Sealing mechanism for water pump

Abstract

A water pump includes a pump body and a block which are respectively provided with attachment surfaces that surround an opening defined by a vortex chamber. A first one of the attachment surfaces is provided with an annular groove. An annular sealing member is embedded in the annular groove. A sealing mechanism for the water pump includes the annular sealing member having a protruding segment protruding from a periphery of the annular sealing member such that the protruding segment extends outward from an outer periphery of a second one of the attachment surfaces; and the annular groove having a branching groove segment which branches out from the annular groove and is provided in the first one of the attachment surfaces such that the protruding segment is embedded in the branching groove segment.

1 . A sealing mechanism for a water pump comprising: 
 a pump body;    an impeller rotated by driving means; and    a block which forms a vortex chamber together with the pump body, the vortex chamber housing the impeller, wherein the pump body and the block respectively have attachment surfaces that surround an opening defined by the vortex chamber,    wherein a first one of the attachment surfaces is provided with an annular groove, and wherein the pump body and the block are combined with each other via the respective attachment surfaces in a such manner that an annular sealing member is embedded in the annular groove and disposed between the pump body and the block,    wherein the sealing mechanism comprises:    the annular sealing member including a protruding segment protruding from a periphery of the annular sealing member such that the protruding segment extends outward from an outer periphery of a second one of the attachment surfaces; and    the annular groove including a branching groove segment which branches out from the annular groove and is provided in said first one of the attachment surfaces such that the protruding segment is embedded in the branching groove segment,    wherein said first one of the attachment surfaces has a single plane and extends continuously around the annular groove and the branching groove segment in a surrounding manner.    
   
   
       2 . The sealing mechanism for the water pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving means comprises a pulley rotatably supported by a cylindrical supporting section via a shaft bearing unit, the cylindrical supporting section being provided in a portion of the pump body, the portion being proximate one side of the water pump, and 
 wherein the pulley includes a shaft which extends towards the other side of the water pump through a center hole provided in the cylindrical supporting section such that an end portion of the shaft is integrally combined with the impeller, the end portion being proximate the other side of the water pump.    
   
   
       3 . The sealing mechanism for the water pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said first one of the attachment surfaces is provided in the block and said second one of the attachment surfaces is provided in the pump body.  
   
   
       4 . The sealing mechanism for the water pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said first one of the attachment surfaces is provided in the block and said second one of the attachment surfaces is provided in the pump body.