Circulating pump

Abstract

A circulating pump includes a conveying element for conveying a conveyed liquid, and an electric motor which has a stator, a rotor, and a gap therebetween, wherein the rotor includes a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis and to which the conveying element is rotationally fixed, and the shaft is mounted to a radial slide bearing having a lubrication region configured to be liquid-lubricated with the conveyed liquid. The circulating pump includes a sealing device which inhibits fluid communication between the lubrication region and the gap located between the stator and the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A circulating pump comprising a conveying element for conveying a conveyed liquid, and an electric motor which has a stator, a rotor, and a gap disposed therebetween, the rotor including a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis, the conveying element rotationally fixed to the shaft, the shaft mounted to the circulating pump via a radial slide bearing with a lubrication region configured to be liquid-lubricated with the conveyed liquid, the circulating pump including a sealing device configured to inhibit fluid communication between the lubrication region and the gap located between the stator and the rotor. 
     
     
         2 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump comprises a fluid guide which, for supplying, transmitting, or discharging conveyed liquid into, through, or from the lubrication region has at least one fluid channel which allows conveyed liquid to flow therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein a fluid channel by way of at least one entry opening is in fluid communication with a pressurized side or an intake side of the circulating pump and/or wherein a fluid channel by way of at least one exit opening is in fluid communication with a pressurized side or an intake side of the circulating pump. 
     
     
         4 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising one of: (a) at least one fluid channel for the conveyed liquid disposed at the lubrication region, (b) a fluid guide having the at least one fluid channel for conveyed liquid, and a combination of (a) and (b). 
     
     
         5 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said at least one fluid channel is formed in the slide bearing or in the shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said at least one fluid channel is disposed between the slide bearing and the shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the shaft has at least one entry opening or exit opening configured to permit the conveyed liquid to enter into the shaft or exit therefrom, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said at least one fluid channel runs axially with respect to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         9 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said at least one fluid channel is configured as an annular channel or as a partial annular channel in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis. 
     
     
         10 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said at least one fluid channel is configured as a radial channel with respect to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         11 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein a filter element for filtering the conveyed liquid is disposed in said at least one fluid channel. 
     
     
         12 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump comprises an axial bearing for supporting the rotor against axial movement relative to the stator. 
     
     
         13 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the axial bearing is axially supported on the slide bearing. 
     
     
         14 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein at least one fluid channel is disposed on the axial bearing. 
     
     
         15 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the axial bearing is rotationally fixed to the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device is disposed on the axial bearing. 
     
     
         17 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device is axially positioned between the axial bearing and the slide bearing. 
     
     
         18 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the axial bearing forms an axial support element for a sealing element of the sealing device. 
     
     
         19 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device is integral with the axial bearing. 
     
     
         20 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device is separate from the axial bearing. 
     
     
         21 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device is connected to the axial bearing. 
     
     
         22 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device, at least in portions, surrounds the axial bearing in a circumferential direction of the rotation axis. 
     
     
         23 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the sealing device is disposed on a side of the axial bearing that is opposite the slide bearing. 
     
     
         24 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sealing device comprises or forms a mechanical seal having a sliding ring rotationally fixed in relation to the stator, and having a counter ring rotationally fixed to the shaft. 
     
     
         25 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the sliding ring is formed by the slide bearing, and wherein the counter ring is formed by an axial bearing of the circulating pump. 
     
     
         26 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein the sliding ring and the counter ring are mutually biased towards each other by a biasing element. 
     
     
         27 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a sealing element of the sealing device has a substantially annular or disk-like configuration and is disposed in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         28 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump has a separator which separates the lubrication region from the gap located between the stator and the rotor, wherein the separator is, at least in portions, disposed between the shaft and the gap in a radial direction with respect to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         29 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the separator comprises or forms a cover which covers a conveying space of the circulating pump in which the conveying element is disposed in relation to the gap located between the stator and the rotor. 
     
     
         30 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the slide bearing is disposed on the separator. 
     
     
         31 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the separator is rotationally fixed with respect to the stator. 
     
     
         32 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a rotor space which is sealed by the sealing device in relation to the lubrication region adjoins the lubrication region in an axial direction. 
     
     
         33 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the rotor space is in fluid communication with the gap located between the stator and the rotor. 
     
     
         34 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein the shaft axially engages through the sealing device, the rotor has a magnet mounting rotationally fixed to the shaft in the rotor space, and at least one permanent magnet of the electric motor is disposed on said magnet mounting. 
     
     
         35 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump comprises a pumping device for conveying the conveyed liquid through the lubrication region. 
     
     
         36 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 35 , wherein the amount of conveyed liquid conveyed by the pumping device is independent or substantially independent of an operating point of the circulating pump. 
     
     
         37 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is an internal rotor having one or more permanent magnets disposed on a radially inward side of the stator relative to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         38 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is an external rotor having one or more permanent magnets disposed on a radially outward side of the stator relative to the rotation axis. 
     
     
         39 . The circulating pump in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is an electronically commutated electric motor.