Toroidal Motor Blower-Heater Layout for Rapid Windshield Defrost
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-heating blower devices for motor vehicle passenger compartments are not efficiently integrated into the dashboard due to size and weight constraints, and lack high efficiency in heating airflow for rapid defrosting.
Innovation Solution
An air-heating blower device with an axial fan featuring a toroidal electric motor and a cylindrical heater, where the fan's blades converge airflow to a focus point, and the heater is positioned within the airflow path, supported by stationary fins, enhancing efficiency and thrust, and connected to the vehicle's battery and generator for controlled power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If conventional air-heating blower devices are used, then heating function is provided, but size and weight are large preventing efficient dashboard integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heater and blower fan into a single integrated housing structure, where the heater is positioned within the fan's airflow path. This merging of heating and air moving functions into one compact unit reduces overall device size and simplifies dashboard integration while maintaining both heating and air circulation capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater element is nested within the airflow path of the blower fan, with the heater positioned inside the fan housing. This nested arrangement allows the heater to utilize the fan's existing structure and airflow channels, minimizing additional space requirements and enabling compact dashboard integration.
2Productivity
If conventional heating devices are used, then heating is provided, but heating efficiency is insufficient for rapid defrosting
Solution Approach 1:
The heater is positioned upstream in the airflow path to pre-heat the air before it reaches the dashboard vents. This preliminary heating action allows the air to be warmed efficiently as it passes through the heater, enabling rapid defrosting of the windshield and quick cabin warming without requiring excessive heating time.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan blades act as an intermediary by converging the airflow towards a focus point, which intensifies the airflow through the heater element. This convergence effect increases the heat transfer efficiency between the heater and the air, significantly improving heating productivity and reducing defrosting time.
3Productivity
If fan blades are modified to converge airflow, then efficiency and thrust increase, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan blades are designed with varying geometry along their span, with the blade profile changing from root to tip to optimize airflow convergence at different radial positions. This local variation in blade quality allows the fan to converge airflow effectively towards the focus point while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized blade sections.
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 device achieves high efficiency and thrust in heating airflow, allowing for rapid defrosting without increasing size or weight, and can be easily integrated into the dashboard with adjustable louvers for directed airflow.
Implementation Method 1
an axial fan rotatably mounted within the body for generating a flow of air from the inlet openings to the outlet opening
Implementation Method 2
an electric heater carried by the body and adapted to heat the airflow directed towards the outlet opening
Implementation Method 3
said axial fan is associated with an electric motor with toroidal geometry, having an annular rotor which is rotatable within an annular stator
Data Source
AI summary
An air-heating blower device for a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle comprising a body with at least one inlet opening at least one outlet opening an electrically driven axial fan rotatably mounted around its axis within the body. The fan is associated to an electric motor (M) with toroidal geometry, having an annular rotor which is rotatable within an annular stator and defining a central opening inside thereof, said fan (F) having one or more blades (B) which are carried by the rotor and each blade extending into said central opening towards a free end of the blade which terminates at a distance from the central axis of the fan, and in that the annular body of the rotor and/or the annular body of the stator define a guide tube for the airflow activated by the fan (F) over the resistive electric heater (H).