Integrated eccentric motor and pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017328362-A1
Application number	US-201615155665-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2016
Priority date	May 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 16, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pump is provided. The pump includes a fluid inlet section; a fluid outlet section; a stator axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section; a rotor axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section, the rotor and the stator defining a fluid flow space radially therebetween; a movable inlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space; and a movable outlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid flow space into the fluid outlet section. The rotor is rotatable inside of the stator by electromagnetic forces urging the rotor towards the stator. Rotation of the stator and movement of the inlet guide and the outlet guide create a pressure in a first portion of the fluid flow space that forces fluid from the fluid flow space through the fluid outlet section and create a vacuum in a second portion of the fluid flow space that pulls fluid from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space. A method of forming a pump is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pump comprising:
a fluid inlet section; a fluid outlet section; a stator axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section; a rotor axially between the fluid inlet section and the fluid outlet section, the rotor and the stator defining a fluid flow space radially therebetween; a movable inlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space; and a movable outlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid flow space into the fluid outlet section, the rotor being rotatable inside of the stator by electromagnetic forces urging the rotor towards the stator, rotation of the stator and movement of the inlet guide and the outlet guide creating a pressure in a first portion of the fluid flow space that forces fluid from the fluid flow space through the fluid outlet section and creating a vacuum in a second portion of the fluid flow space that pulls fluid from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space.

2 . The pump as recited in claim 1 wherein, during rotation of the stator, the movable inlet guide is configured to move to align the first portion of the fluid flow space with the fluid inlet section and the movable outlet guide is configured to move to align the second portion of the fluid flow space with the fluid outlet section.

3 . The pump as recited in claim 2 wherein the movable inlet guide is an inlet swash plate and the movable outlet guide is an outlet swash plate.

4 . The pump as recited in claim 2 wherein the rotor is eccentrically mounted within the stator for rotation.

5 . The pump as recited in claim 4 wherein the rotor is eccentrically fixed to the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide such that rotation of the rotor about an axis of the rotor in a first rotational direction causes the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide to rotate about the axis of the rotor in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

6 . The pump as recited in claim 5 wherein the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide are fixed together by a pin passing axially through the rotor, the pin defining the axis of the rotor.

7 . The pump as recited in claim 6 wherein, as viewed axially, the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide cover different cross-sections of the fluid flow space during operation as the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide rotate about the pin.

8 . The pump as recited in claim 7 wherein the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide each including a guide portion having a semicircular cross-section when viewed axially.

9 . The pump as recited in claim 1 wherein the stator includes at least four electrical windings configured for receiving current to generate the electromagnetic forces for urging the rotor towards the stator to rotate the rotor.

10 . The pump as recited in claim 9 further comprising a controller configured to control the flow of the current through the at least four electrical windings to rotate the rotor.

11 . The pump as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid inlet section includes an annular groove for guiding a lip of the movable inlet guide during rotation of the movable inlet guide and/or the fluid outlet section includes an annular groove for guiding a lip of the movable outlet guide during rotation of the movable outlet guide.

12 . The pump as recited in claim 1 wherein the movable inlet guide sits flush against a first radially extending axial facing surface of the stator and a first radially extending axial facing surface of the rotor and the movable outlet guide sits flush against a second radially extending axial facing surface of the stator and a second radially extending axial facing surface of the rotor.

13 . An automotive vehicle transmission comprising the pump recited in claim 1 .

14 . A method of forming a comprising:
providing a rotor radially inside of a stator; rotatably fixing a movable inlet guide to a first axial side of the rotor; rotatably fixing a movable outlet guide to second axial side of the rotor; providing a fluid inlet section upstream of the movable inlet guide; and providing a fluid outlet section downstream of the movable outlet guide, the rotor and the stator defining a fluid flow space radially therebetween, the movable inlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space, the movable outlet guide configured for guiding fluid flow from the fluid flow space into the fluid outlet section, the rotor being rotatable inside of the stator by electromagnetic forces urging the rotor towards the stator, rotation of the stator and movement of the inlet guide and the outlet guide creating a pressure in a first portion of the fluid flow space that forces fluid from the fluid flow space through the fluid outlet section and creating a vacuum in a second portion of the fluid flow space that pulls fluid from the fluid inlet section into the fluid flow space.

15 . The method as recited in claim 14 wherein, during rotation of the stator, the movable inlet guide is configured to move to align the first portion of the fluid flow space with the fluid inlet section and the movable outlet guide is configured to move to align the second portion of the fluid flow space with the fluid outlet section.

16 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the movable inlet guide is an inlet swash plate and the movable outlet guide is an outlet swash plate.

17 . The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the rotor is eccentrically mounted within the stator for rotation.

18 . The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the rotatably fixing the movable inlet guide to the first axial side of the rotor and the rotatably fixing the movable outlet guide to the second axial side of the rotor includes eccentrically fixing the rotor to the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide such that rotation of the rotor about an axis of the rotor in a first rotational direction causes the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide to rotate about the axis of the rotor in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

19 . The method as recited in claim 18 wherein the movable inlet guide and the movable outlet guide are fixed together by a pin passing axially through the rotor, the pin defining the axis of the rotor.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Hemphill Jeffrey
• George Philip

Classifications

• F04C2/103

  one member having simultaneously a rotational movement about its own axis and an orbital movement · CPC title

• F04C2/105

  Details concerning timing or distribution valves · CPC title

• F04C15/008 Primary

  Prime movers · CPC title

• F04C2/10 Primary

  of internal-axis type with the outer member having more teeth or tooth-equivalents, e.g. rollers, than the inner member · CPC title