Variable capacity water pump via electromagnetic control
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorWilliam Robert Duley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable flow coolant pump for an engine of a motor vehicle comprises a pump housing defining a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for providing flow of coolant through the housing. An impeller is rotationally supported in the fluid chamber between the inlet and the outlet for pumping coolant through the housing. An engine driven shaft is disposed within the housing for supporting the impeller and rotating the impeller about a longitudinal axis. An electromagnetic field generator selectively produces a magnetic field that moves the impeller axially along the shaft between a first position and a second position which selectively changes the amount of coolant flow through the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.
Claims21
A variable flow coolant pump for an engine of a motor vehicle comprising:
- a pump housing defining a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber including a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet for providing flow of coolant through the housing;
- an impeller rotationally supported in the fluid chamber between the inlet and the outlet for pumping coolant through the housing;
- an engine driven shaft disposed within the housing for supporting the impeller and rotating the impeller about a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator selectively producing a magnetic field that moves the impeller axially along the shaft between a first position and a second position for selectively changing the amount of coolant flow through the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet.
A water pump for use in a coolant system to cool an engine comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
- a drive shaft having a first end section connected to an engine driven water pump pulley and a second end section, the drive shaft rotating at a rate proportional to a given engine speed;
- an impeller disposed within the fluid chamber and coupled to the second end section of the drive shaft, the impeller pumping coolant through the housing and to the engine when rotated;
- and
- an electromagnetic field generator operatively engaged to the drive shaft, the electromagnetic field generator producing a magnetic field that moves the impeller away from the fluid inlet to selectively change the amount of coolant flow through the fluid chamber.
A method for controlling the flow rate of engine coolant through a cooling system, the method comprising:
- providing a water pump, the water pump including a housing defining a fluid chamber, the water pump including an impeller disposed within the fluid chamber and an engine driven drive shaft extending axially through the water pump for rotating the impeller at a rate proportional to a given engine speed;
- coupling an electromagnetic field generator to the water pump, the electromagnetic field generator including an annular stator having a first set of electrically interconnected conductors and a rotor having a second set of electrically interconnected conductors;
- introducing an electric current to the electromagnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field, the amount of electrical current introduced to the electromagnetic field generator being a function of the given engine speed to control the intensity and timing of the magnetic field;
- and
- introducing the magnetic field within the water pump, wherein the impeller moves toward the magnetic field to selectively change the amount of coolant flow through the water pump at the given engine speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.