Incubator

Abstract

The invention relates, inter alia, to an incubator (1) with an incubation chamber (2) and a temperature control device (3) for temperature control of the incubation chamber (2), wherein the temperature control device (3) has a fan (4) and at least one cooling line arrangement (5, 6) through which coolant flows on both sides of the fan (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an incubator with an incubation chamber and a temperature control device for temperature control of the incubation chamber.

[0002] Such incubators are known in practice in various designs. Incubators are used, for example, to create and maintain a specific microclimate within the incubator's incubation chamber, thereby providing specific conditions for biological and / or biochemical processes.

[0003] A uniform temperature distribution within the incubation chamber is of particular importance. The aim is to minimize temperature differences within the incubation chamber in order to create a microclimate with a consistent temperature throughout.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to provide an incubator of the type mentioned above which enables the temperature control of its incubation chamber with the most uniform temperature distribution possible in the incubation chamber.

[0005] To solve this problem, an incubator with the features of the first independent claim directed to such an incubator is first proposed.

[0006] To solve the problems, an incubator with an incubation chamber and a temperature control device for temperature control of the incubation chamber is proposed, wherein the temperature control device has a fan and at least one cooling line arrangement with coolant flowing through it on both sides of the fan.

[0007] Because at least one cooling line assembly carrying coolant is located on each side of the fan, a particularly homogeneous temperature distribution is achieved in the incubation chamber of the incubator during cooling operation. The fan can be used to cool the incubation chamber in recirculation mode, whereby the air blown into the incubation chamber by the fan is cooled by the cooling lines located on both sides of the fan.

[0008] Each of the at least two cooling line arrangements of the temperature control device comprises one cooling line. During cooling operation of the incubator, coolant flows through the cooling lines, allowing them to extract heat from the air passing over or surrounding the cooling lines.

[0009] The use of two coolant-flowing cooling line arrangements, each of which can consist of a coolant-flowing cooling line, has the advantage that the effective cooling line length offered by the temperature control device can be distributed over at least two separate cooling line arrangements.

[0010] This results in a lower temperature gradient between a beginning and an end, particularly between a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, of the respective cooling line arrangement than in a single cooling line arrangement, which then has a correspondingly longer cooling line.

[0011] The coolant flowing through the cooling pipe arrangements thus experiences a smaller temperature increase between the coolant inlet and outlet of each cooling pipe arrangement on either side of the fan. This results in a more uniform temperature across the cooling pipe arrangements, which promotes homogeneous cooling of the air distributed by the fan in recirculation mode within the incubation chamber.

[0012] In one embodiment of the incubator, at least one cooling line arrangement is arranged on each side of a vertical plane of the incubator in which a rotation axis of the fan runs. Preferably, the fan can then be arranged centrally between the at least two cooling line arrangements.

[0013] The arrangement of cooling lines on one side of the vertical plane can be mirror-symmetrical to the arrangement of cooling lines on the other side of the vertical plane. This also promotes homogeneous cooling of the air distributed by the fan in the incubation chamber.

[0014] The fan can preferably be a radial fan. The radial fan blows air radially outwards with respect to its axis of rotation, i.e., into areas where the at least two cooling line assemblies are located. The air can then flow over the cooling line assemblies, transferring heat to them and being cooled to the desired temperature.

[0015] The vertical plane in which the fan's axis of rotation runs can preferably be a central plane of the incubator's incubation chamber. This central vertical plane then divides the incubation chamber into two equal compartments. The cooling pipe arrangements on both sides of the central vertical plane running through the incubation chamber are then mirror images of each other, which also promotes homogeneous cooling of the incubation chamber.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the incubator, it is provided that each cooling line arrangement has its own coolant inlet and coolant outlet, which are connected to each other via a cooling line of the respective cooling line arrangement.

[0017] As previously stated, any cooling line arrangement can therefore consist of a cooling line that connects a coolant inlet of the cooling line arrangement, through which coolant enters the cooling line arrangement, and a coolant outlet of the cooling line arrangement, through which the coolant exits the cooling line arrangement.

[0018] Upon entering the cooling system, the coolant supplied via the coolant inlet has a lower temperature than at the outlet. As it travels through the cooling system and its cooling lines, the coolant temperature increases due to heat absorption from the air passing over the system, until it exits the cooling system's outlet.

[0019] As previously explained, the temperature gradient that arises between the coolant inlet and the coolant outlet can be minimized by dividing the total length of all available cooling lines into at least two cooling line arrangements, which promotes a homogeneous temperature distribution in the incubation room.

[0020] The coolant inlet of the respective cooling line arrangement can be located at a smaller distance to the fan and, in particular, to the vertical plane than the coolant outlet of the cooling line arrangement.

[0021] This ensures that the sections of the cooling pipe assembly located closer to the fan maintain a lower temperature during incubator cooling operation than those located further away from the fan or the previously mentioned vertical plane. The airflow passing over the cooling pipe assembly on both sides of the fan during recirculation mode can be directed in a direction of increasing temperature, particularly if the fan is a radial fan. This also promotes a homogeneous temperature distribution within the incubation chamber. During recirculation mode, the fan draws air from the incubation chamber and directs it radially, relative to the fan's axis of rotation, over the at least two cooling pipe assemblies. With each revolution, the air is cooled further until it reaches the target temperature.With each revolution, the air exiting the fan first encounters the coldest areas of the cooling duct assembly and is thus rapidly cooled. The airflow direction across the cooling duct assembly, towards an increasing surface temperature, further reduces the temperature gradient along the cooling duct assembly through heat exchange.

[0022] In one embodiment of the incubator, the coolant inlet and / or outlet of at least one cooling line assembly are arranged in a horizontal plane below the fan's axis of rotation. It is possible for the coolant inlet and outlet of at least one cooling line assembly to be arranged in the same horizontal plane.

[0023] The fan and cooling pipe assembly can be arranged on a common inner wall, particularly an inner rear wall, of the incubator. The inner rear wall of the incubator can be an inner wall of the incubator facing away from an opening into the incubation chamber.

[0024] In an area, particularly the aforementioned inner wall, above the fan, sections of the cooling ductwork can be arranged. This ensures that air discharged upwards by the fan enters the area of ​​influence of the cooling ductwork and can be cooled there.

[0025] The cooling pipe arrangements can be positioned closer to the vertical plane and / or to each other in an area, particularly on the aforementioned inner wall, above the fan than in an area, particularly on the inner wall, below the fan. This ensures that the cooling pipe arrangements surround the fan laterally and also above. Air that rises into this area due to convection or microthermal effects, while the incubator is not yet homogeneous in temperature, can then be cooled particularly efficiently to the desired target temperature.

[0026] The pipe sections of the cooling pipe arrangement can be arranged in meanders. Such a cooling pipe arrangement can also be referred to as a cooling coil. It is preferred if the meanders within a cooling pipe arrangement have a uniform spacing from each other and / or if the cooling pipe arrangements above the fan have a higher meander density than below the fan.

[0027] In areas where the cooling pipe arrangements have a higher meander density than in other areas, the cooling capacity of the respective cooling pipe arrangement may be increased, allowing for faster cooling of the air passed through the cooling pipe arrangement.

[0028] The distance between the cooling pipe assemblies above the fan can be no greater than the smallest distance between two meanders within a cooling pipe assembly. This creates a homogeneous cooling field consisting of at least two sections of two cooling pipe assemblies above the fan, thus increasing the cooling effect and cooling capacity of the cooling pipe assemblies in the particularly critical area above the fan. In this area, the air can then be cooled very quickly due to the high cooling capacity, which in turn promotes rapid temperature regulation of the incubator's incubation chamber.

[0029] An area below the fan, for example, with a width at least equal to the fan's diameter, can be free of cooling pipe assemblies, and in particular free of meandering cooling pipe assemblies. This area can be laterally bounded by the cooling pipe assemblies.

[0030] If the area below the fan is free of cooling pipes, a layer of particularly cold air cannot form at the bottom of the incubation chamber, which would hinder a homogeneous temperature distribution. The specific design of the at least two cooling pipes allows the incubation chamber to be cooled from the top down. This utilizes the fact that air density increases with decreasing temperature to create a homogeneous temperature distribution within the incubation chamber. Air cooled to the desired temperature can then sink from the top of the incubation chamber, displacing warmer air layers upwards. This air can then enter the fan's detection range, be drawn in, and cooled by the cooling pipes until a homogeneous temperature is achieved in the incubation chamber.

[0031] The incubator's temperature control device can include at least one heating element, preferably an electric one. The heating element can preferably be arranged on both sides of the fan and / or in heating coils. Using the heating element, the incubation chamber can be heated to a specific temperature above the ambient temperature, if necessary, by means of the fan in recirculation mode. Positioning the heating element on both sides of the fan can promote a homogeneous temperature distribution within the incubation chamber.

[0032] To solve the problem, an incubator with the features of the second independent claim directed to an incubator is also proposed.

[0033] Accordingly, an incubator with an incubation chamber and a temperature control device for maintaining the temperature of the incubation chamber is proposed, wherein the temperature control device comprises a fan and a heating element, preferably electric, arranged on both sides of the fan, wherein an area above the fan is free of heating element, but the heating element runs through an area below the fan. The area above the fan may be laterally bounded by heating element.

[0034] This design of an incubator allows for uniform temperature control of the incubation space during heating operation.

[0035] Because heating cables are arranged on both sides of the fan, and the heating cables also run below the fan, but an area above the fan remains free of heating cables, it is possible to achieve a particularly uniform temperature distribution during heating operation within the incubation room.

[0036] Air, which is guided by the fan over the heating cable that is distributed around the fan in the manner described above, is heated as it passes over the heating cable and then distributed in the incubation room in its heated state using recirculation mode.

[0037] By creating an area above the fan that is free of heating elements, a convection-induced heat build-up or hotspot above the fan is avoided. Such a hotspot would counteract a homogeneous temperature distribution during heating operation within the incubation chamber. Because, according to the invention, no heating element is arranged above the fan, such a hotspot is effectively avoided, which in turn promotes a uniform temperature distribution during heating operation within the fan.

[0038] If heating cables for the temperature control device are present to the side and also below the fan, air heated by the heating cables can be distributed by the fan in the incubation room to create a uniform temperature distribution.

[0039] It is advantageous if the heating cable is arranged in heating meanders. In particular, a field occupied by heating meanders of the heating cable can be formed on both sides of the fan. Below the fan, the heating cable can run in a straight line between the heating cable sections present on both sides of the fan, especially the fields with the heating meanders.

[0040] The heating element can have a structure that is mirror-symmetrical to the previously mentioned vertical plane, in which the fan's axis of rotation can also run. This also promotes homogeneous heating of the air supplied by the fan and thus a homogeneous temperature distribution during heating operation within the incubator's incubation chamber.

[0041] In this embodiment of the incubator, the fan, cooling pipe assemblies, and heating pipe can also be arranged on a common inner wall, particularly an inner rear wall, of the incubator. The heating pipe can be a single, continuous piece. Since a heating pipe, especially an electrical one (i.e., a current-carrying heating pipe), does not exhibit a significant temperature gradient between its beginning and end, as is the case with a cooling pipe carrying coolant, a single, continuous heating pipe can be used for the sake of simplicity. This can reduce the manufacturing effort of the incubator.

[0042] In this embodiment of the incubator, the fan is also preferably a radial fan.

[0043] The fan and the at least two cooling duct assemblies and / or the aforementioned heating duct can be arranged in a receiving chamber of the incubator, which is separated from the incubation chamber by a partition. The incubator can have air passages, particularly on or in the partition, that connect the receiving chamber to the incubation chamber. The air in the receiving chamber can thus be tempered and then distributed, tempered, into the incubation chamber by means of the fan.

[0044] The incubator may have air outlet openings, for example on or in the partition wall, through which air tempered in the receiving room can then enter the incubation room.

[0045] The invention also relates to an incubator which combines the features of both independent claims, namely an incubator with an incubation chamber and a temperature control device for temperature control of the incubation chamber, wherein the temperature control device has a fan and on both sides of the fan at least one cooling line arrangement through which coolant flows and at least one heating line which is arranged on both sides of the fan, wherein an area above the fan is free of heating line, preferably wherein the area is laterally bounded by heating line, and wherein the heating line runs through an area below the fan.

[0046] This incubator then enables a homogeneous temperature distribution in its incubation chamber in both heating and cooling modes.

[0047] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments, but is not limited to these. Further exemplary embodiments result from combining the features of one or more claims with one another and / or from combining one or more features of the exemplary embodiments. The following are shown: Fig. 1 A front view of an incubator according to the invention with the incubation chamber open and the partition removed to illustrate the cooling line arrangements and their respective relative position to a fan of the incubator on an inner wall of the incubator, Fig. 2. A front view of the incubator with the incubation chamber closed by a door. Fig. 3 a perspective view of an inner housing of the in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 incubators shown to illustrate the partition in the incubation chamber of the incubator, behind which the temperature control device with the two cooling line arrangements, the fan and the heating line are arranged in the receiving chamber of the incubator, Fig. 4 Another front view into the opened incubation chamber of the incubator looking towards the inner rear wall in the receiving chamber of the incubator to illustrate the arrangement of the heating cable relative to the fan of the temperature control device, Fig. 5 Another front view into the opened incubation chamber of the incubator looking towards the inner rear wall to illustrate the components of the temperature control device on the inner wall in the receiving chamber of the incubator, namely the two cooling line arrangements, the fan and the heating line.

[0048] All figures show an incubator designated as a whole by 1, which has an incubation chamber 2 and a temperature control device 3 for temperature control of the incubation chamber 2.

[0049] The temperature control device 3 comprises a fan 4 and, on both sides of the fan 4, a cooling line arrangement 5 or 6 through which coolant flows. Each cooling line arrangement 5 and 6 comprises a continuous cooling line 21.

[0050] One cooling line assembly 5 is positioned next to the fan 4 on one side of a vertical plane 7 of the incubator 1, which runs through the incubation chamber 2 and in which a rotation axis 8 of the fan 4 is located. The other cooling line assembly 6 is located next to the fan 4 on the other side of this vertical plane 7.

[0051] The cooling line arrangements 5 and 6 on the two sides of the vertical plane 7 are mirror images of each other. The vertical plane 7 forms a median plane that runs through the incubation chamber 2 of the incubator 1 and divides it into two sub-chambers.

[0052] The figures show that each cooling line arrangement 5 and 6 has its own coolant inlet 9 and coolant outlet 10. The coolant inlet 9 is connected to the coolant outlet 10 via the previously mentioned cooling line 21.

[0053] Coolant enters the cooling line 21 of the respective cooling line arrangement 5 and 6 via the respective coolant inlet 9, flows through the cooling line 21 and then exits the cooling line 21 again via the coolant outlet 10.

[0054] The coolant inlet 9 of the respective cooling line arrangement 5,6 has a smaller distance to the fan 4, in particular to the previously mentioned vertical plane 7, than the coolant outlet 10 of the cooling line arrangement 5,6.

[0055] The figures illustrate that the coolant inlets 9 are thus arranged inside with respect to the fan 4, while the coolant outlets 10 are located further away from the fan 4 and are therefore arranged on the outside.

[0056] The direction of the airflow generated by fan 4 is indicated by the arrows 100 around fan 4. Fig. Figure 1 illustrates. The fan 4 is a radial fan that generates an airflow in the direction of arrows 100, which is radially oriented with respect to its axis of rotation 8.

[0057] The coolant inlets 9 and the coolant outlets 10 of the two cooling line arrangements 5 and 6 lie in a common horizontal plane, i.e., they are arranged at the same height.

[0058] The fan 4 and the cooling line assemblies 5 and 6 are arranged on a common inner wall 11, namely an inner rear wall, of the incubator 1. In a region 12 above the fan 4, sections 13 of the cooling line assemblies 5 and 6 are arranged on the inner wall 11. In this region 12, the cooling line assemblies 5 and 6 are located closer to the vertical plane 7 and also to the fan 4, as well as to each other, than in a region 14 on the inner wall 11 located below the fan 4. This is particularly advantageous in Fig. 1 to recognize.

[0059] Pipe sections 13 of the cooling pipe arrangements 5 and 6 are arranged in meanders 15, the meanders 15 being uniformly spaced apart within a cooling pipe arrangement 5, 6. Because the area 12 above the fan 4 is also occupied by cooling pipe 21 and pipe sections 13 of the cooling pipe arrangements 5, 6, the meander density above the fan 4 is higher than in the area 14 below the fan 4.

[0060] The distance between the cooling line arrangements 5 and 6 above the fan 4 is at most as large as the smallest measurable distance between two meanders 15 within a cooling line arrangement 5 or 6.

[0061] The area 14 below the fan 4 has a width that corresponds at least to the diameter of the fan 4 and, in the illustrated embodiment, approximately two and a half times the diameter of the fan 4. This area 14 below the fan 4 is free of cooling line assemblies 5, 6, i.e., it has neither meanders 15 nor line sections 13 or other parts of the cooling lines 21. Laterally, however, this area 14 is bounded by cooling line assemblies 5 and 6, namely by meanders 15 formed from line sections 13 of the cooling line 21 of the respective cooling line assemblies 5 and 6.

[0062] Part of the temperature control device 3 of the incubator 1 shown in the figures is also an electric heating element 16, which is located in Fig. 1 hidden, however in Fig. 4 is shown. Fig. For the sake of clarity, the two cooling line arrangements 5 and 6 to the left and right of the fan 4 are hidden in Figure 4. Fig. Figure 5 shows the temperature control device 3 with both the heating line 16 and the two cooling line arrangements 5 and 6.

[0063] An incubator 1, which is set up only for cooling the incubation chamber 2, can be equipped with a temperature control device 3 according to Fig. 1 without heating line 16.

[0064] An incubator 1, which is set up only for heating / warming the incubation chamber 2, can be equipped with a temperature control device 3 according to Fig. 4 without heating line 16.

[0065] An incubator 1, which is set up for cooling and heating / warming the incubation chamber 2, has a temperature control device 3 according to Fig. 5 with the heating line 16 and the two cooling line arrangements 5 and 6.

[0066] The electric heating cable 16 is laid out in such a way that it is arranged on both sides of the fan 4.

[0067] The heating cable 16, arranged on both sides of the fan 4, leaves the area 12 above the fan 4 free. Therefore, there is no heating cable 16 in the area 12 above the fan 4. However, the area 12 is laterally bounded by the heating cable 16, which runs through the area 14 below the fan 4.

[0068] The heating conductor 16 has a structure that is mirror-symmetrical to the vertical plane 7, as shown here. Fig. 4 illustrates this.

[0069] The fan 4 and the cooling line assemblies 5 and 6, as well as the heating line 16, are arranged on a common inner wall 11, namely on the inner rear wall of the incubator 1. The incubator 1 has a receiving chamber 20 in which the fan 4 and the two cooling line assemblies 5 and 6, as well as the heating line 16, are arranged. The receiving chamber 20 is separated from the incubation chamber 2 of the incubator 1 by a partition 18. The partition 18 has, according to Fig. 3 ventilation openings 19, via which the reception room 20 is connected to the incubation room 2 of the incubator 1.

[0070] Air can be drawn from the incubation chamber 2 into the receiving chamber 20 through the ventilation openings 19 using the fan 4. The air drawn into the receiving chamber 20 can then be tempered as required using the temperature control device 3, i.e., using the cooling line arrangements 5 and 6 or the heating line 16.

[0071] The tempered air can then be distributed evenly in the incubation room 2 via air outlet openings 22 at the edge of the partition 18 or in the partition 18. Reference symbol list 1 incubator 2 incubation rooms 3 Temperature control device 4 fans, centrifugal fans 5 Cooling line arrangement 6 Cooling line arrangement 7 Vertical plane 8 Rotation axis of 4 9 Coolant inlet 10 Coolant drain 11 Interior wall 12 Area above 4 13 Line section 14 Area below 4 15 meanders 16 Heating cable 17 heating meanders 18 Partition wall 19 air vents 20 Recording room 21 Cooling line 22 Air outlet opening 100 Airflow direction

Claims

[1] Incubator (1) with an incubation chamber (2) and a temperature control device (3) for temperature control of the incubation chamber (2), wherein the temperature control device (3) has a fan (4) and on both sides of the fan (4) at least one cooling line arrangement (5,6) through which coolant flows. [2] Incubator (1) according to claim 1, wherein each cooling line arrangement (5,6) comprises a cooling line (21), and / or wherein at least one cooling line arrangement (5,6) is arranged on both sides of a vertical plane (7) of the incubator (1) in which a rotation axis (8) of the fan (4) runs. [3] Incubator (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the cooling line arrangement (5,6) on one side of the vertical plane (7) is mirror-symmetric to the cooling line arrangement (5,6) on the other side of the vertical plane (7), and / or wherein the vertical plane (7) is a median plane of the incubation space (2) of the incubator (1). [4] Incubator (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein each cooling line arrangement (5,6) has its own coolant inlet (9) and coolant outlet (10) which are connected to each other via a cooling line (21). [5] Incubator (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the coolant inlet (9) of the respective cooling line arrangement (5,6) has a smaller distance to the fan (4), in particular to the vertical plane (7), than the coolant outlet (10) of the cooling line arrangement (5,6). [6] Incubator (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the coolant inlet (9) and / or the coolant outlet (10) of at least one cooling line arrangement (5, 6) are arranged in a horizontal plane below the axis of rotation (8) of the fan (4), and / or wherein the coolant inlet (9) and the coolant outlet (10) of at least one cooling line arrangement (5, 6) are arranged in the same horizontal plane. [7] Incubator (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the fan (4) and the cooling line arrangements (5,6) are arranged on a common inner wall (11), in particular on an inner rear wall, of the incubator (1). [8] Incubator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in a region (12), in particular the inner wall (11), above the fan (4) conduit sections (13) of the cooling conduit arrangements (5,6) are arranged and / or wherein the cooling conduit arrangements (5,6) in a region (12), in particular the inner wall (11), above the fan (4) have a smaller distance to the vertical plane (7) and / or to each other than in a region (14), in particular the inner wall (11), below the fan (4). [9] Incubator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein conduit sections (13) of the cooling conduit arrangements (5, 6) are arranged in meanders (15), preferably wherein the meanders (15) within a cooling conduit arrangement (5, 6) have a uniform distance from each other and / or wherein cooling conduit arrangements (5, 6) above the fan (4) have a higher meander density than below the fan (4). [10] Incubator (1) according to the previous claim, wherein a distance between the cooling line arrangements (5,6) above the fan (4) is at most as large as a smallest distance between two meanders (15) within a cooling line arrangement (5,6). [11] Incubator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a region (14) below the fan (4) with a width at least equal to the diameter of the fan (4) is free of cooling line arrangements (5,6), in particular free of meanders (15) of the cooling line arrangements (5,6), in particular wherein the region (14) is laterally bounded by the cooling line arrangements (5,6). [12] Incubator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature control device (3) comprises at least one, preferably electric, heating line (16) located on both sides of the fan (4). [13] Incubator (1), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an incubation chamber (2) and a temperature control device (3) for temperature control of the incubation chamber (2), wherein the temperature control device (3) comprises a fan (4) and at least one, preferably electric, heating line (16) arranged on both sides of the fan (4), wherein a region (12) above the fan (4) is free of heating line (16), preferably wherein the region (12) is laterally bounded by heating line (16), and wherein the heating line (16) runs through a region (14) below the fan (4). [14] Incubator (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the heating line (16) is arranged in heating meanders (17). [15] Incubator (1) according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the heating line (16) has a structure that is mirror-symmetrical to the vertical plane (7). [16] Incubator (1) according to one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the fan (4) and the cooling line arrangements (5,6) and the heating line (16) are arranged on a common inner wall (11), in particular on an inner rear wall, of the incubator (1). [17] Incubator (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the incubator (1) has a receiving chamber (20) in which the fan (4) and the at least two cooling line arrangements (5,6) and / or a heating line (16) are arranged, wherein the receiving chamber (20) is separated from the incubation chamber (2) by a partition (18). [18] Incubator (1) according to the previous claim, wherein the incubator (1) has, in particular on or in the partition (18), air passage openings (19) and / or air outlet openings (22) through which the receiving space (20) is connected to the incubation space (2) of the incubator (1). [19] Incubator (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fan (4) is a radial fan.

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