Blower Shaft Blocking Structure for Dust-Protected Bearings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blowers suffer from minute foreign matters such as sand and dust entering the motor bearing, leading to noise and reduced motor lifespan, especially in dusty environments.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating blocking members around the shaft between the fan and motor case, which are radially positioned and extend in a cylindrical shape to create a maze-like structure, reducing the entry of foreign particles into the bearing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the blower is used in a dusty environment to achieve cooling function, then the cooling performance is improved, but minute foreign matters enter the motor bearing causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidmotor bearing durability
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A blocking member is introduced as an intermediary component between the fan and motor case. This blocking member acts as a mediator that allows the cooling airflow to pass through while intercepting and blocking minute foreign matters (sand, dust) before they can reach the motor bearing, thus resolving the contradiction between cooling performance and bearing durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the motor case is designed with open structure to facilitate assembly and maintenance, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but foreign matters can easily enter the bearing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly convenienceVSAvoidforeign matter entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The blocking member is strategically positioned only in the critical region where foreign matters would enter the bearing, while the rest of the motor case maintains its open structure for ease of assembly and maintenance. This localized protection approach allows the motor case to remain easy to manufacture and assemble while specifically protecting the bearing area from foreign matter contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4056857B1blower
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP4056857B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4056857B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4056857B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A blower includes a fan and a motor, wherein the motor includes a shaft, a bearing that supports the shaft, and a motor case that covers at least a part of the bearing, the fan includes a main plate having a first surface facing the motor case and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and connected to the shaft, and a plurality of blades erected on the second surface of the main plate, and arranged radially with respect to an axis of the shaft, at least one of the fan and the motor case includes blocking members, and each of the blocking members is located apart from the shaft between the first surface of the main plate and the motor case, and surrounds the shaft.