Infinitely adjustable coolant pump

Abstract

A coolant pump for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine, the coolant pump having a pump housingin which is mounted a drivable shaft, to one end of which is attached an impeller-which has vanes extending into a suction chamber and is connected to a cover plate. Fluid can be drawn into the suction chamber through an intake port of the pump housing by joint rotation of the impeller and the cover plate and can be conveyed by the vanes into the pump housing. A guide plate, which is axially displaceable by an actuation unit, is disposed between the impeller and the cover plate. The guide plate has a contour corresponding to the impeller and a collar oriented toward the impeller. The coolant pump is characterized in that the guide plate has at least one opening.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A coolant pump for a coolant circuit of an internal combustion engine, the coolant pump comprising:
 a pump housing;   a drivable shaft mounted in the pump housing;   an impeller attached to one end of the drivable shaft, the impeller having vanes extending into a suction chamber and being connected to a cover plate, joint rotation of the impeller and the cover plate allowing fluid to be drawn into the suction chamber through an intake port of the pump housing and to be conveyed by the vanes into the pump housing;   a guide plate axially displaceable by an actuation unit being disposed between the impeller and the cover plate, the guide plate having a contour corresponding to the impeller and a collar oriented toward the impeller, the guide plate having at least one opening.   
     
     
         10 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 9  wherein the impeller has a closing contour pointing in a direction toward the guide plate. 
     
     
         11 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 10  wherein the closing contour is engageable into the at least one opening of the guide plate, partially or completely closing the same. 
     
     
         12 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 10  wherein the closing contour is configured in the manner of a pin. 
     
     
         13 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 12  wherein the closing contour has more than one pin closing element, the individual pin closing elements differing in their dimensions. 
     
     
         14 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 12  wherein the closing contour includes at least one closing element configured in a stepped manner. 
     
     
         15 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 9  wherein the actuation unit includes an actuator adapted to actuate independently of the rotational speed of the impeller. 
     
     
         16 . The coolant pump as recited in  claim 9  wherein the actuation unit includes a spring adapted to return the guide plate to a normal position.