EP0467557A1 - Blower assembly with impeller for vacuum cleaner - Google Patents
Blower assembly with impeller for vacuum cleaner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0467557A1 EP0467557A1 EP91306038A EP91306038A EP0467557A1 EP 0467557 A1 EP0467557 A1 EP 0467557A1 EP 91306038 A EP91306038 A EP 91306038A EP 91306038 A EP91306038 A EP 91306038A EP 0467557 A1 EP0467557 A1 EP 0467557A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- impeller
- diffuser
- vanes
- inlet
- vacuum cleaner
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L9/00—Details or accessories of suction cleaners, e.g. mechanical means for controlling the suction or for effecting pulsating action; Storing devices specially adapted to suction cleaners or parts thereof; Carrying-vehicles specially adapted for suction cleaners
- A47L9/02—Nozzles
- A47L9/08—Nozzles with means adapted for blowing
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47L5/00—Structural features of suction cleaners
- A47L5/12—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum
- A47L5/22—Structural features of suction cleaners with power-driven air-pumps or air-compressors, e.g. driven by motor vehicle engine vacuum with rotary fans
Definitions
- This invention relates to impellers for vacuum cleaners and to vacuum cleaners having an impeller and a blower motor driving the impeller.
- JP-A-59-74396 discloses an impeller for an electric blower in which a shroud plate is defined in the vicinity of the inlet of an impeller by a continuous curve, as viewed in an axial plane, having a large curvature as compared to the inner diameter of the impeller.
- This design can reduce exhaust noise, but is liable to relatively increase the sound transmitted through walls in the vacuum cleaner, due to vibrations transmitted to the walls.
- JP-A-59-74396 also, a covering portion of the blower casing is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the shroud plate of the impeller in the vicinity of the inlet of the impeller. Consequently, when the axial direction of the incoming air flow changes to the radial direction in the inlet region of the impeller, the flow breaks away on the side of the shroud, causing a large loss. Since the aerodynamic condition of the flow is bad in the inlet section of the impeller, noise proportional to the product of the number of vanes and the rotational speed of the impeller tends to increase.
- the length of overlap between the impeller inlet and the blower casing is determined by the thickness of the shroud plate of the impeller, the length of a sealing portion is limited to as small as 1 mm; thus, it is difficult to decrease the leakage flow rate between the shroud plate and the casing.
- the leak flow is substantially perpendicular to the main flow at the inlet of the impeller, break-away of the flow is promoted.
- the shroud plate is curved as viewed in the axial plane, the hub plate opposite the shroud plate and the shroud plate tend to be deformed during the fixing of the shroud plate and the vanes together, creating deviation of the impeller from the desired shape. Further, a gap tends to appear at the end surface of the vane inside the impeller, increasing leakage and loss.
- the specific speed of the electric blower for use in the vacuum cleaner is low (a small flow rate is provided in spite of a high pressure with respect to a relative rotational speed) and generally, the outlet width of the impeller is designed to be small; therefore, since the friction loss within the impeller becomes large as the outlet width of the impeller is decreased, the width and outlet angle of the vanes are made comparatively large. Accordingly, in the electric blower for use in a household vacuum cleaner, the outlet absolute flow angle of the impeller is designed to be about 6 ⁇ , and the inlet angle of the diffuser is set to as large as 5 in practice.
- the object of the present invention is at least partly to avoid the disadvantages described above, and to improve the air flow efficiency through the blower of a vacuum cleaner.
- the present invention is set out in claim 1, and the impeller of the invention in another aspect is set out in claim 2.
- the shroud plate of the impeller is frusto-conical in shape at its region adjacent the impeller vanes.
- the extremity of the flange of the shroud plate is at an angle of not more than 30 to the axis, as seen in axial cross-section. Best results are obtained when the ratio of (a) the radius of curvature of the shroud plate, at its region of curvature into said flange, to (b) the vane inlet width in the axial direction, is in the range 0.5 to 1.0.
- Embodiments of impellers and vacuum cleaner blowers of the invention will now be described. They may be fitted in conventional vacuum cleaners. Examples of vacuum cleaners in which they may be mounted are shown in European Patent Applications 91303152.2 and 91303496.3.
- the electric vacuum cleaner blower shown in Fig. 1 and 2 is composed of a blower portion 80 and a motor portion 81. Disposed inside a housing 81 a of the motor portion 81 are a rotor 83 secured to a rotating shaft 82 and a stator 85 including coils 84a and 84b.
- the housing 81 a has a bearing-retaining portion 81 b formed at the centre of its end wall, and a bearing 86a for rotatably supporting one end of the rotating shaft 82 is disposed in the bearing-retaining portion 81b.
- the housing 81 a also has exhaust ports 81 c in its peripheral surface.
- the housing 81 a has an end bracket 87 at the opposite end, and this end bracket 87 connects the blower portion 80 and the motor 81 together.
- the end bracket 87 has a bearing retaining portion 87a at its centre and a flat portion 87b around its circumference.
- the flat portion 87b is formed with suction ports 88 through which the air from the blower 80 is sent into the motor 81 to cool it.
- Disposed in the bearing-retaining portion 87a is a bearing 86b for rotatably supporting the other end of the rotating shaft 82.
- the end bracket 87 carries a diffuser 89, and on the upstream side of the diffuser, a centrifugal impeller 90 is secured to the rotating shaft 82 by means of a nut 91.
- the centrifugal impeller 90 and the diffuser 89 are covered by a blower casing 92 pressure-fitted to the circumference of the end bracket 87.
- the blower casing 92 has a suction port 93 formed in its central portion to provide an inlet to the central inlet region of the impeller.
- the diffuser 89 is composed of a plurality of diffuser vanes 94 arranged radially outside the circumference of the centrifugal impeller 90.
- a plurality of return guide vanes 95 are arranged on the back of a wall 89a lying adjacent the impeller 90 and supporting the diffuser vanes 94.
- the wall 89a has a rounded outer peripheral edge to smooth the air flow from the diffuser vanes 94 to the return guide vanes 95, and in conjunction with the wall 89a and the end bracket 87, the return guide vanes 95 define a return guide passage through which the air flow is guided to the suction ports 88.
- Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the centrifugal impeller 90 and the diffuser region in more detail.
- the impeller 90 is composed of a plurality of vanes 96, a shroud plate 97 and hub plate 98.
- Each vane 96 has on each edge three protrusions which are fitted in holes formed in the shroud plate 97 and the hub plate 98 and then caulked or upset, so that these components are rigidly and tightly secured together at these connection points.
- the vanes 96 are curved as they extend outwardly, but for convenience this is not indicated in Fig. 2.
- the outer diameter portion of the shroud plate 97 is frusto-conical, i.e. straight as seen in the axial plane, radially outwardly of the innermost point of connection 99 to the vanes 96. Inwardly of the point 99, the shroud plate 97 is shaped as to define a rounded portion 97a ending in an upwardly turned flange 97b whose end portion is at about 20 to the impeller axis. The radius of curvature of the rounded portion 87a is 0.7 times the vane inlet width.
- the blower casing 92 is shaped to provide an inwardly bent flange 92a, and a leakage gap 100 is left between the flange 92a and the flange 97b of the impeller 90. As seen in Fig. 2, the flanges 92a and 97b overlap axially (see also Figs. 4 and 5), with the flange 92a radially inside.
- the leak flow Since the direction of the leak flow is parallel to the axis and in this region the main flow is also parallel to the axis, the leak flow does not have bad influence on the main flow, and since the radius of curvature of the rounded portion 97a of the shroud plate is large, the main flow breaks away from the shroud plate 97 at most only slightly.
- the shroud plate 97 is straight from its outer circumference to the innermost point of connection 99 as viewed in the axial plane, and there is only a small difference in height of the vane 96 between its inlet and outlet. Therefore, although the vane 96 is curved in the circumferential direction in a conventional manner, the force applied in caulking each protrusion of the vane 96 does not vary from one caulking point to another. Accordingly, the deformation of the shroud plate 97 and of the hub plate 98 is minimized even under the force applied to each caulking point. Consequently, hardly any gaps arise between the vanes 96, shroud plate 97 and hub plate 98, and leak flow between the pressure side and suction pressure side of the vane 96 is suppressed. Further, since any face deflection of the shroud plate 97 and of the hub plate 98 is small, unbalance hardly arises; thus, noise based on a frequency corresponding to the rotational speed decreases.
- the shroud plate 97 is straight in its outer diameter portion, as viewed in the axial plane, and has a rounded portion 97a inwardly from the innermost point of connection 99, as in Fig. 2.
- the shroud plate 97 in this case is provided with a cylindrical portion 97b extending axially from the end of the rounded portion 97a.
- the blower casing 101 has an inwardly bent flange 101 a at its inner diameter region, so that the gap 100 is left between the flange 101 a and the cylindrical portion 97b of the impeller 90. Since the length of the gap 100 is much larger than the thickness of the shroud plate 97, the friction loss of the leak flow can be made very large, the leak flow can be reduced remarkably, and the efficiency of the electric blower can be improved.
- Figs. 6 and 7 show the diffuser 89 of Figs. 1 and 2 with its vanes 94, as viewed from the suction port 93 of the electric blower.
- the inlet angle Q 3 of the diffuser vane 94 as shown in Fig. 7 is 3°.
- the inlet angle ⁇ 3 is the angle between the inner face of the vane at its leading edge and the tangential line at this point.
- the throat width ws is 2.2 mm, and its ratio to the inner diameter of the diffuser is 0.02.
- the radius of the rounded leading edge of the vane 94 is 0.5 mm.
- the air flow coming out of the impeller 90 is decelerated in a semi-vaneless space of the vaned diffuser 89 and further decelerated in each passage defined between two vanes 94.
- the air discharge velocity of the blower can be made large, particularly about 0.8 times the peripheral speed of the impeller. Accordingly, the size of the impeller can be reduced.
- Fig. 8 shows the relative efficiency of an electric blower including the impeller according to the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7, relative to a varying diffuser inlet angle j83. The efficiency under the condition that the diffuser inlet angle ⁇ 3 is 5° was taken as a reference.
- the diffuser inlet angle ⁇ 3 is smaller than 2°, the length of the semi-vaneless space is longer, the friction loss increases, and the efficiency decreases. Where the diffuser inlet angle ⁇ 3 is larger than 3 ⁇ , it tends to come out of the flow angle from the impeller; thus, the performance degrades. As will be appreciated, where the diffuser inlet angle ⁇ 3 is within the range of 2 to 3 ⁇ , the efficiency is about 2% greater than that in the prior art based on an angle of 5 ⁇ , and even where the diffuser inlet angle is within the range of 1 to 2° or within the range of 3 to 4°, the efficiency is 1% greater.
- Fig. 9 shows the efficiency of the same electric blower relative to a varying throat width ws.
- the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is smaller than 0.017, the deceleration is insufficient in the semi-open portion but increases in the passages defined between two vanes 94; thus, the flow breaks away in such a passage, thereby decreasing the efficiency.
- the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is larger than 0.025, the deceleration becomes too significant in the semi-open portion; thus, the flow deviates remarkably as it flows into each passage defined between two vanes, thereby decreasing the efficiency.
- the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is 0.02, the efficiency is high.
- Fig. 10 shows the relative efficiency of this electric blower obtained when varying the ratio given by where
- this ratio is smaller than 1.75, since the number of the diffuser vanes increases, the throat width decreases, surging occurs at a low flow rate, and pressure loss increases at a large flow rate, tending to narrow the serviceable range.
- this ratio is larger than 3.5, the number of vanes of the diffuser 89 decreases, tending to cause interference with the number of blades of the impeller, so that a peak sound is generated, and the noise level is increased.
- this ratio is 2.1 as in the actual embodiment, the efficiency is high.
Abstract
Description
- This invention relates to impellers for vacuum cleaners and to vacuum cleaners having an impeller and a blower motor driving the impeller.
- In the field of household vacuum cleaners, JP-A-59-74396 discloses an impeller for an electric blower in which a shroud plate is defined in the vicinity of the inlet of an impeller by a continuous curve, as viewed in an axial plane, having a large curvature as compared to the inner diameter of the impeller. This design can reduce exhaust noise, but is liable to relatively increase the sound transmitted through walls in the vacuum cleaner, due to vibrations transmitted to the walls.
- In JP-A-59-74396 also, a covering portion of the blower casing is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the shroud plate of the impeller in the vicinity of the inlet of the impeller. Consequently, when the axial direction of the incoming air flow changes to the radial direction in the inlet region of the impeller, the flow breaks away on the side of the shroud, causing a large loss. Since the aerodynamic condition of the flow is bad in the inlet section of the impeller, noise proportional to the product of the number of vanes and the rotational speed of the impeller tends to increase.
- Additionally, since the length of overlap between the impeller inlet and the blower casing is determined by the thickness of the shroud plate of the impeller, the length of a sealing portion is limited to as small as 1 mm; thus, it is difficult to decrease the leakage flow rate between the shroud plate and the casing.
- Furthermore, since the leak flow is substantially perpendicular to the main flow at the inlet of the impeller, break-away of the flow is promoted. Since the shroud plate is curved as viewed in the axial plane, the hub plate opposite the shroud plate and the shroud plate tend to be deformed during the fixing of the shroud plate and the vanes together, creating deviation of the impeller from the desired shape. Further, a gap tends to appear at the end surface of the vane inside the impeller, increasing leakage and loss.
- In conventional electric blowers such as shown in JP-A-59-74396, the configurations of the diffuser vane, return guide vane, etc. of the centrifugal impeller are analogous to those of a large-size blower or compressor, but such components are limited in size and shape in the case of an electric blower used in the vacuum cleaner. In general in centrifugal blowers or compressors, the angle formed between the flow coming out of the impeller and the circumferential direction is of the order of 10 to 30°, and the inlet angle of the diffuser vane is designed correspondingly. However, the specific speed of the electric blower for use in the vacuum cleaner is low (a small flow rate is provided in spite of a high pressure with respect to a relative rotational speed) and generally, the outlet width of the impeller is designed to be small; therefore, since the friction loss within the impeller becomes large as the outlet width of the impeller is decreased, the width and outlet angle of the vanes are made comparatively large. Accordingly, in the electric blower for use in a household vacuum cleaner, the outlet absolute flow angle of the impeller is designed to be about 6` , and the inlet angle of the diffuser is set to as large as 5 in practice.
- The object of the present invention is at least partly to avoid the disadvantages described above, and to improve the air flow efficiency through the blower of a vacuum cleaner.
- The present invention is set out in
claim 1, and the impeller of the invention in another aspect is set out inclaim 2. - Preferably the shroud plate of the impeller is frusto-conical in shape at its region adjacent the impeller vanes. Preferably the extremity of the flange of the shroud plate is at an angle of not more than 30 to the axis, as seen in axial cross-section. Best results are obtained when the ratio of (a) the radius of curvature of the shroud plate, at its region of curvature into said flange, to (b) the vane inlet width in the axial direction, is in the range 0.5 to 1.0.
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limitative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
- Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in cross section, of an electric blower including motor and blower, embodying the present invention;
- Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view of part of the blower of Fig. 1;
- Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating respectively the air flows in the blower of JP-A-59-743986 and the blower of Fig. 2;
- Fig. 5 is an axial sectional view showing another embodiment of the blower according to the present invention;
- Fig. 6 is an axial view of the impeller and diffuser of the electric blower shown in Fig. 1; and
- Fig. 7 is an enlargement of the circled part of Fig. 6 showing the diffuser vanes;
- Fig. 8 is a graph showing the characteristic of electric blowers when the inlet angle of the diffuser is varied;
- Fig. 9 is a graph showing the characteristic of electric blowers when the ratio of diffuser vane throat width to a diffuser inner diameter is varied;
- Fig. 10 is a graph showing the characteristic of electric blowers when the ratio of the total area of the diffuser vane throats to the diffuser inlet area is varied;
- Fig. 11 is an axial view showing diffuser vanes of yet another embodiment of the present invention; and
- Fig. 12 is a graph showing the aerodynamic characteristic of the embodiment of Fig. 11.
- Embodiments of impellers and vacuum cleaner blowers of the invention will now be described. They may be fitted in conventional vacuum cleaners. Examples of vacuum cleaners in which they may be mounted are shown in European Patent Applications 91303152.2 and 91303496.3.
- The electric vacuum cleaner blower shown in Fig. 1 and 2 is composed of a
blower portion 80 and amotor portion 81. Disposed inside ahousing 81 a of themotor portion 81 are arotor 83 secured to a rotatingshaft 82 and astator 85 includingcoils housing 81 a has a bearing-retainingportion 81 b formed at the centre of its end wall, and abearing 86a for rotatably supporting one end of the rotatingshaft 82 is disposed in the bearing-retainingportion 81b. Thehousing 81 a also hasexhaust ports 81 c in its peripheral surface. Thehousing 81 a has anend bracket 87 at the opposite end, and thisend bracket 87 connects theblower portion 80 and themotor 81 together. - The
end bracket 87 has abearing retaining portion 87a at its centre and aflat portion 87b around its circumference. Theflat portion 87b is formed withsuction ports 88 through which the air from theblower 80 is sent into themotor 81 to cool it. Disposed in the bearing-retainingportion 87a is a bearing 86b for rotatably supporting the other end of the rotatingshaft 82. Theend bracket 87 carries adiffuser 89, and on the upstream side of the diffuser, acentrifugal impeller 90 is secured to the rotatingshaft 82 by means of anut 91. Thecentrifugal impeller 90 and thediffuser 89 are covered by ablower casing 92 pressure-fitted to the circumference of theend bracket 87. Theblower casing 92 has asuction port 93 formed in its central portion to provide an inlet to the central inlet region of the impeller. - The
diffuser 89 is composed of a plurality ofdiffuser vanes 94 arranged radially outside the circumference of thecentrifugal impeller 90. A plurality ofreturn guide vanes 95 are arranged on the back of awall 89a lying adjacent theimpeller 90 and supporting thediffuser vanes 94. Thewall 89a has a rounded outer peripheral edge to smooth the air flow from thediffuser vanes 94 to thereturn guide vanes 95, and in conjunction with thewall 89a and theend bracket 87, thereturn guide vanes 95 define a return guide passage through which the air flow is guided to thesuction ports 88. - The general operation of the electric blower in the embodiment will now be described. When the
motor 81 is energized so that theimpeller 90 is rotated, air flows as indicated by the arrows in the drawing, through thesuction port 93 and into theimpeller 90. After discharge from theimpeller 90, the air passes between thediffuser vanes 94, and after passing through the return guide passage, goes through thesuction ports 88 into thehousing 81a. The air flow introduced into thehousing 81 a cools therotor 83, passes through an air passage defined by thestator 85 and the inner surface of thehousing 81 a, cools thecoils exhaust ports 81 c formed in the periphery of thehousing 81 a to the outside. - Fig. 2 shows the configuration of the
centrifugal impeller 90 and the diffuser region in more detail. Theimpeller 90 is composed of a plurality ofvanes 96, ashroud plate 97 andhub plate 98. Eachvane 96 has on each edge three protrusions which are fitted in holes formed in theshroud plate 97 and thehub plate 98 and then caulked or upset, so that these components are rigidly and tightly secured together at these connection points. As Fig. 6 shows, thevanes 96 are curved as they extend outwardly, but for convenience this is not indicated in Fig. 2. - The outer diameter portion of the
shroud plate 97 is frusto-conical, i.e. straight as seen in the axial plane, radially outwardly of the innermost point ofconnection 99 to thevanes 96. Inwardly of thepoint 99, theshroud plate 97 is shaped as to define arounded portion 97a ending in an upwardly turnedflange 97b whose end portion is at about 20 to the impeller axis. The radius of curvature of therounded portion 87a is 0.7 times the vane inlet width. Theblower casing 92 is shaped to provide an inwardlybent flange 92a, and aleakage gap 100 is left between theflange 92a and theflange 97b of theimpeller 90. As seen in Fig. 2, theflanges flange 92a radially inside. - By virtue of the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the
impeller 90, a part of the air flow leaving theimpeller 90 passes between theimpeller 90 and theblower casing 92 and flows again into the impeller inlet zone. Therefore, theimpeller 90 acts on this leak flow too, and if the flow rate of this leakage is large, the performance of the electric blower is considerably degraded; however, since in the illustrated embodiment the length of thegap 100 is larger than the thickness of theshroud plate 97, the friction loss of the leak flow can be increased, thereby decreasing the leak flow rate. - Since the direction of the leak flow is parallel to the axis and in this region the main flow is also parallel to the axis, the leak flow does not have bad influence on the main flow, and since the radius of curvature of the
rounded portion 97a of the shroud plate is large, the main flow breaks away from theshroud plate 97 at most only slightly. - From simulation experiments performed on the blower shown in Fig. 3 and blowers similar to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and using water flows chosen to be identical in terms of the Reynolds number, it has been found that in the case of the known structure as shown in Fig. 3, the flow breaks away considerably on the side of the shroud plate of the impeller, whereas in the case of the impeller of the present invention in which the ratio of the radius of the
rounded portion 97a to the impeller vane inlet width (in the axial direction) was 0.5, the flow lies well along the shroud plate as illustrated by Fig. 4. Consequently, it is possible to suppress noise arising at a frequency corresponding to the product of the rotational speed and the number of vanes. Moreover, the energy loss of the impeller of Figs. 1 and 2 is low. - The
shroud plate 97 is straight from its outer circumference to the innermost point ofconnection 99 as viewed in the axial plane, and there is only a small difference in height of thevane 96 between its inlet and outlet. Therefore, although thevane 96 is curved in the circumferential direction in a conventional manner, the force applied in caulking each protrusion of thevane 96 does not vary from one caulking point to another. Accordingly, the deformation of theshroud plate 97 and of thehub plate 98 is minimized even under the force applied to each caulking point. Consequently, hardly any gaps arise between thevanes 96,shroud plate 97 andhub plate 98, and leak flow between the pressure side and suction pressure side of thevane 96 is suppressed. Further, since any face deflection of theshroud plate 97 and of thehub plate 98 is small, unbalance hardly arises; thus, noise based on a frequency corresponding to the rotational speed decreases. - Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5 showing a blower in partial sectional view. The
shroud plate 97 is straight in its outer diameter portion, as viewed in the axial plane, and has a roundedportion 97a inwardly from the innermost point ofconnection 99, as in Fig. 2. Theshroud plate 97 in this case is provided with acylindrical portion 97b extending axially from the end of therounded portion 97a. Furthermore, theblower casing 101 has an inwardlybent flange 101 a at its inner diameter region, so that thegap 100 is left between theflange 101 a and thecylindrical portion 97b of theimpeller 90. Since the length of thegap 100 is much larger than the thickness of theshroud plate 97, the friction loss of the leak flow can be made very large, the leak flow can be reduced remarkably, and the efficiency of the electric blower can be improved. - Figs. 6 and 7 show the
diffuser 89 of Figs. 1 and 2 with itsvanes 94, as viewed from thesuction port 93 of the electric blower. In this embodiment there are seventeendiffuser vanes 94 and eight return guide vanes 95. The inlet angle Q3 of thediffuser vane 94 as shown in Fig. 7 is 3°. The inlet angle β3is the angle between the inner face of the vane at its leading edge and the tangential line at this point. The throat width ws is 2.2 mm, and its ratio to the inner diameter of the diffuser is 0.02. The radius of the rounded leading edge of thevane 94 is 0.5 mm. The air flow coming out of theimpeller 90 is decelerated in a semi-vaneless space of thevaned diffuser 89 and further decelerated in each passage defined between twovanes 94. In the foregoing embodiment, the air discharge velocity of the blower can be made large, particularly about 0.8 times the peripheral speed of the impeller. Accordingly, the size of the impeller can be reduced. Fig. 8 shows the relative efficiency of an electric blower including the impeller according to the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7, relative to a varying diffuser inlet angle j83. The efficiency under the condition that the diffuser inlet angle β3 is 5° was taken as a reference. Where the diffuser inlet angle β3 is smaller than 2°, the length of the semi-vaneless space is longer, the friction loss increases, and the efficiency decreases. Where the diffuser inlet angle β3 is larger than 3` , it tends to come out of the flow angle from the impeller; thus, the performance degrades. As will be appreciated, where the diffuser inlet angle β3 is within the range of 2 to 3` , the efficiency is about 2% greater than that in the prior art based on an angle of 5` , and even where the diffuser inlet angle is within the range of 1 to 2° or within the range of 3 to 4°, the efficiency is 1% greater. - Fig. 9 shows the efficiency of the same electric blower relative to a varying throat width ws. Where the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is smaller than 0.017, the deceleration is insufficient in the semi-open portion but increases in the passages defined between two
vanes 94; thus, the flow breaks away in such a passage, thereby decreasing the efficiency. Where the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is larger than 0.025, the deceleration becomes too significant in the semi-open portion; thus, the flow deviates remarkably as it flows into each passage defined between two vanes, thereby decreasing the efficiency. In the embodiment, where the ratio of the throat width ws to the diffuser inner diameter is 0.02, the efficiency is high. In addition, since the flow angle of the air discharged from theimpeller 90 is small and the air discharged from it travels a long distance until it enters thediffuser 89, the inlet diameter of the diffuser can be reduced as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and the energy loss compared with a diffuser with no vanes can be reduced. Further, since the relative velocity at the outlet of the impeller can be decreased, noise can be reduced. Fig. 10 shows the relative efficiency of this electric blower obtained when varying the ratio - ZVd = number of diffuser vanes,
- b3 = axial width of diffuser vanes,
- ws = diffuser vane throat width,
- D3 = diffuser vane inlet diameter,
- Q3 = diffuser vane inlet angle.
- When this ratio is smaller than 1.75, since the number of the diffuser vanes increases, the throat width decreases, surging occurs at a low flow rate, and pressure loss increases at a large flow rate, tending to narrow the serviceable range. When this ratio is larger than 3.5, the number of vanes of the
diffuser 89 decreases, tending to cause interference with the number of blades of the impeller, so that a peak sound is generated, and the noise level is increased. When this ratio is 2.1 as in the actual embodiment, the efficiency is high. - Fig. 11 shows the
diffuser 89 in another embodiment of the present invention. Each passage of the diffuser is defined by the vane portions overlapped. The outer end of eachvane 94 is rounded while the inner end is tapered, and by this tapering, the throat width ws can be kept within an optimum range. The air discharged from theimpeller 90 flows along thevane 94 at about the set flow rate, but the air flow at a small flow rate breaks away in the semi-vaneless space, as indicated by the arrows in the drawing, on the suction pressure side of the diffuser vane; therefore, the direction of the air stream is forcibly changed by the taper portion on the pressure side of the adjacent vane, thereby alleviating the broken air stream, so that the zone of surge generation is shifted more to the side of a small flow rate. - Fig. 12 shows the result of experiments on the relationship between the flow rate and pressure (static pressure) of the electric blower, in which the solid curve corresponds to the case including a diffuser based on the embodiment of Fig. 11. The broken curve corresponds to the case for comparison including a diffuser whose inlet angle is 5°. Although the comparison case shows the surge generation zone in the vicinity of a design point, the embodiment with a diffuser inlet angle of 3 can shift the surge generation zone to a small flow rate range.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP94101775A EP0602007B1 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-07-03 | Vacuum cleaner having an impeller and diffuser |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2190540A JP2852106B2 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1990-07-20 | Vacuum cleaner and electric blower |
JP19054090 | 1990-07-20 | ||
JP190540/90 | 1990-07-20 |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94101775A Division EP0602007B1 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-07-03 | Vacuum cleaner having an impeller and diffuser |
EP94101775.8 Division-Into | 1994-02-07 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0467557A1 true EP0467557A1 (en) | 1992-01-22 |
EP0467557B1 EP0467557B1 (en) | 1994-12-14 |
EP0467557B2 EP0467557B2 (en) | 2001-09-26 |
Family
ID=16259788
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94101775A Expired - Lifetime EP0602007B1 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-07-03 | Vacuum cleaner having an impeller and diffuser |
EP91306038A Expired - Lifetime EP0467557B2 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-07-03 | Blower assembly with impeller for vacuum cleaner |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94101775A Expired - Lifetime EP0602007B1 (en) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-07-03 | Vacuum cleaner having an impeller and diffuser |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (2) | EP0602007B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2852106B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR0180742B1 (en) |
DE (2) | DE69127832T2 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997019629A1 (en) * | 1995-11-24 | 1997-06-05 | Nilfisk A/S | A blower for a vacuum cleaner |
WO1998038899A1 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 1998-09-11 | Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh | Electric motor with impeller |
EP0874160A3 (en) * | 1997-04-23 | 1999-11-17 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Fan device |
WO2000015963A1 (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2000-03-23 | Peter John King | Fluid pumps |
CN103321922A (en) * | 2012-03-22 | 2013-09-25 | 德昌电机(深圳)有限公司 | Air blower, vacuum cleaner and hand drier both provided with same |
Families Citing this family (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR100409173B1 (en) * | 1995-06-26 | 2004-03-26 | 가부시끼가이샤 히다치 세이사꾸쇼 | Electric vacuum cleaner |
DE19606146A1 (en) * | 1996-02-20 | 1997-08-21 | Vorwerk Co Interholding | High-speed electric motor |
WO1997037423A2 (en) * | 1996-03-29 | 1997-10-09 | AEG Hausgeräte GmbH | Turbomachine, especially for a domestic appliance |
DE19733687B4 (en) * | 1996-08-12 | 2005-04-21 | Samsung Kwangju Electronics Co., Ltd. | Motor fan for a cleaning device |
JP3840299B2 (en) | 1996-12-27 | 2006-11-01 | 日本テトラパック株式会社 | Folding line forming device for package manufacturing equipment |
DE19855905B4 (en) * | 1998-12-03 | 2013-02-21 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | blower assembly |
CN1124417C (en) * | 1999-04-20 | 2003-10-15 | 三洋电机株式会社 | Motor wind blower and motor dust cleaner thereof |
KR100437018B1 (en) * | 2001-08-29 | 2004-06-23 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Centrifugal blower for vacuum cleaner |
KR20030048918A (en) * | 2001-12-13 | 2003-06-25 | 주식회사 엘지이아이 | The centrifugal blower of a vacuum cleaner |
GB0203147D0 (en) * | 2002-02-11 | 2002-03-27 | Dyson Ltd | An exhaust assembly |
GB0613796D0 (en) * | 2006-07-12 | 2006-08-23 | Johnson Electric Sa | Blower |
DE102017215261B4 (en) | 2017-08-31 | 2020-12-24 | BSH Hausgeräte GmbH | BLOWER FOR AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE |
WO2023108921A1 (en) * | 2021-12-16 | 2023-06-22 | 广东威灵电机制造有限公司 | Fan and cleaning device with same |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT1967B (en) * | 1899-12-23 | 1900-08-25 | Richard Arnold | |
DE3204113A1 (en) * | 1982-02-06 | 1983-08-11 | Henschel Gerätebau GmbH, 3035 Hodenhagen | Turbine for a hand-held car or camping vacuum cleaner |
EP0148523A1 (en) * | 1983-12-08 | 1985-07-17 | Shop-Vac Corporation | Compact vacuum cleaner |
FR2589711A1 (en) * | 1985-10-01 | 1987-05-15 | Rexair Inc | IMPROVED AIR FAN FOR VACUUM CLEANERS |
US4797072A (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1989-01-10 | Shop-Vac Corporation | Portable electric blower |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2076426A5 (en) * | 1970-01-14 | 1971-10-15 | Cit Alcatel | |
US4012166A (en) * | 1974-12-04 | 1977-03-15 | Deere & Company | Supersonic shock wave compressor diffuser with circular arc channels |
JPS5349313A (en) * | 1976-10-18 | 1978-05-04 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Motor fan for vacuum cleaners |
JPS58134698U (en) * | 1982-03-05 | 1983-09-10 | 日産自動車株式会社 | variable diffuser |
JPS60173398A (en) * | 1984-02-16 | 1985-09-06 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Blower |
JPH02156920A (en) * | 1988-12-09 | 1990-06-15 | Hitachi Ltd | Vacuum cleaner |
-
1990
- 1990-07-20 JP JP2190540A patent/JP2852106B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1991
- 1991-07-03 EP EP94101775A patent/EP0602007B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-07-03 EP EP91306038A patent/EP0467557B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-07-03 DE DE69127832T patent/DE69127832T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-07-03 DE DE69105845T patent/DE69105845T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-07-18 KR KR1019910012210A patent/KR0180742B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
AT1967B (en) * | 1899-12-23 | 1900-08-25 | Richard Arnold | |
DE3204113A1 (en) * | 1982-02-06 | 1983-08-11 | Henschel Gerätebau GmbH, 3035 Hodenhagen | Turbine for a hand-held car or camping vacuum cleaner |
EP0148523A1 (en) * | 1983-12-08 | 1985-07-17 | Shop-Vac Corporation | Compact vacuum cleaner |
FR2589711A1 (en) * | 1985-10-01 | 1987-05-15 | Rexair Inc | IMPROVED AIR FAN FOR VACUUM CLEANERS |
US4797072A (en) * | 1987-06-19 | 1989-01-10 | Shop-Vac Corporation | Portable electric blower |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, unexamined applications, M section, vol. 8, No. 182, August 22, 1984 THE PATENT OFFICE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT page 99 M 319 Kokai-No. 59-74 396 (MATSUSHITA DENKI SANGYO K.K.) + Totality + & JP-A-59-74 396 + drawings + * |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1997019629A1 (en) * | 1995-11-24 | 1997-06-05 | Nilfisk A/S | A blower for a vacuum cleaner |
WO1998038899A1 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 1998-09-11 | Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh | Electric motor with impeller |
CZ297722B6 (en) * | 1996-02-16 | 2007-03-14 | Vorwerk & Co. Interholding Gmbh | Electric motor with fan propeller |
EP0874160A3 (en) * | 1997-04-23 | 1999-11-17 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Fan device |
WO2000015963A1 (en) * | 1998-09-11 | 2000-03-23 | Peter John King | Fluid pumps |
CN103321922A (en) * | 2012-03-22 | 2013-09-25 | 德昌电机(深圳)有限公司 | Air blower, vacuum cleaner and hand drier both provided with same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE69105845T2 (en) | 1995-04-27 |
EP0602007B1 (en) | 1997-10-01 |
JPH0481600A (en) | 1992-03-16 |
EP0602007A2 (en) | 1994-06-15 |
DE69127832D1 (en) | 1997-11-06 |
EP0467557B2 (en) | 2001-09-26 |
KR0180742B1 (en) | 1999-02-01 |
JP2852106B2 (en) | 1999-01-27 |
DE69127832T2 (en) | 1998-04-30 |
DE69105845D1 (en) | 1995-01-26 |
EP0602007A3 (en) | 1994-12-28 |
EP0467557B1 (en) | 1994-12-14 |
KR920002084A (en) | 1992-02-28 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
KR0180555B1 (en) | Vacuum cleaner | |
EP0467557A1 (en) | Blower assembly with impeller for vacuum cleaner | |
US7338251B2 (en) | Turbo compressor | |
CA2517994C (en) | Radial fan wheel, fan unit, and radial fan arrangement | |
US5813834A (en) | Centrifugal fan | |
EP1178215B1 (en) | Centrifugal blower | |
US4432694A (en) | Blower | |
US6290460B1 (en) | Centrifugal fluid machine | |
US3243102A (en) | Centrifugal fluid pump | |
US4448573A (en) | Single-stage, multiple outlet centrifugal blower | |
US5228832A (en) | Mixed flow compressor | |
US5525036A (en) | Suction structure of a sirocco fan housing | |
US20030147747A1 (en) | Blower motor | |
US3531221A (en) | Ventilator with axial propeller wheel | |
US20100189557A1 (en) | Impeller and fan | |
JPH11125196A (en) | Fan and shroud assembly employing the fan | |
CN209959503U (en) | Diagonal fan | |
JP5029024B2 (en) | Centrifugal compressor | |
US4913621A (en) | Centrifugal fan | |
EP0446900B1 (en) | Mixed-flow compressor | |
JP5260579B2 (en) | Electric blower and vacuum cleaner equipped with it | |
JPH11173299A (en) | Centrifugal compressor | |
JP3311526B2 (en) | Axial blower | |
KR20160135992A (en) | Centrifugal fan | |
WO2023190635A1 (en) | Centrifugal fluid machine |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19910819 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): DE GB |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19930719 |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): DE GB |
|
XX | Miscellaneous (additional remarks) |
Free format text: TEILANMELDUNG 94101775.8 EINGEREICHT AM 03/07/91. |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 69105845 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19950126 |
|
PLBI | Opposition filed |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260 |
|
26 | Opposition filed |
Opponent name: SIEMENS AG Effective date: 19950620 |
|
PLBF | Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO |
|
PLBF | Reply of patent proprietor to notice(s) of opposition |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OBSO |
|
PLAB | Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO |
|
R26 | Opposition filed (corrected) |
Opponent name: BOSCH-SIEMENS HAUSGERAETE GMBH Effective date: 19950620 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 19970623 Year of fee payment: 7 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980703 |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19980703 |
|
PLAW | Interlocutory decision in opposition |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IDOP |
|
PLAW | Interlocutory decision in opposition |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IDOP |
|
PUAH | Patent maintained in amended form |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009272 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: PATENT MAINTAINED AS AMENDED |
|
27A | Patent maintained in amended form |
Effective date: 20010926 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B2 Designated state(s): DE GB |
|
DX | Miscellaneous (deleted) | ||
EN | Fr: translation not filed | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 20030908 Year of fee payment: 13 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 20050201 |