Fan Assembly with Modular Electronic Module for Gas Burner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fan assemblies for gas burner appliances lack a compact and service-friendly design, making maintenance difficult and requiring significant space, while also not effectively managing the cooling of electronic components.
Innovation Solution
A novel fan assembly with a modular design comprising a fan module and an electronic module, where the electronic module is mounted to the fan module in a linear direction perpendicular to the rotation axes of the impellers, using guide elements, locking mechanisms, and compensation elements to ensure easy service and compactness, and incorporates a cooling impeller to cool electronic components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electronic module is integrated into the fan module housing, then the device complexity is reduced and space is saved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because maintenance requires disassembling the entire housing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into a fan module housing and a separate electronic module housing that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The electronic module housing is releasably mounted to the fan module housing, allowing the electronic components to be accessed and serviced without disassembling the entire fan assembly structure.
2Volume of stationary object
If the fan assembly is designed to be compact, then the volume of stationary object is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to limited space for component access and cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic module housing is nested within or adjacent to the fan module housing in a compact arrangement. The collar housing part serves as a mounting structure that allows the electronic module to be positioned in close proximity to the fan components while maintaining independent access through the releasable mounting connection.
3Device complexity
If electronic components are positioned within the fan module housing, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature increases due to insufficient cooling space
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic components are extracted from the interior space of the fan module housing and positioned in a separate electronic module housing. This extraction provides dedicated space for cooling airflow around the electronic components while maintaining structural integration through the releasable mounting connection between the two housing parts.
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
The solution provides a compact, easily serviceable fan assembly that reduces space requirements and effectively cools electronic components, ensuring reliable operation and efficient airflow management in gas burner appliances.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling impeller (22) positioned at the second side within a second interior space of the fan module housing defined by the fan plate housing part and the collar housing part
Implementation Method 2
a fan impeller positioned at the first side within a first interior space of the fan module housing defined by the fan plate housing part and the fan impeller housing part
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
Fan assembly (11) of a gas burner appliance, the fan assembly (11) comprises a fan module (14) and an electronic module (15). The fan module (14) has a fan module housing (16) comprising a fan plate housing part (17), a fan impeller housing part (18) and a collar housing part (19). The fan module has a fan impeller (20), the fan impeller (20) is positioned at the first side of the fan plate housing part (17). The fan module has a cooling impeller (22), the cooling impeller (22) is positioned at the second side of the fan plate housing part (17). The fan module (14) has first electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly (14), the first electronic components are cooled by said cooling impeller (22). The electronic module (15) has an electronic module housing (24). The electronic module has second electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly, wherein said second electronic components are connected to said first electronic components. The electronic module housing (24) is releasably mounted to collar housing part (19) in such a way that for mounting the electronic module (15) to the fan module (14) and for unmounting the electronic module (15) from the fan module (14) the electronic module (15) is guided relocatable at the collar housing part (19) in a linear direction running perpendicular to a rotation axis (23) of the cooling impeller (22) and/or running perpendicular to a rotation axis (21) of the fan impeller (20).