OIL SCAVENGE PUMP, HYDRAULIC DEVICE HAVING THE SAME AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an oil scavenge pump, which includes a cap member, a piston member and a resilient member. The cap member and the piston member are connected to each other and with the resilient member therebetween. The cap member includes a cap head, a valve connected to the cap head, a resilient unit disposed between the cap head and the valve, and a first sphere disposed between the resilient unit and the valve. The piston member includes a valve stopper, a main portion, a second sphere, a rod portion, a first-seal ring and a second-seal ring. The main portion has two ends respectively connected to the valve stopper and the rod portion. The second sphere is disposed between the valve stopper and the main portion. The first-seal ring and the second-seal ring respectively surround the main portion and the rod portion.

Claims

1. An oil scavenge pump, comprising: a maim body, having a mounting slot, an oil entrance and an oil exit; a cap member comprising a cap head, a valve connected to the cap head, a resilient unit disposed between the cap head and the valve, and a first sphere disposed between the resilient unit and the valve; a piston member comprising a valve stopper, a main portion connected to the valve stopper, a second sphere disposed between the valve stopper and the main portion, a rod portion connected to the main portion, a first-seal ring mounted to surround an outer surface of the main portion, and a second-seal ring mounted to surround an outer surface of the rod portion; and a resilient member disposed between the cap member and the piston member; wherein the oil scavenge pump is characterized in that the piston member is pressed and mounted into the mounting slot in a manner of interference fit and having the piston member adjacent to the oil entrance; the resilient member is mounted into the mounting slot and having the resilient member in contact with the valve stopper of the piston member; and the cap member pressed and mounted into the mounting slot in a manner of interference fit and having the cap member, the resilient member, and the piston member assembled into the mounting slot.

2. The oil scavenge pump according to claim 1, wherein: the main portion has a first-connecting end connected to the valve stopper, and a second-connecting end connected to the rod portion; the first-connecting end has an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of the second-connecting end; the valve has an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the first-connecting end; and the rod portion has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the second-connecting end.

3. The oil scavenge pump according to claim 1, wherein the main portion has a tubular appearance and has two opposite ends respectively formed with a first-through hole and a second-through hole, and wherein the first-through hole has a diameter different from that of the second-through hole.

4. The oil scavenge pump according to claim 1, further comprising two pads respectively disposed on two sides of the first-seal ring.

5. The oil scavenge pump according to claim 1, wherein the main portion of the piston member has an oil inlet, the valve of the cap member has an oil outlet.

6. The oil scavenge pump according to claim 1, wherein the first-seal ring is an X-ring, the second-seal ring is an O-ring, the resilient member and the resilient unit are springs, the first sphere and the second sphere are steel balls.

7. A method for assembling the oil scavenge pump comprising: a step of pre-assembling a piston member by assembling a valve stopper, a main portion, a second sphere, a rod portion, a first-seal ring and a second-seal ring together to form the piston member; wherein the main portion is connected to the valve stopper, the second sphere is disposed between the valve stopper and the main portion, the rod portion is connected to the main portion, the first-seal ring is mounted to surround an outer surface of the main portion, and the second-seal ring is mounted to surround an outer surface of the rod portion; a step of pressing and mounting the piston member into a mounting slot of a maim body in a manner of interference fit and having the piston member adjacent to the oil entrance; a step of mounting the resilient member into the mounting slot and having the resilient member in contact with the valve stopper of the piston member; a step of pre-assembling the cap member by assembling a cap head, a valve, a resilient unit and a first sphere together to form the cap member; wherein the valve is connected to the cap head, a resilient unit is disposed between the cap head and the valve, and the first sphere is disposed between the resilient unit and the valve; a step of pressing and mounting the cap member into the mounting slot in a manner of interference fit and having the cap member, the resilient member and the piston member assembled into the oil scavenge pump; and a step of fastening the cap member, the resilient member, and the piston member within the mounting slot.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of pressing and mounting the cap member into the mounting slot, which further comprises a process of connecting the valve of the cap member to the main portion of the piston member, and positioning and retaining the resilient member between the cap member and the piston member.

9-10. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The structure as well as preferred modes of use, further objects, and advantages of this present disclosure will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiment(s) in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an oil scavenge pump according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the oil scavenge pump according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the oil scavenge pump mounted into a main body of a hydraulic device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for assembling the oil scavenge pump, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a hydraulic device, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0026] To fully understand the objects, features and functions of the present disclosure, herein to explain details thereof by the following embodiment(s), with the attached drawings.

[0027] The present disclosure provides an oil scavenge pump, which includes three pre-assembled components, as a cap member, a piston member and a resilient member. The hydraulic device has a main body, which is formed with a plurality of mounting slots spatially connected to each other for mounting the oil scavenge pump and other components (e.g. motor, pressure-increasing valve, pressure-reducing valve, etc.). The cap member, the piston member and the resilient member of the oil scavenge pump can be hierarchically assembled into one of the mounting slots. each of the components of the oil scavenge pump is formed with a structure corresponding to the mounting slot of the main body, such that the fully assembled oil scavenge pump can have those components thereof connected in a more stable manner, and therefore the assembling process thereof can also be simplified. According to the description above, the present disclosure also provides a method for assembling the oil scavenge pump, and a hydraulic device having the oil scavenge pump.

[0028] First referring to FIG. 1˜FIG. 3, which are respectively a perspective and an exploded view of an oil scavenge pump 40, and a fragmentary sectional view of the oil scavenge pump 40 mounted into a main body 10 of a hydraulic device. As shown in FIG. 1, the oil scavenge pump 40 has a proximately cylindrical appearance, and has a head end 410 and a rod end 430 opposite to each other.

[0029] Specifically, the oil scavenge pump 40 includes three components, as a cap member 41, a resilient member 42 and a piston member 43. The cap member 41 is positioned at the head end 410, the piston member 43 is positioned at the rod end 430, and the resilient member 42 is positioned between the cap member 41 and the piston member 43.

[0030] In more detail, as shown in FIG. 2, the cap member 41 includes a cap head 411, a resilient unit 412, a first sphere 413 and a valve 414. The cap head 411 is positioned at the head end 410, the resilient unit 412 and the first sphere 413 are positioned within the cap head 411. The valve 414 and the cap head 411 are connected to each other, such that to position and retain the resilient unit 412 and the first sphere 413 therebetween. The resilient unit 412 has an end contacting and abutting the cap head 411, and another end contacting and abutting the first sphere 413. When the first sphere 413 is in a normal state (such as shut-off or inactive but not limited thereto), the first sphere 413 is pushed by the resilient unit 412 to plug and block a valve-through hole 4141 (in detail later) of the valve 414. Moreover, the valve 414 has an inner space for containing the resilient member 42 therein.

[0031] To be specific, the cap head 411 has a proximately cylindrical appearance, which has a first-cap end 4111 sealed off and a second-cap end 4112 formed with a cap opening 4113 (FIG. 3). The resilient unit 412 and the first sphere 413 are disposed into the cap opening 4113 of the cap head 411. The valve 414 also has a proximately cylindrical appearance, and has a first-valve end 4143 and a second-valve end 4144, as shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, the valve 414 also formed with the valve-through hole 4141 extending from the first-valve end 4143 to the second-valve end 4144, wherein the valve-through hole 4141 is formed narrower at the first-valve end 4143 and wider at the second-valve end 4144, as shown in FIG. 3. The valve 414 is engaged with the cap opening 4113 of the cap head 411, such that to position and retain the resilient unit 412 and the first sphere 413 therebetween, and to assemble into the cap member 41, wherein the valve-through hole 4141 is spatially connected to the cap opening 4113.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the piston member 43 includes a valve stopper 431, a second sphere 432, a first-seal ring 433, a main portion 434, a rod portion 435 and a second-seal ring 436. The first-seal ring 433 is mounted to surround an outer surface of the main portion 434, the second sphere 432 is disposed between and contained by both of the valve stopper 431 and the main portion 434. In the other hand, the rod portion 435 is disposed at the rod end 430 of the oil scavenge pump 40, the second-seal ring 436 is mounted to surround an outer surface of the rod portion 435.

[0033] The main portion 434 has a proximately tubular appearance, and has two opposite ends as first-connecting end 4343 and second-connecting end 4344. The first-connecting end 4343 and a second-connecting end 4344 are respectively connected to the valve stopper 431 and the rod portion 435.

[0034] Specifically, the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 has an outer diameter D1 larger than an outer diameter D2 of the second-connecting end. As shown in FIG. 3, the main portion 434 is formed hollow within, wherein the first-connecting end 4343 is formed with a first-through hole 4341, the second-connecting end 4344 is also formed with a second-through hole 4346 spatially connected to the first-through hole 4341. Moreover, the first-through hole 4341 has a diameter D5 smaller than a diameter D6 of the second-through hole 4346. In this embodiment, a length of the first-through hole 4341 is not equal to that of the first-connecting end 4343, and a length of the second-through hole 4346 is also not equal to that of the second-connecting end 4344, however claim scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such configuration. Also to mention that, the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 includes an anchor structure 4345 for engaging with the valve stopper 431.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, in a normal state, the second sphere 432 plugs and blocks the first-through hole 4341 of the main portion 434. The main portion 434 is connected to an end of the valve stopper 431, and further enters the valve-through hole 4141 to engage with the valve 414. Such that, the valve stopper 431 and the resilient member 42 are positioned and retained between the valve 414 and the main portion 434, and contained within the valve-through hole 4141.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the valve stopper 431 has a dome-like appearance, however is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the valve stopper 431 includes an exterior formed with plurality of openings 4311 thereon, and an interior formed with a cavity for containing the second sphere 432. Moreover, the interior of the valve stopper 431 tightly contacts and engage with the anchor structure 4345 of the main portion 434, however the claim scope of the present disclosure is not limited to such manner of engagement therebetween. Thereby, the valve stopper 431 is fastened on the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434, also to retain the second sphere 432 between the valve stopper 431 and the main portion 434.

[0037] The rod portion 435 is connected to the second-connecting end 4344 of the main portion 434. The rod portion 435 also has a proximately cylindrical appearance, and has an outer diameter D3 smaller than the outer diameter D2 of the second-connecting end 4344 of the main portion 434 but larger than the diameter D6 of the second-through hole 4346. The first-seal ring 433 and the second-seal ring 436 are respectively mounted to surround the outer surface of the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 and the outer surface of the rod portion 435, such that to assemble into the piston member 43.

[0038] In one embodiment, the piston member 43 further includes two annular pads 4331, 4332 respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the first-seal ring 433, such that, the pads 4331, 4332 also surround the outer surface of the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434. In addition, the oil scavenge pump 40 further includes an oil inlet 4342 disposed on the second-connecting end 4344 of the main portion 434, and an oil outlet 4142 disposed on a lateral side of the first-valve end 4143 and spatially connected to the cap opening 4113 of the cap member 41, thereby to allow a hydraulic fluid (e,g. oil or other liquid fluids) flowing in and out of the oil scavenge pump 40.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3, the resilient member 42 is positioned within the valve-through hole 4141 of the valve 414. The resilient member 42 has an end abutting an inner wall of the valve 414, and another end abutting the valve stopper 431. The first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 of the piston member 43 is connected to the first-valve end 4143 of the valve 414 of the cap member 41, wherein the outer diameter D1 of the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 is equal to an inner diameter D4 of the containing space of the valve 414. Such that, when the piston member 43 and the cap member 41 are connected, the resilient member 42 is positioned between the piston member 43 and the cap member 41, to assemble into the oil scavenge pump 40.

[0040] In one embodiment, the resilient unit 412 and the resilient member 42 are restoring springs, the first sphere 413 and the second sphere 432 are steel balls with same sizes, the first-seal ring 433 is an X-ring, the second-seal ring 436 is an O-ring. However, the claim scope of the present disclosure is not limit thereto.

[0041] Also referring to FIG. 5, which is a sectional view of the hydraulic device 1, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The hydraulic device 1 includes a main body 10 formed with a plurality of mounting slots 11, 13 spatially connected to each other, an oil entrance 101 and an oil exit 102 adjacent to the mounting slots 13, wherein the mounting slot 13 is for mounting the oil scavenge pump 40 therein. Specifically, the mounting slot 13 may include multiple space areas formed with different diameters, wherein the diameters of the space areas are configured wider on an external side of the main body 10 and narrower in an internal side of the main body 10, and the diameters of the space areas is formed narrower and narrower from the external side to the internal side sequentially, and thereby an inner wall of the mounting slot 13 is formed with multiple round steps. Before the oil scavenge pump 40 is assembled into the mounting slot 13 on the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1, since the cap member 41, the resilient member 42 and the piston member 43 of the oil scavenge pump 40 are individually pre-assembled in advance, the three components 41, 42, 43 can be mounted into the mounting slot 13 sequentially then be fastened and sealed off, such that oil scavenge pump 40 is properly mounted into the mounting slot 13.

[0042] Specifically, the assembling process is first to mounting the pre-assembled piston member 43 into the mounting slot 13, with the rod portion 435 entering the mounting slot 13, wherein a radial-outmost surface (with the largest diameter D1) of the main portion 434 of the piston member 43 contacts and fits the inner wall of the mounting slot 13. Also, the first-seal ring 433 and the second-seal ring 436 are mounted into the mounting slot 13 in a manner of interference fit, such that an outer surface of the first-seal ring 433 and an outer surface of the second-seal ring 436 tightly contact and fit the inner wall of the mounting slot 13, for fastening and sealing the piston member 43. Furthermore, when the piston member 43 is mounted in, an end of the rod portion 435 enters the mounting slot 11 from the mounting slot 13 to power-transmittably connected to a drive unit 20. Thereafter, the resilient member 42 is mounted into the mounting slot 13, adjacent to the piston member 43. On next, the pre-assembled cap member 41 is mounted into the mounting slot 13 in a manner of interference fit, wherein the resilient member 42 is contained within the valve-through hole 4141 of the valve 414 of the cap member 414. At last, the three components 41, 42, 43 are pressed into the mounting slot 13 of the main body 10 and assembled as the oil scavenge pump 40, and be fastened on the main body 10 by a riveting process.

[0043] By virtue of such structure and configuration of the oil scavenge pump 40, which does not only reduce number of component for the oil scavenge pump 40, but also simplify the process of assembling the oil scavenge pump 40 into the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1, by virtue of the three pre-assembled components 41, 42, 43.

[0044] On next, referring to FIG. 4, which is a flowchart of a method for assembling the oil scavenge pump 40, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The method for assembling the oil scavenge pump 40 adapted to the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1, which includes several steps S101˜S107. The step S101 is to provide the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1, wherein the main body 10 is disposed with the mounting slot 13, the oil entrance 101 and the oil exit 102.

[0045] The step S102 is to pre-assemble the piston member 43, which includes a process of mounting the second sphere 432 into the valve stopper 431 and engage the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434 with the valve stopper 431, such that to retain the second sphere 432 between the valve stopper 431 and the main portion 434. Also, the step S102 includes a process of engaging the rod portion 435 with second-connecting end 4344 of the main portion 431 in a manner of interference fit, furthermore to mount the first-seal ring 433 and the second-seal ring 436 to respectively surround the outer surface of the main portion 434 and the outer surface of the rod portion 435.

[0046] The step S103 is to press the pre-assembled piston member 43 straight into the mounting slot 13 with the rod portion 435 entering first, in a manner of interference fit and having the main portion 434 adjacent to, meanwhile to respectively mount the first-seal ring 433 and the second-seal ring 436 on the round steps within the mounting slot 13. Such that, the outer surfaces of the first-connecting end 4343 on the main portion 434, the first-seal ring 433 and the second-seal ring 436 tightly contact, fit the inner wall of the mounting slot 13, thereby the piston member 43 is secured, positioned within the mounting slot 13.

[0047] The step S104 is to mount the resilient member 42 straightly into the mounting slot 13 of the main body 10, and have the resilient member 42 contacting the valve stopper 431 of the piston member 43.

[0048] The step S105 is to pre-assemble the cap member 41, which includes a process of mounting the resilient unit 412 and the first sphere 413 into the first-containing space of the cap head 411, and engage the first-connecting end 4143 of the valve 414 with the first-cap end 4111 of the cap head 411 in a manner of interference fit, such that to complete the assembling of the cap member 41.

[0049] The step S106 is to press the pre-assembled cap member 41 straight into the mounting slot 13 of the main body 10 with the valve 414 entering first and adjacent to the oil exit 102 of the main body 10, in a manner of interference fit. Also in step S106 to engage the valve-through hole 4141 of the valve 414 with the first-connecting end 4343 of the main portion 434, in a manner of interference fit and having the resilient member 42, the valve stopper 431 and the second sphere 432 contained between the valve 414 and the main portion 434, such that to assemble into the oil scavenge pump 40. Moreover, during the process of pressing the pre-assembled cap member 41, which also includes a process of having the valve 414 to contact and be held by one of the round steps within the mounting slot 13, thereby to position and secure the cap member 41 therein.

[0050] The step S107 is to apply a riveting process to the head end 410 (i.e. the cap head 411 of the cap member 41) of the oil scavenge pump 40, thereby to further fasten the oil scavenge pump 40 on the main body 10 and within the mounting slot 13.

[0051] As described above, the oil scavenge pump 40 is separate into three components 41, 42, 43, wherein those components 41, 42, 43 can be pre-assembled sequentially, such as to pre-assemble the cap member 41 and the piston member 43 at first, wherein the resilient member 42 is a single component formed in one piece hence no need of pre-assembling. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, in other embodiments, the resilient member may be configured to have multiple parts and hence required to pre-assemble.

[0052] Although, in this embodiment, the method is first to pre-assemble the piston member 43 (step S102), then to pre-assemble the cap member 41 (and step S105), before assembling those components 41, 42, 43 into the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1, however the present disclosure is not limited thereto, a sequence of pre-assembling the cap member 41 and the piston member 43 is configurable and alterable, it is only sufficient to complete the pre-assembling process thereof before mounting into the main body 10 of the hydraulic device 1.

[0053] Also, in one embodiment, it can be optional to individually pre-assemble all of the cap member 41, the resilient member 42 and the piston member 43, before mounting into the main body 10. As such, the process starts with mounting, inserting the piston member 43 into the mounting slot 13 with the rod portion 435 thereof entering first, and to have the outer surface of the piston member 43 tightly contacting and fitting the inner wall of the mounting slot 13. The next is to place the resilient member 41 into the mounting slot 43, and have the resilient member 41 contacting the valve stopper 431 of the piston member 43. Thereafter to mount, insert the cap member 41 into the mounting slot 13 with the valve 414 entering first, and have the outer surface of the cap member 41 tightly contacting and fitting the inner wall of the mounting slot 13.

[0054] The three components 41, 42, 43 can be connected to each other in manner of interference fit or press fit, to assemble into the oil scavenge pump 40. The three components 41, 42, 43 may be first placed into the mounting slot 13 then be assembled together by single press-fit process at once, or else to be placed into the mounting slot 13 one-by-one and be assembled step-by-step with multiple press-fit processes, the present disclosure is not limited to only one assembling manner.

[0055] Furthermore, after the oil scavenge pump 40 is mounted into the mounting slot 13 of the main body 10, the oil entrance 101 adjacent to the mounting slot 13 is fluidly connected to the oil inlet 4342 of the piston member 43, also, the oil exit 102 adjacent to the mounting slot 13 is fluidly connected to the oil outlet 4142 of the cap member 41. Such that, the hydraulic device 1 can apply a hydraulic fluid (e.g. oil but not limited thereto) and allow the hydraulic fluid to flow into the oil inlet 4342 and the second-through hole 4346 of the piston member 43 and enter the oil scavenge pump 40. As shown in FIG. 3, when the rod portion 435 of the piston member 43 is driven by the drive unit 20 to move toward the cap member 41 and create a pressure, the hydraulic fluid is forced to push the second sphere 432 out of the first-through hole 4341, and thus the hydraulic fluid flows out of the openings 4311 of the valve stopper 431. The hydraulic fluid flows out of the valve stopper 431 then push the first sphere 41 out of the valve-through hole 4141 on the valve 414, such that the hydraulic fluid flows out of the oil outlet 4142 on the cap member 41 and enters the oil exit 102 of the main body 10.

[0056] In one embodiment, the hydraulic device 1 is an anti-lock brake system (ABS) device, the main body 10 is a bottom seat, and the drive unit 20 is a motor, in the other hand, the oil scavenge pump 40 mounted into the main body 10 is power-transmittably connected to the motor 20 and driven by the motor 20, via the mounting slots 11, 13. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such structure, the oil scavenge pump 40 may be indirectly but yet power-transmittably connected to the drive unit 20.

[0057] In summary of the abovementioned embodiments, in contrary to the conventional technology, the oil scavenge pump 40, the hydraulic device 1, and the method for assembling the oil scavenge pump 40 according to the present disclosure, which have the following technical advantages.

[0058] For the conventional technology, the components of the hydraulic device are fastened and sealed off by welding, however the quality of welding is unstable and hence to also cause unstable fluid tightness of the hydraulic device, moreover, the connection by welding is vulnerable to high temperature and vibration, which can cause safety problems in an operation of the hydraulic device.

[0059] In the other hand, the hydraulic device according to the present disclosure, which has a relatively simplified structure and assembling manner, thus a riveting process is applicable to achieve a fine quality of fluid tightness, and therefore no need of welding, which also can secure the components from damage or even breaking apart by rapid vibration or high temperature generated during the operation of the hydraulic device. Furthermore, the oil scavenge pump according to the present disclosure tightly contacts and fits the inner wall of the hydraulic device, which does not only enhance the fluid tightness but also the connection between components, and hence to secure and stabilize the oil scavenge pump. Also, the method according to the present disclosure, which separates the oil scavenge pump into three components, such that to reduce the processes for mounting the oil scavenge pump into the main body, and thereby to facilitate an efficiency of the assembling process.

[0060] The above disclosure is only the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and not used for limiting the scope of the present disclosure. All equivalent variations and modifications on the basis of shapes, structures, features and spirits described in claims of the present disclosure should be included in the claims of the present disclosure.