U.S. patent application number 11/782861 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for turbofan and air conditioner having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Min Gi Cho, Weon Seok CHOI, Seiji Sato.
Application Number | 20080118345 11/782861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39417120 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080118345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHOI; Weon Seok ; et
al. |
May 22, 2008 |
TURBOFAN AND AIR CONDITIONER HAVING THE SAME
Abstract
A turbofan to reduce a blowing noise, and an air conditioner
having the same. The turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled to
a shaft of a driving motor, a plurality of blades coupled to an
outer circumference of the rotating plate, and an annular shroud
coupled to an end of each blade. The end of each blade includes an
inner end that is coupled to the rotating plate, and an outer end
that is not coupled to the rotating plate. The outer end of each
blade is tilted toward the rotating plate such that a distance
between the outer end of each blade and an inner surface of an
apparatus employing the turbofan is increased as the outer end of
each blade moves away from a rotational center of the rotating
plate in a radial outward direction.
Inventors: |
CHOI; Weon Seok; (Seoul,
KR) ; Sato; Seiji; (Nishi, JP) ; Cho; Min
Gi; (Suwon-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANZIONE & KIM, LLP
919 18TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 440
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
39417120 |
Appl. No.: |
11/782861 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/58.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/062 20130101;
F04D 29/30 20130101; F25D 2317/0683 20130101; F04D 25/12 20130101;
F04D 29/281 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/58.4 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 20, 2006 |
KR |
2006-114806 |
Claims
1. A turbofan, comprising; a rotating plate coupled to a shaft of a
driving motor; a plurality of blades coupled to an outer
circumference of the rotating plate; and an annular shroud coupled
to an end of each blade, the end of each blade including an inner
end that is coupled to the rotating plate, and an outer end that is
not coupled to the rotating plate, wherein the outer end of each
blade is tilted toward the rotating plate such that a distance
between the outer end of each blade and an inner surface of an
apparatus employing the turbofan increases as the outer end of each
blade moves away from a rotational center of the rotating plate in
a radial outward direction.
2. The turbofan of claim 1, wherein the outer end of each blade has
a tilt angle of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees with respect to
the rotating plate.
3. The turbofan of claim 2, wherein the rotating plate, the blades,
and the shroud are integrally formed.
4. An air conditioner, comprising: a main body case; a driving
motor fixed to an inner surface of the main body case; a turbofan
coupled to a shaft of the driving motor; and a heat exchanger
installed around the turbofan in the main body case, wherein the
turbofan includes a rotating plate coupled to the shaft of the
driving motor, a plurality of blades coupled to an outer
circumference of the rotating plate, and an annular shroud coupled
to an end of each blade wherein the end of each blade includes an
inner end that is coupled to the rotating plate, and an outer end
that is not coupled to the rotating plate, and wherein the outer
end of each blade is tilted toward the rotating plate such that a
distance between the outer end of each blade and an inner surface
of the main body case is increased as the outer end of each blade
moves away from a rotational center of the rotating plate in a
radial outward direction.
5. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the outer end of each
blade has a tilt angle of about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees with
respect to the rotating plate.
6. The air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the rotating plate, the
blades, and the shroud are integrally formed.
7. A turbofan assembly, comprising: a main body; a rotating plate
coupled to an inner surface of the main body to rotate on an axis
perpendicular to the inner surface; and a plurality of blades
coupled to an outer circumference of the rotating plate, each of
the plurality of blades including a side closest to the inner
surface of the main body which gradually slopes away from the inner
surface of the main body as the side extends away from the rotating
plate.
8. A turbofan assembly, comprising: a main body; a rotating plate
coupled to an inner surface of the main body to rotate on an axis
perpendicular to the inner surface; and a plurality of blades each
having an inner side with respect to the main body that includes a
first end coupled to an outer circumference of the rotating plate
and a second end which is at a distance further from the inner
surface of the main body than the first end.
9. An air conditioner, comprising: a main body case; a driving
motor fixed to an inner surface of the main body case; a rotating
plate coupled to the driving motor to rotate on an axis
perpendicular to the inner surface of the main body case; and a
plurality of blades coupled to an outer circumference of the
rotating plate, each of the plurality of blades including a side
closest to the inner surface of the main body case which gradually
slopes away from the inner surface of the main body case as the
side extends away from the rotating plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) from Korean Patent Application No. 2006-114806, filed on
Nov. 20, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to a
conventional turbofan and an air conditioner having the same, and
more particularly to a turbofan and an air conditioner having the
same, capable of reducing blowing noises.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A conventional turbofan is a type of centrifugal fan, which
is adapted to radially blow air in an axial direction, and is used
to blow air in a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a vacuum
cleaner, etc.
[0006] A turbofan applied to an air conditioner is disclosed in
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2002-19160. This turbofan
includes a rotating plate having a hub in the middle thereof, a
plurality of blades coupled to the rotating plate, and a circular
shroud connecting the blades. Further, the turbofan is formed such
that an outer diameter of the rotating plate is smaller than an
inner diameter of the shroud. This makes it possible to integrally
form the rotating plate, the blades, and the shroud by means of
ordinary injection molding, and to easily separate the turbofan
from a mold after the molding.
[0007] However, as illustrated in FIG. 1, because a turbofan is
formed such that the outer diameter of a rotating plate 1 is
smaller than an inner diameter of a shroud 2, noise is caused by a
vortex generated from a lower outer end 3a of each of a plurality
of blades 3 during operation of the turbofan. When the turbofan is
installed in, for instance, an air conditioner, the lower outer end
3a of each of the plurality of blades 3 becomes adjacent to an
inner surface of a case 4 of the air conditioner. Accordingly,
because the vortex generated from the lower end 3a of each of the
plurality of blades 3 hits the inner surface of the case 4, the
vortex can cause a blowing noise. In particular, as illustrated in
FIG. 1, when the lower end 3a of each blade 3 is parallel to the
inner surface of the case 4, the blowing noise caused by the vortex
can be increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present general inventive concept provides a turbofan
and an air conditioner having the same, capable of reducing blowing
noises.
[0009] Additional aspects and utilities of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0010] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept are achieved by providing a
turbofan, which includes a rotating plate coupled to a shaft of a
driving motor, a plurality of blades coupled to an outer
circumference of the rotating plate, and an annular shroud coupled
to an end of each blade. The end of each blade may include an inner
end that is coupled to the rotating plate, and an outer end that is
not coupled to the rotating plate. The outer end of each blade may
be tilted toward the rotating plate such that a distance between
the outer end of each blade and an inner surface of an apparatus
employing the turbofan is increased as the outer end of each blade
moves away from a rotational center of the rotating plate in a
radial outward direction.
[0011] The outer end of each blade may have a tilt angle of about 5
degrees to about 15 degrees with respect to the rotating plate.
[0012] The rotating plate, the blades, and the shroud may be
integrally formed.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
an air conditioner, which includes a main body case, a driving
motor fixed to an inner surface of the main body case, a turbofan
coupled to a shaft of the driving motor, and a heat exchanger
installed around the turbofan in the main body case. The turbofan
may include a rotating plate coupled to the shaft of the driving
motor, a plurality of blades coupled to an outer circumference of
the rotating plate, and an annular shroud coupled to an end of each
blade. The end of each blade may include an inner end that is
coupled to the rotating plate, and an outer end that is not coupled
to the rotating plate. The outer end of each blade may be tilted
toward the rotating plate such that a distance between the outer
end of each blade and an inner surface of the main body case is
increased as the outer end of each blade moves away from a
rotational center of the rotating plate in a radial outward
direction.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a turbofan assembly, including a main body, a rotating plate
coupled to an inner surface of the main body to rotate on an axis
perpendicular to the inner surface, and a plurality of blades
coupled to an outer circumference of the rotating plate, each of
the plurality of blades including a side closest to the inner
surface of the main body which gradually slopes away from the inner
surface of the main body as the side extends away from the rotating
plate.
[0015] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a turbofan assembly, including a main body, a rotating plate
coupled to an inner surface of the main body to rotate on an axis
perpendicular to the inner surface, and a plurality of blades each
having an inner side with respect to the main body that includes a
first end coupled to an outer circumference of the rotating plate
and a second end which is at a distance further from the inner
surface of the main body than the first end.
[0016] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
an air conditioner, including a main body case, a driving motor
fixed to an inner surface of the main body case, a rotating plate
coupled to the driving motor to rotate on an axis perpendicular to
the inner surface of the main body case, and a plurality of blades
coupled to an outer circumference of the rotating plate, each of
the plurality of blades including a side closest to the inner
surface of the main body case which gradually slopes away from the
inner surface of the main body case as the side extends away from
the rotating plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] These and/or other aspects and utilities of the present
general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a blade structure of
a conventional turbofan;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a ceiling type air
conditioner to which a turbofan according to an embodiment of the
present general inventive concept is employed;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a turbofan
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a turbofan according
to an embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and
[0022] FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view illustrating a blade
structure of a turbofan according to an embodiment the present
general inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below in order to explain the present general inventive
concept by referring to the figures.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a ceiling type air
conditioner to which a turbofan according to the present general
inventive concept is employed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air
conditioner includes a box-like main body case 10 fitted in a
ceiling 100, and a ceiling panel 20 that is coupled to an open
lower surface of the main body case 10 and covers an opening of the
ceiling on the circumference thereof.
[0025] The main body case 10 is provided therein with a turbofan 40
to draw air from below the air conditioner in an upward direction
through a center portion thereof and discharge the air in a radial
direction, and a driving motor 11 to drive the turbofan 40. The
driving motor 11 is fixed to an inner upper surface of the main
body case 10. Further, a heat exchanger 12 is installed around the
turbofan 40 to exchange heat with the air discharged from the
turbofan 40. A condensed water drain 13, which may collect and
drain condensed water that is generated during exchanging heat, is
installed under the heat exchanger 12. The condensed water drain 13
is supported by the ceiling panel 20.
[0026] The ceiling panel 20 may include an inlet 21 to draw indoor
air upward at the center of the air conditioner, and a plurality of
narrow long outlets 22 around the inlet 21. Further, a filter 23 to
clean the air may be installed in the inlet 21 of the ceiling panel
20. An air guide plate 24, which includes an opening 24a at a
center portion thereof, is installed inside the filter 23 to guide
the drawn air toward the center of the turbofan 40.
[0027] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the turbofan 40
includes a circular rotating plate 41 including a hub 41a with a
center portion thereof coupled to a shaft 11a of the driving motor
11, a plurality of blades 42 that are coupled to a front outer
circumference of the rotating plate 41 and are disposed in a radial
direction, and an annular shroud 43 (see FIG. 4) that is coupled to
an end of each blade 42 which is opposite to the rotating plate
41.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the turbofan 40 may be
formed such that an outer diameter D1 of the rotating plate 41 is
equal to or less than an inner diameter D2 of the shroud 43.
[0029] Constructing the turbofan 40 according to embodiments of the
present general inventive concept is provided so that the diameter
D1 of the rotating plate 41 is equal to or less than an inner
diameter D2 of the shroud 43 prevents an undercut (e.g., a portion
where a molded product can not be ejected by means of parallel
movement of a mold) from being generated from the mold when the
turbofan 40 is molded by injection molding, so that the rotating
plate 41, the blades 42, and the shroud 43 can be integrally
formed.
[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 5, because the turbofan 40 is formed
such that the outer diameter D1 of the rotating plate 41 is less
than the inner diameter D2 of the shroud 43, an end of each blade
42 which is located on the side of the rotating plate 41 may
include an inner end 45 that is coupled to the rotating plate 41,
and an outer end 46 that is not coupled to the rotating plate 41.
The outer end 46 of each blade 42, which is located on the side of
the rotating plate 41, may be formed to have a predetermined tilt
angle .theta. with respect to the rotating plate 41. The tilt angle
.theta. may range from approximately 5 degrees to approximately 15
degrees. This makes it possible to minimize a blowing noise caused
by a vortex generated around the outer end 46 of each blade 42 by
gradually increasing a distance between the outer end 46 of each
blade 42 and the inner surface of the main body case 10 as the
outer end 46 of each blade 42 moves away from the rotational center
of the rotating plate 41 in a radial outward direction.
[0031] When the turbofan 40 is driven, the vortex is generated
around the outer end 46 of each blade 42, and grows stronger and
stronger as it moves in a radial outward direction. The present
general inventive concept is adapted to make the outer end 46 of
each blade 42 tilt in proportion to a growth of the vortex, so that
the vortex generated around the outer end 46 of each blade 42 can
strike the inner surface of the main body case 10 to a minimum
extent, thereby reducing the blowing noise.
[0032] Now, reference will be made to an operation of the ceiling
type air conditioner to which the turbofan is employed.
[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the driving motor 11 is
driven to rotate the turbofan 40, indoor air is drawn through the
central inlet 21 of the ceiling panel 20. The drawn indoor air is
cleaned while passing through the filter 23, and then flows to the
turbofan 40 through the opening 24a of the air guide plate 24. The
air is rotated and discharged toward the circumference of the
turbofan 40 (i.e. toward the heat exchanger) by means of the
rotational force of the turbofan 40. The air discharged from the
turbofan 40 is cooled while passing through the heat exchanger 12,
and then is supplied into the indoor space through the outlets 22
again.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the air blown by the turbofan 40
during the operation as described above with reference to FIG. 2,
is discharged in a radial direction of the turbofan 40, and
simultaneously toward the outer end 46 of each blade 42 which is
located at a side of the rotating plate 41. At this time, the
vortex generated around the outer end 46 of each blade 42 grows
stronger and stronger due to the centrifugal force as it moves in a
radial outward direction. Because the outer end 46 of each blade 42
is tilted in proportion to the growth of the vortex, the present
general inventive concept can minimize a collision of the vortex
and the inner surface of the main body case 10, thereby reducing
blowing noises.
[0035] As described in detail above, because an outer end of each
of a plurality of blades is tilted in proportion to the growth of a
vortex, a turbofan according to the present general inventive
concept can minimize collision of the vortex generated around the
outer end of each of the plurality of blades and a main body case,
and thereby can reduce a blowing noise.
[0036] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive
concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *