BLOWER DEVICE
A blower device includes a centrifugal fan rotor arranged to blow-out indrawn air in a direction orthogonal to an indrawing direction, and a motor arranged to rotate the centrifugal fan rotor. The centrithgal fan rotor has a motor cover in proximity to an external peripheral surface of the motor. Openings are provided at a lower part of the motor cover and a motor-cooling air passage is formed such that some of the air blown out from the centrifugal fan rotor is led to a motor-surrounding space formed between the centrifugal fan rotor and the motor and then is discharged through the openings.
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The present invention relates to a blower device, and particularly relates to a blower device that uses a centrifugal fan rotor.
BACKGROUND ARTIn a blower device comprising a fan rotor of a construction having a motor attached to the side opposite to an air indrawing side, in order to cool the motor, the design is such that some of the discharged air is returned between the motor periphery and a hub encircling the motor so as to cover the external periphery. This design is described while referring to
However, in a blower device such as the one described above, an increase in blowing noise is observed as an effect of the openings 124a being provided. This is presumably due to interference between air flowing along the hub 125 and air flowing out through the openings 124a, because the openings 124a are provided to the top of the hub 125 (the portion near the air indrawing side).
An object of the present invention is to provide a blower device in which such blowing noise is reduced.
Solution to ProblemA blower device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a centrifugal fan rotor and a motor. The centrifugal fan rotor blows out indrawn air in a direction orthogonal to the indrawing direction. The motor rotates the centrifugal fan rotor. The centrifugal fan rotor has a motor cover in proximity to the external peripheral surface of the motor. Openings are provided at a lower part of the motor cover, and a motor-cooling air passage is formed at a lower part of the motor cover. The motor-cooling air passage is a passage into which some of the air blown out from the centrifugal fan rotor through the openings is discharged after the air has been led to a motor-surrounding space formed between the centrifugal fan rotor and the motor.
In this blower device, the air flowing from the motor-cooling air passage into the space surrounding the motor cools the motor and flows out through the openings in the motor cover. At this time, the air flowing from the indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor to the discharge side and the air flowing out through the openings in the motor cover both flow in the centrifugal direction of the centrifugal fan rotor, and there is therefore less interference between the two air flows. Interference between these air flows is presumed to be the cause of the increase in blowing noise, and there is expected to be a reduction in noise because there is less of this interference.
A blower device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the first aspect, wherein the openings are disposed over 0 to 45% of a height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor relative to an end section of the centrifugal fan rotor on a non-indrawing side, the height dimension being the dimension oriented in the direction of a rotating shaft.
In this blower device, similar to the blower device according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is expected to be a reduction in noise because there is less interference between the air flowing from the indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor to the discharge side and the air flowing out through the openings in the motor cover.
A blower device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the second aspect, wherein the area of the motor cover occupied by the openings constitutes 60 to 80% of the area of the portion disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor.
In this blower device, there is less passage resistance against the air flowing out through the openings, and the necessary rigidity of the centrifugal fan rotor is maintained.
A blower device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the second aspect, wherein the openings are disposed over 0 to 25% of the height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor.
According to the results of experiments conducted by the applicant, in comparison to a blower device in which the openings are provided to other positions, the rotational speed needed in order to achieve the same airflow rate is lower and blowing noise is also lower.
A blower device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the first aspect, wherein the motor cover includes an inclined surface. The inclined surface is inclined relative to a rotating shaft of the motor and the inclined surface extends to an end section on a non-indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor. The openings are disposed on the non-indrawing-side base of the inclined surface.
In this blower device, air taken into the centrifugal fan rotor flows along the inclined surface of the motor cover, and the air is deflected in the centrifugal direction by the base portion of the inclined surface. If the openings were to be provided in the middle of the inclined surface, the air flowing along the inclined surface and the air flowing out through the openings would interfere with each other, causing an increase in blowing noise.
However, when the openings span through the base portion of the inclined surface, a large part of the air flowing out through the openings flows out from the base portion of the inclined surface, and the air outflow direction is the centrifugal direction. Accordingly, there is less interference between the air flowing along the inclined surface and the air flowing out through the openings. The interference between these air flows is presumed to be the cause of increases in blowing noise, and a noise reduction is expected because there is less of this interference.
A blower device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the first aspect, wherein the motor cover includes an inclined surface and a vertical surface. The inclined surface is inclined relative to a rotating shaft of the motor and the inclined surface extends to an end section on a non-indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor. The vertical surface extends substantially parallel to the rotating shaft and the vertical surface from a terminal end of the inclined surface to the end section. The openings are disposed on the non-indrawing-side base of the vertical surface.
In this blower device, a large part of the air flowing out through the openings flows out from the base portion of the vertical surface, and the air outflow direction is the centrifugal direction. The air flowing along the inclined surface flows in the centrifugal direction in proximity to the terminal end of the inclined surface. Accordingly, there is less interference between the air flowing along the inclined surface and the air flowing out through the openings. The interference between these air flows is presumed to be the cause of increases in blowing noise, and a noise reduction is expected because there is less of this interference.
A blower device according to a seventh aspect of the present is the blower device according to the first aspect, wherein the centrifugal fan rotor further has a fixed section and a plurality of fan blades. The fixed section holds the rotating shaft of the motor. The fan blades are arranged in positions separated outward in the radial direction from the fixed section. The motor cover joins the fixed section and an end section on a non-indrawing side in the longitudinal direction of the fan blades.
In this blower device, because the air heading to the fan blades and the air flowing out through the openings cross in a substantially parallel fashion, there is less interference between these air flows. The interference between these air flows is presumed to be the cause of increases in blowing noise, and a noise reduction is expected because there is less of this interference.
A blower device according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the first aspect, wherein the centrifugal fan rotor is a sirocco fan rotor configured from a hub, a main plate, and a plurality of fan blades. Integrated in the hub are a fixed section for holding a rotating shaft of the motor and the motor cover, The main plate encircles the periphery of the hub. The fan blades are arranged in a cylindrical formation along the external peripherial of the main plate.
In this blower device, because the air heading to the fan blades and the air flowing out through the openings cross in a substantially parallel fashion, there is less interference between these air flows. The interference between these air flows is presumed to be the cause of increases in blowing noise, and a noise reduction is expected because there is less of this interference.
A blower device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the ratio of the shortest distance between the motor cover and the fan blades to the maximum radius of the hub is 0.1 to 0.3.
In this blower device, when the ratio of the shortest distance between the motor cover and the fan blades to the maximum radius of the hub is 0.1 to 0.3, the indrawn air readily flows along the hub and the increase in blowing noise is suppressed.
A blower device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the blower device according to the eighth aspect, wherein the ratio of the outside diameter of the centrifugal fan rotor to the outside diameter of the motor is 3.0 or less.
In this blower device, when the ratio of the outside diameter of the centrifugal fan rotor to the outside diameter of the motor is 3.0 or less, the indrawn air can be made to readily flow along the hub.
Advantageous Effects of InventionIn the blower device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, there is expected to be a reduction in noise because there is less interference between air flowing from the indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor to the discharge side and air flowing out through the openings in the motor cover.
In the blower device according to the third aspect of the present invention, there is less passage resistance against the air flowing out through the openings, and the necessary rigidity of the centrifugal fan rotor is maintained.
In the blower device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in comparison to a blower device in which the openings are provided to other positions, the rotational speed needed in order to achieve the same airflow rate is lower and blowing noise is also lower.
In the blower device according to the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, there is expected to be a reduction in noise because there is less interference between air flowing along the inclined surface and air flowing out through the openings.
In the blower device according to the seventh or eighth aspect of the present invention, the end sections of the fan blades and the end section of the motor cover are in positions of substantially the same height, and the air heading to the fan blades and the air flowing out through the openings cross in a substantially parallel fashion. As a result, there is expected to be a reduction in noise because there is less interference between these air flows.
In the blower device according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the indrawn air readily flows along the hub and the increase in blowing noise is suppressed.
In the blower device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the indrawn air can be made to readily flow along the hub.
An embodiment of the present invention is described hereinbelow while referring to the drawings. The following embodiment is a specific example of the present invention and is not intended to limit the technological scope of the present invention.
(1) Configuration of Blower Device
When the fan rotor 20 rotates, air is taken in from a fixed section 22 side along the direction of the rotating shaft, the air proceeds along the inclined surface of a motor cover 24, and the air is then blown out in a direction orthogonal to the indrawing direction.
Some of the blown out air is led to the space surrounding the motor 30 formed between the fan rotor 20 and the motor 30. Openings 24a are provided in advance in the fan rotor 20, and after the air led to the space surrounding the motor 30 has cooled the external peripheral surface of the motor 30, the air is discharged through the openings 24a. The route through which this air flows is referred to as a motor-cooling air passage 40.
(2) Specific Configuration of Fan Rotor
(2-1) Hub
The hub 25 is a member in which the fixed section 22 supporting the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30 and the motor cover 24 in proximity to the external peripheral surface of the motor 30 are formed integrally.
Referring to the air indrawing side half of the motor cover 24 as the top section and the opposite half as the lower part, the openings 24a are provided in the lower part of the motor cover 24. The height hb of one edge of each opening 24a is in a position of 0% of the height dimension H, with respect to an end section 28 on the non-indrawing side of the fan rotor 20, and the height ha of the other edge is in a position of 45%. The height dimension H herein is the dimension of the rotating shaft direction of the fan rotor 20, as shown in
The percentage of area of the openings 24a in the motor cover 24 is 60 to 80% relative to the area of the portion disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension of the fan rotor 20. This area percentage of the openings 24a allows the passage resistance of air flowing from the openings to be suppressed and the necessary rigidity of the fan rotor 20 to be maintained.
(2-2) Main Plate and Fan Blades
The main plate 29 encircles the periphery of the hub 25, and the fan blades 26 are arranged in a cylindrical formation along the external periphery of the main plate 29. The main plate 29 also serves as the end section 28 in the non-indrawing side of the fan blades 26 in the longitudinal direction. The motor cover 24 joins the fixed section 22 and the end section 28 together.
(3) Noise of Blower Device
Next, to find the optimal positions of the openings 24a, first through third samples of the fan rotor 20 having different positions of the openings 24a were created, and noise was measured relative to airflow rate when the samples were implemented in a blower device. The specifications and noise measurement results of the samples are described hereinbelow. The first sample is not described because the first sample is the same as the fan rotor 20 (see
(3-1) Fan Rotor Sample Specifications
(3-2) Noise Comparison Results
The noise of the blower devices having the first, second, and third samples is lower than the noise of the blower device having the conventional fan rotor, as shown in
In a comparison of the noise values of the blower devices having the first, second, and third samples of the fan rotor 20, the blower device having the first sample of the fan rotor 20 has the lowest noise value, the blower device having the second sample has the second lowest value, and the blower device having the third sample has the third lowest value. Because the difference is smaller than the difference with the blower device having the conventional fan rotor, the openings 24a of the fan rotor 20 are preferably provided so as to be disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H.
When the range of 0 to 45% of the height dimension H is too large for the openings due to structural restrictions, the openings are preferably provided so as to be disposed over either 0 to 25% of the height dimension H or 25 to 45% of the height dimension H, and considering the results shown in
The first, second, and third samples of the fan rotor 20 used by the applicant in the experiments have the same specifications as though openings 124a were left in conventional opening positions. However, the applicant has confirmed that the same results as those shown in
As described above, if the openings 24a are disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H, the same level of noise is achieved in any of the blower devices having the first, second, and third samples of the fan rotor 20.
The openings 24a disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H means that the openings 24a are partially or entirely located in positions at 0 to 45% of the height dimension H. Even if the height ha of the higher edges of the openings 24a is in a position exceeding 45% of the height dimension H (0.45<ha/H), the openings are assessed as being disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H if the height Fib of the lower edge of the openings 24a is within the range of 0 to 45% of the height dimension H (0<hb/H<0.45).
Due to the openings 24a being provided so as to be disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H, the effect achieved is that less rotational speed is needed in order to achieve the same airflow rate. This is described hereinbelow using
(4) Characteristics
(4-1)
The blower device 10 is a sirocco fan in which the fan rotor 20 is configured from the hub 25, the main plate 29, and a plurality of fan blades 26. In the blower device 10, the openings 24a are provided in the lower part (the non-indrawing side) of the motor cover 24. The openings 24a are disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension H of the fan rotor 20, with respect to the end section 28 of the non-indrawing side of the fan rotor 20. Accordingly, there is expected to be a noise reduction because there is less interference between the air flowing from the indrawing side of the fan rotor 20 to the discharge side and the air flowing out through the openings 24a.
(4-2)
In the motor cover 24, if the percentage of area of the openings 24a is 60 to 80% relative to the area of the portion disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor, there is less passage resistance against the air flowing out through the openings 24a, and the required rigidity of the centrifugal fan rotor is maintained.
(4-3)
The motor cover 24 includes an inclined surface and a vertical surface, the inclined surface extends toward the end section 28 of the non-indrawing side of the fan rotor 20 at an incline with respect to the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30, and the vertical surface, which is substantially parallel with the rotating shaft 32, extends from the terminal end of the inclined surface to the end section 28. The openings 24a span through the base of the non-indrawing side of the vertical surface and a large part of the air flowing out through the openings 24a flows out from the base portion of the vertical surface, accordingly, there is less interference between the air flowing along the inclined surface and the air flowing out through the openings.
(4-4)
In the blower device 10, the air heading to the fan blades 26 and the air flowing out through the openings 24a cross in a substantially parallel fashion, and there is less interference between these air flows.
(5) Modifications
In the above embodiment, the motor cover 24 includes an inclined surface and a vertical surface and the openings 24a span through the base of the non-indrawing side of the vertical surface, but the configuration is not limited to this example alone.
For example, the openings 24a preferably span through the base of the non-indrawing side of the inclined surface even in a type of device in which the inclined surface of the motor cover 24 is inclined relative to the rotating shaft 32 of the motor 30 and the inclined surface extends to the end section 28 of the non-indrawing side of the fan rotor 20 (a shape such as the one disclosed in
In the blower device according to this modification, air taken into the fan rotor 20 flows along the inclined surface of the motor cover 24, and the air is deflected in the centrifugal direction by the base portion of the inclined surface. A large part of the air flowing out through the openings 24a flows out from the base portion of the inclined surface, and the air outflow direction is the centrifugal direction. Accordingly, there is less interference between the air flowing along the inclined surface and the air flowing out through the openings.
Other EmbodimentsIn
(2)
Furthermore, the applicant has confirmed that when the ratio of the outside diameter D of the centrifugal fan rotor 20 to the outside diameter d of the motor 30 (D/d) is 3.0 or less, the indrawn air will easily be made to flow along the hub 25.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITYAs described above, according to the present invention, in a blower device provided with openings through which motor-cooling air flows, there is less of an increase in blowing noise presumed to be due to the air flowing through the openings, and the blower device is therefore useful in centrifugal fans including sirocco fans.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST20 Fan rotor
22 Fixed section
24 Motor cover
24a Openings
25 Hub
26 Fan blades
28 End section
29 Main plate
30 Motor
32 Rotating shaft
40 Motor-cooling air passage
CITATION LIST Patent Literature[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No, 2000-50602
Claims
1. A blower device comprising:
- a centrifugal fan rotor arranged to blow out indrawn air in a direction orthogonal to an indrawing direction; and
- a motor arranged to rotate the centrifugal fan rotor,
- the centrifugal fan rotor having a motor cover in proximity to an external peripheral surface of the motor, and
- openings being provided at a lower part of the motor cover and a motor-cooling air passage being formed such that some of the air blown out from the centrifugal fan rotor is led to a motor-surrounding space formed between the centrifugal fan rotor and the motor and then is discharged through the openings.
2. The blower device according to claim 1, wherein
- the openings are disposed over 0 to 45% of a height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor relative to an end section of the centrifugal fan rotor on a non-indrawing side, the height dimension being oriented in a direction of a rotating shaft.
3. The blower device according to claim 2, wherein
- an area of the motor cover occupied by the openings constitutes 60 to 80% of an area of a portion of the motor cover disposed over 0 to 45% of the height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor.
4. The blower device according to claim 2, wherein
- the openings are disposed over 0 to 25% of the height dimension of the centrifugal fan rotor.
5. The blower device according to claim 1, wherein
- the motor cover includes an inclined surface inclined relative to a rotating shaft of the motor and extending to an end section on an non-indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor, and
- the openings are disposed on a non-indrawing-side base of the inclined surface.
6. The blower device according to claim 1 wherein
- the motor cover includes an inclined surface inclined relative to a rotating shaft of the motor and extending toward an end section on a non-indrawing side of the centrifugal fan rotor, and a vertical surface extending substantially parallel to the rotating shaft from a terminal end of the inclined surface to the end section; and
- the openings are disposed on a non-indrawing-side base of the vertical surface.
7. The blower device according to claim 1, wherein
- the centrifugal fan rotor further includes a fixed section arranged to hold a rotating shaft of the motor, and a plurality of fan blades arranged in positions separated outward in a radial direction from the fixed section, the motor cover joining the fixed section and an end section of a non-indrawing side in a longitudinal direction of the fan blades.
8. The blower device according to claim 1, wherein
- the centrifugal fan rotor is a sirocco fan rotor including a hub having a fixed section arranged to hold rotating shaft of the motor, the fixed section being integrated with the motor cover, a main plate encircling a periphery of the hub, and a plurality of fan blades arranged in a cylindrical formation along an external periphery of the main plate.
9. The blower device according to claim 8, wherein
- a ratio of L to R is 0.1 to 0.3, where L is a shortest distance between the motor cover and the fan blades and R is a maximum radius of the hub.
10. The blower device according to claim 8, wherein
- a ratio of D to d is no more than 3.0, where D is an outside diameter of the centrifugal fan rotor and d is an outside diameter of the motor.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 9, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2013
Applicant:
Inventors: Shinji Ishii (Kusatsu-shi), Mitsuhisa Nagao (Kusatsu-shi)
Application Number: 13/806,731
International Classification: F04D 1/00 (20060101);