BLOWER HOUSING FOR CLIMATE CONTROLLED SYSTEMS
A blower for use in a climate controlled system includes an outer housing, a plurality of protruding members extending from the outer housing, an inlet opening in the outer housing, an impeller positioned with an internal cavity or space defined by the outer housing and a filter configured for placement against at least some of the protruding members. In some embodiments, the space created by the protruding members between the filter and outer housing facilitates the transfer of air or other fluids into the internal cavity of the blower.
This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/884,184, filed Jan. 9, 2007, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This application relates to climate control systems. More specifically, this application relates to an improved blower to use in climate controlled seating assemblies.
2. Description of the Related Art
Temperature modified air for environmental control of living or working space is typically provided to relatively extensive areas, such as entire buildings, selected offices, or suites of rooms within a building. In the case of vehicles, such as automobiles, the entire vehicle is typically cooled or heated as a unit. There are many situations, however, in which more selective or restrictive air temperature modification is desirable. For example, it is often desirable to provide an individualized climate control for an occupant seat so that substantially instantaneous heating or cooling can be achieved. For example, an automotive vehicle exposed to summer weather conditions, where, for example, the vehicle has been parked in an unshaded area for a long period of time, can cause the vehicle seat to become very hot and uncomfortable for the occupant for some time after entering and using the vehicle, even with normal air conditioning. Furthermore, even with normal air-conditioning, on a hot day, the seat occupant's back and other pressure points may remain sweaty and generally uncomfortable to the seated occupant. In the winter time, it is desirable to have the ability to quickly warm one or more portions of the seat to enhance an occupant's comfort level, especially where a typical vehicle heating system is unlikely to warm the vehicle's interior as quickly.
For such reasons, there exist various types of individualized climate control systems for vehicle seats. Such climate control systems typically include a blower that distributes ambient air or other fluid past air conditioning devices (e.g., TEDs). The conditioned air can then be delivered to certain desired locations of a seating assembly (e.g., chair, bed, etc.). In order to protect the various components of the climate control system, it is normally desirable to filter the air or other fluid that enters such blowers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, one aspect of the present inventions comprises a blower or other fluid transfer device for use in a climate controlled system which includes an outer housing. In some embodiments, the outer housing includes an interior cavity which is defined by an interior surface and an exterior surface of the outer housing. The blower additionally comprises a plurality of protruding members extending from the exterior surface of the outer housing. In several embodiments, adjacently positioned protruding members define an intermediate space therebetween. Further, the blower includes one or more one inlet openings in the outer housing which are configured allow a fluid to enter the internal cavity of the blower. An impeller positioned within the internal cavity is configured to transfer a fluid from the inlet opening towards an outlet. In addition, a filter is configured for placement against at least some of the protruding members extending from the outer housing of the blower. In some embodiments, a volume of fluid is permitted to pass across a portion of the filter and enter the intermediate space defined by the protruding members before being routed to the inlet opening.
According to other embodiments, the protruding members comprise ribs, which are placed in a generally vertical configuration. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the filter comprises a generally circular outer shape. In other aspects of the invention, the filter includes a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape. In yet another embodiment, the outer housing comprises an upper plate, a lower plate and a main housing. In still other embodiments, the inlet opening comprises a space provided between the upper plate and the main housing.
In another aspect of the present invention, the blower comprises a radial impeller. In one embodiment, the filter is configured to filter substantially 100% of the fluid entering the inlet opening.
Another aspect of the present invention comprises a method of facilitating the transfer of a fluid through a filter positioned upstream of a blower inlet. The method includes providing a plurality of protruding members along an outside portion of a blower housing and securing at least a portion of a filter against the protruding members. In some embodiments, the gap created by the protruding members between the filter and the blower housing is configured to reduce the head loss associated with the flow of fluid from outside the blower into an interior portion of the blower.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a climate controlled system includes a blower with an impeller rotatable about an axis that generally extends in an axial direction and including at least one blade that generally extends in a radial direction. The blower also includes an impeller housing comprising an axially facing forward portion, an axially facing rearward portion and a radially facing portion, an opening positioned in the axially facing forward portion of the impeller housing. A filter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The filter extends at least partially around the radially facing portion of the impeller housing in an annular configuration such that an intermediate space is defined at least partially between the filter and radially facing portion of the impeller housing.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present inventions are described with reference to drawings of certain preferred embodiments, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present invention. The drawings include eight (8) figures. It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for the purpose of illustrating concepts of the present invention and may not be to scale.
With continued reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the intake opening 119 is a generally circular opening that is substantially centered about a rotational axis of a fan impeller 126 positioned within the main housing 114. See, for example, the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment depicted in
In some embodiments, the fan 100 is manufactured from one or more rigid or semi-rigid materials. For example, the fan 100 can comprise plastic, metal, other synthetic or natural materials and/or the like. The various components of the fan 100 (e.g., the upper plate 110, the lower plate 112, the housing 114, etc.) can be manufactured as separate members and subsequently attached to one another. In such arrangements, the various separate components can be joined to one another using adhesives, fasteners, clips, welds or any other connection device or method. Alternatively, the fan 100 can include fewer separate components, as two or more portions of the fan 100 may be manufactured (e.g., molded, cast, etc.) into a single piece. Further, the fan 100 can be produced using various materials of manufacture and/or methods of construction.
In some arrangements, as illustrated in
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
According to some embodiments, as illustrated in
As illustrated herein, the majority of the ribs 118 can be substantially equally-spaced from one another, and generally aligned to face along a single direction (e.g., with a radial component). Alternatively, however, the size, shape, orientation, spacing, location, method of attachment of the housing and/or other characteristics of the ribs 118 can vary. For example, the ribs 118 can be separate members that are attached to the outside of the main housing 114. In such embodiments, the ribs 118 can be joined to the housing 114 using adhesives (e.g., glue), fasteners (e.g., bolts, rivets, etc.), snap connections, welds and/or the like.
With reference to the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
The filter 130 can be secured or otherwise maintained relative to the blower 100 using one or more straps, bands, hooks, clips, snap connections, adhesives, other fasteners and/or the like. Alternatively, the filter 130 can include one or more elastic portions that allow it to be stretched around the ribs 118 and/or other portions of the blower 100. In yet other arrangements, the filter 130 can be retained in its desired location using adhesives, tape, friction or any other method or device (e.g., placement in a specially-designed fitting). In the embodiment illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the ribs 118 or similar members can be used to distance the filter 130 from the radial portion 114b of the housing 114 such that the space 122 is formed. This arrangement can be particularly advantageous when the filter 130 is a lightweight and/or flexible material. Accordingly, the ribs 118 can be used to support the filter 130 away from the radial portion 114b of the housing 114. As discussed, a gap can be advantageously provided between the upper plate 110 and the top end of the ribs 118 to facilitate fluid flow from the space 122 into the inlet passage 120.
In modified embodiments, the filter 130 can be formed of a stiffer material that is capable of being positioned between the upper and lower plates 110, 112, and yet have sufficiently rigidity to preserve the space 122. In yet another embodiment, as illustrated in
With continued reference to the detailed cross-section of
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the thermal modules 92A, 92B optionally include a thermoelectric device 94A, 94B for temperature conditioning (i.e. selectively healing or cooling) the air or other fluid flowing through the device 94A, 94B. A preferred thermoelectric device 94A, 94B is a Peltier thermoelectric module, which is well known in the art. As shown, the thermal modules 92A, 92B can also include a main heat exchanger 96A, 96B for transferring or removing thermal energy from the air or other fluid flowing through or near the modules 92A, 92B (e.g., towards the distribution systems 76A, 76B). Such air or other fluid can be transferred to the distribution systems 76A, 76B through conduits 98A, 98B (see e.g., U.S. application Ser. No. 10/973,947, filed Oct. 25, 2004, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein). The modules 92A, 92B can also include a waste heat exchanger 100A, 100B that extends from the thermoelectric device 94A, 94B generally opposite the main heat exchanger 96A, 96B. A pumping device 102A, 102B or other fluid transfer device can be associated with each thermal module 92A, 92B for directing fluid over the main and/or waste heat exchangers 96A, 96B, 100A, 100B. The pumping devices 102A, 102B can comprise an electrical fan or blower as described with reference to the embodiments illustrated and/or described herein (e.g.,
With continued reference to the embodiment illustrated in
The thermal modules 92A, 92B described herein with reference to
In operation, fluid in the form of air can be delivered from the thermal modules 92A, 92B, through the conduits 98A, 98B to the distribution systems 76A, 76B. The air or other fluid can flow through the passages in the seat assembly 30, into the openings, along an optional distribution layer and through one or more other layers (e.g., covering) of a seat assembly. In this manner, conditioned and/or unconditioned air can be selectively provided to the front surface 48 of the backrest 34 and/or the top surface 50 of the seat 32. In a modified embodiment, air or other fluid from within the passenger compartment of the automobile can be drawn through a covering or other layer into the passages (e.g., distribution system) of a seat assembly 30.
To assist in the description of the disclosed embodiments, words such as upward, upper, downward, lower, vertical, horizontal, upstream, and downstream have been used above to describe the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated, however, that the illustrated embodiments can be located and oriented in a variety of desired positions. For example, depending upon the orientation of the fan, an “upper” part or portion can be a “lower” part or portion.
Although this invention has been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. In addition, while a number of variations of the invention have been shown and described in detail, other modifications, which are within the scope of this invention, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art based upon this disclosure. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combine with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A blower for use in a climate controlled system, the blower comprising:
- an impeller rotatable about an axis that generally extends in an axial direction and including at least one blade that generally extends in a radial direction;
- an impeller housing defining at least in part an impeller cavity in which the impeller is positioned, the impeller housing comprising a first portion that generally extends in the radial direction and includes an exterior surface that generally faces the axial direction, the impeller housing further comprising a second portion that generally extends in the axial direction and includes an exterior surface that generally extends in the radial direction, the first portion at least partially defining an opening that extends generally in the axial direction such that a volume of fluid can be drawn by the impeller into the impeller cavity through the opening;
- a blower housing that at least partially defines an intake passage positioned between the first portion of the impeller housing and the blower housing, the intake passage generally extending in the radial direction from the opening in the exterior surface of the impeller housing; and
- a filter comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the filter configured to at least partially extend around the impeller housing in an annular configuration such that an intermediate space is generally defined, at least in part, between the filter and the second portion of the housing, the intermediate space being in fluid communication with the intake passage.
2. The blower of claim 1, wherein a plurality of ribs are positioned within the intermediate space and generally extend between the inner surface of the filter and the second portion of the impeller housing.
3. The blower of claim 2, wherein the ribs extend generally parallel to one another.
4. The blower of claim 2, wherein the ribs are integrally molded with the impeller housing.
5. The blower of claim 1, wherein the filter comprises a generally circular outer shape.
6. The blower of claim 5, wherein the filter comprises a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.
7. The blower of claim 1, wherein the blower housing comprises a first plate that generally extends in the radial direction and forms in part the intake passage, the blower housing further comprising a second plate that generally extends in the radial direction and defines in part the impeller cavity.
8. The blower of claim 7, wherein the filter is at least partially positioned between the first plate and the second plate.
9. The blower of claim 1, wherein the impeller comprises a radial impeller.
10. The blower of claim 1, wherein the filter is configured to filter substantially 100% of the fluid entering the opening in the impeller housing.
11. The blower of claim 1, wherein the filter is substantially rigid.
12. The blower of claim 1, further comprising a support structure configured to support the filter at a desired distance from the second portion of the housing.
13. A blower for use in a climate controlled system, the blower comprising:
- an impeller rotatable about an axis that generally extends in an axial direction, the impeller comprising at least one blade that generally extends in a radial direction;
- an impeller housing defining at least in part an impeller cavity in which the impeller is positioned, the housing including a first portion that generally extends in the radial direction and comprises an exterior surface that generally faces the axial direction, the impeller further comprising a second portion that generally extends in the axial direction and comprises an exterior surface that generally extends in the radial direction, the first portion defining at least in part an opening that extends generally in the axial direction such that a volume of fluid can be drawn by the impeller into the impeller cavity through the opening;
- a blower housing that defines at least in part an intake passage positioned between the first portion of the impeller housing and the blower housing, the intake passage generally extending in the radial direction from the opening in the exterior surface of the impeller housing;
- a filter comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the filter configured to extend at least partially around the impeller housing in an annular configuration; and
- means for supporting the filter a distance away from the second portion of the impeller housing such that an intermediate space is defined at least partially between the filter and the second portion of the housing, the intermediate space being in fluid communication with the intake passage.
14. The blower of claim 13, wherein the filter comprises a generally circular outer shape.
15. The blower of claim 14, wherein the filter comprises a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.
16. The blower of claim 13, wherein the blower housing comprises a first plate that generally extends in the radial direction and forms in part the intake passage, the blower further comprising a second plate that generally extends in the radial direction and defines in part the impeller cavity.
17. The blower of claim 16, wherein the filter is positioned at least partially between the first plate and the second plate.
18. The blower of claim 13, wherein the impeller comprises a radial impeller.
19. The blower of claim 13, wherein the filter is configured to filter substantially 100% of the fluid entering into the impeller housing through the opening.
20. A blower for use in a climate controlled system, the blower comprising:
- an impeller rotatable about an axis that generally extends in an axial direction, the impeller comprising at least one blade that extends in a radial direction;
- an impeller housing comprising an axially facing forward portion, an axially facing rearward portion and a radially facing portion, an opening positioned in the axially facing forward portion of the impeller housing; and
- a filter comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, the filter being configured to extend at least partially around the radially facing portion of the impeller housing in an annular configuration such that an intermediate space is defined at least partially between the filter and the radially facing portion of the impeller housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 9, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 10, 2008
Inventor: Steve Craig Giffin (Pasadena, CA)
Application Number: 11/971,793
International Classification: F04D 29/70 (20060101);