DELIVERY DEVICE FOR DELIVERING A LIQUID

Abstract

A delivery device for delivering a liquid may include a housing, a bearing, a shaft seal, a hollow space, and a collection space. A shaft may be arranged in the housing. The shaft may be non-rotatably connected to a delivery mechanism arranged outside the housing. The bearing may be arranged in the housing and may rotatably mount the shaft. The shaft seal may be arranged axially between the bearing and the delivery mechanism and may seal the housing. The shaft seal may be arranged radially outside the shaft. The hollow space may be formed axially between the bearing and the shaft seal. The collection space may be arranged radially on a side of the hollow space facing away from the shaft. The collection space may be fluidically connected to the hollow space via a drain opening. The hollow space may expand radially, axially between the bearing and the shaft seal.

Claims

1. A delivery device for delivering a liquid, comprising: a housing in which a shaft is arranged the shaft, during operation, rotating about an axial rotation axis; the shaft non-rotatably connected to a delivery mechanism arranged outside the housing such that the delivery mechanism delivers the liquid during operation; a bearing arranged in the housing and rotatably mounting the shaft about the rotation axis; a shaft seal arranged axially between the bearing and the delivery mechanism for sealing the housing against entry of liquid, the shaft seal arranged radially outside the shaft; a hollow space formed axially between the bearing and the shaft seal; a collection space arranged radially on a side of the hollow space facing away from the shaft, the collection space fluidically connected to the hollow space via a drain opening; and wherein the hollow space expands radially, axially between the bearing and the shaft seal.

2. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow space expands radially, axially towards the shaft seal.

3. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow space expands radially towards the drain opening.

4. The delivery device according to claim 3, wherein: the housing includes a projection projecting radially to an inside and axially positioning the bearing; and the hollow space expands radially from the projection to the drain opening.

5. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the drain opening is arranged at a radially lowermost point of the hollow space.

6. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein: a ventilation opening is disposed spaced apart from the drain opening in a circumferential direction and connects the hollow space with an environment for ventilation; and the hollow space expands radially, radially towards the ventilation opening.

7. The delivery device according to claim 6, wherein: the housing includes a projection projecting radially to an inside and axially positioning the bearing; and the hollow space expands radially from the projection to the ventilation opening.

8. The delivery device according to claim 7, wherein the ventilation opening is arranged at a radially uppermost point of the hollow space.

9. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow space is symmetrical with respect to a plane containing the rotation axis.

10. The delivery device according to claim 9, wherein the hollow space is rotationally-symmetrical.

11. The delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a bearing seal, wherein, axially between the bearing and the shaft seal and axially adjoining the bearing, the bearing seal seals the bearing against the hollow space.

12. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein: the shaft axially projects through a shaft aperture of the housing and is non-rotatably connected to the delivery mechanism; and the shaft seal is arranged in the shaft aperture.

13. The delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft seal a sliding ring seal.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising: a flow path of a liquid extending through the motor vehicle; and a delivery device according to claim 1; wherein the delivery device is arranged in the flow path and, during operation, delivers the liquid along the flow path.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a circuit for the liquid, wherein the flow path extends through the circuit such that the liquid circulates through the circuit during operation.

16. A delivery device for delivering a liquid, comprising: a housing including: a shaft aperture configured to receive a shaft non-rotatably connected to a delivery mechanism arranged outside of the housing; a hollow space; a collection space; and a drain opening extending between and fluidically connecting the hollow space and the collection space; a bearing arranged in the housing, the bearing configured to rotatably mount the shaft within the housing; a shaft seal configured to engage the shaft, the shaft seal arranged axially between the bearing and the outside of the housing relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft aperture; wherein the hollow space is disposed (i) axially between the bearing and the shaft seal and (ii) radially between the collection space and the longitudinal axis of the shaft aperture; and wherein, as the hollow space extends axially toward the shaft seal, the hollow space expands radially outward.

17. The delivery device according to claim 16, wherein the drain opening is arranged at a lowermost point of the hollow space such that liquid is flowable through the drain opening from the hollow space to the collection space via gravity.

18. The delivery device according to claim 16, wherein the housing further includes a projection projecting radially inward toward the longitudinal axis of the shaft aperture and axially positioning the bearing; and disposed spaced apart from the drain opening.

19. The delivery device according to claim 18, wherein: the housing further includes a ventilation opening disposed spaced apart from the drain opening; and the hollow space expands radially outward as the hollow space extends axially from the projection to the drain opening and to the ventilation opening.

20. A delivery device for delivering a liquid, comprising: a housing including: a shaft aperture configured to receive a shaft non-rotatably connected to a delivery mechanism arranged outside of the housing; a hollow space; a collection space; and a drain opening extending between and fluidically connecting the hollow space and the collection space; a bearing arranged in the housing, the bearing configured to rotatably mount the shaft within the housing; a shaft seal configured to engage the shaft, the shaft seal arranged axially between the bearing and the outside of the housing relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft aperture; wherein the hollow space is disposed (i) axially between the bearing and the shaft seal and (ii) radially between the collection space and the longitudinal axis of the shaft aperture; and wherein a radial dimension of the hollow space increases as the hollow space extends axially toward the drain opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] It shows, in each case schematically

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a section through a delivery device,

[0055] FIG. 2 shows an expanded view of the portion designated II in FIG. 1,

[0056] FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified representation in the manner of a circuit diagram of a motor vehicle having a delivery device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] A delivery device 1, as is exemplarily shown in the FIGS. 1 to 3, is employed for delivering a liquid, in particular of coolant. As is shown in a simplified manner in FIG. 3, the delivery device 1 can be employed in a motor vehicle 50 in order to deliver liquid, in particular coolant, in the motor vehicle 50 along a flow path 51.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows an axial section through the delivery device 1 and FIG. 2 an expanded representation of the portion designated II in FIG. 1.

[0059] As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the delivery device 1 comprises a housing 2. The shaft 3 rotates about an axial rotation axis 100 during the operation. For this purpose, the shaft 3, in the shown exemplary embodiment, is driven by an electric motor 19, which in the shown exemplary embodiment is arranged in the housing 2. The shaft 3 is non-rotatably connected to a delivery mechanism 4 arranged outside the housing 2, so that the delivery mechanism 4 delivers the liquid during the operation. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the delivery mechanism 4 is designed as an impeller 5. In addition, the shaft 3 axially projects through an aperture 12 of the housing 2, which in the following is also referred to as the shaft aperture 12, and is non-rotatably connected to the delivery mechanism 4. In the housing 2, the delivery device 1 comprises a bearing 6 which rotatably mounts the shaft 3 about the rotation axis 100. A shaft seal 7 for sealing the housing 2 against entry of liquid is arranged axially between the bearing 6 and the delivery mechanism 4. The shaft seal 7, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed as a sliding ring seal 8, which slides on the shaft 3 during the operation. In addition, the shaft seal 7 is arranged in the shaft aperture 12. Axially between the bearing 6 and the shaft seal 7 a hollow space 9 is formed, through which the shaft 3 extends axially. On the side of the hollow space 9 radially facing away from the shaft 3, a further hollow space 10 is formed in the housing, which in the following is also referred to as collection space 10. The collection space 10 is fluidically connected to the hollow space 9 via an opening 11. During the operation of the delivery device 1, liquid can enter the hollow space 10 despite the shaft seal 7, in particular because of the design of the shaft seal 7, because of movements, because of aging processes and because of particles in the liquid. This liquid can flow into the collection space 10 via the opening 11. In the following, the opening 11 is also referred to as drain opening 11. The drain opening 11 opens into the hollow space 9 and into the collection space 10 and is formed as a bore 13 which extends radially in the shown exemplary embodiment. As is further evident from the FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow space 9 expands radially, axially between the bearing 6 and the shaft seal 7.

[0060] The directions stated here each refer to the axial rotation axis 100. Accordingly, “axially” runs parallel, in particular coaxially, to the rotation axis 100. In addition, “radially” runs transversely to the rotation axis 100. Further, the circumferential direction 101 runs surrounding the rotation axis 100.

[0061] The hollow space 9 radially expanding axially between the bearing 6 and the shaft seal 7 thus expands radially to the outside along the rotation axis 100 and thus axially. In the shown exemplary embodiment and preferably, this expansion runs continuously. Thus, compared for example with a cylindrical shape, the hollow space 9 has an expanded volume. The expanded volume of the hollow space 9 results in that liquid can be buffer-stored with an increased amount in the hollow space 9 in order to subsequently flow via the drain opening 11 into the collection space 10. Thus, it is prevented that the liquid reaches the bearing 6 and damages the bearing 6 or at least reduces the probability of such damage. Accordingly, the lifespan of the delivery device 1 is increased.

[0062] As is evident from the FIGS. 1 and 2, the delivery device 1, in the shown exemplary embodiment, comprises an opening 15 spaced apart in the circumferential direction 101 from the drain opening 10, which connects the hollow space 9 with the environment. As explained above, the drain opening 11 serves for the flowing and thus draining of the liquid out of the hollow space 9 into the collection space 10. The drain opening 11 in the hollow space 9 is arranged on a radially outermost point 14 of the hollow space 9. The point 14 in the associated application, i.e. for example in the motor vehicle 50, forms the radially lowermost point 14 of the hollow space 9. This means that the radially outermost point 14 along a Z-direction 102 of the motor vehicle 50 or in the vertical direction 103 forms the lowermost point 14 of the hollow space 9. Thus, the liquid can flow better from the hollow space 9 into the collection space 11. The opening 15 serves for discharging gases out of the hollow space 9 and thus for the ventilating and the discharging of liquid vapour, and is also referred to as ventilation opening 15 in the following. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the ventilation opening 15 is arranged radially opposite the drain opening 11 and likewise formed as a bore 13, which extends radially. Accordingly, the ventilation opening 15 is arranged at a radially uppermost point 16 of the hollow space 9.

[0063] As is evident from the FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow space 9, in the shown exemplary embodiment, expands radially, axially towards the shaft seal 7. This means that the hollow space 9 expands radially in the direction of the shaft seal 7. In addition, the hollow space 9 expands radially towards the drain opening 11. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the hollow space 9, further, expands radially towards the ventilation opening 15. Thus, the hollow space 9 is further expanded, wherein at the same time both liquid and also gas, in particular liquid vapour, can flow more easily and better out of the hollow space 9.

[0064] In the shown exemplary embodiment, the housing 2 comprises a projection 17 projecting radially to the inside, which axially positions the bearing 6 in the housing 2. The projection 17 is axially arranged between the shaft seal 7 and the bearing 6 and runs closed in the circumferential direction 101. The hollow space in the shown exemplary embodiment 9 expands radially from the projection 17 as far as to the drain opening 11 and from the projection 17 as far as to the ventilation opening 15. As is evident from the FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow space 9 is formed symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the rotation axis 100 and projecting transversely out of the drawing plane. Thus, the hollow space 9 in the portion shown in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is shaped in the manner of a bathtub. The hollow space 9 is preferably formed rotation-symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis 100 (not shown), i.e. is advantageously shaped in the manner of a straight cone. Excluded from this are the drain opening 11 and the ventilation opening 15, each of which extend locally in the circumferential direction 101.

[0065] As is evident in particular from FIG. 2, the delivery device 1, shown in the exemplary embodiment, comprises a seal 18 axially between the bearing 6 and the shaft seal 7 and axially adjoining the bearing 6, which seals the bearing 6 against the hollow space 9 and in the following is also referred to as bearing seal 18. The bearing seal 18 is arranged axially between the projection 17 and the bearing 6 and axially positioned between the bearing 6 and the projection 17. The bearing seal 18 is arranged radially outside of the shaft 3 and slides on the shaft 3 during operation. Thus, a better protection of the bearing 6 and consequently an increased lifespan of the delivery device 1 are achieved.

[0066] According to FIG. 3, the motor vehicle 50 can comprise a circuit 52 for the liquid, through which the flow path 51 leads, so that the liquid circulates through the circuit 52 during the operation. The delivery device 1 is incorporated in circuit 52 in such a manner that it delivers the liquid through the circuit 52 during the operation. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the liquid is coolant, so that the circuit 52 is a coolant circuit 52. In the shown exemplary embodiments, the circuit 52, beside the delivery device 1, comprises further components, for example a condenser 53 arranged downstream of the delivery device 1 for condensing the coolant, an expander 54 arranged downstream of the condenser 53 for expanding the coolant and an evaporator 55 arranged downstream of the expander 54 and upstream of the delivery device 1 for evaporating the coolant. An air flow 56, as indicated in FIG. 3 by a dashed arrow, can flow, fluidically separated from the coolant, through the evaporator 55 and into an interior 57 of the motor vehicle 50, in order to cool the interior 57. The circuit 52 can thus be part of an air-conditioning system 58.