Impeller

Abstract

To provide means for improving a cooling effect of a rotation drive source without increasing the size of the whole structure, with a simple structure.SOLUTION: An impeller has: a rotation center body connected to a rotational shaft of a rotation drive source; a rim surrounding the rotation center body; a plurality of first blades arranged between the rotation center body and the rim; and a plurality of second blades arranged on the outside of the rim, where an inner diameter of the rim is equal to or larger than an outer dimension of the rotation drive source.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a blower.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, it is known that an axial flow fan is attached to a blower of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such an axial flow fan is provided with different blades on the inner and outer sides of a cylindrical body, and aims to improve the air blowing performance in the forward direction of the axial flow fan. The blade shape of such an axial flow fan can be used not only for the blower of an outdoor unit but also as an axial flow fan for a blower part of equipment that sends out air, such as a fan, a ventilation fan, a heating appliance, etc.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Axial fans and the like described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above, when the motor for rotating the blades performs continuous operation, high-speed rotation, etc., an excessive load is applied, causing heat generation, which leads to failures. Therefore, a cooling structure for the motor has been required to suppress heat generation. As a cooling method, for example, slits or the like are provided in the exterior covering the motor so that outside air can flow into the axial fan side, or another fan for air cooling is provided near the motor to blow air toward the motor, or other methods such as providing a heat sink on the exterior of the motor. However, when slits or the like are provided in the exterior, there is a problem that the cooling effect is low, so in a situation where a high load is applied to the motor, failures due to heat generation cannot be prevented. Also, when another fan for air cooling is provided near the motor, the cooling effect is high, but the device becomes larger, and when a heat sink is provided on the exterior of the motor, the area around the motor also becomes larger, requiring a large installation space for the motor.

[0005] The present invention has been made through the intensive research of the inventor in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a means that can improve the cooling effect of a rotational drive source with a simple structure without increasing the overall structure size.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The impeller of the present invention has a rotation center body connected to the rotation axis of a rotational drive source, a rim surrounding the rotation center body, a plurality of first blades arranged between the rotation center body and the rim, and a plurality of second blades arranged outside the rim, and is characterized in that the inner diameter of the rim is equal to or larger than the outer dimension of the rotational drive source.

[0007] Also, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the first blades face the rotational drive source.

[0008] Also, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the number of the first blades is equal to or more than the number of the second blades.

[0009] Further, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the first blade extends substantially radially between the rotating center body and the rim about the axis of the rotating center body.

[0010] Further, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the fluid sent by the first blade is configured to pass inside the rim and directly hit the rotation drive source.

[0011] Further, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the rim is arranged with a gap in the axial direction and / or the radial direction with respect to the rotation drive source, and the rotation of the first impeller generates a flow that flows into the rim and is discharged from the gap between the rim and the rotation drive source, and the rotation drive source is cooled by the flow.

[0012] Further, the impeller of the present invention is characterized in that the rim surrounds the rotation drive source.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, the cooling effect of the rotation drive source can be improved with a simple structure.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Embodiments of the impeller of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the impeller 1 of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 shows the impeller 1 of the present embodiment, (a) is a front view, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A. The impeller 1 includes a rotation center body 2, a rim 4, first blades 6, second blades 8, and the like.

[0016] The rotation center body 2 is connected to a rotation drive source 10 (see FIG. 3) and can rotate by transmitting the rotation drive from the rotation drive source 10. That is, the rotation center body 2 has a hole through which the rotation shaft 10a (see FIG. 3) of the rotation drive source 10 is inserted, and an engagement portion that engages with the rotation shaft 10a inserted in the hole in the circumferential direction, and is configured to be able to rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 10a.

[0017] The rim 4 is substantially annular and surrounds the rotation center body 2. The rim 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and its inner diameter is set to be equal to or greater than the outer dimension of the rotation drive source 10. Also, the axial length of the rim 4 can be set as appropriate. For example, the axial length of the rim 4 may be a length that can surround substantially the entire rotation drive source 10, or a length that can surround a part (excluding the rotation shaft 10a) of the rotation drive source 10. Further, the axial length of the rim 4 may be less than or equal to the length of the rotation shaft 10a and may be a length that cannot surround the rotation drive source 10.

[0018] The first blades 6 face the rotation drive source 10 in the axial direction of the rotation center body 2 between the rotation center body 2 and the rim 4. Also, the first blades 6 extend substantially in the radial direction, one end is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rotation center body 2, and the other end is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rim 4. Further, a plurality of the first blades 6 are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the rotation direction of the rotation center body 2.

[0019] The number of the first blades 6 is set to 8 as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. Of course, the number is not limited to this, and it may be 7 or less, or may be 9 or more. Further, the shape along the radial direction of the first blade 6 is not limited to a substantially radial shape, and may be a radially curved shape or the like. Further, the first blade 6 is set so that its cross-sectional area is substantially uniform on the rotating center body 2 side and the rim 4 side. Of course, the cross-sectional area may be different between the inner side (rotating center body 2 side) in the radial direction and the outer side (rim 4 side) in the radial direction. For example, the first blade 6 can be set such that the cross-sectional area gradually increases or decreases from the inner side to the outer side.

[0020] The second blade 8 is disposed outside the rim 4. Specifically, the second blade 8 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rim 4 and extends substantially in a radially curved shape along the radial direction. The number of the second blades 8 is set to 6 as shown in FIG. 1 and the like. Of course, the number is not limited to this, and it may be 5 or less, or may be 7 or more. Further, the second blade 8 can appropriately set its cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area, and may be different between the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction. The second blade 8 can be set such that, for example, the length along the circumferential direction is longer at the tip portion on the outer side in the radial direction than at the base portion on the inner side in the radial direction.

[0021] Note that the impeller 1 in FIG. 1 shows a case where the number of the first blades 6 is 8 and the number of the second blades 8 is 6, and the number of the first blades 6 is larger than the number of the second blades 8. Of course, the numbers of each may be the same, or the number of the second blades 8 may be larger than the number of the first blades 6.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an example of connection between the impeller 1 of the present embodiment and the rotary drive source 10. In FIG. 3, the impeller 1 is shown by a cross section taken along line B-B in FIG. 2. The rotary drive source 10 connected to the impeller 1 is a so-called motor, and the rotary shaft 10a protruding outside is connected to the rotating center body 2 to rotate the impeller 1. Therefore, the rotary shaft 10a of the rotary drive source 10 is inserted into and connected to the rotating center body 2.

[0023] Also, assume that the impeller 1 in the connection example shown in FIG. 3 is arranged to be axially spaced from the main body 10b of the rotary drive source 10. That is, the rim 4 is shorter in axial length than the rotary shaft 10a. By rotating, the impeller 1 forms a flow passing through the internal space of the rim 4 by the first blade 6 and a flow flowing outside the rim 4 by the second blade 8.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the flow direction of the fluid formed by the impeller 1. Among the flows generated by the rotation of the impeller 1, the flow 20 formed by the first blade 6 and passing through the internal space of the rim 4 cools the rotary drive source 10. That is, the flow 20 passes through the internal space of the rim 4 and directly hits the rotary drive source 10, flowing around the rotary drive source 10. By this flow 20, the heat generated by the rotary drive source 10 can be transferred to cool the rotary drive source 10.

[0025] As described above, according to the impeller 1 of the present embodiment, since the fluid can be directly applied to the rotary drive source 10 by the flow by the first blade 6 arranged to face the rotary drive source 10, the rotary drive source 10 can be forcibly cooled to suppress failures due to heat generation.

[0026] Also, since a separate air-cooling fan or the like for air-cooling the conventionally used rotary drive source 10 is not required, the device or the like equipped with the impeller 1 does not become large-sized, and high cooling performance for the rotary drive source 10 can be imparted while enabling a compact design.

[0027] Note that the relative position of the impeller 1 with respect to the rotary drive source 10 is not limited to the position where the main body 10b is outside the internal space of the rim 4 as described above. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(A), a part of the main body 10b may be arranged to enter the internal space of the rim 4. Also, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the entire main body 10b may be arranged to enter the internal space of the rim 4. In any case, the flow formed by the first blade 6 enters the internal space of the rim 4 and passes through the inside of the rim 4 via the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the rim 4 and the rotary drive source 10. As a result, the rotary drive source 10 is forcibly cooled by the flow passing around the rotary drive source 10, and a failure due to heat generation of the rotary drive source 10 can be suppressed.

[0028] Next, a fluid delivery device 100 to which the impeller 1 of the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the fluid delivery device 100, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the fluid delivery device 100. The fluid delivery device 100 includes a substantially cylindrical housing 102 that stands upright, and causes the fluid sucked from the outside through the suction portion 104 at the upper end of the housing 102 to pass through a damping means disposed in the housing 102 and be discharged from the discharge portion 106 at the lower part of the housing 102. Further, in the housing 102, a damping means for decomposing and / or inactivating and / or sterilizing the toxicity target sucked together with the fluid is disposed between the suction portion 104 and the discharge portion 106.

[0029] The damping means includes an ultraviolet radiation unit 120 as a wave generation source that generates waves capable of damping the toxicity target, a substantially cylindrical reflector 130 that surrounds the ultraviolet light source 120, and the like. Further, inside the housing 102, the impeller 1 and the rotary drive source 10 of the present invention are disposed on the downstream side in the fluid flow direction from the reflector 130.

[0030] Here, the fluid is a concept including gases, liquids, gel-like substances, slurry-like substances, powders, and the like. The toxicity target includes pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, as well as formaldehyde, sulfurous acid gas, nitrous acid gas, odor components, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), total organic carbon (TOC), etc. containing harmful molecules, and is at least toxic or harmful to the human body and the environment, and is an object that moves together with the fluid. Further, the elimination of the toxicity target means that the toxicity has disappeared or has substantially disappeared from the toxicity target, such as decomposition, inactivation, sterilization, etc.

[0031] The suction part 104 has a structure that can prevent ultraviolet rays from leaking while reducing the pressure loss in the fluid delivery device 100. Specifically, it has a swelling body 110 arranged at the central part in plan view, a surrounding part 116 surrounding the outer peripheral surface of the swelling body 110, etc., and a space serving as a fluid introduction path is provided between the swelling body 110 and the surrounding part 116.

[0032] The swelling body 110 has a shape with different outer diameters along the axial direction, such as a substantially pot shape or a substantially bell shape. For example, the swelling body 110 has a diameter-expanded part 110a with the largest diameter in the middle part of the axial direction, and each range from the diameter-expanded part 110a to both ends gradually decreases in diameter.

[0033] One end part at the upstream in the flow direction of the swelling body 110 forms a tip part 112 with a substantially pointed shape forming an obtuse angle or an acute angle, and the base end part 114, which is the other end at the downstream in the flow direction, can have a shape with a smaller diameter than the diameter-expanded part 110a. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, from the diameter-expanded part 110a to the tip part 112 is substantially conical, and from the diameter-expanded part 110a to the base end part 114 is substantially frustum-shaped. Incidentally, the shape from the diameter-expanded part 110a to the tip part 112 may be a substantially pyramid shape, a substantially frustum pyramid shape, a substantially frustum cone shape, or a shape having a spiral flow path on the outer surface. Also, the shape from the diameter-expanded part 110a to the base end part 114 may be a substantially inverted frustum pyramid shape or a shape having a spiral flow path. Of course, the overall shape of the swelling body 110 may be a substantially conical shape such as a cone shape.

[0034] The surrounding part 116 has a shape with a substantially annular cross-sectional shape and different inner diameters along the axial direction. The surrounding part 116 is provided with a constricted part 118 having a constricted shape near the opening part and an inner diameter-expanded part 116a at an inner peripheral location facing the diameter-expanded part 110a in the radial direction, respectively.

[0035] The constriction 118 has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the diameter-expanded portion 110a and larger than the outer diameter near the tip portion 112. The inner-diameter-expanded portion 116a is set to have a predetermined gap with respect to the diameter-expanded portion 110a. Therefore, the surrounding portion 116 is set to have a gap of a size greater than or equal to a predetermined value with the bulge body 110 so as not to impede the flow of the fluid flowing into the suction portion 104. Also, the cross-sectional area of the gap extending in the circumferential direction of the suction portion 104 can be set to be less than or equal to the cross-sectional area of the internal space of the reflector 130 described later. Note that the position of the constriction 118 is not limited to the vicinity of the opening end portion, and can be appropriately set as long as it does not impede the flow of the fluid. For example, it may be arranged on the downstream side in the fluid flow direction from the diameter-expanded portion 110a.

[0036] The gap existing between the bulge body 110 and the surrounding portion 116 configured as described above serves as an introduction path through which the fluid can pass, and its cross-section is substantially annular. Also, the shape of the introduction path along the fluid flow-down direction is curved at least in part. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a part of the introduction path defined between the diameter-expanded portion 110a and the inner-diameter-expanded portion 116a can be provided so as to be curved in a substantially C shape along the flow-down direction. Note that the curved shape along the flow-down direction is not limited to this, and it may be curved in a substantially S shape or a substantially bellows shape that reciprocates a plurality of times in the radial direction.

[0037] The discharge portion 106 is formed by a discharge port opened at the lower part on the outer peripheral surface of the housing 102, and can discharge the fluid that has flowed down inside the housing 102 to the outside. Note that the discharge portion 106 may be formed by arranging a plurality of discharge ports at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction, or may be formed by a single discharge port.

[0038] The reflector 130 has a substantially cylindrical hollow shape with both ends open, and has a UV-reflective reflecting surface over substantially the entire inner circumferential surface. Also, a UV light source 120 is disposed in the internal space of the reflector 130. The UV light emitted from the UV light source 120 is reflected multiple times (repeatedly and continuously a plurality of times) by the inner circumferential surface. As a result, a UV region with high-density and high-dose UV light is formed. In this UV region, the dose of the UV light can be amplified to several tens of times or more of the UV light directly irradiated from the UV light source 120.

[0039] Such an inner circumferential surface may be made of, for example, a material having UV reflectivity (such as aluminum, etc.), or may be formed by providing a UV-reflective reflective layer inside the reflector 130. The reflective layer can be formed of, for example, a material with a high refractive index, such as zirconium dioxide (zirconia), tantalum pentoxide, titanium oxide, hafnium oxide (hafnia), yttrium oxide, zinc oxide, niobium pentoxide, chromium oxide, aluminum oxide, etc., selected singly or in a combination of a plurality.

[0040] Also, the method for forming the reflective layer is not particularly limited, and for example, physical vapor deposition methods (PVD methods) such as vacuum deposition, ion plating, and sputtering, chemical vapor deposition methods (CVD methods) such as thermal CVD and plasma CVD, powder coating, solvent coating, printing methods, electroplating, electroless plating, electrodeposition coating, aqueous coating, etc., can be appropriate forming methods. In coating, a UV-reflective paint (for example, a paint containing particulate silica (SiO 2 ), alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), etc.) can be used.

[0041] Also, the reflective layer can be configured by laminating high refractive index materials. In this case, each layer may be made of the same material, may be made of different materials, or may be configured by alternately laminating different materials.

[0042] The ultraviolet light source 120 is, for example, a germicidal lamp, an ultraviolet lamp, an ultraviolet LED, etc., and is arranged so as to irradiate ultraviolet light over substantially the entire internal space of the reflector 130. Further, the shape of the ultraviolet light source 120 can be appropriately set, such as a straight tube shape, a U-shaped tube shape, a spiral shape, a spherical shape, a balloon shape, etc. Also, a plurality of ultraviolet light sources 120 may be arranged, and as long as at least the fluid flowing through the internal space of the reflector 130 can be irradiated with ultraviolet light, the arrangement location and the number of arrangements can be appropriately set.

[0043] Also, at both ends of the reflector 130 or in the vicinity of both ends, a light-shielding portion 140 such as a filter that blocks ultraviolet light can be arranged. The light-shielding portion 140 has a structure that can prevent the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet light source 120 from leaking outside the reflector 130 and can allow the fluid to pass through surely. The light-shielding portion 140 can be, for example, a structure (honeycomb core) formed by arranging three-dimensional figures of polygons such as quadrilaterals and hexagons without gaps.

[0044] The impeller 1 is arranged such that its rotation axis overlaps with the extension line of the axis of the reflector 130. Also, the rotation drive source 10 that rotationally drives the impeller 1 is arranged so as to face the impeller 1 along the flow direction by the impeller 1. Due to the rotation of the impeller 1, a flow can be generated inside the fluid delivery device 1. That is, the fluid can be made to flow into the fluid delivery device 100 through the suction portion 102, and a flow can be formed such that the fluid is discharged from the discharge portion 106 via the ultraviolet space surrounded by the reflector 130.

[0045] Also, as described above, among the flows generated by the rotating impeller 1, the fluid that has flowed into the space between the first blades 6 hits directly against the rotation drive source 10 and flows around it and then flows down to the discharge portion 108. Therefore, the heat generated by the rotation drive source 10 is transferred to the fluid flowing around the rotation drive source 10, and by forcibly cooling the rotation drive source 10, the temperature rise of the rotation drive source 10 can be kept below a certain level. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems caused by heat generation in the rotation drive source 10. In addition, the impeller 1 has the first blade 6 and the second blade 8 in the radial direction. Since fluid flows downstream of the first blade 6 and downstream of the second blade 8 respectively, even if the fluid flow is somewhat obstructed by the rotary drive source 10 existing downstream of the first blade 6, a sufficient space for allowing the fluid to flow into the downstream side of the first blade 8 can be secured. Therefore, the inflow rate and the discharge rate of the fluid that can be processed in the fluid delivery device 100 can be maintained.

Explanation of Signs

[0046] 1... impeller, 2... rotating center body, 4... rim, 6... first blade, 8... second blade, 10... rotary drive source, 10a... rotating shaft, 100... fluid delivery device, 102... housing, 104... suction part, 106... discharge part, 120... ultraviolet light source, 130... reflector

Claims

1. A rotating central body connected to the rotating shaft of a rotary drive source, a rim surrounding the rotating central body, a plurality of first blades disposed between the rotating central body and the rim, and a plurality of second blades disposed outside the rim, characterized in that the inner diameter of the rim is equal to or greater than the outer dimension of the rotary drive source. A blower wheel.

2. The blower wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first blade faces the rotary drive source.

3. The blower wheel according to claim 1, wherein the number of the first blades is equal to or greater than the number of the second blades.

4. The blower wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first blade extends substantially radially between the rotating central body and the rim about the axis of the rotating central body.

5. The blower wheel according to claim 1, wherein the fluid sent by the first blade is configured to pass inside the rim and directly hit the rotary drive source.

6. The rim is disposed with a gap in the axial direction and / or the radial direction with respect to the rotary drive source, and the rotation of the first blower wheel generates a flow that flows into the rim and is discharged from the gap between the rim and the rotary drive source, and the rotary drive source is cooled by the flow. The blower wheel according to claim 1.

7. The blower wheel according to claim 1, wherein the rim surrounds the rotary drive source.

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