BLOWER SCROLL

Abstract

A blower scroll comprising a base and a wall extending from an outer edge of the base. The base may include an outlet formed in the base a diverting device extending about at least a portion of the outlet. The diverting device may obstruct the flow of water droplets in the blower scroll into the outlet.

Description

The present application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application ser. no. 60/902,177, filed Feb. 20, 2007, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to the field of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In particular, the present application relates to a blower scroll for use with a HVAC system.

In some vehicle HVAC systems, a blower scroll may be used to house an impeller such as a blower wheel that is coupled to a blower motor. In some applications, the blower motor may be mounted below the blower scroll in a generally vertical orientation. The blower motor powers the blower wheel which pushes air to the periphery of the blower scroll. The air may then travel along the periphery to a discharge port where the air is then directed to an evaporator and/or heater core. The air is heated or cooled and then used to control the cabin temperature of the vehicle.

In some of these systems, the blower scroll has a base surface. The base may be provided with an outlet or opening that is coupled to a channel. The outlet and channel directs a portion of the air moved by the blower wheel to the blower motor mounted below the blower scroll. The air is then circulated around or otherwise used to cool the blower motor.

In vehicle applications, in the airflow pass from the outside to the blower water is not separated from the air. Accordingly, water can be pulled into the blower scroll when the blower motor is running. This is particularly problematic when a vehicle is traveling in rain, on wet pavement, or when passing through a carwash. The introduction of water into the blower scroll can be compounded when the vehicle is traveling at faster speeds.

The water droplets taken into the blower scroll intake may enter the outlet formed in the blower scroll base. In applications where the outlet leads downward to the blower motor, gravity may pull the water droplets down the channel to the blower motor. The water may accumulate and cause corrosion or electrical problems or mechanical failure of the motor's bearings shortening the useful life of the blower motor.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a blower scroll capable of limiting the introduction of water to the blower motor. It would also be desirable to provide an HVAC system including such a blower scroll.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a blower scroll comprising a base and a wall extending from an outer edge of the base. The base may include an outlet formed in the base and a diverting device extending about at least a portion of the outlet. The diverting device may obstruct the flow of water droplets in the blower scroll into the outlet.

Another embodiment relates to an HVAC system comprising a blower scroll including a base and a wall extending from an outer edge of the base. The base may include an outlet formed in the base and a diverting device extending about at least a portion of the outlet. The diverting device may obstruct the flow of water droplets in the blower scroll into the outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a portion of a vehicle HVAC system.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a portion of the vehicle HVAC system of FIG. 1 taken from a side of the HVAC system.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a portion of the vehicle HVAC system of FIG. 1 taken from below the HVAC system.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blower scroll.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a blower scroll.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the blower scroll of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of a blower scroll.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of the blower scroll of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a blower scroll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a vehicle HVAC system may include a blower motor housing containing a blower motor and a blower scroll mounted above the blower motor housing. The blower motor powers the blower wheel. Air is drawn into an air inlet by the blower wheel located in the blower scroll and pushed through the blower scroll discharge. A motor cooling channel is provided that allows for a portion of the air drawn into the blower scroll to pass down to the blower motor housing where the air cools the blower motor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a blower scroll for a vehicle HVAC system. The blower scroll includes a blower scroll base, and a blower scroll wall. The wall and the base may form a right angle. In other embodiments the wall and base may form an obtuse angle where the base angles downward and/or the wall angles outward at the top of the wall. An opening is provided in the blower scroll base where air can enter the blower motor cooling channel and be directed down to the blower motor housing. The arrows show the general direction of airflow within the blower scroll and through the blower scroll discharge. After exiting the blower scroll, the air may be directed to an evaporator and/or a heating core to cool or heat the air before it enters the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

In the event that water droplets are contained in the air drawn into the blower scroll, the water droplets may be pushed to the periphery of the blower scroll with the airflow. When passing the blower motor cooling channel opening, a portion of the water droplets may enter the blower motor cooling channel. These droplets may then travel to the blower motor where water may increase corrosion of blower motor components, or interfere with the electronic controls for the blower motor, or cause mechanical failure of the blower motor's bearings.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a blower scroll configured to reduce introduction of water to the motor cooling channel. The blower scroll base includes a diverting rib that is raised relative to the base and diverts water droplets that would otherwise pass just above the opening to the motor cooling channel to either side of the opening. A channel rib may also be provided closer to the opening and also serves to divert water away from the channel opening. First and second openings are provided between the diverting rib and the channel rib to allow water droplets that pass over the diverting rib to be directed to either side of the channel rib. The channel rib extends around the blower motor channel opening on three sides. The water droplets then exit the blower scroll through the blower scroll discharge and avoid the blower motor.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another blower scroll having a diverting rib and a channel rib for diverting water away from the blower motor cooling channel. In this embodiment, a single opening is provided between the diverting rib and the channel rib. Water accumulating between the diverting rib and the channel rib is directed past the opening and around the blower motor cooling channel opening. A portion of the water diverted by the diverting rib may pass around the blower motor cooling channel opening along a side opposite the opening.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the blower scroll. The blower scroll includes a blower scroll base and a blower scroll wall for containing a blower wheel and directing airflow to the blower scroll outlet. The blower scroll base includes a blower motor channel opening for allowing a portion of the air flow to travel down the blower motor cooling channel to the blower motor housing. The blower scroll base is provided with a system of channels recessed into the surface of the blower scroll base for diverting the flow of water droplets around the blower motor channel opening.

In some embodiments, a primary channel is placed up stream of the blower motor cooling channel opening (defined by the direction of air flow). The primary channel leads to the first bypass channel and is connected to a second bypass channel by a linking channel. The first bypass channel passes around the blower motor cooling channel opening along a side proximate to the blower scroll wall. The second bypass channel passes proximate to the inside edge of the blower scroll base. Because of the dynamics of the blower scroll, a larger quantity of water is directed proximate to the blower scroll wall. Accordingly, the first bypass channel may be made wider than the second bypass channel to provided a larger crossectional area. A secondary channel may be provided between the primary channel and the blower motor cooling channel opening. The secondary channel may link the first bypass channel and the second bypass channel to allow water droplets not diverted by the primary channel to be diverted around the blower motor cooling channel opening.

Although the foregoing has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope thereof For example, although different example embodiments may have been described as including one or more features providing one or more benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example embodiments or in other alternative embodiments. The present subject matter described with reference to the example embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements. Many other changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of these and other changes will become apparent from the appended claims. The steps of the methods described herein may be varied, and carried out in different sequences.

Claims

1. A blower scroll comprising:

a base;

a wall extending from an outer edge of the base;

an outlet formed in the base; and

a diverting device extending about at least a portion of the outlet.

2. The blower scroll of claim 1, wherein the diverting device comprises a raised rib.

3. The blower scroll of claim 1, wherein the diverting device comprises a channel.

4. An HVAC system for a vehicle comprising the blower scroll of claim 1.