CN218760593U

CN218760593U - Fan with cooling device

Info

Publication number: CN218760593U
Application number: CN202221218640.6U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张伟
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
Current assignee: Fansongni Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-24
Filing date: 2022-05-19
Publication date: 2023-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2032-05-19
Also published as: WO2022248287A1; EP4348057A1

Abstract

According to one aspect, there is provided a fan (100) comprising: a housing (1) defining an opening (2) extending through the housing (1); a first air flow passage defined within the housing (1) and comprising a first air inlet (6), a first air outlet (10) and a first impeller (4) for driving air from the first inlet to the first outlet; and a second air flow channel defined within the housing (1) comprising a second air inlet (8), a second air outlet (16) and a second impeller (11) for driving air from the second inlet to the second outlet, wherein the first and second air outlets (10, 16) are configured to draw air in through the opening (2).

Description

Fan with cooling device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan without external blades for providing an air flow.

Background

A conventional fan includes a set of blades arranged to rotate about a central axis, the blades being driven by a motor to provide an airflow, typically a cooling airflow.

An air multiplier or bladeless fan is a fan that does not include an outer set of blades. In a conventional air multiplier or bladeless fan, the airflow is provided by an impeller located within the bottom of the fan, which drives air from an inlet to an outlet. The fan has an opening at the center of the fan, through which air discharged from the outlet is sucked by a Coanda effect (Coanda effect), thereby causing an increase in air flow. Since the impeller rotates at a high speed, the air flow is smoother than that of a general blade fan, and thus the air flow feels more natural. Furthermore, the absence of external vanes also has a safety advantage.

However, the airflow is limited by the impeller, especially when air is cleaned using an air filter. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved fan.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

According to one aspect, there is provided a fan comprising: a housing defining an opening extending therethrough; a first air flow passage defined within the housing and including a first air inlet, a first air outlet and a first impeller for driving air from the first inlet to the first outlet; and a second airflow channel defined within the housing, including a second air inlet, a second air outlet, and a second impeller for driving air from the second inlet to the second outlet, wherein the first and second air outlets are configured to draw air in through the opening.

The opening may extend completely through the housing. The opening may extend completely through the housing in the depth direction. The opening may extend through the housing from the first side of the housing to the second side of the housing. The openings may be airflow openings. The opening may be configured such that, in use of the fan, air flows through the opening. The opening may be substantially cylindrical. The airflow opening may be defined by a radially inner surface of the housing. The housing may have an inner surface defining an opening and an outer surface. The housing may have a radially inner surface defining an opening and a radially outer surface.

The first and second air outlets may be configured to draw air in through the opening as the air is expelled from the first and second air outlets. The first and second air outlets may be configured to draw air through the opening and around the outer surface of the housing. The first and second air outlets may be configured to draw air through the opening and around the outer surface of the housing when the air is exhausted from the first and second air outlets. The first and second outlets may be configured to discharge air proximate the opening. The first outlet and the second outlet may be configured to discharge air into the opening. The first and second air outlets may be located on an inner surface of the housing. The first and second air outlets may be located on a radially inner surface of the housing,

the first and second outlets may be configured to draw air through the opening via a coanda effect. The first and second outlets may be configured to draw air from around the outer surface of the housing through the coanda effect. The air discharged by the first and second openings may entrain ambient air. Thus, the amount of air driven or discharged by the fan may be greater than the amount of air drawn in at the air inlet of the fan and discharged at the air outlet. The shape of the first and second air outlets may be configured to provide a coanda effect.

The fan may also be referred to as an air mover. The fan may be a bladeless fan or an air multiplier. The fan may be an air purifier. The fan may be a humidifier and/or a heater. The impeller may comprise a rotor and blades or vanes for transmitting motion. The impeller may impart motion to the air in the airflow path.

In use, air may be drawn into the first and second inlets from the back of the housing. Air may flow along the first and second air passages and exit the housing at the first and second outlets. The first air passage may include a first inlet, a first inlet chamber, a first impeller, a first outlet chamber, and a first outlet. The second air passage may include a second inlet, a second inlet chamber, a second impeller, a second outlet chamber, and a second outlet.

By providing two air flow channels, each channel comprising an inlet, an impeller and an outlet, the amount of air drawn into the fan can be increased, so that an effective air flow can be provided. The fan cooling performance can be improved. The gas flow channels may be independent of each other. The gas flow channels may be separate from each other. The fan may comprise two or more airflow channels. Each airflow channel may include at least one air inlet, at least one air outlet, and at least one impeller for driving air between the one or more inlets and the one or more outlets. A housing may surround each airflow passage.

The housing may define a centerline, and wherein the first impeller is on one side of the centerline and the second impeller is on the other side of the centerline. The first and second impellers may be located in the housing on opposite sides of the opening. The centerline may be a central plane. The central plane may define an axis of symmetry of the housing. By positioning the first and second impellers on different sides of the centre line or centre plane, a compact arrangement of the impellers, and thus of the fan, may be provided.

The first and second impellers may have an axis of rotation, and the first and second impellers may be arranged such that the axis of rotation is parallel to the centerline. The first and second impellers may be arranged such that the axis of rotation is parallel to the central plane.

The housing may be elongate. The first impeller may be positioned toward or near a first end of the housing and the second impeller may be positioned toward or near a second end of the housing opposite the first end. The elongated housing has a length greater than its width. The fan may be positioned in a vertical orientation such that the longest dimension is arranged vertically. The fan may be positioned in a horizontal orientation such that the longest dimension is arranged horizontally. The opening may be substantially cylindrical through the housing.

The housing may be generally cylindrical, with the diameter of the cylinder defining the width and depth of the housing.

The first inlet and the second inlet may be located on an inner surface of the housing. The first inlet and the second inlet may be located on a radially inner surface of the housing. The first inlet and the second inlet may be located in the opening. Placing the inlet on the interior surface of the housing may enable the fan to be placed in a range of positions and orientations while allowing acceptable air flow through the inlet. Placing the inlet on the interior surface of the housing may enable the fan to be placed in a range of positions and orientations without blocking the airflow to the inlet. The arrangement of the inlet on the inner surface of the housing may provide a fan having a compact size. The position of the air inlet on the inner surface of the housing may allow air to be drawn through the opening when the impeller is used to drive air from the inlet to the outlet.

The first inlet and the second inlet may be located on opposite sides of the opening. The first inlet and the second inlet may be located on diametrically opposite sides of the opening. The first inlet and the second inlet may be located at opposite sides of the opening in a width direction of the case. The first inlet and the second inlet may be located on opposite sides of the opening in a length direction of the housing. The first and second inlets may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the inlets are positioned on horizontally opposite sides of the opening, such as the first inlet being on the left hand side of the opening and the second inlet being on the right hand side of the opening. The first and second inlets may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the inlets are positioned on vertically opposite sides of the opening, such as the first inlet being on a top side of the opening and the second inlet being on a bottom side of the opening. The fan may be positioned in a range of positions and orientations, and the relative arrangement of the first and second inlets will depend on the orientation of the fan.

At least one motor may be provided in the fan. A single motor may drive both the first impeller and the second impeller. Each impeller may have a separate motor arranged to drive the impeller. The or each motor may be provided in the housing.

The first and second impellers may be located in the housing. The first and second impellers may be located on opposite sides of an opening in the housing. By positioning the first and second impellers on opposite sides of the opening, the fan can be more compact in size. The first and second impellers may be located on opposite sides of the opening in a length direction of the housing. The first impeller and the second impeller may be located on opposite sides of the opening in a width direction of the housing. The first and second impellers may be located on diametrically opposite sides of the opening. The first and second impellers may be located on opposite sides of the opening in the direction of the length of the housing. The first impeller and the second impeller may be located at opposite sides of the opening in a width direction of the casing. The first and second impellers may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the impellers are positioned on vertically opposite sides of the opening, such as the first impeller being on a top side of the opening and the second impeller being on a bottom side of the opening. The first and second impellers may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the impellers are positioned on horizontally opposite sides of the opening, such as the first impeller being on the left hand side of the opening and the second impeller being on the right hand side of the opening. The fan may be positioned in a range of positions and orientations, and the relative arrangement of the first and second impellers will depend on the orientation of the fan. The impeller may be a high speed impeller. The impeller may be a mixed flow impeller.

At least one of the first and second airflow channels may include a filter. The fan may be an air purifier by placing a filter in at least one of the first and second airflow paths. The filter is configured to purify air flowing through the airflow passage such that the outlet discharges cleaner air. The filter removes impurities from the air. Adding a filter to the airflow path increases the resistance to airflow through the airflow path. By providing two air inlets, two impellers and two independent air flow channels, the effect of additional drag is reduced, thereby providing improved cleaning performance. A filter may be located between the air inlet and the impeller. The filter may be located in the housing behind the air inlet. The filter may be located in the housing adjacent the air inlet.

At least one of the first and second gas flow passages may include a heating element and/or a humidifier. The first and second gas flow passages may each include a heating element and/or a humidifier. At least one of the first and second airflow paths may include a cooling element and/or a dehumidifier. The first and second airflow channels may each include a cooling element and/or a dehumidifier.

The first outlet and the second outlet may each comprise a curved guide surface. The curved guide surface guides the air so as to entrain ambient air by the coanda effect.

The first outlet and the second outlet may each comprise a slit-shaped outlet. The first outlet and the second outlet may be formed on a circumference of the opening. The slit-shaped outlet directs air to entrain ambient air by the coanda effect.

The first and second air outlets may be located on opposite sides of the opening. The first outlet and the second outlet may be located on diametrically opposite sides of the opening. The first outlet and the second outlet may be located at opposite sides of the opening in a width direction of the housing. The first outlet and the second outlet may be located on opposite sides of the opening in a length direction of the housing. The first outlet and the second outlet may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the outlets are positioned on horizontally opposite sides of the opening, such as the first outlet on the left hand side of the opening and the second outlet on the right hand side of the opening. The first outlet and the second outlet may be positioned such that when the fan is positioned in an upright position, the outlets are positioned on vertically opposite sides of the opening, such as the first outlet being on a top side of the opening and the second outlet being on a bottom side of the opening. The fan may be positioned in a range of positions and orientations, and the relative arrangement of the first and second outlets will depend on the orientation of the fan.

In use, air may flow from the rear of the housing to the front of the housing through the opening. The first and second air outlets may be positioned towards the front of the housing. The first and second air inlets may be located towards the rear of the housing. The first and second air inlets may be located substantially behind the first and second air outlets. By positioning the air inlet towards the rear of the housing, behind the air outlet, the inlet can draw air from the rear of the fan. The opening at the rear of the housing may be wider than the front of the housing.

To avoid unnecessary repetition of labor and text in the specification, certain features have been described only in connection with one or more aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it should be understood that features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention where technically feasible.

These and other aspects will be apparent from one or more embodiments described below.

Drawings

Exemplary embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fan in accordance with the arrangement of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the fan (taken along line II-II in FIG. 1);

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fan (taken along the line labeled III-III in FIG. 2) arranged in accordance with the present disclosure; and

fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fan (taken along the line labeled IV-IV in fig. 2) in accordance with an arrangement of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, a fan 100 in accordance with the inventive arrangements is shown. The fan 100 includes a case 1, and an opening 2 is formed through the case 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 1 is generally cylindrical and has a length L _H Width W _H And depth D _H . The housing 1 is defined by a generally cylindrical outer surface 30 and two planar end surfaces 34, 36. Since the housing 1 is substantially cylindrical, it will be appreciated that the width W _H And depth D _H Are substantially identical. Length L _H Longer than width W _H And depth D _H So that the housing 1 is elongated in the length direction. A center line or center plane C is defined through the middle of the housing 1 in the horizontal direction dividing the housing 1 in half.

In FIG. 1, the fan 100 is in an upright position such that the length L _H In a substantially vertical direction. In the vertical position, the fan 100 rests on a substantially circular end face of the casing 134 and occupies a small portion of the area of the surface on which it rests. The fan 100 may also be used in a horizontal orientation, wherein the length L _H Arranged in a horizontal direction. In this orientation, the fan 100 will have a low height profile, making it particularly suitable for use in locations where available vertical space is limited, such as under a table. The generally cylindrical shape of the housing 1 may be slightly flattened to form a plane on which the fan 100 can rest in a horizontal position.

The opening 2 is defined by an inner surface 38 of the housing 1. The inner surface 38 of the housing 1 forms various features of the fan 100, as described below. As indicated by the arrows in fig. 1, in use, when the fan 100 is in use, air passes through the opening 2 in the depth direction. The air enters the opening 2 in an area that will be referred to as the rear 20 of the housing throughout the description, and the air exits the opening 2 in an area that will be referred to as the front 22 of the housing.

The opening 2 is formed in the housing 1 in a substantially cylindrical shape at a depth D of the housing 1 _H Having a depth D in the direction _O . The opening 2 is formed through the housing 1 in the depth direction. From a front view, the opening 2 is substantially stadium or oblong in shape, since it is formed by two semicircles connected by a parallel line tangent to their endpoints. The opening 2 through the housing 1 is therefore substantially in the form of a cylinder flattened in the width direction, defining an inner surface 24 of the housing 1, which inner surface 24 has

flat surfaces

26, 27 and semi-cylindrical ends 28, 29. The opening 2 has a length L between the hemispherical ends 28, 29 _O Having a width W between the

parallel surfaces

26, 27 _O . Length L _O And width W _O Each being smaller than a corresponding length L of the housing 1 _H And width W _H . As shown in fig. 3 and 4, width W _O Narrowing slightly from the front 22 to the rear 20 of the housing 1 so that the opening 2 tapers, as it were, towards the rear 20 of the housing 1. Thus, the

planes

26, 27 are not perfectly parallel.

Referring now to fig. 2 to 4, the housing 1 encloses two separate airflow channels or paths. Each airflow path includes an inlet 6, 8, an

impeller

4, 11 and an

outlet

10, 16. Each air flow passage also passes through an air chamber defined by the housing 1. The plenum comprises left and

right inlet chambers

13, 5, top and

bottom chambers

3, 12 and left and

right outlet chambers

9, 15. By providing two independent airflow channels with two independent inlets and impellers, fan performance may be improved without significantly increasing the size of the fan 100.

The fan 100, arranged in a vertical position as seen from the front, as shown in fig. 2, the first air flow channel or path comprises a first inlet 6 and a right inlet chamber 5 located on the right hand side of the opening 2, a first impeller 4 and a top chamber 3 located above the opening 2, and a left outlet chamber 9 and a first outlet 10 located on the left hand side of the opening 2. The second air flow channel or path comprises a second inlet 8 and a left inlet chamber 13 located on the left hand side of the opening 2, a second impeller 11 and a bottom chamber 12 located below the opening 2, and a right outlet chamber 15 and a second outlet 16 located on the right hand side of the opening. As can be seen from the figure, the air flow channels are arranged substantially rotationally symmetrical.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the first and second inlets 6, 8 are arranged on

opposite planes

26, 27 of the opening 2. The inlets 6, 8 extend substantially along the entire length L0 of the opening 2. The inlets 6, 8 are located towards the rear of the opening 2 so that air can be drawn in from the rear of the fan 100 in use. In other embodiments, the inlets 6, 8 may be located on the top and bottom end faces 34, 36 or the outer surface 30 of the housing.

Filters

7, 14 are located in the

inlet chambers

5, 13 behind the inlets 6, 8. The

filters

7, 14 remove impurities from the air and enable the fan 100 to function as an air purifier.

Filters

7, 14 are added to the airflow path to increase the resistance to airflow within the path. By providing two separate inlets 6, 8 and air flow passages, the performance of the purifier is improved. In other embodiments, the

inlet chambers

5, 13 and/or the

outlet chambers

9, 15 may include filters, heating/cooling elements, and/or humidifiers/dehumidifiers.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the first and

second air outlets

10, 16 each comprise a narrow elongate slit towards the front of the housing 1. The

air outlets

10, 16 are formed on the front circumference of the opening 2. Thus, the

air outlets

10, 16 are located in front of the inlets 6, 8. The

air outlets

10, 16 have curved guide surfaces which are shaped to provide a coanda effect which effectively increases the amount of air moved by the fan 100. The air flow from the

outlets

10, 16 draws in air through the opening 2, thereby increasing the amount of air moved. Furthermore, the air flow flowing out of the

outlets

10, 16 draws in air from around the outer surface 30 of the housing 1, thus further increasing the amount of air moved.

In fig. 4, a horizontal cross-section is taken through the first impeller 4 located at the top of the housing 1. As indicated by the arrows, air flows upwardly from the right inlet chamber 5, through the impeller 4 in a generally right-to-left direction and downwardly into the left outlet chamber 9. The first impeller 4 drives the airflow by rotation of a set of impeller blades about an impeller axis a. As shown in fig. 4, the axis a extends substantially horizontally in the width direction of the housing 1 so as to move air in a direction substantially from right to left. However, since the

inlet chambers

5, 13 and the inlets 6, 8 are positioned toward the rear of the housing 1, and the

outlet chambers

9, 15 and the

outlets

10, 16 are positioned toward the front of the housing 1, the impeller axis 4 is slightly deviated from the width direction. As a result, the air moves in a direction having a forward component, thereby directing the air from the right inlet chamber 5 to the left outlet chamber 9. The impeller axis a is arranged substantially parallel to a plane defined by the width direction and the depth direction of the casing 1. In other words, the impeller axis a lies in a plane parallel to the central plane C. The impeller 4 is a high-speed impeller that provides a smooth airflow. Since the impeller is generally longer in its axial direction than in its radial direction. This arrangement minimizes the length dimension of the housing 1 surrounding the impeller, so that the housing 1 can be compact.

By positioning the air inlet 6, 8 on the inner surface 24 of the housing and providing the

inlet chamber

5, 13, air can flow from the inlet 6, 8 to the

impeller

4, 11 in a smoothly curved path. Alternatively, the air inlets 6, 8 may be located on the outer surface 30 or end faces of the

housings

34, 36. Such an airflow will have a greater resistance and therefore be less efficient due to the abrupt corners and thus the change in direction of the airflow. If the inlets 6, 8 are located on the outer surface 30 or the end faces 34, 36 of the housing 1, the housing 1 will also be larger to ensure sufficient air flow into the inlets 6, 8. By providing the inlets 6, 8 on the inner surface 24, a smooth and clean outer surface 30 and end faces 34, 36 of the housing 1 may be provided and the appearance of the fan 100 improved.

The impeller 4 is a mixed flow impeller in which air is input in an axial direction and air is output in a direction having axial and radial components. Although only a detailed view of the top impeller 4 is shown in fig. 4, the skilled person will understand that the arrangement of the bottom impeller 11 and the airflow through the bottom impeller 11 will be opposite to the top impeller 4, i.e. the impeller axis a will be arranged to drive air between the left inlet chamber 13 located towards the rear of the housing 1 and the right outlet chamber 15 located towards the front of the housing 1. The arrangement of the

impellers

4, 11 at opposite ends of the housing 1, the substantially symmetrical positioning of the airflow channels results in an efficient use of space, which means that the fan 100 can be more compact whilst having higher performance on a single impeller fan system.

The fan 100 further comprises first and second motors (not shown) arranged to drive the first and

second impellers

4, 11, respectively. The user can control the motor by means of a switch. In use of the fan 100, a user switches the switch to turn on the power to the first and second motors. The motor drives the first and

second impellers

4, 11. As a result, air from the space in the rear 20 of the housing 1 is drawn into the

inlet chambers

5, 13 through the inlets 6, 8. From the first or right inlet chamber 5, air is drawn up into the top chamber 3 and through the first impeller 4. The air then travels downwardly from the first impeller 4 to the left outlet chamber 9 and out through the first outlet 10. From the second or left inlet chamber 13, air is drawn down into the bottom chamber 12 and through the second impeller 11. The air then leaves the second impeller 11 up into the right outlet chamber 15 and out through the second outlet 16, flowing towards the space in the front 22 of the housing 1. By the coanda effect, the air discharged from the first and

second outlets

10, 16 also draws in air through the opening 2 and passes around the outer surface 30 of the housing 1, thereby increasing the amount of air delivered to the space in the front portion 22 of the fan 100.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the principles and techniques described herein, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

1. A fan (100), comprising:

a housing (1) defining an opening (2) extending through the housing (1);

a first air flow passage defined within the housing (1) comprising a first air inlet (6), a first air outlet (10) and a first impeller (4) for driving air from the first air inlet to the first air outlet; and

a second air flow passage defined within the housing (1) comprising a second air inlet (8), a second air outlet (16) and a second impeller (11) for driving air from the second air inlet to the second air outlet,

the first air outlet (10) and the second air outlet (16) are configured to draw in air through the opening (2),

in use, air is configured to flow through the opening (2) from a rear (20) of the housing (1) to a front (22) of the housing, and the first and second air outlets (10, 16) are located towards the front of the housing, and the first and second air inlets (6, 8) are located towards the rear.

2. The fan according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing (1) defines a central plane (C) and wherein the first impeller (4) is located on one side of the central plane and the second impeller (11) is located on the other side of the central plane.

3. The fan according to claim 2, characterized in that the first and second impellers (4, 11) have a rotation axis (a) and are arranged so that the rotation axis is parallel to the central plane.

4. The fan according to any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the housing (1) comprises an elongated housing, the first impeller (4) being adjacent to a first end of the housing and the second impeller (11) being adjacent to a second end of the housing opposite to the first end.

5. A fan according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the housing (1) is substantially cylindrical.

6. A fan according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the first air inlet (6) and the second air inlet (8) are located on an inner surface (24) of the housing.

7. The fan according to claim 6, characterized in that the first air inlet (6) and the second air inlet (8) are located on opposite sides of the opening (2).

8. The fan according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 7, wherein at least one of the first and second air flow passages comprises a filter (7, 14).

9. The fan according to claim 8, characterized in that the filter (7, 14) is located between the first and second air inlets (6, 8) and the impeller (4, 11).

10. The fan of claim 1, 2, 3, 7, or 9 wherein at least one of the first and second airflow passages comprises at least one of: a heating element and a humidifier.

11. The fan of claim 1, 2, 3, 7, or 9 wherein the first air outlet and the second air outlet each comprise a curved guide surface.

12. The fan of claim 1, 2, 3, 7 or 9 wherein the first and second air outlets comprise slit-shaped outlets.

13. The fan according to claim 1, 2, 3, 7 or 9, wherein the first air outlet (10) and the second air outlet (16) are located on opposite sides of the opening (2).