Pump assembly

1 . A pump assembly including an electric motor having a stator and a rotor, and one electrical or electronic motor control component having a major surface and at least one minor surface, the major surface having a larger surface area than the minor surface or surfaces, wherein the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted such that the major surface of the electrical or electronic motor control component extends generally parallel to an axis of rotation of the motor rotor.

2 . A pump assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electrical or electronic motor control component has a longitudinal axis which extends generally parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor rotor.

3 . A pump assembly according to claim 1 wherein the pump assembly includes a pump chamber in which is mounted a pumping element, movement of the pumping element in the pump chamber causing pumping of fluid in the pump chamber, and a sealing assembly which extends in between the pump chamber and the motor stator to prevent fluid in the pump chamber from contacting the motor stator, the electronic control component being mounted on the sealing assembly.

4 . A pump assembly according to claim 3 wherein at least the portion of the sealing assembly on which the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted is metallic.

5 . A pump assembly according to claim 4 wherein the portion of the sealing assembly on which the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted is made from aluminium.

6 . A pump assembly according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the sealing assembly on which the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted is tubular and encloses a generally cylindrical space in which at least a portion of the motor rotor is located.

7 . A pump assembly according to claim 6 wherein the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted on an exterior surface of the sealing assembly.

8 . A pump assembly according to claim 3 wherein the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted in an axially extending recess provided in the sealing assembly.

9 . A pump assembly according to claim 8 wherein the recess is a reentrant channel.

10 . A pump assembly according to claim 8 wherein more than one electrical or electronic motor control component is located in a single recess.

11 . A pump assembly according to claim 8 wherein the electrical or electronic motor control component is retained in the recess by means of a spring clip.

12 . A pump assembly according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the sealing assembly on which the electrical or electronic motor control component is mounted is in contact with fluid in or from the pump chamber.