Centrifugal Blower Elastic Seal Integrating Vibration Isolation and Water Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional centrifugal blowers face challenges in noise reduction, vibration resistance, water infiltration prevention, and limited thinness due to structural inefficiencies and poor workability, which affect their performance and reliability in automotive applications.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an elastic part between the motor case and the blower case, featuring a unique shape for the flow channel and motor configuration that includes a protrusion and rib structure, enhancing sealing, reducing windage loss, and improving assembly efficiency while maintaining high productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a rubber vibration isolator is provided on the motor as in PTL 1, then vibration and noise are suppressed, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration and noiseVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the vibration isolation function with the sealing function into a single integrated structure. The elastic part serves dual purposes: it seals the gap between the motor case and blower case while simultaneously isolating vibrations, eliminating the need for separate vibration isolators and simplifying the overall device structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic part is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: sealing the gap to prevent water infiltration, isolating vibrations from the motor, and providing a mounting interface. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed and simplifies assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the centrifugal blower is thinned to mount in limited vehicle body space, then adaptability improves, but structural rigidity and sealing performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to vehicle body spaceVSAvoidsealing performance and rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses an elastic part (flexible element) to provide sealing between the motor case and blower case. This flexible sealing solution enables effective sealing in a thinned, space-constrained configuration without requiring complex rigid sealing structures, thus maintaining reliability while achieving thinness for vehicle body integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional sealing methods are used between motor case and blower case, then manufacturing is simpler, but water infiltration prevention is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidwater infiltration prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic part acts as a flexible sealing barrier that prevents water infiltration between the motor case and blower case. This flexible sealing approach maintains ease of manufacture through simple assembly while providing superior water tightness compared to conventional rigid sealing methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 results in a centrifugal blower with reduced noise, enhanced reliability against submergence, increased output, and improved assembly ease, resulting in a more efficient, quiet, and reliable solution suitable for automotive use.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic part which surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the motor case on a surface intersecting with the rotational axis. The elastic part is located between the protrusion and the plane surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

When the impeller is rotated by the rotation action transmitted from the motor, air sucked from the suction port and passed through the inner peripheral side end and the outer peripheral side end is guided to the discharge port along the side wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3208472B1Centrifugal blower and automobile provided with same
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3208472B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3208472B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3208472B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Blower case (8) provided in centrifugal blower (1) of the present invention has side wall (8c), suction port (8a), a discharge port, and flow channel (9). In flow channel (9), when impeller (3) is rotated by rotation action transmitted from motor (2), air sucked from suction port (8a) and passed through an inner peripheral side end and outer peripheral side end (3f) is guided to the discharge port along side wall (8c). A shape of a cross section of flow channel (9) including rotational axis (3c) is wider, toward an opposite side where the suction port is located relative to a side where suction port (8a) is located in a direction along axial center (3g) direction, in a second cross section located near the discharge port than in a first cross section located far from the discharge port in a direction in which impeller (3) rotates.