Vane pump with multiple control chambers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9534597-B2
Application number	US-201514840484-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2004
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A variable capacity vane pump for an automobile includes a pump control ring positioned within the housing to move about a pivot. A rotor is positioned within a cavity of the control ring such that a position of the control ring determines an offset between a center of the cavity and an axis of rotation of the rotor. A first control chamber is provided between the pump housing and a first outer surface of the control ring. The first outer surface is positioned on an opposite side of the control ring as the working fluid chambers within the cavity. A second control chamber is provided between the pump housing and a second outer surface of the control ring. A return spring biases the control ring toward a position of maximum volumetric capacity against the forces created by the pressurized fluid within the first and second control chambers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A variable capacity vane pump for an automobile including a drivetrain in receipt of a fluid pressurized by the pump, the pump comprising:
a pump housing;
a pump control ring including a cavity and positioned within the housing to move about a pivot;
a vane pump rotor positioned within the cavity of the pump control ring, wherein a position of the pump control ring determines an offset between a center of the pump control ring cavity and an axis of rotation of the vane pump rotor;
vanes being driven by the rotor and engaging a surface of the pump control ring that surrounds the cavity, the vanes and the surface at least partially defining working fluid chambers;
a first control chamber between the pump housing and a first outer surface of the pump control ring, the first outer surface of the pump control ring being positioned on an opposite side of the pump control ring as the working fluid chambers, the first control chamber operable to receive pressurized fluid to create a force to move the pump control ring to reduce a volumetric capacity of the pump;
a second control chamber between the pump housing and a second outer surface of the pump control ring, the second outer surface of the pump control ring being positioned on an opposite side of the pump control ring as the working fluid chambers, the second control chamber operable to receive pressurized fluid to create a force to move the pump control ring to reduce the volumetric capacity of the pump; and
a return spring biasing the pump control ring toward a position of maximum volumetric capacity, the return spring acting against the forces created by the pressurized fluid within the first and second control chambers.

2. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 1 , wherein the drivetrain includes an engine.

3. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 1 , wherein the pivot includes a pin fixed to the housing, wherein a portion of the pump control ring includes a curved surface engaging a portion of the pin.

4. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 3 , wherein a different portion of the pin engages a curved surface of the housing.

5. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 4 , wherein the pump control ring, the pin and the housing form a seal for one of the first and second control chambers.

6. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 1 , wherein the vanes are slidably positioned within radially extending slots in the vane pump rotor.

7. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 1 , wherein the cavity of the pump control ring includes a circular cylindrical shape.

8. The variable capacity vane pump of claim 1 , wherein the pump control ring includes a curved wall comprising the surface that surrounds the cavity, the first outer surface and the second outer surface.

Assignees

• Magna Powertrain Usa Inc

Inventors

• Williamson Matthew
• Shulver David R
• Tanasuca Cezar

Classifications

• F01C20/18

  characterised by varying the volume of the working chamber (by changing the positions of inlet or outlet openings F01C20/10) · CPC title

• F04C2/3442 Primary

  the surfaces of the inner and outer member, forming the working space, being surfaces of revolution · CPC title

• F04C14/226

  by pivoting the cam around an eccentric axis · CPC title