초록 ▼

This invention is characterized by a very compact blower assembly architecture designed to operate at low Reynolds numbers. The assembly includes an impeller with forward-curved blades and a hub that is shaped to minimize the overall package volume of the assembly. The impeller is driven by a low-po

This invention is characterized by a very compact blower assembly architecture designed to operate at low Reynolds numbers. The assembly includes an impeller with forward-curved blades and a hub that is shaped to minimize the overall package volume of the assembly. The impeller is driven by a low-power, brushed, direct-current motor. A shroud part includes a generally cylindrical inlet that directs the air into the impeller, and a surface that forces the air leaving the impeller to turn from a generally radial and tangential direction to a generally axial and tangential direction. The shroud part directs the air into a single stage of stator blades that reduces the tangential component of the air velocity and produces a static pressure rise.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A centrifugal blower assembly comprising an impeller, a stator, a shroud and a motor; said impeller comprising impeller blades and an impeller hub and being driven by said motor, said shroud comprising an inlet for the impeller; said stator and shroud functioning together to guide airflow exit

1. A centrifugal blower assembly comprising an impeller, a stator, a shroud and a motor; said impeller comprising impeller blades and an impeller hub and being driven by said motor, said shroud comprising an inlet for the impeller; said stator and shroud functioning together to guide airflow exiting the impeller, to turn the airflow from a generally radial and tangential direction to a generally axial and tangential direction, and to guide the airflow through a set of stator blades; said centrifugal blower assembly being further characterized by: a) said impeller blades being forward-curved; b) said impeller hub covering at least 30% of the axial extent of the motor; c) said stator comprising a single stage of stator blades within an annular flow passage; d) said stator blades having a chord length at least 15% of the stator blade diameter; e) said stator having a blade diameter of no more than 150 millimeters; and f) said motor having a power input of less than 25 watts. 2. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said stator comprises features to hold said motor in position without the use of additional fasteners. 3. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said motor is a direct-current brushed motor with a power input of less than 10 watts. 4. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said motor is a direct-current brushed motor with a power input of less than 5 watts. 5. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that the outside diameter of the stator blades is less than 90 millimeters. 6. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that the stator blade chord lengths are at least 20% of the stator blade diameter. 7. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said impeller, said stator, and said shroud are constructed from injection molded plastic. 8. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 1, sized and designed for cooling electronic components. 9. The centrifugal blower assembly of claim 8, where said electronic components are positioned in an engine compartment of a vehicle. 10. A centrifugal blower assembly comprising an impeller, a stator, a shroud and a motor; said impeller comprising impeller blades and an impeller hub and being driven by said motor, said shroud comprising an inlet for the impeller; said stator and shroud functioning together to guide airflow exiting the impeller, to turn the airflow from a generally radial and tangential direction to a generally axial and tangential direction, and to guide the airflow through a set of stator blades; said centrifugal blower assembly being further characterized by: a) said impeller blades being forward-curved; b) said impeller hub covering at least 30% of the axial extent of the motor; c) said stator comprising a single stage of stator blades within an annular flow passage; d) said stator blades having a chord length at least 20% of the stator blade diameter; e) said a stator having a blade diameter of no more than 90 millimeters; f) said motor being a direct-current brushed motor with a power input of less than 5 watts; g) said stator comprising features to hold said motor in position without the use of additional fasteners; h) said impeller, said stator, and said shroud being constructed from injection molded plastic; and i) said blower assembly being sized and designed for cooling electronic components positioned in the engine compartment of a vehicle.