EP3500742B1 - Closure element for closing a housing in a heat-transfer-fluid pump contained in an engine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a sealing element for a housing of a coolant pump included in a combustion engine of a vehicle, in particular in a cylinder block of said engine.

The invention also relates to a cylinder block comprising such a sealing element as well as an engine comprising this cylinder block.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising such an engine.

In the state of the art, a heat engine usually comprises a cylinder block closed by a cylinder head. For the proper functioning of the engine, these casings must be cooled. To do this, the engine comprises a cooling circuit in which a heat transfer fluid is circulated by means of a pump and which, in turn, is cooled by passing through a radiator. Such a pump is conventionally arranged in an external face of the motor, in particular on a distribution face also called an accessory face of the motor. This pump comprises in particular a pulley, which drives a vane, or turbine, adapted to circulate the fluid in the cooling circuit. The pump pulley is driven by a transmission belt, which generally drives other elements of the vehicle such as the alternator, the power steering pump, etc... (see US 2016/084259 A )

However, such an arrangement has the disadvantage of being relatively bulky and complex to implement. It induces in fact a bulk which is not adapted to the dimensions of the engine compartment of today's vehicles, in particular in a context in which in view of the dimensions of such compartments, motor vehicle manufacturers and/or engine manufacturers are seeking to achieve increasingly compact motors and nevertheless having improved performance in terms of power and/or efficiency which often involve an increase in thermal stresses at the level of these.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks associated with the state of the art.

An object of the invention is to reduce the size of the engine by making the cooling circuit more compact and simple to implement.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a sealing element for a housing of a heat transfer fluid pump included in a heat engine of a vehicle, in particular in a cylinder block of said engine, the sealing element comprising a element for guiding a circulation of the heat transfer fluid towards an inlet orifice of said pump.

• l'élément d'obturation comprend des première et deuxième parties reliées entre elles au niveau de premières faces par une troisième partie de cet élément d'obturation ;
• des première et deuxième parties de l'élément d'obturation sont centrées respectivement sur des plans médians parallèles entre eux ;
• des première et deuxième parties dudit élément d'obturation comprennent chacune au moins un élément d'étanchéité agencé sur leur paroi périphérique ;
• une deuxième partie dudit élément d'obturation comprend une ouverture définie pour recevoir une partie de la pompe pourvue de l'orifice d'entrée du fluide caloporteur ;
• une ouverture d'une deuxième partie dudit élément d'obturation comprend une paroi comportant une zone de guidage d'une partie de la pompe pourvue de l'orifice d'entrée du fluide caloporteur ;
• une première partie dudit élément d'obturation comprend au moins une zone de fixation dudit élément d'obturation audit carter-cylindres ;
• l'élément de guidage est défini sur tout ou partie d'une première face d'une première partie dudit élément d'obturation, et
• l'élément d'obturation est amovible et/ou monobloc.

In other embodiments:

• the closure element comprises first and second parts interconnected at first faces by a third part of this closure element;
• first and second parts of the closure element are respectively centered on median planes parallel to each other;
• first and second parts of said closing element each comprise at least one sealing element arranged on their peripheral wall;
• a second part of said closure element comprises an opening defined to receive a part of the pump provided with the inlet orifice for the heat transfer fluid;
• an opening of a second part of said closure element comprises a wall comprising a zone for guiding a part of the pump provided with the inlet orifice for the heat transfer fluid;
• a first part of said closure element comprises at least one area for fixing said closure element to said cylinder block;
• the guide element is defined on all or part of a first face of a first part of said closure element, and
• the closure element is removable and/or one-piece.

The invention also relates to a cylinder block comprising such a closure element.

• l'élément d'obturation est relié mécaniquement audit carter-cylindres, notamment de manière amovible, et
• l'élément d'obturation est agencé dans le logement compris dans le carter-cylindres, de sorte à séparer ledit logement en une chambre basse-pression et en une chambre haute-pression.

In other embodiments:

• the closure element is mechanically connected to said cylinder block, in particular in a removable manner, and
• the closure element is arranged in the housing included in the cylinder block, so as to separate said housing into a low-pressure chamber and into a high-pressure chamber.

The invention also relates to a heat engine comprising such a cylinder block.

The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle comprising such a heat engine.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe partielle d'un carter-cylindres comprenant un élément d'obturation agencé dans un logement d'une pompe à fluide caloporteur selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention, et
• la figure 2 représente en perspective une vue en coupe de l'élément d'obturation selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear better on reading the description of a preferred embodiment which will follow, with reference to the figures, produced by way of indicative and non-limiting example:

• there figure 1 shows a partial sectional view of a cylinder block comprising a sealing element arranged in a housing of a heat transfer fluid pump according to one embodiment of the invention, and
• there figure 2 shows in perspective a sectional view of the closure element according to the embodiment of the invention.

In the following description, identical reference numerals designate identical parts or parts having similar functions.

There figure 1 represents a part of a cylinder block 1 of a combustion engine of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, commonly called "cylinder block" and which is capable of being capped with a cylinder head. In a known manner, this cylinder block 1 comprises an internal circuit for the circulation of a heat transfer fluid otherwise called coolant, which is intended for example to cool the engine by allowing this fluid to circulate around the cylinders of the engine. The internal circuit is formed of at least one cooling chamber and comprises an inlet which is connected via an evacuation duct 21b defined in whole or in part in the cylinder block 1, to a volute outlet 17b 20 of a pump 4 to coolant. This pump 4 is capable of circulating this fluid in a cooling circuit of this engine.

This cylinder block 1 comprises a housing 3 in which the pump 4 is arranged. This housing 3 comprises an inlet 17a connected to a supply conduit 21a for coolant fluid included in the cooling circuit. This supply conduit 21a is defined in whole or in part in the cylinder block 1. The inlet 17a and the outlet 17b of this housing 3 are included in the internal walls 22a, 22b of the housing 3.

These inlets 17a and outlet 17b of this housing 3 respectively comprise axes of symmetry A2 and A3 which are substantially perpendicular to an axis of symmetry A1 of the pump 4. This axis A1 is also an axis of symmetry of a rotary device 26 of the pump 4 adapted to the circulation of the fluid in the cooling circuit and which can be a blade or else a turbine. In another embodiment, the inlet 17a of this housing 3 can be defined in the first part 7a of the shutter element 2 with an axis of symmetry A2 of this inlet 17a which coincides with the axis of symmetry A1 of this pump 4.

The cylinder block 1 comprises a closing element 2 which is arranged in the housing 3 in order to close this housing 3 in a leaktight and removable manner. figures 1 and 2 , such a closure element 2 which is preferably in one piece, is a part attached to the cylinder block 1. This closure element 2 has a cross section having a circular shape. It comprises first, second and third parts 7a, 7b, 7c. The first and second parts 7a, 7b each comprise first and second faces 8a, 9a, 8b, 9b. The first faces 8a, 9a of the first and second parts 7a, 7b of this closure element 2 are positioned in the latter one facing the other. These first and second parts 7a, 7b are interconnected at these first faces 8a, 9a by the third part 7c. The first and second parts 7a, 7b of the closure element 2 are centered respectively on median planes P1, P2 parallel to each other. These median planes P1, P2 are preferably perpendicular to the axis of symmetry A1 of the pump 4.

The third part 7c comprises orifices 30 to allow the low-pressure heat transfer fluid to pass through the third part 7c and in the direction of the turbine 26 of the pump 4.

When the shutter element 2 is arranged in the housing 3, the first and second parts 7a, 7b separate/compartment this housing 3 into two chambers 16a, 16b: a low-pressure chamber 16a and a high-pressure chamber 16b. The low-pressure chamber 16a is included between the first faces 8a, 9a of the first and second parts 7a, 7b, and is defined in the continuity of the supply conduit 21a of coolant fluid. The high-pressure chamber 16b is for its part comprised between the second face 9b of the second part 7b and a bottom wall 23 of the housing 3, and is defined in the continuity of the evacuation duct 21b of heat transfer fluid.

The first face 8a of the first part 7a of this closure element 2 comprises a guide element 5 for the heat transfer fluid which circulates in the housing 3 coming from the supply conduit 21a. The second face 8b of this first part 7a forms a cavity participating in the improvement of the grip comfort of this closure element 2 for its arrangement in the housing 3 and a reduction in the weight of this closure element 2. This second face 8b also comprises at least one fixing zone 15 making it possible to mechanically connect the closure element 2 to an external face 24 of the cylinder block 1 by screwing, clipping or even interlocking. Each attachment zone 15 is preferably included at the level of an edge 25 defining a perimeter of this second face 8b. Thus, the closure element 2 is removably fixed to the cylinder block 1. Such a configuration facilitates access to the pump 4 for carrying out maintenance and/or assembly/disassembly operations. of the latter.

The second part 7b of the closure element 2 comprises an opening 12. This opening 12 is defined to receive a part of the pump 4 provided with an inlet 6 of the heat transfer fluid. This part of the pump 4 comprises a supply inlet zone 28 of a casing 18 of the pump 4 in which the rotary device 26 is arranged. In particular, this opening 12 comprises a wall 13 comprising a guide zone 14 of the inlet zone 28 provided with this inlet orifice 6 intended to allow the pump 4 to be supplied with fluid. The inlet zone 28 of this casing 18 has a circular cross-section having a diameter adjusted to that defined by the guide zone 14 of the opening 12 in order to ensure reduced clearance to promote the passage of the heat transfer fluid through the entry zone 28, while allowing the rotary device 26 to rotate in the guide zone 14.

This envelope 18 of the pump 4 is arranged in the high-pressure chamber 16b of the housing 3. It comprises orifices 29 through which the pressurized heat transfer fluid is evacuated following its passage through the rotary device 26 of the pump 4. This heat transfer fluid under pressure is discharged into the part of the pressure chamber 16b forming the volute of the pump 4, also called the receiving chamber of the pump 4. The rotary device 26 is mounted on one end of a pump shaft 19 connected to a pump body (not shown).

The first and second parts 7a, 7b of the closure element 2 each comprise at least one sealing element 10a, 10b. These two parts 7a, 7b comprise peripheral walls 11a, 11b at the level of which the sealing elements 10a, 10b project. Indeed, the peripheral wall 11a, 11b of each first and second part 7a, 7b comprises a groove in which the sealing element 10a, 10b is arranged. This sealing element 10a, 10b is preferably an O-ring seal. When the closure element 2 is arranged in the housing 3, the sealing elements 10a 10b cooperate with the internal walls 22a, 22b of the housing 3 so as to achieve a hermetic connection. Thus the sealing elements 10a, 10b participate in sealing in the housing 3 the low-pressure and high-pressure chambers 16a, 16b. It will be noted that these internal walls 22a, 22b are defined in the housing 3 according to a staging which is necessary for the assembly of the O-rings 10a, 10b.

In this closure element 2, the guide element 5 is defined on all or part of the first face 8a so as to direct the heat transfer fluid towards the inlet orifice 6 of the pump 4 and therefore towards of the axis of the rotary device 26. This guide element 5 comprises a protrusion on the first face 8a of the first part 7a of the closure element 2. This protrusion preferably has an essentially pyramidal or conical shape. Under these conditions, the protrusion has a vertex 27 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the median plane P1 of the first part 7a and this, towards the inlet orifice 6 of the pump 4 and therefore towards the axis of the rotary device 26. This guide element 5 comprises an axis of symmetry A4 which passes through its top 27 and which coincides with the axes of symmetry A1, A5 respectively of the pump 4 and of the opening 12 of the second part 7b of the shutter element 2.

Thus, when the closure element 2 is arranged in the housing 3, the heat transfer fluid circulates in the housing in the direction of the arrows shown on the figure 1 . More precisely, the heat transfer fluid coming from the supply conduit 21a enters the low-pressure chamber 16a towards the guide element 5 in a radial direction with respect to the axes of symmetry A1, A4, A5 of the pump 4, of the guide element 5 and the opening 12 of the second part 7b. This heat transfer fluid is then directed by the guide element 5 towards the inlet 6 of the pump 4 and therefore towards the axis of the rotary device 26 in an axial direction with respect to the axes of symmetry A1, A4, A5 . By penetrating into the pump 4 and therefore into the casing 18 comprising the rotary device 26, the fluid is compressed in order to be evacuated under pressure in the pump volute 4 defined in a part of the high-pressure chamber 16b and this in a radial direction with respect to the axes of symmetry A1, A4, A5 to then be conveyed in the internal circuit which is intended for example to cool the engine by allowing a circulation of this fluid around the cylinders of the engine and this, through the evacuation duct 21b.

Claims (10)

1. Arrangement of a heat-transfer-fluid pump (4) in a housing (3) contained within a cylinder block (1) of a combustion engine of a vehicle, comprising an inlet (17a) connected to a fluid supply duct and an outlet (17b) connected to an internal cooling circuit of the engine, the inlet (17a) and the outlet (17b) being contained within internal walls (22a, 22b) of the housing (3) and closed by a closure element (2) for closing said housing (3), comprising a guide element (5) for guiding a flow of the heat-transfer fluid towards an inlet orifice (6) of said pump (4).
2. Arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the closure element comprises first and second parts (7a, 7b) connected to one another at first faces (8a, 9a) by a third part (7c) of this closure element (2).
3. Arrangement according to either one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

   - first and second parts (7a, 7b) of the closure element (2) are centred respectively on median planes (P1, P2) which are parallel to one another, and/or

   - first and second parts (7a, 7b) of said closure element (2) each comprise at least one sealing element (10a, 10b) arranged on the peripheral wall (11a, 11b) thereof.
4. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

   - a second part (7b) of said closure element (2) comprises an opening (12) defined to receive a part of the pump (4) that is provided with the inlet orifice (6) for the heat-transfer fluid, and/or

   - an opening (12) of a second part (7b) of said closure element (2) comprises a wall (13) having a region (14) for guiding a part of the pump (4) that is provided with the inlet orifice (6) for the heat-transfer fluid.
5. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that:

   - a first part (7a) of said closure element (2) comprises at least one region (15) for fastening said closure element (2) to said cylinder block (1), and/or

   - the guide element (5) is defined over all or part of a first face (8a) of a first part (7a) of said closure element (2).
6. Arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure element is detachable and/or one-piece.
7. Cylinder block (1) comprising a housing (3) for a heat-transfer-fluid pump that is closed by a closure element (2) according to any one of the preceding claims.
8. Cylinder block (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that:

   - the closure element (2) is mechanically connected to said cylinder block (1), in particular in a detachable manner, and/or

   - the closure element (2) is arranged in the housing (3) contained within the cylinder block (1) so as to separate said housing (3) into a low-pressure chamber (16a) and into a high-pressure chamber (16b).
9. Combustion engine comprising a cylinder block (1) according to either one of Claims 7 and 8.
10. Vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a combustion engine according to the preceding claim.

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