Electrically driven coolant pump for an internal combustion engine

Apparatus for pumping a coolant for cooling an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising:

• a centrifugal pump for pumping a coolant,
• electrical drive means for driving said pump,
• said electrical drive means including an electrically commutated d.c. motor, and electronic circuit means connected to said d.c. motor to operate the motor in accordance with signals delivered to said electronic circuit means from an external power source, and
• a cooling body operatively positioned to cool said electronic circuit means by transferring heat from said electronic circuit means to said coolant, said centrifugal pump including a pump housing and said electrical drive means including a motor having a stator with a stator housing, bolt means connecting said pump housing and said stator housing together through said cooling body,
• said cooling body being connected by said bolt means to said pump housing to be cooled by the coolant pumped by the pump, said electronic circuit means being connected by said bolt means to said cooling body in heat exchange relation therewith.