Variable output pump device

Abstract

A variable output pump device, comprising a movable component capable of displacing a liquid fluid, said movable component being driven at constant speed by a motor, a similar actuating means or a means of transmitting movement, said movable component being mounted in a chamber of a housing comprising a supply passage or orifice and an outlet passage, the output of the pump device being variable according to the temperature of the liquid fluid aspirated and delivered by said device, at least within a certain temperature range. The pump device also comprises a heat-sensitive component mounted in the supply passage or orifice or in the outlet passage, the apparent surface in a projection plane perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow of said heat-sensitive component being a function of the temperature of said fluid with which it is in direct contact.

1 . Variable output pump device, comprising a movable component capable of displacing a liquid fluid, said movable component being driven at a constant speed by a motor, a similar actuating means or a means of transmitting movement, said movable component being mounted in a chamber of a housing comprising a supply passage or orifice and an outlet passage, the output of the pump device being variable depending on the temperature of the liquid fluid aspirated and delivered by said device, at least within a certain temperature range, a pump device ( 1 ) characterised in that it also comprises a heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) mounted in the supply passage or orifice ( 6 ) or in the outlet passage ( 7 ), the apparent surface in a projection plane perpendicular to the direction of the fluid flow of said heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) being a function of the temperature of said fluid with which it is in direct contact.  
   
   
       2 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) comprises a body ( 9 ) forming an envelope or box, of which the external form changes depending on variations in the temperature of the fluid flow to which said component ( 8 ) is directly exposed, in particular the area of its apparent surface exposed to the fluid flow or obtained by projection in a plane perpendicular to the direction of said flow.  
   
   
       3 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) comprises a body ( 9 ) forming an envelope or box of which the external form is such that its apparent surface exposed to the fluid flow or obtained by projection in a plane perpendicular to the direction of said flow varies if there is a displacement of said body ( 9 ) generated by and a function of a variation in temperature of said fluid to which said component ( 8 ) is directly exposed.  
   
   
       4 . Device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) comprises a part ( 9 ), if applicable a body ( 9 ) forming an envelope or box, for example of non-regular, non-symmetrical structure or provided with excrescence(s), mounted moving round a spindle, the degree of pivoting or the position in rotation round said spindle being a function of the temperature of the fluid to which said heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) is directly exposed.  
   
   
       5 . Pump device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) is basically composed of at least two parts ( 9  and  9 ′) of different section and assembled together telescopically, said component ( 8 ) being mounted transversally in the outlet passage ( 7 ) and the telescopic structure forming it being retracted for low temperatures, with maximum obstruction of the outlet passage ( 7 ) by the part ( 9 ) of larger section, and deployed for higher temperatures, with total or partial displacement of the part ( 9 ) of greater section outside said passage ( 7 ) and exposure to the fluid flow traversing said passage ( 7 ) of the part(s) ( 9 ′) of smaller section.  
   
   
       6 . Pump device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the telescopic structure of the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) is subject to an elastic constraint loading it in its state of maximum retraction, the temperature-sensitive actuating means of the component ( 8 ) acting positively against said elastic constraint with a magnitude corresponding to the magnitude of the rise in temperature.  
   
   
       7 . Pump device according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) consists of a wax actuator comprising, on the one hand, a cylindrical box body ( 9 ) enclosing a predetermined quantity of wax forming the temperature-sensitive actuating means of which the melting temperature is substantially equal to the lower temperature of the active regulation range and, on the other hand, a spindle ( 9 ′) mounted moving in translation in said box body ( 9 ), between a position of maximum retraction and a position of maximum extension, and of which the position in translation is determined by the condition of the wax, and in that the wax actuator ( 8 ) is mounted in said outlet passage ( 7 ) of the chamber ( 4 ) of the pump device ( 1 ) with the free end ( 9 ″) of the spindle ( 9 ′) mounted fixed in a side recess ( 10 ) of the wall ( 10 ′) of said passage ( 7 ) and its box body ( 9 ) mounted sliding in a bearing ( 11 ) of the housing, said box body ( 9 ) being subject to an elastic load in the direction of the free end ( 9 ″) of the spindle ( 9 ′).  
   
   
       8 . Pump device according to  claim 7 , characterised in that it comprises a preassembled module ( 12 ) incorporating a box ( 13 ) comprising a compression spring ( 14 ) applying an elastic load to the box body ( 9 ) of the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ), or to a drive or support part ( 14 ′) integral therewith, mounted sliding and coming to a stop in the position of maximum displacement in the action direction of the spring ( 14 ) and in that said module ( 12 ) is received sealed in a suitable recess arranged in the housing ( 5 ,  5 ′) of the pump device ( 1 ).  
   
   
       9 . Pump device according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the movable component ( 2 ) consists of a finned wheel mounted on a rotating drive spindle ( 2 ′) and in that the housing is formed principally of two complementary parts ( 5  and  5 ′) assembled together and sealed in the region of a joint plane ( 5 ″), the first part ( 5 ) having a totally or at least partly discoid cavity ( 15 ) in which the supply passage ( 6 ) and the outlet passage ( 7 ) open out and the second part ( 5 ′) in the form of a cover closing said cavity ( 15 ) to delimit the chamber ( 4 ) and forming directly or indirectly a support for the rotating spindle ( 2 ′) on which is mounted projecting the finned wheel ( 2 ), the supply passage ( 6 ) opening into the chamber ( 4 ) in the direction of the rotating spindle ( 2 ′) and facing that spindle and the outlet passage ( 7 ) extending tangentially from the circular periphery of that chamber.  
   
   
       10 . Pump device according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the outlet passage ( 7 ) is formed in the first constituent part ( 5 ) of the housing and in that the preassembled module ( 12 ) is mounted sealed by its box ( 5 ) in the second constituent part ( 5 ′) forming a cover and by the end ( 9 ″) of its spindle ( 9 ′) movable in translation in a recess ( 10 ) of the wall ( 10 ′) delimiting the outlet passage ( 7 ) in the first constituent part ( 5 ).  
   
   
       11 . Pump device according to claim.  8 , characterised in that the outlet passage ( 7 ) is at least partially formed in a structural extension ( 16 ) of the second part ( 5 ′) constituting the housing, which is nested and sealed in a corresponding reception recess ( 16 ′) of the first constituent part ( 5 ), so as to delimit in part the chamber ( 4 ), and in that the preassembled module ( 12 ) is mounted sealed by its box ( 13 ) in the second constituent part ( 5 ′) and by the end ( 9 ″) of its spindle ( 9 ′) movable in translation in a recess ( 10 ) of the wall ( 10 ′) delimiting the outlet passage ( 7 ) and forming part of said structural extension ( 16 ).  
   
   
       12 . Pump device according to  claim 10 , characterised in that the internal volume of the box ( 13 ) of the preassembled module ( 12 ) is open towards the chamber ( 4 ) receiving the movable component ( 2 ) and is exposed to the fluid flow circulating through this chamber ( 4 ).  
   
   
       13 . Pump device according to  claim 9 , characterised in that an electric motor ( 3 ), of constant speed or not, is mounted in the second part ( 5 ′) forming a cover, its spindle ( 2 ′) carrying the movable component ( 2 ) mounted fixed in rotation on this spindle.  
   
   
       14 . Pump device according to  claim 1 , 
 characterised in that the heat-sensitive component ( 8 ) consists of a shape-memorising part, mounted transversally in the supply ( 6 ) or outlet ( 7 ) passage and of which the apparent surface exposed to the flow of fluid varies, by changing the orientation or form of said part, depending on the temperature of said fluid in contact with it, at least within a predetermined temperature range.