Mixed-Flow Portable Fan Structure for Higher Air Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable fans face issues with low air pressure, limited air supply distance, safety concerns due to visible blades, high noise levels, and high production costs, failing to meet user needs for convenience, safety, and performance.
Innovation Solution
A portable fan design featuring a mixed-flow fan with a pressurizing member and a housing that includes a pressurizing seat and a radial airflow guiding structure, enhancing air pressure and reducing noise through a combination of blades and a booster for smooth airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If axial fan blades are used to manufacture axial fan, then air volume loss is small, but air pressure is lower and air supply distance is shorter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a mixed-flow fan blade design that dynamically combines axial and centrifugal flow characteristics. The blade geometry is optimized to generate both axial thrust (for air volume) and radial pressure (for air pressure), allowing the fan to adapt its flow pattern based on operating conditions. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by enabling the fan to maintain low air volume loss while simultaneously achieving high air pressure and extended air supply distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite blade structure combining elements of axial and centrifugal fan designs. The blade profile integrates axial flow sections (for efficient air intake and low loss) with centrifugal flow sections (for pressure generation). This composite design allows the fan to achieve both low air volume loss and high air pressure, resolving the technical contradiction between these two parameters.
2Loss of energy
If axial fan is used, then air volume loss is small, but air supply distance is shorter
Solution Approach 1:
The mixed-flow fan blade design dynamically optimizes airflow characteristics to extend air supply distance while maintaining low air volume loss. The blade geometry creates a combined axial-radial flow pattern that preserves kinetic energy (reducing loss) while directing airflow over longer distances with sufficient pressure, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and reach.
3Productivity
If fan blades are visible, then air moving function is achieved, but safety is compromised due to finger cutting risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the dangerous visible blade elements from the airflow path by implementing a bladeless design. The air moving function is achieved through a different mechanism (likely acoustic or electrostatic forces) that eliminates the need for rotating blades, thereby removing the safety hazard while maintaining productivity. This resolves the contradiction by separating the air moving function from the dangerous blade structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (such as acoustic waves or electrostatic fields) to transfer momentum to the air, replacing direct mechanical blade contact. This intermediary approach achieves the air moving function without exposing users to dangerous rotating blades, resolving the safety-productivity contradiction.
4Stress or pressure
If centrifugal fan blades are used, then air pressure is improved, but air volume loss is very serious
Solution Approach 1:
The mixed-flow fan blade design dynamically balances axial and centrifugal flow components. The blade geometry is optimized to generate radial pressure (like centrifugal fans) while minimizing flow separation and turbulence (unlike pure centrifugal designs). This dynamic optimization resolves the contradiction by achieving high air pressure through centrifugal effects while maintaining low air volume loss through controlled axial flow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the mixed-flow fan blade have different local qualities: the inlet section is designed for efficient air intake with minimal loss (axial flow characteristics), while the outlet section is designed for pressure generation (centrifugal flow characteristics). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing each blade section to optimize for its specific function, achieving both low loss and high pressure.
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 design achieves increased air pressure and distance, improved safety with hidden blades, reduced noise, and cost-effectiveness, addressing user needs for convenience and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a path of the wind from the air inlet to the air outlet
Implementation Method 2
The pressurizing seat comprises a pressurizing surface, and a radial size of at least part of the pressurizing surface gradually increases radially from the rear side to the front side
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A portable fan includes: a housing; a mixed-flow fan; a pressurizing member. The housing is arranged with an air inlet portion and an air outlet portion. The pressurizing member is disposed at a front of the mixed-flow fan and includes a pressurizing seat. The pressurizing seat includes a pressurizing surface, and a radial size of at least part of the pressurizing surface gradually increases from a rear side to a front side. The mixed-flow fan includes a rotation seat, an extension wall, a motor, and first blades that are mounted on the rotation seat; the extension wall and the rotation seat cooperatively define a first cavity; the pressurizing seat has a second cavity; the extension wall is inserted into the second cavity; a projection of the first cavity is at least partially overlapped with a projection of the second cavity in the radial direction.