US-12624692-B2 - Pump sealing member groove with drain for a vehicle

Abstract

A pump housing associated with a vehicle includes a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber. The pump chamber is configured to at least partially receive a pump. The pump housing includes a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body. The chamber cover includes a mating surface that is configured to contact the housing body when the chamber cover is coupled to the housing body. The mating surface defines a sealing member groove spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface. The sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove.

Inventors

• Mark Claywell
• Sean Michael McGowan
• Bryan K. Pryor

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20231122

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A pump housing associated with a vehicle, comprising: a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber, the pump chamber configured to at least partially receive a pump; a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body, the chamber cover including a mating surface that is configured to contact the housing body when the chamber cover is coupled to the housing body, the mating surface defining a sealing member groove spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface, the sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove; and wherein the drain is adjacent to the housing body.
2. 2 . The pump housing of claim 1 , wherein the drain is a slot defined through the mating surface.
3. 3 . The pump housing of claim 1 , wherein the drain comprises a plurality of drain slots that are spaced apart about a perimeter of the mating surface.
4. 4 . The pump housing of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface is fluidly coupled to the sealing member groove.
5. 5 . The pump housing of claim 4 , wherein the exterior surface includes a contact surface that surrounds a bore, and the bore is defined between the exterior surface and the sealing member groove.
6. 6 . The pump housing of claim 5 , wherein the bore has a diameter that is less than the depth of the sealing member groove.
7. 7 . The pump housing of claim 4 , wherein the drain is defined on the chamber cover so as to be substantially opposite the contact surface that surrounds the bore.
8. 8 . The pump housing of claim 1 , wherein the pump housing is coupled externally to a propulsion system an engine of the vehicle.
9. 9 . A pump housing associated with a vehicle, comprising: a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber, the pump chamber configured to at least partially receive a pump; a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body, the chamber cover including a mating surface that is configured to contact the housing body when the chamber cover is coupled to the housing body, the mating surface defining a sealing member groove spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface, the sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove; and wherein the housing body at least partially defines the pump chamber and a second pump chamber, a second chamber cover is configured to be removably coupled to the second pump chamber and the second chamber cover includes a second mating surface that defines a second sealing member groove that is spaced apart from a second exterior surface of the second chamber cover, and the second mating surface is configured to contact the housing body.
10. 10 . The pump housing of claim 9 , wherein the second mating surface defines a second drain that is configured to fluidly couple the second sealing member groove with the second exterior surface.
11. 11 . A vehicle, comprising: an engine; a pump configured to be fluidly coupled to the engine to supply the engine with a fluid; and a pump housing configured to be externally coupled to the engine, the pump housing including a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber to at least partially receive the pump and a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body, the chamber cover including a mating surface that defines a sealing member groove that is spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface, the sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove, and wherein the drain is defined on the chamber cover adjacent the housing body.
12. 12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the drain is a slot defined through the mating surface.
13. 13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the drain comprises a plurality of drain slots that are spaced apart about a perimeter of the mating surface.
14. 14 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the housing body at least partially defines the pump chamber and a second pump chamber, a second chamber cover is configured to be removably coupled to the second pump chamber and the second chamber cover includes a second mating surface that defines a second sealing member groove that is spaced apart from a second exterior surface of the second chamber cover, and the second mating surface is configured to contact the housing body.
15. 15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the second mating surface defines a second drain that is configured to fluidly couple the second sealing member groove with the second exterior surface.
16. 16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second drain comprises a plurality of second drains, and each of the plurality of second drains is a slot defined through the second mating surface.
17. 17 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the chamber cover includes the exterior surface and is fluidly coupled to the sealing member groove.
18. 18 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the exterior surface includes a contact surface that surrounds a bore, and the bore is defined between the exterior surface and the sealing member groove.
19. 19 . The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the bore has a diameter that is less than a cross-sectional diameter of a sealing member coupled to the sealing member groove.
20. 20 . The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the drain is substantially opposite the coupling contact surface that surrounds the bore.

Description

INTRODUCTION The technical field generally relates to a pump housing for use with a vehicle, and more particularly relates to a pump housing for use with a propulsion system of a vehicle having a drain. Generally, a vehicle may include one or more pumps, which supply fluids, such as coolant, lubricating fluid, etc. to various components of the vehicle during operation. Typically, the pumps are at least partially enclosed by a pump housing. During the manufacture and/or assembly of the pump, the pump may be subjected to testing. In certain instances, the pump and the pump housing may be exposed to fluid during the testing, and the fluid may accumulate in features of the pump housing. The accumulated fluid may not be visible upon inspection of the pump housing, and may not be identified until after the pump housing is installed in the vehicle. Accordingly, it is desirable to limit accumulated fluid in the pump housing prior to installation in the vehicle. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present disclosure will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background. SUMMARY According to various embodiments, provided is a pump housing associated with a vehicle. The pump housing includes a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber. The pump chamber is configured to at least partially receive a pump. The pump housing includes a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body. The chamber cover includes a mating surface that is configured to contact the housing body when the chamber cover is coupled to the housing body. The mating surface defines a sealing member groove spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface. The sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove. The drain is a slot defined through the mating surface. The drain includes a plurality of drain slots that are spaced apart about a perimeter of the mating surface. The housing body at least partially defines the pump chamber and a second pump chamber, a second chamber cover is configured to be removably coupled to the second pump chamber and the second chamber cover includes a second mating surface that defines a second sealing member groove that is spaced apart from a second exterior surface of the second chamber cover, and the second mating surface is configured to contact the housing body. The second mating surface defines a second drain that is configured to fluidly couple the second sealing member groove with the second exterior surface. The chamber cover includes a fluid coupling defined through the exterior surface and fluidly coupled to the sealing member groove. The fluid coupling includes a contact surface that surrounds a bore, and the bore is defined between the exterior surface and the sealing member groove. The bore has a diameter that is less than the depth of the sealing member groove. The drain is defined on the chamber cover so as to be substantially opposite the fluid coupling. The pump housing is coupled externally to a propulsion system of the vehicle. Further provided according to various embodiments is a vehicle. The vehicle includes a propulsion system, and a pump configured to be fluidly coupled to the propulsion system to supply the propulsion system with a fluid. The vehicle includes a pump housing configured to be externally coupled to the propulsion system. The pump housing includes a housing body that at least partially defines a pump chamber to at least partially receive the pump and a chamber cover configured to be removably coupled to the housing body. The chamber cover includes a mating surface that defines a sealing member groove that is spaced apart from an exterior surface of the chamber cover and a drain configured to fluidly couple the sealing member groove with the exterior surface. The sealing member groove has a depth and the drain has a drain depth that is 45% or less of the depth of the sealing member groove. The drain is a slot defined through the mating surface. The drain includes a plurality of drain slots that are spaced apart about a perimeter of the mating surface. The housing body at least partially defines the pump chamber and a second pump chamber, a second chamber cover is configured to be removably coupled to the second pump chamber and the second chamber cover includes a second mating surface that defines a second sealing member groove that is spaced apart from a second exterior surface of the second chamber cover, and the second mating surface is configured to contact the housing body. The second mating surface defines a second drain that is configured to fluidly couple the second sealing member groove with the sec