Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a motor, a support body, a rotating body, and a housing. The motor includes a rotor hub that rotates around a central axis extending up and down. The support body is fixed to the rotor hub and rotates together with the rotor hub. The rotating body is different from the support body in material. The rotating body is a continuous porous body. The housing accommodates the rotating body, the support body, and the motor. The housing includes an air inlet open in an axial direction and at least one air outlet open in a radial direction. A radially inner surface of the rotating body opposes a radially outer surface of the rotor hub with a gap interposed therebetween.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; a clamper portion fixed to the motor portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The air blowing portion is held by the motor portion and the clamper portion from upper and lower sides in the axial direction. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates; a motor portion; and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes an inner annular portion, an outer annular portion arranged radially outside of the inner annular portion, ribs each of which is arranged to join the inner and outer annular portions to each other, and air holes each of which is surrounded by the inner and outer annular portions and circumferentially adjacent ones of the ribs. With the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion being joined to each other through the ribs, an increase in the opening area of each air hole, which is defined between the inner and outer annular portions, can be achieved. This leads to improved air intake efficiency, resulting in improved air blowing efficiency.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a motor, a support body, a rotating body, and a housing. The motor includes a rotor hub that rotates around a central axis extending up and down. The support body is fixed to and rotates together with the rotor hub. The rotating body is different from the support body in material. The rotating body is a continuous porous body. The housing accommodates the rotating body, the support body, and the motor. The housing includes a first air inlet open in an axial direction and at least one air outlet open in a radial direction. A radially inner surface of the rotating body opposes a radially outer surface of the rotor hub with a gap interposed therebetween. The rotating body is fixed to at least one of an axially upper surface and an axially lower surface of the support body.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a motor, a support body, first and second rotating bodies, and a housing. The motor includes a rotor hub. The support body is fixed to and rotates together with the rotor hub. The first and second rotating bodies are continuous porous bodies and are different in material than the support body. The first rotating body is located on an axially upper surface of the support body. The second rotating body is located on an axially lower surface of the support body. The housing accommodates the first and second rotating bodies, the support body, and the motor. The housing includes a first air inlet and an air outlet. A radially inner surface of the first rotating body opposes a radially outer surface of the rotor hub with a gap interposed therebetween.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a motor, a support body, a rotating body, and a housing. The motor includes a rotor hub that rotates around a central axis extending up and down. The support body is fixed to the rotor hub and rotates together with the rotor hub. The rotating body is different from the support body in material and is a continuous porous body. The housing accommodates the rotating body, the support body, and the motor. The housing includes an air inlet open in an axial direction and at least one air outlet open in a radial direction. A radially inner surface of the rotating body opposes a radially outer surface of the rotor hub with a gap interposed therebetween. The rotating body is fixed to the support body to be replaceable.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan includes a motor, a support body, a rotating body, and a housing. The motor includes a rotor hub that rotates around a central axis extending up and down. The support body is fixed to the rotor hub and rotates together with the rotor hub. The rotating body is different from the support body in material. The rotating body is a continuous porous body. The housing accommodates the rotating body, the support body, and the motor. The housing includes an air inlet open in an axial direction and at least one air outlet open in a radial direction. A radially inner surface of the rotating body opposes a radially outer surface of the rotor hub with a gap interposed therebetween.

Abstract: In an air blower, an exhaust extends in a first direction that is a radial component of an impeller, and includes fins. Assuming that a distance from a line segment extending from a central axis in the first direction to an array of the fins upstream of an airflow caused by rotation of the impeller is a first predetermined distance, at least a portion of the fins are disposed in a first region upstream from the first predetermined distance and in a second region downstream from the first predetermined distance. The distance between the fins in the first region is shorter than the distance between the fins in the second region.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes, in at least one of an upper surface and a lower surface thereof, a plurality of guide portions each of which is a protruding portion or recessed portion arranged to extend in a radial direction. An air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion, a motor portion, and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The air blowing portion includes a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; and a spacer arranged between the flat plates. A rotating portion of the motor portion includes a hub including a flat plate holding portion arranged to hold at least one of the flat plates. An air flow is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. With the spacer being arranged between the flat plates, the axial gap can be adjusted. Since at least one of the flat plates is held by the flat plate holding portion, the air blowing portion is able to stably rotate.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion, a motor portion, and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes an air hole. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly, and thus, an improvement in air blowing efficiency is achieved. Since the air hole is defined in the flat plate(s), gas can be easily supplied to the axial gap, resulting in improved air blowing efficiency. In addition, with each spacer being arranged between the flat plates, the axial gap can be adjusted to have a desired axial dimension.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. A rotating portion includes a hub including a flat plate holding portion arranged to hold at least one of the flat plates. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly, and thus, an improvement in air blowing efficiency is achieved.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion, a motor portion, and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes an air hole. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly, and thus, an improvement in air blowing efficiency is achieved. Since the air hole is defined in the flat plate(s), gas can be easily supplied to the axial gap, resulting in improved air blowing efficiency. In addition, with each spacer being arranged between the flat plates, the axial gap can be adjusted to have a desired axial dimension.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates; a motor portion; and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes an inner annular portion, an outer annular portion arranged radially outside of the inner annular portion, ribs each of which is arranged to join the inner and outer annular portions to each other, and air holes each of which is surrounded by the inner and outer annular portions and circumferentially adjacent ones of the ribs. With the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion being joined to each other through the ribs, an increase in the opening area of each air hole, which is defined between the inner and outer annular portions, can be achieved. This leads to improved air intake efficiency, resulting in improved air blowing efficiency.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates; a motor portion; and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. Each of a top flat plate and intermediate flat plates among the flat plates includes an air hole and an air blowing region radially outside of the air hole. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly, and thus, an improvement in air blowing efficiency is achieved. A radial middle of the air blowing region of at least one of the intermediate flat plates is arranged radially outward of a radial middle of the air blowing region of an upwardly adjacent one of the flat plates.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion, a motor portion, and a housing. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The air blowing portion includes a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; and a spacer arranged between the flat plates. A rotating portion of the motor portion includes a hub including a flat plate holding portion arranged to hold at least one of the flat plates. An air flow is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. With the spacer being arranged between the flat plates, the axial gap can be adjusted. Since at least one of the flat plates is held by the flat plate holding portion, the air blowing portion is able to stably rotate.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; a clamper portion fixed to the motor portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. The air blowing portion is held by the motor portion and the clamper portion from upper and lower sides in the axial direction. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes a plurality of through holes each of which is arranged to pass therethrough in the axial direction. An air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat, plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The flat plates include an air hole arranged to pass therethrough in an axial direction. Once the air blowing portion starts rotating, an air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat, plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat plates and a centrifugal force. Thus, gas supplied through the air inlet and the air hole travels radially outwardly of the air blowing portion. Accordingly, a reduced thickness of the blower apparatus does not result in a significant reduction in the air blowing efficiency.

Abstract: This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet arranged to pass through a portion of the housing in an axial direction above the air blowing portion, and an air outlet arranged to face in a radial direction radially outside of the air blowing portion. One of the flat plates includes a projecting portion arranged to project upward and/or downward, and another one of the flat plates includes an opposing portion arranged to be circumferentially opposed to the projecting portion. Relative circumferential positions of the flat plates can be easily fixed by the opposing portion.