Ceiling blower

Abstract

To provide a ceiling blower capable of suppressing occurrence of a difference between a flow rate of air sent from a first branch portion into a cabin and a flow rate of air sent from a second branch portion into the cabin.SOLUTION: A ceiling blower includes: a sirocco fan for sucking air in a cabin and then discharging the air from a discharge port; and a duct 17 for receiving the air discharged from the discharge port from an introduction port 21 and then sending the air to another place in the cabin. The introduction port 21 of the duct 17 is connected to the discharge port of the sirocco fan. The duct 17 has a first branch portion 27 and a second branch portion 28 that branch off from the introduction port 21 and extend in different directions. The introduction port 21 of the duct 17 is partitioned into a first opening 29 connected to the first branch portion 27 and a second opening 30 connected to the second branch portion 28. The first opening 29 and the second opening 30 are formed so as to be aligned in a direction where a rotary shaft of the sirocco fan extends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a ceiling air supply device.

Background Art

[0002] The ceiling air supply device shown in Patent Document 1 sucks in the air inside the vehicle compartment of a vehicle such as an automobile and then sends it to other places inside the vehicle compartment. As a result, it is possible to suppress the conditioned air blown out into the vehicle compartment from the air conditioner from being biased to a predetermined location inside the vehicle compartment. The ceiling air supply device includes a fan and a duct. As the fan, for example, a sirocco fan can be considered. The fan sucks in the air inside the vehicle compartment and then discharges the air from the discharge port. Further, the duct is for receiving the air discharged from the discharge port of the fan from the inlet and then sending it to other places in the vehicle compartment. The inlet of the duct is connected to the discharge port of the fan. Further, the duct is configured to be able to send the air to a plurality of places inside the vehicle compartment by branching into a first branch portion and a second branch portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, since the duct is subject to restrictions on the installation space, it may be formed as shown in FIG. 8. In the ceiling air supply device shown in FIG. 8, the inlet 74 of the duct 73 is connected to the discharge port 72 of the sirocco fan 71. Then, the first branch portion 75 and the second branch portion 76 of the duct 73 branch from the inlet 74 and extend in different directions from each other. The inlet 74 of the duct 73 is partitioned into a first opening 77 connected to the first branch portion 75 and a second opening 78 connected to the second branch portion 76.

[0005] Figure 9 shows a state where the air outlet 72 of the sirocco fan 71 is viewed from the direction of the arrow indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 8. When the first opening 77 and the second opening 78 are arranged as shown in FIG. 9 with respect to the air outlet 72, a difference occurs between the flow rate of the air flowing through the first opening 77 into the first branch portion 75 and the flow rate of the air flowing through the second opening 78 into the second branch portion 76. This is related to the fact that the sirocco fan 71 rotates the rotating portion 80 in the casing 79 around the rotation axis 81, so that the air sucked into the casing 79 from the passenger compartment becomes a spiral flow centered on the rotation axis 81 due to centrifugal force and flows toward the air outlet 72.

[0006] That is, the first opening 77 and the second opening 78 are arranged side by side in the flow direction of the spiral air flow in the casing 79, that is, in the direction of the arrow of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 8. Therefore, the flow rate of the air flowing through the first opening 77 into the first branch portion 75 is larger than the flow rate of the air flowing through the second opening 78 into the second branch portion 76. As a result, a difference occurs between the flow rate of the air sent from the first branch portion 75 into the passenger compartment and the flow rate of the air sent from the second branch portion 76 into the passenger compartment, which is disadvantageous in suppressing the deviation of the conditioned air blown out from the air conditioner into a predetermined location in the passenger compartment.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] Hereinafter, the means for solving the above problems and their effects will be described. The ceiling air supply device for solving the above problems includes a sirocco fan that sucks in air in the passenger compartment and discharges it from an air outlet, and a duct that receives the air discharged from the air outlet of the sirocco fan from an inlet and sends it to another location in the passenger compartment. The inlet of the duct is connected to the air outlet of the sirocco fan. The duct has a first branch portion and a second branch portion that branch from the inlet and extend in different directions. The inlet of the duct is partitioned into a first opening connected to the first branch portion and a second opening connected to the second branch portion. The first opening and the second opening are formed so as to be arranged side by side in the extending direction of the rotation axis of the sirocco fan.

[0008] According to the above configuration, inside the sirocco fan, the air sucked from the passenger compartment flows in a spiral flow centered on the rotation axis by centrifugal force and flows toward the discharge port. The inlet of the duct connected to the discharge port of the sirocco fan is partitioned into a first opening connected to the first branch portion and a second opening connected to the second branch portion. Since the first opening and the second opening are arranged in the direction in which the rotation axis of the sirocco fan extends, the air flowing in a spiral shape as described above flows into the first opening and the second opening at substantially the same flow rate. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a difference between the flow rate of the air sent into the passenger compartment from the first branch portion and the flow rate of the air sent into the passenger compartment from the second branch portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the ceiling air supply device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. An air conditioner 12 for conditioning the interior of the passenger compartment 11 is disposed at the front part of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1. The air conditioner 12 performs air conditioning such as adjusting the temperature and humidity in the passenger compartment 11 by blowing conditioned air into the passenger compartment 11 from an air outlet 13 located at the front part of the vehicle. A ceiling air supply device 15 is attached to a roof panel 14 in the passenger compartment 11. This ceiling air supply device 15 is for suppressing the bias of the conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment 11 within the passenger compartment 11.

[0011] The ceiling air supply device 15 includes a sirocco fan 16 and a duct 17. The sirocco fan 16 is located above the front seat 18 in the passenger compartment 11. The sirocco fan 16 sucks air in the passenger compartment 11 from a suction port 19 and then discharges it from a discharge port 20. An inlet 21 of the duct 17 is connected to the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16. The duct 17 extends from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 toward the rear of the vehicle, that is, the right side in FIG. 1. An outlet 22 is formed at the rear end of the duct 17. The outlet 22 is located above the rear seat 23 in the passenger compartment 11.

[0012] The duct 17 receives the air discharged from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 from the inlet 21. The air thus sent to the duct 17 is sent to a location different from the location corresponding to the suction port 19 in the passenger compartment 11, more specifically, to the rear part of the passenger compartment 11 via the outlet 22. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the conditioned air blown into the passenger compartment 11 from the air conditioner 12 through the air outlet 13 from being biased to the front part in the passenger compartment 11.

[0013] Figure 2 schematically shows the ceiling air supply device 15 as viewed from above. The sirocco fan 16 of the ceiling air supply device 15 includes a casing 24, a rotating part 25, and a rotating shaft 26. The casing 24 is formed with the above-described suction port 19 and discharge port 20. Inside the casing 24, a rotating part 25 that rotates around the center line of the rotating shaft 26 is arranged. Then, by rotating the rotating part 25 inside the casing 24 around the center line of the rotating shaft 26, the air in the passenger compartment 11 is sucked into the casing 24 through the suction port 19. The air inside the casing 24 forms a spiral flow centered on the rotating shaft 81 due to the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the rotating part 25 and flows toward the discharge port 20.

[0014] The duct 17 of the ceiling air supply device 15 has a first branch portion 27 and a second branch portion 28 that branch from the inlet 21 and extend in different directions from each other. The first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 are parallel to the plane intersecting the rotating shaft 26 of the sirocco fan 16 and extend in different directions from each other. The first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 extend in opposite directions in the width direction of the vehicle, that is, the vertical direction in Figure 2, after branching from the inlet 21. The first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 extend toward the rear of the passenger compartment 11 after extending in opposite directions from each other as described above. Discharge ports 22 are respectively formed at the rear ends of the first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28.

[0015] <Details of the structure near the inlet 21 of the sirocco fan 16 and the duct 17> Figure 3 shows the state of the vicinity of the inlet 21 of the sirocco fan 16 and the duct 17 as viewed obliquely from above. Further, Figure 4 shows the state of the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 as viewed from the direction of arrow IV in Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows the state of the inlet 21 of the duct 17 as viewed from the direction of arrow V in Figure 3. Furthermore, Figure 6 shows the state of the vicinity of the inlet 21 of the sirocco fan 16 and the duct 17 as viewed from below in Figure 3, and Figure 7 shows the state of the vicinity of the inlet 21 of the sirocco fan 16 and the duct 17 as viewed from above in Figure 3.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 5, a seal member 21a made of sponge or the like is attached to the inner surface of the inlet 21 of the duct 17. The duct 17 is connected to the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 shown in Fig. 4 by fitting the inlet 21 from the outside. When the duct 17 is connected to the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 in this way, the space between the inlet 21 of the duct 17 and the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 is sealed by the seal member 21a.

[0017] As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the inlet 21 of the duct 17 is partitioned into a first opening 29 connected to the first branch portion 27 and a second opening 30 connected to the second branch portion 28. The first opening 29 and the second opening 30 are formed so as to be arranged in the direction in which the rotation axis 26 of the sirocco fan 16 extends, that is, in the vertical direction in Figs. 4 and 5. The downstream portion of the first opening 29 in the first branch portion 27 and the downstream portion of the second opening 30 in the second branch portion 28 extend in opposite directions to each other.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 7, the first branch portion 27 has a first curved portion 31 that curves in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sirocco fan 16, that is, the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 as it moves away from the first opening 29. The first branch portion 27 is connected to the inlet 21 of the duct 17 via the first curved portion 31. As shown in Fig. 6, the second branch portion 28 has a second curved portion 32 that curves along the rotation direction of the sirocco fan 16, that is, the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 as it moves away from the second opening 30. The second branch portion 28 is connected to the inlet 21 of the duct 17 via the second curved portion 32. Due to these first curved portion 31 and second curved portion 32, the downstream portion of the first opening 29 in the first branch portion 27 and the downstream portion of the second opening 30 in the second branch portion 28 are made to extend in opposite directions to each other in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 7, inside the first curved portion 31 of the first branch portion 27, a flow straightening plate 33 is formed so as to extend along the curvature of the first curved portion 31. The upstream end of the flow straightening plate 33 is located corresponding to the center in the width direction at the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16. The downstream end of the flow straightening plate 34 reaches the downstream end of the first curved portion 31. As shown in Fig. 6, inside the second curved portion 32 of the second branch portion 28, a flow straightening plate 34 is formed so as to extend along the curvature of the second curved portion 32. The upstream end of the flow straightening plate 34 is located corresponding to the center in the width direction at the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16. The downstream end of the flow straightening plate 34 reaches the downstream end of the second curved portion 32.

[0020] Next, the operation and effects of the ceiling air supply device 15 of the present embodiment will be described. (1) When the sirocco fan 16 of the ceiling air supply device 15 is driven, the rotating portion 25 in the casing 24 rotates around the center line of the rotating shaft 26. As a result, the air in the passenger compartment 11 is sucked into the casing 24 through the suction port 19 shown in Fig. 6. The air in the casing 24 becomes a spiral flow centered on the rotating shaft 81, that is, the flow indicated by the two-dot chain line arrows in Figs. 6 and 7, due to the centrifugal force accompanying the rotation of the rotating portion 25, and flows toward the discharge port 20.

[0021] The inlet 21 of the duct 17 connected to the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 is partitioned into a first opening 29 connected to the first branch portion 27 and a second opening 30 connected to the second branch portion 28 as shown in Fig. 3. The first opening 29 and the second opening 30 are arranged in the extending direction of the rotating shaft 81 of the sirocco fan 16. For this reason, the air flowing in a spiral as described above flows through the first opening 29 and the second opening 30 with the same flow rate. As a result, it becomes possible to suppress a difference in the flow rate of the air sent into the passenger compartment 11 from the first branch portion 27 and the flow rate of the air sent into the passenger compartment 11 from the second branch portion 28.

[0022] (2) The air that flows in a spiral shape inside the casing 24 becomes hotter the closer it is to the inner wall of the casing 24. This is presumably because after the casing 24 receives heat from the vehicle roof panel 14, the heat is transferred to the air inside the casing 24 through the inner wall of the casing 24. Even if there is such a temperature bias in the air flowing in a spiral shape, the temperature difference between the air flowing into the first opening 29 and the air flowing into the second opening 30 is suppressed by the fact that the first opening 29 and the second opening 30 are arranged side by side as described above. That is, since the first opening 29 and the second opening 30 that partition the inlet 21 of the duct 17 are arranged in the direction in which the rotation axis 81 extends, the temperature difference between the air flowing into the first opening 29 and the air flowing into the second opening 30 can be suppressed.

[0023] (3) The first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 of the duct 17 extend parallel to the plane intersecting the rotation axis 26 of the sirocco fan 16 and in different directions from each other. Also, the downstream portion of the first opening 29 in the first branch portion 27 and the downstream portion of the second opening 30 in the second branch portion 28 extend in opposite directions. Even in such a duct 17, it is possible to suppress a difference from occurring between the flow rate of the air flowing from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 through the first opening 29 into the first branch portion 27 and the flow rate of the air flowing from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 through the second opening 30 into the second branch portion 28.

[0024] (4) The first branch portion 27 has a first curved portion 31 that curves in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sirocco fan 16 as it moves away from the first opening 29. The first branch portion 27 is connected to the inlet 21 of the duct 17 via the first curved portion 31. Also, the second branch portion 28 has a second curved portion 32 that curves along the rotation direction of the sirocco fan 16 as it moves away from the second opening 30. The second branch portion 28 is connected to the inlet 21 of the duct 17 via the second curved portion 32. And inside the first curved portion 31, a rectifying plate 33 is formed that extends so as to curve along the curve of the first curved portion 31.

[0025] Due to the difference in the bending methods of the above-described first bending portion 31 and the second bending portion 32, the air discharged from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 is less likely to flow into the first branch portion 27 than into the second branch portion 28. However, by forming the above-described flow rectifying plate 33 in the first bending portion 31, when air flows from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 to the first opening 29, the direction of the air flow is quickly changed to the direction along the bending of the first bending portion 31. For this reason, when air flows from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 to the first opening 29, the air can easily pass through the first bending portion 31 smoothly. As a result, it is possible to suppress the fact that the air discharged from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 is less likely to flow into the first branch portion 27 than into the second branch portion 28.

[0026] (5) If the flow rectifying plate 33 is formed only inside the first bending portion 31, the air flow cross-sectional area in the first bending portion 31 becomes smaller by the amount corresponding to the flow rectifying plate 33. As a result, since a difference occurs between the air flow cross-sectional area in the first bending portion 31 and the air flow cross-sectional area in the second bending portion 32, there is a possibility that a difference occurs between the air flow rate in the first branch portion 27 and the air flow rate in the second branch portion 28. However, inside the second bending portion 32, a flow rectifying plate 34 is formed so as to extend along the bending of the second bending portion 32. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a difference from occurring between the air flow cross-sectional area in the first bending portion 31 and the air flow cross-sectional area in the second bending portion 32. Therefore, based on the difference, it is possible to suppress a difference from occurring between the air flow rate in the first branch portion 27 and the air flow rate in the second branch portion 28.

[0027] (6) The sirocco fan 16 is arranged on the front seat 18 side in the passenger compartment 11. Further, the duct 17 is configured to send the air discharged from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 to the rear seat 23 side in the passenger compartment 11. In this duct 17, the location on the downstream side of the first opening 29 in the first branch portion 27 and the location on the downstream side of the second opening 30 in the second branch portion 28 extend in opposite directions to each other in the vehicle width direction. By forming the duct 17 in this way, even if devices such as a display and switches are arranged on the ceiling in the passenger compartment 11 between the front seat 18 and the rear seat 23, the first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 of the duct 17 can be extended so as to avoid such devices. Even when the distance between the above devices and the sirocco fan 16 is short, by adopting a structure in which the duct 17 branches from the inlet 21 into the first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28, the first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 can be arranged between the above devices and the sirocco fan 16. For such reasons, in the duct 17 adopting the above structure, the air discharged from the discharge port 20 of the sirocco fan 16 can be made to flow through the first opening 29 and the second opening 30 at approximately the same flow rate.

[0028] Incidentally, the above embodiment can be modified, for example, as follows. The above embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically non - conflicting range. · Only the rectifying plate 33 may be formed out of the rectifying plate 33 and the rectifying plate 34.

[0029] · Both the rectifying plate 33 and the rectifying plate 34 may be omitted. · The location on the downstream side of the first bending portion 31 of the first branch portion 27 in the duct 17 and the location on the downstream side of the second bending portion 32 of the second branch portion 28 in the duct 17 may extend in opposite directions to each other in a direction other than the vehicle width direction.

[0030] · The location on the downstream side of the first bending portion 31 of the first branch portion 27 in the duct 17 and the location on the downstream side of the second bending portion 32 of the second branch portion 28 in the duct 17 do not necessarily have to be formed so as to extend in opposite directions to each other.

[0031] · The first branch portion 27 and the second branch portion 28 do not necessarily have to extend so as to be parallel to the plane intersecting the rotation axis 26 of the sirocco fan 16.

Explanation of Signs

[0032] 11… Passenger compartment 12… Air conditioner 13… Air outlet 14… Roof panel 15… Ceiling air supply device 16… Sirocco fan 17… Duct 18… Front seat 19… Suction port 20… Discharge port 21… Inlet 21a… Sealing member 22… Outlet 23… Rear seat 24… Casing 25… Rotating part 26… Rotation axis 27… First branch portion 28… Second branch portion 29… First opening 30… Second opening 31… First curved portion 32… Second curved portion 33,34… Straightening plate

Claims

1. A sirocco fan that sucks in air inside the vehicle cabin and discharges it from a discharge port, and a duct that receives the air discharged from the discharge port of the sirocco fan from an inlet port and sends it to another location inside the vehicle cabin. The inlet port of the duct is connected to the discharge port of the sirocco fan. In a ceiling air supply device, the duct has a first branch portion and a second branch portion that branch from the inlet port and extend in different directions from each other. The inlet port of the duct is partitioned into a first opening connected to the first branch portion and a second opening connected to the second branch portion. A ceiling air supply device in which the first opening and the second opening are formed so as to be arranged in the direction in which the rotation axis of the sirocco fan extends.

2. The first branch portion and the second branch portion extend parallel to a plane intersecting the rotation axis of the sirocco fan and in different directions from each other. The ceiling air supply device according to claim 1, wherein a portion on the downstream side of the first opening in the first branch portion and a portion on the downstream side of the second opening in the second branch portion extend in opposite directions.

3. The first branch portion has a first curved portion that curves in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the sirocco fan as it moves away from the first opening, and is connected to the inlet port of the duct via the first curved portion. The second branch portion has a second curved portion that curves along the rotation direction of the sirocco fan as it moves away from the second opening, and is connected to the inlet port of the duct via the second curved portion. The ceiling air supply device according to claim 2, wherein a flow rectifying plate that extends along the curvature of the first curved portion is formed inside the first curved portion.

4. The ceiling air supply device according to claim 3, wherein a flow rectifying plate that extends along the curvature of the second curved portion is formed inside the second curved portion.

5. The sirocco fan is arranged on the front seat side inside the vehicle cabin. The duct sends the air discharged from the discharge port of the sirocco fan to the rear seat side inside the vehicle cabin. The ceiling air supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a portion on the downstream side of the first opening in the first branch portion and a portion on the downstream side of the second opening in the second branch portion extend in opposite directions in the vehicle width direction.

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