wherein the vane cell pump does not include a profile seal that extends between the end plate and the housing at the bottom area of the housing.

12. The vane cell pump of claim 8, wherein a thickness of the end plate is increased by absence of a housing bottom at the bottom area of the housing such that the suction channel is optimized in terms of flow.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the following, the invention is more specifically illustrated as an example on the basis of the attached figures. The following is shown:

[0011] FIG. 1: a schematic sectional view of a vane cell pump according to the state of the art; and

[0012] FIG. 2: a schematic sectional view of a vane cell pump in accordance with an example embodiment the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0014] Vane cell pumps are well-known to the specialist, such that, within the framework of the following description of figures, only the components relevant to the invention are described and explained. Identical reference signs designate identical components.

[0015] In the attached FIG. 1, the reference sign 1 designates a vane cell pump according to the state of the art, whereas the housing of the pump, which also extends in the bottom area, is provided with the reference sign 2. The vane cell pump 1 includes a rotor 3, in the circumferential surface of which slots that approximately run radially and extend across its width, in which displaceable vanes 4 are arranged. The vane cell pump 1 further includes an end plate 5 that serves as the fluid guide and is arranged in the bottom area, and features a suction channel 6 and a pressure channel 7. In order to seal the end plate 5 with respect to the housing 2, profile seals 8 are provided. The pump shaft is designated with 9.

[0016] With the vane cell pump according to FIG. 1, the end plate 5 features a small thickness, since the pump bottom or the housing bottom features a thickness d that is not insignificant. Consequently, the suction channel 6 is designed to be very steep, which leads to unfavorable flow conditions.

[0017] In accordance with example aspects of the invention and with reference to FIG. 2, which presents a vane cell pump 1′ designed in accordance with example aspects of the invention, the end plate 5′ forms the housing bottom of the vane cell pump 1 in a manner that is neutral for installation space and while maintaining the dimensioning of the rotor and the additional components of the pump relative to vane cell pump 1 (FIG. 1). Due to the absence of a separate housing bottom, the end plate 5′ features an increased thickness compared to the end plate 5 according to the state of the art, such that the suction channel 6 is designed to be less steep and is thus optimized in terms of flow. In addition, the stiffness of the end plate is increased compared to the end plate 5 according to the state of the art through the increased thickness of the end plate 5′, by which any deformation of the sealing surfaces, in particular in the area of the suction channel 6, is avoided.

[0018] Furthermore, the profile seals 8 between the end plate 5 and the housing 2, as required according to the state of the art, are unnecessary.

[0019] The end plate 5′ is held in a positive-locking manner by the inwardly bent ends of the side walls of the housing 2, such that the vane cell pump 1 is designed as a closed, pre-assembled unit, whereas the connection of the end plate 5′ to the housing 2 is designed in such a manner that an axial gap compensation of the end plate 5 and a sliding bearing of the pump shaft 9 are achieved.

[0020] Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0021] 1 Vane cell pump [0022] 1′ Vane cell pump [0023] 2 Housing [0024] 3 Rotor [0025] 4 Vane [0026] 5 End plate [0027] 5′ End plate [0028] 6 Suction channel [0029] 7 Pressure channel [0030] 8 Profile seals [0031] 9 Connection of the pump shafts