Blower

Abstract

To provide an air blowing device that can improve quietness.SOLUTION: An air blowing device comprises: a centrifugal air blower 30 comprising a casing 2; and a body box 1 in which the centrifugal air blower 30 is internally arranged, and an air supply port 15 for allowing outside air to flow therein, and an air exhaust port 16 for discharging air having flowed therein from the air supply port, to the outside are formed in surfaces opposite to each other. The casing 2 comprises air suction holes 4 and 5 for sucking air in the body box 1, and a discharge hole 18 for discharging air in the casing 2. On a surface of the casing 2 serving as a wall surface of an air passage between the air supply port 15 and the air suction holes 4 and 5, a plurality of straightening members 8 are provided at regular intervals in a direction orthogonal to an air blowing direction connecting the air supply port 15 and the air exhaust port 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a blower device.

Background Art

[0002] A blower device including a centrifugal blower having a casing and a main body box in which the centrifugal blower is disposed, with an air supply port and an exhaust port arranged linearly, has a structure in which external air is sucked in from the air supply port of the main body box and then passes through a bent air passage before being sucked into the centrifugal blower. Therefore, an increase in pressure loss inside the main body box due to the bending of the air passage and the generation of noise due to the separation of the air flow path from the wall surface have been problems.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a blower device that aims to improve the blowing performance and quietness without increasing the size of the main body, and includes a guide portion in the air passage between the air supply port of the main body box for introducing external air and the intake hole of the casing for sucking air inside the main body box, which guides the air flowing from the air supply port to the intake hole in the direction of the intake hole.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

[0007] The blower device of this disclosure has multiple rectifying members provided at regular intervals on the surface of the casing in a direction perpendicular to the airflow direction connecting the air intake and exhaust ports, thereby improving noise reduction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a top cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is a side cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This figure illustrates the shape and arrangement of the flow straightening members provided in the blower according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This figure illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower of Embodiment 2. [Figure 5] This is a top cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 7] This is a top cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 3. [Figure 8] This figure illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower of Embodiment 4. [Figure 9] This is a top cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 4. [Figure 10] This is a side cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 4. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments for carrying out the subject matter of this disclosure will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are simplified or omitted as appropriate. However, the subject matter of this disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and any modification of any component of the embodiments or omission of any component of the embodiments is possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0010] Embodiment 1. Figure 1 is a top cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 1, and Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the blower according to Embodiment 1. The blower 50 of Embodiment 1 is installed in the space above the ceiling of a building. The blower 50 is used as a ventilation device that draws in indoor air through a duct and exhausts it to the outside. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blower 50 comprises a main body casing 1, a centrifugal blower 30, and sound-absorbing materials 9a, 9b, and 9c. The main unit 1 is a rectangular box and has an air intake 15 that allows outside air from the blower 50 to flow into the main unit 1, and an exhaust port 16 that allows the air inside the main unit 1 to flow out of the blower 50. The air intake 15 and the exhaust port 16 are formed on opposing sides (i.e., opposite sides) of the main unit 1. A duct connection part 17 for connecting a duct installed in the ceiling space is attached to each of the air intake 15 and the exhaust port 16. By connecting the duct to the respective duct connection parts 17 of the air intake 15 and the exhaust port 16, the blower 50 is installed in a form that is sandwiched in the middle of the flow path of a straight duct, so that the routing of the duct does not become complicated.

[0011] The centrifugal blower 30 is housed inside the main body box 1. The centrifugal blower 30 comprises a scroll-type scroll casing 3, a fan 6 that rotates within the scroll casing 3, a motor 7 that rotates the fan 6, and a rectangular parallelepiped casing 2 that surrounds the scroll casing 3. As will be described later, the centrifugal blower 30 is a double-suction centrifugal blower in which intake holes are formed on opposite sides of the scroll casing 3 and the casing 2 (i.e., the motor side and the non-motor side).

[0012] Here, the airflow direction, which is the direction from the air intake port 15 to the exhaust port 16 of the main unit 1, is defined as the X direction. The rotation axis direction of the motor 7 is defined as the Z direction. The flow path width direction, which is perpendicular to the airflow direction and the rotation axis direction, is defined as the Y direction.

[0013] The scroll casing 3 has a flow path whose airflow cross-sectional area has a predetermined expansion ratio in the airflow direction. The scroll casing 3 has a motor-side intake port 4 and a fan-side intake port 5 on two sides facing each other in the Z direction (i.e., the motor-side and non-motor-side sides). The motor-side intake port 4 and the fan-side intake port 5 draw in outside air that has flowed into the main body box 1 as the fan 6 rotates due to the motor 7, into the scroll casing 3. The scroll casing 3 also has a discharge port 18 on a side parallel to the Z direction for discharging the air drawn into the scroll casing 3. The discharge port 18 is located at a position corresponding to the exhaust port 16 of the main body box 1, and the air discharged from the discharge port 18 passes through the exhaust port 16 and the duct connection component 17 before being discharged to the outside of the main body box 1.

[0014] The casing 2 is in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped, and an air passage is formed between both side surfaces in the direction of the rotation axis of the motor 7 (i.e., the Z direction) and the inner surface of the main body box 1 (see FIG. 1). Both side surfaces in the flow path width direction of the casing 2 (i.e., the Y direction) are in contact with the inner surface of the main body box 1 (see FIG. 2). The casing 2 has a motor side suction port and a fan side suction port at positions corresponding to the motor side intake hole 4 and the fan side intake hole 5 of the scroll casing 3. In the following description, the motor side intake hole 4 and the fan side intake hole 5 of the scroll casing 3 and the motor side intake hole and the fan side intake hole of the casing 2 are collectively referred to as the "motor side intake hole 4" and the "fan side intake hole 5", respectively. Further, the casing 2 has a discharge hole at a position corresponding to the discharge hole 18 of the scroll casing 3. In the following description, the discharge hole 18 of the scroll casing 3 and the discharge hole of the casing 2 are collectively referred to as the "discharge hole 18".

[0015] The sound absorbing materials 9a, 9b, and 9c are members for suppressing the noise when the air sucked from the air supply port 15 of the main body box 1 collides, and are arranged at the positions where the sucked air collides. The sound absorbing material 9a is arranged on the inner surface of the main body box 1 on the fan side, and the sound absorbing material 9b is arranged on the inner surface of the main body box 1 on the motor side. The sound absorbing material 9c is arranged on the upstream side of the air flow of the casing 2 (i.e., the position facing the air supply port 15).

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1, when viewed in the Y direction, the same-shaped flow rectifying members 8 are provided between the air supply port 15 and the motor side intake hole 4 and between the air supply port 15 and the fan side intake hole 5 on both side surfaces in the Z direction of the casing 2 (i.e., the surfaces of the casing 2 that form the walls of the air passage). Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when viewed in the Z direction, a plurality of flow rectifying members 8 having the same shape are provided at regular intervals in the Y direction (i.e., the direction orthogonal to the air blowing direction). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the flow rectifying member 8 is provided near the end on the air supply port 15 side of the casing 2.

[0017] Next, the shape and arrangement of the rectifier members 8 will be explained using Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the shape and arrangement of the rectifier members of Embodiment 1, where Figure 3(a) is a perspective view of the rectifier members, Figure 3(b) is a side view of the rectifier members, Figure 3(c) is a top view of the rectifier members, and Figure 3(d) is a side view illustrating the arrangement of the rectifier members. Specifically, Figures 3(b) and 3(d) show the rectifier members 8 viewed in the Z direction, and Figure 3(c) shows the rectifier members 8 viewed in the Y direction.

[0018] As shown in Figure 3(a), the rectifier member 8 is a triangular prism with a triangular XY cross-section (i.e., a cross-section parallel to the surface of the casing 2). As shown in Figure 3(b), in a side view, the rectifier member 8 is an isosceles triangle with the windward side in the X direction (i.e., the airflow direction) being the vertex of the triangle, having two sides symmetrical with respect to the X direction as the axis of symmetry, and one side extending in the Y direction on the leeward side in the X direction. The interior angle at the windward vertex in the X direction is 90 degrees. Because the rectifier member 8 is a triangular prism, in a top view it is rectangular, as shown in Figure 3(c).

[0019] As shown in Figure 3(d), multiple rectifier members 8 having the same shape are arranged at equal intervals in the Y direction. The length D1 of a rectifier member 8 in the Y direction is approximately four times the distance D2 between adjacent rectifier members 8 (i.e., D1 ≈ 4 × D2). Since a rectifier member 8 is a right-angled isosceles triangle in side view, the length L1 of a rectifier member 8 in the X direction is half the length D1 of a rectifier member 8 in the Y direction.

[0020] The dimensions of the air passage and the flow straightening members 8 are shown as an example. The width of the air passage in the Y direction is 175 mm, the height of the air passage between the surface of the casing 2 and the main box 1 in the Z direction is 40 mm, the width D1 of the flow straightening member 8 in the Y direction is 20 mm, the spacing D2 between adjacent flow straightening members 8 is 5 mm, and the height H1 of the flow straightening member 8 in the Z direction is 15 mm. As shown in Figure 2, five flow straightening members 8 are provided at equal intervals in the Y direction. The distance from the upwind apex of the flow straightening member 8 to the upwind end of the fan-side intake hole 5 is 100 mm.

[0021] The rated airflow of the blower 50 is 150 m³ / hr. Assuming the characteristic length is the height of the rectifier member 8, the Reynolds number Re is approximately 3200. A Reynolds number Re of around 1000 to 15000 is desirable, with around 3000 being the most desirable.

[0022] Next, with reference to Figure 1, the operation of the blower 50 configured as described above will be explained. First, when the motor 7 is energized, the fan 6 is rotated by the motor 7. Due to the rotation of the fan 6, air outside the blower 50 flows through a duct (not shown), through the inside of the duct connection part 17, and into the main body box 1 through the air intake port 15. The air that flows into the main body box 1 collides with the surface of the sound-absorbing material 9c facing the air intake port 15, and then splits into an airflow 10a that travels along the fan-side air passage and an airflow 10b that travels along the motor-side air passage. Airflows 10a and 10b bend in the Z direction due to their collision with the surface of the sound-absorbing material 9c facing the air intake port 15, and then bend in the X direction near the ridge portion 11 of the sound-absorbing material 9c. Airflow 10a is drawn into the scroll casing 3 from the fan-side intake port 5, sent out centrifugally by the fan 6, and discharged to the outside of the blower 50 via a duct (not shown) through the discharge port 18 of the scroll casing 3, the exhaust port 16 of the main body 1, and the duct connection component 17. Similarly, airflow 10b is drawn into the scroll casing 3 from the motor-side intake port 4, sent out centrifugally by the fan 6, and discharged to the outside of the blower 50 via a duct (not shown) through the discharge port 18 of the scroll casing 3, the exhaust port 16 of the main body 1, and the duct connection component 17.

[0023] A portion of the air flowing into the main box 1 separates from the surface of the sound-absorbing material 9c near the ridge portion 11 of the sound-absorbing material 9c (specifically, the surface facing the inner surface of the main box 1) and the surface of the casing 2, creating an airflow 13. This separated airflow 13 is straightened by the rectifier member 8. The airflow 14 straightened by the rectifier member 8 proceeds through the air passage in the same way as the airflows 10a and 10b described above, and is drawn into the scroll casing 3 through the motor-side intake port 4 and the fan-side intake port 5.

[0024] According to the blower 50 of Embodiment 1, by arranging a plurality of triangular prism-shaped rectifier members 8 at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the blowing direction, separation vortices generated near both sides of the casing 2 in the Z direction are guided between adjacent rectifier members 8, thereby rectifying the airflow 13 containing the separation vortices. This suppresses the separation vortices that cause noise. As a result, the noise of the blower 50 can be reduced. Furthermore, the blowing performance can be improved without changing the size of the blower 50.

[0025] Furthermore, since the rectifier member 8 has a triangular cross-section parallel to the surface of the casing 2, separation vortices converge sequentially from upwind to downwind between adjacent rectifier members 8, thus efficiently rectifying the airflow 13 containing the separation vortices.

[0026] Embodiment 2. Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The blower 50a of Embodiment 2 differs from the blower 50 of Embodiment 1 in that it is equipped with a flow straightening member 8a that has a different shape from the flow straightening member 8 of Embodiment 1.

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower of Embodiment 2, where Figure 4(a) is a perspective view of the flow straightening member, Figure 4(b) is a side view of the flow straightening member, and Figure 4(c) is a top view of the flow straightening member. Figure 5 is a top cross-sectional view of the blower of Embodiment 2. As shown in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the rectifier member 8a has the shape of a triangular pyramid, with its base (i.e., the surface facing the casing 2) being a right-angled isosceles triangle, having the highest point from the surface of the casing 2 on the windward side, and a planar inclined surface 8a1 that slopes toward the leeward side.

[0028] As shown in Figures 4(c) and 5, the rectifier member 8a is a right triangle in top view. As shown in Figure 4(b), the side view of the rectifier member 8a is the same as the side view of the rectifier member 8 in Embodiment 1, and the side cross-sectional view of the blower in Embodiment 2 is the same as the side cross-sectional view described using Figure 2. That is, as shown in Figure 2, the blower 50a in Embodiment 2 has a plurality of rectifier members 8a having the same shape arranged at regular intervals in the Y direction.

[0029] In the blower 50a configured in this way, most of the separation vortices generated near the surface of the casing 2 are guided and straightened between adjacent straightening members 8a, and a portion of the remaining separation vortices flows downwind over the upper end of the straightening member 8a in the Z direction (i.e., the height direction from the surface of the casing 2). Since the straightening member 8a has a planar inclined surface 8a1 that decreases in height from the upwind side to the downwind side, the separation vortices that flow downwind over the upper end of the straightening member 8a in the Z direction can be sequentially merged with the laminar flow between adjacent straightening members 8a for straightening.

[0030] According to the blower 50a of the second embodiment, by arranging triangular pyramidal flow straightening members 8a, each having a apex on the windward side and a planar inclined surface 8a1 that slopes downward on the leeward side, at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the blowing direction, separation vortices generated near both sides of the casing 2 in the Z direction are guided between adjacent flow straightening members 8, thereby straightening the airflow 13 containing the separation vortices, and thus suppressing the separation vortices that cause noise. As a result, the noise of the blower 50a can be reduced. Furthermore, the blowing performance can be improved without changing the size of the blower.

[0031] Embodiment 3. Embodiment 3 will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. The blower 50b of Embodiment 3 differs from the blowers of the embodiments described above in that it is equipped with a flow straightening member 8b, which has a different shape from the flow straightening members 8 and 8a described above.

[0032] Figure 6 illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower of Embodiment 3, where Figure 6(a) is a perspective view of the flow straightening member, Figure 6(b) is a side view of the flow straightening member, and Figure 6(c) is a top view of the flow straightening member. Figure 7 is a top cross-sectional view of the blower of Embodiment 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 6(b), the rectifier member 8b has a right-angled isosceles triangle as its base. As shown in Figures 6(a), 6(c), and 7, it has a vertex that is highest in height from the surface of the casing 2 on the upwind side and a sloping surface that becomes lower from the upwind side to the downwind side. In the rectifier member 8a of the above-described embodiment 2, this sloping surface is flat, whereas in the rectifier member 8b, this sloping surface is a concave surface 8b1 that is convex downwards. Furthermore, the rectifier member 8b has an orthogonal surface 8b2 at its downwind end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6(b), the side view of the rectifier member 8b is the same as the side view of the rectifier member 8 in Embodiment 1 and the rectifier member 8a in Embodiment 2, and the side cross-sectional view of the blower 50b in Embodiment 3 is the same as the side cross-sectional view described using Figure 2. That is, as shown in Figure 2, the blower 50b in Embodiment 3 has a plurality of rectifier members 8b having the same shape arranged at regular intervals in the Y direction.

[0035] In the third embodiment, the blower 50b has a downwardly convex concave surface 8b1 on the rectifying member 8b, so the velocity component in the Z direction of the wind, which includes separation vortices that flow downwind after overcoming the upper end of the rectifying member 8b in the Z direction, becomes smaller than the velocity component in the X direction. This promotes the merging of adjacent rectifying members 8b into laminar flow.

[0036] Furthermore, the rectifying member 8b has a perpendicular surface 8b2 at its leeward end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2. Since the wind velocity is zero near the surface of the casing 2, the rectification is stabilized when the wind is merged with the laminar flow between adjacent rectifying members 8b at a position higher than the surface of the casing 2.

[0037] Furthermore, it is desirable that the height H2 of the leeward end of the rectifying member 8b be about one-third of the height H1 of the leeward end of the rectifying member 8b. Also, it is desirable that the inclined surface of the rectifying member 8b be parallel to the surface of the casing 2 near the end close to the orthogonal surface 8b2 on the leeward side. For this reason, the surface of the rectifying member 8b that slopes downward from the leeward side may have a concave surface that is convex downwards and a flat surface parallel to the surface of the casing 2 on the leeward side of the concave surface.

[0038] According to the blower 50b of Embodiment 3, the inclined surface having its peak on the windward side and becoming lower on the leeward side is a downwardly convex concave surface 8b1, and the flow straightening members 8b having an orthogonal surface 8b2 perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2 at the leeward end are arranged at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the blowing direction, thereby guiding the separation vortices generated near both sides of the casing 2 in the Z direction between adjacent flow straightening members 8b, and straightening the airflow 13 containing the separation vortices, thus suppressing the separation vortices that cause noise. As a result, the noise of the blower 50b can be reduced. Furthermore, the blowing performance can be improved without changing the size of the blower.

[0039] In Embodiments 1 to 3, the rectifier members 8, 8a, and 8b provided are preferably right-angled isosceles triangles at their base, as described above. However, any triangle with its vertex on the windward side is acceptable, and it may also be an isosceles triangle with an interior angle of less than 90 degrees at the windward vertex. Even with such rectifier members, the separation vortices that cause noise can be suppressed by rectifying the airflow 13 containing separation vortices, thereby reducing the noise of the blower and improving the blowing performance.

[0040] Embodiment 4. Embodiment 4 will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 10. The blower 50c of Embodiment 4 differs from the blowers of the embodiments described above in that it is equipped with a flow straightening member 8c, which has a different shape from the flow straightening members 8, 8a, and 8b described above.

[0041] Figure 8 illustrates the shape of the flow straightening member provided in the blower of Embodiment 4, where Figure 8(a) is a perspective view of the flow straightening member, Figure 8(b) is a side view of the flow straightening member, and Figure 8(c) is a top view of the flow straightening member. Figure 9 is a top cross-sectional view of the blower of Embodiment 4, and Figure 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the blower of Embodiment 4.

[0042] As shown in Figures 8(b) and 10, the rectifier member 8c provided in the blower 50c of Embodiment 3 has an L-shaped bottom. The rectifier member 8c has two parts 8c1 and 8c2 that constitute the L-shape, and the corner 8c3 where they intersect is located on the windward side. The angle at which the two parts 8c1 and 8c2 intersect is 90 degrees. The two parts 8c1 and 8c2 extend diagonally downwind from the corner 8c3 in a line symmetrical manner with respect to the X direction (i.e., the direction of airflow). Each of the two parts 8c1 and 8c2 has an inclined surface whose height from the surface of the casing 2 decreases as it moves away from the corner 8c3, and has an orthogonal surface 8c4 at its downwind end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2. Each of the two parts 8c1 and 8c2 has a sloping surface that becomes lower from the windward side to the leeward side, with a downwardly convex concave surface 8c5 and a flat surface 8c6 parallel to the surface of the casing 2 on the leeward side of the concave surface 8c5.

[0043] As shown in Figure 10, the blower 50c of Embodiment 4, when viewed in the Z direction, has a plurality of straightening members 8c (specifically, five straightening members 8c) having the same shape, which are provided at regular intervals in the Y direction (i.e., in the direction perpendicular to the blowing direction).

[0044] The straightening member 8c has an orthogonal surface 8c4 perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2 at its leeward end, thereby achieving the same effect as the blower 50b of Embodiment 2 described above. Furthermore, the straightening member 8c has a downwardly convex concave surface 8c5 on its inclined surface that slopes downward from the windward side to the leeward side, thereby achieving the same effect as the blower 50b of Embodiment 2 described above. Furthermore, the straightening member 8c has a flat surface 8c6 parallel to the surface of the casing 2 on the leeward side of the concave surface 8c5, thereby achieving the same effect as the blower 50b of Embodiment 2 described above.

[0045] The rectifier members 8, 8a, and 8b provided in the blowers of each of the embodiments described above have triangular bases, whereas the rectifier member 8c provided in the blower of Embodiment 4 has an L-shaped base with a cutout on the leeward side. The air containing separation vortices flows over the leeward side surface of the rectifier member 8c and to the leeward side, but does not flow to the surface immediately leeward from the surface it has overturned. For this reason, the leeward side may be cut out, as in the case of the rectifier member 8c.

[0046] According to the blower 50c of Embodiment 4, the blower has a corner 8c3 on the windward side, and two parts 8c1 and 8c2 extending diagonally from this corner 8c3 to the leeward side. Each of these two parts 8c1 and 8c2 has an inclined surface whose height from the surface of the casing 2 decreases as it moves away from the corner 8c3. By arranging flow straightening members 8c, each having a surface 8c4 perpendicular to the surface of the casing 2, at the leeward end at a constant interval perpendicular to the direction of airflow, separation vortices generated near the surface of the casing 2 are guided between adjacent flow straightening members 8c, thereby straightening the airflow 13 containing the separation vortices, and thus suppressing the separation vortices that cause noise. As a result, the noise of the blower 50c can be reduced. Furthermore, the airflow performance can be improved without changing the size of the blower. The blower 50c of Embodiment 4 configured as described above can reduce the noise level by, for example, 1.0 dB and improve the airflow performance by 1.5% compared to a blower without flow straightening members 8c.

[0047] Furthermore, since the rectifier member 8c has the shape described above, when it is formed by resin molding, it can be formed by combining plate-like parts rather than as a solid block, thus providing the advantage of easier manufacturing.

[0048] As mentioned above, it is desirable that the rectifier member 8c has a concave surface 8c5, a flat surface 8c6, and a right-angle surface 8c4. However, similar to the rectifier member 8a of Embodiment 2, it is not necessary to have a right-angle surface 8c4, and the concave surface 8c5 and flat surface 8c6 may be absent, with the inclined surface being a flat plane. Also, it is desirable that the angle at which the two parts 8c1 and 8c2 intersect is 90 degrees, but it does not have to be exactly 90 degrees; approximately 90 degrees is sufficient. Even with such a rectifier member, by rectifying the airflow 13 containing separation vortices, it is possible to suppress the separation vortices that cause noise, thereby reducing the noise of the blower and improving the blowing performance.

[0049] Furthermore, although the embodiments described above have described examples in which one of the rectifier members 8, 8a, 8b, and 8c is provided, these can be combined. For example, different rectifier members from among 8, 8a, 8b, and 8c may be provided in the air passage on the fan side and the air passage on the motor side.

[0050] Furthermore, the rectifier members 8, 8a, 8b, and 8c may be attached to the surface of the casing 2 as separate components from the casing 2, or they may be integrally molded with the casing 2. In this case, the portion that protrudes from the surface of the casing 2 toward the air passage functions as a rectifier member, and its bottom surface (i.e., the surface cut at the same height as the surface of the casing 2) should have the shape described in each of the embodiments above.

[0051] Examples of aspects that may be included in this disclosure are listed below as an addendum. (Note 1) A centrifugal blower having a casing, The centrifugal blower is housed inside a main body box, which has an air intake port for bringing in outside air and an exhaust port for discharging the air that has entered through the air intake port to the outside, formed on opposite sides. The casing has an intake port for drawing in air from inside the main box and an exhaust port for discharging air from inside the casing. A blower device wherein a plurality of rectifying members are provided at regular intervals on the surface of the casing that forms the wall of the air passage between the air intake port and the suction port, in a direction perpendicular to the airflow direction connecting the air intake port and the exhaust port. (Note 2) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a cross-section parallel to the surface of the casing that forms the wall of the air passage, with its apex on the windward side and two sides extending diagonally from this apex towards the leeward side. The blower described in Appendix 1. (Note 3) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a triangular surface on the surface side of the casing, with its vertex facing the windward side. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 4) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has an isosceles triangle on the surface side of the casing, with its vertex facing the windward side. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 5) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a right-angled isosceles triangle on the surface side of the casing, with the vertex perpendicular to the windward side. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 6) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has an L-shape on the surface facing the casing, with its apex on the windward side. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 7) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a sloping surface whose height from the surface of the casing decreases from the windward side to the leeward side. A blower described in any one of the items 2 to 6 of the appendix. (Note 8) Each of the plurality of flow straightening members has a concave surface on its inclined surface. The blower described in Appendix 7. (Note 9) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a surface at its leeward end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing, The blower described in Appendix 7 or Appendix 8. (Note 10) Each of the aforementioned multiple flow straightening members is a triangular prism. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 11) Each of the aforementioned multiple rectifier members is a triangular pyramid. The blower described in Appendix 2. (Note 12) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a corner on the windward side, and two portions extending diagonally from this corner to the leeward side, and each of the two portions has an inclined surface whose height from the surface of the casing decreases as it moves away from the apex. A blower as described in Appendix 2 or Appendix 6. (Note 13) Each of the plurality of flow straightening members has a concave surface on its inclined surface. The blower described in Appendix 12. (Note 14) Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a surface at its leeward end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing, The blower described in Appendix 12 or Appendix 13. (Note 15) The centrifugal blower is a double-suction centrifugal blower in which the intake holes are formed on opposite sides of the casing. A blower as described in any one of the items in Appendix 1 to Appendix 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Main box, 2 Casing, 3 Scroll casing, 4 Motor side intake port, 5 Motor side intake port, 6 Fan, 7 Motor, 8,8a,8b,8c Rectifier members, 8a1 Inclined surface, 8b1 Concave surface, 8b2 Orthogonal surface, 8c1,8c2 Parts, 8c3 Corner, 8c4 Orthogonal surface, 8c5 Concave surface, 8c6 Flat surface, 9a,9b,9c Sound-absorbing material, 10a,10b,13,14 Airflow, 11 Ridge section, 15 Intake port, 16 Exhaust port, 17 Duct connection part, 18 Discharge port, 50,50a,50b,50c Blower.

Claims

1. A centrifugal blower having a casing, The centrifugal blower is housed inside a main body box, which has an air intake port for bringing in outside air and an exhaust port for discharging the air that has entered through the air intake port to the outside, formed on opposite sides. The casing has an intake port for drawing in air from inside the main box and an exhaust port for discharging air from inside the casing. On the surface of the casing, which forms the wall of the air passage between the air intake port and the intake hole, a plurality of rectifying members are provided at regular intervals in a direction perpendicular to the airflow direction connecting the air intake port and the exhaust port. A blower in which each of the plurality of flow straightening members has a cross-section parallel to the surface of the casing that forms the wall of the air passage, with its apex on the windward side and two sides extending diagonally from this apex to the leeward side.

2. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a triangular surface on the surface side of the casing, with its vertex facing the windward side. The blower according to claim 1.

3. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has an isosceles triangle on the surface side of the casing, with its vertex facing the windward side. The blower according to claim 1.

4. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a right-angled isosceles triangle on the surface side of the casing, with the vertex perpendicular to the windward side. The blower according to claim 1.

5. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has an L-shape on the surface facing the casing, with its apex on the windward side. The blower according to claim 1.

6. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a sloping surface whose height from the surface of the casing decreases from the windward side to the leeward side. A blower according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Each of the plurality of flow straightening members has a concave surface on its inclined surface. The blower according to claim 6.

8. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a surface at its leeward end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing, The blower according to claim 6.

9. Each of the aforementioned multiple flow straightening members is a triangular prism. The blower according to claim 1.

10. Each of the aforementioned multiple rectifier members is a triangular pyramid. The blower according to claim 1.

11. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a corner on the windward side, and two portions extending diagonally from this corner to the leeward side, and each of the two portions has an inclined surface whose height from the surface of the casing decreases as it moves away from the apex. The blower according to claim 1.

12. Each of the plurality of flow straightening members has a concave surface on its inclined surface. The blower according to claim 11.

13. Each of the aforementioned flow straightening members has a surface at its leeward end that is perpendicular to the surface of the casing, The blower according to claim 11.

14. The centrifugal blower is a double-suction centrifugal blower in which the intake holes are formed on opposite sides of the casing. The blower according to claim 1.

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