Pumps – Motor driven – Including means utilizing pump fluid for augmenting cooling,...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-01-16
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Including means utilizing pump fluid for augmenting cooling,...
C417S053000, C310S054000, C277S919000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06174143
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pump motor having a rotary pump for water or other liquids and an electric motor for driving the pump, which has fluid flow path structure permitting the rotor and stator to be submerged in fluid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Water pump motors typically include a rotor assembly mounted in a rotor chamber and a stator assembly, having laminations and a winding set, operatively associated with the rotor assembly. The rotor assembly shares a bearing-supported shaft with an impeller of the pump. Water pump motors generally have some type of cooling to extend the operating capability thereof. In general, it is desirable to maintain the temperature of such devices below a predetermined limit in order to prevent deterioration of the device through thermal breakdown or distortion due to thermal expansion of elements of the device. In certain pump motors, the stator assembly and rotor assembly may be in fluid contact to cool the same, and the bearings may be in heat exchange relation with the fluid.
Water pump motors for use in todays automobiles are electronically controlled and generally have an electronic control unit electrically coupled to the winding set of the motor. The electronic control unit generates heat that may limit the operating temperature of the pump motor. Thus, there is a need to provide cooling not only of the bearings, rotor assembly and stator assembly of the device, but also of the electronic control unit thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing a brushless electric motor including a stator assembly defining an interior chamber. The stator assembly includes a stator core and windings. The windings and at least a portion of the stator core are in open communication with the interior chamber. A rotor assembly is provided in the interior chamber. An electronic control unit is coupled to the stator assembly and has an upper surface in communication with the interior chamber. A fluid flow path structure is constructed and arranged to permit fluid to pass from an inlet in the stator assembly and enter the interior chamber so that the rotor assembly, the windings, and the portion of said stator core are submerged in the fluid for cooling the rotor assembly, the windings, and the portion of the stator core. Fluid also contacts the upper surface of the electronic control unit to cool the electronic control unit. Fluid isolating structure prevents fluid from contacting an end of the windings.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of isolating an end of a winding of a motor is provided. The motor has a stator assembly including a stator core and a winding which has a winding end. A rotor assembly is mounted for rotation with respect to the stator core. An electronic control unit is coupled to the stator assembly. The winding, the rotor assembly, a surface of the electronic control unit, and at least a portion of the stator core are constructed and arranged to be submerged in fluid. The method includes:
providing gasket material between the stator assembly and the electronic control unit; and
passing the winding end through the gasket material so as to prevent fluid from contacting the winding end when the winding, the rotor assembly, the surface of the electronic control unit, and the portion of the stator core are submerged in fluid.
Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawing, all of which form a part of this specification.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3761750 (1973-09-01), Green
patent: 4513214 (1985-04-01), Dieringer
patent: 4574471 (1986-03-01), Dibbern, Jr. et al.
patent: 4773829 (1988-09-01), Vettori
patent: 5614775 (1997-03-01), Horski et al.
patent: 5697769 (1997-12-01), Kobman et al.
patent: 5774036 (1998-06-01), Hrytzak et al.
patent: 5778671 (1998-07-01), Bloomquist et al.
patent: 5904471 (1999-05-01), Woollenweber et al.
patent: 56088982 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 5071436 (1993-03-01), None
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Horski Marek
Kershaw Peter A.
Muszynski Jerzy
Evora Robert Z.
Freay Charles G.
Siemens Canada Limited
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