Coolant pump

Abstract

A coolant pump includes a housing having an internal axis; a bearing disposed on an outside surface of the housing; a shaft disposed along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the shaft is journaled by the bearing so as to be rotatable; an impeller disposed on the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and a seal disposed on the shaft at least partially inside of the bearing so that the bearing overlaps the seal along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the bearing has an inner diameter, the seal has an outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the bearing is greater than the outer diameter of the seal. An internal combustion engine incorporating a cooling system connected to a coolant pump in accordance with the invention is also disclosed.

1 . A coolant pump comprising:
 a housing having an internal axis;   a bearing disposed on an outside of the housing;   a shaft disposed along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the shaft is journaled by the bearing so as to be rotatable;   an impeller disposed on the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and   a seal disposed on the shaft at least partially inside of the bearing so that the bearing overlaps the seal along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the bearing has an inner diameter, the seal has an outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the bearing is greater than the outer diameter of the seal.   
   
   
       2 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is a dynamic seal. 
   
   
       3 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal is a lip seal. 
   
   
       4 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the seal prevents leakage of coolant when the impeller is in contact with coolant from a cooling system of an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       5 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the seal prevents leakage of coolant when the impeller is in contact with coolant from a cooling system of an internal combustion engine. 
   
   
       6 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises an inner ring defining said inner diameter and an outer ring disposed to rotate on the inner ring, wherein the inner ring is fixed to the housing. 
   
   
       7 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a pulley having an inner surface connected to the outer ring of the bearing so that the outer ring is rotatable with the pulley, wherein the pulley also has a central portion attached to the shaft so that when the pulley is rotated, the pulley, the outer ring of the bearing, the shaft and the impeller rotate together. 
   
   
       8 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the bearing further comprises one or more tracks of rolling elements sandwiched between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing. 
   
   
       9 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the pulley further comprises a belt engaging portion adapted to engage an actuator belt to rotate the pulley and actuate the coolant pump. 
   
   
       10 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising a support member connected to the outer ring of the bearing so that the support member is rotatable with the outer ring, wherein the support member also has a central portion attached to the shaft so that when the ring portion is rotated, the outer ring of the bearing, the support member, the shaft and the impeller rotate together. 
   
   
       11 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outer ring of the bearing defines a belt engaging portion adapted to engage an actuator belt to rotate the outer ring and actuate the coolant pump. 
   
   
       12 . A coolant pump as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the bearing further comprises one or more tracks of rolling elements sandwiched between the inner ring and the outer ring of the bearing. 
   
   
       13 . An internal combustion engine comprising a cooling system connected to a coolant pump, the coolant pump comprising:
 a housing having an internal axis;   a bearing disposed on an outside of the housing;   a shaft disposed along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the shaft is journaled by the bearing so as to be rotatable;   an impeller disposed on the shaft so as to rotate with the shaft; and   a seal disposed on the shaft at least partially inside the bearing so that the bearing overlaps the seal along the internal axis of the housing, wherein the bearing has an inner diameter and the seal has an outer diameter, and the inner diameter of the bearing is greater than the outer diameter of the seal.