Patent Publication Number: US-2017356438-A1

Title: Portable fluid pump system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of prior-filed, co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/117,113, filed Feb. 17, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates to fluid pumps and, more particularly, to a cooling assembly for a fluid pump. 
     SUMMARY 
     Hydraulic pumps supply pressurized hydraulic fluid to actuators or work-producing devices to perform a variety of mechanical operations, including lifting, pressing, punching, etc. A fluid pump system may include a reservoir, a pump for moving fluid from the reservoir, and a motor for driving the pump. The system may include a conduit for conveying the fluid to an actuator and back to the reservoir, and a mechanism for cooling the fluid. 
     In one independent aspect, a fluid pump system includes a housing, a motor, a fan, and a fluid conduit. The housing includes a wall having a first end and a second end, and the housing defining a first axis extending between the first end and the second end. The wall extends at least partially around the first axis and at least partially encloses a chamber. The motor is at least partially positioned within the chamber. The fan is positioned proximate the first end, and the fan generates air flow through the chamber. The fluid conduit is configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, and at least a portion of the fluid conduit is positioned within the chamber. 
     In another independent aspect, a fluid pump system includes a motor, a housing, a fan, and a fluid conduit. The motor has a shaft defining a shaft axis. The housing has a first end, a second end, and a wall. The wall extends around at least a portion of the motor, and the housing defines a chamber between the first end, the second end, and the wall. The fan is positioned proximate the first end of the housing, and the fan generates air flow around the motor and through the chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the shaft axis. The fluid conduit is configured to be in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir, and at least a portion of the fluid conduit is positioned within the chamber. 
     In yet another independent aspect, a cooling assembly for a fluid pump system includes a housing and a fan. The housing includes a first end and a second end, and a central axis extending between the first end and the second end. The housing further includes an outer wall extending between the first end and the second end and extending at least partially around the central axis. A space at least partially enclosed by the outer wall defines a chamber. The fan is positioned adjacent the first end of the housing, and a fan positioned adjacent the first end of the housing. The fan generates air flow through the chamber to cool the motor and to cool the fluid in the fluid conduit. The air flow passes through the chamber in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis. 
     Other independent aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portable fluid pump system and a frame. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable fluid pump system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a partially exploded perspective view of the system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a motor and cooling assembly of the system of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a section view of the assembly of  FIG. 4  viewed generally along line  6 - 6 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shroud. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of the shroud of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any independent embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other independent embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a portable fluid pump system  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pump system  10  is supported in a frame or roll cage  12  including a handle  16  for carrying the pump system  10 . Further, in some constructions, the pump system  10  is supported for movement on a mobile cart or carriage (not shown). The roll cage  12  and the handle  16  are removed from the portable fluid pump system  10  in  FIG. 2  for easier viewing of the other components. The pump system  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a reservoir  14 , a pump  18  ( FIG. 3 ), a motor  30  and a cooling assembly  34 . In one construction, the pump  18  is a high-pressure three-stage pump and has a bypass valve or unloading valve (not shown) for diverting excess fluid flow toward the reservoir  14  when the pump  18  is operating under a predetermined condition (described in further detail below). Further, the fluid reservoir  14  has a top surface  42  generally arranged in a plane, and the motor  30  and the cooling assembly  34  are positioned on the top surface  42 . The pump system  10  further includes a valve and gauge assembly  46  positioned adjacent the cooling assembly  34 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4 , the motor  30  includes a motor shaft  50  defining a shaft axis A ( FIG. 4 ). In the illustrated construction, the motor shaft  50  extends vertically downwardly through the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14  to drive the pump  18 , and the shaft axis A is substantially perpendicular to the top surface  42  of the fluid reservoir  14 . In other constructions, the shaft axis A may extend in a horizontal direction or a direction parallel to the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14 , or may extend in a direction at an oblique angle relative to the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14 . The pump system  10  also includes an electrical control module or box  62  coupled to the motor  30 . The electrical control box  62  includes a power cord ( FIG. 2 ) for receiving electrical power from a source (e.g., an electrical outlet). The electrical control box  62  is also coupled to an interface (e.g., a pendant  66  ( FIG. 2 )) for receiving an input from an operator. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-5 , the cooling assembly  34  includes a fan  78 , a housing or shroud  82 , and a heat exchanger conduit  200 . The fan  78  rotates about an axis of rotation R ( FIG. 4 ) in a plane that is substantially perpendicular axis R. In the illustrated construction, the fan  78  is positioned axially above the motor  30  and the axis of rotation R is coaxial with the shaft axis A, while, in other constructions (not shown), the axis of rotation of the fan  78  may be offset from the shaft axis A. The fan  78  is coupled to an air directing section or fan support  86  positioned between the fan  78  and the shroud  82 . The fan support  86  is coupled to a cover  90  ( FIG. 3 ) and the shroud  82  by fasteners. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the shroud  82  extends at least partially around the motor  30 . The shroud  82  is positioned above the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14  ( FIG. 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shroud  82  includes a first end  102  proximate the fan  78  and a second end  106  proximate the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14 . In the illustrated construction, the shroud  82  includes an arcuate portion  110  and a pair of parallel straight portions  114 . The arcuate portion  110  extends around a central axis C. In the illustrated construction, the central axis C is coaxial with the shaft axis A and the axis of rotation R of the fan  78 . In other constructions (not shown), the shroud  82  may have a different shape, and/or the shroud  82  may define an axis C that is offset from the shaft axis A and/or the axis of rotation R of the fan  78 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , in the illustrated embodiment, the shroud  82  includes an inner wall  130  ( FIG. 8 ) and an outer wall  134 , each of which extend between the first end  102  and the second end  106  of the shroud  82 . The outer wall  134  is spaced apart from the inner wall  130  in a radially-outward direction relative to the central axis C of the shroud  82 . The shroud  82  defines a chamber that encloses the motor  30  and the conduit  200 . A first cavity  138  is defined by a space partially enclosed by the inner wall  130 , and a second cavity  142  is defined by a space between the inner wall  130  and the outer wall  134  and between the first end  102  and the second end  106 . The inner wall  130  defines openings or cutouts  156  arranged adjacent the first end  102  of the shroud  82 . The cutouts  156  extend along a portion of the inner wall  130  on the arcuate portion  110  and permit air flow between the first cavity  138  and the second cavity  142 . The shroud  82 , as best shown in  FIG. 8 , is generally U-shaped and defines a large space or opening  160  between the first end  102  and the second end  106  and between the straight portions  114 . 
     In the illustrated construction, the inner wall  130  includes a first side wall  172  and a second side wall  176  extending parallel to the central axis C of the shroud  82 . The side walls  172 ,  176  are formed integrally with the inner wall  130  and abut the outer wall  134  to enclose the sides of the second cavity  142 . Each side wall  172 ,  176  includes a conduit opening  180 . In one construction, the conduit openings  180  are arranged adjacent the second end  106  of the shroud  82 . The outer wall  134  includes tabs positioned adjacent the first end  102  of the shroud  82 . The tabs include holes receiving fasteners to couple the fan support  86  and the cover  90  to the first end  102  of the shroud  82 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 4-6 , the motor  30  is at least partially positioned within the first cavity  138  of the shroud  82  and is coupled to the reservoir  14  by fasteners (not shown). When the motor  30  is partially positioned within the shroud  82 , one side of the motor  30  is exposed via the large opening  160 . The electrical control box  62  is coupled to the exposed side of the motor  30  and positioned between the side walls  172 ,  176  of the shroud  82 . The electrical control box  62  is laterally offset from the shaft axis A and the central axis C of the shroud  82 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the outer wall  134  of the shroud extends radially outwardly from a periphery  80  of the fan  78 . In the illustrated construction, the fan  78  is driven by a fan motor built into the fan  78 . In other constructions, the fan motor may be separate from the fan  78 . The fan motor may be electrically or hydraulically operated. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 5 , in some constructions, the cooling assembly  34  may include temperature sensors  344  and a controller  340  in communication with the sensors  344  such that the controller  340  is configured to receive signals from the temperature sensors  344 . In the illustrated construction, one of the temperature sensors  344  senses a temperature of the motor  30 , and another sensor  344  senses a temperature of the fluid conduit  200 . In other constructions, the cooling assembly  34  may include fewer or more sensors  344 , and/or the sensors  344  may be configured to measure the temperatures of other components and/or other parameters of the pump system  10 . The controller  340  may further be configured to control operation of the fan  78  and/or the fan motor based on the signals received from the one or more temperature sensors  344 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5-6 , the fluid conduit  200  is at least partially positioned within the second cavity  142 . A fluid bypass line  178  of the portable pump  18  fluidly couples the fluid reservoir  14  to the fluid conduit  200  of the cooling assembly  34 , and the fluid conduit  200  is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir  14 . The fluid conduit  200  extends between the side walls  172 ,  176 . An upstream section  204  of the fluid conduit  200  (i.e., proximate the fluid bypass line  178 ) passes through the conduit opening  180  of the first side wall  172 , while a downstream section  208  of the fluid conduit  200  passes through the conduit opening  180  of the second side wall  176 . 
     The fluid conduit  200 , as best shown in  FIG. 5 , includes a plurality of fins  216  connected to an outer surface, for example, to improve heat transfer characteristics of the fluid conduit  200 . In the illustrated construction, the fluid conduit  200  is formed as multiple sections extending through the arcuate portion of the second cavity  142 . An upstream section  204  of the fluid conduit  200  is connected to the fluid bypass line  178  and extends towards the first end  102  of the shroud  82 . 
     A first section  232  is arranged proximate the first end  102  of the shroud  82  and extends in an arcuate manner in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis C of the shroud  82 . The fluid conduit  200  continues downwardly through a first curved portion  240  of the fluid conduit  200  to a second or intermediate section  244  of the fluid conduit  200 . The second section  244  is arranged farther from the first end  102  of the shroud  82  than the first section  232  and is spaced apart from the first section  232  in a direction parallel to the central axis C. The second section  244  conveys fluid in an opposite direction relative to the first section  232 . The second section  244  extends in an arcuate manner in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis C of the shroud  82 , similar to the first section  232 . 
     A second curved portion  248  of the fluid conduit  200  extends downwardly from the second section  244  and connects to a third or lower section  252  of the fluid conduit  200 . The third section  252  is configured to direct fluid in substantially the same direction as the first section  232  and in substantially the opposite direction of the second section  244 . Similar to the first section  232  and the second section  244 , the third section  252  extends in an arcuate manner and in a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis C of the shroud  82 . The third section  252  is arranged farther from the first end  102  of the shroud  82  than the first section  232  and the second section  244  and is spaced apart from the first section  232  and the second section  244  in a direction parallel to the central axis C. Further, the third section  252  directs fluid to the downstream section  208  of the fluid conduit  200  and then into the reservoir  14 . In the illustrated construction, the first section  232 , the second section  244 , and the third section  252  are substantially parallel to one another, to the plane formed by the top surface  42  of the fluid reservoir  14 , and to the plane of the fan  78 . 
     In other constructions (not shown), the fluid conduit  200  may include fewer or more sections within the second cavity  142 . Additionally, the fluid conduit sections  232 ,  244 ,  252  may be arranged in a different manner within the second cavity  142 . For example, in some constructions, the sections  232 ,  244 ,  252  of the fluid conduits may be arranged at an angle relative to a plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis C of the shroud  82 , parallel the central axis C of the shroud  82 , etc. 
     In another construction, the shroud  82  may be formed without the inner wall such that the shroud  82  only includes the outer wall  134 . In this construction, the fluid conduit  200  and the motor  30  are not separated but instead are positioned within the same cavity. 
     In another construction (not shown), the first section  232  may be arranged within the second cavity  142  at a radial location closer to the central axis C of the shroud  82  than the second section  244  or vice versa. Similarly, the second section  244  may be arranged within the second cavity  142  at a radial location closer to the central axis C than the third section  252  or vice versa. As a result, the first, second, and third sections  232 ,  244 ,  252  of the fluid conduit  200  may be radially offset from each other relative to the central axis C. 
     In operation, the portable fluid pump system  10  may be manually controlled using the control pendant  66 . The electrical control box  62  receives power from the cord and controls the motor  30 . The motor  30  is operated to drive the pump  18  and supply hydraulic fluid to an external device (not shown). In the illustrated construction, the pump  18  is a multistage pump and includes a bypass valve. When the pump  18  in the final (output) stage reaches a predetermined output pressure, excess flow from the first stage is diverted toward the reservoir  14 . In some constructions, the output pressure of the pump  18  is 10,000 psi (10 ksi). The excess flow is routed to the fluid conduit  200  in the second cavity  142  to be cooled before being conveyed to the reservoir  14 . 
     In other constructions, the pump  18  is a one stage pump, a two stage pump, or another type of multistage pump. In other constructions, the pump  18  may not include a bypass valve. In still other constructions, unpressurized reservoir return fluid is directed through the fluid conduit  200  to cool the fluid. Other constructions could include constant horsepower (infinite stage) pumps, or closed loop system pumps. 
     The fan motor drives the fan  78  to generate air flow between the first end  102  and the second end  106  of the shroud  82  to cool the motor  30  and the fluid in the fluid conduit  200 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cooling medium is air. 
     In one embodiment, shown in  FIG. 6 , the air flow is separated by the shroud  82  into a first air flow path  300  and a second air flow path  304 . The air flow from the fan  78  in the first air flow path  300  passes through the first cavity  138  and around the motor  30 . The air flow from the fan  78  in the second air flow path  304  flows into the second cavity  142  and passes over the fluid conduit  200 . A portion of the air flow from the first flow path  300  may also pass through openings in the cover  90  and the cutouts  156  in the inner wall  130  and into the second cavity  142 . The air flow from each path  300 ,  304  may exit the cooling assembly  34  by passing through a space between the second end  106  and the top surface  42  of the reservoir  14 . In other embodiments, the fan  78  may be operated to pull air upwardly from the second end  106  of the shroud  82  toward the first end  102 . 
     After the motor  30  is turned off and the portable fluid pump  18  stops running, the fan motor can continue to run the fan  78 . This allows air to continue to flow through the first and second cavities  138 ,  142 , allowing the motor  30  and the fluid conduit  200  to be further cooled after operation of the pump  18  has ceased. 
     In some conditions (e.g., low temperature environments), the fan  78  may not be operated while the motor  30  is running. This allows for the hydraulic fluid to become heated and to reach an ideal operating temperature faster than if the fan  78  were in operation. In constructions in which the cooling assembly  34  includes the controller  340  for receiving signals from the sensors  344 , the controller  340  may adjust operation of the fan  78  according to signals generated by the sensors  344 . For example, the controller  340  may decrease the speed of the fan motor to decrease the speed of the fan  78  if a signal from a sensor  344  indicates that the temperatures in the motor  30  and/or the fluid conduit  200  are lower than desired, or the controller  340  may increase the speed of the fan motor to increase the speed of the fan  78  if a signal from a temperature sensor  344  indicates that the temperatures in the motor  30  and/or the fluid conduit  200  are higher than desired. 
     The above-described cooling assembly  34  allows for a single fan  78  to cool both the motor  30  of and the fluid conduit  200  of the portable fluid pump  18 . The system  10  may have a reduced size, weight, fewer components, etc. compared to conventional portable fluid pump systems. The motor  30  is also spaced apart from the fan  78 , so the fan  78  is not coupled to the motor shaft  50 . This arrangement may reduce contaminants in the motor  30 , improve the lifespan of components (e.g., the bearings) of the motor  30 , etc. 
     Thus, a portable fluid pump may include a single fan to cool a motor and fluid. A housing or shroud may include a chamber for the motor and a fluid conduit, and air flow from a fan may be directed into the chamber. 
     Although aspects have been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects as described. One or more independent features or independent advantages may be set forth in the claims.