Coolant pump with heat sinking to coolant

Abstract

A vehicle coolant pump with heat protection for the internal electronics and circuit boards for operation of the coolant pump. Gap fillers positioned adjacent said electronics and circuit boards transfer heat to the coolant fluid in the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system for a vehicle engine, comprising:
 (a) a coolant pump, said coolant pump comprising a drive mechanism and a driven mechanism with said drive mechanism comprising a mechanical drive mechanism, and said driven mechanism comprising an electric motor, said electric motor positioned in a motor housing;   (b) a control system for operating said coolant pump, said control system comprising at least one temperature sensor, an ECU, and a circuit board; and   (c) a gap filler positioned in said motor housing and in contact with said circuit board;   wherein heat from said circuit board is transferred through said gap filler and said motor housing, and into a coolant fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein said coolant pump is a dual mode coolant pump. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein said electric motor is a brushless DC motor. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein said motor housing has at least one wall member which is positioned between said circuit board and the coolant fluid, and wherein said gap filler is positioned between said at least one wall member and said circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein a plurality of recesses are provided in a first side of said at least one wall member which is in contact with a coolant fluid, and wherein said gap filler is positioned on the opposite side of said first side of at least one wall member. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling system as described in  claim 5  wherein the wall thickness in bottoms of said recesses is about 5 to 20 millimeters. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a shaft member and an impeller member, said shaft member being selectively driven by said drive mechanism and said driven mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling system as described in  claim 7  wherein said shaft member is supported in said coolant pump by a pair of bearing members, and said electric motor is positioned between said bearing members. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein operation of said coolant pump is controlled at least in part by control logic. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling system as described in  claim 1  wherein said mechanical drive mechanism includes a solenoid member and a friction clutch member. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling system as described in  claim 10  wherein activation of said solenoid member prevents said mechanical drive member from rotating said shaft member. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling system as described in  claim 10  wherein activation of said solenoid members allows said mechanical drive member to rotate said shaft member.