Impeller and air blowing device provided with same

Abstract

The impeller has a cylindrical main body part and a plurality of blade parts. The main body portion is rotatable about a central axis. The plurality of blade parts protrude in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the main body part and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The impeller blows air in the axial direction by the rotation of the blades around the central axis. Each blade portion extends in the circumferential direction while being inclined to the upstream side in the blowing direction as the blade portion tends to the front in the rotation direction. Each blade section is curved so as to protrude toward the downstream side in the air blowing direction in the front of the center in the circumferential direction in the rotational direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an impeller and an air blowing device provided with the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] The conventional impeller has a cylindrical main body portion and a plurality of blade portions. The main body portion is rotatable about a center axis. The plurality of blade portions project radially from an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The impeller blows air in the axial direction by rotation of the blade portions about the center axis. Each blade portion is inclined toward an upstream side of the air blowing direction as it approaches the rotation direction and extends in the circumferential direction (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1).

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] PATENT LITERATURE

[0005] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-015576 SUMMARY

[0006] However, in the conventional impeller, the static pressure can decrease and the air blowing efficiency can decrease.

[0007] An object of the present application is to provide an impeller capable of increasing the static pressure and improving the air blowing efficiency and an air blowing device provided with the same.

[0008] An exemplary impeller of the present application has a cylindrical main body portion and a plurality of blades. The main body portion is rotatable about a center axis. The plurality of blade portions project radially from an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The impeller blows air in the axial direction by rotation of the blade portions about the center axis. Each blade portion is inclined toward an upstream side of the air blowing direction as it approaches the rotation direction and extends in the circumferential direction. In the circumferential direction, each blade portion is curved convexly toward a downstream side of the air blowing direction at a position closer to the rotation direction than a center position.

[0009] Effects of the present application are as follows.

[0010] According to the exemplary present application, an impeller capable of increasing the static pressure and an air blowing device provided with the same can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air blowing device of an embodiment of the present application.

[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an impeller of an air blowing device of an embodiment of the present application.

[0013] Figure 3 is a side view of an impeller of an air blowing device of an embodiment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 4This is a bottom view of the impeller of the air supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] In the diagram: 1—Air supply device, 12—Motor, 20—Housing, 21—Air supply path, 21a—Exhaust port, 21b—Air inlet, 22—Cylinder wall, 23—Base, 24—Stationary blade section, 25—Bearing retainer, 101, 102—Impeller, 111, 121—Main body, 112, 122—Blade section, 113—Cover, 113a—Through hole, 125—Shaft, 126—Bearing, 123—Stator, 124—Rotor, 1231—Stator core, 1232—Coil, 1241—Rotor yoke, 1242—Magnet, J—Central shaft, P1, P2—Ends, T—Center, W1, W2—Width, X1—Upstream side of air supply direction, X2—Downstream side of air supply direction, Y1—Front side of rotation direction, Y2—Rear side of rotation direction. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, the direction in which the central axis J of the air supply device 1 extends is simply referred to as the "axial direction," the direction centered on and orthogonal to the central axis J of the air supply device 1 is simply referred to as the "radial direction," and the direction along an arc centered on the central axis J of the air supply device 1 is simply referred to as the "circumferential direction." Furthermore, a section parallel to the axial direction is referred to as a "longitudinal section." Also, "parallel" does not mean parallel in the strict sense, but includes approximately parallel.

[0017] Furthermore, for ease of explanation, the axial direction will be considered as the vertical direction. Figure 1 The vertical direction in the text refers to the vertical direction of the air supply device 1 to describe the shape and positional relationship of each part. The "upper side" of the air supply device 1 is the "inlet side", and the "lower side" is the "exhaust side". It should be noted that the definition of the vertical direction does not limit the orientation and positional relationship of the air supply device during use. In addition, in this specification, the section parallel to the axial direction is referred to as the "longitudinal section".

[0018] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an example of an air supply device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air supply device 1 has a pair of impellers 101 and 102, a pair of motors 12, and a pair of housings 20 arranged axially. The air supply device 1 generates airflow axially downwards along the central axis J to the axial direction X2. In this embodiment, the motors 12 and housings 20 have the same structure and are described using the same reference numerals.

[0019] Impeller 101 and impeller 102 have different shapes and are coaxially arranged along the central axis J. Impeller 102 is arranged on the intake side X1, and impeller 101 is arranged on the exhaust side X2. That is, impeller (upstream impeller) 102 is arranged on the upstream side X1, which is closer to the air supply direction than impeller 101, and is arranged coaxially with impeller 101.

[0020] A pair of motors 12 respectively rotate impellers 101 and 102 around the central axis J. In this embodiment, when viewed from above, impeller 101 rotates clockwise (Y1 direction) around the central axis J. On the other hand, when viewed from above, impeller 102 rotates counterclockwise (Y2 direction) around the central axis J. It should be noted that, depending on the shape of impellers 101 and 102, the rotation direction of impeller 101 and impeller 102 can also be set to be the same.

[0021] A pair of housings 20 are resin molded articles (mold-molded articles), each having an airflow path 21 inside. The airflow path 21 extends along the central axis J inside the housing 20. The pair of housings 20 are axially connected, and the airflow paths 21 are also axially connected. The connected pair of housings 20 have an air inlet 21b at the upper end and an exhaust outlet 21a at the lower end.

[0022] The housing 20 of the exhaust side X2 houses an impeller 101, a motor 12, and a circuit board (not shown). The housing 20 of the intake side X1 houses an impeller 102, a motor 12, and a circuit board (not shown). Each housing 20 has a cylinder wall portion 22, a base portion 23, a stationary blade portion 24, and a bearing retaining portion 25.

[0023] The cylinder wall portion 22 extends along the central axis J and covers the impellers 101 and 102 from the radially outer side. The cylinder wall portion 22 is cylindrical, extending vertically in the axial direction. An air supply passage 21 is arranged on the radially inner side of the cylinder wall portion 22. An exhaust port 21a is arranged at the axially lower end of the cylinder wall portion 22 on the exhaust side X2. An air inlet 21b is arranged at the axially upper end of the cylinder wall portion 22 on the air inlet side X1.

[0024] The motor 12 is fixed to the base 23. The base 23 is a circular plate that extends radially outward from the central axis J. In this embodiment, the housing 20 is connected by bringing the bases 23 into contact with each other.

[0025] The stationary blade portion 24 extends radially outward from the radial outer surface of the base 23 and connects the base 23 to the cylinder wall portion 22. Multiple stationary blade portions 24 are arranged circumferentially. Air flowing in the air supply path 21 is rectified and flows axially downward X2 as it passes between adjacent stationary blade portions 24.

[0026] The bearing retainer 25 is made of metal, such as brass, and is integrally formed with the base 23. The bearing retainer 25 protrudes axially from the base 23 and is cylindrical with the central axis J as its center. In this embodiment, the bearing retainer 25 on the intake side X1 protrudes from the upper surface of the base 23 toward the intake side X1. The bearing retainer 25 on the exhaust side X2 protrudes from the lower surface of the base 23 toward the exhaust side X2.

[0027] The bearing retaining part 25 internally holds the bearing 126, which will be described later, and forms part of the motor 12. It should be noted that the bearing retaining part 25 can be integrally molded with the base 23 using the same resin component instead of being molded by a different component than the base 23.

[0028] Impellers 101 and 102 are rotatably supported by motor 12 on the radially inner side of cylinder wall 22. Impellers 101 and 102 are resin molded products (mold-molded products) and rotate about central axis J by motor 12. The shape of impellers 101 and 102 will be described in detail later.

[0029] The motor 12 is fixed to the base 23 and housed in the housing 20. The motor 12 has a shaft 125, a bearing 126, a bearing retainer 25, a stator 123, and a rotor 124.

[0030] Shaft 125 is arranged along central axis J. Shaft 125 is made of metal such as stainless steel and is a columnar member extending vertically along the axial direction. Shaft 125 is supported by bearing 126 so that it can rotate about central axis J.

[0031] The bearing 126 is held inside the bearing retainer 25. The bearing 126 is, for example, a ball bearing, but may also be a sleeve bearing or the like. A pair of axially aligned bearings 126 support the shaft 125 so that it can rotate about the central axis J relative to the housing 20.

[0032] The stator 123 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the bearing retaining part 25. The stator 123 has a stator core 1231, an insulating component (not shown), and a coil 1232.

[0033] The stator core 1231 is constructed, for example, by stacking layers of electromagnetic steel sheets such as silicon steel sheets. An insulating component (not shown) is made of insulating resin. The insulating component (not shown) is disposed on a portion of the outer surface of the stator core 1231. The coil 1232 is constructed by a wire wound around the stator core 1231 through the insulating component.

[0034] The rotor 124 of the intake side X1 is positioned axially above and radially outside the stator 123. The rotor 124 of the exhaust side X2 is positioned axially below and radially outside the stator 123. The rotor 124 rotates about the central axis J relative to the stator 123. The rotor 124 has a rotor yoke 1241 and a magnet 1242.

[0035] The rotor yoke 1241 is composed of a magnetic material. The rotor yoke 1241 on the intake side X1 is a generally cylindrical member with a cover on the axially upward side. Furthermore, the rotor yoke 1241 on the exhaust side X2 is a generally cylindrical member with a cover on the axially downward side. The rotor yoke 1241 is fixed to the shaft 125. The magnet 1242 is cylindrical and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the rotor yoke 1241. The magnet 1242 is disposed radially outward of the stator 123.

[0036] A circuit board (not shown) is disposed, for example, between impeller 101 and base 23, and between impeller 102 and base 23. The circuit board is, for example, a circular plate extending radially from a central axis J. Leads of coil 1232 are electrically connected to the circuit board. Electronic circuitry for supplying drive current to coil 1232 is mounted on the circuit board.

[0037] In the air supply device 1 with the above-described structure, when the drive current is supplied to the coil 1232 of the motor 12 via the circuit board, the stator core 1231 generates radial magnetic flux. The magnetic field generated by the magnetic flux of the stator core 1231 interacts with the magnetic field generated by the magnet 1242, generating torque in the circumferential direction of the rotor 124. Through this torque, the impellers 101 and 102 rotate in opposite directions around the central axis J. When the impellers 101 and 102 rotate, the multiple blade sections 112 and 122 generate airflow. As a result, the air supply device 1 generates airflow with the upper side being the intake side (upstream side in the air supply direction) X1 and the lower side being the exhaust side (downstream side in the air supply direction) X2, thus enabling air supply.

[0038] Figure 2 This is a 3D view of impeller 101. Figure 3 This is a side view of impeller 101. Furthermore, Figure 4 This is a bottom view of the impeller 101. The impeller 101 is disposed radially outside the motor 12. In this embodiment, the impeller 101 rotates clockwise (Y1 direction) about the central axis J via the motor 12.

[0039] The impeller 101 has a cylindrical body portion 111 and a plurality of blade portions 112. The body portion 111 is a generally cylindrical member with a cover portion 113 on its axially lower side. The body portion 111 is fixed to the radially outer side of the rotor yoke 1241 and is rotatable about the central axis J. The cover portion 113 has a through hole 113a that passes through the central axis J and extends axially. For example, the upper end of the shaft 125 is disposed inside the through hole 113a.

[0040] Multiple blade portions 112 protrude radially from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 111 and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, three blade portions 112 are provided and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. It should be noted that two or more blade portions 112 may also be provided.

[0041] Air is delivered axially downward to the X2 by rotating the blade section 112 around the central axis J. Each blade section 112 is inclined towards the upstream side X1 of the air delivery direction as it tends to be forward of the rotation direction Y1 and extends in the circumferential direction.

[0042] Furthermore, each blade portion 112 is bent circumferentially towards the downstream side X2 in the air supply direction at a point Y1 forward of the center T in the rotational direction. This increases the static pressure of the impeller 101 and improves the air supply efficiency of the impeller 101 and the air supply device 1 equipped with it. Additionally, each blade portion 112 is bent circumferentially towards the upstream side X1 in the air supply direction at a point Y2 backward of the center T in the rotational direction. This further increases the static pressure of the impeller 101.

[0043] Furthermore, the radial width W1 at the front Y1 end of each blade portion 112 in the rotation direction is smaller than the radial width W2 at the rear Y2 end in the rotation direction (see reference). Figure 4 This reduces the rotational load on the impeller 101 caused by the airflow flowing into the end of the blade section 112 at the forward Y1 direction of rotation. Furthermore, it increases the airflow from the end of the blade section 112 at the rear Y2 direction of rotation to the downstream X2 direction of airflow. This further improves the airflow efficiency of the impeller 101.

[0044] Furthermore, in adjacent blade portions 112 in the circumferential direction, when viewed from the axial direction, the front Y1 end of one blade portion 112 in the rotation direction overlaps with the rear Y2 end of the other blade portion 112 in the rotation direction (see reference). Figure 4 This further improves the air delivery efficiency of impeller 101.

[0045] The outer peripheral surface of the main body 111 extends parallel to the axial direction, and the end on the downstream side X2 in the air supply direction slopes radially inward as it approaches the downstream side X2 in the air supply direction. More specifically, at the end P2 of the main body 111 located Y2 rearward of the blade portion 112 in the rotation direction, near the downstream side X2 in the air supply direction, the outer diameter of the main body 111 decreases as it approaches the downstream side X2 in the air supply direction. Furthermore, regarding the outer peripheral surface of the main body 111, at the end P1 located Y1 forward of the blade portion 112 in the rotation direction, near the upstream side X1 in the air supply direction, it extends parallel to the axial direction (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0046] In the airflow path 21, the axially flowing airflow passes along the outer peripheral surface of the main body 111 extending parallel to the axial direction at the impeller 101, and flows smoothly along the blade section 112 from the end P1 in front of the rotation direction Y1. This further increases the static pressure of the impeller 101. Furthermore, the axially flowing airflow from the end P2 behind the blade section 112 in the rotation direction Y2 flows along the inclined outer peripheral surface of the main body 111 to the downstream side X2 in the airflow direction. This further increases the static pressure of the impeller 101.

[0047] The impeller 102 has a cylindrical main body 121 and a plurality of blade sections 122. In this embodiment, the impeller 102 is rotated counterclockwise (in the Y2 direction) about the central axis J by a motor 12 (see reference). Figure 1 ).

[0048] Each blade portion 122 is inclined towards the upstream side X1 in the air supply direction and extends circumferentially in the direction of rotation Y2. Each blade portion 122 can be bent protruding towards the upstream side X1 in the air supply direction, or it can be formed into a flat plate without bending. This increases the air volume of the impeller 102. Therefore, by arranging the impeller 101, which increases static pressure, on the exhaust side and the impeller 102, which increases air volume, on the intake side, the air supply efficiency of the air supply device 200 is further improved.

[0049] (other)

[0050] The above embodiments are merely examples of the present invention. Within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, the configuration of the embodiments can be appropriately modified. Furthermore, the embodiments can be implemented in combinations as possible. For example, in this embodiment, each blade portion 112 is bent circumferentially towards the upstream side X1 in the airflow direction, located circumferentially behind the center T in the rotational direction Y2, but it can also be formed as a flat plate without bending.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the bases 23 are connected to each other in contact with the pair of housings 20, but the bases 23 may also be connected to each other in the axial direction with the pair of housings 20 separated by a pair of motors 12. Alternatively, each base 23 may be positioned on either the intake side X1 or the exhaust side X2 to connect to the pair of housings 20. Furthermore, although the pair of housings 20 are connected, the impellers 101 and 102 may be accommodated using a single housing extending in the axial direction.

[0052] In addition, in this embodiment, the air supply device 1 is composed of an impeller (upstream impeller) 102 and an impeller 101 arranged coaxially side by side, but it may also be composed of only an impeller 101.

[0053] (Postscript)

[0054] As described above, one embodiment of the impeller 101 of this disclosure has: a cylindrical body portion 111 rotatable about a central axis J; and a plurality of blade portions 112 that protrude radially from the outer periphery of the body portion and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The impeller 101 rotates about the central axis via the blade portions to deliver air in the axial direction. Each blade portion is inclined towards the upstream side X1 in the air delivery direction as it tends to be forward Y1 in the rotation direction and extends in the circumferential direction. It is bent in the circumferential direction towards the downstream side X2 in the air delivery direction at a position in the rotation direction forward Y1 than the center T (first configuration).

[0055] Alternatively, in the first configuration described above, each blade portion may be bent in a circumferential direction at a point Y2 further back in the rotational direction than the center T towards the upstream side X1 in the air delivery direction (second configuration).

[0056] Alternatively, in the first or second configuration described above, the outer peripheral surface of the main body extends parallel to the central axis at the end P1, which is in front of the rotation direction Y1 of the blade portion, and upstream of the airflow direction X1 (third configuration).

[0057] Alternatively, in any of the first to third configurations described above, the outer diameter of the main body portion decreases as it approaches the downstream side X2 of the airflow direction at the end P2, which is located behind the rotation direction Y2 of the blade portion (fourth configuration).

[0058] Alternatively, in any of the first to fourth configurations described above, the radial width W1 at the end of each blade portion facing forward Y1 in the rotation direction is smaller than the radial width W2 at the end of each blade portion facing backward Y2 in the rotation direction (fifth configuration).

[0059] Alternatively, in any of the first to fifth configurations described above, when viewed from the axial direction, the front Y1 end of one blade portion overlaps with the rear Y2 end of the other blade portion in the rotational direction (sixth configuration) of adjacent blade portions in the circumferential direction.

[0060] Furthermore, one embodiment of the air supply device 1 disclosed herein includes: an impeller 101 of any of the first to sixth configurations described above; and a motor 12 that rotates the impeller (seventh configuration).

[0061] Furthermore, one embodiment of the air supply device 1 disclosed herein includes: an impeller 101 of any of the first to sixth configurations described above; an upstream impeller 102, disposed on an upstream side X1 in the air supply direction of the impeller and arranged coaxially with the impeller; and a motor 12, which rotates the impeller and the upstream impeller respectively (eighth configuration).

[0062] The industrial availability is as follows.

[0063] This invention can be applied, for example, to air supply devices for cooling servers.

Claims

1. A impeller, comprising: a cylindrical main body portion rotatable about a center axis; and a plurality of blade portions protruding radially from an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion and arranged at intervals in a circumferential direction, the impeller blowing air in an axial direction by rotation of the blade portions about the center axis, each of the blade portions being inclined toward an upstream side in the air blowing direction as it approaches a front in the direction of rotation and extending in the circumferential direction, and being convexly curved toward a downstream side in the air blowing direction at a position in the circumferential direction that is closer to the front in the direction of rotation than a center.

2. The impeller according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the blade portions, a position in the circumferential direction that is closer to a rear in the direction of rotation than the center is convexly curved toward the upstream side in the air blowing direction.

3. The impeller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, for the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion, an end portion that is closer to the front in the direction of rotation than the blade portions extends in parallel with the center axis toward the upstream side in the air blowing direction.

4. The impeller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, for the main body portion, an end portion that is closer to the rear in the direction of rotation than the blade portions is smaller in outer diameter as it approaches the downstream side in the air blowing direction.

5. The impeller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, for each of the blade portions, a width in the radial direction at an end portion in the direction of rotation is smaller than a width in the radial direction at an end portion in the direction of rotation.

6. The impeller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, in the circumferential direction, end portions in the direction of rotation of one of the blade portions and end portions in the direction of rotation of another of the blade portions overlap when viewed in the axial direction.

7. A air blowing device, comprising: the impeller according to any one of claims 1 to 6; and a motor that rotates the impeller.

8. A air blowing device, comprising: the impeller according to any one of claims 1 to 6; an upstream impeller arranged on an upstream side in the air blowing direction from the impeller and coaxially aligned with the impeller; and a motor that rotates the impeller and the upstream impeller separately. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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