Electronically commutated fluid pump including an integrated controller assembly having a sealing arrangement

An integrated controller assembly for an electronically commutated fluid pump, the assembly comprising:

• a housing including an outer face surface and an internal chamber, the outer face surface forming a perimeter that defines an opening into the chamber;
• a printed circuit board received in the chamber;
• electrical terminals connected to the printed circuit board and extending through the housing;
• a heat sink mounted against the outer face surface of the housing and covering the opening in the housing;
• an endless groove formed in the outer face surface of the housing, the endless groove surrounding the perimeter, the endless groove having an inward radial sealing surface, an opposite outward radial sealing surface, and a bottom axial sealing surface between the inward and outward radial sealing surfaces;
• a gland formed in the outer face surface and connected to the endless groove, the gland including a vent passage and a sealing surface that defines a depression in the outer face surface of the housing, the vent passage connecting the chamber in fluid communication with the depression;
• a gasket including:
• an endless body having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface;
• a pair of inner and outer radially extending wings, the inner wing extending from the inner side surface of the body and the outer wing extending from the outer side surface of the body;
• and
• a venting element protruding from the outer side surface of the body, the venting element including a lip, the lip extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface of the body;
• the gasket being received in the endless groove such that the venting element is disposed in the gland, the inner wing of the gasket engages the inward radial sealing surface of the endless groove, the outer wing of the gasket engages the outward radial sealing surface of the endless groove, and the top surface of the gasket engages the heat sink;
• wherein the venting element is movable between a closed position in which the lip of the venting element seals against the sealing surface of the gland and an open position in which the lip is spaced from the sealing surface to allow for communication of fluid from the housing chamber to outside of the housing;
• wherein the venting element is in the closed position when an external pressure outside of the housing is greater than an internal pressure in the housing chamber, and the venting element is in the open position when the internal pressure in the housing chamber is greater than the external pressure outside of the housing.

An electronically commutated fluid pump comprising:

• a main housing;
• a pumping section disposed within the main housing;
• a motor disposed within the main housing and operatively connected to the pumping section;
• and
• an integrated controller assembly mounted on the main housing, the integrated controller assembly including:
• a housing including an outer face surface and an internal chamber, the outer face surface forming a perimeter that defines an opening into the chamber;
• a printed circuit board received in the chamber;
• electrical terminals connected to the printed circuit board and extending through the housing;
• a heat sink mounted against the outer face surface of the housing and covering the opening in the housing;
• an endless groove formed in the outer face surface of the housing, the endless groove surrounding the perimeter, the endless groove having an inward radial sealing surface, an opposite outward radial sealing surface, and a bottom axial sealing surface between the inward and outward radial sealing surfaces;
• a gland formed in the outer face surface and connected to the endless groove, the gland including a vent passage and a sealing surface that defines a depression in the outer face surface of the housing, the vent passage connecting the chamber in fluid communication with the depression;
• a gasket including:
• an endless body having an inner side surface, an outer side surface, a bottom surface, and a top surface;
• a pair of inner and outer radially extending wings, the inner wing extending from the inner side surface of the body and the outer wing extending from the outer side surface of the body;
• and
• a venting element protruding from the outer side surface of the body, the venting element including a lip, the lip extending upwardly and outwardly from the bottom surface of the body;
• the gasket being received in the endless groove such that the venting element is disposed in the gland, the inner wing of the gasket engages the inward radial sealing surface of the endless groove, the outer wing of the gasket engages the outward radial sealing surface of the endless groove, and the top surface of the gasket engages the heat sink;
• wherein the venting element is movable between a closed position in which the lip of the venting element seals against the sealing surface of the gland and an open position in which the lip is spaced from the sealing surface to allow for communication of fluid from the housing chamber to outside of the housing;
• wherein the venting element is in the closed position when an external pressure outside of the housing is greater than an internal pressure in the housing chamber, and the venting element is in the open position when the internal pressure in the housing chamber is greater than the external pressure outside of the housing.