Ventilator with cooling device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ventilator (1) having a cooling device (7). According to the invention, the cooling device is arranged outside the IP protection area (2) of the ventilator, and the object to be cooled (6) is arranged such that it extends from the IP protection area into the area of ​​the cooling device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a ventilator with a cooling device. Background Technology

[0002] The ventilator is configured to assist a patient's breathing. To this end, the ventilator provides a flow of breathing gases, which is directed to the patient through tubing.

[0003] In modern ventilators, the flow of breathing gases is mostly generated by a blower. During blower motor operation, especially when the motor speed changes, heat is released, and this heat must be dissipated to prevent the ventilator from overheating. For this purpose, cooling devices, especially air-cooled devices, are used.

[0004] Ventilators, especially mobile emergency ventilators, and other medical devices in emergency medicine, must have relatively high protection against dust / contaminants and water to ensure reliable operation. The level of protection against foreign objects (such as dust) and water is classified according to IP protection ratings. Here, the first digit indicates the level of protection against foreign objects, and the second digit indicates the level of protection against water. Emergency ventilators require, for example, a protection rating of >= IPx4, meaning any level of protection against foreign objects and contact, and at least protection against splashing water. This necessitates that the internal components of the device be highly sealed relative to the environment.

[0005] If a substance must be introduced into the equipment and then evacuated again, this must be done through gates and / or filters to ensure a protection rating of at least IPx4. These gates and / or filters may become clogged and create additional flow resistance. Increased flow resistance requires stronger driving force and more power so that the substance to be conveyed (cooling air in the specific application) can pass through the gates and / or filters and cool the object to be cooled.

[0006] According to existing technology, cooling of the ventilator is achieved by drawing cooling air through filters and / or gates into the IP-protected area of ​​the device, where the cooling air is used to cool the components to be cooled. The now-heated cooling air is then expelled from the IP-protected area of ​​the device again through filters and / or gates. In addition to the cost of filters and / or gates, relatively high energy consumption is required to deliver the cooling air. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a ventilator that at least partially overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0008] This task is accomplished according to the invention by means of a ventilator having claim 1.

[0009] Advantageous aspects of the invention are claimed in the dependent claims.

[0010] The features of the ventilator disclosed below are integral to the present invention in all feasible combinations.

[0011] The ventilator according to the invention has at least one IP protection area (with an IP protection rating of at least IPx4), at least one object to be cooled, and at least one cooling device.

[0012] The first digit "x" of the IP protection rating means that, for various embodiments of the invention, this number can be arbitrarily selected from a value between 0 (no protection against foreign objects and contact) and 6 (dustproof and completely contactproof).

[0013] The cooling device is constructed as an air cooling device with a cooling air drive.

[0014] The cooling air actuator preferably has an IP protection rating of at least IPx4. This allows for a further IP protection rating of at least IPx4 for the entire ventilator.

[0015] In embodiments of the present invention, an IP protection rating of at least IP34, preferably at least IP54, is achieved for the IP protection area and / or the cooling air drive.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling air driver and the IP protection area of ​​the ventilator have the same IP protection rating.

[0017] In embodiments of the present invention, the object to be cooled is constructed as a cooling body. In particular, in embodiments of the present invention, the object to be cooled is constructed as a cooling body for the breathing air blower of a ventilator or a cooling body for the power electronic devices of a ventilator. However, the present invention also includes embodiments in which the object to be cooled (not narrowly understood as a cooling body) is cooled accordingly.

[0018] According to the present invention, the object to be cooled extends through a protective cover that is sealed through the IP protection area, so that heat can be transferred from the object to be cooled to the cooling air outside the IP protection area.

[0019] The IP protection rating of the seal in the area through which the object to be cooled penetrates the protective cover corresponds at least to the IP protection rating of the IP protection area. In embodiments of the invention, the seal in the penetration area is achieved by means of at least one sealing element. This sealing element is advantageously adapted to the shape of the penetration, for example, an O-ring is used for a circular penetration.

[0020] Cooling devices, especially cooling air actuators, are located outside the IP protection zone of the ventilator.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electrical connection of the cooling air driver is achieved via at least one cable that extends from the IP protection zone of the ventilator through a cable guide device that is sealed using a sealing element that achieves the IP protection level of the IP protection zone.

[0022] This enables the implementation of filterless and / or gateless cooling air ducts, as the cooling air does not need to be introduced into and exited from the IP protection zone of the ventilator.

[0023] Preferably, the ventilator has a housing, wherein an IP protection area with an IPx4 IP protection rating and at least one additional area with a lower IP protection rating are provided within the housing, wherein the object to be cooled and the cooling air actuator are arranged in the area with the lower IP protection rating.

[0024] A lower IP protection level means that at least one number of the IP protection level is lower than the IP protection level of the IP protection zone.

[0025] Preferably, the cooling air ducts are configured such that cooling air is symmetrically guided through the object to be cooled, thereby achieving a uniform flow of cooling air across the surface of the body. This enables uniform and, consequently, particularly effective cooling of the object to be cooled. This is preferably achieved through the shape of the cooling air ducts.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, uniform flow is achieved through a cooling air duct configured to allow cooling air to flow centrally toward the object to be cooled and / or to allow cooling air to flow centrally out of the object to be cooled, and / or to have a symmetrical geometry between the inflow and outflow areas.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the geometry of the cooling air guide and the cooling body is configured such that commercially available IP-protected cooling air drives, such as axial fans, can be used.

[0028] Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the aerodynamic resistance of the cooling system is kept so low by the geometry of the cooling air ducts and the object to be cooled, especially any cooling body geometry, that the conventional axial fan has sufficient power. More preferably, the thermal resistance transferred from the object to be cooled to the cooling air is also kept as low as possible. The trade-off between these two objectives—low aerodynamic resistance and low thermal resistance—must be resolved depending on the specific application.

[0029] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the cooling device has a temperature sensor by means of which the temperature of the object to be cooled can be detected.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the cooling air drive of the cooling device can be controlled according to the temperature of the object to be cooled. This enables, in particular, the cooling of the object to be cooled to be achieved more effectively based on cooling requirements.

[0031] The present invention takes advantage of the fact that the object to be cooled (e.g., in the sense of the cooling body of a breathing air blower) does not necessarily have to be located within the IP protection zone of the ventilator, but can be removed from the zone through a seal and cooled externally. Attached Figure Description

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are illustrated below, exemplarily depict one embodiment of the invention. The drawings show: Figure 1 : A schematic block diagram of a portion of a ventilator according to the present invention; Figure 2 : A perspective view of a section of the ventilator according to the present invention; Figure 3 A perspective view of a cross-section of the ventilator according to the invention in the area of ​​the cooling device; and Figure 4 :according to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The cross-section of this part of the ventilator according to the invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Figure 1 A partial block diagram of a ventilator (1) according to the present invention is shown. Ventilator components that are not primarily relevant to the present invention, such as control devices, oxygen sources, filters, operating elements, hoses, masks, etc., are not shown.

[0034] The ventilator (1) has a first IP protection zone (2) having an IP protection rating of at least IPx4; and a second zone (3) having a lower IP protection rating. These zones (2, 3) are separated from each other by a protective shield (4).

[0035] The ventilator (1) has a breathing air blower (5), whose functional components (i.e., fan impeller and breathing air tubing) are arranged within an IP protection zone (2). The breathing air blower (5) also has a blower motor and a cooling object (6) constructed as a cooling body, which is configured to dissipate heat from the blower motor.

[0036] The blower motor is located within the IP protection zone (2) of the ventilator (1). The cooling element is arranged such that it extends from the blower motor through the protective cover (4) into the second zone (3).

[0037] A cooling device (7) is arranged in the second region (3), which has a cooling air duct (9) and a cooling air drive (8).

[0038] In the embodiment shown in this invention, the second region (3) is integrated together with the IP protection region (2) into the housing (10) of the ventilator (1). In the second region (3), the cooling device (7) has a cooling air inlet (11) and a cooling air outlet (12).

[0039] In order to actively control the cooling device (7), in an embodiment of the present invention, the ventilator (1) has a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the blower motor and / or the cooling body.

[0040] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (7) and / or the ventilator (1) have a control device that allows the speed of the cooling air drive (8) and thus the cooling power of the cooling device (7) to be controlled according to the temperature of the blower motor and / or the cooling body.

[0041] Figure 2 A perspective view shows a cross-section of the cooling device (7) region of one embodiment of the ventilator (1) according to the invention. The cooling device (7) is separated from the IP protection area (2) by a protective shield (4) (constructed here as part of the housing (10)). In the diagram shown, the protective shield (4) is not fully shown as it is a partial view.

[0042] An installation device (15) for mounting a cooling air drive (8), not shown, is arranged in the area of ​​the cooling air duct (9).

[0043] Figure 3 Shown in cross-section according to Figure 2 The design structure. The housing (10) and the seal (13) together form part of the protective shield (4), which separates the IP protection area (2) from the second area (3).

[0044] The object to be cooled (6), constructed as a cooling body, extends from the IP protection zone (2) and is sealed into the second zone (3) by means of a seal (13). The cooling air duct (9) implemented in the second zone (3) is formed in the region of the cooling body by a channel extending parallel between the cooling ribs (14) of the cooling body.

[0045] Figure 4 Shown in top view Figure 3 The cross-section of the structure.

Claims

1. A breathing apparatus (1) having a first IP protection zone (2) with an IP protection class of at least IPx4, an object (6) to be cooled and a cooling device (7), wherein The cooling device (7) is configured as an air cooling device with a cooling air driver (8), characterized in that the ventilator (1) has at least one second region (3) having an IP protection rating of less than IPx4, the second region being separated from the first IP protection region (2) by a protective cover (4), wherein the object to be cooled (6) extends from the IP protection region (2) into the second region (3) through the protective cover (4) of the IP protection region (2), and wherein the cooling device (7) is arranged in the second region (3) of the ventilator (1) such that heat can be output from the object to be cooled (6) to the cooling air outside the IP protection region (2).

2. The breathing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The cooling air drive (8) has an IP protection rating of at least IPx4.

3. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, The object to be cooled (6) is constructed as a cooling body.

4. The breathing apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The ventilator (1) has a breathing air blower (5), and the object to be cooled (6) is configured as a cooling body for the breathing air blower (5) of the ventilator (1).

5. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The ventilator has a housing (10) in which the first IP protection area (2) and the second area (3) are realized within the housing (10), wherein the object to be cooled (6) and the cooling air driver (8) are arranged in the second area (3).

6. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The cooling air duct (9) of the cooling device (7) is configured such that cooling air is symmetrically guided through the object to be cooled (6), thereby achieving uniform flow of the cooling air over the surface of the object to be cooled (6).

7. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The geometry of the cooling air guide device and the object to be cooled (6) is configured to enable the use of commercially available IP-protected cooling air drivers (8), such as axial fans.

8. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The ventilator has a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the blower motor (5) and / or the object to be cooled (6) and has a control device by means of which the speed of the cooling air driver (8) and thereby the cooling power of the cooling device (7) can be controlled according to the temperature of the blower motor (5) and / or the object to be cooled (6), so as to achieve active control of the cooling device (7).

9. The ventilator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The IP protection area (2) and / or the cooling air drive (8) have an IP protection rating of at least IP34.

10. The breathing apparatus (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The IP protection area (2) and / or the cooling air drive (8) have an IP protection rating of at least IP54.

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