Blower unit

• US 8,167,550 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Koji, Sakai, Masaharu, Nakamura, Takahito
• Primary Examiner(s): Everhart, Caridad
• Application Number:
  US12/316,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 415/206, 415/204, 415/203, 415/208.3, 415/58.7, 415/228, 415/173.6, 415/98, 415/99, 415/101
• US Class Current: 415/206
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/162 of a centrifugal flow wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/703 specially for fans, e.g. fan guards

Abstract

A blower unit includes a rotation shaft, a centrifugal fan and a casing. The centrifugal fan has blades arranged around the rotation shaft. The casing has a wall part defining an opening. The ring part has a ring shape having a center coinciding with an axis of the rotation shaft. The ring part is provided at first axial ends of the blades and support the blades. The ring part includes an arcuate wall curved in a radially inward of the centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan is housed in the casing such that the arcuate wall of the ring part is located radially inside of the opening of the wall part.

Claims

1. A blower unit comprising:

a rotation shaft;

a centrifugal multi-blade fan supported by the rotation shaft, the centrifugal multi-blade fan including a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction defining a center on the rotation shaft; and

a blower casing that houses the centrifugal multi-blade fan therein, wherein

the blower casing has a wall part on a first axial side with respect to an axial direction along the axis of the rotation shaft, the wall part extending in a radial direction of the centrifugal multi-blade fan and having an opening portion defining an opening,

the centrifugal multi-blade fan has a ring part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft and supporting the blades adjacent to the first axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction,

the centrifugal multi-blade fan has a base wall separate from the ring part with respect to the axial direction, the base wall extends in a radially outward direction and toward a second axial side of the blower casing, over a circumference of the rotation shaft, and supports the blades adjacent to the second axial side of the blower casing,

the blades are configured to rotate with rotation of the rotation shaft and to blow air from a radially inside of the centrifugal multi-blade fan toward a radially outside of the centrifugal multi-blade fan in accordance with the rotation,

the ring part includes an arcuate wall having an arcuate cross-section,

the arcuate wall is disposed inside of the opening portion with respect to the radial direction of the centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the arcuate wall is disposed such that a maximum diameter portion thereof is located adjacent to the first axial side of the blower casing and a minimum diameter portion thereof is located closer to the second axial side of the blower casing than the maximum diameter portion with respect to the axial direction,

the arcuate wall has a curved shape between the maximum diameter portion and the minimum diameter portion, the curved shape protruding toward a flow of air suctioned into the centrifugal multi-blade fan through a radially inner space of the arcuate wall,

the casing has an air outlet to discharge air blown out from the centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the ring part is disposed so that a clearance is defined between a radially outer portion of the ring part and the opening portion,

the blower unit further comprising;

a first part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the first part being disposed on a radially outer side of the blades and extending from the ring part toward the second axial side of the blower casing;

a second part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the second part extending from the wall part of the blower casing toward the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction;

a third part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the third part projecting toward the second part from one of the first part and the ring part; and

a fourth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the fourth part projecting toward the first part from one of the second part and the wall part of the blower casing and being displaced from the third part with respect to the axial direction, wherein

the first part, the second part, the third part and the fourth part form a labyrinthine structure that reduces a flow of air that flows out from a radially inner side of the blades to an outside of the casing through the clearance while bypassing the air outlet.

2. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein

a ring end of the ring part is located at one of a first position that coincides with a wall end of the opening portion with respect to the axial direction and a second position that is disposed closer to the second axial side of the blower casing than the wall end with respect to the axial direction, the ring end being the furthest portion in the ring part from the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction, the wall end being the furthest portion in the opening portion from the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction.

3. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein

a wall end of the opening portion is disposed closer to the second axial side of the blower casing than a ring end of the ring part with respect to the axial direction, the ring end being the furthest portion in the ring part from the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction, the wall end being the furthest portion in the opening portion from the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction.

4. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein

the opening portion includes a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the small diameter portion, the small diameter portion being displaced from the large diameter portion in the axial direction, and

the arcuate wall is located inside of the small diameter portion with respect to the radial direction of the centrifugal multi-blade fan.

5. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein

the centrifugal multi-blade fan has a boss part that is connected to the rotation shaft and connects to the base wall, and

the boss part, the base wall, the blades and the ring part are integral with each other.

6. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein the third part and the fourth part extend in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

7. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein the first part extends directly from the ring part toward the second axial side of the blower casing.

8. The blower unit according to claim 1, wherein

the blades are arranged such that an air passage is formed between any two blades adjacent in the circumferential direction,

the blades are configured to rotate with the rotation of the rotation shaft and to blow air drawn from the opening portion from the radially inner side of the blades to the radially outer side of the blades through each air passage in accordance with the rotation, and

the first part is provided as an air blocking part that restricts the air blown radially outward by the blades from entering toward the air passage.

9. The blower unit according to claim 8, wherein

the air blocking part is disposed along radially outer edges of the blades.

10. The blower unit according to claim 8, wherein

the air blocking part has an arcuate portion on a side adjacent to the second axial side of the blower casing, the arcuate portion projecting toward the radially inside and the second axial end of the blower casing to guide the flow of air blown radially outward by the blades to incline toward the second axial side of the blower casing.

11. A bower unit comprising:

an electric motor including a motor body and a rotation shaft rotated by the motor body, the rotation shaft extending from opposite axial ends of the motor body with respect to an axial direction;

a first centrifugal multi-blade fan supported by the rotation shaft on one axial side of the motor body, the first centrifugal multi-blade fan including a plurality of first blades arranged in a circumferential direction defining a center on the rotation shaft; and

a first blower casing that houses the first centrifugal multi-blade fan therein, wherein

the first blower casing has a first wall part having a first opening portion defining an opening, the first wall part extending in a radial direction of the first centrifugal multi-blade fan on the one side of the motor body,

the first centrifugal multi-blade fan has a first ring part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the first ring part supporting the first blades on a side adjacent to the first wall part, and

the first blades are configured to rotate with rotation of the rotation shaft and to blow air from a radially inner side of the first blades to a radially outer side of the first blades in accordance with the rotation,

the blower unit further comprising;

a second centrifugal multi-blade fan supported by the rotation shaft on the other axial side of the motor body, the second centrifugal multi-blade fan having a plurality of second blades arranged in a circumferential direction defining a center on the rotation shaft; and

a second blower casing that houses the second centrifugal multi-blade fan therein, wherein

the second blower casing has a second wall part having a second opening portion defining an opening, the second wall part extending in a radial direction of the second centrifugal multi-blade fan on the other axial side of the motor body,

the second centrifugal multi-blade fan has a second ring part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the second ring part supporting the second blades on a side adjacent to the second wall part, and

the second blades are configured to rotate with rotation of the rotation shaft and to blow air from a radially inner side of the second blades to a radially outer side of the second blades in accordance with the rotation,

the first ring part and the second ring part have a first arcuate wall and a second arcuate wall each having an arcuate cross-section, respectively,

the first arcuate wall and the second arcuate wall are disposed inside of the first opening portion and the second opening portion, respectively, with respect to the radial direction of the first and second centrifugal multi-blade fans,

the first arcuate wall is disposed such that a maximum diameter portion thereof is located adjacent to the first wall part and a minimum diameter portion thereof is located closer to the motor body than the maximum diameter portion with respect to the axial direction,

the second arcuate wall is disposed such that a maximum diameter portion thereof is located adjacent to the second wall part and a minimum diameter portion thereof is located closer to the motor body than the maximum diameter portion with respect to the axial direction,

each of the first arcuate wall and the second arcuate wall has a curved shape between the maximum diameter portion and the minimum diameter portion, the curved shape projecting toward a flow of air suctioned into the corresponding centrifugal multi-blade fan through a radially inner space of the corresponding arcuate wall,

the first blower casing has a first air outlet to discharge air blown out from the first centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the second blower casing has a second air outlet to discharge air blown out from the second centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the first ring part is disposed such that a first clearance is defined between a radially outer portion of the first ring part and the first opening portion,

the second ring part is disposed such that a second clearance is defined between a radially outer portion of the second ring part and the second opening portion,

the blower unit further comprising;

a first part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the first part being disposed on a radially outer side of the first blades and extending from the first ring part toward the motor body;

a second part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the second part extending from the first wall part of the first blower casing toward the motor body;

a third part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the third part projecting toward the second part from one of the first part and the first ring part; and

a fourth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the fourth part projecting toward the first part from one of the second part and the first wall part of the first blower casing and being displaced from the third part with respect to the axial direction, wherein

the first part, the second part, the third part and the fourth part form a first labyrinthine structure that reduces a flow of air that flows out from the radially inner side of the first blades to an outside of the first blower casing through the first clearance while bypassing the first air outlet,

the blower unit further comprising;

a fifth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the fifth part being disposed on a radially outer side of the second blades and extending from the second ring part toward the motor body;

a sixth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the sixth part extending from the second wall part of the second blower casing toward the motor body;

a seventh part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the seventh part projecting toward the sixth part from one of the fifth part and the second ring part; and

an eighth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the eighth part projecting toward the fifth part from one of the sixth part and the second wall part of the second blower casing and being displaced from the seventh part with respect to the axial direction, wherein

the fifth part, the sixth part, the seventh part and the eighth part form a second labyrinthine structure that reduces a flow of air that flows out from the radially inner side of the second blades to an outside of the second blower casing through the second clearance while bypassing the second air outlet.

12. A blower unit comprising:

a rotation shaft;

an electric motor including a motor body rotating the rotation shift;

a centrifugal multi-blade fan supported by the rotation shaft, the centrifugal multi-blade fan including a plurality of blades arranged in a circumferential direction defining a center on the rotation shaft; and

a blower casing that houses the centrifugal multi-blade fan therein, wherein

the blower casing has a wall part on a first axial side opposite to the motor body with respect to an axial direction along the axis of the rotation shaft, the wall part extending in a radial direction of the centrifugal multi-blade fan and having an opening portion defining a suction port,

the centrifugal multi-blade fan has a ring part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft and supporting the blades adjacent to the first axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction,

the blades are configured to rotate with rotation of the rotation shaft and to suck air through the suction port and blow air from a radially inside of the centrifugal multi-blade fan toward a radially outside of the centrifugal multi-blade fan in accordance with the rotation,

the ring part includes an arcuate wall having an arcuate cross-section,

the arcuate wall is disposed inside of the suction port with respect to the radial direction of the centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the arcuate wall is disposed such that a maximum diameter portion thereof is located adjacent to the first axial side of the blower casing and a minimum diameter portion thereof is located closer to a second axial side of the blower casing than the maximum diameter portion with respect to the axial direction,

the arcuate wall has a curved shape between the maximum diameter portion and the minimum diameter portion, the curved shape protruding toward a flow of air suctioned into the centrifugal multi-blade fan through a radially inner space of the arcuate wall,

the casing has an air outlet to discharge air blown out from the centrifugal multi-blade fan,

the ring part is disposed so that a clearance is defined between a radially outer portion of the ring part and the opening portion,

the blower unit further comprising;

a first part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the first part being disposed on a radially outer side of the blades and extending directly from the ring part toward the second axial side of the blower casing;

a second part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the second part extending from the wall part of the blower casing toward the second axial side of the blower casing with respect to the axial direction;

a third part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the third part projecting toward the second part from one of the first part and the ring part; and

a fourth part having a ring shape defining a center on the rotation shaft, the fourth part projecting toward the first part from one of the second part and the wall part of the blower casing and being displaced from the third part with respect to the axial direction, wherein

the first part, the second part, the third part and the fourth part form a labyrinthine structure that reduces a flow of air that flows out from a radially inner side of the blades to an outside of the casing through the clearance while bypassing the air outlet.