Pump-motor combination having a single common rotor shaft

Abstract

A pump-motor combination includes a motor (30) and a pump (20). The pump has a first rotor (21) and a first housing 300). The motor is an electric motor (30) having a second rotor (31), a stator (33) and a second housing (32). The first (pump) rotor (21) is at least partially coupled, and the second (motor) rotor (31) is completely coupled, to a common rotating shaft (40) in order to enable transmission of rotation of the second (motor) rotor (31) to the first (pump) rotor (21). The pump-motor combination can be installed with the gearbox (G) or transmission of a motor vehicle, to assure supply of lubricant (360) when a primary lubricant pump (350) has not been operating, for example, upon start-up. Use of the common shaft (40) minimizes frictional losses during operation and reduces the cost of manufacture, since fewer bearings are needed.

Claims

1. A pump-motor unit, comprising a motor (30); a pump (20) having a first rotor (21) and a first housing (200); said pump (20) being configured as a gerotor pump; said first housing (200) having an inlet port (205) and an outlet port (206), said inlet port (205) and said outlet port (206) being connected to said pump (20); said motor (30) being an electric motor and having a second rotor (31), a stator (33) and a second housing (32); wherein said first rotor and said second rotor (31) are rotationally coupled at a common shaft (40), so that a rotation of said second rotor (31) is transmitted via said shaft (40) to said first rotor (21); wherein said shaft (40) is rotationally mounted with a first radial bearing (222) and a second radial bearing (223), said first housing (200) has a first housing portion (224) and a second housing portion (225), said first housing portion (224) is configured to provide a housing cover (204) for said pump (20) having an radial inner surface, said first radial bearing (222) comprising said radial inner surface of the housing cover (204); and wherein said motor (30) and said pump (20) are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the shaft (40) and separated by said second housing portion (225), said second housing portion (225) in contact with said second housing (32) forming a cover for the motor (30), wherein said first radial bearing (222) and said second radial bearing (223) are arranged respectively in said first housing portion (224) and said second housing portion (225).

2. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said first rotor (21) is, at least partially, secured to the shaft (40) and the second rotor (31) is press-fitted to the shaft (40).

3. The pump-motor unit of claim 2, wherein said shaft (40) is journalled for rotation using said first radial bearing (222) and said second radial bearing (223), and said first rotor (21) is located axially between said first and second radial bearings.

4. The pump-rotor unit of claim 3, wherein at least one of said first radial bearing and said second radial bearing is formed as a plain bearing.

5. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said shaft (40) is journalled for rotation using a first radial bearing (222) and said second radial bearing (223), and said first rotor (21) is located axially between said first and second radial bearings.

6. The pump-rotor unit of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first radial bearing and said second radial bearing is formed as a plain bearing.

7. The pump-rotor unit of claim 6, wherein said first housing portion (224) serves as said first radial bearing and said second housing portion (225) serves as said second radial bearing.

8. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said first and second radial bearings (222, 223) comprise an alloy containing aluminum.

9. The pump-motor unit of claim 8, wherein said alloy is AlSi10Mg.

10. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said first rotor (21) provides radial bearing support for said shaft (40).

11. The pump-motor unit of claim 10, wherein said first housing (200) is configured to limit movement, of said first rotor (21) along a longitudinal axis of said shaft (40), in at least one of two possible directions, thereby serving for axial mounting of said shaft (40).

12. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said shaft (40) has a first shaft end (42) and a second shaft end (43) remote from said first shaft end (42), and said ends (42, 43) project axially outward of said first housing (200).

13. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein said shaft (40) comprises a steel alloy.

14. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein a pump stator (22) is formed integrally with said first housing (200).

15. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, wherein, between said first housing (200) and said second rotor (31), at least one portion of said shaft (40) is free and unsupported.

16. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, further comprising a controller which actuates the pump-motor (310) when a main oil pump (350) of an associated transmission (354) is not operating.

17. A pump-motor unit, comprising a motor (30); a pump (20) having a first rotor (21) and a first housing (200); said pump (20) being configured as a gerotor pump; a through-passage opening (226) extending completely through said first housing (200), said motor (30) being an electric motor and having a second rotor (31), a stator (33) and a second housing (32), wherein said first rotor and said second rotor (31) are rotationally coupled at a common shaft (40), so that a rotation of said second rotor (31) is transmitted via said shaft (40) to said first rotor (21), wherein said shaft (40) is rotationally mounted with a first radial bearing (222) and a second radial bearing (223), said first housing (200) has a first housing portion (224) and a second housing portion (225), said first housing portion (224) is configured to provide a housing cover (204) for said pump (20) having an radial inner surface, said first radial bearing (222) comprising said radial inner surface of the housing cover (204), wherein said shaft (40) extends through said through-passage opening (226), and wherein said through-passage opening (226) allows passing of a lubricant between said first rotor (21) and said second rotor (31) to adapt said pump-motor unit for wet-dial operation, and wherein said motor (30) and said pump (20) are spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the shaft (40) and separated by said second housing portion (225), said second housing portion (225) in contact with said second housing (32) forming a cover for the motor (30), wherein said first radial bearing (222) and said second radial hearing (223) are arranged respectively in said first housing portion (224) and said second housing portion (225).

18. The pump-motor unit of claim 17, which is arranged in an oil pan.

19. The pump-motor unit of claim 17, wherein the pump (20) is a hydraulic pump.

20. The pump-motor unit of claim 1, further comprising a through-passage opening (226) extending completely through said first housing (200); wherein said shaft (40) extends through said through-passage opening (226), and said through-passage opening (226) allows passing of a lubricant between said first rotor (21) and said second rotor (31) to adapt said pump-motor unit wet-dial operation.

Description

BRIEF FIGURE DESCRIPTION

(1) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through the pump-motor unit of the present invention, together with the electronic controls of the motor;

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pump-motor unit;

(3) FIG. 3 is a side view of the pump-motor unit of FIG. 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is a sectional view along section line IV-IV of the pump-motor unit of FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gerotor pump embodiment of the invention; and

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a transmission with a pump for transmission oil.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) A pump-motor unit of the present invention is constructed as shown in FIG. 1. The pump-motor unit 10 includes a pump 20 which, in this embodiment, is implemented as a gerotor pump.

(8) Further, the pump-motor unit 10 includes a motor 30, which is implemented in the form of an electric motor, with a control module 50.

(9) The pump-motor unit 10 is in the form of a secondary oil pump.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the pump-motor combination 10 in a perspective view.

(11) FIG. 3 shows the pump-motor combination 10 in a side view.

(12) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the pump 20 (left) and of the electric motor 30 of the pump-motor combination 10 of the invention.

(13) Pump 20 has a first rotor 21 with a first rotor part 211 and a second rotor part 212 which surrounds the first rotor part 211; the first rotor part 211 is received therein. The rotor parts 211, 212 have annular shapes. An outer circumferential surface 213 of first rotor part 211 is formed with a first plurality of teeth 214 in the form of outer toothing, and an inner circumferential surface 215 of second rotor part 212 is formed with a second plurality of teeth 216, in the form of inner toothing. During operation of the pump 20, these teeth engage with each other. The aforementioned pump rotor 21 is arranged inside a pump stator 22 which, in the embodiment shown, is formed integrally with a first housing 200 of pump 20, which thus serves as a pump chamber housing.

(14) The first housing 200 has a circular-cylindrical depression 201, defining a chamber in which the first rotor 21 is rotatably mounted and is driven for rotation by the shaft 40 of electric motor 30.

(15) Shaft 40 has a rotation axis 41. First rotor part 211 is securely connected for rotation with shaft 40; a connection in the form of a press-fit is formed between first rotor part 211 and shaft 40. Electric motor 30 is arranged opposite a facing side 202 of first housing 200. Shaft 40 is rotatably received in a reception opening 203 defined in first housing 200.

(16) In this embodiment, reception opening 203 is formed as a bore and extends axially along rotation axis 41. A first rotation axis 217 of first rotor part 211 is arranged, coaxial with rotation axis 41.

(17) Shaft 40 is shaped to extend outward of first housing 200; a first end 42 of shaft 40 and a second end 43 of shaft 40 project outward of first housing 200, in such a manner that shaft 40 extends completely through chamber 201.

(18) A second rotor 31 of electric motor 30 is, at the second end 43 of shaft 40, connected for rotation with shaft 40. Between the first rotor 21 and the second rotor 31, a housing cover 204 of first housing 200 is arranged. The electric motor 30 has a second housing 32, depicted in FIG. 1, which receives second rotor 31 and a stator 33 which surrounds second rotor 31.

(19) First rotor 21 is arranged in chamber 201; first rotor part 211 is oriented coaxial with shaft 40 on the pump-side portion of shaft 40.

(20) On a back side 220, remote from front side 202, of first housing 200 are an inlet or suction port 205 and an outlet or exhaust port 206, as shown in FIG. 2. The inlet port 205 is connected via an inlet chamber 209, formed as a part-circular recess in first housing 200, with an inlet region 210 of chamber 201, while analogously the outlet port 206 is connected via an exhaust chamber 207, formed as a part-circular recess in first housing 200, to an exhaust or expelling region 210 of chamber 201. The inlet chamber 209 is preferably arranged diametrically opposite the exhaust chamber 208.

(21) However, a differing arrangement is also possible, for example, an angular spacing of about 150 between the chambers, the spacing being measured between the centers of the chambers.

(22) Second rotor part 212, which surrounds first rotor part 211, and thus is configured as an external rotor, is rotatably mounted in cylindrical chamber 201, essentially coaxial with chamber 201.

(23) A longitudinal axis 221 of chamber 201 corresponds to second rotation axis 218, and is parallel to the first rotation axis 217 corresponding to rotation axis 41. It is further to be noted that the inner toothing of second rotor part 212 has more teeth than the outer toothing of the first rotor part 211 which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the second rotor part 212.

(24) A rotation of first rotor part 211 leads, due to the engagement between the teeth of first rotor part 211 and of second rotor part 212, to co-rotation of second rotor part 212. The partially-engaging teeth of the first plurality of teeth 214 and of the second plurality of teeth 216 are completely engaged with each other only in a particular angular range. In an exactly opposing angular range, the first plurality of teeth 214 and the second plurality of teeth 216 are spaced from each other and are not engaged with each other.

(25) The rotation of first rotor 21 leads to a so-called overtaking in the rotation direction of the second plurality of teeth 216 by the first plurality of teeth 214. During rotation, there arises, between two adjacent respective opposing teeth of the first rotor part 211 and of the second rotor part 212, a interstitial space or volume 219, having a regularly alternating size. As soon as, due to the rotation, the engagement between the respective opposing teeth of first rotor part 211 and second rotor part 212 is released, interstitial space 219 reaches a maximal size. Upon further rotation, the size of interstitial space 219 declines, starting with a partial engagement of the teeth of first rotor part 211 and second rotor part 212, and leading to full engagement between these teeth. As soon as the full engagement is formed, the interstitial space 291 ceases.

(26) During the rotation phase of the growth of interstitial space 219, this space moves past the inlet port 209 so that, via the suction channel 205, hydraulic medium is sucked into interstitial space 209. During the rotation phase of the declining volume of interstitial space 219, this space moves past the exhaust port 207, so that hydraulic medium is fed, via the exhaust port 207, to outlet connection 205 with elevated pressure.

(27) In accordance with the invention, the first rotor part 211 and the second rotor 31 are secured for rotation with the common shaft 40, in order to enable transmission of rotation of the second rotor 31 to the first rotor 21. Second rotor 31 is preferably connected by press-fitting to shaft 40, so that they rotate together.

(28) Shaft 40 is radially supported in housing 200 by means of a slide bearing. There is a first radial bearing 222 in housing cover 204 of housing 200, and a second radial bearing 223 in a second segment 225 (at back side 220) of housing 200. Thus, first rotor 21 is arranged between first radial bearing 222 and second radial bearing 223. Alternatively, radial bearings 222, 223 could be implemented as ball bearings.

(29) Axial bearing support, which limits an axial motion of shaft 40 along the rotation axis 41, is carried out with the help of first rotor 21, which is axially limited in a first housing segment 224 which, in this embodiment, is implemented as housing cover 204. Thus, first housing 200 serves for axial support and mounting of shaft 40.

(30) In order to reduce friction losses, the axial bearings 222, 223 are composed of an aluminum-containing material, preferably the alloy AlSi10Mg. The formation of shaft 40 of steel results in a favorable, particularly low-friction pairing of the components 224, 225, 40 which are in contact with each other.

(31) The pump-motor unit 10 is implemented as a so-called wet runner or wet-dial unit and is arranged in an oil pan (FIG. 6) of a transmission or gearbox (not shown in detail). It serves as an additional oil pump, or as a secondary oil pump, for the transmission, to the extent that a main oil pump (FIG. 6) is inactive. Via the inlet connection 205, during operation of the secondary oil pump, oil is sucked from the oil pan, compressed in the pump 20, and fed via the pressure outlet 206 to the transmission, which is connected, directly or indirectly, via an oil conduit with the pressure outlet 206.

(32) A control electronics unit 51 of the control apparatus 50 is connected on a pump-remote side of the pump-motor unit 10.

(33) The control apparatus has a third housing 60.

(34) The implementation as a wet-runner facilitates lubrication oil supply to the bearings 222, 223. A through-passage opening 226 (formed starting at receiving opening 203, which extends completely through first housing 200), enables in- and out-flow of the lubrication oil in pump 20; thereby, the bearings 222, 223 and the first rotor part 211 provided for axial support, can be provided with lubricant. Similarly, lubricant entering via opening 226 passes via the pump into the electric motor 30 and exits at a motor cover formed at a pump-remote end of electric motor 30, and vice versa. Preferably, the suction regions 209, 210 on the front side of the pump rotors 211 212 and the receiving opening 203 are in fluid communication via a fluid channel 227, in order to make possible, via suction regions 209, 210, a supply of oil to the receiving opening 203, and to thereby assure a better lubrication of shaft 40.

(35) FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the structure of a gerotor pump 300. The pump rotor has an inner toothed wheel 302 and an outer toothed ring 303, whose inward-pointing teeth mesh with the outward-pointing teeth of inner wheel 302. Inner wheel 302 and outer ring 303 are eccentrically mounted with respect to each other, and have differing respective numbers of teeth. Therefore, inner wheel 302 and outer ring 303 turn at different respective rotation speeds, so that, during rotation, the size of the voids or interstitial spaces between the respective teeth fluctuate between a maximum volume and a minimum volume.

(36) Pump 300 has a fluid inlet 304 and a fluid outlet 305. Fluid inlet 304 is in fluid communication (via a channel, not shown) with the facing sides of inner wheel 302 and of outer ring 303 at a region where, for a predetermined rotation direction, the void size decreases, thereby creating excess pressure, which expels the fluid to be conveyed.

(37) FIG. 6 shows a possible schematic structure of a transmission apparatus 370 with a schematically indicated housing 372 in which, at the bottom, transmission oil 360 is provided. The actual mechanical transmission gears 354 must, in operation, be lubricated by the transmission oil 360. For this purpose, a first transmission oil main pump 350 is provided, which is mechanically driven, from transmission 354, via a mechanism 352, in order to supply transmission oil 360 via a conduit 358 to the transmission 354. However, transmission oil main pump 350 only functions when transmission 354 is moving. In a stationary state of transmission 354, transmission oil main pump 350 is not active, and lubrication of transmission 354 is not assured, especially upon start-up of transmission 354. Therefore, the supplemental or auxiliary oil pump 310, driven by electric motor 30, is provided. It can, as needed, pump oil 360 via conduit 356 and non-return valve 357 into conduit 358, and thence into transmission 354. The non-return value 357 is provided to prevent flow of transmission oil from main pump 350 into supplemental pump 310. The transmission oil 360 applied to transmission 354 subsequently flows back down into the oilpan, and can be later pump back up again. Alternatively, pump 310 could naturally be installed as the main transmission oil pump 350.

(38) Those having ordinary skill in the fluid pumping art will understand that many variations and modifications are possible, within the scope of the inventive concept. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but rather is defined by the following claims.