Oblique-Flow Air Circulator Housing for Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air circulators and air cleaners face issues with air leakage and loss of flow energy due to increased pressure in the intake path, leading to air being dispersed without being discharged in a predetermined direction, resulting in reduced airflow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with a first inlet and outlet, featuring an outer wall with a second outer wall that extends radially outward to guide air flowing along the outside of the air circulator in a predetermined direction, utilizing an oblique-flow fan and a guide vane device to minimize flow energy loss and ensure air is directed correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the fan rotates to suck air through the intake path, then air is discharged through the outlet, but air pressure in the intake path increases causing air to leak to the outside without passing through the inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and redirects the leaking air that would otherwise be wasted. The guide vane device captures air that leaks outside the intake path and redirects it back toward the outlet, converting what was previously energy-wasting leakage into useful airflow that contributes to the discharge function.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vane acts as an intermediary element between the leaking air and the outlet. It mediates the airflow by capturing the dispersed air molecules and redirecting them in a controlled manner toward the discharge direction, preventing direct energy loss while maintaining system productivity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If air leaks to the outside without being discharged in a predetermined direction, then air circulation is maintained, but the flow energy of the air is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of air leakage (energy loss) into a beneficial effect. By positioning guide vanes to redirect the leaking air, the system captures what would have been wasted flow energy and redirects it to contribute to predetermined direction discharge, thereby converting a defect into a functional advantage.
3Device complexity
If the intake path area is reduced, then the housing structure is simplified, but the flow quantity of air passing through the air circulator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the intake path area limitation by utilizing three-dimensional space more effectively. The guide vane device adds a spatial dimension to airflow management by creating a redirect path for leaked air, allowing the system to compensate for reduced intake area through volumetric airflow optimization rather than simply increasing intake surface area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively minimizes airflow loss and ensures that air is discharged in a predetermined direction, enhancing the efficiency of air circulation and purification by reducing leakage and maximizing airflow volume.
Implementation Method 1
a circulation fan (30) disposed in the housing to suck air through the first inlet (S1) and then discharge the air through the first outlet (S3)
Implementation Method 2
a motor (40) rotating the circulation fan (30)
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are an air circulator and an air cleaner including the air circulator. The air circulator includes a housing having a first inlet and a first outlet formed thereof and including an outer wall; an oblique-flow fan disposed in the housing to suck air through the first inlet and then discharge the air through the first outlet to a front of the housing; and a motor rotating the oblique-flow fan. An outer wall of the housing includes a first outer wall extending in a front-rear direction, the first outlet being formed on a front portion thereof; and a second outer wall having the first inlet formed in a rear portion thereof and extending from an edge of the first inlet towards the first outer wall to be enlarged in a radially outward direction. An outer surface of the second outer wall comprises a first surface that extends towards the first outer wall to be rounded outwards, and forms a surface continuous with an outer surface of the first outer wall, thus guiding air flowing along an outside of the first inlet so that the air flows forwards along the outer surface of the first outer wall.