Pump assembly with electric drive and with mechanical drive comprising transmission means

Abstract

A pump assembly (1) for a vehicle cooling system comprising an impeller (20) and an impeller shaft (200) extending along an impeller axis (X-X). The pump assembly (1) comprises an electric drive (30) and a mechanical drive (40). The pump assembly (1) also comprises transmission means (5) comprising a kinematic transmission assembly (50) comprising an impeller gear (52), a first command gear (53), operatively connected to the electric drive (30) and to the impeller gear (52), and a second command gear (54) operatively connected to the mechanical drive (40) and to the impeller gear (52). Wherein said impeller gear (52) is driven in rotation by the first command gear (53) or by the second command gear (54).

1 . Pump assembly for a cooling system of a vehicle comprising:
 an impeller group comprising an impeller rotatable around an impeller axis and an impeller shaft extending along the impeller axis integrally connected to the impeller to move it in rotation;   an electric group comprising an electric drive, comprising an electric motor, and an electric shaft rotatable by the electric drive;   a mechanical group comprising a mechanical drive and a mechanical shaft;   transmission means comprising a kinematic transmission assembly comprising:   
       i) an impeller gear integrally connected to an impeller drive end of the impeller shaft opposite to the end whereon is mounted the impeller; 
       ii) a first command gear operatively connected to the electric shaft and to the impeller gear; 
       iii) a second command gear operatively connected to the mechanical shaft and to the impeller gear; 
       iv) engagement/disengagement means comprising a first unidirectional clutch that operatively connects the electric shaft to the first command gear and comprising a second unidirectional clutch or a mechanical engagement/disengagement device or a electric engagement/disengagement device that operatively connects the mechanical shaft to the second command gear; 
       wherein the impeller gear is commanded in rotation by means of engagement/disengagement means by the faster of the first command gear and the second command gear: 
       wherein the pump assembly is characterized by the fact that the gears comprised in the kinematic transmission assembly are operatively connected in a direct way. 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical drive is adapted to command in rotation the second command gear on the mechanical shaft or is adapted to command in rotation the second command gear commanding in rotation the mechanical shaft. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second command gear is operatively connected to the mechanical drive by means of a suitable mechanical engagement/disengagement device adapted to carry out the engagement between the second command gear and the mechanical drive in a configuration wherein the mechanical rotation speed of the mechanical drive is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         9 . Pump assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical engagement/disengagement device comprises a clutch with centrifugal actuator. 
     
     
         10 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the second command gear is operatively connected to the mechanical drive by means of an electric engagement/disengagement device adapted to carry out the engagement between the second command gear and the mechanical drive as a function of the vehicle's determined operative function. 
     
     
         11 . Pump assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the electric engagement/disengagement device comprises a front clutch adapted to engage or disengage the second command gear of the mechanical drive and an electric actuator adapted to drive the front clutch. 
     
     
         12 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric shaft extends along a first axis and the mechanical shaft extends along a second axis, wherein the first axis and/or the second axis are arranged parallel to the impeller axis. 
     
     
         13 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical drive is operatively connected to mechanical handling means comprised in the vehicle, preferably connected to the engine's drive shaft. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . Pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission means are housed in a transmission chamber which is fluidically connected to a vehicle lubrication system, for example a lubrication system of an engine assembly or gearbox assembly comprised in the vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . Pump assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the pump assembly is mountable on an engine assembly of a vehicle and the transmission chamber is formed on said engine assembly. 
     
     
         17 . Pump assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the pump assembly is mountable on a gearbox assembly of a vehicle and the transmission chamber is formed on said gearbox assembly.