Multiple stage blowers and volutes therefor

• US 10,434,271 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd. (ResMed Incorporated)
• Inventors: Daly, Geoffrey Daniel, Virr, Alexander, Lea, Stephen Anthony, Reed, Nicholas Jerome
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Annette
• Application Number:
  US15/223,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20160333885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0057 Pumps therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0066 Blowers or centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0069 the speed thereof being controlled by respiratory parameters, e.g. by inhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0875 Connecting tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/42 Reducing noise
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/82 Internal energy supply devices
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/122 the individual rotor discs being, one for each stage, on a common shaft and axially spaced, e.g. conventional centrifugal multi- stage compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/125 the casing being vertically split
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/06 the pump being electrically driven F04D25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/004 by varying driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/281 for fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/284 for compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4213 suction ports
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/661 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/663 Sound attenuation
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/30 : Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor

Abstract

A blower assembly is configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient interface in communication with an entrance to a patient'"'"'s airways including at least an entrance of the patient'"'"'s nares, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing. The blower assembly includes a motor having a shaft that extends from opposite sides of the motor. The blower assembly also includes an impeller and a circuit board. The impeller is attached to the shaft on a first side of the motor and is structured to rotate in close proximity to a volute wall. The circuit board is configured to control power supplied to the motor and is configured to disable the motor when the impeller is closer than a predetermined distance from the volute wall.

Claims

1. A blower assembly configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient interface in communication with an entrance to a patient'"'"'s airways including at least an entrance of the patient'"'"'s nares, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the blower assembly comprising:

a motor having a shaft that extends from opposite sides of the motor;

an impeller attached to the shaft on a first side of the motor and structured to rotate in close proximity to a volute wall; and

a circuit board configured to control power supplied to the motor, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the power supplied to the motor is terminated when the impeller is closer than a predetermined distance from the volute wall.

2. The blower assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motor shaft comprises a blade.

3. The blower assembly according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board is positioned so that when the impeller moves toward the volute wall, the blade contacts a portion of the circuit board before the impeller contacts the volute wall.

4. The blower assembly according to claim 3, wherein the blade is configured to cut a portion of the circuit board when the blade contacts the circuit board.

5. The blower assembly according to claim 4, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the cutting of the circuit board disables the circuit board and prevents the circuit board from supplying power to the motor.

6. The blower assembly according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board comprises a protrusion.

7. The blower assembly according to claim 6, wherein the circuit board is positioned so that when the impeller moves toward the volute wall, the blade contacts the protrusion before the impeller contacts the volute wall.

8. The blower assembly according to claim 7, wherein the blade is configured to cut a portion of the protrusion when the blade contacts the protrusion.

9. The blower assembly according to claim 8, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the cutting of the protrusion disables the circuit board and prevents the circuit board from supplying power to the motor.

10. An apparatus for supplying breathable gas to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

the blower assembly of claim 1;

a patient interface configured to be secured to the patient'"'"'s face; and

an air delivery tube configured to deliver the breathable gas from the blower assembly to the patient interface.

11. A blower assembly configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient interface in communication with an entrance to a patient'"'"'s airways including at least an entrance of the patient'"'"'s nares, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the blower assembly comprising:

a motor having a plurality of bearings and a shaft that extends from opposite sides of the motor;

an impeller attached to the shaft on a first side of the motor and structured to rotate in close proximity to a volute wall; and

a circuit board configured to control power supplied to the motor, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the power supplied to the motor is terminated when bearing wear reaches a predetermined limit.

12. The blower assembly according to claim 11, wherein the motor shaft comprises a blade.

13. The blower assembly according to claim 12, wherein the circuit board is positioned so that when the bearing wear reaches the predetermined limit, the blade contacts a portion of the circuit board before the impeller contacts the volute wall.

14. The blower assembly according to claim 13, wherein the blade is configured to cut a portion of the circuit board when the blade contacts the circuit board.

15. The blower assembly according to claim 14, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the cutting of the circuit board disables the circuit board and prevents the circuit board from supplying power to the motor.

16. The blower assembly according to claim 12, wherein the circuit board comprises a protrusion.

17. The blower assembly according to claim 16, wherein the circuit board is positioned so that when the bearing wear reaches the predetermined limit, the blade contacts the protrusion before the impeller contacts the volute wall.

18. The blower assembly according to claim 17, wherein the blade is configured to cut a portion of the protrusion when the blade contacts the protrusion.

19. The blower assembly according to claim 18, wherein the circuit board is configured so that the cutting of the protrusion disables the circuit board and prevents the circuit board from supplying power to the motor.

20. An apparatus for supplying breathable gas to a patient, the apparatus comprising:

the blower assembly of claim 11;

a patient interface configured to be secured to the patient'"'"'s face; and

an air delivery tube configured to deliver the breathable gas from the blower assembly to the patient interface.

21. A blower assembly configured to deliver a flow of breathable gas at a continuously positive pressure with respect to ambient air pressure to a patient interface in communication with an entrance to a patient'"'"'s airways including at least an entrance of the patient'"'"'s nares, while the patient is sleeping, to ameliorate sleep disordered breathing, the blower assembly comprising:

a motor having a shaft that extends from opposite sides of the motor;

an impeller attached to the shaft on a first side of the motor and structured to rotate in close proximity to a volute wall; and

a circuit board configured to control power supplied to the motor, wherein the circuit board is configured to be at least partially disabled when the impeller is closer than a predetermined distance from the volute wall so that the power supplied to the motor is terminated.