초록 ▼

A set of cooling air blowers for machines which require cooling air during operation. The blowers each include an outlet having an anti-reverse flow feature for preventing the flow of air into the blower from externally of the machine should the blower fail, thereby ensuring that the remaining opera

A set of cooling air blowers for machines which require cooling air during operation. The blowers each include an outlet having an anti-reverse flow feature for preventing the flow of air into the blower from externally of the machine should the blower fail, thereby ensuring that the remaining operating blowers are able to maintain a normal and adequate flow of cooling air through the air inlet of the machine and outwardly through the outlets of the remaining operating blowers. Each blower generally includes a blower housing having an inlet, an outlet, and an internal cavity in which an impeller is rotatably disposed, the impeller driven by an electrical motor mounted within the blower housing. The outlet of each blower housing includes a plurality of louvers movable between a first, open position in which the louvers are positioned by contact with the airflow upon rotation of the impeller to allow heated exhaust air to exit the blower housing through the outlet, and a second, closed position in which the louvers are positioned by gravity to substantially block the outlet when the impeller is stationary.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A blower, comprising: a blower housing having an outlet including opposing first and second walls connecting a pair of opposing side walls; an impeller rotatable within said housing and positioned to generate an airflow through said outlet; a plurality of louvers mounted betw

What is claimed is: 1. A blower, comprising: a blower housing having an outlet including opposing first and second walls connecting a pair of opposing side walls; an impeller rotatable within said housing and positioned to generate an airflow through said outlet; a plurality of louvers mounted between said side walls proximate said outlet, including a first louver disposed adjacent said first wall, a second louver disposed adjacent said second wall, and at least one third louver disposed between said first and second louvers; and said blower housing movable between a first orientation and a second orientation which is inverted with respect to said first orientation and, in each of said first and second orientations, said louvers are moveable between a first position in which said louvers are positioned by contact with said airflow upon rotation of said impeller to allow the airflow to exit said blower housing through said outlet between said louvers, and a second position in which said louvers are positioned by gravity to cooperatively block said outlet when said impeller is stationary. 2. The blower of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second louvers have a length, and said first and second louvers are each mounted to said side walls of said blower housing at respective locations which are spaced from said first and second walls by distances less than said lengths of said first and second louvers. 3. The blower of claim 1, wherein in said second position, said louvers are positioned by gravity in blocking relationship to the entry of air into said blower housing from externally of said blower housing through said outlet. 4. The blower of claim 1, wherein in said first position, said louvers are disposed in non-contacting, substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another, and in said second position, said louvers are disposed in contacting overlapping relationship with respect to one another. 5. The blower of claim 1, wherein said louvers each include a leading portion disposed proximally of said impeller and a trailing portion disposed distally of said impeller, each said louver pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing proximate said leading portion thereof. 6. The blower of claim 5, wherein said louvers are pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing at a location on said louvers which is disposed within the first 40% of said length from said leading portion. 7. The blower of claim 1, wherein in said second position, said leading portions of said louvers each contact one of said blower housing and another said louver, and said trailing portions of said louvers each contact one of said blower housing and another said louver. 8. The blower of claim 1, wherein said outlet has a first width defined between said side walls, and said louvers each have a second width corresponding substantially to said first width of said outlet. 9. The blower of claim 1, wherein each of said louvers includes a pair of opposing pivot posts extending therefrom, said pivot posts pivotally received within opposing recesses in said side walls of said blower housing. 10. The blower of claim 1, further comprising a motor disposed within said blower housing, said motor drivably coupled to said impeller. 11. In combination: an enclosure having at least one inlet; and a blower mounted in said enclosure, said blower comprising: a blower housing having an outlet with lower and upper opposing walls and a pair of opposing side walls; an impeller rotatable within said housing and positioned to generate an airflow through said at least one inlet of said enclosure to said outlet; at least two louvers movably mounted to said side walls of said blower housing proximate said outlet, said louvers moveable between a first position in which said louvers are positioned by contact with said airflow upon rotation of said impeller in a substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another, and a second position in which said louvers are positioned by gravity in overlapping relationship with respect to one another to substantially block said outlet when said impeller is stationary, a lowermost one of said louvers pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing adjacent said lower wall and an uppermost one of said louvers pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing adjacent said upper wall; in said first position, said louvers allow the airflow to pass through said outlet, and in said second position, said louvers substantially prevent passage of air through said outlet from externally of said blower housing, wherein, in said second position, said uppermost louver is positioned by gravity in a vertical position to close an uppermost portion of said outlet, and said lowermost louver is positioned by gravity in a horizontal position in contacting relationship with said lower wall of said housing. 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said blower housing includes an inlet in airflow communication with said at least one inlet of said enclosure. 13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said louvers contact one another in said second position and do not contact one another in said first position. 14. The combination of claim 11, wherein said louvers have a thin, elongate profile, each of said louvers including a leading portion disposed proximally of said impeller and a trailing portion disposed distally of said impeller, each said louver pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing proximate said leading portion thereof. 15. The combination of claim 14, wherein said louvers each have a length, said louvers pivotally mounted to said side walls of said blower housing at a location on said louvers which is disposed within the first 40% of said length from said leading portion. 16. The combination of claim 14, wherein said louvers are tapered at said leading portions and said trailing portions and have a cross-sectional thickness which gradually decreases from said leading portion to said trailing portion. 17. The combination of claim 14, wherein in said second position, said leading portions of said louvers each contact one of said blower housing and another said louver, and said trailing portions of said louvers each contact one of said blower housing and another said louver. 18. The combination of claim 11, further comprising a motor disposed within said blower housing, said motor drivably coupled to said impeller. 19. In combination: an enclosure having at least one inlet; and a blower set, comprising: at least two identical blowers mounted in said enclosure, one said blower disposed in an inverted orientation with respect to another of said blowers, each said blower comprising: a blower housing having an outlet; an impeller rotatable within said housing and positioned to generate an airflow through said enclosure inlet to said outlet; at least one louver disposed proximate said outlet, said louver moveable between a first position in which said louver is positioned by contact with said airflow upon rotation of said impeller to allow said airflow to exit said blower housing through said outlet, and a second position in which said louver is positioned by gravity to substantially block said outlet when said impeller is stationary. 20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said blower housing includes an inlet in airflow communication with said at least one inlet of said enclosure. 21. The combination of claim 19, wherein each said blower includes at least two of said louvers pivotally mounted within said blower housing proximate said outlet. 22. The combination of claim 19, wherein in said first position, said louvers are disposed in non-contacting, substantially parallel relationship with respect to one another, and in said second position, said louvers are disposed in contacting overlapping relationship with respect to one another.