Fluid pump with a strainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968874-B2
Application number	US-201514679197-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2015
Priority date	Apr 6, 2015
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A fluid pump includes a pump housing; an inlet which introduces fluid into the pump housing; an outlet which discharges the fluid from the pump housing; a pump section which pumps the fluid from the inlet to the outlet; and a strainer through which the fluid passes in order to enter the inlet. The fluid pump extends along an axis and the strainer includes a straining medium configured to allow the fluid to pass therethrough while preventing foreign matter of a predetermined size from passing therethrough. The straining medium defines a strained volume with the pump housing such that the strained volume is defined radially between the straining medium and the pump housing and such that the strained volume is in fluid communication with the inlet.

First claim

I claim:

1. A fluid delivery module comprising:
a fluid pump extending along an axis, said fluid pump comprising:
a pump housing;
an inlet which introduces fluid into said pump housing;
an outlet which discharges said fluid from said pump housing;
a pump section which pumps said fluid from said inlet to said outlet; and

a strainer through which said fluid passes in order to enter said inlet, said strainer comprising:
a straining medium configured to allow said fluid to pass therethrough while preventing foreign matter of a predetermined size from passing therethrough,
said straining medium defining a strained volume with said pump housing,
said strained volume being defined radially between said straining medium and said pump housing such that said strained volume is in fluid communication with said inlet;
a strainer sidewall made by said straining medium which extends from a strainer sidewall first end to a strainer sidewall second end such that said strainer sidewall and said strainer sidewall first end circumferentially surround said pump housing; and
a strainer end wall made by said straining medium which closes off said strainer sidewall second end.

2. A fluid delivery module as in claim 1 wherein said strainer sidewall first end is sealed to said pump housing.

3. A fluid delivery module as in claim 1 wherein said strainer further comprises a plurality of standoffs located radially between said straining medium and said pump housing which maintain radial separation between said pump housing and said straining medium.

4. A fluid delivery module as in claim 3 wherein each of said plurality of standoffs are affixed to said straining medium.

5. A fluid delivery module as in claim 3 wherein said plurality of standoffs comprises a plurality of ribs which extend axially along said strainer sidewall such that said plurality of ribs are circumferentially spaced and provide axial support to said strainer sidewall.

6. A fluid delivery module as in claim 5 wherein at least one of said plurality of ribs is stepped axially, thereby defining a rib shoulder which axially supports said pump housing.

7. A fluid delivery module as in claim 5 wherein said plurality of standoffs further comprises a plurality of nodes which are located between adjacent ones of said plurality of ribs.

8. A fluid delivery module as in claim 5 further comprising:
a fluid reservoir defining a fluid volume; and
a pump holder fixed to said fluid reservoir such that said pump holder suspends said fluid pump within said fluid volume.

9. A fluid delivery module as in claim 8 wherein at least one of said plurality of ribs includes a snap feature extending radially outward therefrom which engages a retention aperture of said pump holder, thereby retaining said strainer to said pump holder.

10. A fluid delivery module as in claim 1 wherein said inlet is in said strained volume.

11. A fluid delivery module as in claim 1 wherein said strainer further comprises:
an outer straining medium circumferentially surrounding straining medium, said outer straining medium being configured to allow said fluid to pass therethrough while preventing foreign matter of a second predetermined size from passing therethrough, said outer straining medium defining an outer strained volume with said pump housing, said outer strained volume being defined radially between said outer straining medium and said straining medium.

12. A fluid delivery module as in claim 11 wherein said second predetermined size is smaller than said predetermined size.

13. A fluid delivery module as in claim 11 wherein said strainer further comprises a plurality of standoffs located radially between said straining medium and said outer straining medium which maintain radial separation between said straining medium and said outer straining medium.

14. A fluid delivery module as in claim 13 wherein said plurality of standoffs comprises a plurality of ribs which extend axially between said straining medium and said outer straining medium.

15. A fluid delivery module as in claim 11 further comprising a means for bypassing said outer straining medium, thereby allowing said fluid to enter said outer strained volume without being strained by said outer straining medium.

16. A fluid delivery module as in claim 15 wherein said means for bypassing said outer straining medium comprises a portion of said straining medium which is not circumferentially surrounded by said outer straining medium.

17. A fluid delivery module as in claim 15 wherein said means for bypassing said outer straining medium comprises a bypass aperture which extends radially through said outer straining medium.

18. A fluid delivery module as in claim 17 wherein said means for bypassing said outer straining medium further comprises a bypass door which opens and closes based on differential pressure between said outer strained volume and a volume surrounding said outer straining medium.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Ip Ltd

Inventors

• Moreno Alejandro

Classifications

• B01D35/0276

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