CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER ASSEMBLIES HAVING A PLURALITY OF AIRFLOW GUIDANCE FINS AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

• US 20180258948A1
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Published: 09/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.
• Inventors: Pirouzpanah, Sahand, Nahar, Shradha S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/16 for displacing without appreciable compression
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/162 Double suction pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/08 the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/283 rotors of the squirrel-cage type
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/441 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/444 Bladed diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/626 Mounting or removal of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/51 Inlet

Abstract

A centrifugal blower assembly includes a housing and a blower wheel coupled to the housing. The blower wheel includes a plurality of blades circumferentially-spaced about an axis of rotation. Each blade includes a length and is oriented at a first angle along the length with respect to the rotational axis. The centrifugal blower assembly also includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced fins coupled in flow communication with said blower wheel, said plurality of fins configured to direct an inlet airflow into the blower wheel such that a relative velocity direction of the inlet airflow is oriented at the first angle with respect to the rotational axis.

Claims

1. An inlet ring for use in a centrifugal blower assembly including an axis of rotation, said inlet ring comprising:

a ring portion comprising a first end, a second end, and a ring body extending therebetween; and

a plurality of fins coupled to said ring body, wherein said plurality of fins are circumferentially-spaced about said ring body, and wherein each fin of said plurality of fins comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a fin body extending therebetween.

2. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fin body is planar between said leading edge and said trailing edge.

3. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 2, wherein said fin body is oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 0 degrees and approximately 60 degrees with respect to said rotational axis.

4. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 3, wherein said wherein said fin body is oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 20 degrees and approximately 30 degrees with respect to said rotational axis.

5. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fin body is curved between said first end and said second end.

6. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 4, wherein said fin body defines a chord line between said first end and said second end.

7. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 6, wherein said wherein said chord line is oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 20 degrees and approximately 30 degrees with respect to said rotational axis.

8. The inlet ring in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of fins comprises a number of fins equal to

9. A centrifugal blower assembly comprising:

a housing;

a blower wheel coupled to said housing and comprising a plurality of blades circumferentially-spaced about an axis of rotation, wherein each blade comprises a length and is oriented at a first angle along the length with respect to the rotational axis; and

a plurality of circumferentially-spaced fins coupled in flow communication with said blower wheel, said plurality of fins configured to direct an inlet airflow into said blower wheel such that a relative velocity direction of the inlet airflow is oriented at the first angle with respect to the rotational axis.

10. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said first angle is parallel to the rotational axis.

11. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein each blade of said plurality of blades comprises a first radially inner edge that defines an inner diameter of said blower wheel, and wherein each fin of said plurality of fins comprises a second radially inner edge that defines an inner diameter of said plurality of fins that is greater than the inner diameter of said blower wheel.

12. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein each fin of said plurality of fins comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a fin body extending therebetween, wherein said fin body is planar between said first end and said second end, wherein said fin body is oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 20 degrees and approximately 30 degrees with respect to said rotational axis.

13. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, further comprising an inlet ring coupled to said housing such that said inlet ring defines a housing inlet, wherein said plurality of fins are coupled to said inlet ring.

14. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said fin body is curved between said first end and said second end, wherein said fin body defines a chord line between said first end and said second end, and wherein said chord line is oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 20 degrees and approximately 30 degrees with respect to said rotational axis.

15. The centrifugal blower assembly in accordance with claim 9, wherein said plurality of fins are coupled to said housing.

16. A method of assembling a centrifugal blower assembly, said method comprising:

coupling a blower wheel to a housing, wherein the blower wheel includes a plurality of blades circumferentially-spaced about an axis of rotation, wherein each blade includes a length and is oriented at a first angle along the length with respect to the rotational axis;

coupling an inlet ring to the housing such that the inlet ring defines a housing inlet; and

coupling a plurality of circumferentially-spaced fins about the inlet ring such that the plurality of fins are configured to direct an inlet airflow into the blower wheel, wherein the inlet airflow includes a relative velocity direction oriented at the first angle with respect to the rotational axis.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling the plurality of fins comprises coupling the plurality of fins to the inlet ring such that the first angle of the inlet airflow relative velocity is parallel to the rotational axis.

18. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling the plurality of fins comprises coupling the plurality of fins such that the plurality of fins are oriented at an angle within a range of approximately 0 degrees and approximately 60 degrees with respect to the rotational axis.

19. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling the plurality of fins comprises coupling a plurality of fins that are planar between opposing ends.

20. The method in accordance with claim 16, wherein coupling the plurality of fins comprises coupling a plurality of fins that are curved between opposing ends.