IMPELLER AND ELECTRIC BLOWER HAVING THE SAME

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an impeller including: an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion; a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion; and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are provided with guide grooves for balancing of a motor.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0129569, filed on Nov. 15, 2012, entitled “Impeller and Electric Blower Having the Same”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an impeller and an electric blower having the same.

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a balancing method of compensating for unbalance of a rotating rotor in a motor structure of a high speed cleaner is performed by assembling and processing a balancing part, which is a component capable of compensating for a balance in the rotating rotor to be balanced.

In addition, the balancing part may be configured of upper and lower balancing parts. In this case, a process of process or molding a separate balancing part to assembling the balance part is required, and thus, volume, weight and inertia of the rotor increase, thereby increasing a load at the time of rotation.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

(Patent Document 1) US 20070134109 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an impeller capable of performing two-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing at upper and lower portions of the impeller, and performing more accurate and efficient balancing by balancing guide grooves.

In addition, the present invention has been made in an effort to provide an electric blower capable of implementing microminiaturization and ultra-lightness by including an impeller capable of performing efficient balancing, and receiving a driving module for driving the impeller in the impeller.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an impeller including: an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion; a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion; and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are provided with guide grooves for balancing a motor.

The guide groove may be formed in a circular shape in a rotation direction of the impeller.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electric blower including: an impeller including an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves for balancing the motor; and a driving module including a rotor part coupled to the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a stator part, the rotor part including a magnet, the stator part including an armature configured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face the magnet, and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearing part formed therebetween, wherein the rotor part and the impeller are rotated by electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, and the driving module is received in the impeller.

The rotor part of the driving module may include: a sleeve rotatably supported by a shaft; and a hub coupled to the sleeve and including the magnet coupled to an inner peripheral portion thereof.

The sleeve and the shaft may be mounted with magnetic bearing magnets at surfaces facing each other, respectively.

The magnetic bearing magnet may be mounted at an upper end portion of the sleeve. The stator part of the driving module may include: a shaft rotatably supporting the rotor part; a base to which the shaft is fixedly coupled; and the armature coupled to the base and configured of the core and the coil.

The shaft may have a micro gap with the sleeve and be insertedly coupled to the sleeve so that an air bearing part is formed, and dynamic pressure generating grooves may be formed in an outer peripheral surface of the shaft facing the sleeve in a radial direction of the shaft.

The shaft may further include a ball mounted on a surface facing the impeller in an axial direction of the shaft.

The shaft may be formed with a ball receiving groove for mounting the ball at a central portion of an upper end surface thereof.

The impeller may further include a plate mounted on a surface facing the ball.

The electric blower may further including: an impeller cover covering the impeller; and a motor housing coupled to the impeller cover and including the stator part mounted therein.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electric blower including: an impeller including an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves for balancing of the motor; and a driving module including a rotor part coupled to the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a stator part, the rotor part including a magnet, the stator part including an armature configured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face the magnet, and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearing partformed therebetween, wherein the rotor part and the impeller are rotated by electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, the driving module is received in the impeller, and the rotor part of the driving module includes a sleeve rotatably supported by the shaft and a magnet coupled to the sleeve so as to face the armature of the stator part.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an impeller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the impeller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electric blower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electric blower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted. Further, in the following description, the terms “first”, “second”, “one side”, “the other side” and the like are used to differentiate a certain component from other components, but the configuration of such components should not be construed to be limited by the terms. Further, in the description of the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related art would obscure the gist of the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an impeller according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the impeller shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the impeller 10, an upper surface 11, which is an air inlet portion, and a lower surface 12, which is an air outlet portion are formed. In addition, blades 13 are formed between the upper and lower surfaces 11 and 112.

More specifically, the blade 13 is formed with a round part so that a standing direction is bent from an upper portion, which is the inlet portion, to a lower portion, which is the outlet portion.

Further, the upper surface 11 is provided with a guide groove 11 a for balancing of the motor.

In addition, the lower surface 12 is provided with a guide groove 12a for balancing of the motor.

Further, the guide groove 12a may be formed in a circular shape in a rotation direction of the impeller.

As the guide groove 11a in the upper surface and the guide groove 12a in the lower surface are formed, in the case of balancing, more accurate and efficient balancing may be performed. That is, in the case in which a setting position is determined in a radial direction, and balancing data thereon at the time of processing a groove are already calculated, an error due to balancing processing may be prevented, and more efficient and accurate balancing may be performed.

In addition, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the case in which the guide grooves 11a and 12a are simultaneously formed in the upper and lower surfaces 11 and 12, respectively, and balancing processing groove 11b and 12b are formed to be balanced. That is, more accurate and efficient balancing may be performed by two-dimensional balancing at the upper and lower portions.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electric blower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric blower 100 includes an impeller 110 and a driving module 120. More specifically, the driving module 120 is positioned at a lower portion of the impeller so as to be received in the impeller.

In addition, the impeller 110 is covered with an impeller cover 200. In addition, the driving module 120 is configured of a rotor part and stator part, wherein the rotor part is coupled to the impeller 110 and the stator part is mounted in a motor housing 300. Further, the cover 200 and the motor housing 300 are coupled to each other by press-fitting, or the like.

Furthermore, the impeller 110 includes the balancing guide grooves 111a and 112a formed in upper and lower surfaces 111 and 112, respectively, for balancing of the motor, and balancing processing grooves 111b and 112b are formed in the balancing guide grooves 111a and 112a to be balanced, such that more accurate and efficient balancing may be implemented.

In addition, in the driving module, a shaft is provided with a radial dynamic pressure bearing part so as to have an air bearing part, and the electric blower has a structure in which the driving module is inserted into the impeller, such that miniaturization and lightness may be implemented, and high speed driving may be performed by the air bearing.

Hereinafter, the driving module of the electric blower according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

The driving module 120 is configured of a stator part including a shaft 121, a base 122, an armature 123 configured of a core 123a and a coil 123b, and a printed circuit board 129 and a rotor part including a sleeve 124, a hub 125, and a magnet 126.

Further, an outer diameter portion of the shaft 121 and an inner diameter portion of the sleeve 124 have a micro gap therebetween, and an air bearing part is formed in the micro gap. In addition, facing surfaces of the sleeve and the shaft are mounted with magnetic bearing magnets 127, respectively.

Next, in the rotor part, the sleeve 124 is rotatably supported by the shaft 121. In addition, the sleeve 124 may include a radial dynamic pressure generating groove formed in the inner diameter portion thereof so that the air bearing part is formed in the micro gap with the shaft 121, as described above.

Further, the hub 125 is coupled to the sleeve 124 and configured of a disk part 125a extended from the sleeve 124 in an outer diameter direction and a side wall part 125b extended downwardly in an axial direction of the shaft from an end portion of the disk part 125a in the outer diameter direction.

Further, the sidewall part 125b includes an annular ring shaped magnet 126 mounted on an inner peripheral surface thereof so as to face the armature 123 configured of the core 123a and the coil 123b.

Further, a magnetic bearing magnet 127a is mounted on an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve 124 so as to face a magnetic bearing magnet 127b of the shaft.

In addition, the magnetic bearing magnet 127a may have an annular ring shape.

Next, in the stator part, the shaft 121 rotatably supports the sleeve 124 as described above, and the lower portion thereof is fixedly coupled to the base 122.

Further, the shaft 121 is mounted with the magnetic bearing magnet 127b so as to face the magnetic bearing magnet 127a of the sleeve.

That is, the driving module having a system in which dynamic pressure by the magnetic bearing magnets 127a and 127b mounted on each of the sleeve 124 and the shaft 121 in addition to the air bearing may be further stably designed may be implemented.

In addition, an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 121 may be provided with radial dynamic pressure generating grooves so as to form the air bearing part. As described above, the dynamic pressure generating groove may be selectively formed in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft facing the sleeve or the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve facing the shaft.

FIG. 3 shows the case in which the dynamic pressure generating grooves 121a are formed in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft. In addition the dynamic pressure generating groove may have various shapes such as a herringbone shape, or the like, and various sizes according to a design of the dynamic pressure.

Next, the base 122 includes the armature 123 fixedly coupled to the outer peripheral portion thereof by press-fitting, adhesion, or the like, so as to face the magnet 126, wherein the armature 123 includes the core 123a and the coil 123b.

In addition, the printed circuit board 129, which is to supply power to the armature, is mounted on one surface of the base 122.

Through the above-mentioned configuration, in the electric blower including the impeller according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention, two-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing at the upper and lower portions of the impeller, may be performed, and more accurate and efficient balancing may be performed by the balancing guide grooves.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an electric blower including the impeller shown in FIG. 1 according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, in the electric blower according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a magnet is implemented in an inner-rotor type in which the magnet is coupled to a sleeve and rotates together with the sleeve, as compared to the electric blower according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown FIG. 4, the electric blower 100 includes an impeller 110 and a driving module 130. More specifically, the driving module 130 is mounted at an inner portion and a lower portion of the impeller 110 of the electric blower 100.

In addition, the impeller 110 is covered with an impeller cover 200. In addition, the driving module 130 is configured of a rotor part and stator part, wherein the rotor part is coupled to the impeller 110 and the stator part is mounted in a motor housing 300. Further, the cover 200 and the motor housing 300 are coupled to each other by press-fitting, or the like. Furthermore, the impeller 110 includes the balancing guide grooves 111a and 112a formed in upper and lower surfaces 111 and 112, respectively, for balancing the motor, and balancing processing grooves 111b and 112b are formed in the balancing guide grooves 111a and 112a to be balanced, such that more accurate and efficient balancing may be implemented.

Furthermore, the driving module has a shaft provided with a radial dynamic pressure bearing part so as to have an air bearing part.

In addition, the driving module 130 is configured of a stator part including a shaft 131, a base 132, an armature 133 configured of a core 133a and a coil 133b, and a printed circuit board 138 and a rotor part including a sleeve 134 and a magnet 135, wherein an outer diameter portion of the shaft 131 and an inner diameter portion of the sleeve 134 have a micro gap therebetween, and an air bearing part is formed in the micro gap. In addition, facing surfaces of the sleeve and the shaft are mounted with magnetic bearing magnets 137a and 137b, respectively.

More specifically, in the rotor part, the sleeve 134 is rotatably supported by the shaft 131. In addition, the sleeve 134 may include a radial dynamic pressure generating groove formed in an inner diameter portion thereof so that the air bearing part is formed in the micro gap with the shaft 131, as described above.

In addition, the sleeve is mounted with the magnet 135 facing the armature of the stator part on an inner peripheral surface thereof. Further, a magnetic bearing magnet 137a is mounted so as to face a magnetic bearing magnet 137b of the shaft.

In addition, the magnetic bearing magnet 137a may have an annular ring shape.

Next, in the stator part, the shaft 131 rotatably supports the sleeve 134 as described above, and the lower portion thereof is fixedly coupled to the base 132.

Further, the shaft 131 is mounted with the magnetic bearing magnet 137b so as to face the magnetic bearing magnet 137a of the sleeve.

That is, the driving module having a system in which dynamic pressure by the magnetic bearing magnets 137a and 137b mounted on each of the sleeve 134 and the shaft 131 in addition to the air bearing may be stably designed may be implemented.

In addition, an outer peripheral surface of the shaft 131 may be provided with radial dynamic pressure generating grooves so as to form the air bearing part. As described above, the dynamic pressure generating groove may be selectively formed in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft facing the sleeve or the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve facing the shaft.

Next, the base 132 includes the armature 133 fixedly coupled thereto by press-fitting, adhesion, or the like, so as to face the magnet 135, wherein the armature 133 includes the core 133a and the coil 133b.

In addition, the printed circuit board 138, which is to supply power to the armature, is mounted on one surface of the base 132.

As described above, as the electric blower according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which the driving module is inserted into the impeller, miniaturization and lightness thereof may be implemented, and high-speed driving may be implemented by the air bearing.

According to the present invention, the impeller capable of performing two-dimensional balancing, that is, balancing at the upper and lower portions of the impeller, and performing more accurate and efficient balancing by balancing guide grooves may be provided. In addition, the electric blower capable of implementing microminiaturization and ultra-lightness by including the impeller capable of performing efficient the balancing, and receiving the driving module for driving the impeller in the impeller may be provided.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Accordingly, any and all modifications, variations or equivalent arrangements should be considered to be within the scope of the invention, and the detailed scope of the invention will be disclosed by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. An impeller comprising:

an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion;

a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion; and

blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces,

wherein the upper and lower surfaces are provided with guide grooves for balancing of a motor.

2. The impeller as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide groove is formed in a circular shape in a rotation direction of the impeller.

3. An electric blower comprising:

an impeller including an upper surface, which is an air inlet portion, a lower surface, which is an air outlet portion, and blades formed between the upper and lower surfaces, the upper and lower surfaces provided with guide grooves for balancing of the motor; and

a driving module including a rotor part coupled to the impeller in order to drive the impeller and a stator part, the rotor part including a magnet, the stator part including an armature configured of a core and a coil that are positioned to face the magnet, and the rotor part and the stator part including an air bearing part formed therebetween,

wherein the rotor part and the impeller are rotated by electromagnetic force of the magnet and the armature, and the driving module is received in the impeller.

4. The electric blower as set forth in claim 3, wherein the rotor part of the driving module includes:

a sleeve rotatably supported by a shaft; and

a hub coupled to the sleeve and including the magnet coupled to an inner peripheral portion thereof.

5. The electric blower as set forth in claim 3, wherein the sleeve and the shaft are mounted with magnetic bearing magnets at surfaces facing each other, respectively.

6. The electric blower as set forth in claim 5, wherein the magnetic bearing magnet is mounted at an upper end portion of the sleeve.

7. The electric blower as set forth in claim 3, wherein the rotor part of the driving module includes:

a sleeve rotatably supported by the shaft; and

a magnet coupled to the sleeve so as to face the armature of the stator part.

8. The electric blower as set forth in claim 3, wherein the stator part of the driving module includes:

a shaft rotatably supporting the rotor part;

a base to which the shaft is fixedly coupled; and

the armature coupled to the base and configured of the core and the coil.

9. The electric blower as set forth in claim 8, wherein the shaft has a micro gap with the sleeve and is insertedly coupled to the sleeve so that an air bearing part is formed, and dynamic pressure generating grooves are formed in an outer peripheral surface of the shaft facing the sleeve in a radial direction of the shaft.

10. The electric blower as set forth in claim 9, wherein the shaft further includes a ball mounted on a surface facing the impeller in an axial direction of the shaft.

11. The electric blower as set forth in claim 10, wherein the shaft is formed with a ball receiving groove for mounting the ball at a central portion of an upper end surface thereof.

12. The electric blower as set forth in claim 11, wherein the impeller further includes a plate mounted on a surface facing the ball.

13. The electric blower as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an impeller cover covering the impeller; and

a motor housing coupled to the impeller cover and including the stator part mounted therein.