U.S. patent application number 14/620570 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for turbine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Protrend Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to SHUN-YI CHEN.
Application Number | 20160138404 14/620570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55961244 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160138404 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; SHUN-YI |
May 19, 2016 |
TURBINE
Abstract
A turbine includes a top cover, a bottom cover and fans between
the top cover and the bottom cover. The fans extend to connect the
central shaft and do not overlap with each other in the axial
direction. The air sucked in through the central air inlet can
swiftly flow along the fans and then be expelled out of the turbine
through the circumferential air outlets. Compared with the
conventional centrifugal fan, the disclosed turbine can effectively
increase the air draft efficiency of the turbine. Compared with the
standard turbine, the disclosed turbine is simpler and easier to
process, and thus the cost can be significantly reduced.
Inventors: |
CHEN; SHUN-YI; (Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Protrend Co., Ltd. |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
55961244 |
Appl. No.: |
14/620570 |
Filed: |
February 12, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/30 20130101;
F04D 29/281 20130101; F04D 29/626 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F01D 5/14 20060101
F01D005/14; F01D 25/24 20060101 F01D025/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2014 |
TW |
103139620 |
Claims
1. A turbine, comprising: a central shaft; a top cover; a bottom
cover, matching the top cover; an air inlet, formed as a hole at a
center portion of the top cover; a plurality of air outlets,
circling along a circumference of the top cover and the bottom
cover; and a plurality of fans, mounted between the top cover and
the bottom cover, each of the fans being extended outward from the
central shaft, wherein individual axial projections of the fans are
not overlapped.
2. The turbine of claim 1, wherein each of the fans further
includes a curved protrusion extending toward the air inlet in a
rotational direction.
3. The turbine of claim 2, wherein the curved protrusion is located
within the air inlet.
4. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the turbine further includes a
plurality of auxiliary fans, each of the auxiliary fans has a
frontal area smaller than that of the fans, and the auxiliary fans
and the fans are arranged at intervals.
5. The turbine of claim 4, wherein one inner end of the auxiliary
fan is close but not touching the central shaft, and an outer end
thereof is flush with an outer rim of the bottom cover, wherein the
auxiliary fan is to divide an arc length between two said
neighboring fans by a ratio ranged from 1:2 to 1:1 along a counter
clockwise direction.
6. The turbine of claim 5, wherein the inner end of the auxiliary
fan is located within the axial projection of the air inlet.
7. The turbine of claim 4, wherein the number of the fans is equal
to that of the auxiliary fans, and the number is one of 3, 4 and
5.
8. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the fan is originated at the
central shaft and extends outward to have one end thereof flush
with an outer rim of the bottom cover, and wherein the fans, the
top cover, the bottom cover and the central shaft are together to
form a plurality of chambers inside the turbine.
9. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the bottom cover further
includes a central protrusion connected with the central shaft, and
a concave portion is formed as a part of the bottom cover extended
from the central protrusion to a lower outer end of the bottom
cover.
10. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the turbine is a product of
molding.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent
Application Serial No. 103139620, filed Nov. 14, 2014, the subject
matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a fan structure, and more
particularly to a turbine structure.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] The vacuum is an appliance that uses a motor to rotate an
intake fan so as to generate a vacuum pressure for dedusting. While
in operating the vacuum, the dust won't be further sprayed, and the
dust in some difficult corners such as in the carpet or in a narrow
crack can be easily removed. Thus, the vacuum featured in
convenience and cleaning capability is widely used domestically and
in public facilities.
[0006] The intake fan of the vacuum is usually formed as a
centrifugal impeller structure or a turbine structure. The
centrifugal impeller structure adopts a centrifugal fan to act as
the intake fan for the vacuum. The popular centrifugal fan,
featured in simple structuring and easy manufacturing, is usually
made of plastics, and is adequately manufactured by a plastic
molding process. However, the air draft efficiency of the turbine
at the air outlet of the plastic-made centrifugal fan is seldom to
meet the requirement. Especially, while being used in a portable
form energized by batteries, the energy required for operating the
vacuum to meet a satisfied air draft efficiency of the turbine at
the air outlet would be higher than expected. Though the air draft
efficiency of the conventional turbine at the air outlet is higher
than that of the centrifugal fan, yet the complicate structuring
and the difficult manufacturing for the turbine has prevented it
from popularity, especially in pricing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present
invention to provide a turbine with high air draft efficiency at
the air outlet, simple structuring and easy machining.
[0008] In the present invention, the turbine includes a central
shaft, a top cover, a bottom cover, an air inlet, a plurality of
air outlets and a plurality of fans mounted between the top cover
and the bottom cover. The air inlet is formed as a hole at a center
portion of the top cover. The air outlets to circle along a
circumference of a casing formed by matching the top cover and the
bottom cover. The fans are mounted inside the casing, and each of
the fans originates at the central shaft and extends therefrom
outward. In the present invention, individual projections of the
fans formed along the central shaft are not overlapped.
[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, each of the fans
further includes a curved protrusion extending toward the air inlet
in a rotational direction.
[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the curved
protrusion is located within the air inlet.
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the turbine
further includes a plurality of auxiliary fans, each of the
auxiliary fans has a frontal area smaller than that of the fans,
and the auxiliary fans and the fans are arranged at intervals.
[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, one inner end of
the auxiliary fan is close but not touching the central shaft, and
an outer end thereof is flush with an outer rim of the bottom
cover, wherein the auxiliary fan is to divide an arc length between
two said neighboring fans by a ratio ranged from 1:2 to 1:1 along a
counter clockwise direction.
[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the inner end of
the auxiliary fan is located within the axial projection of the air
inlet.
[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the number of
the fans is equal to that of the auxiliary fans, and the number is
one of 3, 4 and 5.
[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, the fan is
originated at the central shaft and extends outward to have one end
thereof flush with an outer rim of the bottom cover, and wherein
the fans, the top cover, the bottom cover and the central shaft are
together to form a plurality of chambers inside the turbine.
[0016] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bottom cover
further includes a central protrusion connected with the central
shaft, and a concave portion is formed as a part of the bottom
cover extended from the central protrusion to a lower outer end of
the bottom cover.
[0017] In one embodiment of the present invention, the turbine is a
product of molding.
[0018] In the present invention, the top cover, the bottom cover
and the fans sandwiched between the top cover and the bottom cover
are all arc-shaped. The fan further includes the curved protrusion
disposed at a position respective to the air inlet and extending in
the rotational direction. Upon such an arrangement, when the
foreign air is sucked into the turbine through the air inlet, the
sucked-in air can be swiftly guided to pass the curved protrusions
and the channels walled by the fans and the auxiliary fans, and to
flow out of the turbine via the circumferential air outlets. By
compared to the conventional centrifugal fans, the turbine provided
by the present invention can substantially increase the air draft
efficiency, and, by compared to a typical turbine, the turbine of
the present invention is superior in simple structuring, easy
machining and a reduced manufacturing cost.
[0019] All these objects are achieved by the turbine described
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The present invention will now be specified with reference
to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the preferred
turbine in accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is another state of FIG. 1 by removing the top
cover;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 1; and
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] The invention disclosed herein is directed to a turbine. In
the following description, numerous details are set forth in order
to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It
will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variations of
these specific details are possible while still achieving the
results of the present invention. In other instance, well-known
components are not described in detail in order not to
unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the turbine 100 of the
present invention includes a top cover 110, a bottom cover 120, a
plurality of fans 130 mounted between the top cover 110 and the
bottom cover 120 and a central shaft 140. The central shaft 140 is
the origin of all fans 130 and can be seen as the center line of
the turbine 100. The top cover 110 further has an air inlet 111
located at a central portion thereof. A casing formed between the
top cover 110 and the bottom cover 120 is to accommodate the fans
130. The air outlets 150 are thus located to the outer ends of the
fans 130 in a manner of circling along a circumference of the top
cover 110 and the bottom cover 120 (i.e. the circumference of the
casing). Each of the fans 130 is originated at the central shaft
140 and extended outward. An curved protrusion 133 is extended
along a rotational direction from a portion of the fan 130 at a
position respective to the air inlet 111, such that the intake air
entering the turbine 100 can be guided by the curved protrusion 133
to further smoothly flow out of the turbine 100 from the
circumferential air outlet 150. Upon such an arrangement, the air
flow efficiency can be increased. Namely, the air draft efficiency
of the turbine 100 at the air outlets 150 can be substantially
increased. While in operation, a motor engages and drives the
turbine 100 to rotate. Foreign air is sucked into the turbine 100
through the air intake 111 by the vacuum pressure generated by
rotating the fans 130. The intake air (used to be the foreign air)
is then expelled out of the turbine 100 through the air outlet 150.
By compared to the conventional centrifugal fan, the air draft
efficiency of the turbine 100 at the air outlet 150 in accordance
with the present invention is higher. Further, by compared to the
conventional turbine structure, the turbine of the present
invention is superior in simple structuring, easy machining and a
reduced manufacturing cost.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the central shaft 140 of
the present invention is to engage the motor, and thereby the power
of the motor can be transmitted to rotate the turbine 100 via the
central shaft 140. As shown, the fans 130 are arranged separately
on the bottom cover, and each of the fans 130 is arc-shaped and has
one end connected with the central shaft 140 and another end flush
with the circumference of the bottom cover 120. Upon such an
arrangement of the top cover 110, the bottom cover 120 and the fans
130, a series of the air outlets 150 can be formed along the
circumference of the turbine 100. Walled by the fans 130, the top
cover 110, the bottom cover 120 and the central shaft 140, the
interior space of the turbine 100 is divided into a plurality of
small radial chambers, and the number of the small chambers is
equal to the number of the fans 130. It is noted that, in the
present invention, the fans 130, the top cover 110, the bottom
cover 120 and the central shaft 140 are all fixed in related
positions. The curved protrusion 133 of the fan 130, with respect
to the air inlet 111 is extended in the rotational direction of the
turbine 100, and individual projections of the fans 130 produced
along the axial direction (onto a surface perpendicular to the
axial direction) are not overlapped. The protrusive curved
protrusion 133 is extended within the range of the air inlet 111,
but not necessary to be flush with the rim of the air inlet 111.
Upon such an arrangement, when the foreign air is sucked into the
turbine 100, the flow of the intake air (used to be the foreign
air) is guided by the respective curved protrusion 133. For the
projections of individual fans 130 in the axial direction are not
overlapped, the flow resistance inside the turbine 100 for the
sucked-in foreign air is low, and thus the speed of the interior
flow of the turbine 100 can be increased. As a sequence, the air
draft efficiency of the turbine 100 at the air outlets 150 is
increased as well. In the embodiment as shown, the turbine 100
includes four fans 130, while, in other embodiments, the number of
the fans 130 may be 3, 5 or any number relevant to the instant
device.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, preferably, the
turbine 100 can further includes a plurality of auxiliary fans 131,
each of which has a frontal area smaller than that of the fan 130.
The auxiliary fans 131 and the fans 130 are spaced at intervals.
One end of the auxiliary fan 131 is flush with the outer rim of the
bottom cover 120, while another end thereof is located within the
range of the air inlet 111 in a projection sense in the axial
direction. Namely, an individual auxiliary fan 131 is disposed
between two neighboring fans 130. By providing the auxiliary fan
131, each of the air outlet 150 formed by the fans 130, the top
cover 110 and the bottom cover 120 is further divided into two
small air outlets 150. Structuring of each auxiliary fan 131 can be
resembled to that of the fan 130 without the curved protrusion 133.
The auxiliary fan 131 is shorter than the fan 130. As a top view
from the top cover 110 (FIG. 4), the inner ends of the auxiliary
fans 131 (the ends close to, but not touching, the central shaft
140) can be observed through the air inlet 111. Namely, the inner
ends of the auxiliary fans 131 are fallen within the axial
projection range of the air inlet 111, without touching the central
shaft 140. Thereby, as the foreign air is sucked into the turbine
100 through the air inlet 111, the air is turned firstly by the
extending curved surfaces 133, and then bifurcated to two small
channels formed by the two neighboring fans 130 and one middle
auxiliary fan 131. The bifurcated flow is then to leave the turbine
100 via the respective air outlet 150 located at the outer ends of
the corresponding fans 130 and auxiliary fan 131. Through such a
design of the turbine 100, both the internal draft efficiency and
the expelling efficiency of the turbine 100 with respect to the
foreign air can be substantially enhanced. In the present
invention, the number of the auxiliary fans 131 is determined by
the number of the fans 130. In the preferred embodiment as shown,
for the fans 130 and the auxiliary fans 131 are spaced at
intervals, the number of the auxiliary fans 131 is equal to the
number of the fans 130. As shown, the preferred embodiment has four
fans 130 and four auxiliary fans 131, while, in other embodiments,
the aforesaid number might be varied per instant requirement.
[0029] As shown, the outer ends of the fans 130 and the auxiliary
fans 131 are all flush with the outer rim of the bottom cover 120.
Further, for the fans 130 and the auxiliary fans 131 are arranged
at intervals, each of the auxiliary fans 131 is inevitable to
divide the arc length of the outer rim of the bottom cover 120
between two neighboring fans 130. In one embodiment, the aforesaid
arc length can be cut into a 4:5 ratio in a counter clockwise
direction, while, in other embodiments, the ratio can be 1:2, 1:1
or any relevant ratio. Namely, the exact position of each auxiliary
fan 131 between the two neighboring fans 130 is not a fixed
parameter in design. Preferably, the auxiliary fan 131 is to divide
the arc length between two neighboring fans 130 by a ratio ranged
from 1:2 to 1:1 along the counter clockwise direction.
[0030] As shown, the curved protrusion 133 protruded from the
respective fan 130 is located within the range of the air inlet
111. Namely, each of the fans 130 protrudes toward the air inlet
111 by the curved protrusion 133 falling within the axial
projection of the air inlet 111. The curved protrusion 133 is not
necessary to be flush with the air inlet 111. However, for the
curved protrusion 133 is protruded upwards over other portions of
the fan 130 and the auxiliary fan 131, so the central portion of
the top cover 110 is also hill up to form the air inlet 111 on top
so as ensure that the curved protrusion 133 can be contained and
fallen within the axial projection of the air inlet 111.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom cover 120 further includes a
central protrusion 121 connected with the central shaft 140, and a
concave portion 122 is formed as a part of the bottom cover 120
extended from the central protrusion 121 to the lower outer end of
the bottom cover 120. The curvature of the concave portion 122 is
not necessary a design factor, but shall meet to be smoothly
connected with other portions of the bottom cover 120. In order to
ensure a tight contact between the fans 130 and the bottom cover
120, the lower surface of the fan 130 facing the bottom cover 120
can be formed to be a convex surface 134 to match the concave
portion 122 of the bottom cover 120.
[0032] Preferably, the fans 130 are fixed on the bottom cover 120,
and the top cover 110 are also fixedly connected with the fans 130.
In the present invention, the structure of the fans 130 is not
complicated. Therefore, while in producing the turbine 100, the
molding process can be applied, such as the injection molding or
the ejection molding.
[0033] While the turbine 100 is engaged with and further driven by
a motor, the turbine 100 is rotated so as to have the fans 130 to
force the internal air to be guided by the curved protrusion 133
firstly, then flow in a bifurcation manner along the channels
formed by the fans 130 and the auxiliary fans 131, and finally
leave the turbine 100 by a centrifugal manner via the air outlets
150 at the circumference of the turbine 100. After the air is
expelled out of the turbine 100, the internal pressure of the
turbine 100 would be dropped to be lower than the atmosphere
pressure out of the air inlet 111. Such a pressure difference would
automatically draft the foreign air into the turbine 100 through
the air inlet 111, and then the air circulation pattern about the
turbine 100 is then established.
[0034] In the present invention, the top cover 110, the bottom
cover 120 and the fans 130 sandwiched between the top cover 110 and
the bottom cover 120 are all arc-shaped. The fan 131 further
includes the curved protrusion 133 disposed at a position
respective to the air inlet 111 and extending in the rotational
direction. Upon such an arrangement, when the foreign air is sucked
into the turbine 100 through the air inlet 111, the sucked-in air
can be swiftly guided to pass the curved protrusion 133 and the
channels walled by the fans 130 and the auxiliary fans 131, and to
flow out of the turbine 100 via the circumferential air outlets
150. By compared to the conventional centrifugal fans, the turbine
100 provided by the present invention can substantially increase
the air draft efficiency, and, by compared to a typical turbine,
the turbine of the present invention is superior in simple
structuring, easy machining and a reduced manufacturing cost.
[0035] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *