Combination pump assembly and method of use

Abstract

A combination pump assembly for circulation of a coolant and for providing suction includes a shaft and a coolant pump portion with a coolant pump housing that defines at least a portion of a coolant flow path. The coolant pump portion also includes a coolant pump member that is rotatably disposed within the coolant pump housing. The coolant pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to pump the coolant through the coolant flow path. Furthermore, the pump assembly includes a vacuum pump portion with a vacuum pump housing that defines at least a portion of a suction path. The vacuum pump portion also includes a vacuum pump member that is rotatably disposed within the vacuum pump housing. The vacuum pump member is operably coupled to the shaft to be driven by the shaft to provide suction through the suction path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A combination pump assembly for circulation of a coolant and for providing suction, the combination pump assembly comprising:
 a shaft that is rotatable;   a coolant pump portion with a coolant pump housing that defines at least a portion of a coolant flow path, the coolant pump portion also including a coolant pump member that is rotatably disposed within the coolant pump housing, the coolant pump member operably coupled to the shaft to be driven in rotation by the shaft to pump the coolant through the coolant flow path; and   a vacuum pump portion with a vacuum pump housing that defines at least a portion of a suction path, the vacuum pump portion also including a vacuum pump member that is rotatably disposed within the vacuum pump housing, the vacuum pump member operably coupled to the shaft to be driven in rotation by the shaft to provide suction through the suction path.   
     
     
         2 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump member includes a rotor and a plurality of vanes, the rotor operable to be rotatably driven by the shaft to radially extend and radially retract the vanes relative to the rotor to provide suction through the suction path. 
     
     
         3 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the rotor is eccentrically mounted within the vacuum pump housing, the vacuum pump housing including an interior surface, the plurality of vanes operable to radially extend and radially retract relative to the interior surface to provide suction through the suction path. 
     
     
         4 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the vacuum pump housing includes a first housing member and a second housing member that cooperate to enclose the rotor, at least one of the first housing member and the second housing member including the interior surface. 
     
     
         5 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant pump member includes a propeller that is operably mounted on the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant flow path and the suction path are fluidly disconnected from each other. 
     
     
         7 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant pump housing is operable to mount to an engine and the vacuum pump housing is operable to mount to the coolant pump housing such that the vacuum pump housing is mounted to the engine only indirectly via the coolant pump housing. 
     
     
         8 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction path includes a first vacuum inlet portion that is defined through the coolant pump housing and a second vacuum inlet portion that is defined through the vacuum pump housing, the vacuum pump member operable to suck a fluid through the first vacuum inlet portion, through the second vacuum inlet portion, and into the vacuum pump housing. 
     
     
         9 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a lubricant inlet path with a first lubricant inlet portion that is defined through the coolant pump housing and a second lubricant inlet portion that is defined through the vacuum pump housing, the vacuum pump member operable to receive a lubricant through the first lubricant inlet portion, through the second lubricant inlet portion, and into the vacuum pump housing. 
     
     
         10 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a vacuum exhaust path with a first exhaust portion that is defined through the vacuum pump housing and a second exhaust portion that is defined through the coolant pump housing, the vacuum pump member operable to pump a combination of the fluid and the lubricant out of the vacuum pump housing through the first exhaust portion and through the second exhaust portion. 
     
     
         11 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a check valve that is operably disposed within the suction path. 
     
     
         12 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the suction path is fluidly coupled to a brake booster assembly of a power brake system, the vacuum pump member operable to provide suction to the brake booster for operation of the power brake system. 
     
     
         13 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pulley that is operably connected to the shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The combination pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the coolant pump member is operable to pump the coolant through the coolant flow path to cool an engine of a vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A method of simultaneously pumping a coolant through a coolant flow path and providing suction through a suction path comprising:
 providing a shaft;   providing a coolant pump portion with a coolant pump housing that defines at least a portion of the coolant flow path, the coolant pump portion also including a coolant pump member that is rotatably disposed within the coolant pump housing, the coolant pump member operably coupled to the shaft;   providing a vacuum pump portion with a vacuum pump housing that defines at least a portion of a suction path, the vacuum pump portion also including a vacuum pump member that is rotatably disposed within the vacuum pump housing, the vacuum pump member operably coupled to the shaft; and   drivingly rotating the shaft to simultaneously rotate the coolant pump member and the vacuum pump member to simultaneously pump the coolant through the coolant flow path and provide suction through the suction path.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein drivingly rotating the shaft includes providing suction to a brake booster assembly of a power brake system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein drivingly rotating the shaft includes circulating the coolant through an engine of a vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing suction of a fluid through the suction path, which is defined partially through the coolant pump housing and partially through the vacuum pump housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a lubricant to the vacuum pump portion through a lubricant inlet path, which is defined partially through the coolant pump housing and partially through the vacuum pump housing. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising exhausting a combination of the fluid and the lubricant from the vacuum pump portion through a vacuum exhaust path, which is defined partially through the vacuum pump housing and partially through the coolant pump housing.