Blower and refrigeration device

Abstract

A blower (40) comprises: a stator (70); a sliding bearing (80) that is disposed at the axial center of the stator (70); a rotating shaft (90) that is rotatably supported by the sliding bearing (80); a rotor (100) that has a flange (101) fixed to the rotating shaft (90) and formed of a resin and a permanent magnet (102) fixed to the flange (101); and a cross-flow fan (60) that is fixed to the flange (101) and is disposed opposite the side on which the stator (70) is disposed with respect to the flange (101). The blower (40) is provided with a cooling portion (110) for cooling the rotating shaft (90), wherein the cooling portion (110) is provided in a space inside the cross-flow fan (60).

Description

Blower and Refrigeration Device

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

[0002] Conventionally, as a blower used in a refrigeration device or the like, there is one provided with a cross-flow fan (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The disk-shaped resin body constituting the end wall of this cross-flow fan is a common part with a flange fixed to the rotating shaft, and the flange constitutes a part of the rotor by fixing a permanent magnet.

[0003] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-120665

[0004] However, in a configuration where a resin flange is fixed to a metal rotating shaft, there is a concern about the generation of a gap based on the difference in the linear expansion coefficients of the rotating shaft and the flange. Specifically, for example, a gap may occur between the rotating shaft and the flange based on the fact that the rotating shaft becomes high temperature due to frictional heat generated between the sliding bearing and the rotating shaft. As a result, there was a risk that the fixing strength between the rotating shaft and the flange would decrease.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a blower and a refrigeration device capable of suppressing the rotating shaft from becoming high temperature.

[0006] The blower according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a stator, a sliding bearing disposed at the axial center of the stator, a rotating shaft rotatably supported by the sliding bearing, a flange fixed to the rotating shaft and made of resin, and a rotor having a permanent magnet fixed to the flange, and a cross-flow fan fixed to the flange and disposed on the side opposite to the side where the stator is disposed with respect to the flange, and is a blower provided with a cooling unit for cooling the rotating shaft, and the cooling unit is provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan or at a position facing the space inside the cross-flow fan.

[0007] In this configuration, the cooling unit for cooling the rotating shaft is located in the space inside the cross-flow fan, or in a position facing the space inside the cross-flow fan, and is therefore effectively cooled by the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan. Since the cross-flow fan is a fan in which air passes through the inside when viewed in the axial direction, the cooling unit is cooled more effectively than, for example, a fan that draws in air from the axial direction and blows it out radially outward. As a result, even if frictional heat is generated between the sliding bearing and the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is prevented from becoming too hot. Therefore, the generation of gaps based on the difference in the coefficient of linear expansion between the rotating shaft and the flange made of resin is suppressed, and consequently, the reduction in the fixing strength between the rotating shaft and the flange is suppressed.

[0008] The blower in the second aspect is the blower in the first aspect, wherein the rotating shaft has a first portion, the first portion is located in the space inside the cross-flow fan, and the cooling section includes the first portion.

[0009] In this configuration, the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan strikes the first part that constitutes the cooling section, thus effectively cooling the section. Furthermore, since the cooling section is part of the rotating shaft, the configuration is simpler compared to, for example, a configuration where a separate component is connected, and the rotating shaft can be cooled efficiently.

[0010] The third aspect of the blower is the blower of the second aspect, wherein the cooling section has fins provided on the first part. With this configuration, the surface area of ​​the cooling section is increased by the fins, so the cooling section is cooled more effectively.

[0011] The fourth aspect of the blower is the blower of the third aspect, wherein the fins are formed in an annular shape concentric with the first portion. With this configuration, the fins are less likely to create resistance to the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan compared to, for example, fins that protrude radially outward from a part of the circumferential direction of the first portion, thus suppressing a decrease in the blowing capacity of the cross-flow fan.

[0012] The fifth aspect of the blower is such that, in any one of the second aspect or the fourth aspect, the axial length of the first part is at least one-third of the axial length of the rotating shaft. This configuration allows for more effective cooling of the rotating shaft compared to, for example, a configuration in which the axial length of the first part is less than one-third of the axial length of the rotating shaft.

[0013] The sixth aspect of the blower is the blower of the first aspect, wherein the cooling section has a first member provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan, positioned on the side of the flange where the cross-flow fan is located, and the first member is connected to the rotating shaft.

[0014] In this configuration, the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan strikes the first member constituting the cooling section, thereby effectively cooling the cooling section. In the seventh aspect, the blower, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, has a second member that is positioned between the rotating shaft and the flange and faces the inner space of the cross-flow fan, and the second member is connected to the rotating shaft.

[0015] With this configuration, the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan flows along the end face of the second member, so the cooling section is effectively cooled. In addition, since the second member can be positioned so as not to create resistance to the air flowing inside the cross-flow fan, the reduction in the airflow capacity of the cross-flow fan can be suppressed.

[0016] The refrigeration system according to the eighth aspect comprises a blower according to either the first aspect or the seventh aspect. This configuration suppresses the overheating of the rotating shaft in the refrigeration system.

[0017] This is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system in one embodiment. This is a partial cross-sectional view of a blower in one embodiment. This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a part of a refrigeration system in one embodiment. This is a partial cross-sectional view of a blower in another example. This is a partial cross-sectional view of a blower in another example. This is a partial cross-sectional view of a blower in another example.

[0018] The refrigeration system and blower will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. <Refrigeration System 10> As shown in Figure 1, the refrigeration system 10 is an air conditioner comprising an indoor unit 20 installed inside a room and an outdoor unit 30 installed outside a room. The indoor unit 20 is equipped with a blower 40 inside.

[0019] <Blower 40> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blower 40 comprises a motor 50 and a cross-flow fan 60.

[0020] <Motor 50> As shown in Figure 2, the motor 50 comprises a stator 70, a sliding bearing 80, a rotating shaft 90, and a rotor 100.

[0021] The stator 70 comprises a stator core 71, windings 72, and a mold 73. The stator 70 is formed in a cylindrical shape overall. The stator core 71 is made of laminated electrical steel sheets, for example. The stator core 71 has teeth 74 that extend radially and are arranged in parallel in the circumferential direction. The windings 72 are wound around the teeth 74. The windings 72 are electrically connected to a power supply (not shown). The mold 73 is made of resin and is formed to cover the stator core 71 and the windings 72. When a drive current is supplied to the windings 72, the stator 70 generates a rotating magnetic field on its outer circumference.

[0022] The sliding bearing 80 is positioned at the axial center of the stator 70. The sliding bearing 80 is fixed to the inner circumference of the stator 70 by a fixing member 81. The fixing member 81 is fitted to the inner circumference of the stator 70 while holding the sliding bearing 80 on its inner circumference.

[0023] The rotating shaft 90 is rotatably supported by the sliding bearing 80. More specifically, the outer surface of the rotating shaft 90 is positioned to slide against the inner surface of the sliding bearing 80. As a result, the rotating shaft 90 is rotatably supported by the sliding bearing 80 with its own axis center as the axis of rotation Z. The rotating shaft 90 is made of metal.

[0024] The rotor 100 has a flange 101 fixed to the rotating shaft 90 and a permanent magnet 102 fixed to the flange 101. The flange 101 is made of resin. The flange 101 is formed in a disc shape. The flange 101 has a central hole 103 that is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 90. The flange 101 is fixed to a portion of the rotating shaft 90 that protrudes outward from the stator 70 in the axial direction.

[0025] The permanent magnet 102 is formed in a cylindrical shape and has multiple magnetic poles in the circumferential direction. The axial end of the permanent magnet 102 is fixed to the outer edge side of the flange 101. The permanent magnet 102 is positioned so that its inner circumferential surface faces the outer circumferential surface of the stator 70.

[0026] The rotating shaft 90, flange 101, and permanent magnet 102 are integrally molded parts. More specifically, the rotating shaft 90, flange 101, and permanent magnet 102 are integrally molded by insert molding, with the rotating shaft 90 and permanent magnet 102 acting as insert parts. As a result, the flange 101 is fixed to the rotating shaft 90. The outer surface of the rotating shaft 90, where the flange 101 is fixed, is knurled (not shown).

[0027] <Cross-flow fan 60> The cross-flow fan 60 is fixed to the flange 101. The cross-flow fan 60 is positioned on the opposite side of the flange 101 from where the stator 70 is located (the left side in Figure 2). The cross-flow fan 60 is formed in an elongated shape along the rotation axis Z.

[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the cross-flow fan 60 has multiple blades 61 arranged in a parallel fashion in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis Z. The cross-flow fan 60 is positioned inside the indoor unit 20 (see Figure 1) between the front guide 62 and the rear guide 63. The front guide 62 and the rear guide 63 form an intake port 64 that opens upward and an outlet port 65 that opens to the side.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, the blades 61 of the cross-flow fan 60 are fixed to the flange 101. That is, the flange 101 constitutes the end wall of the cross-flow fan 60. When the rotor 100 is driven to rotate around the rotation axis Z, the cross-flow fan 60 rotates together with the rotor 100.

[0030] As shown in Figure 3, the cross-flow fan 60 rotates to draw in air K from the intake port 64 and blow out the drawn-in air K from the outlet port 65. In Figures 2 and 3, the air K is schematically illustrated as an arrow pointing in the direction of air flow.

[0031] Here, as shown in Figure 2, the blower 40 of this embodiment includes a cooling section 110 for cooling the rotating shaft 90. <Cooling section 110> The cooling section 110 of this embodiment includes a first section 91 which is a part of the rotating shaft 90. More specifically, the rotating shaft 90 has a first section 91 and a second section 92. The first section 91 is the part of the rotating shaft 90 that is located on the side of the flange 101 where the cross-flow fan 60 is located (left side in Figure 2). The second section 92 includes the part to which the flange 101 is fixed, and is the part that is located on the side of the flange 101 where the stator 70 is located (right side in Figure 2). The first section 91 is provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan 60. The axial length X1 of the first section 91 is 1 / 3 or more of the total axial length X2 of the rotating shaft 90. In this embodiment, the axial length X1 of the first portion 91 is set to be at least half the axial length X2 of the rotation axis 90, and slightly longer than half the axial length X2 of the rotation axis 90.

[0032] The operation of this embodiment will now be explained. When a drive current is supplied to the winding 72, a rotating magnetic field is generated on the outer circumference of the stator 70. As a result, the rotor 100 is driven to rotate around the rotation axis Z, and the cross-flow fan 60 rotates. Then, the air K cooled by a heat exchanger (not shown) is drawn into the cross-flow fan 60 from the intake port 64 and subsequently blown out from the outlet port 65.

[0033] The effects of this embodiment will now be explained. (1) The cooling unit 110 that cools the rotating shaft 90 is provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan 60, and is therefore effectively cooled by the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60. Since the cross-flow fan 60 is a fan through which air K passes from the inside when viewed in the axial direction, the cooling unit 110 is cooled more effectively than, for example, a fan that sucks in air K from the axial direction and blows it out radially outward. As a result, even if frictional heat is generated between the sliding bearing 80 and the rotating shaft 90, the rotating shaft 90 is prevented from becoming hot. Therefore, the generation of a gap based on the difference in the coefficient of linear expansion between the rotating shaft 90 and the flange 101 made of resin is suppressed. As a result, a decrease in the fixing strength between the rotating shaft 90 and the flange 101 is suppressed.

[0034] (2) The first part 91 constituting the cooling section 110 is located on the side of the rotating shaft 90 where the cross-flow fan 60 is positioned (left side in Figure 2) relative to the flange 101. Therefore, the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60 strikes the first part 91 constituting the cooling section 110, so the cooling section 110 is effectively cooled. Furthermore, since the cooling section 110 is part of the rotating shaft 90, the configuration is simpler compared to, for example, a configuration in which a separate part is connected, and the rotating shaft 90 can be cooled efficiently.

[0035] (3) Since the axial length X1 of the first portion 91 is 1 / 3 or more of the axial length X2 of the rotating shaft 90, the rotating shaft 90 can be cooled more effectively than, for example, a configuration in which the axial length X1 of the first portion 91 is less than 1 / 3 of the axial length X2 of the rotating shaft 90. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the axial length X1 of the first portion 91 is 1 / 2 or more of the axial length X2 of the rotating shaft 90, the rotating shaft 90 can be cooled more effectively than, for example, a configuration in which the axial length X1 of the first portion 91 is less than 1 / 2 of the axial length X2 of the rotating shaft 90.

[0036] <Modifications> In addition to the embodiments described above, the refrigeration apparatus 10 and blower 40 of the present disclosure may also be modified in the following ways, for example, and in combination of at least two mutually non-inconsistent modifications.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the cooling unit 110 is the first portion 91 of the rotating shaft 90, but it is not limited to this. The cooling unit 110 may also include other cooling units provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan 60, or other cooling units provided in a position facing the space inside the cross-flow fan 60.

[0038] For example, the design may be modified as shown in Figure 4. In this example (see Figure 4), the cooling section 110 has the first portion 91 of the above embodiment and fins 120 provided on the first portion 91. The fins 120 protrude radially outward from the first portion 91. The fins 120 are made of metal. In this example, the fins 120 are formed in an annular shape concentric with the first portion 91. In other words, the fins 120 in this example protrude radially outward from the entire circumference of the first portion 91.

[0039] In this configuration, the surface area of ​​the cooling section 110 increases due to the fins 120, thus allowing the cooling section 110 to be cooled more effectively. Furthermore, since the fins 120 in this example are formed in an annular shape, they are less likely to create resistance to the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60 compared to, for example, a configuration where the fins protrude radially outward from a part of the circumferential direction of the first section 91. Therefore, a decrease in the airflow capacity of the cross-flow fan 60 can be suppressed.

[0040] Furthermore, the design may be modified, for example, as shown in Figure 5. In this example (see Figure 5), the cooling unit 110 has a first member 130. Note that the rotating shaft 90 in this example does not have the first part 91 of the above embodiment. The first member 130 is connected to the rotating shaft 90. The first member 130 is positioned on the side of the flange 101 where the cross-flow fan 60 is located (left side in Figure 5), and is provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan 60. That is, in this example, the cooling unit 110 is configured such that a first member 130, separate from the rotating shaft 90, is connected to the rotating shaft 90 so as to extend the rotating shaft 90 on the rotation axis Z. The first member 130 is made of metal. The metal constituting the first member 130 may be a different material from the metal constituting the rotating shaft 90. For example, the metal constituting the first member 130 may be a material with a higher thermal conductivity than the metal constituting the rotating shaft 90. Also, for example, the metal constituting the first member 130 may be a lighter material than the metal constituting the rotating shaft 90. Furthermore, although Figure 5 shows the diameter of the first member 130 as being the same as the diameter of the rotating shaft 90, they may be different. Also, the first member 130 may be connected to the rotating shaft 90 by, for example, welding or adhesive.

[0041] Even in this manner, the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60 strikes the first member 130 that constitutes the cooling unit 110, so the cooling unit 110 is effectively cooled.

[0042] Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, it may be changed. The cooling unit 110 in this example (see FIG. 6) has a second member 140. Note that the rotation axis 90 in this example does not have the first portion 91 of the above embodiment. The second member 140 is connected to the rotation axis 90. The second member 140 is provided at a position facing the space inside the cross-flow fan 60 by being disposed between the rotation axis 90 and the flange 101. The second member 140 is made of metal. The metal constituting the second member 140 may be a material different from the metal constituting the rotation axis 90. For example, the metal constituting the second member 140 may be a material having a higher thermal conductivity than the metal constituting the rotation axis 90. Also, for example, the metal constituting the second member 140 may be a material lighter than the metal constituting the rotation axis 90. Further, the second member 140 may be connected to the rotation axis 90 by, for example, welding, adhesion, or press-fitting (shim fitting).

[0043] In this way, since the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60 flows along the end face of the second member 140, the cooling unit 110 is effectively cooled. Also, since the second member 140 can be arranged so as not to become a resistance to the air K flowing inside the cross-flow fan 60, a decrease in the blowing ability of the cross-flow fan 60 can be suppressed. Note that the cooling unit 110 in this example is configured not to have the first portion 91 of the above embodiment, but it may have the first portion 91, may have the fins 120, or may have the first member 130.

[0044] - In the above embodiment, the blower 40 provided in the refrigeration device 10 is used, but it is not limited thereto, and the blower 40 used for other applications may be used. - As described above, the embodiments of the refrigeration device 10 and the blower 40 have been described, but it will be understood that various changes in form and details are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the refrigeration device 10 and the blower 40 described in the claims.

[0045] X1...length, X2...length, 10...refrigeration unit, 40...blower, 60...cross-flow fan, 70...stator, 73...mold, 80...sliding bearing, 90...rotating shaft, 91...first part, 92...second part, 100...rotor, 101...flange, 102...permanent magnet, 110...cooling section, 120...fin, 130...first component, 140...second component.

Claims

1. A blower comprising: a stator (70); a sliding bearing (80) positioned at the axial center of the stator (70); a rotating shaft (90) rotatably supported by the sliding bearing (80); a rotor (100) having a flange (101) made of resin fixed to the rotating shaft (90) and a permanent magnet (102) fixed to the flange (101); and a cross-flow fan (60) fixed to the flange (101) and positioned on the side opposite to the side of the flange (101) from which the stator (70) is positioned, wherein the blower comprises a cooling unit (110) for cooling the rotating shaft (90), and the cooling unit (110) is provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan (60) or is provided in a position facing the space inside the cross-flow fan (60).

2. The blower according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft (90) has a first portion (91), the first portion (91) is positioned on the side of the flange (101) where the cross-flow fan (60) is located, and the cooling section (110) includes the first portion (91).

3. The blower according to claim 2, wherein the cooling section (110) has fins (120) provided on the first section (91).

4. The blower according to claim 3, wherein the fin (120) is formed in an annular shape concentric with the first portion (91).

5. The blower according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the axial length (X1) of the first portion (91) is 1 / 3 or more of the axial length (X2) of the rotating shaft (90).

6. The cooling section (110) has a first member (130) provided in the space inside the cross-flow fan (60) by being positioned on the side of the flange (101) where the cross-flow fan (60) is located, and the first member (130) is connected to the rotating shaft (90), the blower according to claim 1.

7. The cooling section (110) has a second member (140) positioned between the rotating shaft (90) and the flange (101) so as to face the space inside the cross-flow fan (60), and the second member (140) is connected to the rotating shaft (90), the blower according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a blower (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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