DE102014002884B3 - Liquid pump for filling a filter system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a liquid pump (10) for conveying liquid, in particular fuel, comprising a pump chamber (12) with a lid (14) having at least one inlet (16) for sucking the liquid and at least one outlet (18) for draining the liquid contains at least one conveying element (20) rotating about an axis of rotation (R), which conveys the liquid from the inlet (16) to the outlet (18) during normal operation, and a coupling element (22) connected to a shaft (8). 24) of the conveying element (20) is connected. In this case, an external drive to the coupling element (22) can be connected for driving the conveying element (20). The invention further relates to a filter system (100) for filtering a liquid with a liquid pump (10) for filling the filter system with the liquid.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a liquid pump for conveying a liquid, in particular for filling a fuel filter system of an internal combustion engine, and a filter system with such a liquid pump.

State of the art

Pumps for filling fuel filter systems after initial assembly or after replacement of a replaceable filter element are known which can be operated manually or electrically. Usually, diaphragm or piston pumps are used for this purpose. The manual operation of such pumps requires considerable effort. Electrically powered pumps may not work reliably enough in these applications. Also, the cost aspect is not negligible compared to the entire filter system in these pumps.

From the DE 200 16 507 U1 a pump combination for pumping and conveying of fuels is known, which consists of a centrifugal pump and a vane pump, wherein the centrifugal pump can be driven by an electric motor and the vane pump is manually operated.

From the DE 10 2011 006 127 A1 is a coolant pump of an internal combustion engine, which is driven directly from the internal combustion engine, known. A magnetic brake is placed on the impeller of the pump so that throttled operation of the pump is possible.

The DE 27 34 026 A1 discloses a small turbine or pump for aquariums or similar containers with quick coupling members.

From the DE 295 18 688 U1 is a sealing drive assembly for pumps for use at low temperatures known.

Disclosure of the invention

An object of the invention is therefore to provide a liquid pump with a high degree of integration and high reliability at low cost production.

A further object of the invention is to provide a filter system in which such a liquid pump with a high degree of integration and high reliability at low cost production is easy to integrate.

The aforementioned objects are achieved according to one aspect of the invention by a fuel filter system according to claim 1 and according to another aspect of a fluid pump according to claim 3.

Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the drawings.

A fluid pump of a fuel filter system is proposed, which has a pump chamber with a lid which contains at least one inlet for sucking the liquid and at least one outlet for draining the liquid, at least one conveying element rotating about an axis of rotation, which supplies the liquid in normal operation from the inlet to the outlet and a coupling element connected to a shaft of the conveyor element. In this case, an external drive to the coupling element can be connected for driving the conveying element. The outlet of the liquid pump is connected to an inlet of the fuel filter system.

The proposed pump concept may in particular be designed as a so-called impeller pump, wherein the impeller provides an interface for an external electric drive, such as a drill or cordless screwdriver. Such a tool is available in almost every workshop and is thus available at any time as the drive of the liquid pump. Also, in case of a possible defect of the tool, this can be exchanged at any time and another used, so that the drive of the liquid pump is also designed to be very reliable and easy to maintain. This is a great advantage over the prior art, where currently for the filling of filter systems often membrane or piston pumps are used, which are operated manually or electrically as a pump unit. The proposed liquid pump is much easier to operate than the current solutions when manually operated. It also works much more reliably than the conventional solutions when a mechanical drive is used and it represents a very cost-effective solution. Especially with electric drive, which is rarely used, since it is used only for filling the filter system and not in the current Operation of the filter system, the drive can then be completely defective in case of need. With an external drive, the drive can be easily replaced in this case.

Another great advantage of the proposed liquid pump is the high degree of integration of the liquid pump itself, but also the possibility of integration of the liquid pump in one Filter housing of a filter system. Further advantages are the material and cost savings in the filter system, which goes along with it. The proposed pump concept thus represents a robust solution with great ease of use.

Advantageously, an external drive can be connected to the coupling element. Since the drive is not an integral element of the liquid pump, the selection of suitable drive can be made very flexible depending on availability and performance. Also, in case of a defect of the drive this can be easily replaced by simply another drive is connected. The liquid pump itself is then not affected. Especially with liquid pumps that are not constantly used, as in the proposed liquid pump, which is used for example only for filling a filter system and not during operation of the filter system, this can be of great advantage.

Conveniently, the external drive may for example be coupled to a drive of a hand-operated power tool, in particular a drill, a cordless screwdriver or a similar electric tool or be coupled with a hand crank. Such a power tool is available in almost every workshop and since the filling of a filter system connected to the liquid pump usually takes place in a workshop or a production facility, such a drive is also available at any time. Such a drive is also very cost-effective, since it benefits from the normal use as a drill or cordless screwdriver of large quantities, which are far greater than the usual quantities of filter systems. In this respect, it is more economical not to use a dedicated drive for the liquid pump, but to use a commercially available drive which is "available on the shelf". If there is currently no power tool available or is possibly defective, it is still possible to resort to a hand crank.

Advantageously, a flexible shaft can be coupled to the coupling element. Especially with an installation of a filter system connected to the liquid pump on a motor vehicle is often the installation situation so that the accessibility is very limited. For example, the filter system in trucks often be frame mounted behind the cab. In the case, it is of great advantage if a flexible shaft can be coupled to the coupling element, to which in turn then the actual drive, so a power tool or a hand crank can be connected.

In an advantageous embodiment, the conveying element may be formed as impeller. Such a proposed impeller pump represents a very reliable pump concept with as few parts. The liquid pump itself can be very modular, so that in case of failure easily parts can be replaced. The impeller represents the only movable part of the liquid pump and can be easily exchanged after opening the pump housing.

In a favorable embodiment, the impeller wheel may have flexible wings. In this way, a seal within the pump housing, which is important for the operation of the liquid pump, easily representable. Furthermore, such an impeller wheel with flexible blades also represents a very robust design of the conveyor element, since it reacts more flexibly to the load during start-up than a design with rigid blades.

In an advantageous embodiment, the impeller may have in the radial direction projecting from the shaft wing surfaces which carry a sealing lip at the shaft distal end. This can be a very effective conveying element for such a liquid pump pose, since the wing surfaces with full surface carry out their conveying movement. A sealing lip at the shaft distal end is a favorable way to effectively seal against the pump housing, which affects the flow rate of the liquid pump low.

Conveniently, the wing surfaces can be arranged parallel to the axis of rotation. In this way, the impeller wheel works very effectively and shows a high flow rate. At the same time, it can also be produced inexpensively, since it can be suitably displayed, for example, as an injection-molded part with a favorable demoulding possibility. According to the proposed liquid pump is used as a fuel delivery pump of a fuel filter system of an internal combustion engine. Fuel filter systems must be filled after installation in a fuel line system of a motor vehicle or after a change of the filter element with fuel. The liquid pump is required only to fill the filter system, since during normal operation of the motor vehicle, the actual fuel pump takes over the promotion of the fuel through the fuel line system of the motor vehicle. For the filling of the filter system, therefore, the proposed liquid pump is a very effective and cost-effective solution, which can also be conveniently integrated into the filter system.

The invention relates in a further aspect to a fuel filter system of a Internal combustion engine with such a proposed pump for filling the filter system with fuel, wherein the outlet of the liquid pump is connected to an inlet of the filter system. Since the liquid pump is easily integrated into the filter housing and also has no integrated drive, the proposed concept represents a very cost-effective solution of such a filter system. The proposed liquid pump is suitably attached to the filter housing or even integrated. The connections of the liquid pump can be arranged so that an outlet of the liquid pump is guided directly into the filter housing and so the filter system can be filled with it. One possibility is to direct the inlet of the filter system directly over the liquid pump, so that the liquid pump with coupled drive can fill the filter system and then the fluid flow in the bypass is simply passed through during operation of the filter system without driving the pump.

Alternatively, other types of rotary liquid pumps can be used as the liquid pump in the described filter system. Thus, the use of gear pumps, for example, with two gears, internal gear pumps or similar rotary pumps conceivable.

An advantageous embodiment provides that the filter system is designed so that the liquid pump is integrated into a filter housing of the filter system. The liquid pump can be placed on the normal filter housing, wherein the outlet of the liquid pump is fed directly into the filter housing. Alternatively, the liquid pump can also be installed in the filter housing.

Fuel filter systems must be filled with fuel after installation in a fuel line system of a motor vehicle or after a change of the filter element. The liquid pump is required only to fill the filter system, since during normal operation of the motor vehicle, the actual fuel pump takes over the promotion of the fuel through the fuel line system of the motor vehicle. For the filling of the filter system, therefore, the proposed liquid pump is a very effective and cost-effective solution, which can also be conveniently integrated into the filter system.

Brief description of the drawings

Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawing. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are shown. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine them into meaningful further combinations.

They show by way of example:

1 an exploded view of a liquid pump according to an embodiment of the invention;

2 a perspective view of a filter system with integrated liquid pump according to an embodiment of the invention; and

3 a cross section of a liquid pump, which is integrated on a filter system, according to an embodiment of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention

In the figures, the same or similar components are numbered with the same reference numerals. The figures are merely examples and are not intended to be limiting.

1 shows an exploded view of a liquid pump 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The pump 10 is on the filter housing 108 a filter system 100 placed. The pump 10 for conveying a liquid comprises a pump chamber 12 with a lid 14 that have an inlet 16 for sucking the liquid and an outlet 18 for draining the liquid, a rotating about a rotation axis R conveying element 20 which the liquid in the normal operation of the inlet 16 to the outlet 18 promotes, as well as a coupling element 22 that with a wave 24 of the conveyor element 20 connected is. It is to drive the conveyor element 20 an external drive to the coupling element 22 connected.

The pump chamber 12 is designed as a round housing, in the bottom of an inlet 16 and an outlet 18 are arranged. Both inlet 16 as well as outlet 18 are expediently provided with a check valve to represent the pump function can. The check valves are not visible in the drawing. The pump chamber 12 is with a seal 32 , For example, an O-ring seal, provided which for sealing the pump chamber 12 with the lid on 14 serves. The lid 14 is for example about three screws 30 with the pump chamber 12 screwed. In the middle of the bottom of the pump chamber 12 is a warehouse 34 attached in which the shaft 24 of the conveyor element 20 running. The conveying element 20 is as an impeller wheel 26 educated.

The second bearing is in the middle of the lid 14 as an implementation 40 appropriate. The impeller wheel 26 has a number of flexible wings 28 whose wing surfaces 36 in the radial direction of the shaft 24 of the impeller wheel 26 stand out and at the far end of the wave each have a sealing lip 38 wear. The wing surfaces 36 are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation R. At the outer end of the shaft 24 is a coupling element 22 arranged. To the coupling element 22 An external drive can be connected. The external drive is coupled to a drive of a hand-operated power tool, in particular a drill, a cordless screwdriver or a similar electric tool or can be coupled with a hand crank. The diameter of the impeller wheel is advantageous 26 larger than the inner diameter of the pump chamber 12 causing the wings 28 be bent. These may be formed of elastic, rubbery material.

Alternatively, to the coupling element 22 a flexible shaft can be coupled. Thus, in cramped space conditions, as they often occur in vehicle construction, an external drive can be coupled to the outer end of the flexible shaft and thus the liquid pump 10 are driven.

So can the liquid pump 10 as a feed pump for filling a filter system 100 , Be used in particular as a fuel delivery pump of a fuel filter system of an internal combustion engine.

In 2 is a perspective view of a filter system 100 with integrated liquid pump 10 shown. The filter system 100 for filtering a liquid with a liquid pump 10 Can be used to fill the filter system with the liquid, the outlet 18 the liquid pump 10 with an inlet 102 the filter system can be connected. Alternatively, the outlet of the liquid pump 10 as a second inlet into the filter housing 108 be guided. The liquid pump 10 in the embodiment shown is directly on the filter housing 108 put on and can be used to fill the filter system 100 be suitably provided with an external drive. If the space limits too much, can to the coupling element 22 Also, a flexible shaft can be coupled so as to drive the forces on the shaft 24 of the conveyor element 20 the liquid pump 10 to lead. inlet 102 and outlet 104 of the filter system 100 are attached laterally. The inlet 102 is in the filter housing 108 in the pump chamber 12 guided, so that the pump to fill the filter system 100 can be used.

In another embodiment, the liquid pump 10 also directly into the filter housing 108 be integrated so that only the coupling element 22 out of the filter housing 108 protrudes.

The filter system 100 can be used in the illustrated embodiment expedient as a fuel filter system of an internal combustion engine and, for example, frame-mounted in a truck.

3 shows a cross section of a liquid pump 10 working on a filter system 100 is integrated, according to an embodiment of the invention. The liquid pump 10 is on the filter housing 108 placed. At the side of the filter system 100 are the inlet 102 and the outlet 104 of the filter system 100 arranged. The pump chamber 12 is shown in section with internal impeller wheel 26 as a conveying element 20 , The impeller wheel 26 has flexible wings 28 to promote the fluid on the shaft 24 the impeller wheel 26 are attached. The wing surfaces 36 each carry a seal at the outer shaft far end 38 for sealing the impeller wheel 26 in the pump chamber 12 in order to effect the promotion of the liquid. At the outer end of the shaft 24 is the coupling element 22 arranged on which an external drive or a flexible shaft can be coupled.

Claims (8)

Fuel filter system ( 100 ) an internal combustion engine with a liquid pump ( 10 ) for filling the fuel filter system with fuel, comprising - a pump chamber ( 12 ) with a lid ( 14 ), which has at least one inlet ( 16 ) for sucking the liquid and at least one outlet ( 18 ) to drain the liquid, - at least one about an axis of rotation (R) rotating conveyor element ( 20 ), the liquid from the inlet during normal operation ( 16 ) to the outlet ( 18 ), - a coupling element ( 22 ) that with a wave ( 24 ) of the conveyor element ( 20 ) is connected, wherein for driving the conveying element ( 20 ) an external drive to the coupling element ( 22 ) and wherein the outlet ( 18 ) of the liquid pump ( 10 ) with an inlet ( 102 ) of the fuel filter system. Fuel filter system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid pump ( 10 ) in a filter housing ( 108 ) of the filter system is integrated. Liquid pump of a fuel filter system ( 100 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external drive with a drive of a hand-operated Electric power tool or can be coupled with a hand crank. Liquid pump according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element ( 22 ) A flexible shaft can be coupled. Liquid pump according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the conveying element ( 20 ) as impeller wheel ( 26 ) is trained. Liquid pump according to claim 5, wherein the impeller wheel ( 26 ) flexible wings ( 28 ) having. Liquid pump according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the impeller wheel ( 26 ) in the radial direction of the shaft ( 24 ) protruding wing surfaces ( 36 ), which at the distal end of a sealing lip ( 38 ) wear. Liquid pump according to claim 7, wherein the wing surfaces ( 36 ) are arranged parallel to the axis of rotation (R).

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