U.S. patent application number 13/427337 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-27 for impeller structure.
Invention is credited to Shun-Chen CHANG, Bo-Chun CHEN, Wen-Bin LIU.
Application Number | 20120244008 13/427337 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46877497 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120244008 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHANG; Shun-Chen ; et
al. |
September 27, 2012 |
IMPELLER STRUCTURE
Abstract
An impeller structure includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and
a plurality of reinforcing ribs. The blades are extended from the
hub, and the reinforcing ribs are disposed annularly and separately
between the blades. The strength of the impeller structure is
improved by the reinforcing ribs, and the interference between the
inner and outer flow fields of the blades is reduced by the
reinforcing ribs. Also, a fan including above-mentioned impeller
structure is disclosed.
Inventors: |
CHANG; Shun-Chen; (Taoyuan
Hsien, TW) ; LIU; Wen-Bin; (Taoyuan Hsien, TW)
; CHEN; Bo-Chun; (Taoyuan Hsien, TW) |
Family ID: |
46877497 |
Appl. No.: |
13/427337 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/244R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/325 20130101;
F04D 29/666 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/244.R |
International
Class: |
F04D 29/00 20060101
F04D029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 25, 2011 |
TW |
100110236 |
Claims
1. An impeller structure, comprising: a hub, rotated about a
rotation axis, having an outer surface; a plurality of blades
extended from the outer surface, wherein each of the blades has a
windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to the windward
surface, and each of the blades has a side edge, a connecting edge
opposite to the side edge, a trailing edge, and a leading edge
opposite to the trailing edge, wherein the side edge is distant
from the hub, and the connecting edge is connected to the hub; and
a plurality of reinforcing ribs, annularly and separately disposed
on the blades, located between the side edges and the connecting
edges of the blades, wherein an end of one of the reinforcing ribs
is connected to the windward surface of one of the blades, and the
other end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is connected to a
leeward surface of an adjacent blade, wherein the end of the one of
the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to the leading edge of the blade
and is distant from the trailing edge of the blade, and the other
end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to a trailing
edge of the adjacent blade and is distant from a leading edge of
the adjacent blade.
2. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width
of each of the reinforcing ribs is smaller than half of a wing-tip
chord length of each of the blades.
3. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing rib is connected to the blade at an area from one-third
to two-third of the blade 220.
4. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing ribs are perpendicular to the blades, respectively.
5. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross
section of each of the reinforcing ribs is rectangular, rectangular
with rounded ends, an ellipse, a trapezoid, or wing shaped.
6. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
leading edge of the blade is near the trailing edge of the adjacent
blade, and is distant from the leading edge of the adjacent
blade.
7. An impeller structure, comprising: a hub, rotated about a
rotation axis, having an outer surface; a plurality of sub-blades
radiantly extended from the outer surface of the hub, respectively;
a separation ring disposed on the end of the sub-blades; a
plurality of blades extended from the separation ring opposite to
the sub-blades, wherein each of the blades has a windward surface
and a leeward surface opposite to the windward surface, and each of
the blades has a side edge, a connecting edge opposite to the side
edge, a trailing edge, and a leading edge opposite to the trailing
edge, wherein the side edge is distant from the separation ring,
and the connecting edge is connected to the separation ring; and a
plurality of reinforcing ribs, annularly and separately disposed on
the blades, located between the side edges and the connecting edges
of the blades, wherein an end of one of the reinforcing ribs is
connected to the windward surface of one of the blades, and the
other end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is connected to a
leeward surface of an adjacent blade, and wherein the end of the
one of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to the leading edge of the
blade and is distant from the trailing edge of the blade, and the
other end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to a
trailing edge of the adjacent blade and is distant from a leading
edge of the adjacent blade.
8. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the width
of each of the reinforcing ribs is smaller than half of a wing-tip
chord length of each of the blades.
9. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
reinforcing rib is connected to the blade at an area from one-third
to two-third of the blade 220.
10. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
reinforcing ribs are perpendicular to the blades, respectively.
11. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cross
section of each of the reinforcing ribs is rectangular, rectangular
with rounded ends, an ellipse, a trapezoid, or wing shaped.
12. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
leading edge of the blade is near the trailing edge of the adjacent
blade, and is distant from the leading edge of the adjacent
blade.
13. The impeller structure as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
length of each of the sub-blades is smaller than the length of each
of the blades, and the number of the sub-blades is greater than the
number of the blades.
14. A fan, comprising an impeller structure, the impeller structure
comprising: a hub, rotated about a rotation axis, having an outer
surface; a plurality of blades extended from the outer surface,
wherein each of the blades has a windward surface and a leeward
surface opposite to the windward surface, and each of the blades
has a side edge, a connecting edge opposite to the side edge, a
trailing edge, and a leading edge opposite to the trailing edge,
wherein the side edge is distant from the hub, and the connecting
edge is connected to the hub; and a plurality of reinforcing ribs,
annularly and separately disposed on the blades, located between
the side edges and the connecting edges of the blades, wherein an
end of one of the reinforcing ribs is connected to the windward
surface of one of the blades, and the other end of the one of the
reinforcing ribs is connected to a leeward surface of an adjacent
blade, wherein the end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is
adjacent to the leading edge of the blade and is distant from the
trailing edge of the blade, and the other end of the one of the
reinforcing ribs is adjacent to a trailing edge of the adjacent
blade and is distant from a leading edge of the adjacent blade.
15. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the width of each of
the reinforcing ribs is smaller than half of a wing-tip chord
length of each of the blades.
16. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the reinforcing rib is
connected to the blade at an area from one-third to two-third of
the blade.
17. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the reinforcing ribs
are perpendicular to the blades, respectively.
18. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cross section of
each of the reinforcing ribs is rectangular, rectangular with
rounded ends, an ellipse, a trapezoid, or wing shaped.
19. The fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the leading edge of the
blade is near the trailing edge of the adjacent blade, and is
distant from the leading edge of the adjacent blade.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwan Patent
Application No. 100110236, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, the entirety of
which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to an impeller structure, and in
particular to an impeller structure with reinforcing ribs.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, large-scale fans used in air-conditioning
systems have a large size and high rotating speed. For strength
purposes, one solution for impellers of large-scale fans are that
they are made from metal. However, due to very high precision
requirements for the mold for making a metal impeller, much labor
and resources are needed, thus increasing development costs.
Further, the consistency of the quality of the metal impeller made
by a mold is not stable. Also, the cost of metal is high.
[0006] Another solution is for the impeller to be made from
plastic. However, the strength of plastic may be inefficient. For
example, under high temperatures at high rotation speeds, a plastic
impeller may deform more easily. Please refer to FIG. 1. To improve
the strength of the impeller 100, a fixed ring 120 is disposed on
ends of blades 110. However, the flow field of the impeller
structure is completely separated by the fixed ring 120, and the
flow field within the fixed ring 120 interferes with the flow field
on the outside of the fixed ring 120. Note that the weight of the
impeller 100 is greatly increased due to the fixed ring 120.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] To solve the problems of the prior art, the object of the
invention is to provide an impeller structure and a fan. The fan
includes the impeller structure. The impeller structure includes a
plurality of reinforcing ribs and a plurality of blades. The
reinforcing ribs are disposed between the blades, and located
between side edges and connecting edges of the blades, and thus the
balance of the blades is improved without sacrificing strength
thereof, and the interference of the flow fields is reduced.
[0008] For the above objective, the impeller structure includes a
hub, a plurality of blades, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs.
The hub is rotated about a rotation axis, and has an outer surface.
The blades are extended from the outer surface. Each of the blades
has a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to the
windward surface. Further, each of the blades has a side edge, a
connecting edge opposite to the side edge, a trailing edge, and a
leading edge opposite to the trailing edge thereof. The side edge
is distant from the hub, and the connecting edge is connected to
the hub. The reinforcing ribs are annularly and separately disposed
on the blades, and located between the side edges and the
connecting edges of the blades. An end of one of the reinforcing
ribs is connected to the windward surface of one of the blades, and
the other end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is connected to a
leeward surface of an adjacent blade. Moreover, the end of the one
of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to the leading edge of the
blade and is distant from the trailing edge of the blade. The other
end of the one of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to a trailing
edge of the adjacent blade and is distant from a leading edge of
the adjacent blade.
[0009] For the above objective, the impeller structure includes a
hub, a plurality of sub-blades, a separation ring, a plurality of
blades, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs. The hub is rotated
about a rotation axis, and has an outer surface. The sub-blades are
radiantly extended from the outer surface of the hub, respectively.
The separation ring is disposed on the end of the sub-blades. The
blades are extended from the separation ring opposite to the
sub-blades. Each of the blades has a windward surface and a leeward
surface opposite to the windward surface. Further, each of the
blades has a side edge, a connecting edge opposite to the side
edge, a trailing edge, and a leading edge opposite to the trailing
edge. The side edge is distant from the separation ring, and the
connecting edge is connected to the separation ring. The
reinforcing ribs are annularly and separately disposed on the
blades, and located between the side edges and the connecting edges
of the blades. An end of one of the reinforcing ribs is connected
to the windward surface of one of the blades, and the other end of
the one of the reinforcing ribs is connected to a leeward surface
of an adjacent blade. Moreover, the end of the one of the
reinforcing ribs is adjacent to the leading edge of the blade and
is distant from the trailing edge of the blade. The other end of
the one of the reinforcing ribs is adjacent to a trailing edge of
the adjacent blade and is distant from a leading edge of the
adjacent blade.
[0010] In conclusion, by the structure of the reinforcing ribs and
the blades, the strength of the impeller structure can be improved.
Thus, the impeller structure may be made by plastic, and the cost
of the impeller structure can be decreased. Moreover, the
manufacturing of the impeller structure is easier and more precise.
The weight of the blades is reduced due to the small size and light
weight of the reinforcing ribs, and thus the balance of the
rotation of the impeller structure is improved. In addition, the
blades are not completely separated into two parts by the
reinforcing ribs, and thus the interference between the inner and
outer flow fields of the impeller structure can be reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the
subsequent detailed description and examples with references made
to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an impeller structure of the
prior art;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an impeller structure of a
first embodiment of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a top view of the impeller structure of the first
embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the impeller structure of the first
embodiment of the invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the reinforcing rib
along AA line of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an impeller structure of a
second embodiment of the invention; and
[0018] FIG. 7 is a top view of the impeller structure of the second
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Please refer to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is a perspective
view of an impeller structure of a first embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 3 is a top view of the impeller structure of the
first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of the
impeller structure of the first embodiment of the invention. The
impeller structure 200 may be connected to a motor (not shown in
the figures) to form a fan. The impeller structure 200 is driven by
the motor to generate an air flow. It is noted that the impeller
structure can be used in a fan.
[0020] The impeller structure 200 may be made from plastic. The
impeller structure 200 includes a hub 210, a plurality of blades
220, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs 230. The hub 210 is
circular disc shaped with a hollow structure. The hub 210 is
disposed on the motor, and driven by the motor to rotate about a
rotation axis AX1. Further, the hub 210 has an outer surface
211.
[0021] Each of the blades 220 is a thin stripped structure, and may
be made from plastic. The blades 220 are radiantly extended from
the outer surface 211. There is a separation space S1 between two
of the blades 220. Each of the blades 220 has a windward surface
221 and a leeward surface 222. The windward surface 221 and the
leeward surface 222 are located at two opposite sides of the blade
220, and occupy most of the surface area of the blade 220. The
windward surface 221 faces an area where the air flow flows into
the impeller structure 200, and the leeward surface 222 faces an
area where the air flow flows out of the impeller structure
200.
[0022] Each of the blades 220 has a side edge 223, a connecting
edge 224, a trailing edge 225, and a leading edge 226. The windward
surface 221 and the leeward surface 222 are surrounded by the side
edge 223, the connecting edge 224, the trailing edge 225, and the
leading edge 226. The side edge 223 and the connecting edge 224 are
disposed on two opposite sides of the blade 220. The side edge 223
is distant from hub 210, and the connecting edge 224 is connected
to the hub 210.
[0023] The trailing edge 225 corresponds to an area where the air
flow flows into the impeller structure 200. The leading edge 226
corresponds to an area where the air flow flows out of the impeller
structure 200. The trailing edge 225 and the leading edge 226 are
disposed on two opposite sides of the blade 220, and are connected
to the side edge 223 and the connecting edge 224. As shown in FIG.
4, the leading edge 226 of the blade 220 is near a trailing edge
225a of an adjacent blade 220a, and is distant from a leading edge
226a of the adjacent blade 220a.
[0024] The reinforcing ribs 230 are annularly and separately
disposed on the blades 220, and are located between the side edges
223 and the connecting edges 224 of the blades 220. An end of the
reinforcing rib 230 is connected to the windward surface 221 of the
blade 220, and the other end of the reinforcing ribs 230 is
connected to the leeward surface 222a of the adjacent blade 220a.
The end of the reinforcing rib 230 connected to the windward
surface 221 is adjacent to the leading edge 226, and is distant
from trailing edge 225. The other end of reinforcing rib 230
connected to the leeward surface 222a of the adjacent blade 220a is
adjacent to the trailing edge 225a, and is distant from the leading
edge 226a of the adjacent blade 220a.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the blade 220 has a wing-tip chord
length W2 between the trailing edge 225 and the leading edge 226.
The width W1 of the reinforcing rib 230 is smaller than half of the
wing-tip chord length W2 of the blade 220. In the embodiment, the
width W1 of the reinforcing rib 230 is smaller than one-third the
wing-tip chord length W2 of the blade 220.
[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing rib 230 is perpendicular
to the blade 220, and the reinforcing rib 230 is connected to the
blade 220 at an area from one-third to two-third of the length L1,
which is from the side edge 223 to the connecting edge 224, of the
blade 220. Thus, the strength of the blade 220 can be improved.
Moreover, the reinforcing rib 230 is arranged along a circular
track, wherein the rotation axis AX1 is at the center of the
circular track. By the above arrangement, the interference of the
flow field of the air flow is decreased by the reinforcing rib
230.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the separation space S1 is between the
windward surface 221 of the blade 220 and the leeward surface 222a
of the blade 220a. The reinforcing rib 230 is extended along an
extension direction D1, and the air flow flows into the impeller
structure 200 along an air intake direction D2. The extension
direction D1 is 45 degrees to the air intake direction D2 or the
rotation axis AX1, and thus the flow resistance generated by the
reinforcing rib 230 can be decreased.
[0028] The reinforcing rib 230 and the reinforcing rib 230a are
connected to two opposite sides of the blade 220, and the
extensions of the reinforcing rib 230 and the reinforcing rib 230a
are not overlapped or crossed along the extension direction D1 or
the air intake direction D2. Thus, the separation space S1 between
the blade 220 and the adjacent blade 220a are not completely
separated into an inner zone Z1 and an outer zone Z2 (as shown in
FIG. 3) by the reinforcing rib 230. Namely, the inner zone Z1 and
the outer zone Z2 between the blade 220 and the blade 220a are
communicated to each other. The flow field of the air flow will not
completely be separated by the reinforcing rib 230a between the
blade 220 and the blade 220a, and the interference between an inner
flow field in the inner zone Z1 and an outer flow field in the
outer zone Z2 can be reduced.
[0029] Please also refer to FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view
of the reinforcing rib 230 along AA line of FIG. 4. The extension
direction D1 (as shown in FIG. 4) is perpendicular to the cross
section of the reinforcing rib 230. In the embodiment, the cross
section of the reinforcing rib 230 is rectangular with rounded
ends. The ends of the reinforcing ribs 230 have a conduction
current function. Thus, when the impeller structure 200 is rotated,
the air flow flows through the ends of the reinforcing ribs 230
smoothly. However, the shape of the cross section of the
reinforcing rib 230 is not limited. In the other embodiment, the
shape of the cross section of the reinforcing rib 230 may be
rectangular, an ellipse, a trapezoid or wing shaped.
[0030] Please refer to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is a perspective
view of an impeller structure 200a of a second embodiment of the
invention. FIG. 7 is a top view of the impeller structure 200a of
the second embodiment of the invention. The differences between the
second embodiment and the first embodiment are described as
following. The impeller structure 200a further includes a plurality
of sub-blades 240 and a separation ring 250. The sub-blades 240 are
radiantly extended from the outer surface 211 of the hub 210. The
separation ring 250 is a ring structure around the hub 210. The
separation ring 250 is disposed on the ends of the sub-blades 240.
The blades 220 are extended from the separation ring 250. In the
other words, the sub-blades 240 and the blades 220 are disposed on
two opposite sides of the separation ring 250. Moreover, the length
of the sub-blade 240 is smaller than the length of the blade 220,
and the number of the sub-blades 240 is greater than the number of
blades 220.
[0031] In the embodiment, the hub 210 is pivoted on a base (not
shown in the figures), and a guide tube (not shown in the figures)
is connected to the separation ring 250. An air flow is transmitted
to the sub-blade 240 within the separation ring 250 by the guide
tube to drive the sub-blade 240 to rotate. When the sub-blades 240
are rotated, the blades 220 of the impeller structure 200a are
rotated due to the sub-blades 240, and the blades 220 drive an air
flow, outside the guide tube, flowing.
[0032] In conclusion, by the structure of the reinforcing ribs and
the blades, the strength of the impeller structure can be improved.
Thus, the impeller structure can be made by plastic, and the cost
of the impeller structure can be decreased. Moreover, the
manufacturing of the impeller structure is easier and more precise.
The weight of the blades is reduced due to the small size and light
weight of the reinforcing ribs, and thus the balance of the
rotation of the impeller structure is improved. In addition, the
blades are not completely separated into two parts by the
reinforcing ribs, and thus the interference between the inner and
outer flow fields of the impeller structure can be reduced.
[0033] While the invention has been described by way of example and
in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended
to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would
be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of
the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation
so as to encompass all such modifications and similar
arrangements.
* * * * *