EP1144870A2

EP1144870A2 - Blow device

Info

Publication number: EP1144870A2
Application number: EP00902609A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Klopp; Stefan SCHÄTZL
Original assignee: MAP Medizintechnik fuer Arzt und Patient GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: MAP Medizintechnik fuer Arzt und Patient GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1999-01-18
Filing date: 2000-01-18
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Also published as: AU2438200A; US20020056453A1; WO2000042324A2; WO2000042324A3; DE19901780C1

Abstract

The invention relates to a blow device, for use notably in a ventilation device for delivering a breathing gas. The blow device provided for in the invention comprises an impeller which is driven via a drive unit and delivers a breathing gas to an outflow channel (24). On the way to said outflow channel the delivered gas flows over a flow breakaway step which together with a spirally expanding peripheral wall deflects the gas immediately as it flows out of the radial impeller. The invention also relates to a continuous positive airway pressure apparatus fitted with such a blow device.

Description

Blower device

The present invention relates to a fan device. In particular, the invention relates to a blower device for providing breathing air in a ventilation device, for example a CPAP ventilator.

In known blower devices, a housing with an inlet and an outlet channel and an impeller are usually provided. The fluid to be compressed or accelerated is sucked in via the inlet channel, compressed in the housing by the impeller driven by a drive device, and discharged via the outlet channel. The impeller is housed concentrically in a cylindrical housing. The outlet channel is formed by a tube section attached to an opening in the cylinder wall of the housing.

The problem with the known blower devices is that the noise is relatively large. When using these devices with a low ambient noise level, the noises that occur are often perceived as unpleasant.

The invention has for its object to provide a blower device, in particular for a CPAP device, which is characterized by low operating noise.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a blower device with a housing, at least one impeller accommodated therein, a suction opening and an outflow channel, a flow path being defined in the housing in cooperation with the impeller, which flow path extends from a first axial level of the housing having the suction opening a step runs into the outflow channel. As a result, it is possible in an advantageous manner - in particular also in a manner that is economically feasible in terms of production technology - to significantly reduce the proportion of flow noise. Due to the improvement in smoothness achieved, additional soundproofing means can advantageously be dispensed with and an extremely compact construction can be achieved. There are also advantages in terms of production costs.

Advantageously, the impeller in the housing is axially offset from the outflow channel, the housing having a spirally extending wall, so that the fluid accelerated by the impeller flows over a tear-off step or edge. The stage, which preferably acts as a stall stage, can be formed directly by the housing.

As an alternative to this, or also in combination with the specified measures, the object specified at the outset is also achieved by a blower device with a housing, at least one impeller accommodated therein, and a drive device for driving the impeller, with a suction area in the housing located upstream of the impeller Intake flow path is defined which extends along a spiral winding path to an intake opening.

This also advantageously results in a significant reduction in fan noise.

The housing advantageously has a circumferential wall which follows a spiral path which widens radially in the direction of rotation of the impeller. The spiral path preferably corresponds essentially to a logarithmic spiral.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the outflow channel follows a tangential continuation of the spiral path defined in an advantageous manner by the housing. The step projecting into the flow path preferably forms a flow separation edge. The step preferably has a height (H) which corresponds at least to the axial height of the impeller.

The flow stopping stage preferably extends between the largest and smallest radius (r _max , r _min ) of the housing spiral in the running direction of the turbine wheel.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the impeller is sunk in a recess and the outflow from the recess into the outflow channel via said overflow edge, which essentially runs at the axial height level of an adjacent peripheral edge of the impeller.

The intake opening is advantageously arranged in a base device and the outflow channel is arranged on a side separated by the turbine wheel.

A further reduction in running noise can be achieved in an advantageous manner by providing sound insulation means in and / or on the housing, for example in the form of layers of insulation material.

An embodiment of the invention that is particularly advantageous from a structural mechanical point of view is given in that the housing is designed as an integral part with integrally molded guide walls. The housing is preferably designed as a plastic injection molded part or aluminum die cast part.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, extreme smoothness is achieved in that the housing is formed from an elastomeric material, in particular silicone rubber. This advantageously suppresses both sound coupling and sound propagation. In this way, an elastic suspension of the drive device can advantageously be achieved become. This reduces the contribution of vibrations, bearing noise and magnetic effects due to unbalance to the entire running noise spectrum.

The impeller is preferably accommodated in a recess, the axial depth (L) of which is greater than the axial depth (t) of the impeller, the recess being limited by a peripheral wall which widens radially in the direction of rotation of the impeller, and in one Transition area to the outflow channel, an outlet opening is provided, which is located at an axial level axially offset from the impeller.

The term "blower device" is used here to represent the term "turbine" used in the priority application. The impeller used is preferably a radial or semi-radial impeller. The blades or the channels defined thereby are preferably curved backwards. In the embodiment as a radial impeller, this preferably has blade channel covers on both sides. The impeller is preferably made of a plastic material and coupled to a motor shaft via a snap-in engagement structure, possibly in connection with a press or clamp fit. As an alternative to this, the impeller can also be screwed to a flange section of the motor via a preferably large-area seat surface.

Further developments which are particularly advantageous with regard to particularly quiet running and also from the point of view of production, tooling and assembly technology are specified in the subclaims.

The blower device according to the invention is described below using a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. Show it:

1 is a perspective view of a housing of a blower device according to the invention (without cover and impeller); 2: a view of the blower device according to the invention with the housing cover removed;

3: a simplified cross-sectional representation as a spatial image of the blower device according to the invention.

4 shows a perspective view of the impeller housing with a view of an outflow channel section which widens immediately behind the flow separation edge;

Fig. 5: a view of the impeller housing from below with a view of the

Inflow channel area;

Fig. 6: a plan view of a cover element for completing the

Overpressure area with integrally molded holding claws for fastening a blower motor;

7: a simplified axial section to explain the flow path from a suction area, via the impeller to the outflow channel.

In Fig. 1, the housing 2 of the blower device is shown as a spatial image. In a bottom area 4 of the housing 2 there is a suction opening 6 which opens into a suction channel (not visible in the figures) on the underside of the housing, through which the fluid to be compressed or accelerated is sucked in. The suction channel formed on the underside of the housing 2 is preferably closed by a cover (not shown) in the assembled state. At least one impeller 8 is provided in the interior of the housing 2 and is driven by a drive device, not shown. The drive device can be provided both inside and outside the housing 2. The impeller 8 has an outer diameter R and rotates around an axis of rotation 10, as shown in FIG. 2. The impeller 8 is provided in the housing in a lower, first axial section 12. In this first axial section, the impeller is surrounded by a peripheral wall, leaving an intermediate space. The housing 2 has an essentially spiral-shaped housing wall 14, which defines the lower, first axial section 12 on the one hand, and a second axial section 16 projecting somewhat beyond it on the other hand. The housing wall 14 of the housing 2 is preferably designed at least in sections in the form of a logarithmic spiral, the following equations applying:

r ¹ = r I mm ■ ^• c P ^max m = cot (k ^• π / 2)

r current radius l ^* min start radius or minimum radius m opening factor; and α current angle for the radius r.

The factor k must be selected so that the correct or desired opening angle of the spiral is achieved. To do this, k must be selected from an interval between 0 and 1.

In addition to the preferred logarithmic spiral for the housing wall 14 of the housing 2, however, other spirals, such as an Archimedean or hyperbolic spiral, can also be used for the blower device according to the invention.

The radius R of the impeller 8 is preferably at least 1 mm smaller than the minimum radius r _m j _{n of} the housing wall 14. The housing wall 14 opens with respect to the direction of rotation of the impeller 8 along the spiral up to a maximum radius r _max . This means that the radial gap formed between the impeller 8 and the housing wall 14 in the impeller direction of rotation starting from minimum radius r _min up to the maximum radius r _{max of} the housing wall 14 increases.

Contrary to the direction of rotation of the impeller 8, which is indicated by an arrow 18, between the minimum radius r _min and the maximum radius r _{max of} the housing wall 14, a flow separation stage 20 is provided. In the embodiment shown, this tear-off step 20 with the height H defines the axial extent of the first, lowered axial section 12 and the second axial section 16. The height H of the tear-off step 20 preferably corresponds at least to the axial overall depth of the impeller. The flow tear-off stage 20 preferably has a tear-off edge 22. The fluid sucked in and accelerated by the impeller 8 flows along the housing wall 14 via the flow separation stage 20 into an outlet or outflow channel 24.

The transition from the actual impeller chamber to the outflow channel 24 is essentially formed by the flow separation stage 20 and a continuation of the spiral outer housing wall 14. This means that the outflow channel 24 or its inlet mouth area is set higher than the impeller 8 by the height H of the demolition step 20. The outflow channel 24 preferably also has a wedge 26 located radially further inwards and an outflow connection 28 with an outlet opening 30. The outlet or outflow channel 24 can preferably also be covered by the cover (not shown) attached to the housing 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and described above, the flow separation stage 20, viewed in the direction of rotation of the impeller 8, extends from the maximum radius r _max to the minimum radius r _{min of} the housing wall 14 and preferably has a separation edge 22. The flow stopping stage 20 can, however, also be even longer, ie for example be more curved or start further in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation 18 of the impeller 8. In addition, it is also possible to design the flow stopping stage 20 with a variable height H, for example with a height increasing in the direction of rotation 18 of the impeller 8. For the formation of the flow separation stage 20 or the separation edge 22, it is particularly advantageous that it has a sufficient length to largely avoid noise. This is caused in particular by the fact that the fluid accelerated by the impeller 8 flows along the housing 14 until it reaches the flow separation stage 20 and is forced there to flow into the outflow channel 24 via the stage in accordance with the arrows 32. The accelerated fluid is diverted, braked and / or swirled by the flow separation stage 20, in particular with the separation edge 22, and, in a surprisingly effective manner, flow noises from the turbine, in particular in the upper frequency range (“whistling tones”), are avoided.

The housing 2 of the blower device according to the invention is preferably an integral component, such as a plastic injection molded part or an aluminum die cast part. However, different housing constructions are also possible for the blower device according to the invention. The impeller 8 is preferably designed as a radial wheel, in particular with backward curved blades for accelerating and / or compressing fluids, which can be driven by a drive device, such as an electric motor. The drive device for the impeller can be provided both inside and outside the housing 2. The electric motor can be designed as a brushless motor and possibly sensors, for. B. Hall effect sensors for detecting the speed.

In order to further reduce the noise emission of the blower device according to the invention, it is possible to provide 2 soundproofing means in particular on or in the housing. Such a soundproofing means is preferably formed from a foam material or a soft material.

In the embodiment of the blower housing shown in FIG. 4, there is a recess for receiving the impeller (FIG. 3, reference number 8) provided which has an axial depth L which is greater than the axial depth t of the impeller 8.

The recess is delimited by a bottom surface 4, which has the suction opening 6 already mentioned in connection with FIG. 1. In the assembled state of the blower device, the impeller is arranged in the recess in such a way that it is located in an axial region defined between the bottom surface 4 and the axial height level of the tear-off edge 22. In an axial level axially spaced from the impeller there is a through opening Z, through which the conveyed gas can flow out into the outflow channel 24.

The gas conveyed by the impeller overflows in order to get into the outflow channel 24, the step 20, or its top tear-off edge 22. This prevents the flow noise caused by the impeller from being surprisingly effectively extinguished or from spreading into the outflow channel 24 . Above the tear-off edge 22, the circumferential wall 16 recedes radially outward along a spiral path and in this case merges directly into a corresponding wall section of the outflow channel 24. In the embodiment shown here, behind the flow separation edge 22 there is a sloping wall 34 which also merges into a wall delimiting the outflow channel 24.

The housing wall 14 is provided with latching devices 35, 36, via which corresponding complementary cover elements can be latched directly to the housing 2. The axial position of the impeller is determined here by stop elements 37, 38 against which a cover element, which will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 6, strikes.

In the embodiment shown here, the recess provided for receiving the impeller has almost three times the axial depth L as the impeller 8. The impeller 8 is designed here as a radial impeller and has a Large number of backward curved blade channels. The blade channels are preferably formed with a predetermined unequal division in order to prevent resonance phenomena even further. The inner peripheral wall of the recess can be roughened in order to further increase the sound absorption capacity of this wall. It is also possible to form a multiplicity of micro-projections, which likewise further improves the sound-absorbing behavior of the corresponding wall.

5 shows a preferred embodiment of the inflow area of the blower device. The inflow to the essentially centrally arranged suction opening 6 takes place along a likewise spiral-shaped suction path X, which is defined by walls formed integrally with the housing 2. The circumferential region of the intake opening 6 pointing toward the inflow side is rounded here, as a result of which a particularly low-noise inflow of the intake air is achieved directly into a central region of the impeller. In the embodiment shown here, the wall of the housing 2 delimiting the flow path X is additionally lined with a sound-absorbing foam material, thereby preventing the running noise of the blower device from spreading to the intake duct 39. The wall 40 directly adjacent to the suction opening 6 and delimiting the suction path X is designed so as to be chamfered so that it runs out in the direction of flow towards the base plate 4.

FIG. 6 shows a cover element which can be brought into engagement with the latching device identified by reference number 35 in FIG. 4. This cover element 41 is provided with a reinforcement structure formed here by honeycomb-like webs, which on the one hand achieves a sufficiently rigid suspension of the drive device (not shown) and on the other hand suppresses vibrations of the cover element. The cover element 41 has a motor receiving opening 42, which is surrounded by a plurality of claw elements 43, which can enter into a recess provided on the motor side in a latching manner. The cover element has in the embodiment shown here, a radially projecting cover section 44, in which a ramp falling into the outflow channel 24 when the cover element 41 is mounted is defined. In its end immediately adjacent to the outflow section 24, the ramp 45 is designed such that it compensates for the protrusion indicated by the letter s in FIG. 4, so that there is also a substantially smooth inflow with respect to the upper side of the channel.

In Fig. 7, the flow path of the sucked in gas and conveyed via the impeller is shown again in a highly simplified manner. As can be seen, this flow path runs from the intake duct 39 along a spiral path through the intake opening 6 and overflows the rounded peripheral edge thereof. After passing through the suction opening 6, the flow path extends through the impeller 8 and is then deflected in the axial direction by the circumferential wall 16 or the step 22 and then runs over the tear-off edge 22. Behind the tear-off edge 22, the now under pressure flows Gas along the sloping wall 34 into the outflow channel 24. The inflow into the outflow channel section 24 is also supported by the ramp 45, which is also indicated here and slopes away.

As shown in the illustration 7 clearly shows, the impeller is located within the housing 2 in a first axial section a1, whereas the outflow of the conveyed gas into the outflow channel 24 takes place via an opening area which is located in a second axial section a2. A step 20 is formed in the first axial section a1, which prevents a direct radial outflow of the gas from the impeller 8 into the outflow channel 24. The impeller 8 is thus accommodated in a cup-like recess while leaving a sufficient circumferential gap, in which extensive extinguishing of the flow noises caused by the impeller 8 is achieved.

Claims

claims

1. Blower device with: a housing (2), at least one impeller (8) accommodated therein, a suction opening (6) and - an outflow channel (24), a flow path in the housing (2) in cooperation with the impeller (8) is defined, which extends from a first axial level (12) of the housing (2) with the suction opening (6) via a step (20) into the outflow channel (24).

2. Blower device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (2) has a peripheral wall (14) which follows in its course a radially expanding in the direction of rotation of the impeller spiral path.

3. Blower device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral wall (14) extends in the radial direction along a logarithmic spiral.

4. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outflow channel (24) is an extension of the spiral housing (2, 14).

5. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step (20) has a flow separation edge (22).

6. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the step (20) has a height (H) which corresponds at least to the axial height of the impeller.

7. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flow separation stage (20) is between the largest and smallest radius (r _m a _X , r _min ) of the housing spiral (14) in the running direction (18) of the turbine wheel (8).

8. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the impeller (8) is arranged sunk in a recess and the outflow from the recess into the outflow channel (24) via an overflow edge (K), which essentially on the axial level of the adjacent impeller peripheral edge.

9. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the flow separation stage (20) extends at a substantially constant axial height level (H).

10. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the suction opening (6) is formed on a first housing side (4) and the outflow channel (24) on a second side of the housing (2, 14) separated by the turbine wheel (8) .

11. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein in and / or on the housing (2, 14) soundproofing means are provided.

12. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, wherein the housing (2, 14) is an integral component.

13. Blower device according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing (2, 14) is a plastic injection molded part or aluminum die-cast part.

14. Blower device according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the impeller is received in a recess, the axial depth (L) is greater than the axial depth (t) of the impeller (8), the recess being delimited by a peripheral wall is, which widens radially in the direction of rotation of the impeller, and one in a transition region to the outflow channel Outlet opening is provided, which is located at an axial level (a2) axially offset from the impeller (8).

15. Blower device in particular according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, with: a housing (2), at least one impeller (8) accommodated therein, and a drive device for driving the impeller, wherein in a suction area located upstream of the impeller (8) an intake flow path is defined in the housing (2) and extends along a spiral winding path to an intake opening (6).

16. Blower device according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the housing (2) defines a pot-like pressure chamber device and a pot-like suction chamber device which adjoin one another via a common bottom device (4), and a suction opening (6) is formed in the bottom device (4) is via which a gas flow from the suction chamber device into the pressure chamber device is made possible.

17. Blower device according to claim 16, characterized in that a cover element is provided for each of the two chamber devices.

18. Blower device according to claim 17, characterized in that the cover element of the suction chamber device is provided with a sound-absorbing lining on its cover inner side facing the chamber device.

19. Blower device according to at least one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that in the suction chamber device itself

Flow direction is defined spirally to the suction opening (6) inwardly curved flow path, and that in the pressure chamber device in Interaction with the housing (2) defines a flow path that widens radially in a spiral in the flow direction.

20. Device for supplying a breathing gas under positive pressure, with a blower device according to at least one of claims 1 - 1?