Electric coolant pump with expansion compensating seal

An electric coolant pump system, comprising:

• a housing;
• the housing having a main body and an end cap;
• the main body having a hollow interior and an open end;
• the end cap operably connected to the main body and closing the open end of the main body;
• wherein the housing includes a rotor tube positioned within the main body;
• a rotor shaft;
• the rotor shaft operably connected to the rotor tube of the housing;
• a rotor;
• the rotor operably connected to the rotor shaft and positioned within the hollow interior;
• an impeller operably connected to the rotor;
• wherein the impeller is configured to pump coolant when rotated;
• wherein one or more components of the electric coolant pump system thermally expand and contract as the coolant is heated and cooled;
• a first expansion compensating seal;
• wherein the first expansion compensating seal is positioned between the main body of the housing and the rotor tube;
• wherein the first expansion compensating seal is configured to provide and maintain a water tight seal to prevent leaking of the coolant as the one or more components thermally expand and contract;
• wherein the rotor tube is operably connected to the main body and partitions the hollow interior into an inner chamber and an outer chamber;
• wherein the rotor is positioned within the inner chamber;
• wherein the rotor tube has a cylindrical tube shape extending from a first end to a second end;
• wherein the rotor tube has a wall extending across the first end of the rotor tube;
• wherein the wall has a cylindrical opening;
• wherein the rotor tube has a collar positioned around the cylindrical opening extending out from the wall;
• wherein the rotor shaft includes a head positioned within the collar;
• wherein the rotor shaft includes a shaft portion extending from the head, through the cylindrical opening and into the inner chamber;
• wherein the head is held within the collar of the rotor tube by the end cap.

An electric coolant pump system, comprising:

• a housing;
• the housing having a main body, a rotor tube, and an end cap;
• the main body having a hollow interior and an open end;
• wherein the end cap is operably connected to the main body and closes the open end of the main body;
• wherein the rotor tube has an elongated cylindrical shape extending between a first end and a second end;
• wherein the rotor tube is positioned in the main body and partitions the hollow interior into an inner chamber and an outer chamber;
• a rotor shaft;
• the rotor shaft operably connected to the rotor tube and extending into the inner chamber;
• a rotor;
• the rotor positioned on the rotor shaft within the inner chamber;
• an impeller operably connected to the rotor;
• wherein the impeller is configured to pump coolant when rotated;
• the impeller positioned proximate to the first end of the rotor tube;
• wherein one or more components of the electric coolant pump system thermally expand and contract as the coolant is heated and cooled;
• a first expansion compensating seal;
• the first expansion compensating seal positioned proximate to the second end of the rotor tube;
• wherein the first expansion compensating seal is configured to provide and maintain a water tight seal to prevent the coolant from leaking into the outer chamber as the one or more components thermally expand and contract,
• a second expansion compensating seal;
• wherein the second expansion compensating seal is positioned between the main body of the housing and the rotor tube;
• wherein the second expansion compensating seal includes a recessed channel formed in the rotor tube;
• wherein the second expansion compensating seal includes a seal member positioned in the recessed channel.

An electric coolant pump system, comprising:

• a housing;
• the housing having a main body, a rotor tube, and an end cap;
• the main body having a hollow interior and an open end;
• wherein the end cap is operably connected to the main body and closes the open end of the main body;
• wherein the rotor tube is positioned in the main body and partitions the hollow interior into an inner chamber and an outer chamber;
• a rotor shaft;
• the rotor shaft operably connected to the rotor tube and extending into the inner chamber;
• a rotor;
• the rotor positioned on the rotor shaft within the inner chamber;
• an impeller operably connected to the rotor;
• wherein the impeller is configured to pump coolant when rotated;
• wherein one or more components of the electric coolant pump system thermally expand and contract as the coolant is heated and cooled;
• an expansion compensating seal;
• wherein the expansion compensating seal is configured to provide and maintain a water tight seal to prevent the coolant from leaking into the outer chamber as the one or more components thermally expand and contract;
• wherein the rotor tube has a cylindrical tube shape extending from a first end to a second end;
• wherein the rotor tube has a wall extending across the first end of the rotor tube;
• wherein the wall has a cylindrical opening;
• wherein the rotor tube has a collar positioned around the cylindrical opening extending out from the wall;
• wherein the rotor shaft includes a head positioned within the collar;
• wherein the rotor shaft includes a shaft portion extending from the head, through the cylindrical opening and into the inner chamber;
• wherein the head is held within the collar of the rotor tube by the end cap.