Fan unit for a suction device

Abstract

A blower unit (300) for a suction device (100) is described. The blower unit (300) comprises a blower (200) configured to generate a suction airflow (240) during operation along a flow direction that runs from the intake side to the exhaust side of the blower unit (300). The blower unit (300) further comprises a blower housing (250) in which the blower (200) is arranged, and an intake-side bearing (303) and an exhaust-side bearing (304) for supporting the blower (200) on the inside of the blower housing (250).Furthermore, the blower unit (300) comprises a protective element (302) arranged on the intake-side bearing (303), which is designed to be permeated by the suction airflow (240) and to provide contact protection for the blower (200), wherein the protective element (302) is arranged on the intake-side bearing (303) such that the protective element (302) has a distance (420) to the inside of the blower capsule (250) when the blower (200) is in operation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a blower unit for a suction device, in particular for a cordless and / or handheld vacuum cleaner.

[0002] A vacuuming device, particularly a handheld vacuum cleaner, typically comprises a suction unit that can be carried and operated by hand. The suction unit includes a blower unit with a fan that is powered by electrical energy from an electrical energy storage device within the suction unit. The fan is designed to generate a suction airflow to draw contaminants through the suction nozzle of the unit into the collection container of the unit. The suction nozzle of the unit is typically designed as a coupling through which one accessory from a set of different accessories can be connected to the suction unit. Examples of accessories include a suction tube, a floor nozzle, a wet cleaning nozzle, etc.

[0003] The blower of the suction device, in particular the suction unit, can be arranged within a blower housing of the blower unit, with the blower housing providing contact protection for the blower. The blower housing has an inlet area through which the suction airflow is drawn into the blower housing. The blower unit typically has a significant influence on the suction efficiency and noise emission of a suction device.

[0004] This document addresses the technical challenge of providing a blower unit for a suction device that offers reliable protection against contact, low flow resistance, and low noise emission.

[0005] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Advantageous embodiments are defined in particular in the dependent patent claims, described in the following description, or illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

[0006] According to one aspect, a blower unit for a suction device (in particular for a (handheld and / or battery-operated) vacuum cleaner) is described. The blower unit comprises a blower configured to generate a suction airflow along a flow direction during operation, wherein the flow direction extends from the intake side to the exhaust side of the blower unit. The blower unit may have a longitudinal axis extending from the intake side to the exhaust side of the blower unit. The flow direction may be substantially parallel to this longitudinal axis.

[0007] The blower unit further comprises a blower capsule in which the blower is arranged. The blower capsule can be made of plastic. The blower capsule can be designed to allow the blower unit to be fixed within the suction device. Furthermore, the blower capsule can serve as a (protective) housing for the blower.

[0008] Furthermore, the blower unit comprises an intake-side bearing and an exhaust-side bearing for mounting the blower on the inside of the blower housing. The blower housing can have an intake-side housing section and an exhaust-side housing section, which can be detachably connected to each other, for example, via a snap-fit ​​connection, or are detachably connected to each other. The intake-side bearing can be designed to mount the blower on the inside of the intake-side housing section of the blower housing, and the exhaust-side bearing can be designed to mount the blower on the inside of the exhaust-side housing section of the blower housing.

[0009] The intake-side and / or exhaust-side bearing is preferably designed to be elastic (for damping and / or decoupling of vibrations). In particular, the intake-side and / or exhaust-side bearing can each be made of an elastic material, especially rubber.

[0010] The blower unit further includes a protective element arranged on the intake-side bearing, which is designed to be permeated by the suction airflow and to provide contact protection for the blower.

[0011] The protective element can have a grille area with a multitude of openings, through which the suction airflow flows during operation of the blower. The individual grille openings can each be hexagonal, resulting in particularly low flow resistance. The grille area of ​​the protective element can be curved (especially outwards), further reducing flow resistance.

[0012] The individual openings in the protective element's mesh can each have an inner diameter of 8.6 mm or less, preferably 5.6 mm or less, and most preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm. This provides particularly reliable protection against contact. Furthermore, the protective element can be made of metal, especially a metal sheet, which further improves the protection against contact.

[0013] The protective element is preferably arranged on the intake-side bearing such that, during operation of the blower, it maintains a (specific) distance from the inside of the blower housing. In particular, the protective element can be arranged on the intake-side bearing such that, during operation of the blower, the suction airflow (along the longitudinal axis) pulls the protective element away from the inside of the blower housing, and especially towards the exhaust side of the blower unit, so that the protective element maintains a distance from the inside of the blower housing. This distance can be between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. The protective element can have a specific thickness perpendicular to the direction of the suction airflow. This distance can be, for example, between 0.5 and 1.2 times the thickness of the protective element.

[0014] The protective element (for providing contact protection) can thus be arranged in the blower unit in such a way that it does not directly touch the (relatively hard) housing during operation of the blower, so that vibrations of the protective element (which are generated, for example, by the suction airflow) are not directly transmitted to the housing. This allows for a particularly quiet housing.

[0015] The blower capsule, in particular the intake-side capsule part, can have a front wall on the intake side of the blower unit, wherein the front wall has a recess, in particular a circular recess. The protective element (in particular the grille area of ​​the protective element) can cover the recess of the front wall of the blower capsule from the inside of the housing capsule, thus providing particularly reliable protection against contact.

[0016] The intake-side bearing can have an (annular) outer surface facing the inside of the front wall of the blower housing. A rib, particularly an annular rib, projecting from the surface of the outer surface of the intake-side bearing, can be arranged on this outer surface and contact the inside of the front wall of the blower housing. This rib allows the distance between the protective element and the inside of the blower housing to be defined with particular precision and reliability (and thus reliably reduces the noise generated by the blower unit).

[0017] The intake-side bearing can furthermore have an (annular) inner area facing the inside of the front wall of the blower housing. Additionally, the protective element can have an edge area (enclosing the grille area of ​​the protective element) that abuts the inner area of ​​the intake-side bearing. The edge area of ​​the protective element can thus be positioned between the inside of the front wall of the blower housing and the inner area of ​​the intake-side bearing.

[0018] The blower unit can be designed such that, during operation of the blower, particularly due to the action of the suction airflow, the edge of the protective element is drawn towards the inner area of ​​the intake-side bearing, resulting in the aforementioned distance between the edge of the protective element and the inner surface of the blower housing's front wall. By resting the protective element directly against the intake-side bearing, this distance can be adjusted with exceptional reliability. Furthermore, resting the protective element against the elastic intake-side bearing provides particularly reliable protection against contact.

[0019] The (annular) inner area of ​​the suction-side bearing can enclose a (circular) recess in the suction-side bearing. The recess in the suction-side bearing can have approximately the same diameter as the recess in the front wall of the blower housing. The protective element can be designed to cover the recess in the suction-side bearing (with the mesh area of ​​the protective element).

[0020] The protective element can have a side wall extending from the edge of the protective element (along the longitudinal axis) towards the exhaust side of the blower unit. Furthermore, the intake-side bearing can have a groove, in particular an annular groove, between the inner and outer areas to receive the side wall of the protective element. The protective element can also have one or more (possibly radially resilient) fixing lugs on the side wall and / or as part of the side wall, designed to create a force-fit connection between the protective element and the intake-side bearing within the groove of the intake-side bearing. This allows the protective element to be arranged in the blower unit in a particularly efficient and reliable manner. By using a circular cylindrical side wall, the protective element can be positioned at any desired angle relative to the intake.a rotation about the longitudinal axis in the annular groove of the intake-side bearing.

[0021] The intake-side bearing can have a side wall extending from the outer surface of the bearing (along its longitudinal axis) towards the exhaust side of the blower unit. This side wall can wrap around the longitudinal axis of the blower unit. The side wall can be corrugated circumferentially around the longitudinal axis with a multitude of wave crests, particularly those with uniform spacing (e.g., between 4 and 30 crests). The side wall of the intake-side bearing can be designed to contact the inner surface of the blower housing (only) with these multiple wave crests. This ensures particularly reliable blower mounting and provides a particularly stable intake-side bearing.

[0022] According to another aspect, a suction device and / or a suction unit is described, which includes the blower unit described in this document.

[0023] It should be noted that any aspects of the blower unit and the suction device or suction unit described in this document can be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the patent claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

[0024] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Figure 1 an exemplary suction device comprising a suction unit, a suction tube and a nozzle; Figures 2a and 2b Each suction unit includes a blower and a blower capsule; Figures 3a to 3c Different views of a blower unit; Figure 4aan exemplary protective element and intake-side bearing; and Figures 4b and 4c An exemplary arrangement of the intake-side bearing and the protective element on the intake-side capsule part of the blower capsule.

[0025] As stated at the outset, this document deals with providing an efficient, safe, and quiet blower unit for a suction device. In this context, it shows Fig. 1An exemplary (handheld) vacuum cleaner 100 (as an example of a suction device) comprising a suction unit 110 with an electrical energy storage device 111. The suction unit 110 has a (hand) handle 112 that can be gripped by a user with one hand to hold the suction unit 110. The blower of the suction unit 110 creates a suction airflow through the suction nozzle 114 of the suction unit 110, via a separator unit 113 of the suction unit 110, and up to the blower. The suction unit 110 can be designed to be used independently as a suction device.

[0026] An accessory 120 or 130 can be connected to the suction unit 110 via a coupling 121. In the example shown, the suction unit 110 is connected via a coupling 121 to a suction tube 120, which in turn is connected via a coupling 121 to a floor nozzle 130.

[0027] Figures 2a to 2bFigures 1 and 2 show different views of a suction unit 110, which includes a blower 200 arranged in a blower capsule 250. The blower capsule 250 has an inlet area 251 through which the suction airflow 240 is drawn to the blower 200.

[0028] The suction efficiency of a suction device 100 depends on the flow resistance of the various components of the suction device 100 through which the suction airflow 240 passes. These components include the inlet area 251 of the blower capsule 250 of the blower 200. To provide the lowest possible flow resistance, the inlet area 251 should have the largest possible open area.

[0029] The inlet area 251 of the blower housing 250 is typically located directly in front of the intake opening of the blower 200. To provide the most reliable possible protection against contact, the inlet area 251 should have the smallest possible openings to reliably prevent a user's finger (possibly even a child's) from reaching the intake opening of the blower 200 through the inlet area 251. Furthermore, the blower housing 250 should have a certain degree of rigidity in the inlet area 251 to prevent a user from damaging the blower housing 250 in the inlet area 251 and subsequently reaching the intake opening of the blower 200 with a finger. The rigidity of the housing 250 can be verified by an impact test (as specified, for example, in DIN EN 60335-1 (VDE 0700-1):2020-08, Chapter 21).

[0030] The blower capsule 250 also has an influence on the transmission of vibrations from the blower 200 to the suction unit 110 and on the resulting noise emission.

[0031] Figures 3a to 3c Figures 2 and 3 show different views of a blower unit 300 with a blower 200 and with a blower capsule 250. In the illustrated example, the blower capsule 250 comprises an intake-side capsule part 301 and an exhaust-side capsule part 305, which are designed to enclose the blower 200. The two capsule parts 301 and 305 can be detachably connected to each other, for example, by means of one or more snap-fit ​​connections.

[0032] The blower unit 300 can, as in Fig. 3aThe capsules are shown to have a longitudinal axis 350. The intake-side capsule part 301 can be arranged along the longitudinal axis 350 in front of the exhaust-side capsule part 305. The blower 200 can be configured to generate a suction airflow 240 that flows along the longitudinal axis 350 through the blower unit 300 (from the intake-side capsule part 301 to the exhaust-side capsule part 305).

[0033] The blower 200 can be mounted on the inside of the housing capsule 250 via one or more bearings 303, 304. The one or more bearings 303, 304 can each be designed as elastomer bearings and / or rubber bearings. The blower unit 300 can, in particular, have an intake-side bearing 303, via which the intake side of the blower 200 is mounted on the intake-side capsule part 301. The intake-side bearing 303 can, for example, be designed as a ring that surrounds the circular intake side of the blower 200 (and can be slid onto the intake side of the blower 200).

[0034] Furthermore, the blower unit 300 can have an exhaust-side bearing 305, via which the exhaust side of the blower 200 (on which, for example, the electronics for controlling the blower 200 are arranged) is mounted on the exhaust-side capsule part 305. In the illustrated example, the exhaust-side bearing 305 is designed as a three-point bearing or as a triangular bearing.

[0035] The intake-side capsule part 301 has a side wall that extends circumferentially around the longitudinal axis 350. Furthermore, the intake-side capsule part 301 has a front wall 311 that is arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 350. The intake-side bearing 303 can be configured to contact the inside of the side wall and the front wall 311 in order to support the blower 200 on the intake-side capsule part 301.

[0036] The front wall 311 of the intake-side capsule part 301 has a central (circular) recess 306. The front wall 311 can have a specific overall diameter, and the recess 306 can have a recess diameter that is 50% or more, in particular 70% or more, of the overall diameter. This allows an inlet area 251 of the housing capsule 250 to be provided with the lowest possible flow resistance.

[0037] The recess 306 of the front wall 311 is covered by a protective element 302, which provides contact protection in the inlet area 251 of the housing capsule 250. The protective element 302 is arranged between the front wall 311 and the intake-side bearing 303. The protective element 302 has a plurality of openings, preferably arranged in a honeycomb structure to minimize flow resistance. The protective element 302 is also preferably curved to increase its surface area and thereby further reduce flow resistance. Furthermore, the protective element 302 is preferably made of metal, in particular sheet metal, to provide particularly reliable contact protection.

[0038] Fig. 4aFigure 3 shows an exemplary protective element 302 and an exemplary intake-side bearing 303. The protective element 302 has an annular edge region 401 which, in the installed state, faces the inside of the front wall 311 of the housing capsule 250, in particular the intake-side capsule part 301. The edge region 401 encloses the grid region 404 of the protective element 302, the grid region 404 having a honeycomb arrangement of grid openings 405. The edge region 401 and the grid region 404 of the protective element 302 form a (curved) base surface which (in the installed state) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 350.

[0039] The protective element 302 further comprises a side wall 402 extending from the base along the longitudinal axis 350. The side wall 402 can, for example, have a length along the longitudinal axis 350 of between 0.4 mm and 1 cm. The protective element 302 can be shaped like a crown cap. The side wall 402 of the protective element 302 can be configured to be arranged in an annular groove 412 of the intake-side bearing 303 in order to secure the protective element 302 to the intake-side bearing 303. The side wall 402 can have a circumferential break at one or more locations, for example, at four different locations, each spaced 90° apart. In other words, the side wall 402 can consist of several segments circumferentially, with a gap formed between each pair of directly consecutive segments of the side wall 402.In the space between two segments of the side wall 402, a (spring-loaded) fixing lug 403 can be arranged, which is designed to be moved in a radial direction (with respect to the longitudinal axis 350). The one or more fixing lugs 403 ensure particularly reliable fixation of the side wall 402 in the groove 412 of the intake-side bearing 303 (since the one or more fixing lugs 403 press radially against the outer inner wall of the groove 412, thereby clamping the protective element 302 to the intake-side bearing 303).

[0040] The intake-side bearing 303 is annular and encloses a central recess 416, which is covered by the grid area 404 of the protective element 302. The recess 416 is bordered by an inner area 411 of the bearing 303, with the edge area 401 of the base of the protective element 302 resting on the inner area 411 of the bearing 303. The bearing 303 also has an outer area 414, with the groove 412 for receiving the side wall 402 of the protective element 302 being formed between the inner area 411 and the outer area 414. The outer area 414 of the bearing 303, in particular a rib 417 on the outer area 414 of the bearing 303, abuts the inner side of the front wall 311 of the blower housing 250.

[0041] The inner area 411 and the outer area 414 form a base surface of the bearing 303, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 305. The bearing 303 also has a side wall 415, which extends from the base surface of the bearing 303 along the longitudinal axis 305 and is designed to abut the inner surface of the side wall of the blower capsule 250. The side wall 415 is preferably corrugated in the circumferential direction, such that the side wall 415 has a plurality of wave crests and a corresponding plurality of wave troughs. This increases the stability of the bearing 303. Furthermore, this ensures that the bearing 303 contacts the inner surface of the side wall of the blower capsule 250 at a defined number of points (i.e., only at the plurality of wave crests), thus providing particularly reliable support for the blower 200.

[0042] As from the Figures 4b and 4cAs can be seen, the protective element 302 and the intake-side bearing 303 are preferably designed such that the outer surface 414 of the intake-side bearing 303 (with an annular rib 417) contacts the inner surface of the front wall 311 of the blower housing 250, and that a gap or distance 420 is formed between the protective element 302, in particular the edge region 401 of the protective element 302, and the inner surface of the front wall 311 of the blower housing 250, so that the protective element 302 does not contact the inner surface of the front wall 311 of the blower housing 250. In this way, vibrations of the protective element 302 can be efficiently and reliably prevented from being transmitted to the blower housing 250 and further to the suction unit 110. A particularly quiet blower unit 300 can thus be provided.

[0043] A blower unit 300 is thus described, which has an additional metal grid (as a protective element) 302 between the blower rubber buffer (i.e., the intake-side bearing) 303 and the capsule 250. The metal grid 302 serves as an intrusion guard. The metal grid 302 is arranged between the capsule 250 (made of plastic) and the elastic blower mount (i.e., the intake-side bearing) 303, in which the metal grid 302 is snapped.

[0044] The protective element 302 preferably does not come into contact with the capsule 250, so that vibrations excited by the blower 200 and / or the airflow 240 are not transmitted to the suction unit 110. This contributes to reducing the overall noise of the device.

[0045] By fixing the protective element 302 in the elastic element (i.e. in the suction-side bearing) 303, the forces during the impact pressure test are absorbed by the elastic element 303, so that a particularly reliable touch protection can be provided.

[0046] The protective element 302 is preferably honeycomb-shaped (with hexagonal openings 405) and dome-shaped to achieve a particularly high ratio of opening cross-section to achievable stiffness. This increases the efficiency of the blower unit 300.

[0047] Air turbulence at the protective element 302 can cause vibrations. The negative pressure during operation of the blower 200 "draws" the protective element 302 into the blower buffer (i.e., into the intake-side bearing) 303, thereby mechanically decoupling it from the (relatively rigid) blower housing 250. This reduces vibrations and noise.

[0048] By providing a snap-fit ​​connection between the intake-side rubber buffer (i.e., the intake-side bearing) 303 and the metal grid (i.e., the protective element) 302, tool-free assembly and disassembly are made possible, which allows for good repairability and recyclability.

[0049] A blower unit 300 is described, comprising a two-part capsule 250 that supports a motor-blower unit 200 with vibration isolation on both sides. The blower unit 300 also includes a protective element 302, which is arranged in the intake-side bearing 303. The protective element 302 is, in particular, loosely mounted in the intake-side bearing 303. Furthermore, during operation of the motor-blower unit 200, the protective element 302 maintains a distance 420 from the inside of the front capsule part 301. This prevents the transmission of vibrations from the protective element 302 to the capsule 250, thereby reducing noise. This also allows for simple and cost-effective assembly and disassembly. Additionally, this design enables the protective element 302 to be made from different materials.

[0050] In particular, a blower unit 300 for a suction device 100 is described, comprising a motor-blower unit (i.e., a blower) 200. The blower unit 300 further comprises a (optionally two-part) capsule 250 that receives the motor-blower unit 200 and supports it by means of a front and rear elastic bearing 303, 304. The blower unit 300 further comprises a protective element 302, which is configured to prevent interference with the motor-blower unit (i.e., the blower) 200.

[0051] The protective element 302 is preferably mounted in the front-side (i.e., intake-side) bearing 303. Furthermore, the protective element 302 preferably has a distance 420 from the inside of the front-side capsule part 301 in the operating state (when a suction airflow 240 is present). In other words, the protective element 302 does not contact the front-side capsule part 301 in the operating state of the blower unit 300.

[0052] The distance 420 between the protective element 302 and the inside of the front capsule part 301 is, for example, between 0.5 and 0.1 mm, preferably 0.4 mm, particularly preferably 0.3 mm. The (sheet) thickness of the protective element 302 can be, for example, approximately 0.4 mm.

[0053] The distance 420 between the protective element 302 and the inside of the front capsule part 301 can be caused and / or defined by a circumferential rib 417 extending towards the front capsule part 301 on the front bearing 303.

[0054] The protective element 302 can be dome-shaped and / or convex, which can provide better stability upon impact. Generally, the protective element 302 can be flat, convex outwards, or concave inwards. Preferably, the protective element 302 is convex outwards.

[0055] The protective element 302 can be held in an annular groove 412 in the front-facing bearing 303 by means of one or more (cranked) lugs 403. This provides a positive and non-positive connection (non-positive due to the elasticity of the material (especially the rubber) of the bearing 303) between the protective element 302 and the bearing 303.

[0056] The protective element 302 can preferably be positioned arbitrarily with respect to the angular position in the intake-side bearing 303, so that the assembly can be further simplified.

[0057] The circular inner diameter of the hexagonal openings 405 of the grid area 404 of the protective element 302 is preferably less than 8.6 mm, preferably less than 5.6 mm, and particularly preferably between 3 and 4 mm. This ensures that the requirements of DIN EN 61032 can be met reliably and efficiently.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are intended only to illustrate the principle of the blower unit 300 and / or the suction device 100 or suction unit 110. Reference symbol list

[0059] 100 Suction device (vacuum cleaner) 110 Suction unit 111 Electrical energy storage 112 Handle 113 Separation unit 114 Suction nozzle 120 Accessory (suction tube) 121 Coupling 130 Nozzle 200 Blower 240 Suction airflow 250 Blower capsule 251 Intake opening (blower capsule) 300 Blower unit 301, 305 Capsule part 302 Protective element (grille) 303 Front or intake-side bearing 304 Rear or exhaust-side bearing 306 Recess (capsule part) 311 Front or front wall (blower capsule) 350 Longitudinal axis 401 Edge area 402 Side wall (protective element) 403 Fixing lug (protective element) 404 Grille area 405 (Hexagon-shaped) grille opening 411 Inner area (intake-side bearing) 412 Fixing groove 414 Outer area (intake-side bearing) 415 Side wall (intake-side bearing) 416 Recess (intake-side bearing) 417 Rib (intake-side bearing) 420 Distance (blower capsule vs. protective element)

Claims

1. Blower unit (300) for a suction device (100); wherein the blower unit (300) comprises: - a blower (200) configured to produce a suction airflow (240) during operation along a flow direction extending from an intake side to an exhaust side of the blower unit (300); - a blower capsule (250) in which the blower (200) is arranged; - an intake-side bearing (303) and an exhaust-side bearing (304) for supporting the blower (200) on an inner surface of the blower capsule (250); and - a protective element (302) arranged on the intake-side bearing (303), configured to be permeated by the suction airflow (240) and to provide contact protection for the blower (200); wherein the protective element (302) is arranged on the intake-side bearing (303) such that the protective element (302) has a distance (420) to the inside of the blower capsule (250) when the blower (200) is in operation.

2. Blower unit (300) according to claim 1, wherein the protective element (302) is arranged on the intake-side bearing (303) such that the protective element (302) is pulled away from the inside of the blower capsule (250) and in particular towards the exhaust air side of the blower unit (300) by the action of the suction airflow (240) when the blower (200) is operated, so that the protective element (302) has a distance (420) from the inside of the blower capsule (250).

3. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the distance (420) is between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm; and / or - the protective element (302) has a thickness perpendicular to the flow direction of the suction air stream (240); and - the distance (420) is between 0.5 and 1.2 times the thickness of the protective element (302).

4. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the blower capsule (250) has a front wall (311) on the intake side of the blower unit (300); - the front wall (311) has a recess (306), in particular a circular recess (306); and - the protective element (302) covers the recess (306) of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250) from the inside of the housing capsule (250).

5. Blower unit (300) according to claim 4, wherein - the intake-side bearing (303) has an outer surface (414) facing the inside of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250); - a rib (417), in particular an annular rib (417), projecting from a surface of the outer surface (414) of the intake-side bearing (303), is arranged on the outer surface (414) of the intake-side bearing (303) and contacts the inside of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250); and - the distance (420) between the protective element (302) and the inside of the blower capsule (250) is defined by the rib (417).

6. Blower unit (300) according to one of claims 4 to 5, wherein - the intake-side bearing (303) has an inner area (411) facing the inside of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250); - the protective element (302) has an edge area (401) that abuts the inner area (411) of the intake-side bearing (303); and - the edge area (401) of the protective element (302) is arranged between the inside of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250) and the inner area (411) of the intake-side bearing (303).

7. Blower unit (300) according to claim 6, wherein the blower unit (300) is designed such that when the blower (200) is operated, in particular by the action of the suction airflow (240), the edge region (401) of the protective element (302) is drawn towards the inner region (411) of the intake-side bearing (303), so that a distance (420) of the edge region (401) of the protective element (302) to the inside of the front wall (311) of the blower capsule (250) results.

8. Blower unit (300) according to one of claims 6 to 7 with reference to claim 5, wherein - the protective element (302) has a side wall (402) which extends from the edge region (401) of the protective element (302) towards the exhaust air side of the blower unit (300); and - the intake-side bearing (303) has a groove (412), in particular an annular groove (412), between the inner region (411) and the outer region (414) for receiving the side wall (402) of the protective element (302).

9. Blower unit (300) according to claim 8, wherein the protective element (302) has one or more fixing lugs (403) on the side wall (402) and / or as part of the side wall (402), which are designed to create a force-fit connection between the protective element (302) and the suction-side bearing (303) within the groove (412) of the suction-side bearing (303).

10. Blower unit (300) according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein: - the intake-side bearing (303) has a side wall (415) extending from the outer surface (414) of the intake-side bearing (303) towards the exhaust air side of the blower unit (300); - the side wall (415) extends around a longitudinal axis (350) of the blower unit (300); - the longitudinal axis (350) of the blower unit (300) extends from the intake side to the exhaust air side of the blower unit (300); - the side wall (415) is formed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis (350) in a wave-like manner with a plurality of, in particular uniformly distributed, wave crests; and - the side wall (415) of the intake-side bearing (303) touches the inside of the blower capsule (250) with the multitude of wave crests.

11. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the protective element (302) has a grille area (404) with a plurality of grille openings (405) through which the suction airflow (240) flows during operation of the blower (200); - the individual grille openings (405) are in particular hexagonal; and - the inner diameter of the individual grille openings (405) is in particular 8.6 mm or less, preferably 5.6 mm or less, and most preferably between 3 mm and 4 mm.

12. Blower unit (300) according to claim 12, wherein the grid area (404) of the protective element (302) is curved.

13. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective element (302) is made of metal, in particular of a metal sheet.

14. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the intake-side bearing (303) is elastically designed; and / or - the intake-side bearing (303) is made of an elastic material, in particular rubber.

15. Blower unit (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the blower capsule (250) has an intake-side capsule part (301) and an exhaust-side capsule part (305), which can be detachably connected to each other, in particular via a snap-fit ​​connection; - the intake-side bearing (303) for supporting the blower (200) is formed on the inside of the intake-side capsule part (301) of the blower capsule (250); and - the exhaust-side bearing (304) for supporting the blower (200) is formed on the inside of the exhaust-side capsule part (305) of the blower capsule (250).

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