Patent Grant
11859635
The present disclosure relates to an axial-flow fan and an air conditioner.
Patent Literature 1 listed below discloses an axial-flow fan including a hub and a plurality of blades disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the hub. The hub includes an outer wall portion having a cylindrical shape, a slanted wall portion located radially inward of the outer wall portion, and a bearing portion located radially inward of the slanted wall portion. The hub also includes a plurality of ribs arranged radially. The ribs are located between the outer wall portion and the slanted wall portion, and are spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction.
PATENT LITERATURE 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-161758
The present disclosure provides an axial-flow fan including:
Embodiments will be described below.
[General Configuration of Axial-Flow Fan]
An axial-flow fan 11 is driven by a fan motor (not illustrated) to rotate about a center axis C. Accordingly, the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11 corresponds to an axis of rotation of the axial-flow fan 11. In this specification, therefore, reference sign C also denotes the axis of rotation of the axial-flow fan 11, in addition to the center axis of the axial-flow fan 11. In this specification, the term “rotation axis direction” as used herein refers to a direction along which the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11 extends and a direction parallel to this direction. The term “radial direction” as used herein refers to a direction orthogonal to the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11. The term “circumferential direction” as used herein refers to a direction around the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
[Configuration of Blade]
As illustrated in
The outer peripheral edge portion 32 corresponds to a radially outer end portion of the blade 13. The outer peripheral edge portion 32 is slanted to the first side in the rotation axis direction, from the front side in the rotational direction toward the rear side in the rotational direction. The outer peripheral edge portion 32 is longer in circumferential length than the inner peripheral edge portion 31.
The front edge portion 33 corresponds to an end portion, closer to the front side in the rotational direction, of the blade 13. The front edge portion 33 connects an end portion, closer to the front side in the rotational direction, of the inner peripheral edge portion 31 and an end portion, closer to the front side in the rotational direction, of the outer peripheral edge portion 32. The rear edge portion 34 corresponds to an end portion, closer to the rear side in the rotational direction, of the blade 13. The rear edge portion 34 connects an end portion, closer to the rear side in the rotational direction, of the inner peripheral edge portion 31 and an end portion, closer to the rear side in the rotational direction, of the outer peripheral edge portion 32.
The axial-flow fan 11, when rotating about the center axis C in the direction indicated by the arrow A, generates a negative pressure at the second side in the rotation axis direction and also generates a positive pressure at the first side in the rotation axis direction. Therefore, the axial-flow fan 11, when rotating about the center axis C in the direction indicated by the arrow A, causes air to flow from the second side in the rotation axis direction to the first side in the rotation axis direction. In this specification, the term “positive pressure surface 13a” refers to a blade surface, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the blade 13, and the term “negative pressure surface 13b” refers to a blade surface, closer to the second side in the rotation axis direction, of the blade 13.
The blade 13 curves gently toward the second side in the rotation axis direction as seen in the circumferential direction such that the positive pressure surface 13a is recessed.
[Configuration of Hub]
The hub 12 has an outer wall 15, an inner wall 16, a boss 17, and a sidewall 18.
The outer wall 15 has a tubular shape. Specifically, the outer wall 15 has a cylindrical shape. The outer wall 15 has a center aligned with the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11. The outer wall 15 has an outer peripheral surface 15a corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the hub 12. The blades 13 are connected to the outer peripheral surface 15a of the outer wall 15.
The inner wall 16 has a tubular shape. Specifically, the inner wall 16 has a cylindrical shape. The inner wall 16 is located radially inward of the outer wall 15. The inner wall 16 has a center aligned with the center of the outer wall 15.
The boss 17 has a tubular shape. Specifically, the boss 17 has a cylindrical shape. The boss 17 is located radially inward of the inner wall 16. The boss 17 has a center aligned with the center of the inner wall 16 and the center of the outer wall 15. The boss 17 has a through hole 17a passing through the center of the boss 17. An output shaft of a motor (not illustrated) is inserted in the through hole 17a and attached to the boss 17.
In the hub 12, the inner wall 16 is shorter in axial length than the outer wall 15. An end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16 is located closer to the second side in the rotation axis direction (e.g., the upper side in
In the hub 12, the sidewall 18 is located on the end portions, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the outer wall 15, inner wall 16, and boss 17. The sidewall 18 closes the end portions, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the outer wall 15 and inner wall 16 each having a cylindrical shape. The sidewall 18 corresponds to an end surface, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the hub 12.
The sidewall 18 includes a first sidewall 21 and a second sidewall 22. The first sidewall 21 connects the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the outer wall 15 and the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16. The second sidewall 22 connects the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16 and the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the boss 17.
The first sidewall 21 has an annular portion 21a and a slanted portion 21b located radially inward of the annular portion 21a. The annular portion 21a has an annular shape, and extends in a direction orthogonal to the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11. The annular portion 21a has a radially outer end portion connected to the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the outer wall 15.
The slanted portion 21b has a conical shape, and extends obliquely to the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11. The slanted portion 21b has a radially outer end portion connected to a radially inner end portion of the annular portion 21a. The slanted portion 21b also has a radially inner end portion connected to the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16.
The second sidewall 22 has an annular shape, and extends in a direction orthogonal to the center axis C of the axial-flow fan 11. The second sidewall 22 has a radially outer end portion connected to the radially inner end portion of the slanted portion 21b and the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16. The second sidewall 22 also has a radially inner end portion connected to the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the boss 17. The second sidewall 22 closes the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16 having a cylindrical shape.
In the hub 12, the sidewall 18 has a recessed portion 18a defined by the slanted portion 21b and the second sidewall 22 and recessed toward the second side in the rotation axis direction. The slanted portion 21b corresponds to a peripheral wall of the recessed portion 18a. The second sidewall 22 corresponds to a bottom wall of the recessed portion 18a.
In the hub 12, as illustrated in
The protrusion 24 has an outer wall portion (a first wall portion) 25, an inner wall portion (a second wall portion) 26, a pair of end wall portions (a third wall portion and a fourth wall portion) 27 and 28, and a top wall portion (a fifth wall portion) 29.
As illustrated in
The inner wall portion 26 of the protrusion 24 extends from the slanted portion 21b of the first sidewall 21 of the hub 12, toward the first side in the rotation axis direction. The inner wall portion 26 has an inner peripheral surface 26b that is flush with an inner peripheral surface 21b1 of the slanted portion 21b (i.e., an inner peripheral surface 21b1 of the recessed portion 18a). The inner wall portion 26 extends obliquely to the center axis C. The inner wall portion 26 extends in the circumferential direction of the hub 12, and curves in an arc shape as seen in the rotation axis direction.
The outer peripheral surface 25a of the outer wall portion 25 is connected to an end portion, closer to the rear side in the rotational direction A, of each blade 13 (see
The pair of end wall portions 27 and 28 are located on two ends of the protrusion 24 so as to face each other in the circumferential direction. The pair of end wall portions 27 and 28 extend in the radial direction of the hub 12. Each of the end wall portions 27 and 28 extends from the annular portion 21a of the first sidewall 21, toward the first side in the rotation axis direction. Each of the end wall portions 27 and 28 has such a trapezoidal shape that a radial length, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, is shorter. The radial length of each of the end wall portions 27 and 28 is shorter than a circumferential length of each of the outer wall portion 25 and the inner wall portion 26.
The protrusion 24 has a substantially rectangular section orthogonal to the center axis C, and this section is defined by the outer wall portion 25, the inner wall portion 26, and the pair of end wall portions 27 and 28. The protrusion 24 has a space S3 defined by the outer wall portion 25, the inner wall portion 26, and the pair of end wall portions 27 and 28. In other words, the interior of the protrusion 24 is hollow. As illustrated in
In the hub 12, as illustrated in
Each recessed portion 15c has a trapezoidal shape as seen from the outside in the radial direction. Each protrusion 24 also has a trapezoidal shape as seen from the outside in the radial direction. The recessed portion 15c is larger in outside shape than the protrusion 24 as seen from the outside in the radial direction. Specifically, a circumferential length L1 of an open end (i.e., a lower end in
The axial-flow fans 11, after manufacture, are stacked in the rotation axis direction for storage and transportation purposes. The protrusion 24 is located on the end surface located closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction of the axial-flow fan 11, and the recessed portion 15c is located in the end surface closer to the second side in the rotation axis direction of the axial-flow fan 11. In stacking the plurality of axial-flow fans 11 on top of each other, the protrusion 24 of a lower one of the axial-flow fans 11 is inserted in the recessed portion 15c of an upper one of the axial-flow fans 11.
This configuration thus enables reduction in total height of the stacked axial-flow fans 11 in the stacking direction as much as possible. This configuration also enables reduction in circumferential displacement of the axial-flow fans 11 arranged in the stacking direction.
(Configuration of Rib)
As illustrated in
The inner ribs 41 and 42 according to one or more embodiments connect an inner peripheral surface 16b of the inner wall 16 and an outer peripheral surface 17b of the boss 17. The hub 12 has six inner ribs 41 and 42 spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. These inner ribs include three first inner ribs 41 and three second inner ribs 42. The first inner ribs 41 and the second inner ribs 42 are arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. Attention is now focused on a certain one of the first inner ribs 41. The first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 adjacent thereto at the first side in the circumferential direction form an angle θ1. In addition, the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 adjacent thereto at the second side in the circumferential direction form an angle θ2. The angle θ1 and the angle θ2 satisfy a relation of θ1≤θ2.
The first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 that form the angle θ1 constitute a set X. The hub 12 according to one or more embodiments has three sets X respectively constituted of the first inner ribs 41 and the second inner ribs 42. These sets X are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. One of the sets X, which is constituted of the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42, and the adjacent set X, which is constituted of the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42, form the circumferential angle θ2.
The angle θ1 between the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42, which constitute each set X, satisfies the following relation (1):
θ1≤360/2N(°). . . (1)
(N: the number of blades 13).
The axial-flow fan 11 according to one or more embodiments includes the three blades 13. Therefore, the angle θ1 satisfies the following relation (2).
θ1≤60° . . . (2)
The angle θ2 between one of the sets X and the adjacent set X satisfies the following relation (3).
θ2≥360/2N(°) . . . (3)
The axial-flow fan 11 according to one or more embodiments includes the three blades 13. Therefore, the angle θ2 satisfies the following relation (4).
θ2≥60° . . . (4)
As illustrated in
The second inner ribs 42 are equal in shape to the first inner ribs 41. Therefore, the positional relationships between each second inner rib 42 and the boss 17 and inner wall 16 in the rotation axis direction are also equal to the positional relationships between each first inner rib 41 and the boss 17 and inner wall 16 in the rotation axis direction.
As illustrated in
The outer ribs 43, 44, and 45 include three first outer ribs 43, three second outer ribs 44, and three third outer ribs 45. These outer ribs are arranged ordinary. For example, the first outer rib 43, the second outer rib 44, the third outer rib 45, the first outer rib 43, the second outer rib 44, the third outer rib 45, the first outer rib 43, the second outer rib 44, and the third outer rib 45 are arranged in this order in the opposite direction to the rotational direction A.
Of the first outer ribs 43, second outer ribs 44, and third outer ribs 45 arranged as described above, three outer ribs 43, 44, and 45 are provided for each blade 13. The first outer rib 43 has a radially outer end portion located near a radially inner end portion of the front edge portion 33 of the blade 13. The third outer rib 45 has a radially outer end portion located near a radially inner end portion of the rear edge portion 34 of the blade 13. The second outer rib 44 has a radially outer end portion located in correspondence with a middle portion of the blade 13 in the rotational direction A.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The second outer ribs 44 are equal in shape to the first outer ribs 43. Therefore, the positional relationships between each second outer rib 44 and the corresponding first inner rib 41 (and second inner rib 42) and inner wall 16 in the rotation axis direction are equal to the positional relationships between each first outer rib 43 and the corresponding first inner rib 41 (and second inner rib 42) and inner wall 16 in the rotation axis direction.
As illustrated in
The axial-flow fan 11 having the foregoing configuration generates a centrifugal force by rotation, so that a load traveling through each blade 13 is imposed on the hub 12 to pull the hub 12 radially outward. The hub 12 according to one or more embodiments has the first outer ribs 43, the second outer ribs 44, and the third outer ribs 45. These outer ribs 43, 44, and 45 are capable of supporting the outer wall 15 of the hub 12 against the radial load that travels through each blade 13 and then reaches the outer wall 15.
In particular, when the axial-flow fan 11 rotates, the hub 12 receives the maximum radial load at a position near the front edge portion 33 of each blade 13. As illustrated in
The hub 12 also receives, in addition to the radial load, a circumferential load traveling through each blade 13. As illustrated in
Each blade 13 is partly connected to the outer wall portion 25 of the corresponding protrusion 24, so that the outer wall portion 25 directly receives the radial load and the circumferential load from the blade 13. However, the protrusion 24 having the substantially rectangular section is capable of properly supporting the outer wall 15 of the hub 12 against these loads.
[Configuration of Air Conditioner]
The outdoor unit 51 includes a housing 52. The housing 52 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The outdoor unit 51 also includes a partition 53 dividing the housing 52 into a machine chamber S1 and a heat exchange chamber S2. The housing 52 has adjacent sidewalls 52a and 52b located in the heat exchange chamber S2, and the sidewalls 52a and 52b respectively have air intake ports 52a1 and 52b1. The housing 52 also has a sidewall 52c adjacent to the sidewall 52b having the air intake port 52b1, and the sidewall 52c has an air blow-out port 52c1.
The housing 52 houses, in the machine chamber 51, a compressor 54, a four-way switching valve (not illustrated), an accumulator (not illustrated), an oil separator (not illustrated), an expansion valve (not illustrated), and the like. The housing 52 also houses, in the heat exchange chamber S2, a heat exchanger 55, a fan motor 56, the axial-flow fan 11, and the like. The axial-flow fan 11 is connected to the fan motor 56 with a shaft 56a, and is driven by the fan motor 56 to rotate about the shaft 56a. The shaft 56a is mounted to the boss 17 (see, for example,
The axial-flow fan 11 is placed with the positive pressure surface 13a (see
The heat exchanger 55 has an “L” shape in plan view. The heat exchanger 55 bends at a position near a corner portion 52e between the sidewalls 52a and 52b respectively having the air intake ports 52a1 and 52b1, and extends along the sidewalls 52a and 52b. The heat exchanger 55 includes a pair of headers 61 and 62, a group of fins 63 arranged side by side such that their plate-shaped faces extend in parallel, and a heat transfer tube 64 passing through the group of fins 63 arranged side by side. A refrigerant, which circulates through a refrigerant circuit, flows into the heat transfer tube 64 of the heat exchanger 55. The heat exchanger 55 is connected to the compressor 54 in the machine chamber S1 with a pipe (not illustrated).
In the air conditioner 50 according to one or more embodiments, the outdoor unit 51 includes the axial-flow fan 11. In an air conditioner according to the present disclosure, alternatively, an indoor unit (not illustrated) may include the axial-flow fan 11. The air conditioner 50 may include the axial-flow fan 11 placed with the axis of rotation extending in an up-and-down direction.
The foregoing embodiments may be at least partially combined with each other in a given manner.
[Action and Effects of Embodiments]
During the rotation of the axial-flow fan, a load traveling through each blade is imposed on the outer wall portion of the hub to pull the hub radially outward. This load causes the outer wall portion of the hub to deform so as to expand radially outward. It has therefore been required to improve the strength of the hub in order to cause the hub to resist deformation. Therefore, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure provide an axial-flow fan including a hub with improved strength, and an air conditioner including the axial-flow fan.
(Action and Effects)
An axial-flow fan 11 according to one or more embodiments includes a hub 12 and a plurality of blades 13 disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the hub 12 and spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction. The hub 12 includes: an outer wall 15 having a tubular shape; an inner wall 16 having a tubular shape, the inner wall 16 being located radially inward of the outer wall 15; a boss 17 to which a shaft is mounted, the boss 17 being located radially inward of the inner wall 16; a first sidewall 21 connecting an end portion, closer to a first side in an rotation axis direction of the hub 12, of the outer wall 15 and an end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16; a second sidewall 22 connecting the end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the inner wall 16 and an end portion, closer to the first side in the rotation axis direction, of the boss 17; a first inner rib (a first rib) 41 connecting an inner peripheral surface of the inner wall 16 and an outer peripheral surface of the boss 17; a second inner rib (a second rib) 42 adjacent to the first inner rib 41 in the circumferential direction, the second inner rib 42 connecting the inner peripheral surface of the inner wall 16 and the outer peripheral surface of the boss 17; and a first outer rib (a third rib) 43 connecting an inner peripheral surface of the outer wall 15 and an outer peripheral surface of the inner wall 16. The first outer rib 43 has a radially inner end portion located between a radially outer end portion of the first inner rib 41 and a radially outer end portion of the second inner rib 42 in the circumferential direction.
When the axial-flow fan 11 rotates, a load traveling through each blade 13 is imposed on the outer wall 15 of the hub 12 to pull the hub 12 radially outward. The outer wall 15 of the hub 12 is supported by the first outer rib 43, and is further supported by the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 through the inner wall 16. This configuration thus allows the hub 12 to have a structure resistant to the radial load, and causes the hub 12 to resist deformation.
The radially inner end portion of the single first outer rib 43 is located between the radially outer end portion of the first inner rib 41 and the radially outer end portion of the second inner rib 42 in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the single first outer rib 43 can be reinforced with the first inner rib 41 and second inner rib 42.
The first outer rib 43 has a radially outer end portion located near a radially inner end portion of a front edge portion 33 of each blade 13 in a rotational direction A of the hub 12. The front edge portion 33 of each blade 13 in the rotational direction of the hub 12 corresponds to a portion where the maximum load resulting from air is imposed. In addition, the load imposed on the outer wall 15 of the hub 12 through each blade 13 also increases at the position near the radially inner end portion of the front edge portion 33 of each blade 13. In view of this, the radially outer end portion of the first outer rib 43 is located near the radially inner end portion of the front edge portion 33 of each blade 13. This configuration thus enables effective improvement in strength of the hub 12 at the portion where the large load is imposed through each blade 13.
The first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 are arranged in the radial direction of the hub 12, and
an angle between the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 satisfies the following relation (1):
θ≤360/2N . . . (1)
(where θ represents the angle between the first rib and the second rib, and N represents the number of blades).
If the angle between the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 is too large, there is a possibility of reduction in effect of supporting the first outer rib 43 in the radial direction. In view of this, a spacing between the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 may be set to satisfy the foregoing relation (1).
The hub 12 includes: a first set X including a combination of the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42; and a second set X including a combination of the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 that are different from the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 in the first set X, the second set X being adjacent to the first set X in the circumferential direction. An angle between the first set X and the second set X is larger than an angle between the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 in each of the first set X and the second set X. According to this configuration, the first outer rib 43 can be effectively reinforced with the first inner rib 41 and the second inner rib 42 in each set X.
The hub 12 according to the foregoing embodiments further includes a third outer rib (a fourth rib) 45 located between the first set X and the second set X in the circumferential direction, the third outer rib 45 connecting the inner peripheral surface 15b of the outer wall 15 and the outer peripheral surface 16a of the inner wall 16. The third outer rib 45 has a radially outer end portion located near a radially inner end portion of a rear edge portion 34 of each blade 13 in the rotational direction A of the hub 12. According to this configuration, when a load is applied to the outer wall 15 through the position near the rear edge portion 34 of each blade 13 so as to pull the outer wall 15 radially outward, the outer wall 15 is supported by the third outer rib 45, so that the strength of the hub 12 can be improved.
While various embodiments have been described herein above, it is to be appreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope presently or hereafter claimed.
For example, the number of outer ribs is not limited to that described in the foregoing embodiments, and is changeable as appropriate. For example, a plurality of second outer ribs 44 may be disposed between each first outer rib 43 and the adjacent third outer rib 45. Alternatively, no second outer rib 44 may be disposed between each first outer rib 43 and the adjacent third outer rib 45. In addition, the number of inner ribs is not limited to that described in the foregoing embodiments, and is changeable as appropriate. The number of sets corresponding to the combinations of the first inner ribs and the second inner ribs is changeable in accordance with the number of blades 13. Two or more outer ribs may be disposed between the first inner rib and the second inner rib that constitute each set.
The sidewall 18 of the hub 12 does not necessarily have the recessed portion 18a. The number of protrusions 24 is changeable as appropriate in accordance with the number of blades 13.
Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the disclosure should be limited only by the attached claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-007660 | Jan 2021 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150003992 | Kojima et al. | Jan 2015 | A1 |
| 20180112675 | Neff | Apr 2018 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 111075759 | Apr 2020 | CN |
| H08-121387 | May 1996 | JP |
| 2006-161758 | Jun 2006 | JP |
| 2015-209832 | Nov 2015 | JP |
| 2013099905 | Jul 2013 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| English Translation of an International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2021/047267, dated Aug. 3, 2023 (6 pages). |
| International Search Report issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2021/047267 dated Feb. 8, 2022 (2 pages). |
| Written Opinion issued in corresponding International Application No. PCT/JP2021/047267dated Feb. 8, 2022 (4 pages). |
| Notice of Reasons for Refusal issued in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2021-007660 dated Feb. 1, 2022 (10 pages). |
| Decision to Grant a Patent issued in corresponding Japanese Application No. 2021-007660 dated Apr. 5, 2022 (5 pages). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20230358249 A1 | Nov 2023 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2021/047267 | Dec 2021 | US |
| Child | 18355570 | US |
