CN216308340U - Air flow control device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an air flow control device, comprising: a fan motor generating an air flow; a shutter member that opens and closes the air flow path; a gate motor that rotates the gate member; a housing; and a restricting portion that restricts a rotation angle of the shutter member. The restriction portion has: a restricting piece provided on the shutter member and protruding toward the housing; a protrusion provided in the housing, protruding toward the shutter member, and coming into contact with the regulating piece as the shutter member rotates; a 1 st contact portion disposed at one circumferential end of the protrusion portion, the 1 st contact portion limiting a 1 st rotation angle; and a 2 nd contact portion disposed at the other end portion in the circumferential direction of the protrusion portion, and configured to restrict a 2 nd rotation angle. The 1 st contact part and the 2 nd contact part are arranged on the shutter motor side with respect to the 2 nd central axis.

Description

Air flow control device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air flow control device.

Background

In the related art, an air conditioning device (damper device) that opens and closes an air distribution passage is used to distribute cooled air in a refrigerator. The air adjusting device rotates the inner ring relative to the outer ring to control the communication relationship between the outlet of the inner ring and the air distribution port of the outer ring. The inner ring is rotated by a drive device having a rotating shaft to which a center portion of the inner ring is fixed (for example, see patent document 1).

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2001-280800

When the air distribution port of the outer ring is opened and closed by the inner ring, the rotation of the inner ring needs to be restricted in each of the opened state and the closed state. Therefore, in the circumferential direction of the inner ring, it is necessary to set the contact portion of the inner ring and the outer ring at 2 (the open position, the closed position). At this time, for example, in the case where a drive device for rotating the inner ring is located radially outward of the inner ring, if a contact portion between the inner ring and the outer ring in the circumferential direction of the inner ring is located at a position distant from the drive device (a portion to which a rotational force is applied), vibration and noise increase at the time of contact between the inner ring and the outer ring at the open position and the closed position.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an air flow control device capable of reducing vibration and noise.

An air flow control device according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes: a fan motor having an impeller rotating about a 1 st central axis extending in an up-down direction, the fan motor generating an air flow; a shutter member that opens and closes the air flow path by rotating about a 2 nd central axis extending in the vertical direction; a shutter motor that rotates the shutter member; a housing provided along an axial direction of the shutter member; and a restricting portion that restricts a rotation angle of the shutter member. The restricting portion has: a restricting piece provided on the shutter member and protruding toward the housing; a projection provided in the housing, projecting toward the shutter member, and coming into contact with the regulating piece in accordance with rotation of the shutter member; a 1 st contact portion disposed at one circumferential end of the projection portion, the 1 st contact portion being in contact with the restricting piece to restrict the 1 st rotation angle; and a 2 nd contact portion which is disposed at the other end portion in the circumferential direction of the projection portion and which is brought into contact with the regulating piece to regulate the 2 nd rotation angle. The 1 st contact portion and the 2 nd contact portion are disposed on the shutter motor side with respect to the 2 nd central axis.

In the air flow control device of the above aspect, the 1 st contact portion and the 2 nd contact portion are located within the range of the rotation angle of 45 degrees with respect to a radius line extending in a radial direction from the 2 nd central axis toward the shutter motor.

In the air flow control device of the above aspect, one of the restricting piece and the protrusion extends in the circumferential direction.

In the air flow control device according to the above aspect, a contact angle of the restricting piece with respect to the 1 st contact portion and the 2 nd contact portion is a right angle.

In the air flow control device according to the above aspect, one of the shutter member and the housing has a radial protrusion that protrudes in a radial direction toward the other and slides relative to a peripheral surface of the other.

In the air flow control device according to the above aspect, one of the shutter member and the housing has an axial direction convex portion that protrudes in the axial direction toward the other and slides relative to an axial direction end surface of the other.

In the air flow control device of the above aspect, the 1 st central axis and the 2 nd central axis extend along the same straight line.

According to the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to provide an air flow control device capable of reducing vibration and noise.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air flow control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air flow control device as viewed from the upper side.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the air flow control device as viewed from the lower side.

Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a central portion of a fan motor of the air flow control device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shutter member of the air flow control device as viewed from the lower side.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the base member of the air flow control device as viewed from the upper side.

Fig. 7 is a top view of a base member of an air flow control device.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a shutter member of the air flow control device according to modification 1, as viewed from below.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a base member of an air flow control device according to modification 1, as viewed from above.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the shutter member and the cover member of the air flow control device as viewed from the lower side.

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of an air flow control device according to modification 2.

Description of the reference symbols

1: an air flow control device; 2: a fan motor; 3: a holding member; 4: a gate member; 5: a gate motor; 6: a gear; 7: a housing; 8: a restricting section; 21: an impeller; 22: a shaft; 23: a rotor; 24: a stator; 25: a bearing; 31: a barrel portion; 41: an annular portion; 42: a gate; 71: a base member; 72: a cover member; 73: a connecting portion; 81: a restriction sheet; 82: a protrusion portion; 83: the 1 st contact part; 84: the 2 nd contact part; 85: a restriction sheet; 86: a protrusion portion; 87: the 1 st contact part; 88: the 2 nd contact part; 211: a cup portion; 212: a circular plate portion; 213: a blade; 214: a support frame; 231: a rotor yoke; 232: a magnet; 241: a stator core; 242: an insulating member; 243: a coil; 411: a gear portion; 711: an annular base portion; 712: a rib portion; 713: a motor base part; 714: an axial projection; 721: a circular plate cover portion; 722: a rib portion; 723: a motor cover portion; 724: a connecting portion; 725: a fixed part; 726: a radial protrusion; 7231: an opening; 7241: a side wall; 7242: an upper cover; c: central axes (1 st central axis, 2 nd central axis); lr: a radius line; θ 1: rotating the angle; θ 2: the angle of contact.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be arbitrarily changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

In this specification, the direction in which the center axis of the fan motor and the center axis of the shutter member of the air flow control device extend is simply referred to as "axial direction". The central axis of the fan motor is parallel to the central axis of the shutter member, and is aligned on the same straight line in this embodiment. The positions of the center axis of the fan motor and the center axis of the shutter member may be different in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. In the present specification, a direction perpendicular to the central axis with the central axis as a center is simply referred to as a "radial direction", and a direction along an arc with the central axis as a center is simply referred to as a "circumferential direction".

In the present specification, for convenience of explanation, the axial direction is referred to as the "vertical direction", and the vertical direction in fig. 1 is referred to as the vertical direction of the air flow control device, to explain the shape and positional relationship of each part. The definition of the vertical direction does not limit the orientation and positional relationship of the airflow control device when in use. For example, in the case where the air flow control device is provided on the rear surface of the refrigerator, the axial direction of the air flow control device sometimes extends in the horizontal direction of the refrigerator.

In the present specification, a cross section parallel to the axial direction (vertical direction) is referred to as a "longitudinal cross section". The terms "parallel" and "perpendicular" used in the present specification do not strictly mean parallel or perpendicular, but include substantially parallel and substantially perpendicular.

< 1. integral Structure of air flow control device >

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an air flow control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the air flow control device 1 as viewed from the upper side. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the air flow control device 1 as viewed from the lower side. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal sectional view showing a central portion of the fan motor 2 of the air flow control device 1. The air flow control device 1 includes a fan motor 2, a holding member 3, a shutter member 4, a shutter motor 5, a gear 6, and a housing 7.

< 1-1. Structure of fan motor

The fan motor 2 is located radially inward of an annular portion 41, described later, of the shutter member 4. The fan motor 2 has an impeller 21 that rotates about a central axis C extending in the vertical direction. The fan motor 2 also has a shaft 22, a rotor 23, a stator 24, and a bearing 25.

In the present embodiment, the central axis (1 st central axis) of the fan motor 2 and the central axis (2 nd central axis) of the shutter member 4 extend along the same straight line. Specifically, the central axis of the fan motor 2 and the central axis of the shutter member 4 coincide with a central axis C extending in the vertical direction. According to this configuration, since the rotation axis is at 1 with respect to the housing 7, it is possible to reduce vibration and noise associated with rotation of the fan motor 2 and the shutter member 4. The position of the 1 st central axis may be the same as or different from the position of the 2 nd central axis.

The impeller 21 is located above and radially outside the rotor 23 and the stator 24. The impeller 21 includes a cup 211, a disk 212, a plurality of blades 213, and a support frame 214.

The cup 211 is located at the radial center of the impeller 21. The cup 211 has a substantially cylindrical shape with a lid on the upper side. A shaft 22 and a rotor 23 are fixed inside the cup 211.

The disc portion 212 is located below the impeller 21. The circular plate portion 212 is connected to the lower end portion of the cup portion 211. The circular plate portion 212 extends radially outward from the lower end portion of the cup portion 211 with respect to the center axis C.

The plurality of blades 213 are disposed above the circular plate portion 212. The lower ends of the plurality of blades 213 are connected to the upper surface of the circular plate 212. The blades 213 extend in a direction away from the cup 211 in the radial direction and extend in the vertical direction. The plurality of blades 213 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The radially outer end portions of the plurality of blades 213 are exhaust portions of the fan motor 2.

The support frame 214 is located above the impeller 21 and at the radially outer peripheral portion. The support frame 214 is formed in a circular shape extending in the circumferential direction. The support frame 214 is disposed at the radial outer end of the plurality of blades 213. The support frame 214 connects the upper portions of the plurality of blades 213. The radially inner side of the support frame 214 is an air intake portion of the fan motor 2.

The shaft 22 is disposed along the center axis C. The shaft 22 is a columnar member made of metal such as stainless steel or aluminum and extending in the vertical direction. The shaft 22 is supported by a bearing 25 so as to be rotatable about the center axis C. The shaft 22 rotates about a central axis C. An impeller 21 is fixed to an upper end of the shaft 22.

The rotor 23 is located on the upper side and radially outside of the stator 24. The rotor 23 rotates about the center axis C relative to the stator 24. The rotor 23 has a rotor yoke 231 and a magnet 232.

The rotor yoke 231 is a substantially cylindrical member made of a magnetic material. The rotor yoke 231 is fixed to the inside of the cup portion 211 of the impeller 21 in the radial direction. The magnet 232 is cylindrical and fixed to the radially inner side of the rotor yoke 231. The magnet 232 is disposed radially outward of the stator 24 and radially faces the stator 24. On the magnetic pole surface on the inner peripheral side of the magnet 232, N poles and S poles are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction.

The stator 24 is located on the lower side and radially inside of the rotor 23. The stator 24 is radially opposed to the magnet 232. The stator 24 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the holding member 3. The stator 24 includes a stator core 241, an insulator 242, and a coil 243.

The stator core 241 is formed by laminating electromagnetic steel plates such as silicon steel plates in the vertical direction, for example. The insulating material 242 is made of, for example, resin having insulating properties. The insulator 242 is disposed so as to surround the outer surface of the stator core 241. The coil 243 is formed of a conductive wire wound around the stator core 241 with an insulator 242 interposed therebetween.

The bearing 25 is disposed radially inward of the holding member 3. In the present embodiment, the bearing 25 is a sleeve bearing. The bearing 25 may be a pair of ball bearings arranged vertically. The bearing 25 supports the shaft 22 rotatably with respect to the stator 24.

In the fan motor 2 configured as described above, when a drive current is supplied to the coil 243 of the stator 24, a magnetic flux in the radial direction is generated in the stator core 241. The magnetic field generated by the magnetic flux of the stator 24 and the magnetic field generated by the magnet 232 act to generate a torque in the circumferential direction of the rotor 23. The rotor 23 and the impeller 21 are rotated about the central axis C by the torque. When the impeller 21 rotates, an air flow is generated by the plurality of blades 213. The fan motor 2 generates an air flow having an upper side as an air suction side and a radially outer side as an air discharge side.

< 1-2. Structure of holding Member

The holding member 3 is located at the radial center of the fan motor 2. The holding member 3 is supported by the housing 7 at a lower portion. The holding member 3 is made of synthetic resin. The holding member 3 has a tube portion 31 extending in the vertical direction about the central axis C. The bearing 25 is housed and held radially inside the cylindrical portion 31 of the holding member 3. The stator core 241 is held radially outside the cylindrical portion 31 of the holding member 3.

< 1-3. Structure of Gate Member

The shutter member 4 is located radially outside the impeller 21. The shutter member 4 is supported by the housing 7. The shutter member 4 is rotated by a shutter motor 5 via a gear 6. The shutter member 4 rotates about a central axis C extending in the vertical direction. The shutter member 4 has an annular portion 41 and a shutter 42.

The annular portion 41 is located at a lower portion of the shutter member 4 and at a radially outer peripheral portion. The annular portion 41 extends in the circumferential direction. The annular portion 41 has a plate shape extending in the radial direction. The ring portion 41 has a gear portion 411.

The gear portion 411 is located at a lower portion of the annular portion 41 and at a radially outer peripheral portion. The gear portion 411 extends in the circumferential direction along the ring portion 41. The gear portion 411 has a plurality of teeth. The plurality of teeth of the gear portion 411 protrude radially outward and are arranged in the circumferential direction. The gear portion 411 meshes with the gear 6.

The shutter 42 is disposed above the annular portion 41. The shutter 42 protrudes from the annular portion 41 in the vertical direction. The shutter 42 extends curvedly in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the shutter member 4 has 3 shutters 42. The 3 gates 42 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The shutter 42 rotates in the circumferential direction together with the annular portion 41 to open and close an air flow path (not shown).

The shutter member 4 rotates about the center axis C with respect to the housing 7 independently of the fan motor 2. Specifically, the shutter member 4 rotates about the center axis C to open and close the air flow path.

< 1-4. Structure of gate motor and gear

The shutter motor 5 and the gear 6 are located radially outside the shutter member 4. The shutter motor 5 and the gear 6 are supported by the housing 7. The shutter motor 5 and the gear 6 rotate about a central axis extending in the up-down direction.

In the present embodiment, the shutter motor 5 is constituted by a stepping motor. The gear 6 is disposed below the shutter motor 5. The gear 6 is coupled to an output shaft (not shown) of the shutter motor 5. Further, the gear 6 meshes with a gear portion 411 of the shutter member 4. That is, the annular portion 41 of the shutter member 4 is connected to the shutter motor 5. The shutter motor 5 rotates the shutter member 4 via the gear 6 and the gear portion 411.

< 1-5. Structure of housing

The case 7 is provided along the vertical direction of the shutter member 4. The housing 7 is made of synthetic resin. The housing 7 holds the holding member 3, the shutter member 4, the shutter motor 5, and the gear 6. The housing 7 includes a base member 71, a cover member 72, and a coupling portion 73.

The base member 71 is located at a lower portion of the housing 7. The base member 71 has a ring-shaped base portion 711, a rib 712, and a motor base portion 713.

The annular base portion 711 is located below the annular portion 41 of the shutter member 4. The annular base portion 711 is located below a radially outer peripheral portion of a disk cover portion 721, which will be described later, of the cover member 72. The annular base 711 extends in the circumferential direction. The annular base portion 711 is shaped like a plate extending in the radial direction. The lower end portion of the gear portion 411 of the shutter member 4 contacts the upper surface of the ring-shaped base portion 711. The lower end of the gear portion 411 is a curved surface that is curved so as to protrude downward in the radial direction. The annular base portion 711 supports the shutter member 4 from below.

The rib 712 is disposed at the radial inner end of the annular base 711. The rib 712 protrudes upward from the annular base 711. The rib 712 is formed in a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis C. The rib 712 is located below the circular plate cover portion 721 of the cover member 72. The upper end of the rib 712 vertically faces the lower surface of the disk cover portion 721.

The motor base portion 713 is located radially outward with respect to the annular base portion 711. The motor base portion 713 is located below a motor cover portion 723, described later, of the cover member 72. The motor base 713 is located on the lower side of the shutter motor 5 and the gear 6. The motor base 713 supports the shutter motor 5 and the gear 6 from the lower side.

The cover member 72 is located at an upper portion of the housing 7. The cover member 72 includes a circular plate cover portion 721, a rib portion 722, a motor cover portion 723, a connecting portion 724, and a fixing portion 725.

The disk cover portion 721 is located below the impeller 21 of the fan motor 2 and radially inside the 3 shutters 42 of the shutter member 4. The radially outer peripheral portion of the disk cover portion 721 is located above the annular base portion 711 of the base member 71 and above the annular portion 41 of the shutter member 4. The circular plate cover portion 721 expands radially with respect to the central axis C.

The rib 722 is disposed on the radial outer peripheral portion of the disk cover portion 721. The rib 722 protrudes downward from the circular plate cover portion 721. The rib 722 is formed in a cylindrical shape centered on the central axis C. The rib 722 is located above the annular base portion 711 of the base member 71. The lower end of the rib 722 faces the upper surface of the annular base 711 in the vertical direction.

The rib 722 is fitted to the radially outer side of the rib 712 of the base member 71. The ribs 722 and the ribs 712 are radially opposed. Coupling portion 73 is provided to rib 722 and rib 712. In the present embodiment, the housing 7 has 4 coupling portions 73. The 4 coupling portions 73 are arranged in the circumferential direction. The coupling portion 73 has, for example, a snap-fit configuration. Coupling portion 73 couples rib 722 with rib 712 by snap-fit. In other words, the base member 71 and the cover member 72 are coupled to each other at the coupling portion 73.

The motor cover portion 723 is located radially outward of the disk cover portion 721 and the connecting portion 724. The motor cover portion 723 is located on the upper side of the motor base portion 713 of the base member 71. The motor cover 723 is located on the upper side of the shutter motor 5 and the gear 6. The motor cover 723 covers the upper sides of the shutter motor 5 and the gear 6. The motor cover 723 has an opening 7231 through which a power cable or the like of the shutter motor 5 passes.

The connecting portion 724 is located radially outward of the disc cover portion 721 and radially inward of the motor cover portion 723. The connecting portion 724 is located above the radially outer peripheral portion of the disc cover portion 721. The connecting portion 724 extends curvedly in the circumferential direction. The connecting portion 724 has a U-shaped longitudinal section when viewed in the circumferential direction. In detail, the connecting portion 724 has 2 side walls 7241 and an upper cover 7242.

The 2 side walls 7241 are arranged at intervals in the radial direction, are curved in the circumferential direction, and extend in the vertical direction. The upper cover 7242 connects the upper ends of the 2 side walls 7241 in the radial direction and extends in an arc shape in the circumferential direction. A circular plate cover portion 721 is connected to a lower end portion of the radially inner side wall 7241. A motor cover portion 723 is connected to a radially outer peripheral surface of the radially outer side wall 7241. The connecting portion 724 connects the disc cover portion 721 and the motor cover portion 723. Further, the shutter 42 rotating in the circumferential direction passes through the gap in the radial direction of the 2 side walls 7241.

The fixing portion 725 is provided to the circular plate cover portion 721 of the cover member 72. The fixing portion 725 is located at a radially central portion of the circular plate cover portion 721. The fixing portion 725 fixes the holding member 3.

< 2. detailed structure of the periphery of gate member

< 2-1. restriction part

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the shutter member 4 of the air flow control device 1 as viewed from the lower side. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the base member 71 of the air flow control device 1 as viewed from the upper side. Fig. 7 is a top view of base member 71 of air flow control device 1.

The air flow control device 1 has a restriction portion 8. The restricting portion 8 restricts the rotation angle of the shutter member 4. The restricting portion 8 includes a restricting piece 81, a protrusion 82, a 1 st contact portion 83, and a 2 nd contact portion 84.

The restricting piece 81 is provided on the shutter member 4. The restricting piece 81 is disposed on the lower surface of the annular portion 41. The restricting piece 81 protrudes downward from the annular portion 41. The regulating piece 81 is vertically opposed to the annular base portion 711 of the base member 71. That is, the restricting piece 81 protrudes toward the housing 7. The restricting piece 81 extends in the radial direction.

The projection 82 is provided on the base member 71 of the housing 7. The projection 82 is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom of the annular base portion 711 of the base member 71. The protrusion 82 protrudes upward from the bottom of the annular base 711. The projection 82 vertically faces the annular portion 41 of the shutter member 4. That is, the protrusion 82 protrudes toward the shutter member 4. The protrusion 82 has a plate shape extending in the vertical direction and the circumferential direction. Further, the projection 82 comes into contact with the regulating piece 81 with the rotation of the shutter member 4.

The 1 st contact portion 83 is disposed at one circumferential end of the protrusion 82. The 2 nd contact portion 84 is disposed at the other end portion in the circumferential direction of the protrusion portion 82. The 1 st contact portion 83 contacts the regulating piece 81 to regulate the 1 st rotation angle of the shutter member 4. The 2 nd contact portion 84 contacts the regulating piece 81 to regulate the 2 nd rotation angle of the shutter member 4. The 1 st rotation angle and the 2 nd rotation angle of the shutter member 4 are rotation angles of the shutter member 4 in the respective states of the open state and the closed state of the air flow path opened and closed by the shutter member 4.

As shown in fig. 7, the 1 st contact portion 83 and the 2 nd contact portion 84 are disposed on the shutter motor 5 side with respect to the center axis C. According to this structure, the 1 st contact portion 83 and the 2 nd contact portion 84 are located in the vicinity of the shutter motor 5. That is, the contact portion between the regulating piece 81 and the protrusion 82 is located in the vicinity of the portion where the rotational force is applied to the shutter member 4. This can reduce vibration and noise when the restricting piece 81 comes into contact with the protrusion 82. Further, when the contact portion between the regulating piece 81 and the projection 82 is located in the vicinity of the portion where the rotational force is applied to the shutter member 4, the regulating piece 81 can be prevented from being lifted up on the projection 82.

In detail, as shown in fig. 7, the 1 st contact portion 83 and the 2 nd contact portion 84 are located within a range of a rotation angle θ 1 of 45 degrees with respect to a radius line Lr extending in a radial direction from the center axis C toward the shutter motor 5. According to this configuration, the contact portion between the regulating piece 81 and the protrusion 82 is closer to the portion where the rotational force is applied to the shutter member 4. Therefore, the effect of reducing vibration and noise when the restricting piece 81 comes into contact with the protrusion 82 can be improved.

In addition, the protrusion 82 extends in the circumferential direction. According to this structure, the protrusion 82 can secure a length extending around the central axis C from the 1 st contact portion 83 to the 2 nd contact portion 84. Thus, the protrusion 82 can ensure strength that is less likely to deform even if the regulating piece 81 comes into contact with the 1 st contact portion 83 and the 2 nd contact portion 84.

The contact angle of the restricting piece 81 with respect to the 1 st contact portion 83 and the 2 nd contact portion 84 is perpendicular. In other words, as shown in fig. 7, the contact angle θ 2 between the protrusion 82 and the regulating piece 81 is a right angle. With this configuration, the sliding and displacement at the contact portion between the regulating piece 81 and the protrusion 82 can be suppressed. Therefore, the effect of reducing vibration and noise when the restricting piece 81 comes into contact with the protrusion 82 can be further improved.

< 2-2. modification of restricting portion

The shapes and the arrangement of the regulating piece and the projecting portion are not limited to the above configuration.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the shutter member 4 of the air flow control device 1 according to modification 1, as viewed from below. As shown in fig. 8, the restricting piece 85 may be a plate-like piece that protrudes downward from the annular portion 41 and extends in the circumferential direction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a base member 71 of an air flow control device 1 according to modification 1, as viewed from above. As shown in fig. 9, the projection 86 may be formed to protrude upward from the base member 71 and extend in the radial direction. The 1 st contact portion 87 is disposed at one circumferential end of the protrusion portion 86. The 2 nd contact portion 88 is disposed at the other end portion in the circumferential direction of the protrusion portion 86.

< 2-3. radial projection >

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the shutter member 4 and the cover member 72 of the air flow control device 1 as viewed from below. Cover member 72 of housing 7 has radial projections 726.

The radial projection 726 is disposed on the radial outer peripheral portion of the rib 722. The radial protrusion 726 protrudes radially outward from the rib 722. The radial protrusion 726 extends in the vertical direction. The cover member 72 has a plurality of radial protrusions 726. The plurality of radial protrusions 726 are arranged in parallel at intervals in the circumferential direction.

The radially outer end of the radially protruding portion 726 is radially opposed to the radially inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 41 of the shutter member 4. When the shutter member 4 rotates, the radially inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 41 slides relative to the radially protruding portion 726. That is, the radial projecting portion 726 projects in the radial direction toward the shutter member 4, and slides against the radially inner peripheral surface of the annular portion 41.

With this configuration, the contact area between the shutter member 4 and the housing 7 can be reduced in the radial direction. This can reduce the sliding friction resistance in the radial direction. The radially protruding portion may be provided on the shutter member 4 side.

< 2-4. axial convex part

Fig. 11 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of an air flow control device 1 according to modification 2. Since the basic configuration of modification 2 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment described with reference to fig. 1 to 10, the same reference numerals or names as those used above may be assigned to common components, and the description thereof may be omitted.

In the air flow control device 1 of modification 2, the base member 71 of the housing 7 has the axial protrusion 714. The axial projection 714 is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom of the base member 71. The axial boss 714 protrudes upward from the bottom of the base member 71. The axial protrusion 714 extends in the circumferential direction. Base member 71 has a plurality of axial protrusions 714. The plurality of axial protrusions 714 are juxtaposed at intervals in the circumferential direction.

The upper end of the axial convex portion 714 faces the lower end face of the gear portion 411 of the shutter member 4 in the vertical direction (axial direction). When the shutter member 4 rotates, the lower end surface of the gear portion 411 slides with respect to the axial convex portion 714. That is, the axial projecting portion 714 projects in the vertical direction toward the shutter member 4, and slides to face the lower end surface of the gear portion 411.

According to this structure, the contact area between the shutter member 4 and the housing 7 can be reduced in the axial direction. This can reduce the sliding friction resistance in the axial direction. The axially protruding portion may be provided on the shutter member 4 side.

< 3. other >)

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above, and various additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications of the structure may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the shape, size, number, and arrangement of the shutter 42, the regulating piece 81, the projecting portion 82, the radial projecting portion 726, and the axial projecting portion 714 are not limited to the configuration described above, and may be other shapes, sizes, numbers, and arrangements.

Industrial applicability

The air flow control device of the present invention is mounted on, for example, a refrigerator, and can be used for switching a flow path of cold air.

Claims (7)

1. An air flow control device, characterized in that,

the air flow control device comprises:

a fan motor having an impeller rotating about a 1 st central axis extending in an up-down direction, the fan motor generating an air flow;

a shutter member that opens and closes the air flow path by rotating about a 2 nd central axis extending in the vertical direction;

a shutter motor that rotates the shutter member;

a housing provided along an axial direction of the shutter member; and

a restricting portion that restricts a rotation angle of the shutter member,

the restricting portion has:

a restricting piece provided on the shutter member and protruding toward the housing;

a projection provided in the housing, projecting toward the shutter member, and coming into contact with the regulating piece in accordance with rotation of the shutter member;

a 1 st contact portion disposed at one circumferential end of the projection portion, the 1 st contact portion being in contact with the restricting piece to restrict the 1 st rotation angle; and

a 2 nd contact portion which is disposed at the other end portion in the circumferential direction of the projection portion and which regulates the 2 nd rotation angle by contacting the regulation piece,

the 1 st contact portion and the 2 nd contact portion are disposed on the shutter motor side with respect to the 2 nd central axis.

2. The air flow control apparatus according to claim 1,

the 1 st contact part and the 2 nd contact part are located within the range of the rotation angle of 45 degrees with respect to a radius line extending in a radial direction from the 2 nd central axis toward the shutter motor.

3. The air flow control apparatus according to claim 1,

one of the restricting piece and the protruding portion extends in the circumferential direction.

4. The air flow control apparatus of claim 3,

the contact angle of the limiting piece relative to the 1 st contact part and the 2 nd contact part is a right angle.

5. The air flow control apparatus according to claim 1,

one of the shutter member and the housing has a radial protrusion that protrudes radially toward the other and slides relative to the peripheral surface of the other.

6. The air flow control apparatus according to claim 1,

one of the shutter member and the housing has an axial projection projecting in the axial direction toward the other and sliding relative to an axial end surface of the other.

7. The air flow control apparatus according to claim 1,

the 1 st central axis and the 2 nd central axis extend along the same straight line.

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