Axial Fan Inner Pipe Mounting for Motor Drive Integration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing axial fans face challenges in achieving high efficiency and minimizing costs by using few components, as fans with the same internal tube radius require different drive forces, leading to inefficiencies and increased component variability.
Innovation Solution
The system employs at least one small and one large motor drive, with specific mounting fittings allowing both to be mounted on a shared inner pipe, minimizing component count and reducing turbulence, while using the same rotor hub and inner pipe for different operating conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single inner pipe radius is used for all fan configurations, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but fan efficiency deteriorates due to mismatched motor sizes for different drive force requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The inner pipe is designed with a universal mounting interface that can accommodate both small and large motor drives through the same mounting fitting. The mounting fitting includes a mounting bore with internal threading that accepts both motor sizes, allowing a single inner pipe design to serve multiple fan configurations with different drive force requirements while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting fitting incorporates localized features including an internally threaded mounting bore and a flange with bolt holes that provide specific mounting characteristics. This localized design allows the same inner pipe to accommodate different motor sizes by providing a standardized mounting interface that adapts to various motor dimensions without requiring different pipe designs
2Productivity
If different inner pipe radii are used for small and large motor drives, then fan efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple component variants
Solution Approach 1:
A single inner pipe design with a universal mounting fitting serves multiple functions by accommodating both small and large motor drives. The mounting fitting's standardized interface allows different motor sizes to be mounted on the same inner pipe, eliminating the need for multiple inner pipe variants and reducing component complexity while maintaining fan efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting fitting combines multiple mounting functions into a single component that can accommodate different motor sizes. By merging the mounting interface features (threaded bore, flange, bolt holes) into one universal fitting design, the system consolidates what would otherwise require multiple different components, thereby reducing device complexity
3Ease of operation
If the motor drive is mounted extending outside the inner pipe, then ease of motor installation is improved, but turbulence in the air flux increases reducing fan performance
Solution Approach 1:
The small motor drive is nested completely within the inner pipe, with the motor positioned inside the pipe's internal volume. This nesting arrangement eliminates external protrusions that would create turbulence in the air flux, while the motor remains accessible through the open front end of the inner pipe for installation and maintenance purposes
4Adaptability or versatility
If the motor drive is mounted extending behind the inner pipe, then accommodation of large motors is improved, but the shaft strain on the motor drive increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting fitting is designed with the mounting bore positioned at the rearward end of the inner pipe, allowing large motor drives to be mounted with their bulk extending behind the pipe. This preliminary positioning of the mounting interface minimizes the distance between the motor and rotor hub, thereby reducing shaft strain before the motor is even installed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for constructing an axial blower comprising an essentially circular- cylindrical blower pipe configured about a centre axis and an inner pipe (24) serving as motor case; and presenting several mounting options for mounting of motor drives (6) to the effect that it is possible to mount motor drives extending rearwards relative to the inner pipe (24) and motor drives (6) extending primarily within the inner pipe (24).