U.S. patent application number 10/933329 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for centrifugal blower having auxiliary radial inlet.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Mei-Chih Fang, Alex Horng, Yu-Yuan Lu.
Application Number | 20060024160 10/933329 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35732395 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060024160 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Horng; Alex ; et
al. |
February 2, 2006 |
Centrifugal blower having auxiliary radial inlet
Abstract
A centrifugal blower includes a housing, a cover, and an
impeller. The housing includes a peripheral wall delimiting an
inner space. The peripheral wall further includes a first sidewall
and a second sidewall respectively at two ends thereof. A radial
air outlet is defined between the first sidewall and the second
sidewall of the peripheral wall. A cover includes an axial air
inlet communicated with the inner space of the housing. An impeller
is rotatably mounted in the inner space of the housing and aligned
with the axial air inlet. At least one auxiliary radial air inlet
is defined in the peripheral wall and adjacent to one of the first
sidewall and the second sidewall. When the impeller turns, an axial
airflow is sucked into the inner space via the axial air inlet and
an auxiliary radial airflow is sucked into the inner space via the
auxiliary radial air inlet.
Inventors: |
Horng; Alex; (Kaohsiung,
TW) ; Lu; Yu-Yuan; (Kaohsiung, TW) ; Fang;
Mei-Chih; (Kaohsiung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACON & THOMAS, PLLC
625 SLATERS LANE
FOURTH FLOOR
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
Sunonwealth Electric Machine
Industry Co., Ltd.
Kaohsiung
TW
|
Family ID: |
35732395 |
Appl. No.: |
10/933329 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/206 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/4226 20130101;
F04D 29/424 20130101; F04D 29/681 20130101; F04D 17/04 20130101;
F04D 29/684 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/206 |
International
Class: |
F01D 1/02 20060101
F01D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 2, 2004 |
TW |
93123079 |
Claims
1. A centrifugal blower comprising: a housing comprising a
peripheral wall delimiting an inner space, the peripheral wall
further including a first sidewall and a second sidewall
respectively at two ends thereof, a radial air outlet being defined
between the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the
peripheral wall; a cover including an axial air inlet communicated
with the inner space of the housing; and an impeller rotatably
mounted in the inner space of the housing and aligned with the
axial air inlet; at least one auxiliary radial air inlet being
defined in the peripheral wall and adjacent to one of the first
sidewall and the second sidewall; wherein when the impeller turns,
an axial airflow is sucked into the inner space via the axial air
inlet and an auxiliary radial airflow is sucked into the inner
space via said at least one auxiliary radial air inlet.
2. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 1 wherein: a portion
of the peripheral wall adjacent to the first sidewall delimiting
the radial air outlet is an air-driving starting point; another
portion of the peripheral wall adjacent to the second sidewall
delimiting the radial air outlet is an air-driving end point; and
said at least one auxiliary air inlet is adjacent to the
air-driving starting point.
3. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 2 wherein the housing
is a snail shell-like structure and wherein the impeller is
eccentrically mounted in the inner space.
4. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 3 wherein the first
sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet is closer to the impeller
than the second sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet.
5. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at
least one auxiliary radial air inlet is a rectilinear slit.
6. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at
least one auxiliary radial air inlet is an inclined slit.
7. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at
least one auxiliary radial air inlet is delimited by two sidewalls
that extend in a direction at an acute angle with a radial
direction of the peripheral wall.
8. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at
least one auxiliary radial air inlet has a width that decreases
inward.
9. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality
of equispaced auxiliary radial air inlets are defined in the
peripheral wall and adjacent to the first sidewall delimiting the
radial air outlet.
10. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 9 wherein each said
auxiliary radial air inlet has a width that decreases inward.
11. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 9 wherein two
sidewalls delimiting each of said auxiliary radial air inlets are
parallel to each other.
12. The centrifugal blower as claimed in claim 9 wherein the
peripheral wall further includes a plurality of extensions for the
auxiliary radial air inlets, the extensions projecting from an
inner face of the peripheral wall and extending along an
air-driving direction of the impeller.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a centrifugal blower. In
particular, the present invention relates to a centrifugal blower
having at least one auxiliary radial inlet for increasing the air
inlet amount.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional centrifugal blower (or
heat dissipating fan) comprising a housing 1, a cover 2, and an
impeller 3. The housing 1 includes a radial air outlet 11 and the
cover 2 includes an axial air inlet 21. The impeller 3 is rotatably
mounted in the housing 1. When the impeller 3 turns, axial airflow
is sucked into the housing 1 via the axial air inlet 21. The
direction of the axial airflow is changed and the airflow is
outputted via the radial air outlet 11 for dissipating heat of an
object. However, in use, a limited amount of air is sucked by the
impeller 3 from top of the cover 2. The air surrounding a periphery
of the housing 1 is not utilized. The air inlet amount and the wind
pressure could not be increased.
[0005] Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 444897 discloses a
centrifugal blower that has a housing without axial air inlet.
Instead, the housing of the centrifugal blower includes at least
one radial air inlet and a radial air outlet. The radial air inlet
allows suction of ambient air surrounding the housing. However, the
airflow may enter and leave the housing via the radial air inlet at
the same time, resulting in turbulence and thus failing to provide
the expected heat-dissipating effect.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a
centrifugal blower with increased air inlet amount.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
centrifugal blower with improved air inlet smoothness.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
centrifugal blower with lowered air suction noise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a
centrifugal blower comprises a housing, a cover, and an impeller.
The housing includes a peripheral wall delimiting an inner space.
The peripheral wall further includes a first sidewall and a second
sidewall respectively at two ends thereof. A radial air outlet is
defined between the first sidewall and the second sidewall of the
peripheral wall. A cover includes an axial air inlet communicated
with the inner space of the housing. An impeller is-rotatably
mounted in the inner space of the housing and aligned with the
axial air inlet. At least one auxiliary radial air inlet is defined
in the peripheral wall and adjacent to one of the first sidewall
and the second sidewall.
[0010] When the impeller turns, an axial airflow is sucked into the
inner space via the axial air inlet and an auxiliary radial airflow
is sucked into the inner space via the auxiliary radial air
inlet.
[0011] A portion of the peripheral wall adjacent to the first
sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet is an air-driving
starting point. Another portion of the peripheral wall adjacent to
the second sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet is an
air-driving end point. The auxiliary air inlet is adjacent to the
air-driving starting point.
[0012] In an embodiment, the housing is a snail shell-like
structure and the impeller is eccentrically mounted in the inner
space. The first sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet is
closer to the impeller than the second sidewall delimiting the
radial air outlet.
[0013] In an embodiment, the auxiliary radial air inlet is a
rectilinear slit. In another embodiment, the auxiliary radial air
inlet is an inclined slit. In a further embodiment, the auxiliary
radial air inlet is delimited by two sidewalls that extend in a
direction at an acute angle with a radial direction of the
peripheral wall. In still another embodiment, the auxiliary radial
air inlet has a width that decreases inward.
[0014] In yet another embodiment, a plurality of equispaced
auxiliary radial air inlets are defined in the peripheral wall and
adjacent to the first sidewall delimiting the radial air outlet.
Each auxiliary radial air inlet has a width that decreases inward.
Two sidewalls delimiting each auxiliary radial air inlet are
parallel to each other. In still another embodiment, the peripheral
wall further includes a plurality of extensions for the auxiliary
radial air inlets. The extensions project from an inner face of the
peripheral wall and extend along an air-driving direction of the
impeller.
[0015] Other objects, advantages and novel features of this
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional centrifugal
blower;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a
centrifugal blower in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of the centrifugal blower in
FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of a second embodiment of
the centrifugal blower in accordance with the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment
of the centrifugal blower in accordance with the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the centrifugal blower in
FIG. 5;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a top sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the
centrifugal blower in accordance with the present invention;
and
[0023] FIG. 8 is a top sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the
centrifugal blower in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now to be
described hereinafter in detail, in which the same reference
numerals are used in the preferred embodiments for the same parts
as those in the prior art to avoid redundant description.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a first embodiment of a
centrifugal blower in accordance with the present invention
comprises a housing 1, a cover 2, and an impeller 3. The housing 1
includes a peripheral wall 12 defining an inner space 10 in which
the impeller 3 is rotatably mounted. The peripheral wall 12 further
includes a radial air outlet 11 communicated with the inner space
10 and an auxiliary radial air inlet 13 that is also communicated
with the inner space 10. An eccentric axle tube 101 is mounted in
the inner space 10, and the impeller 3 is rotatably mounted on the
eccentric axle tube 10.
[0026] The radial air outlet 11 is located at a side of the inner
space 10. The peripheral wall 12 is substantially a snail
shell-like structure surrounding the inner space 10. The auxiliary
radial air inlet 13 may be circular or square in section.
Preferably, the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 is in the form of a
rectilinear slit located adjacent to the radial air outlet 11. A
sectional area of the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 is smaller than
that of the radial air outlet 11. Thus, the air inlet function of
the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 is distinctive from the air
outlet function of the radial air outlet 11.
[0027] The impeller 3 is aligned with an axial air inlet 21 of the
cover. The impeller 3 includes a hub 31, an annular plate 32
extending from a periphery of the hub 31, and a plurality of blades
33 formed on a side of the annular plate 32. The impeller 3 is
eccentrically mounted in the inner space 10. The radial air outlet
11 is delimited by a first sidewall 15 and a second sidewall 16
that are two opposed end portions of the peripheral wall 12. A
portion of the peripheral wall 12 adjacent to the first sidewall 15
is an air-driving starting point. Another portion of the peripheral
wall 12 adjacent to the second sidewall 16 is an air-driving end
point. The air-driving starting point is closer to impeller 3 than
the air-driving end point, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary radial
air inlet 13 is preferably adjacent to the air-driving starting
point adjacent to the first sidewall 15 delimiting the radial air
outlet 11.
[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the impeller 3 turns, axial
airflow is sucked by the blades 33 of the impeller 3 into the inner
space 10 via the axial air inlet 21 of the cover 2. The air-driving
effect by the blades 33 of the impeller 3 creates a suction force
that sucks ambient air adjacent to the auxiliary radial air inlet
13 into the inner space 10 via the auxiliary air inlet 13. In other
words, the ambient air adjacent to the auxiliary radial air inlet
13 is sucked into the inner space 10 in the form of a radial
airflow. The overall air inlet amount is increased and the wind
pressure in the inner space 10 is increased.
[0029] During rotation of the impeller 3, since the sectional area
of the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 is much smaller than that of
the radial air outlet 11, the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 can
only allow airflow to enter the inner space 10 and not allow exit
of airflow. Leakage of air is avoided. The airflow is outputted via
the radial air outlet 11. Thus, the centrifugal blower in
accordance with the present invention may use the axial airflow
above the cover 2 as well as the auxiliary radial airflow
surrounding the peripheral wall 12 to proceed with heat dissipation
for an object such as a fin. The overall air outlet amount is
increased and the heat-dissipating effect is improved.
[0030] FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the centrifugal
blower in accordance with the present invention. In this
embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary radial air inlets 13' are
defined in the peripheral wall 12 adjacent to the first sidewall 15
delimiting the radial air outlet 11. Each auxiliary radial air
inlet 13' is inclined. Preferably, the auxiliary radial air inlets
13' are equispaced and substantially parallel to one another. By
this arrangement, the more radial auxiliary airflows can be sucked
into the inner space 10 via the auxiliary radial air inlets 13'.
All of the overall air inlet amount, the wind pressure, and the
overall air outlet amount are increased.
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a third embodiment of the
centrifugal blower in accordance with the present invention. In
this embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary radial air inlets 13''
are defined in the peripheral wall 12 adjacent to the first
sidewall 15 delimiting the radial air outlet 11. Further, each of
two sidewalls 131 and 132 delimiting each auxiliary radial air
inlet 13'' extends in a direction at an acute angle with a radial
direction of the peripheral wall 12, while the sidewalls (not
labeled) delimiting the auxiliary radial air inlet 13 in the first
embodiment extend along the radial direction. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, the auxiliary radial air inlets 13'' are equispaced and the
sidewalls 131 and 132 are substantially parallel to one another. By
this arrangement, more radial auxiliary airflows can be sucked into
the inner space 10 via the auxiliary radial air inlets 13''. All of
the overall air inlet amount, the wind pressure, and the overall
air outlet amount are increased.
[0032] FIG. 7 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the centrifugal
blower in accordance with the present invention modified from the
third embodiment. In this embodiment, a width of each auxiliary
radial air inlet 13'' decreases inward. This allows smoother air
suction and lowers the air suction noise. The auxiliary radial air
inlets 13'' are further distinctive from the radial air outlet 11
in structure by the sidewalls 131 and 132 delimiting each auxiliary
radial air inlet 13''.
[0033] FIG. 8 illustrates a fifth embodiment of the centrifugal
blower in accordance with the present invention modified from the
third embodiment. In this embodiment, a portion of the inner face
of the peripheral wall 12 adjacent to the first sidewall 15
delimiting the radial air outlet 11 includes a plurality of
extensions 14 that extend along the air-driving direction of the
impeller 3. This provides the auxiliary radial air inlets 13'' with
smoother air suction effect while lowering the air suction noise.
Further, The auxiliary radial air inlets 13'' are further
distinctive from the radial air outlet 11 in structure by the
extensions 14.
[0034] While the principles of this invention have been disclosed
in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood by
those skilled in the art that these descriptions are not intended
to limit the scope of the invention, and that any modification and
variation without departing the spirit of the invention is intended
to be covered by the scope of this invention defined only by the
appended claims.
* * * * *