EP3925482B1 - Hairdryer with shock absorber support - Google Patents

Description

GENERAL TECHNICAL AREA

The invention lies in the general field of hairdressing appliances such as, for example, hair dryers.

STATE OF THE ART

Many domestic blower appliances incorporate a rotating part to produce a radial airflow inside the appliance. The rotating part (propeller) is for example driven in rotation by an electric motor unit incorporated in the device.

Such rotating parts are used in particular in appliances of the category of hair dryers, to produce an outgoing air flow. A hair dryer usually comprises a handle held by the user, as well as a longitudinal portion generally perpendicular to the handle, for the circulation of air. The flow of air emerging from the longitudinal portion is usually heated by heating means.

In hair dryers of the state of the art, the air flow is generated by a rotating part of the propeller type which sets the air in motion from an air inlet zone to an air outlet zone. air.

A hair dryer of this type is for example described in the international application WO 2017/017330 A1 .

The noise pollution associated with this type of device is mainly due to the flow of air and the vibrations of the parts contained in the device.

Also known from the prior art are hair dryers whose electric motor is housed in a damping support generally known by the term "silent block" whose function is to reduce the vibrations generated by the motor (the propeller fixed to the motor ) and transmitted to the rest of the device. A device of this type is for example described in the document CN 108 937 062 A .

However, it is found that such a shock absorber support can be improved in terms of size and aerodynamics. Indeed, the shock absorber supports of the art earlier generally cause a significant increase in the diameter of the hair dryers and/or a disturbance in the flow of the air flow given their size.

There is therefore an unmet need to date to have a hair dryer whose shock-absorbing support is satisfactory in terms of size and aerodynamics and, as far as possible, makes it possible to filter effectively. vibrations generated by the engine.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hair dryer as defined in claim 1. Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

For this purpose, the present invention provides a hair dryer comprising an air circulation chamber provided with an inlet zone and an outlet zone, an air circulation system and at least one heating element, and a motor configured to rotate a propeller, which extends downstream of said inlet zone when considering the direction of air movement between said inlet and outlet zones, said motor being mounted in an elastically deformable damping support.

This hair dryer is remarkable in that said shock-absorbing support has a frustoconical outer shape.

Thanks to this particular shape of the shock absorber support, its size is drastically limited and it is given an aerodynamic, streamlined shape, facilitating the flow of air around it, which opposes at least the circulation of air within it. hair dryer.

The expression “hair dryer” designates any household appliance, generally any hairdressing appliance, making it possible to produce against the hair a flow of air, preferably hot, so as to dry the latter. Thus, in an illustrative and non-restrictive manner, this expression designates hair dryers strictly speaking, but also blower brushes, rotary blower brushes, or even devices driving the hair by Coanda effect, etc.

• les pattes sont disposées de manière diamétralement opposée deux à deux autour du moteur ;
• le nombre de pattes est égal à quatre ;
• le moteur est partiellement engagé dans le support amortisseur ;
• le moteur est engagé dans le support amortisseur sur environ la moitié de sa longueur ;préférentiellement sur environ la moitié à environ deux tiers de sa longueur.
• le support amortisseur est en caoutchouc ;
• le support amortisseur présente une dureté Shore A comprise entre 40 et 90, préférentiellement entre 60 et 80 ;
• le support amortisseur présente une dureté Shore à de l'ordre de 70 ;
• ledit moteur est fixé sur une pièce de support rigide, laquelle est solidaire dudit support amortisseur.

According to other advantageous and non-limiting characteristics of the invention, taken alone or according to any combination of two or more of them:

• the legs are arranged diametrically opposite two by two around the motor;
• the number of legs is equal to four;
• the motor is partially engaged in the shock absorber support;
• the motor is engaged in the damper support over approximately half of its length; preferably over approximately half to approximately two thirds of its length.
• the shock absorber support is made of rubber;
• the damper support has a Shore A hardness of between 40 and 90, preferably between 60 and 80;
• the shock-absorbing support has a Shore hardness of around 70;
• said motor is fixed to a rigid support piece, which is secured to said shock absorber support.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which will now be made of it, with reference to the appended drawings, which represent, by way of indication but not limitation, various possible embodiments.

• [Fig. 1] la figure 1 est une vue longitudinale en coupe d'un sèche-cheveux conforme à l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] la figure 2 illustre des composants internes du sèche-cheveux de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 3] la figure 3 est une vue analogue du même sèche-cheveux, sur laquelle des composants externes sont visibles ;
• [Fig. 4] la figure 4 est une vue tridimensionnelle du support amortisseur intégré au sèche-cheveux de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 5] la figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 4, sur laquelle est visible le moteur du sèche-cheveux en place sur le support amortisseur ;
• [Fig. 6] la figure 6 est une vue de détail d'une partie du support amortisseur de la figure 5, montrant plus spécifiquement la fixation du moteur du sèche-cheveux sur le support amortisseur.

In these drawings:

• [ Fig. 1 ] the figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hair dryer according to the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] the figure 2 illustrates internal components of the hair dryer from the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 3 ] the picture 3 is a similar view of the same hair dryer, on which external components are visible;
• [ Fig. 4 ] the figure 4 is a three-dimensional view of the shock absorber support integrated into the hair dryer of the invention;
• [ Fig. 5 ] the figure 5 is a view analogous to figure 4 , on which is visible the motor of the hair dryer in place on the shock absorber support;
• [ Fig. 6 ] the figure 6 is a detail view of part of the shock absorber mount of the figure 5 , showing more specifically the fixing of the motor of the hair dryer on the shock absorber support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As illustrated at figure 1 , the hair dryer 1 according to the invention comprises a body 10 which is extended downwards by a handle 11, which is only partially shown. This handle typically includes buttons for manually controlling the hair dryer 1.

The body 10 has a converging shape from right to left when considering the figure 1 and has a shape of revolution with a longitudinal axis A. The body 10 is formed of two coaxial boxes 2a and 2b. We can also qualify these housings as hulls.

The two boxes 2a and 2b have an analogous tapered general shape.

The casing 2a is external and contains all the components of the hair dryer 1. It houses the casing 2b which constitutes an internal casing or shell and which contains a substantial number of the components of the hair dryer. The outer box 2a is visible to the user while the inner box 2b is concealed inside the outer box 2a and is therefore not visible to the user, under normal conditions of use. Annular vibration isolation devices preferably forming seals 20 are arranged between the inner 2b and outer 2a casings and make it possible to isolate them from one another in terms of vibration.

An air inlet zone 4 is located at one end of the outer casing 2a and an air outlet zone 5 is located at its opposite end. An air circulation chamber 3 extends between the air inlet zone 4 and the air outlet zone 5.

During the operation of the hair dryer 1, ambient air is sucked in at the level of the air inlet zone 4. The ambient air enters the air circulation chamber 3 via an opening made in the air inlet zone 4 and in the internal casing 2b. The air is set in motion along the air circulation chamber 3 as far as the air outlet zone 5. To this air outlet zone 5 is usually connected a concentrator nozzle 50, preferably removable, such as represented at figures 2 and 3 .

A circulation system allows this air to move. This circulation system comprises, from upstream to downstream, when the direction of air circulation between the air inlet 4 and air outlet 5 zones is considered, a propeller 7 arranged in the immediate vicinity of the air inlet zone 4, a motor 8, preferably electric, for driving the propeller 7 in rotation, a rectifier 6 for channeling and/or straightening the air at the outlet of the propeller 7. More specifically, propeller 7 is advantageously chosen from centrifugal or helico-centrifugal propellers. This type of propeller, well known to those skilled in the art, operates on the principle of axial suction at the center of the propeller, then radial ejection of the air, under the effect of centrifugal force. This type of propeller therefore generates a radial air flow. Depending on the construction of the propeller 7, a helical component can also be imparted to the airflow. These propellers present interesting performance/noise compromises and therefore find all their advantage for use in a hair dryer such as that of the invention.

The system also comprises at least one heating element 12 arranged downstream of the rectifier 6, which makes it possible to heat the air in the downstream part of the circulation chamber 3, before its expulsion through the outlet zone 5. All these elements are advantageously coaxial, which makes it possible to limit their radial size and to be perfectly integrated into the shaft of a hair dryer. Such a construction is also particularly simple, reliable and easy to implement.

The hair dryer also comprises means for controlling and adjusting the motor 8 and/or the heating element 12, which are not represented here, which make it possible to individually modify parameters such as the speed of rotation of the motor and /or the heating temperature, from an off position to a full power position, possibly passing through one or more intermediate positions.

The rectifier 6, as is particularly visible at the picture 3 , comprises a body 60 of converging shape from upstream to downstream, for example truncated-conical, and whose inlet outer diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the propeller 7. It is placed closest to this propeller in such a way to capture the vortex of air generated by the latter. The function of the rectifier 6 is to channel the flow of air leaving the propeller 7 and to straighten it. To this end, the stator 6 comprises at its periphery several stator blades 61 which here have a helical shape. In a different embodiment, the blades may for example have a spiral shape. In other words, the rectifier 6 makes it possible to transform an airflow having a radial or helico-radial component emitted by the propeller 7 into an airflow having essentially or even only an axial component.

As can be seen by comparing on the one hand the figure 1 and, on the other hand, the figures 2 and 3 , the body 60 of the rectifier 6 houses in its interior the aforementioned motor 8, which drives the propeller 7 in rotation on itself by a shaft 80.

This motor 8 is mounted in an elastically deformable damper support 9 which is shown in detail in figures 4 and 5 .

In accordance with the invention, this shock-absorbing support is remarkable in that it has a tapered outer shape. As indicated above, this particular shape of the elastically deformable damper support 9 makes it possible to drastically limit its size and to give it an aerodynamic shape which at least opposes the circulation of air within the hair dryer. Moreover, this elastically deformable damper support 9 contributes very significantly to filtering the vibrations generated by the motor 8 as well as the propeller 7 of the hair dryer when they are in operation.

We describe below more precisely the embodiment of this example of shock absorber support shown in figures 4 and 5 .

This elastically deformable damper support 9 comprises a base 90 in the form of a thick disc, which has a circular and axial opening 900. This gives this base an annular shape whose opposite faces 901 and 902 are flat and parallel.

From the face 901 extend four tabs 91 which serve, as will be seen later, to hold and enclose the motor 8. These tabs 91 are in one piece (that is to say monolithic) with the base 90. The expression tabs here advantageously denotes a protrusion projecting from the face 901 so that the elastically deformable damper 9 has a discontinuous outer surface. In other words, the elastically deformable damper 9 preferably does not have a continuous shape (such as a shape of full revolution like a cone or a cylinder) but on the contrary a discontinuous shape, that is to say comprising protuberances and/or protrusions, advantageously formed by said lugs 91. In other words again, the elastically deformable damper 9 is not a solid part. This results in particular in the use of less material, and therefore in a cost and a minimized weight for the elastically deformable damper 9. In addition, the air circulates easily around the motor which is thus not enclosed in a closed space (since it is supported by legs) which contributes to its good cooling. The expression enclose preferably designates a direct hold. Thus, the tabs 91, preferably four in number, are advantageously in direct contact with the motor 8 and themselves ensure the maintenance of the motor 8, by gripping it directly. As explained, this makes it possible to increase the heat exchange surface between the motor 8 and its environment and therefore to improve the cooling of the latter.

In an embodiment not shown, the number of tabs 91 is different from four. However, it is preferable for it to be at least equal to three, in order to allow the motor 8 to be held in place well. Advantageously and with the aim of perfect stability, the tabs 91 are equidistant angularly. Thus, in the example illustrated, the number of tabs is four and the tabs 91 are diametrically opposed in pairs, that is to say that they are each separated by 90°. In another example, where the number of legs 91 is 3, the legs 91 are each separated by 120°

The base of the legs is referenced 910, while their free end or top is referenced 912. The base 910 is wide and extends radially, from the outer edge of the base 90 to the edge of the opening 900, forming however a slight recess behind this opening. They rise in the axial direction, parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the hair dryer, in particular visible at the figure 1 .

Each leg 91 has four faces referenced 913 to 916. The internal face 913 is a flat face which extends in the extension or almost in the extension from the edge of the opening 900. The outer face 914 which extends opposite the inner face has a convergent shape whose convergence is directed in the direction of the axis A as one s away from the base 90. Thus, the convergence is oriented in the direction of the air flow in order to give the elastically deformable damping support 9

It is the external faces 914 of the lugs 91 which give the elastically deformable damper support 9 a tapered external shape. As explained above, this frustoconical external shape is discontinuous (not solid).

The last two lateral faces 915 and 916 are planar faces of radial extent.

The free end 912 of the lugs 91 has the shape of a lug which projects slightly radially in the direction of the axis A.

It should be noted that each tab 91 is framed by two reinforcing elements or buttress 93 which rise from the base 90 and rest against the side faces 915 and 916. These reinforcing elements 93 rise on a part of the extent of the tabs 91. This contributes to secure the tabs 91 to the base 90, while allowing a certain movement of their respective free ends 912.

Advantageously, this damper support is made of rubber. It is preferably in one piece (in other words, it is monolithic) and cast under vacuum.

According to one possible embodiment of the invention, this elastically deformable damper support 9 has a Shore A hardness of between 40 and 90, preferably between 60 and 80 and even more preferably of the order of 70. By making use of a such hardness, an excellent compromise is obtained between the filtration of the vibrations generated by the motor 8 and the guidance (that is to say the maintenance) of the latter. Thus, and as will be seen below, the motor is held perfectly in place, in particular by preventing any movement which would cause the propeller to come into contact with other fixed parts.

As shown at figure 5 , the motor 8 is engaged in the elastically deformable damper support 9, in the space delimited by the tabs 91. This motor has a cylindrical shape and has an external diameter which corresponds substantially to that of the opening 900. The shaft 80 of the motor 8, which is connected to the propeller 7, extends through the opening 900.

The motor 8 is encircled by an axially split cylindrical sleeve 82 whose function is to improve the performance of said motor 8 in particular vis-à-vis electromagnetic disturbances.

As shown in figure 5 , the motor 8 is retained in the damper support 9 by the lugs 91 and more precisely by their free end 912 in the form of a lug. Ample movement of the engine in a radial direction is prevented by the lugs 91, which effectively filter the vibrations likely to be generated.

Furthermore, and as visible in figure 6 , the motor 8 is fixed on a support part 94 in the general shape of a disc, which is housed in the opening 900 of the base 90 of the elastically deformable damper support 9. This support part 94 is rigid and is fixed to the elastically deformable damper support deformable 9 by any known assembly means (overmolding, tight assembly, etc.). Motor 8 is fixed directly to support piece 94 by a pair of screws 940.

The presence of such a support piece 94 makes it possible to obtain excellent fixing of the motor, avoiding a direct connection between the motor 8 and the elastically deformable material of the shock absorber support 9. The propeller 7 and motor 8 assembly is thus positioned precisely and firmly, limiting any risk of interference (contact, impact) between the propeller 7 and its environment during operation of the device, and optimizing the aeraulic performance.

Furthermore, we note the presence, in the body of the support piece 94, of large openings 941, the function of which will be explained below.

It is noted, however, and advantageously but not necessarily, that the motor 8 is only partially engaged in the shock absorber support 9 so that part of its longitudinal extent extends beyond the free end 912 of the legs 91. Preferably, it is engaged in the shock absorber support over approximately half to approximately two thirds of its length.

Thus, better cooling of the engine is obtained, the calories released from which can circulate more freely. In addition, the wide openings 941 of the piece of support 94 which allow air to be conducted inside the motor 8, as well as the presence of oblong holes in the base 90 of the elastically deformable damper support 9, together contribute to excellent cooling of the motor.

Furthermore, a good compromise between guidance and freedom of movement by the motor is obtained, which translates into a reduced rate of vibrations.

In this case, only the free end 912 of the lugs 91 is in contact with the motor 8. This form of lug makes it possible to limit the contact between the motor 8 and the elastically deformable damper support 9 to a point contact, or more exactly to several point contacts which allows on the one hand to leave a greater degree of freedom to the motor (according to a slight oscillating movement for example) while allowing the legs 91 to deform slightly outwards to accommodate the motor 8 .

The propeller 7 shown in the figures is configured to be driven in rotation around the longitudinal axis A. It comprises a proximal wall defining an inlet opening provided for admitting into the propeller a flow of air directed along the longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, it comprises a plurality of air passage channels in fluid communication with the intake opening, said air passage channels being positioned around the longitudinal axis, each air passage channel extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis, between an inlet end and an outlet end. Thus, as can be seen from the figures 2 and 3 , the air is ejected from the propeller 7 by a plurality of channels or cells, radially to the longitudinal axis A. Such a propeller is then of the cellular type.

In such a propeller 7, in response to the rotation of the propeller 7, an air flow is admitted at the level of the inlet opening, then is driven radially outwards under the effect of centrifugal force. generated by the rotation of the propeller. The radial airflow passes through the inlet ends and the outlet ends of the air passage channels. A high rate outgoing radial flow can be obtained.

Such a propeller 7 is of the centrifugal or helico-centrifugal type. This type of propeller 7 is particularly appreciated for its excellent compromise between noise generated and performance, in particular good flow rate and good pressure resistance.

The volume emerging from each radial air passage channel is less than the volume set in motion between two blades of a standard hair dryer propeller. Thus, the noise pollution caused by the collision of the small volume of air exiting from each channel against fixed elements of the hair dryer is limited.

There is also an increase in natural vibration frequencies, compared to a centrifugal propeller of the state of the art. The acoustic noise generated by the setting in motion of the air within the propeller is therefore more acute.

Of course, instead of such a propeller, one can make use of a propeller of traditional shape, known from the prior art, such as that described in WO2017/017330 .

Claims (9)

1. Hairdryer (1) comprising an air circulation chamber (3) equipped with an inlet zone (4) and an outlet zone (5), an air circulation system (6, 7, 8) and at least one heating element (12), as well as a motor (8) configured to rotate a propeller (7), which extends downstream from said inlet zone (4) when the air displacement direction between said inlet (4) and outlet (5) zones is considered, said motor (8) being mounted in an elastically deformable shock absorber support (9) having an external truncated shape,
   characterised in that
   said shock absorber support (9) comprises an assembly of tabs (91) distant from one another, which surround said motor (8).
2. Hairdryer (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said tabs (91) are disposed diametrically opposite, two-by-two, around said motor (8).
3. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that the number of tabs (91) is equal to four.
4. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said motor (8) is partially engaged in said shock absorber support (9).
5. Hairdryer (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised by the fact that said motor (8) is engaged in said shock absorber support (9) on around half to around two-thirds of its length.
6. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said shock absorber support (9) is made of rubber.
7. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said shock absorber support (9) has a Shore A hardness of between 40 and 90, preferably between 60 and 80.
8. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said shock absorber support (9) has a Shore A hardness of around 70.
9. Hairdryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by the fact that said motor (8) is fixed on a rigid support part (94), which is integral with said shock absorber support (9).

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