Hydraulic gear pump power pack for a power steering system with separate flow paths for fluid noise reduction
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames Richard Robertson, Sunil Palakodati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic pump [10] for use in a power steering system includes a power steering fluid chamber [26] for receiving power steering fluid from a fluid source. The power steering fluid chamber [26] is in fluid communication with a first fluid conduit [40] and a second fluid conduit [46] each of which has different lengths. A pressure valve attenuator [52] has two ports, one in communication with the first fluid conduit [40] and one in communication with the second fluid conduit [46] for receiving power steering fluid from the power steering fluid chamber [28] such that fluid borne noise in the power steering system is minimized.
Claims20
A hydraulic pump for use in a power steering system, comprising:
- a pump housing;
- a power steering fluid inlet port formed in said pump housing and in communication with a power steering fluid reservoir;
- a power steering fluid chamber formed in said pump housing and in communication with said power steering fluid reservoir to receive said power steering fluid from said fluid inlet port;
- a first fluid conduit having a first fluid conduit inlet opening and a first fluid conduit exit opening, said first fluid conduit inlet opening being in fluid communication with said power steering fluid chamber to receive said power steering fluid therethrough;
- a second fluid conduit having a second fluid conduit opening inlet and a second fluid conduit exit opening said second fluid conduit inlet opening being in fluid communication with said power steering fluid chamber to receive power steering fluid therethrough;
- an integral pressure wave attenuator in communication with both said first fluid conduit exit opening and second fluid conduit exit opening to receive said power steering fluid therefrom;
- said second fluid conduit have a distance between said second fluid conduit inlet opening and said second fluid conduit exit opening that is longer than a distance of said first fluid conduit between said first fluid conduit inlet opening and said second fluid conduit exit opening in order to reduce the amount of fluid borne noise generated by pumping of the fluid;
- and
- a pump outlet in communication with said integral pressure wave attentuator to convey said power steering fluid from said pressure wave attenuator to a steering gear.
A power steering system for an vehicle, comprising:
- a fluid reservoir containing a supply of power steering fluid;
- a hydraulic pump, having a pump housing in communication with said fluid reservoir;
- an electric motor attached to said hydraulic pump;
- a fluid chamber formed in said hydraulic pump for receiving and housing said power steering fluid from said fluid reservoir;
- a first fluid conduit being in fluid communication with said fluid chamber, said first fluid conduit having an inlet opening, an exit opening and a predetermined length between said inlet opening and said exit opening;
- a second fluid conduit being in fluid communication with said fluid chamber, said second fluid conduit having an inlet opening, an exit opening, and a predetermined length between said inlet opening and said exit opening;
- and
- a pressure wave attenuator in communication with both said first fluid conduit and said second fluid conduit for receiving said power steering fluid from said fluid chamber to minimize any fluid borne noise is said system, said pressure wave attenuator being in communication with a steering gear for delivering said power steering fluid thereto.
A method for reducing the level of fluid borne noise in a hydraulic pump comprising:
- providing a source of hydraulic fluid;
- delivering a supply of hydraulic fluid to said pump;
- providing a pressure wave attenuator in communication with said pump;
- providing a first fluid conduit with a predetermined length that is in communication at an inlet with said supply of hydraulic fluid and at an outlet with said pressure wave attenuator;
- providing a second fluid conduit with a predetermined length that is in communication at an inlet with said supply of hydraulic fluid and at an outlet with said pressure wave attenuator, said predetermined length of said second fluid conduit being different than said predetermined length of said first fluid conduit;
- and
- equally transferring said supply of hydraulic fluid in said pump through said first fluid conduit and said second conduit and into said pressure wave attentuator such that fluid borne noise in said pump is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.