Flow collector mounting structure of centrifugal fan, centrifugal fan and range hood

Abstract

The invention relates to a current collector mounting structure of a centrifugal fan, the centrifugal fan and a range hood. The current collector mounting structure comprises a locking knob rotationally arranged on a connecting ring; the volute is further provided with a self-locking device, the self-locking device comprises an electromagnetic lock and a Hall sensor, the electromagnetic lock comprises a spring bolt, the side, facing the electromagnetic lock, of the locking knob is provided with a locking position, the electromagnetic lock and the Hall sensor are both electrically connected with a control unit of the centrifugal fan, the locking knob is provided with a magnet, and the magnet is arranged on the locking knob. The Hall sensor is matched with the magnet in an induction mode to recognize the rotating position of the locking rotary knob, and therefore when the locking rotary knob is located at the second position, the control unit controls a spring bolt of the electromagnetic lock to move towards the locking position of the locking rotary knob and form limiting fit with the locking position. The current collector has the advantages that the current collector is convenient to disassemble and assemble and firm to install, and an operator can effectively identify whether the current collector is installed in place or not.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of centrifugal fans, and in particular to a collector mounting structure of a centrifugal fan, a centrifugal fan and a range hood. Background Art

[0002] A range hood is a kitchen appliance that purifies the kitchen environment. It is used to quickly remove the fumes that are harmful to the human body during cooking and improve the kitchen environment. Among them, the volute is an important component of the range hood. It generally includes a front cover, a rear cover, and a ring wall between the front cover and the rear cover. A collector is installed at the air inlet of the front cover. The front cover and the collector of the traditional volute are generally assembled together by screw connection, which is very inconvenient to disassemble and assemble.

[0003] To this end, the Chinese invention patent application with application number CN201010576162.1 (authorization announcement number CN102478269B) discloses a volute and a range hood provided with such a volute, wherein an air inlet ring is provided with at least one engaging protrusion on its surface facing the air inlet; a front baffle is provided with engaging notches at its air inlet with the same number as the engaging protrusions, the engaging notches correspond one-to-one with the engaging protrusions, and the engaging notches are for the corresponding engaging protrusions to pass through; engaging channels with the same number as the engaging protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the front baffle at the air inlet, the engaging channels correspond one-to-one with the engaging notches, and the engaging channels are connected to the corresponding engaging notches; the engaging protrusions can pass through the corresponding engaging notches, and then the air inlet ring is rotated around the center of the air inlet, and the engaging protrusions can enter the corresponding engaging channels, so that the air inlet ring is engaged and provided on the front baffle. In the above patent application, the volute and the air inlet ring are connected by means of rotational engagement. In order to prevent the air inlet ring from falling out in the reverse direction after installation, a corresponding anti-backward protrusion needs to be provided in the engagement channel. This structural setting still makes the disassembly and assembly process of the air inlet ring difficult. In particular, the setting of the anti-backward protrusion requires the user to use special tools to make the engagement protrusion withdraw in the reverse direction, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the assembly efficiency is low.

[0004] There is also an installation structure that connects the collector to the volute by a snap connection. For example, the Chinese utility model patent application with application number CN202121628486.5 (authorization announcement number: CN215861006U) discloses a connection structure between an air inlet ring and a volute for a centrifugal fan, including: a volute having an air inlet: an air inlet ring connected to the air inlet of the volute, including an annular guide portion and an annular wall extending radially outward from the guide portion: the annular wall and the volute are detachably connected together by a snap assembly, and the snap assembly includes a snap arranged on the inner side of the annular wall and a socket arranged on the volute for the snap to be inserted therein. The snap connection method is convenient for disassembly and assembly, but there are also certain shortcomings. The snap connection method may loosen due to uneven force or fatigue during long-term operation or under greater wind pressure, thereby affecting the sealing and stability between the air inlet ring and the volute. On the other hand, it is difficult for operators to accurately identify whether the air inlet ring is installed in place, and they can only identify it based on experience or subjective feelings.

[0005] Therefore, the collector installation structure of the existing centrifugal fan needs to be further improved. Summary of the invention

[0006] The first technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a collector installation structure for a centrifugal fan, which is convenient for disassembly and assembly, reliable for installation, and allows operators to effectively identify whether the collector is installed in place, in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0007] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a centrifugal fan using the collector installation structure of the centrifugal fan described above in view of the current status of the prior art.

[0008] The second technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a range hood using the centrifugal fan according to the current state of the prior art.

[0009] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the first technical problem is: a collector installation structure of a centrifugal fan, comprising:

[0010] The volute comprises a front side plate, a rear side plate and an annular wall connected between the front side plate and the rear side plate, wherein an air inlet is provided on the front side plate;

[0011] A collector connected to the air inlet of the front side plate, comprising an annular guide portion and a connecting ring extending radially outward from the guide portion;

[0012] The locking knob is rotatably arranged on the connecting ring, wherein the locking knob has a laterally protruding limiting convex buckle on the rear side of the connecting ring, and the front side plate is provided with a limiting hole that passes through the front and rear sides, and the limiting convex buckle of the locking knob can pass through the limiting hole and can be rotated and switched between a first position opposite to the limiting hole and a second position misaligned with the limiting hole;

[0013] The volute is also provided with a self-locking device, which includes an electromagnetic lock and a Hall sensor. The electromagnetic lock includes a lock tongue. The locking knob has a locking position on the side facing the electromagnetic lock. The electromagnetic lock and the Hall sensor are electrically connected to the control unit of the centrifugal fan. A magnet is provided on the locking knob. The Hall sensor and the magnet cooperate in induction to identify the rotational position of the locking knob, so that when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned second position, the control unit controls the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock to move toward the locking position of the locking knob and form a limit fit with the locking position.

[0014] The above-mentioned “locking position” may be a groove or a socket structure provided on the locking knob, into which the end of the locking tongue of the electromagnetic lock can be inserted, thereby forming a limit position in the circumferential direction.

[0015] In the induction cooperation between the Hall sensor and the magnet, the deflected carriers accumulate on one side of the Hall sensor, making the side negatively charged, and the other side positively charged due to the lack of electrons, thereby forming a potential difference on both sides, namely the Hall voltage. Among them, the Hall voltage is related to factors such as the magnetic field strength and the control current, and the Hall sensor can convert it into an electrical signal output. When the magnet approaches or moves away from the Hall sensor, the magnetic field strength increases or decreases, the corresponding Lorentz force on the carrier increases or decreases, the Hall voltage will also change accordingly, and the electrical signal output by the sensor will also change accordingly, thereby being used as an identification device for the rotation position of the locking knob. Preferably, when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned first position, in the rotation direction of the locking knob, the magnet on the locking knob is away from the Hall sensor; when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned second position, in the rotation direction of the knob, the magnet on the locking knob is close to the Hall sensor.

[0016] In order to facilitate the installation and rotation of the locking knob on the connecting ring, an axial hole is provided on the connecting ring, and the locking knob includes a knob body, a locking rod and a locking piece. The knob body and the locking piece are respectively located on the front and rear sides of the connecting ring and are connected by a locking rod inserted through the axial hole. The locking piece includes a connecting column and a limiting protrusion extending from the connecting column to the side. The locking rod and the knob body are detachably connected, and the first end of the locking rod and the knob body can be limited in the axial and circumferential directions of the locking rod. The magnet is provided on the knob body.

[0017] In order to simplify the detachable assembly structure between the locking rod, the locking piece and the knob body, the connecting column is provided with an axially opened movable channel, the second end of the locking rod is slidably arranged in the movable channel, and the second end of the locking rod is limited in the circumferential direction with the inner wall of the movable channel by means of keyway cooperation, the first end of the locking rod is provided with a limiting pin protruding radially outward, a locking chamber is defined inside the knob body, and a first mounting opening is provided on the side facing the locking piece for allowing the first end of the locking rod and its limiting pin to extend into the locking chamber, an elastic member is also provided in the movable channel, the elastic member acts on the locking rod and makes the locking rod always have a tendency to move along its axial direction toward the side away from the knob body, the inner wall of the locking chamber is provided with a limiting slot on the side adjacent to the first mounting opening, and the limiting pin of the locking rod passes through the first mounting opening and enters the locking chamber, and after rotating a certain angle, it can be snapped into the limiting slot under the action of the elastic member.

[0018] In order to prevent the connecting ring of the collector from affecting the inductive sensitivity between the magnet on the locking knob and the Hall sensor, the knob body includes a limit plate located on the front side of the connecting ring and a knob operating part protruding on the front side surface of the limit plate. When the locking knob is in the second position, the limit plate partially exposes the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring, and the magnet is provided on the inner side of the portion of the limit plate exposed from the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring.

[0019] In order to adapt to the rotation action of the locking knob and further improve the induction sensitivity between the magnet on the tightening knob and the Hall sensor, the knob body is further provided with a connecting channel on the side facing the locking piece, and a first mounting opening that passes through the locking chamber is provided on the bottom wall of the connecting channel; a fixing sleeve is further provided at the axial hole position on the side of the connecting ring facing the knob body, the locking rod passes through the fixing sleeve and is connected to the knob body, the fixing sleeve extends into the connecting channel, and the outer circumferential wall of the fixing sleeve is connected to the inner circumferential wall of the connecting channel by a threaded connection, so that the knob body can be axially closer to or farther away from the connecting ring when rotating forward and reversely; when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned first position, the locking knob is axially away from the connecting ring, and when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned second position, the locking knob is axially close to the connecting ring.

[0020] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the second technical problem is: a centrifugal fan, including a volute and a collector, the front side plate of the volute is provided with an air inlet, the collector is detachably installed at the air inlet of the volute, the collector adopts the above-mentioned collector installation structure of the centrifugal fan, the front side plate of the volute is provided with a limiting hole that passes through the front and back for the limiting protrusion to pass through, the locking knob has at least a locking state in which the limiting protrusion is limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole to limit the limiting protrusion from moving forward out of the limiting hole as its rotation position relative to the connecting ring changes, and an unlocking state in which the limiting protrusion is moved to a position opposite to the limiting hole to allow the limiting protrusion to move forward out of the limiting hole.

[0021] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the third technical problem is: a range hood, comprising a casing and a centrifugal fan arranged in the casing, wherein the centrifugal fan adopts the centrifugal fan mentioned above.

[0022] In order to avoid the adverse effect of the presence of the front panel on the inductive sensitivity between the magnet and the Hall sensor, the casing includes a front panel, and the front panel has a third mounting port opposite to the air inlet of the volute, the connecting ring of the collector is abutted against the front side of the peripheral edge of the third mounting port, and a first through hole is provided on the peripheral edge of the third mounting port, which is opposite to the limiting hole and can allow the rear end of the locking knob and the limiting protrusion provided on the rear end thereof to pass through.

[0023] In order to further improve the inductive sensitivity between the magnet on the tightening knob and the Hall sensor, a second through hole is further provided on the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening, and the second through hole is opposite to the magnet on the locking knob in the second position state.

[0024] In order to minimize the smoke entering the position of the electromagnetic lock through the second through hole and prevent the electromagnetic lock from being contaminated by oil, it also includes rotating a baffle plate arranged on the inner side of the front panel, and the baffle plate and the locking knob are linked by a transmission component, thereby driving the baffle plate to rotate during the rotation of the locking knob. When the locking knob is in the above-mentioned first position, the baffle plate closes the second through hole, and when the locking knob is in the above-mentioned second position, the baffle plate opens the second through hole.

[0025] The linkage between the baffle plate and the locking knob can be achieved through a connecting rod transmission assembly, a gear transmission assembly, etc. The locking knob is provided with an annular tooth portion on the rear side of the connecting ring, and the baffle plate has a fan-shaped tooth portion with its rotation axis as the center line. The annular tooth portion is meshed with the fan-shaped tooth portion or is connected through a gear transmission assembly.

[0026] As an improvement, the front panel is further provided with a third through hole for the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock to pass through.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are as follows: the collector is connected to the front side plate of the volute by a locking knob. When the collector needs to be installed on the front side plate of the volute, it is only necessary to pass the limiting convex buckle of the locking knob through the limiting hole on the front side plate of the volute and rotate it a certain angle, so that the limiting convex buckle can be limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole, and will not slip out of the limiting hole forward and be in a locked state. When the collector needs to be disassembled, the locking knob is rotated to a position where the limiting rib and the limiting hole are relative, so that the limiting convex buckle can slip out of the limiting hole forward and be unlocked. The locking and unlocking method using the locking knob is more convenient for operators to operate, the disassembly process is more labor-saving, and it is not easy to loosen or come loose due to the movement and vibration of the fan, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the collector and the front side plate of the volute. On this basis, a self-locking device is also provided on the volute. The self-locking device cooperates with the magnet induction provided on the locking knob through the Hall sensor (that is, a non-contact locking-in-place detection device is adopted), so as to effectively identify the rotation position of the locking knob. When it is identified that it is rotated to the second position, the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock of the self-locking device can move toward the locking position of the locking knob and form a limit cooperation with the locking position, further ensuring the reliability of the installation of the collector. Among them, the operator can also observe whether the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock has cooperated with the locking position of the locking knob to identify whether the knob is rotated into place, ensure that the collector is clearly installed in place, eliminate the anxiety and risks caused by the inability to identify whether the collector is installed in place, and improve the user experience. In the preferred solution, the structural design of the adjustable axial displacement of the magnet of the locking knob solves the problem of balancing the magnetic force and the triggering of the Hall element (the magnet is too small to trigger the Hall sensor, and the magnet is too large and the suction is too strong, so it will be sucked on the iron panel during disassembly, affecting the disassembly experience. In addition, the magnet is too large and the cost is high, and the Hall sensor will sense a signal when the knob is not in place). This reduces costs while providing a better user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a range hood according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a range hood according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a current collector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 An exploded view of a locking knob of a current collector according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5It is a cross-sectional view of various components of the locking knob of the current collector in an embodiment of the present invention in an exploded state;

[0033] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the inner side of the centrifugal fan according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the front panel of the casing according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 8 A partial sectional perspective view of a range hood according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the back side of the front panel of an embodiment of the present invention (the locking knob is in the unlocked state);

[0037] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the back side of the front panel of an embodiment of the present invention (the locking knob is in a locked state). DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] In the specification and claims of the present invention, terms indicating directions, such as "front", "rear", "up", "down", "left", "right", "side", "top", "bottom", etc., are used to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of the present invention, but these terms are used here only for the purpose of convenience of description and are determined based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in the present invention can be arranged in different directions, these terms indicating directions are only used as explanations and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "up" and "down" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

[0040] Figure 1-Figure 10 A preferred embodiment of the centrifugal fan collector, the centrifugal fan and the range hood of the present invention is shown. The range hood includes a casing 5 and a centrifugal fan arranged in the casing 5. An air inlet 110 is provided on the front side wall of the casing 5 (i.e., the front panel 51), and external smoke can enter the casing 5 through the air inlet 110. Negative pressure is generated when the centrifugal fan is in operation, and external oil smoke can be sucked into the casing 5 through the air inlet 110. The bottom of the casing 5 is also provided with an oil cup 54 extending left and right, which is used to receive the oil flowing down from the casing 5. The front part of the casing 5 is also provided with a smoke baffle 53 that can deflect forward and backward relative to the casing 5. The smoke baffle 53 is connected to the main body of the casing 5 through a hinge motion mechanism, and can be deflected forward to open the above-mentioned air inlet and deflected backward to block and close the above-mentioned air inlet. The hinge motion mechanism used to drive the smoke baffle to deflect can adopt a conventional hinge motion mechanism in the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

[0041] See also Figure 2 The centrifugal fan includes a volute 1, an impeller 21 rotatably arranged in the volute 1, and a motor 22 for driving the impeller 21 to rotate. The volute 1 includes a front side plate 11, a rear side plate 12, and an annular wall 13 connected between the front side plate 11 and the rear side plate 12, and a corresponding air inlet 110 is opened on the front side plate 11. A collector is provided at the air inlet 110 of the front side plate 11 of the volute 1. The collector includes an annular guide portion 31 and a connecting ring 32 extending radially outward from the guide portion 31. Among them, the guide portion 31 of the collector generally includes a radial guide portion 31 with an arc-shaped cross section and an axial guide portion 31 extending circumferentially from the inner side of the radial guide portion 31. A filter 30 is also provided at the central opening of the guide portion 31 of the collector. The connecting ring 32 of the collector is a flat annular plate structure that can fit on the outer peripheral edge of the air inlet 110 of the front side plate of the volute 1. A filter 30 is also attached to the inner opening of the guide portion 31 of the collector to filter the oil smoke and balance the airflow.

[0042] See also Figure 3 The outer peripheral edge of the connection ring 32 of the current collector of this embodiment has a lug portion 321 extending outward, and the lug portion 321 is rotatably provided with a locking knob 4. The locking knob 4 includes a knob body 40, a locking catch 43, and a locking rod 46. The knob body 40 includes a limit plate 42 and a knob operating portion 41 protruding from the front side of the limit plate 42, wherein the knob operating portion 41 is a straight-line knob. The lug portion 321 of the connection ring 32 is provided with an axial hole 3210 for the locking rod 46 to pass through. The locking catch 43 includes a connecting column 44 and a limit convex buckle 45 extending from the connecting column 44 to the side. The knob body 40 and the connecting column 44 of the locking member 43 are respectively located at the front and rear sides of the connecting ring 32, and are connected by a locking rod 46 that penetrates the shaft hole 3210. The locking rod 46 and the knob body 40 are detachably connected, and the first end of the locking rod 46 and the knob body 40 can be limited in the axial direction and circumferential direction of the locking rod 46. The second end of the locking rod 46 and the connecting column 44 of the locking member 43 are detachably connected, and the second end of the locking rod 46 and the locking member 43 can be limited in the axial direction and circumferential direction of the locking rod 46.

[0043] See also Figure 3-Figure 5In order to simplify the detachable assembly structure between the lock rod 46, the lock catch 43, and the knob body 40, the connecting column 44 has an axially opened movable channel 440, the second end of the lock rod 46 is slidably disposed in the movable channel 440, and the second end of the lock rod 46 and the inner wall of the movable channel 440 are limited in the circumferential direction by keyway cooperation. Specifically, the outer peripheral wall of the second end of the lock rod 46 has a convex key 463 protruding outward, and there are two symmetrically arranged convex keys 463, and the inner peripheral wall of the movable channel 440 has a slide groove 441 opened along its length direction, and there are two corresponding slide grooves 441. The two convex keys 463 are respectively slidably limited in the two slide grooves 441 of the movable channel 440. Through the cooperation of the convex key 463 and the slide groove 441, on the one hand, the locking rod 46 and the locking member 43 can be limited in the circumferential direction, so that the locking member 43 can be driven to rotate when the locking rod 46 rotates; on the other hand, the stability of the relative movement between the locking rod 46 and the locking member 43 in the axial direction can be ensured. The outer peripheral wall of the second end of the locking rod 46 also has a limit stopper 462 protruding outward, the outer edge of the limit stopper 462 is circular, and the convex key 463 is correspondingly arranged at the outer edge of the limit stopper 462. The end of the connecting column 44 of the locking member 43 away from the knob body 40 has a second installation opening 442 that is connected to the movable channel 440, and the end of the connecting column 44 facing the knob body 40 has a through hole 443 that is connected to the movable channel 440. The locking rod 46 can be installed in the movable channel 440 through the second installation opening 442, and the first end of the locking rod 46 extends out through the through hole 443. The diameter of the through hole 443 matches the outer diameter of the main body of the lock rod 46, but is smaller than the outer diameter of the limit stop 462 on the lock rod 46, so that the periphery of the through hole 443 can be used to limit the axial movement of the lock rod 46. An elastic member 47 is also provided in the movable channel 440 of the lock catch 43. The elastic member 47 is a spring and is sleeved outside the lock rod 46. The first end of the spring abuts against the limit stop 462 of the lock rod 46, and the second end abuts against the periphery edge of the through hole 443 of the movable channel 440. Under the elastic force of the elastic member 47, the lock rod 46 always has a tendency to move along its axial direction toward the side away from the knob main body 40.

[0044] The first end of the locking rod 46 has a limit pin 461 protruding radially outward. The limit pin 461 can be integrally provided on the first end of the locking rod 46 or installed on the first end of the locking rod 46 in the form of a split component.

[0045] The locking chamber 420 is defined inside the limiting plate 42 of the knob body 40, and a first installation opening 422 is provided on the side facing the lock catch 43, so that the first end of the lock rod 46 and its limiting pin 461 can extend into the locking chamber 420. The first installation opening 422 is a strip-shaped opening. The inner wall of the locking chamber 420 is provided with a limiting card slot 421 on the side adjacent to the first installation opening 422. The limiting card slot 421 is a strip-shaped card slot and is arranged in a circumferentially staggered manner with the first installation opening 422. After the limiting pin 461 of the lock rod 46 passes through the first installation opening 422 and enters the locking chamber 420, it rotates a certain angle and can be inserted into the limiting card slot 421 under the action of the elastic member 47, thereby achieving axial tension between the knob body and the lock catch 43.

[0046] The knob body 40 is also provided with a connection hole 423 on the side facing the locking member 43, and the above-mentioned first installation opening 422 is provided on the bottom wall of the connection hole 423. The connection ring 32 is also provided with a fixing sleeve 48 at the position of the shaft hole 3210 on the side facing the knob body 40. The fixing sleeve 48 can be embedded in the shaft hole 3210 of the connection ring 32, or can be fixed on the side of the connection ring 32 facing the knob body 40 by bonding. The lock rod 46 passes through the fixing sleeve 48 and is connected to the knob body 40. Specifically, the size and shape of the connection hole 423 of the knob body 40 are adapted to the outer contour of the fixing sleeve 48. The fixing sleeve 48 can be inserted into the connection hole 423, and the outer peripheral wall of the fixing sleeve 48 is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the connection hole 423 by threads. Therefore, when the knob body 40 rotates forward and backward, it can be close to or away from the connection ring 32 under the adjustment of the threads.

[0047] The limiting protrusion 45 of the locking member 43 protrudes radially outward from the peripheral wall of the connecting column 44, and a certain gap is left between the front end of the limiting protrusion 45 and the limiting plate 42 of the knob body 40. In a preferred embodiment, the limiting protrusion 45 is a rib plate structure extending axially of the connecting column 44, and the size of the limiting protrusion 45 protruding outward relative to the connecting column 44 gradually increases from back to front, that is, the outer edge of the limiting protrusion 45 forms a guiding slope, thereby facilitating the limiting protrusion 45 to pass backward through the limiting hole 111 of the front side plate of the volute 1 during installation.

[0048] A limiting hole 111 is provided on the front side plate of the volute 1, and the limiting convex buckle 45 of the locking knob 4 can pass through the limiting hole 111 backwards, and after rotating a certain angle, it is limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole 111 of the front side plate. Specifically, as the locking knob 4 changes its rotation position relative to the connecting ring 32, it has at least a locking state in which the limiting convex buckle 45 is limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole 111 to limit the limiting convex buckle 45 from escaping forward from the limiting hole 111, and an unlocking state in which the limiting convex buckle 45 is moved to a position opposite to the limiting hole 111 to allow the limiting convex buckle 45 to escaping forward from the limiting hole 111. In combination with the above, it can be known that in the process of the knob body 40 rotating from the unlocking position to the locking position, the knob body 40 is close to the connecting ring 32 under the adjustment of the thread; in the process of the knob body 40 rotating from the locking position to the unlocking position, the knob body 40 is away from the connecting ring 32 under the adjustment of the thread.

[0049] See also Figure 6 In order to effectively indicate that the locking knob 4 is in a locked state and further improve the installation efficiency of the collector, the side wall surface of the front side plate facing the volute 1 is also provided with two positioning protrusions arranged at intervals along the circumference of the locking knob 4. When the locking knob 4 is in a locked state, the limiting convex buckle 45 is limited between the two positioning protrusions 112. Among them, the spacing between the two positioning protrusions 112 is adapted to the thickness of the limiting convex buckle 45 of the locking knob 4, thereby effectively limiting the left and right swinging of the limiting convex buckle 45, so that the locking knob 4 can be stably maintained in the locked state. The top of the above-mentioned positioning protrusion 112 can adopt a smooth convex curved surface design, so that the front end of the limiting convex buckle 45 can smoothly pass over the relative positioning protrusion and be limited between the two positioning protrusions during the rotation of the locking knob 4. The design of the limiting protrusion 112 can also provide a hand feeling for the locking knob 4 to rotate in place during the rotation process, thereby improving the user experience.

[0050] The outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring 32 of this embodiment has a pin 322 extending outward, and a first positioning socket 113 for the pin 322 to be inserted into is provided on the front side plate. The position where the pin 322 is connected to the connecting ring 32 is tilted backward to form a limiting step. After the pin 322 of the collector is installed in place, the setting of the above-mentioned limiting step can allow the collector to deflect backward around the position of the pin 322, so that the connecting ring 32 of the collector can better abut against the outer plate of the volute 1. In order to prevent air leakage and uneven force problems in other positions after the collector is installed, the collector of this embodiment has two pins 322, and the positions of the two pins 322 and the locking knob 4 are respectively located on the opposite sides of the connecting ring 32, thereby ensuring the reliability of the installation of the collector.

[0051] See also Figure 6 and Figure 7The housing 5 of the range hood includes a front panel 51, wherein the front panel 51 has a third mounting opening 511 opposite to the air inlet 110 of the volute 1, and the third mounting opening 511 is also a matching circular or quasi-circular structure. In order to facilitate the flow of smoke, the outer edge of the front panel 51 to the location of the third mounting opening 511 is a curved surface structure that gradually tilts backward, and the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 is a flat structure. The connecting ring 32 of the collector is attached to the front side of the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 of the front panel 51, that is, the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 is embedded between the connecting ring 32 of the collector and the front side plate of the volute 1. A first through hole 512 is provided on the peripheral edge of the third installation opening 511 for the locking member 43 and the locking rod 46 to pass through, and the first through hole 512 is opposite to the limiting hole 111, wherein the shape and size of the first through hole 512 are substantially consistent with the limiting hole 111. This structural design allows the collector to be installed and removed without disassembling the front panel 51 of the housing 5, thereby facilitating the cleaning of the impeller 21 and the interior of the volute 1.

[0052] A second positioning socket 513 is also provided at the peripheral edge of the third mounting port 511 of the front panel 51. The second positioning socket 513 is opposite to the first positioning socket 113 on the front side panel of the volute 1. When installing the collector, the pin 322 on the connecting ring 32 of the collector can pass through the second positioning socket 513 and be inserted into the first positioning socket 113 of the volute 1.

[0053] Continue to see Figure 2 A sealing ring 52 is also provided between the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 of the front panel 51 and the front side plate of the volute 1. The peripheral edge of the air inlet 110 of the front side plate of the volute 1 has a second flange 114 folded forward, and the inner edge of the sealing ring 52 has a convex portion 521 protruding to the side so that the cross section of the sealing ring 52 is stepped, wherein the convex portion 521 of the sealing ring 52 is sandwiched between the second flange 114 and the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 of the panel, and the other parts of the sealing ring 52 except the convex portion 521 are sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening 511 of the front panel 51 and the front side plate of the volute 1. The above-mentioned installation structure design of the sealing ring 52 can effectively ensure the sealing between the front panel 51 and the volute 1 and make the two close together to reduce vibration and noise problems.

[0054] The sealing ring 52 has at least two positioning posts 522 arranged in sequence along the circumferential direction on one side facing the volute 1, and the front side plate of the volute 1 has at least two positioning holes 115 for the positioning posts 522 to be inserted into. After the sealing ring 52 is embedded in the positioning holes 115 of the front side plate of the volute 1 through the positioning posts 522, the reliability of the installation of the sealing ring 52 and the accuracy of the installation position can be ensured, thereby improving the installation efficiency.

[0055] The outer peripheral edge of the connection ring 32 of the collector also has a first flange 323 bent toward the rear side. The height of the first flange 323 can be about 2-3 mm. When the collector is in the installed state, the first flange 323 can be against the peripheral edge of the third installation port 511 of the front panel 51 to increase the strength of the collector at the unstressed position and ensure the overall flatness, so that it can better contact with the volute 1. In order to further reduce the air leakage problem, the side of the connection ring 32 facing the volute 1 is in close contact with the raised portion 521 of the sealing ring 52.

[0056] The collector of this embodiment is connected to the front side plate of the volute 1 by a locking knob 4. When the collector needs to be installed on the front side plate of the volute 1, it is only necessary to pass the limiting convex buckle 45 of the locking knob 4 through the limiting hole 111 on the front side plate of the volute 1 and rotate it a certain angle. The limiting convex buckle 45 can be limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole 111 and will not slip out of the limiting hole 111 forward and be in a locked state. When the collector needs to be disassembled, the locking knob 4 is rotated to a position where the limiting convex buckle 45 is relative to the limiting hole 111. In this way, the limiting convex buckle 45 can slip out of the limiting hole 111 forward and be unlocked. The locking and unlocking method of the locking knob 4 is more convenient for the operator to operate, the disassembly process is more labor-saving, and it is not easy to loosen or come loose due to the movement and vibration of the fan, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the collector and the front side plate of the volute 1.

[0057] See 8- Fig.10The limiting plate 42 of the locking knob 4 partially exposes the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring 32, and the portion of the limiting plate 42 that exposes the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring 32 is provided with a magnet 424 on the side facing the volute 1. In order to detect the installation position of the collector and lock it safely, an electromagnetic lock 6 and a Hall sensor 64 are also provided on the outside of the annular wall 13 of the volute 1 near the locking knob 4. Since the locking knob 4 is provided with a magnet 424, the rotation of the locking knob 4 will drive the magnet 424 to move. When the locking knob 4 is rotated right to reach the limit position, the magnet 424 will transmit a signal to the Hall sensor 64 (or reed switch) on the rear side. The Hall sensor will send a signal after sensing the magnetic field of the magnet 424. Then the system energizes the electromagnetic lock 6, and the lock tongue 61 of the electromagnetic lock 6 will move upward (a third through hole 515 is provided on the front panel 51 for the lock tongue 61 to pass through), and lock with the locking position 425 on the knob body 40 of the locking knob 4 to achieve locking of the locking knob 4. At this time, the range hood can work normally. If the locking knob 4 is not rotated into place, it means that the collector is not installed reliably and the Hall sensor 64 will not be triggered. At this time, the range hood system is out of power and the impeller 21 will not rotate. This can avoid the risk of the user touching the rotating impeller 21 due to failure to install the collector during disassembly. Specifically, there is a mounting frame 62 on the side of the volute 1, and a protective cover is provided inside the mounting frame 62, in which an electromagnetic lock 6 and a Hall sensor 64 are installed. The function of the protective cover is to reduce the pollution of oil smoke to components, and the inside is fastened by screws. The electromagnetic lock 6 is also treated to prevent oil pollution, specifically by using a retractable rubber oil-proof sleeve 63 structure. The oil-proof sleeve 63 is cone-shaped as a whole, and its small head is stuck in the slot of the lock tongue 61 of the electromagnetic lock 6, and the other large head side is stuck in the slot of the plastic shell of the electromagnetic lock 6, so that the inside of the electromagnetic lock 6 can be oil-proof.

[0058] The "locking position" of the locking knob 4 can be a groove or a socket structure provided on the locking knob, into which the end of the locking tongue 61 of the electromagnetic lock can be inserted, thereby forming a limit in the circumferential direction.

[0059] The Hall sensor 64 mainly relies on the magnetic field of the induction magnet 424 and then releases an electrical signal, but its induction is affected by the size of the magnet 424 and the distance from the magnet 424. Since the magnet 424 on the knob body 40 and the Hall sensor 64 are separated by an iron panel, that is, separated by the front panel 51, there must be a distance between the magnet 424 and the Hall sensor 64 and they cannot contact each other. The iron panel will shield the magnetic field, and only a hole (also the second through hole 514) can be opened in the iron plate to remove the shielding. However, for the sake of aesthetics and to prevent oil and dirt from entering the inside and making it difficult to clean, the hole should not be opened too large, but the magnetism of the magnet 424 should not be too strong. On the one hand, it will increase the volume and then increase the cost. In addition, when in the disassembled state, the suction is too strong and it will be sucked on the iron panel, affecting the disassembly experience. If the magnet 424 is too strong, the knob may not be in place yet, and the Hall sensor 64 will sense the signal, causing the whole machine to be powered on in advance. Therefore, the balance between the magnetism of the magnet 424 and the Hall is particularly important. In this embodiment, the knob body 40 is spirally matched with the intermediate fixing sleeve 48. When the locking knob 4 is in the collector disassembly state, the locking knob 4 will rotate counterclockwise. Driven by the thread of the intermediate fixing sleeve 48, the locking knob 4 will gradually rise during the counterclockwise rotation, increasing the distance between the magnet 424 and the iron panel, so that the collector will not be affected by the suction force of the magnet 424 when being disassembled. When locked by right rotation, the locking knob 4 will drive the magnet 424 to move downward while rotating to the right. When it is rotated to the right in place, the distance between the magnet 424 and the iron panel is also the shortest. At this time, the magnet 424 will transmit the magnetic field signal to the Hall sensor 64 through the opening of the iron panel to provide a reminder of the installation in place.

[0060] Since the iron panel has holes to allow the magnetic field to be transmitted normally, when the user removes the collector to clean the oil stains on the appearance of the whole machine, the holes at the panel openings will be plugged with grease wiped on the rag, causing the oil stains to enter the panel openings, which may affect signal transmission on the one hand and reduce the user experience on the other hand (the oil stains stick to the holes). In order to solve this problem, a linkage structure is made in combination with the rotational movement of the locking knob 4, and an annular tooth portion 444 is correspondingly provided on the connecting column 44 of the locking member 43 of the locking knob 4, and a transmission gear 490 and a shielding plate 491 with fan-shaped teeth 492 at the end are also provided on the rear side of the front panel 51. The transmission gear 490 and the shielding plate 491 are both rotatably provided on the front panel 51 through corresponding pins. When the locking knob 4 drives the annular tooth portion 444 to rotate, the power is transmitted to the shielding plate 491 through the transmission gear 490, and then the shielding plate 491 is driven to rotate. When the locking knob 4 is in the disassembly position (that is, in the unlocked position), the shielding plate 491 just blocks the second through hole 514 of the panel. At this time, when the user cleans the outer surface of the range hood, the oil will not be rubbed into the second through hole 514. When the knob is turned right to lock, the shielding plate 491 will follow the rotation of the knob and move away from the second through hole 514 of the panel, ensuring that the Hall sensor 64 can receive the magnetic induction of the magnet 424 and ensure that the lock tongue 61 of the electromagnetic lock 6 can be extended to lock.

[0061] Considering the energy consumption of the whole machine in standby mode, the electromagnetic lock 6 of this embodiment uses a bistable electromagnetic lock, that is, the lock tongue 61 moves forward or backward, and only needs to be powered for a moment. No product energy consumption is required in other states, and then it will remain in this state. The unlocking operation of the electromagnetic lock 6 can be achieved through additional buttons or touch operations, or by rotating the locking knob in the reverse direction. Specifically, there is a certain amount of active clearance between the locking position 425 on the locking knob and the end of the lock tongue 61 of the electromagnetic lock in the circumferential direction, thereby allowing the locking knob 4 to rotate in the reverse direction for a certain distance (in this process, it will pass over the corresponding positioning protrusion 112) to achieve unlocking.

[0062] The current collector of this embodiment is connected to the front side plate of the volute by a locking knob. When the current collector needs to be installed on the front side plate of the volute, it is only necessary to pass the limiting convex buckle of the locking knob through the limiting hole on the front side plate of the volute and rotate it a certain angle. The limiting convex buckle can be limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole and will not slip out of the limiting hole forward and be in a locked state. When the current collector needs to be disassembled, the locking knob is rotated to a position where the limiting rib and the limiting hole are relative. In this way, the limiting convex buckle can slip out of the limiting hole forward and be unlocked. The locking and unlocking method using the locking knob is more convenient for operators to operate, the disassembly process is more labor-saving, and it is not easy to loosen or come loose due to the movement and vibration of the fan, thereby ensuring the reliability of the connection between the current collector and the front side plate of the volute. On this basis, a self-locking device is also provided on the volute, which cooperates with the magnet induction provided on the locking knob through the Hall sensor (that is, a non-contact locking-in-place detection device is adopted), so as to effectively identify the rotation position of the locking knob. When it is identified that it is rotated to the second position, the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock of the self-locking device can move toward the locking position of the locking knob and form a limit cooperation with the locking position, further ensuring the reliability of the installation of the collector. The operator can also observe (either visually or by the sound of the electromagnetic lock tongue extending and retracting) whether the lock tongue of the electromagnetic lock is matched with the locking position of the locking knob to identify whether the knob is rotated into place, thereby ensuring that the collector is clearly installed in place, eliminating the anxiety and risks caused by the inability to identify whether the collector is installed in place, and improving the user experience.

Claims

1. A collector mounting structure for a centrifugal fan, comprising: The volute (1) comprises a front side plate (11), a rear side plate (12) and an annular wall (13) connected between the front side plate (11) and the rear side plate (12), wherein an air inlet (110) is provided on the front side plate (11); A collector connected to the air inlet (110) of the front side plate (11), comprising an annular flow guide portion (31) and a connecting ring (32) extending radially outward from the flow guide portion (31); The invention is characterized in that: it also includes a locking knob (4) rotatably arranged on the connecting ring (32), the locking knob (4) having a laterally protruding limiting convex buckle (45) on the rear side of the connecting ring (32), the front side plate (11) is provided with a limiting hole (111) which passes through the limiting hole (111) and can be rotated and switched between a first position opposite to the limiting hole (111) and a second position misaligned with the limiting hole (111); The volute (1) is also provided with a self-locking device, which includes an electromagnetic lock (6) and a Hall sensor (64). The electromagnetic lock (6) includes a locking tongue (61). The locking knob (4) has a locking position (425) on the side facing the electromagnetic lock (6). The electromagnetic lock (6) and the Hall sensor (64) are both electrically connected to a control unit of the centrifugal fan. The locking knob (4) is provided with a magnet (424). The Hall sensor (64) and the magnet (424) cooperate in induction to identify the rotational position of the locking knob (4), so that when the locking knob (4) is located in the second position, the control unit controls the locking tongue (61) of the electromagnetic lock (6) to move toward the locking position (425) of the locking knob (4) and to form a limit fit with the locking position (425).

2. The collector installation structure of the centrifugal fan according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the locking knob (4) is located at the first position, the magnet (424) on the locking knob (4) is away from the Hall sensor (64) in the direction of rotation of the locking knob (4); when the locking knob (4) is located at the second position, the magnet (424) on the locking knob (4) is close to the Hall sensor (64) in the direction of rotation of the knob.

3. The collector mounting structure of the centrifugal fan according to claim 2, characterized in that: The connecting ring (32) is provided with an axial hole (3210), and the locking knob (4) includes a knob body (40), a locking rod (46) and a locking member (43). The knob body (40) and the locking member (43) are respectively located at the front and rear sides of the connecting ring (32), and are connected by a locking rod (46) inserted through the axial hole (3210). The locking member (43) includes a connecting column (44) and a limiting protrusion (45) extending from the connecting column (44) to the side. The locking rod (46) and the knob body (40) are detachably connected, and the first end of the locking rod (46) and the knob body (40) can be limited in the axial and circumferential directions of the locking rod (46). The magnet (424) is arranged on the knob body.

4. The collector mounting structure of the centrifugal fan according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting column (44) has an axially opened movable channel (440), the second end of the locking rod (46) is slidably arranged in the movable channel (440), and the second end of the locking rod (46) and the inner wall of the movable channel (440) are limited in the circumferential direction by keyway cooperation, the first end of the locking rod (46) has a limiting pin (461) protruding radially outward, the knob body (40) defines a locking chamber (420) inside, and a locking member (420) is provided on the side facing the locking member (43) so that the first end of the locking rod (46) and its limiting pin (461) can extend into the locking chamber (420). 0), an elastic member (47) is further provided in the movable channel (440), the elastic member (47) acts on the locking rod (46) and makes the locking rod (46) always have a tendency to move along its axial direction toward a side away from the knob body (40), the inner wall of the locking chamber (420) is provided with a limiting groove (421) on a side adjacent to the first mounting opening (422), the limiting pin (461) of the locking rod (46) passes through the first mounting opening (422) and enters the locking chamber (420), and after rotating a certain angle, it can be snapped into the limiting groove (421) under the action of the elastic member (47).

5. The collector mounting structure of the centrifugal fan according to claim 4, characterized in that: The knob body (40) comprises a limiting plate (42) located on the front side of the connecting ring (32) and a knob operating portion (41) protruding on the front side of the limiting plate (42); when the locking knob (4) is in the second position, a portion of the limiting plate (42) is exposed outside the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring (32), and the magnet (424) is provided on the inner side of the portion of the limiting plate (42) that exposes the outer peripheral edge of the connecting ring (32).

6. The collector mounting structure of the centrifugal fan according to claim 5, characterized in that: The knob body (40) is provided with a connecting hole (423) on a side facing the locking member (43); a first mounting opening (422) penetrating into the locking chamber (420) is provided on a bottom wall of the connecting hole (423); a fixing sleeve (48) is provided on a side of the connecting ring (32) facing the knob body (40) at the position of the shaft hole (3210); the locking rod (46) passes through the fixing sleeve (48) and is connected to the knob body (40); the fixing sleeve (48) extends into the connecting hole (423), and the outer peripheral wall of the fixing sleeve (48) is connected to the inner peripheral wall of the connecting channel (423) by a threaded connection, so that the knob body (40) can be axially closer to or farther away from the connecting ring (32) when rotating forward and reversely. When the locking knob (4) is located in the above-mentioned first position, the locking knob (4) is axially away from the connecting ring (32), and when the locking knob (4) is located in the above-mentioned second position, the locking knob (4) is axially close to the connecting ring (32).

7. A centrifugal fan, comprising a volute (1) and a collector, wherein an air inlet (110) is provided on a front side plate (11) of the volute (1), and the collector is detachably mounted at the air inlet (110) of the volute (1), characterized in that: The collector adopts the collector installation structure of the centrifugal fan described in any one of claims 1 to 6, and a limiting hole (111) that passes through the front and rear sides for the limiting convex buckle (45) to pass through is opened on the front side plate (11) of the volute (1), and the locking knob (4) has at least a locking state in which the limiting convex buckle (45) is limited to the rear side of the outer peripheral edge of the limiting hole (111) to limit the limiting convex buckle (45) from escaping forward from the limiting hole (111) as its rotation position relative to the connecting ring (32) changes, and has an unlocking state in which the limiting convex buckle (45) is moved to a position opposite to the limiting hole (111) to allow the limiting convex buckle (45) to escaping forward from the limiting hole (111).

8. A range hood, comprising a housing (5) and a centrifugal fan arranged in the housing (5), characterized in that: The centrifugal fan adopts the centrifugal fan described in claim 7.

9. The range hood according to claim 8, characterized in that: The casing (5) comprises a front panel (51), the front panel (51) having a third mounting opening (511) opposite to the air inlet (110) of the volute (1), the connecting ring (32) of the collector abutting against the front side of the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening (511), and a first through hole (512) opposite to the limiting hole (111) and capable of allowing the rear end of the locking knob (4) and the limiting convex buckle (45) provided on the rear end thereof to pass through is provided on the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening (511).

10. The range hood according to claim 9, characterized in that: A second through hole (514) is also provided on the peripheral edge of the third mounting opening (511), and the second through hole (514) is opposite to the magnet (424) on the locking knob (4) in the second position state in front and back.

11. The range hood according to claim 10, characterized in that: It also includes a baffle plate (491) that is rotatably arranged on the inner side of the front panel (51), and the baffle plate (491) and the locking knob (4) are linked via a transmission assembly, thereby driving the baffle plate (491) to rotate during the rotation of the locking knob (4); when the locking knob (4) is located at the first position, the baffle plate (491) closes the second through hole (514); when the locking knob (4) is located at the second position, the baffle plate (491) opens the second through hole (514).

12. The range hood according to claim 11, characterized in that: The locking knob (4) is provided with an annular tooth portion (444) on the rear side of the connecting ring (32), and the shielding plate (491) has a sector-shaped tooth portion (492) with its rotation axis as the center line, and the annular tooth portion (444) is meshed with the sector-shaped tooth portion (492) or is connected to the sector-shaped tooth portion (492) through a gear (490) transmission assembly.

13. The range hood according to claim 9, characterized in that: The front panel (51) is also provided with a third through hole (515) for the lock tongue (61) of the electromagnetic lock (6) to pass through.

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