Abstract:
An annular device for the temperature control of a pump is provided. That device is in fluid communication with the radiator coolant system of a vehicle, and the engine-warmed coolant flows through the annular device to warm the pump and thaw ice buildup. The device is removable and can be added on to an existing pump without any redesign of the existing pump housing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to temperature control in air pumps for automobiles. More specifically, the invention relates to an annular device for heating surfaces within the air pump having a tendency to accumulate fluid which may freeze in cooler climates. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The need to control the temperature of a pump has long been known in the art, and has traditionally been solved by the addition of a cooling jacket around the pump. Cooling jackets come in a variety of designs, but most consist of a channel within the pump housing that completely encircles the motor in all directions. Such cooling jackets may circulate a portion of the fluid being pumped or a separate cooling fluid around the pump to maintain the pump&#39;s optimum operating temperature. 
     Cooling jackets are bulky and expensive and it can be difficult if not impossible to retrofit an existing pump housing with a cooling jacket if it was not included in the original design. 
     Certain air pump housings have a tendency to accumulate water vapor which then pools in concave portions within the housing and may freeze in cooler climates. If too much water accumulates and freezes it can impair the movement of pump parts, particularly the impeller. When the movement of the impeller is impaired the check engine light will be activated or it may result in burnout of the motor. Most cooling jackets are designed to facilitate the cooling of the pump and are located where the pump is more likely to overheat. Few, if any, cooling jackets are appropriately structured to also provide for the warming of key elements of the pump to encourage freedom of movement of the parts and quickly bring the pump to an optimum operating temperature. 
     The present invention overcomes these obstacles and provides for a temperature control device for an air pump that is inexpensive, small, easily fitted to an existing pump without reengineering the pump housing, and appropriately designed to heat key elements within the pump to quickly bring the pump to the optimum operating temperature. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a temperature control device for use with an air pump. 
     One object of the current invention is to rapidly thaw the ice dams that form within the pump housing to allow freedom of movement to all parts of the pump, but particularly the impeller. This rapid thawing and resulting freedom of movement will diminish the risk of motor burnout. 
     The temperature control ring can be added to the pump housing adjacent to portions of the pump housing where fluid has a tendency to accumulate and freeze. The temperature control ring is preferably in fluid communication with the vehicle coolant system so that coolant that has been heated by the engine then passes through the ring warming the portions of the pump housing with which it comes into contact. The coolant exits the ring and rejoins the standard flow of coolant entering the vehicle radiator. 
     Because the ring is in contact with the portion of the housing being heated, there is no need for it to be as bulky and intrusive as a cooling jacket. The ring is also small enough that it can fit between parts of the existing pump housing which eliminates the need to completely reengineer the housing to accommodate a cooling jacket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the pump housing including the ring and a summary of the flow of coolant through the vehicle; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the pump housing; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the proposed invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This temperature control ring is designed to be added to an existing pump housing to facilitate the warming of key parts within the housing without the need for a complete cooling jacket. 
     The air pump housing  1  consists of a housing top  10 , a horizontally extending wall  20 , the inventive ring  30 , and a housing bottom  40 . The housing top  10  defining a pumping chamber  13  and has an air inlet  11  and an air outlet  12 . The housing bottom  40  defines a cavity  47  and has an annular lip  43  which is held in place by mounting pins  41  and  42  between the horizontally extending wall  20  and a holding piece  44 . The housing top  10  further includes an annular wall  64 . The housing bottom  40  further includes an upper surface  66 . The horizontally extending wall  20  also has a notch (not shown) to accommodate the electrical lines  45 . 
     The horizontally extending wall  20  has a concave channel  22  that extends around the circumference of the pump housing  1  in which moisture has a tendency to accumulate. This moisture may freeze in cold temperatures. An impeller  23  is located above the channel  22 , the impeller  23  may be frozen in place in such conditions when the channel  22  fills with ice. The ring  30  is directly beneath the horizontally extending wall  20  and with a radial wall  37  in contact with the channel  22  in which the ice accumulates. An outer diameter of the horizontally extending wall  20   d  is substantially similar to the outer diameter of the ring  30   d.    
     Radiator coolant from the vehicle coolant system flows from the engine  100  where it is warmed into the ring  30  through the inlet  32 . The engine-warmed coolant flows through the inner passage  31  in the ring  30  which follows substantially the same curvature as the channel  22 . The flow of the coolant warms the channel  22  and melts the ice, which then allows the impeller  23  to rotate freely. The engine-warmed coolant then flows out of the inner passage  31  through the outlet  33  and returns to the existing vehicle radiator  300 . The ring  30  further includes an upper surface  70  and a lower surface  68 . The upper surface  70  abutting the annular wall  64  of the housing top  10 . The lower surface  68  abutting the upper surface  66  of the housing bottom  40 . 
     The inner passage  31  within the ring  30  follows the channel  22  in the horizontally extending wall  20  above it around the circumference of the pump housing  1 . The channel  22  does not extend around the entire circumference of the pump housing  1  due to the notch to accommodate the electrical lines  45  therefore the inner passage  31  need not extend around the full circumference of the pump housing  1 . A solid portion  34  exists in the ring  30  that sits under the portion of the horizontally extending wall  20  that accommodates the electrical lines  45 . The inner circumferential wall  36  of the ring  30  encircles the motor  46  and the outer circumferential wall  35  of the ring  30  forms part of the outer surface of the pump housing  1 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the inner passage  31  extends around the entire circumference of the pump  46 , and the fluid inlet  32  and fluid outlet  33  are located directly next to each other. Alternatively, the inner passage  31  makes multiple loops within the ring  30 . 
     In the figures the cross section of the ring  30  is pictured such that the exterior is a rectangular shape and the hollow interior passage  31  is circular, however the precise cross section is unimportant and could be any shape desired. Similarly, the inlet  32  and outlet  33  are any shape that allows for the ring  30  to be coupled to the appropriate fluid source. 
     As such, the invention is not restricted to the illustrative examples or embodiments described above. The examples or embodiments are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Processes, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes herein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the claims.