FR3001155A1 - RESPIRATORY ASSISTING APPARATUS WITH SOUNDPROOF TURBINE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a respiratory assistance apparatus comprising a turbine (30) comprising a motor (1) cooperating with a finned wheel (25) for generating a flow of gas and soundproofing means arranged around at least part of the turbine (30). The soundproofing means comprise a three-dimensional structure (20) arranged around at least a portion of the motor (1), comprising at least one central element (20a) defining a central housing (20g) forming a sleeve around at least one part of the motor (1) being spaced from said motor (1), a plurality of spacer elements (20b) each comprising at least one wall projecting radially outwards, said spacer elements (20b) being arranged at the periphery of the element tubular (20a), and at least one holding member (20c) resting on the motor (1) so as to maintain the three-dimensional structure (20) in position around said motor (1).

Description

The invention relates to a breathing apparatus equipped with a micro-blower or motorized turbine for generating a flow of gas under pressure, in particular an air flow. More particularly, the invention relates to the soundproofing of the turbine within the breathing apparatus to reduce noise pollution, the cooling of the engine by forced convection and the holding in place of said turbine during operation. by adding a three-dimensional structure of particular shape. Some respiratory assistance devices use micro-blowers or turbines for generating a gas under pressure, usually air or oxygen-enriched air, which is then sent to a user's airway. . A turbine of this type is described in particular by the document EP-A-2102504 which teaches a respiratory assistance apparatus allowing regulated delivery of a gas, in particular air, by means of a turbine comprising a housing, a duct an air inlet defined by the housing, a volute whose inlet opening is in communication with the air supply duct, a finned wheel located immediately downstream of the inlet opening of the volute, comprising an inlet opening connected to this inlet opening of the volute and outlet openings opening into the volute, and a motor 1 for driving the wheel in rotation so as to generate an air flow centrifugal in the volute.

One of the problems that arises with micro-blowers or turbines is that of noise emissions, that is to say the noise they generate. In fact, respiratory assistance devices equipped with these micro-blowers or turbines are intended to be used in hospital or at home, so the noise emitted during the operation of the motor 1 and the rotation of the impeller must be as low as possible.

Solutions have been proposed for this purpose, including a widespread solution consisting of soundproofing the outside of the turbine with a soundproof housing and / or foams or the like disposed around. This effectively reduces the noise but causing constraints in terms of space, including large volume occupied by the foam, as shown in Figure 1.

Moreover, any soundproofing system of the turbine must not oppose or interfere with maintaining the correct position of the turbine and if possible be able to provide a shock stop function. In current devices, the turbines are generally held in place by dampers arranged in the lower part of the turbine and at its volute and its outlet pipe of the gas under pressure, as shown in FIG. these dampers are often tedious and their presence requires special arrangements of soundproofing boxes based on peripheral foam (see Fig. 1), which leads to a complexity of the architecture of the whole and additional costs including mounting. Finally, the soundproofing system and the damping devices must not oppose, or as little as possible, the cooling of the turbine, in particular of its engine. In other words, the problem is to limit or reduce the noise emitted by the turbine of a breathing apparatus without causing significant overheating of the engine, while ensuring a shock stop function or damper but without hindering the maintenance in the correct position of the turbine or complicating the assembly and architecture of the devices thus equipped. The solution is a respiratory assistance device comprising a turbine comprising a motor cooperating with a finned wheel to generate a flow of gas, in particular an air flow, and soundproofing means arranged around at least a part of the turbine, characterized in that the soundproofing means comprise a three-dimensional structure arranged around at least a portion of the engine, comprising: - at least one central element defining a central housing forming a sleeve around at least a portion of the motor being spaced from said motor, that is to say around around at least a portion of the height of said motor, - a plurality of spacer elements each comprising at least one wall projecting radially outwards, said elements spacers being arranged at the periphery of the tubular element, and - at least one holding element coming to bear on the engine so as to maintain the three-dimensional structure it is in position around said engine.

As the case may be, the invention may comprise one or more of the following technical characteristics: the central element defines a central housing forming a sleeve around the entire height of the engine while being spaced from said motor; the spacer elements each comprise at less a wall projecting radially outwardly away from the engine and the central housing. the spacer elements are all of the same shape or structure or, alternatively, all or part of the spacer elements have different shapes or structures. the spacer elements have a "U", "V", "W", "X", "I", "M", "O", "S", "Z" section "," H "," I "or others. the height of the spacer elements is less than or equal to the height of the central element. - The central element is tubular, preferably cylindrical or conical, more preferably cylindrical. - The central housing of the central element forming a sleeve around at least a portion of the motor being spaced from said motor has an internal profile matching the outer profile (i.e. the periphery) of the motor. the three-dimensional structure comprises at least one first and at least one second holding element, the central element being arranged between said first and second holding elements. the first holding element is fixed to the central element by means of one or more connecting elements. the second holding element is fixed to the spacer elements by means of wall expansions. the holding elements are of annular shape, in particular clamps or retaining rings. the three-dimensional structure comprises a crown-shaped base carrying the spacer elements and / or the central element. the ring-shaped holding elements have an internal diameter d which is smaller than the internal diameter D of the central housing of the central element, i.e. d <D. the three-dimensional structure comprising the central element, the holding elements, the spacer elements, the wall expansions and the joining elements is formed in one piece. - The three-dimensional structure is formed of a soundproofing material adapted to absorb at least a portion of the sound emissions emitted by the engine, preferably the soundproofing material is elastomer, in particular silicone or TPE. - the engine is overcome:. a volute comprising an internal compartment including the impeller, and at least a portion of an exhaust duct for conveying the gas delivered by said impeller, and. an inlet pavilion comprising an inlet opening through which gas is drawn off when the vaned wheel is rotated by the electric motor, the vaned wheel being located immediately downstream of the inlet opening of the entrance pavilion, said entrance pavilion surmounting the volute.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the appended figures in which: FIG. 1 represents a micro-blower or turbine arranged in a breathing assistance apparatus according to the prior art; FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic; an embodiment of a three-dimensional structure equipping the micro-blower or turbine of a breathing apparatus according to the present invention, in top view and side section, respectively, and - Figure 4 shows the structure three-dimensional of Figures 2 and 3 extracted from the turbine. Figure 1 shows a motorized micro-blower or turbine arranged within a breathing apparatus according to the prior art. The turbine 30 comprises an electric motor 1 which makes it possible to drive, via a rotary axis, a fin wheel 25 (see FIG 3) serving to generate a flow of gas, typically a flow of air. The paddle wheel 25 is in a volute 7 which overcomes the motorized turbine and which forms a cowling comprising a lower part of volute 7b, commonly called the lower volute, and an upper part of volute 7a, called the upper volute, coming from connect to one another, generally by bonding to one another, and define between them an internal space or internal compartment including the impeller, that is to say that the impeller is taken "in sandwich" in the internal compartment arranged in the lower parts 7b and 7a upper volute. The supply air is sucked by the finned wheel through an inlet flag 8 comprising a central passage, that is to say an opening through which the air sucked by the impeller 25 passes through. which is located immediately downstream of the inlet opening 8 of the volute. The air is then sent to the user by the impeller 25, via a gas discharge duct 9, in the form of a centrifugal air flow generated by the rotation of the impeller 25 when is driven by the engine 1. In the current turbines, maintaining in position the entire turbine 1, 7, 8 is done through the addition of damping devices holding 3, 4 and 5, located in particular at the level the base (5) of the engine 1 of the turbine 30, and on both sides (3 and 4) of the volute 7, in particular at the exhaust duct 9 gas. Moreover, in order to reduce or reduce the noise emissions that constitute a nuisance for the user, the turbine assembly 1, 7, 8 is incorporated in a soundproofing box 10 arranged around the turbine assembly 30 and comprises a peripheral soundproofing mass typically formed of synthetic foam.

In order to ensure a minimum cooling of the turbine 30, in particular of the motor 1 supplied with electric current via a bundle of cables 11, it is necessary to arrange in the soundproofing box 10, a spacing or cooling duct 2 around turbine 30 in which cooling air can circulate to evacuate the heat emitted by the turbine 30 during its operation.

This type of arrangement of a turbine in a breathing apparatus, also called "fan", is conventional in the state of the art. The present invention proposes, in particular in order to attenuate the noise generated by the turbine 30, during its operation, as used in conventional fans, by a compact three-dimensional structure having a particular architecture forming a sleeve around a portion of the turbine 30, that is to say around the outer wall of the engine 1, also called engine cowling 1. The three-dimensional structure 20, thanks to its particular shape or architecture, also ensures proper cooling of the engine 1 by forced convection and a good retention of the turbine 30 during its operation. The three-dimensional structure 20 thus schematically replaces the space 2 and the dampers 3, 4, 5 shown in Figure 1 and used in conventional turbines. More precisely, in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a turbine 30 provided with a three-dimensional structure 20 according to the present invention, namely a turbine 30 comprising an electric motor 1 which makes it possible to drive, via its rotary axis, a finned wheel 25 for generating the flow of air. As in the apparatus of Figure 1, the vane wheel 25 is in a volute 7 which overcomes the turbine 30 with an internal space or internal compartment including the impeller 25. Again, the air is sucked by the finned wheel 25 through an inlet flag 8 with a central passage, and then sent to the user via the exhaust duct 9. In accordance with the present invention, the sound emissions are attenuated by means of soundproofing comprising the three-dimensional structure 20 forming a sleeve around at least a portion of the engine 1, that is to say around its cowling or its peripheral wall enclosing the engine components, in particular the rotor, the stator. Typically, the motor 1 drives the impeller 25 at a speed between 0 and 100,000 rpm, typically between 10,000 and 70,000 rpm.

More precisely, the three-dimensional structure 20 comprises, in the embodiment detailed in FIG. 4, a central element 20a defining a central housing 20g forming a sleeve around at least a portion of the motor 1 while being spaced from said motor 1. Space formed between the wall of the motor 1 and the wall defining the central housing 20g of the central element 20a creates a forced convection corridor around the engine to cool by air flow. The distance between the wall of the motor 1 and the wall defining the central housing 20g is preferably between 1 and 10 mm, typically of the order of about 3 mm. The central element 20a carries several spacer elements 20b, preferably from 2 to 30 spacer elements, typically from 4 to 20 spacer elements, each comprising at least one wall projecting radially outwards, that is to say in away from the engine 1 located in the central housing 20g.

The spacer elements 20b are arranged at the periphery of the tubular element 20a by being angularly distributed around said periphery. The spacer elements 20b are thus directed radially outwards and come to bear on the inner surface of the housing 23 enclosing the turbine assembly.

The spacers 20b may have, in plan view, a "U" or "V" shape as illustrated in FIG. 2 or take other shapes, for example "W", "X", "I", in "NI", "O", "S", "Z", "H", "J" or others. In addition, the spacers 20b may extend over all or part of the height of the engine 1.

These spacer elements are used to maintain the position of the turbine 30 in the housing 23, vibration damping and act as abutment in case of impact. Moreover, in order to ensure correct maintenance of the three-dimensional structure 20 in position around said motor 1, one or more holding elements 20c are provided which rest on the periphery of the motor 1. Advantageously, in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the holding elements 20c are two clamps or retaining rings 20c encircling the motor 1 of the turbine 30 so as to maintain the motor 1 in a fixed position in the three-dimensional structure 20. The holding elements 20c are integral with the tubular element 20a. More specifically, here, a first annular retaining element 20c is fixed directly to the central element 20a via a plurality of junction elements 20f, while a second retaining element 20c, also of annular shape. is directly attached to the spacer members 20b through wall expansions 20e, which spacer members 20b are themselves carried by the central member 20a. The ring-shaped holding elements 20c, such as rings or collars, have an internal diameter d which is smaller than the internal diameter D of the central housing 20g of the central element 20a, which is of cylindrical internal shape, i.e. d <D. The internal diameter of the holding elements 20c is chosen so as to fit the outer diameter of the motor 1 of the turbine 30 so as to ensure effective maintenance of said motor 1 and thus to reduce the vibrations generated by the operation of the motor 1 of the turbine.

It also follows that the junction elements 20f and the wall expansions 20e make it possible to create the spacing, typically between 1 and 10 mm, between the outer wall of the motor 1 and the inner wall of the central element 20a when the engine 1 is positioned in the inner housing 20g of the central element 20a, this spacing allowing gas circulation and cooling of the engine 1. Furthermore, the three-dimensional structure 20 comprises a crown-shaped base 20h carrying the spacer elements 20b and the central element 20a. This base 20h serves as a base for the entire three-dimensional structure 20 when it is placed in position in the cowling 23. The supply duct 20d is intended to guide the flow of gas towards the walls of the engine and to position axially the turbine assembly inside the housing. In other words, the supply duct 20d is a kind of funnel which makes it possible to concentrate the ambient air towards the entry of the air column made between the central element 20a and the engine body. 1, gently and progressively so as not to create turbulence, as shown in FIG. 4. The form 20d at the end of the supply duct on the largest diameter, has the function of producing an axial stop stop in translation during the insertion of the turbine assembly composed of turbine elements 30, volute 7, horn 8 and three-dimensional structure 20, inside the cylindrical cavity of the housing 23. In other words, the base of the bottom is decomposed into two parts, namely the most central portion 20h, funnel-shaped, which guides the flow to the space between the motor and the portion 20a, and the larger diameter portion 20d, which allows to position axially the turbine assembly inside the housing 23. The structure t Rough-shaped 20 is preferably formed of an elastomeric material, able to absorb at least a portion of the solid and acoustic vibrations of the turbine 30. For example, the soundproofing structure 20 may be made of rubber, silicone or TPE (Thermo-Plastic Elastomer ).

Advantageously, the entire three-dimensional structure is formed in one piece, for example by molding or the like. The motor 1 of the turbine 30 is in fact inserted into the three-dimensional structure 20 in the manner of a sleeve or a "sock", before being put into place in the cowling 23. This structure 20 makes it possible to stop and / or to absorb as closely as possible, all or part of the noise emissions generated by the engine 1 and the high speed rotation of the impeller 25, while ensuring good cooling of the engine 1.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Respiratory assistance apparatus comprising: - a turbine (30) comprising a motor (1) cooperating with a finned wheel (25) for generating a flow of gas and - soundproofing means arranged around at least a portion of the turbine (30), characterized in that the soundproofing means comprise a three-dimensional structure (20) arranged around at least a portion of the engine (1), comprising: - at least one central element (20a) defining a housing central sleeve (20g) around at least a portion of the motor (1) being spaced from said motor (1), - a plurality of spacer elements (20b) each comprising at least one wall projecting radially outwards, said elements spacers (20b) being arranged at the periphery of the tubular element (20a), and - at least one holding element (20c) resting on the motor (1) so as to maintain the three-dimensional structure (20) in position around said engine (1). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the three-dimensional structure (20) comprises at least a first and at least one second holding element (20c), the central element (20a) being arranged between said first and second elements holding (20c). 3. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first holding member (20c) is fixed to the central member (20a) via one or more junction elements (20f). 4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second holding member (20c) is attached to the spacer elements (20b) via wall expansions (20e). 5. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding elements (20c) are annular, in particular clamps or retaining rings. 6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-dimensional structure (20) comprises a crown-shaped base (20h) carrying the spacer elements (20b) and / or the central element (20a). 7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ring-shaped holding elements (20c) have an internal diameter (d) smaller than the internal diameter (D) of the central housing (20g) of the central element. (20a), ie (d <D). 8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-dimensional structure (20) comprising the central element (20a), the holding elements (20c), the spacer elements (20b), the wall expansions ( 20e) and the connecting elements (20f) are formed in one piece. 9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the three-dimensional structure (20) is formed of a soundproofing material adapted to absorb at least a portion of the noise emitted by the engine (1), preferably the soundproofing material is elastomer, in particular silicone or TPE. 10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor (1) is surmounted: - a volute (7, 7a, 7b) comprising an inner compartment (26) including the impeller (25) , and at least a portion of an exhaust duct (9) for conveying gas discharged by said fin wheel (25), and - an inlet flap (8) comprising an opening of inlet through which gas is drawn off when the vane wheel (25) is rotated by the electric motor (1), the vane wheel (25) being located immediately downstream of the entrance opening of the bonnet inlet (8), said entrance bell (8) surmounting the volute (7, 7a, 7b).