Centrifugal Pump Comprising a Spiral Housing
The invention relates to a centrifugal pump comprising a spiral housing consisting of a first housing part and a second housing part, the latter being tubular and delimited in a region facing away from the inlet E of the inflowing medium in order to receive the rotor in its interior in a wet chamber N. A stator surrounds the second housing part and is situated in the dry chamber T in the vicinity of the exterior of the rotor (3). The tubular delimitation of the second housing part is provided with a cover, a first seal being located between the cover and the second housing part. Said seal comes into contact with the environment on at least one side facing away from the wet chamber N. The invention also relates to the use of the centrifugal pump as a coolant centrifugal pump in a motor vehicle.
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The invention relates to a centrifugal pump having a spiral housing. The invention further relates to the use of the centrifugal pump. Centrifugal pumps having spiral housings are known. DE 103 47 302 A1 describes a two-part spiral housing for a centrifugal pump, which is of optimized design from the point of view of fluid mechanics. Such centrifugal pumps are generally driven by an electric motor, the stator of the electric motor being arranged in a dry chamber and the rotor in a wet chamber. The rotor therefore turns in the wet chamber, flowing around which is the medium to be pumped. The dry chamber and the wet chamber are here divided by a separately arranged can, the disadvantage being that it is necessary to arrange sealing elements between the one part of the spiral housing and the can in order to avoid liquid or vapor from the wet chamber getting into the dry chamber. Over prolonged operating times, that is to say as the seal gradually becomes porous, or when subjected to vibrations acting on the centrifugal pump, it is often not possible to avoid larger quantities of liquid getting into the dry chamber and flooding it. This then results in more serious damage to the stator and to electronic components, which in addition to the stator are also situated in the dry chamber.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to create a centrifugal pump having a spiral housing, in which liquid from the wet chamber enclosing the rotor is entirely prevented from entering the dry chamber, and consequently flooding the dry chamber.
The object of the invention is achieved by a centrifugal pump having a spiral housing, which comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, the area of the second housing part remote from the inlet E of the inflowing medium being of tubular design and its outline delimited for internal accommodation of the rotor in the wet chamber N, a stator being arranged in the dry chamber T externally surrounding the second housing part in the area of the rotor, wherein a cover is arranged on the tubular outline of the second housing part, a first seal, which is connected to the surroundings on at least one side remote from the wet chamber N, being arranged between the cover and the second housing part. The area of the second housing part remote from the inlet E of the inflowing medium is of tubular design and therefore assumes the function of a can, the additional separate arrangement of which, however, can be completely dispensed with. The first seal is connected to the surroundings on at least one side remote from the wet chamber N. This means that at least one part of the seal is in direct contact with the surrounding air, or that if the need arises a liquid flowing out via the seal can pass directly into the surroundings. It has surprisingly emerged that in this way it is possible to entirely prevent liquid from the wet chamber N getting into the dry chamber T, and thereby to prevent flooding of the dry chamber T. The connection of the first seal to the surroundings advantageously ensures that should the first seal start to decompose after prolonged operating times, some of the liquid can be released directly into the surroundings and therefore does not get into the dry chamber T. In this way damage to the stator and damage to other electrical components in the dry chamber T can advantageously be avoided.
In a preferred development of the invention the first seal is connected to the surroundings by ducts or passages in or on the cover. This represents a relatively easy and straightforward way of connecting the first seal to the surroundings, which allows the advantageous use of various sealing elements as first seal.
In a further preferred development of the invention the stator is externally surrounded by a motor housing, and a second seal is arranged between the motor housing and the second housing part in the area of its tubular outline. This advantageously serves to prevent even slight quantities of vapor getting into the dry chamber T. This measure therefore advantageously serves to keep the dry chamber T absolutely dry. This is of advantage particularly where the flowing medium contains corrosive constituents.
In a further preferred development of the invention an O-ring seal is in each case provided as first seal and as second seal. It may be advantageous here to arrange the first seal and the second seal in the form of an O-ring directly opposite on the second housing part, although this is not absolutely essential. The first seal in the form of an O-ring is then arranged on the inside wall of the tubular outline of the second housing part. The second seal is then arranged in the form of an O-ring on the outside wall of the tubular outline of the second housing part. This measure facilitates the manufacture of the centrifugal pump.
In a further preferred development of the invention the second housing part comprises a first bearing and the cover comprises a second bearing for rotatable mounting of the rotor. The cover may in this case itself form the second bearing, or it merely serves to accommodate such a bearing. It is advantageous here that the additional arrangement of a special bearing race inside the centrifugal pump can be dispensed with.
In a further preferred development of the invention the outer area of the second housing part has an outline of curved longitudinal section perpendicular to the direction of flow of the medium flowing in from the inlet E. The precise profile of the curved outline is in this case of an engineered design to optimize the fluid mechanics. This is an especially advantageous way of minimizing the overall space required for the centrifugal pump.
The invention finally relates to the use of the centrifugal pump as a coolant centrifugal pump in a motor vehicle. Coolant centrifugal pumps in motor vehicles have to function perfectly over prolonged operating times, there being an absolute need to avoid flooding of the dry chamber T. The use of the centrifugal pump as a coolant centrifugal pump in a motor vehicle is therefore particularly advantageous.
The invention will be explained in more detail below by way of example and with reference to the drawing (
Claims
1.-7. (canceled)
8. A centrifugal pump having a spiral housing, the centrifugal pump comprising:
- a first housing part;
- a second housing part configured to mate with the first housing part, a portion of the second housing part remote from an inlet being tubular and accommodating a rotor in an internal wet chamber;
- a dry chamber externally surrounding the second housing part, the dry chamber accommodating a stator arranged in an area corresponding to the rotor;
- a motor housing externally surrounding the stator;
- a cover configured to mate with the tubular portion of the second housing part; and
- a first seal arranged between the cover and the tubular portion of the second housing part.
9. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first seal is connected to a surrounding environment by at least one of a duct and a passage in the cover.
10. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a second seal arranged between the motor housing and the tubular portion of the second housing part.
11. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first seal is an O-ring seal.
12. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second housing part comprises a first bearing and the cover comprises a second bearing, the first and second bearings are configured for rotatable mounting of the rotor.
13. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein an outer area of the second housing part has an outline of curved longitudinal section perpendicular to a direction of flow of a medium flowing in from the inlet.
14. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein the centrifugal pump is configured as a coolant centrifugal pump in a motor vehicle.
15. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first seal is connected to a surrounding environment by at least one of a duct and a passage on the cover.
16. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second seal an O-ring seal.
17. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second housing part comprises a first bearing and the cover comprises a second bearing, the first and second bearings configured for rotatable mounting of the rotor.
18. The centrifugal pump as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first seal and the second seal are arranged at opposing respective internal and external areas of the tubular portion of the second housing part.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 8, 2008
Publication Date: May 13, 2010
Applicant: Continental Automotive GmbH (Hannover)
Inventor: Rajko Colic (Bad Homburg)
Application Number: 12/529,513
International Classification: F04D 13/06 (20060101); F04D 29/42 (20060101); F04D 29/08 (20060101);