The present disclosure relates to a propeller fan.
Conventionally, there has been proposed a technique for enhancing a fan efficiency in a propeller fan having a plurality of blades. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-109393 discloses a propeller fan for which blades are designed to reduce generation of a blade tip vortex that may lead to degradation of a fan efficiency. The blade tip vortex is a vortex flow generated by air that flows back around a blade tip from a positive pressure surface side to a negative pressure surface side of the blade. The blade tip vortex expands, at the blade tip, with an increase in a distance between a maximum camber location and the trailing edge of the blade.
In the propeller fan of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-109393, each blade is designed as follows: The maximum camber location ratio gradually increases from a blade root toward the blade tip to keep the maximum camber location from being greatly separated from the trailing edge on the blade tip side. Here, the maximum camber location ratio is the ratio of the distance from a leading edge to the maximum camber location with respect to a chord line length in the blade cross section. The maximum camber location is a location on the chord line where a camber height in the blade cross section is maximum. The camber height is the distance from the chord line to a camber line in the blade cross section.
A first aspect of the present disclose is directed to a propeller fan including a hub configured to rotate about an axis, and a plurality of blades extending outward in a radial direction of rotation from an outer peripheral surface of the hub. A ring is provided to surround the plurality of blades that is connected to each blade tip, which is an outer end of each blade in the radial direction of rotation. A maximum camber location is on a camber line where a distance from a chord line to the camber line in an arc-shaped cross section of each blade about the axis is maximum. An axial height is from a trailing edge, which is a rear edge of each blade in a rotation direction thereof, to the camber line in a direction along the axis. Each blade has a first portion provided inside in the radial direction of rotation and whose axial height at the maximum camber location is substantially constant, and a second portion provided outside in the radial direction of rotation and whose axial height at the maximum camber location increases toward the blade tip.
Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.
A propeller fan of this embodiment is used for an air blowing device. The air blowing device is provided, for example, in a heat source unit of an air conditioner, and is for supplying outdoor air to a heat-source-side heat exchanger. The air blowing device includes a bell mouth (1) formed into an annular cylindrical shape and illustrated in
Propeller Fan Configuration
The propeller fan (10) is an axial flow fan made of synthetic resin. As illustrated in
The hub (12) is formed into a cylindrical shape. The hub (12) is a shaft portion of the propeller fan (10), and is located at a center part of the propeller fan (10). A drive shaft of a fan motor (not shown) is attached to the hub (12). The hub (12) is driven by the fan motor to rotate around an axis (A). The center axis of the hub (12) coincides with the axis (A) of the propeller fan (10).
The four blades (14) are arranged at regular angular intervals in the circumferential direction of the hub (12). Each blade (14) extends outward in the radial direction of rotation from the outer peripheral surface of the hub (12). The four blades (14) extend radially outward from the hub (12) in the radial direction of the propeller fan (10). The adjacent blades (14) do not overlap each other in a front view or a rear view. Each blade (14) is formed into a plate shape smoothly curved along the radial direction of rotation and a rotation direction (D). The four blades (14) have the same shape.
The end of each blade (14) closer to the center of the propeller fan (10) in the radial direction thereof, i.e., the inner end in the radial direction of rotation, is a blade root (18). The end of each blade (14) closer to the outside of the propeller fan (10) in the radial direction thereof, i.e., the outer end in the radial direction of rotation, is a blade tip (20). The blade root (18) and blade tip (20) of each blade (14) extend along the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10).
The blade root (18) of each blade (14) is connected to the hub (12). In each blade (14), the distance Ri from the axis (A) of the propeller fan (10) to the blade root (18) of the propeller fan (10) is substantially constant over the entire length of the blade root (18). The blade tip (20) of each blade (14) is connected to the ring (16). In each blade (14), the distance Ro from the axis (A) of the propeller fan (10) to the blade tip (20) of the propeller fan (10) is substantially constant over the entire length of the blade tip (20).
In each blade (14), the length of the blade tip (20) is greater than the length of the blade root (18). In the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10), the front end of the blade tip (20) is located forward of the front end of the blade root (18). In the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10), the rear end of the blade root (18) is located rearward of the rear end of the blade tip (20).
The front edge of each blade (14) in the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10) is a leading edge (22). The rear edge of each blade (14) in the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10) is a trailing edge (24). The leading edge (22) and trailing edge (24) of each blade (14) extend toward the outer peripheral side (the outside in the radial direction of rotation) of the propeller fan (10) from the blade root (18) to the blade tip (20).
The leading edge (22) of each blade (14) is curved into a recessed shape which is recessed rearward in the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10). The trailing edge (24) of each blade (14) is curved into a recessed shape which is recessed forward in the rotation direction (D) of the propeller fan (10). A portion of the trailing edge (24) of each blade (14) closer to a blade root (18) side extends along the leading edge (22). A portion of the trailing edge (24) of each blade (14) closer to a blade tip (20) side extends apart from the leading edge (22) toward the blade tip (20) side.
Each blade (14) is inclined so as to cross a plane orthogonal to the axis (A) of the propeller fan (10). The leading edge (22) of each blade (14) is located closer to one end (an end facing upward in
The ring (16) is provided so as to surround the plurality of blades (14). The ring (16) is formed into an annular ring shape. The inner peripheral surface of the ring 16 is connected to each blade tip (20) of the four blades (14). That is, the four blades (14) are coupled to each other through the ring (16). The ring (16) covers the entirety of each blade (14) from the leading edge (22) to the trailing edge (24) in a side view of the propeller fan (10). Both end portions of the ring (16) are curved to warp toward the outer peripheral side.
In the propeller fan (10), as the four blades (14) rotate, air flows from a suction side, which is the rear side of the propeller fan (10), toward an air blowing side, which is the front side of the propeller fan (10). In this way, air is blown by the air blowing device. Since the ring (16) is provided, the air pushed out by the propeller fan (10) is less likely to flow around the blade tip (20) of each blade (14) from a positive pressure surface (26) side to a negative pressure surface (28) side. This reduces generation of a blade tip vortex.
Shapes of Blades
The blade cross section illustrated in
The first portion (30) forms 70% or more, preferably 80% or more of a portion of the blade (14) inside an intermediate location of the blade (14) in the radial direction of rotation. The second portion (32) forms 70% or more, preferably 80% or more of a portion of the blade (14) outside the intermediate location of the blade (14) in the radial direction of rotation. In this example, the inner half of each blade (14) is defined by the first portion (30), and the outer half of each blade (14) is defined by the second portion (32). That is, the first portion (30) and the second portion (32) halves the blade (14) at the intermediate location in the radial direction of rotation.
In the blade cross section illustrated in
In the blade cross section illustrated in
In the blade cross section illustrated in
In the blade cross section illustrated in
The axial height gradually increases from the leading edge (22) to the trailing edge (24). Regarding the axial height of the blade (14) from the trailing edge (24) to the maximum camber location (X), a change range per unit length in the rotation direction (D) of the blade (14) increases toward the leading edge (22) of the blade (14). Regarding the axial height of the blade (14) from the maximum camber location (X) to the leading edge (22), a change range per unit length in the rotation direction (D) of the blade (14) decreases toward the leading edge (22) of the blade (14) or is constant.
Chord Line Length
As illustrated in
Attachment Angle
As illustrated in
Camber Ratio
In the blade cross section illustrated in
Maximum Camber Location Ratio
In the blade cross section illustrated in
Axial Height
As illustrated in
In each blade (14), the ratio (Hf/Hl) of the maximum camber location height Hf to the leading edge height Hl is an axial height ratio. As illustrated in
Performance of Propeller Fan
In
The propeller fan of the comparative example is configured, as in the propeller fan (10) of this example, such that four blades (14) are arranged at regular angular intervals in the circumferential direction, and includes no ring (16). The propeller fan of the comparative example has a chord line length c indicated by a dashed line in
As illustrated in
In the propeller fan of the comparative example, the maximum camber location (X) is designed to reduce expansion of the blade tip vortex, and therefore, the air volume ratio on the fan outer peripheral side suddenly drops. For this reason, as illustrated in
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, since the ring (16) is connected to each blade tip (20) of the plurality of blades (14), air is less likely to flow around the blade tip (20) from the positive pressure surface (26) side to the negative pressure surface (28) side of the blade (14), thereby making it possible to reduce generation of the blade tip vortex. In each blade (14), the first portion (30) whose axial height at the maximum camber location (X) is substantially constant is provided inside in the radial direction of rotation, and the second portion (32) whose axial height at the maximum camber location (X) increases toward the blade tip (20) is provided outside in the radial direction of rotation. Thus, the workload on the blade tip (20) side of each blade (14), i.e., the outer peripheral side of the propeller fan (10), increases, and a fan efficiency can be enhanced accordingly.
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, the first portion (30) forms 70% or more of the inner portion of each blade (14), and therefore, the workload inside in the radial direction of rotation is relatively small. On the other hand, the second portion (32) forms 70% or more of the outer portion of each blade (14), and therefore, the workload outside in the radial direction of rotation is relatively great. This is advantageous for increasing the fan efficiency of the propeller fan (10).
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, the rate of change (the change range per unit length) of the axial height at the maximum camber location (X) at the second portion (32) increases toward the blade tip (20), and therefore, at the second portion (32) of each blade (14), the increment of the workload in association with rotation of the propeller fan (10) increases to the outside in the radial direction of rotation. This is advantageous for increasing the fan efficiency of the propeller fan (10).
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, the chord line length c of the first portion (30) is substantially constant at each blade (14), and therefore, the workload inside in the radial direction of rotation is relatively small. On the other hand, the chord line length c of the second portion (32) increases toward the blade tip (20) at each blade (14), and therefore, the workload outside in the radial direction of rotation is relatively great. This is advantageous for increasing the fan efficiency of the propeller fan (10).
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, the rate of change (the change range per unit length) of the chord line length c of the second portion (32) increases toward the blade tip (20), and therefore, at the second portion (32) of each blade (14), the increment of the workload in association with rotation of the propeller fan (10) increases to the outside in the radial direction of rotation. This is advantageous for increasing the fan efficiency of the propeller fan (10).
According to the propeller fan (10) of this embodiment, the blade (14) is designed so as to satisfy Hf/Hl≥0.45. With this configuration, the balance between the camber ratio (f/c) and the maximum camber location ratio (d/c) becomes favorable for increasing the static pressure efficiency.
The foregoing embodiment may be modified as follows.
First Variation
As illustrated in
Second Variation
As illustrated in
According to the propeller fan (10) of the second variation, the serrations (40) are provided at the trailing edge (24) of each blade (14), and therefore, the serrations (40) can reduce turbulence of air flowing on the negative pressure surface (28) side of the blade (14) and reduce wind noise of the blade (14) due to rotation of the propeller fan (10). Further, it can be expected to increase the fan efficiency of the propeller fan (10).
Other Variations
The portion of the blade (14) formed by the first portion (30) may be about 50% of the inner portion of the blade (14) with respect to the midpoint of the blade (14) in the radial direction of rotation, or may be less than 50%. The portion of the blade (14) formed by the second portion (32) may be about 50% of the outer portion of the blade (14) with respect to the midpoint of the blade (14) in the radial direction of rotation, or may be less than 50%.
While the embodiment and variations thereof have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. The embodiments and the variations thereof may be combined and replaced with each other without deteriorating intended functions of the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2020-163792 | Sep 2020 | JP | national |
This is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/JP2021/018644 filed on May 17, 2021, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-163792, filed on Sep. 29, 2020. The entire disclosures of these applications are incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6241474 | Alizadeh | Jun 2001 | B1 |
20070201982 | Neumeier | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20190316599 | Iwata et al. | Oct 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2018-109393 | Jul 2018 | JP |
Entry |
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International Search Report of corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/018644 dated Jul. 13, 2021. |
International Preliminary Report of corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2021/018533 dated Apr. 13, 2023. |
European Search Report of corresponding EP Application No. 21 87 4807.7 dated Feb. 15, 2024. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20230228278 A1 | Jul 2023 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2021/018644 | May 2021 | WO |
Child | 18125573 | US |