KR102825467B1 - Washer pump - Google Patents

Abstract

The washer pump of the present invention has a turbine-type impeller provided in an internal space formed by the combination of an upper casing and a lower casing, and an upper inner separation groove and an upper inner baffle formed in the upper casing, so as to reduce leakage of the fluid in an upper channel through which the fluid is pressurized and flows, while sufficiently spacing the impeller and the upper casing apart from each other, thereby reducing friction with the fluid when the impeller rotates, thereby satisfying a required discharge pressure condition, and relates to a washer pump with improved performance and efficiency in a relatively high-viscosity working fluid.

Description

Washer pump {Washer pump}

The present invention relates to a washer pump capable of supplying washer fluid to remove foreign substances attached to a windshield, rear window, headlamp, camera, sensor of an autonomous vehicle, etc. of a vehicle.

The washer pump in a car is responsible for sucking washer fluid from the washer fluid tank and spraying it through the spray nozzle.

A centrifugal pump is used in a typical automobile washer pump, and Figures 1 and 2 are an assembly perspective drawing and a front cross-sectional view showing a conventional washer pump.

As described above, a conventional washer pump may largely include a motor unit (10) and a pump unit (20). The motor unit (10) may include a stator and a rotor, and one end of the rotational axis of the rotor may be arranged on the pump unit (20) side. In addition, the pump unit (20) includes an upper case (22) and a lower case (23) in which a space is formed by coupling to accommodate an impeller (21) therein, and an impeller (24) is provided between the upper case (22) and the lower case (23), and the impeller (24) may be coupled to the rotational axis of the rotor. In addition, a suction port (23a) through which washer fluid is sucked in and a discharge port (23b) through which it is discharged may be formed in the lower case (23). Here, the impeller (24) is a centrifugal impeller in which a plurality of blades are formed to extend in the radial direction, and the plurality of blades are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. Thus, when the impeller rotates, the washer fluid can be introduced into the center of the impeller along the suction port (23a) in the direction of the rotation axis and then discharged in the radial direction.

Recently, in addition to the purpose of spraying washer fluid on the windshield and rear window of a vehicle, there is a need to spray washer fluid at a high pressure of 6 to 7 bar to remove foreign substances attached to the surfaces of various sensors and cameras in autonomous vehicles. However, the conventional washer pump as described above has a discharge pressure of about 1 bar, and thus cannot satisfy the pressure conditions required for washing sensors and cameras of autonomous vehicles, making it difficult to apply.

In addition, the performance of conventional washer pumps varies greatly depending on changes in the viscosity of the washer fluid, and performance and efficiency may be significantly reduced when the washer fluid is at low temperature.

KR 20-2011-0003846 U (2011.04.20.) "Vehicle Washer Pump"

The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washer pump capable of discharging fluid at a relatively high pressure, thereby satisfying the pressure conditions required in an autonomous vehicle.

In addition, the present invention provides a washer pump which has little change in performance depending on the viscosity of the fluid and can improve performance and efficiency when the fluid has relatively high viscosity.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the washer pump of the present invention comprises: an upper casing having an outlet port through which a fluid is discharged and an upper channel formed on an inner lower surface and communicating with the outlet port; a lower casing coupled to a lower side of the upper casing, having an inlet port through which a fluid is introduced and a lower channel formed on an upper surface and communicating with the inlet port; and an impeller which is rotatably provided and accommodated in an internal space formed by the coupling of the upper casing and the lower casing, and in which a plurality of blades are formed to extend radially outwardly from an outer peripheral surface of a disk, and in which the plurality of blades are arranged at positions corresponding to the upper channel and the lower channel; wherein the upper casing has an upper inner spacing groove formed upwardly on an inner lower surface spaced radially inwardly from the upper channel, and an upper inner baffle may be formed to protrude between the upper channel and the upper inner spacing groove.

Additionally, the upper inner bulkhead may be formed in an area corresponding to a radially outer end of the disc.

In addition, the lower casing has a lower inner spaced groove formed downward from the upper surface at a position spaced radially inwardly from the lower channel, and the lower casing has a lower inner support portion protrudingly formed between the lower channel and the lower inner spaced groove, and the impeller can be supported by contacting the lower inner support portion.

Additionally, the lower inner support portion of the lower casing can be formed in an area corresponding to the radially outer end of the disk of the impeller.

Additionally, the radial width of the lower inner support portion may be formed to be larger than the width of the upper inner bulkhead.

In addition, the impeller is formed with a communication hole penetrating both upper and lower surfaces, and the communication hole is positioned radially inward relative to the lower inner support portion of the lower casing, and the upper inner separation groove and the lower inner separation groove can be communicated with each other through the communication hole.

Additionally, the impeller may further include a side ring connecting radially outer ends of the plurality of blades.

In addition, the upper casing may have an upper outer spaced groove formed upwardly at a position spaced radially outwardly from the upper channel, and the upper casing may have an upper outer baffle formed protruding between the upper channel and the upper outer spaced groove.

Additionally, the upper outer baffle may be formed in an area corresponding to the side ring of the impeller.

Additionally, the upper outer spacing groove can be formed to include a region corresponding to the side ring and a region corresponding to a radially outer region thereof.

Additionally, the upper casing may have an upper side separation groove formed radially outwardly on the inner side corresponding to the outer surface of the side ring.

In addition, the lower casing may have a lower outer spaced groove formed downward at a position spaced radially outward from the lower channel, and the lower casing may have a lower outer baffle formed protruding between the lower channel and the lower outer spaced groove.

In addition, while the lower inner support portion of the lower casing is in contact with and supported by the lower surface of the impeller, the lower outer baffle of the lower casing can be positioned to be spaced apart from the impeller.

The washer pump of the present invention has the advantage of being able to satisfy relatively high pressure requirements.

In addition, it is possible to minimize changes in performance due to changes in the viscosity of the washer fluid, which is a working fluid, and performance can be relatively improved when the viscosity of the washer fluid is high at low temperatures.

Additionally, the efficiency of the washer pump can be improved to minimize power consumption.

Figures 1 and 2 are an assembly perspective view and a front cross-sectional view showing a conventional washer pump.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are exploded perspective views and assembled perspective views showing a washer pump according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing a part of a washer pump according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a partially enlarged view of Figure 5.

Hereinafter, the washer pump of the present invention having the configuration described above will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are exploded perspective views and assembled perspective views showing a washer pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing a part of a washer pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 5.

As described above, a washer pump according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an upper casing (100), a lower casing (200), and an impeller (300), and a portion including the upper casing (100), the lower casing (200), and the impeller (300) may be a pump portion (1000). In addition, a washer pump according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a motor portion (2000).

An outlet port (110) penetrating both upper and lower surfaces may be formed in the upper casing (100), an inlet port (210) penetrating both upper and lower surfaces may be formed in the lower casing (200), and an impeller (300) may be provided in an internal receiving space formed by the combination of the upper casing (100) and the lower casing (200). In addition, the upper casing (100) and the lower casing (200) may be fixedly coupled to the lower side of the housing (500).

The upper casing (100) has an accommodation space formed concavely from the lower surface to the upper surface to accommodate the impeller, and the impeller (300) can be inserted into the accommodation space of the upper casing (100). The upper casing (100) has an upper channel (120) formed concavely from the inner lower surface to the upper surface, and the upper channel (120) can be formed along the circumferential direction in an area corresponding to the blades (320) of the impeller (300). An outlet port (110) can be connected to a discharge end through which fluid is discharged from the upper channel (120). In addition, an upper inner separation groove (130) can be formed concavely from the inner lower surface of the upper casing (100) to the upper surface spaced radially apart from the upper channel (120), and the upper inner separation groove (130) can be formed in an area corresponding to the disk (310) of the impeller (300). In addition, an upper inner baffle (125) may be formed between the upper channel (120) and the upper inner spaced groove (130) in the radial direction. The upper inner baffle (125) may protrude downward from the uppermost end of the upper inner spaced groove (130), and the lower end of the upper inner baffle (125) may be spaced apart from and adjacent to the upper surface of the disk (310) of the impeller (300). In addition, the upper inner baffle (125) may be a part forming the upper channel (120).

The lower casing (200) may be coupled to the lower side of the upper casing (100). The lower casing (200) may have a lower channel (220) formed concavely from the upper surface to the lower surface, and the lower channel (220) may be formed along the circumferential direction in an area corresponding to the blades (320) of the impeller (300). An inlet port (210) may be connected to an inlet end through which a fluid flows into the lower channel (220). In addition, a lower inner separation groove (230) may be formed concavely from the upper surface to the lower surface of the lower casing (200) on an inner side spaced radially from the lower channel (220), and the lower inner separation groove (230) may be formed in an area corresponding to the disk (310) of the impeller (300). In addition, a lower inner support (225) may be formed between the lower channel (220) and the lower inner spaced groove (230) in the radial direction. The lower inner support (225) may protrude upward from the lowest end of the lower inner spaced groove (230), and the upper end of the lower inner support (225) may be arranged to be adjacent to and in contact with the lower surface of the disk (310) of the impeller (300). In addition, the lower inner support (225) may be a part forming the lower channel (220). Here, the radial width of the lower inner support (225) may be formed to be larger than the width of the upper inner bulkhead (125). Thus, the impeller (300) may be supported on the lower inner support (225), and the impeller (300) may be brought into contact with the lower inner support (225) when the impeller (300) rotates.

The impeller (300) may include a disk (310) and a plurality of blades (320). The disk (310) may be formed in a thin disk shape compared to its diameter, and a connecting hole (311) into which a rotational shaft (610) of a rotor (600) is inserted may be formed through upper and lower surfaces of the central portion of the disk (310). The plurality of blades (320) may be formed in a shape extending radially outward from the outer surface of the disk (310). In addition, the plurality of blades (320) may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction, and a blade chamber (321), which is a space through which a fluid can be introduced and discharged by penetrating the upper and lower surfaces between adjacent blades (320), may be formed. In addition, the impeller (300) may further include a side ring (330). The side ring (330) may be formed in the form of an unbroken ring connecting the radially outer ends of the plurality of blades (320). The impeller (300) may be supported by the lower surface of the disk (310) contacting the lower inner support portion (225) of the lower casing (200), and in this state, the lower surface of the upper inner bulkhead (125) of the upper casing (100) may be spaced apart from the upper surface of the disk (310). Here, the gap between the lower surface of the upper inner bulkhead (125) and the upper surface of the disk (310) may be 10 μm to 20 μm, and the height at which the upper inner bulkhead (125) protrudes downward from the upper inner spacing groove (130) may be formed to be 0.1 mm or more. If the protruding height of the upper inner bulkhead (125) is too small compared to the above-mentioned value, the amount of fluid flowing from the upper channel (120) toward the upper inner separation groove (130) increases, which may result in a decrease in performance and efficiency. If the protruding height is larger than the above-mentioned value, the friction reduction effect may decrease, which may also result in a decrease in performance and efficiency.

The motor unit (2000) may be placed on the upper side of the pump unit (1000), and the motor unit (2000) may include a stator (700), a rotor (600), and an upper cover (800). For example, the motor unit (2000) may be a BLDC motor (Brushless Direct Current motor). In addition, the stator (700), the rotor (600), and the upper cover (800) may be coupled and fixed to the upper side of the housing (500). In addition, the lower end of the rotational shaft (610) of the rotor (600) may be coupled to the impeller (300).

Thus, when the impeller (300) is rotated by the driving of the motor unit (2000), the fluid is sucked in through the inlet port (210) of the lower casing (200), passes through the impeller (300), is pressurized, and then can be discharged through the outlet port (110) of the upper casing (100). In addition, the fluid discharged from the pump unit (1000) can flow upward along the space between the stator (700) and the rotor (600) of the motor unit (2000) and be discharged to the outside through the fluid discharge port formed in the upper cover (800).

Here, the fluid may be, for example, a washer fluid for a vehicle. The washer fluid has a higher viscosity than fuel such as gasoline and its viscosity changes significantly depending on the temperature. Therefore, in the present invention, a relatively high fluid discharge pressure can be obtained by using a turbine impeller type pump, so that the pressure requirement of the washer pump for pumping the washer fluid can be satisfied. In addition, the loss due to friction between the fluid of the impeller rotating inside the upper and lower casings where the washer fluid with a relatively high viscosity exists can be significantly reduced, so that the change in performance due to the change in the viscosity of the washer fluid, which is the working fluid, can be minimized, and the performance can be relatively improved when the viscosity of the washer fluid is high at low temperatures. In addition, the efficiency of the washer pump can be improved, so that power consumption can be minimized.

In addition, the upper casing (100) may have an upper outer spaced groove (140) formed concavely upward from the inner lower surface, and the upper outer spaced groove (140) may be formed radially spaced from the upper channel (120). The upper outer spaced groove (140) may be formed in an area corresponding to the side ring (330) of the impeller (300) and an area corresponding to the outer area of the side ring (330) in the radial direction. In addition, an upper outer baffle (135) may be formed radially between the upper channel (120) and the upper outer spaced groove (140). The upper outer baffle (135) may protrude downward from the uppermost end of the upper outer spaced groove (140), and the lower end of the upper outer baffle (135) may be arranged adjacent to and spaced from the upper surface of the side ring (330) of the impeller (300). And the upper outer bulkhead (135) can be a part forming the upper channel (120).

In addition, the upper casing (100) may have an upper side separation groove (150) formed concavely radially outwardly on the inner side, and the upper side separation groove (150) may be formed spaced apart from the outer surface of the side ring (330). The upper side separation groove (150) may be formed in an area corresponding to the side ring (330) of the impeller (300), and the upper side separation groove (150) may be formed in a form that is connected as one with the upper outer separation groove (140).

In addition, the lower casing (200) may have a lower outer spaced groove (240) formed at a position spaced radially outside the lower channel (220), and the lower outer spaced groove (240) may be formed concavely downward from the upper surface of the lower casing (200). The lower outer spaced groove (240) may be formed in an area corresponding to the side ring (330) of the impeller (300) and an area radially outside thereof. In addition, a lower outer baffle (235) may be formed radially between the lower channel (220) and the lower outer spaced groove (240). The lower outer baffle (235) may protrude upward from the lowest end of the lower outer spaced groove (240), and the upper end of the lower outer baffle (235) may be arranged spaced adjacent to the lower surface of the side ring (330) of the impeller (300). And the lower outer bulkhead (235) can be a part forming the lower channel (220).

Thus, friction with the fluid during rotation of the impeller (300) can be reduced by the upper outer separation groove (140), upper side separation groove (150), and lower outer separation groove (240).

In addition, as illustrated, the heights of the upper inner bulkhead (125) and the upper outer bulkhead (135) in the upper casing (100) can be formed to be the same, and the distance at which the upper inner bulkhead (125) is spaced from the impeller (300) can be formed to be the same as the distance at which the upper outer bulkhead (135) is spaced from the impeller (300).

In addition, the lower outer baffle (235) may be formed to be spaced apart from the side ring (330) of the impeller (300) while the disk (310) of the impeller (300) is in contact with the lower inner support (225) of the lower casing (200). That is, the lower casing (200) may be formed so that the upper end of the lower outer baffle (235) is positioned lower than the upper end of the lower inner support (225).

In addition, a communication hole (312) penetrating the upper and lower surfaces of the impeller (300) may be formed at a position radially inward from the lower inner support member (225) of the lower casing (200). Thus, the space of the upper inner separation groove (130) and the space of the lower inner separation groove (230) are communicated with each other by the communication hole (312), thereby reducing an excessive pressure difference between the upper and lower sides of the impeller (300).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the scope of application is diverse. Anyone with ordinary skill in the art can make various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims.

100 : Upper casing 110 : Outlet port
120: Upper channel 125: Upper inner bulkhead
130: Upper inner spacing groove 135: Upper outer bulkhead
140: Upper outer spacing groove 150: Upper side spacing groove
200 : Lower casing 210 : Inlet port
220: Lower channel 225: Lower inner support
230: Lower inner spacing groove 235: Lower outer bulkhead
240: Lower outer spacing groove
300 : Impeller 310 : Disc
311: Joint hole 312: Connecting hole
320 : Blade 330 : Side Ring
500 : Housing 600 : Rotor
610 : Rotating shaft 700 : Stator
800 : Top cover
1000 : Pump section
2000 : Motor Department

Claims (13)

An upper casing having an outlet port formed through which a fluid is discharged and an upper channel formed on the inner surface thereof in communication with the outlet port;
A lower casing coupled to the lower side of the upper casing, having an inlet port formed through which a fluid flows in, and having a lower channel formed on the upper surface that is connected to the inlet port; and
An impeller, which is rotatably provided and accommodated in an internal space formed by the combination of the upper casing and the lower casing, and in which a plurality of blades are formed to extend radially outward from the outer surface of the disk and the plurality of blades are arranged at positions corresponding to the upper channel and the lower channel;
The upper casing has an upper inner spaced groove formed upwardly on the inner lower surface at a position spaced radially inwardly from the upper channel, and the upper casing has an upper inner bulkhead formed protruding between the upper channel and the upper inner spaced groove.
The above impeller further comprises a side ring connecting the radially outer ends of the plurality of blades,
A washer pump, characterized in that the upper casing has an upper outer spaced groove formed upwardly at a position spaced radially outwardly from the upper channel, and the upper casing has an upper outer baffle protrudingly formed between the upper channel and the upper outer spaced groove.
In the first paragraph,
A washer pump, characterized in that the upper inner baffle is formed in an area corresponding to the radially outer end of the disk.
In the first paragraph,
A washer pump characterized in that the lower casing has a lower inner spaced groove formed downward from the upper surface at a position spaced radially inwardly from the lower channel, the lower casing has a lower inner support portion protrudingly formed between the lower channel and the lower inner spaced groove, and the impeller is supported by contacting the lower inner support portion.
In the third paragraph,
A washer pump characterized in that the lower inner support of the lower casing is formed in an area corresponding to the radial outer end of the disk of the impeller.
In paragraph 4,
A washer pump, characterized in that the radial width of the lower inner support portion is formed to be larger than the width of the upper inner bulkhead.
In the third paragraph,
The above impeller has a communication hole formed through both the upper and lower sides,
A washer pump characterized in that the above-mentioned communication hole is positioned radially inwardly relative to the lower inner support portion of the lower casing, and the upper inner separation groove and the lower inner separation groove are communicated with each other by the communication hole.
An upper casing having an outlet port formed through which a fluid is discharged and an upper channel formed on the inner surface thereof in communication with the outlet port;
A lower casing coupled to the lower side of the upper casing, having an inlet port formed through which a fluid flows in, and having a lower channel formed on the upper surface that is connected to the inlet port; and
An impeller, which is rotatably provided and accommodated in an internal space formed by the combination of the upper casing and the lower casing, and in which a plurality of blades are formed to extend radially outward from the outer surface of the disk and the plurality of blades are arranged at positions corresponding to the upper channel and the lower channel;
The upper casing has an upper inner spaced groove formed upwardly on the inner lower surface at a position spaced radially inwardly from the upper channel, and the upper casing has an upper inner bulkhead formed protruding between the upper channel and the upper inner spaced groove.
The above impeller further comprises a side ring connecting the radially outer ends of the plurality of blades,
A washer pump, characterized in that the lower casing has a lower outer spaced groove formed downward at a position spaced radially outwardly from the lower channel, and the lower casing has a lower outer baffle protruding between the lower channel and the lower outer spaced groove.
delete In the first paragraph,
A washer pump characterized in that the upper outer baffle is formed in an area corresponding to the side ring of the impeller.
In Article 9,
A washer pump characterized in that the upper outer separation groove is formed including an area corresponding to the side ring and an area corresponding to the radially outer area thereof.
In the first paragraph,
A washer pump, characterized in that the upper casing has an upper side separation groove formed radially outward on the inner side corresponding to the outer surface of the side ring.
In the first paragraph,
A washer pump, characterized in that the lower casing has a lower outer spaced groove formed downward at a position spaced radially outwardly from the lower channel, and the lower casing has a lower outer baffle protruding between the lower channel and the lower outer spaced groove.
In Article 12,
A washer pump characterized in that the lower outer baffle of the lower casing is positioned apart from the impeller while the lower inner support of the lower casing is in contact with and supported by the lower surface of the impeller.

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