JP2009167883A - Blower - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a blower capable of uniformly cooling a control device. <P>SOLUTION: The blower is equipped with an axial flow type cooling fan (20) for generating cooling wind for cooling a medium flowing in a heat exchanger (2), an electric motor (30) for driving the cooling fan (20), and the control device (40) incorporating a semiconductor switching element for controlling the rotation speed of the electric motor (30). The blower is provided on the control device (40), and disposed so that a heat radiation part (52A) for radiating heat from the semiconductor switching element is projected to the inner portion of the outside diameter of a fan blade (22) of the cooling fan (20) to the fan blade side (22) side. The projection length of the heat radiation part (52A) becomes short from a root side of the fan blade (22) toward the tip side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a blower used for, for example, a heat exchange device for cooling a vehicle engine.

Conventionally, as a heat exchange device (heat exchanger + blower) for a vehicle air conditioner, as shown in Patent Document 1, a cooling fan is provided in a heat exchanger such as a radiator or a condenser, and the cooling fan is driven. In order to control the number of rotations of the electric motor, a device including a control device incorporating a semiconductor switching element is known. The control device is provided with a plurality of heat dissipating fins (heat sinks) protruding at the same length on the fan side so as to promote heat dissipation of heat generated from the semiconductor switching element.
JP 2005-163758 A

  In such a control device, as described in Patent Document 1, the heat dissipating fins (heat sinks) may be disposed so as to penetrate the fan shroud in a radially outer portion than the fan blades of the cooling fan. The control device is cooled by the air that is downstream of the cooling fan, and is arranged on the downstream side of the fan blade and on the inner side of the outer diameter of the fan blade.

  In general, a plurality of such heat radiating fins (heat sinks) protrude with the same length over the entire surface of the control device facing the fan blade. Here, the radially outer part (tip side part) of the fan blade has a higher peripheral speed (wind speed) than the radially inner part (root side part), and the cooling capacity is higher in the radially outer part than in the radially inner part. Good at. For this reason, when the heat radiation fins (heat sinks) having the same length are formed, the cooling effect is unbalanced between the part of the control device corresponding to the radially outer part and the part of the control device corresponding to the radially inner part. There was a problem that occurred.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a blower capable of uniformly cooling a control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the axial flow type cooling fan (20) for generating the cooling air for cooling the medium flowing inside the heat exchanger (2) and the electric motor for driving the cooling fan (20). A motor (30) and a control device (40) including a semiconductor switching element for controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor (30) are provided in the control device (40), and heat from the semiconductor switching element is provided. A heat dissipating part (52A) for dissipating heat is a blower arranged so as to protrude toward the fan blade (22) side in the outer diameter inner part of the fan blade (22) of the cooling fan (20), and the heat dissipating part (52A) ) Is characterized in that the protruding length is shorter from the root side to the tip side of the fan blade (22).

  According to this configuration, the heat dissipating portion (52A) in the radially outer portion where the peripheral speed (wind speed) is large and the heat radiation (cooling) ability is great is short, and the peripheral speed (wind speed) is small compared with the radially outer portion. The cooling capacity is made uniform by lengthening the heat dissipating part (52A) in the radially inner portion that is inferior to the (cooling) capacity. That is, the control device (40) can be uniformly cooled in the radial direction of the fan blade (22) without any number. Thereby, the arrangement | positioning freedom degree of a heat generating body can be improved, without being restrict | limited in the arrangement | positioning of a heat generating body in a control apparatus (40).

  In the invention according to claim 2, the heat dissipating part (52 </ b> A) has a virtual tip line (L <b> 1) formed by connecting the projecting tips in a side view, facing the heat dissipating part (52 </ b> A) of the fan blade (22). It is characterized by being formed along the rotation locus line (L2) of the end portion on the side.

  The thickness of the fan blade (22) in the rotational axis direction at the time of assembly is the result of the fan blade (22) being formed and arranged on the boss portion of the cooling fan (20) in a curved surface considering the wind flow. The tip side may be larger than the side.

  In such a case, the protrusion length of the heat dissipating part (52A) at the portion facing the small (thin) root side of the fan blade (22) is lengthened and opposed to the leading end side of the fan blade (22) having a large thickness. By shortening the protruding length of the heat radiation part (52A) at the site to be mounted, the mounting space can be used efficiently. According to this configuration, the virtual tip line (L1) formed by connecting the protruding tips of the heat radiating part (52A) is along the rotation locus line (L2) of the end of the fan blade (22). The control device (40) can be arranged without waste.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the heat dissipating part (52A) has a pin shape and is formed in a plurality in the control device (40).

  In the ventilation of the axial-flow cooling fan (20), a flow in the swirl direction is generated in addition to the rotation axis direction. For this reason, as in this configuration, if the heat radiating portion (52A) has a pin shape, the cooling air easily flows through the gap between the pins, and the cooling air is reliably applied to the heat radiating portion (52A). The heat radiation (cooling) ability in the heat radiation part (52A) can be improved.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means of embodiment description later mentioned.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a heat exchange device 1 including a blower 3 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchange device 1 includes a radiator 2 (heat exchanger) and a blower 3, and cools cooling water of an automobile engine (not shown). Note that the left side in FIG. 1 is the front side in the vehicle direction (hereinafter simply referred to as “front side”), and the right side in FIG. Side ”). 1 will be described below with the vertical direction in FIG. 1 as the vertical direction.

  A plurality of radiators 2 are arranged so that the longitudinal direction of tubes (not shown) is directed in the vertical direction, and a core portion (not shown) is formed by interposing fins for heat dissipation between the tubes. This is a so-called vertical flow type radiator in which both ends in the longitudinal direction of the tube are connected to a pair of tanks, that is, an upper tank (not shown) and a lower tank (not shown).

  The radiator 2 is mounted on the front side of the engine in the vehicle engine room. Here, cooling water from the engine flows in from the upper tank, flows in the tube of the core portion from the upper side to the lower side, and flows out of the lower tank. To return to the engine.

  The blower 3 mainly includes a fan shroud 10, a cooling fan 20, an electric motor 30, and a control device 40 formed integrally with the electric motor 30. The blower 3 is fixed to the engine side (rear side) of the radiator 2 by a plurality of mounting portions (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral portion of the fan shroud 10 so that the rotating shaft of the cooling fan 20 faces the horizontal direction. In addition, cooling air is blown to the core portion of the radiator 2. The blower 3 is a so-called suction type electric blower that sucks blown air from the grill side of the vehicle toward the engine side, that is, from the core portion of the radiator 2 to the fan shroud 10 side.

  The fan shroud 10 has a substantially rectangular shape whose outer shape corresponds to the core portion of the radiator 2, and is made of, for example, a polypropylene resin material containing glass fibers.

  The cooling fan 20, which is a blower fan, is an axial-flow fan, and a plurality of blades 22 are separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the boss portion 21 having a flat bottomed cylindrical shape (rotating direction around the rotation axis). However, it is formed to extend radially.

  The electric motor 30 is, for example, a ferrite type DC motor, and a ferrite magnet as a stator is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical housing forming the main body 31, and further, an armature (coil) as a rotor is provided inside thereof. Is rotatably mounted. The electric motor 30 is fixed to a motor holding portion (not shown) of the fan shroud 10.

  The control device 40 is provided integrally with the main body 31 above the main body 31 of the electric motor 30. The control device 40 incorporates a semiconductor switching element, and changes the average current value by changing the ON / OFF time ratio of the current supplied to the electric motor 30 by the operation of the semiconductor switching element. is there.

  Furthermore, a heat sink 50 </ b> A for dissipating heat generated from the semiconductor switching element is attached to the front surface of the control device 40 (surface on the cooling fan 20 side) so as to be in contact with the front surface of the control device 40. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the control device 40 and the heat sink 50A. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat sink 50 </ b> A has a thin plate-like substrate 51 having a rectangular shape slightly smaller than the outer shape of the rear surface of the control device 40, and a plurality of pin-like fins are formed on the entire surface of the substrate 51. The member 52A is formed to protrude to the front side (cooling fan 20 side) at a predetermined interval. The fin member 52A is arranged such that the protruding direction thereof coincides with the cooling air flow (the right direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1).

  The projecting length of each fin member 52A is shorter as the fin member 52A is arranged on the upper side (projecting length W1 of the fin member 52A at the bottom end> projecting length W2 of the fin member 52A at the top end). As a result, a virtual tip line L1 formed by connecting the protruding tips of the fin member 52A draws an oblique line that rises to the right from the lower end (the root side of the blade 22) to the upper end (the tip side of the blade 22) in a side view. In this manner, the parallel lines are formed along the rotation locus line L2 drawn by the rear end portion of the blade 22. A predetermined clearance C is formed between the protruding tip of the fin member 52A and the blade 22.

  When the heat exchange device 1 having the above configuration is activated, the cooling air generated by the cooling fan 20 passes between the fin members 52A and strikes the fin members 52A satisfactorily as shown by the arrows in FIG. The heat generated in the semiconductor switching element can be dissipated by the fin member 52A to cool the control device 40.

  The radially outer portion (tip side portion) of the blade 22 has a higher peripheral speed (wind velocity) than the radially inner portion (root side portion), and the radially outer portion has a heat radiation (cooling) capability than the radially inner portion. Good at. For this reason, sufficient cooling capacity can be obtained even if the protruding length of the fin member 52A located in the radially outer portion (tip side portion) is short. According to the present embodiment, the fin member 52A in the radially outer portion that is excellent in heat dissipation (cooling) capability is short, and the fin member 52A in the radially inner portion that is inferior in heat dissipation (cooling) capability compared to the radially outer portion. By increasing the length, the cooling capacity at the front surface of the control device 40 is made uniform. Thereby, the arrangement | positioning freedom degree of a heat generating body can be improved, without being restrict | limited in arrangement | positioning of heat generating bodies, such as a switching element, in the control apparatus 40. FIG.

  Further, the protrusion length of the fin member 52A at the portion facing the base side where the front and rear thickness of the blade 22 is small (thin) is increased, and the protrusion length of the fin member 52A at the portion facing the tip side where the front and rear thickness of the blade 22 is large. By shortening the length, the mounting space can be efficiently utilized without waste.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the control device 40 and the heat sink 50B in the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, constituent members that are the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the shape of the fin member 52B is different from that of the first embodiment, and hereinafter, the fin member 52B which is a different portion will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fin member 52B of the present embodiment has a thin plate shape and is formed in a stacked state with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. And it arrange | positions so that the plate | board surface of the fin member 52B may correspond with the flow direction (right direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1) of cooling air.

  The protruding length of each fin member 52B is longer as the fin member 52B is arranged on the upper side. Thereby, the virtual tip line L1 formed by connecting the projecting tips of the fin member 52B draws an oblique line that rises to the right from the lower end (the root side of the blade 22) to the upper end (the tip side of the blade 22) in a side view. In this manner, the lines are parallel to the rotation locus line L2 (see FIG. 1) drawn by the rear end of the blade 22.

  In the present embodiment, the cooling air generated by the cooling fan 20 passes through the space formed between the upper and lower sides of the fin members 52B and strikes the fin members 52B satisfactorily to generate heat generated in the semiconductor switching element. Heat is dissipated by the member 52B, and the front surface of the control device 40 can be uniformly cooled in the radial direction of the blade 22 as in the first embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
In the second embodiment, the fin member 52B is formed as a plate-like member whose plate surface coincides with the flow direction of cooling air from the radiator 2 to the cooling fan 20 (right direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1). You may form as a plate-shaped member which makes a smooth curved surface so that the wind flow in the wake part of the braid | blade 22 in which the control apparatus 40 is arrange | positioned may be followed.

  Alternatively, if the cooling air is within a range where the cooling air efficiently hits the fin member 52B, the plate surface coincides with the direction orthogonal to the flow direction of cooling air from the radiator 2 to the cooling fan 20 (right direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1). You may comprise as a plate-shaped member to do. In this case, it can be implemented as a configuration in which a plurality of fin members having a triangular shape or a trapezoidal shape in a side view are provided in the depth direction (a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1).

  In each of the above embodiments, the shape of the blade 22 is a tip thickness design in which the thickness increases from the root side to the tip side in a side view, but the thickness decreases from the root side to the tip side in a side view. It may be implemented as a blade with a thin tip. Even in this case, the fin member at the radially outer portion is short, and the fin member at the radially inner portion, which is inferior in heat dissipation (cooling) capability as compared with the radially outer portion, is lengthened. The cooling capacity can be made uniform.

  In each of the above embodiments, the control device 40 has been described as an integral type with the electric motor 30. However, if the installation site of the control device 40 is inside the outer diameter of the blade 22, the control device is separate from the electric motor 30. The present invention can be applied to 40.

  In each of the above embodiments, the control device 40 is provided on the upper side of the main body 31 of the electric motor 30, but may be provided on the lower side. In this case, the fin members 52A and 52B are formed such that the protruding length gradually decreases from the upper side (the base side of the blade 22) to the lower side (the tip side of the blade 22).

  Furthermore, although each said embodiment demonstrated the air blower 3 as a suction-type thing, you may apply to the push-type thing which pushes blowing air into the core part of the radiator 2 from the electric motor 30 side.

It is a side surface schematic diagram which shows a heat exchange apparatus provided with the air blower which is 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a control apparatus and a heat sink. It is a perspective view which shows the control apparatus and heat sink in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Heat Exchanger 2 Radiator (Heat Exchanger)
3 Blower 20 Cooling fan 22 Blade (fan blade)
40 Control device 50A, 50B Heat sink 51 Substrate 52A, 52B Fin member (heat radiation part)
L1 Virtual tip line L2 Rotation locus line

Claims (3)

An axial-flow cooling fan (20) for generating cooling air for cooling the medium flowing inside the heat exchanger (2);
An electric motor (30) for driving the cooling fan (20);
And a control device (40) including a semiconductor switching element for controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor (30), and is provided in the control device (40), and dissipates heat from the semiconductor switching element. The part (52A) is a blower arranged so as to protrude toward the fan blade (22) side in an outer diameter inner portion of the fan blade (22) of the cooling fan (20),
The blower characterized in that the projecting length of the heat radiating portion (52A) is shortened from the root side to the tip side of the fan blade (22).   The heat dissipating part (52A) is rotated at the end of the fan blade (22) on the side facing the heat dissipating part (52A) of the imaginary front end line (L1) formed by connecting the protruding tips in side view. It forms so that a locus line (L2) may be followed, The air blower of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The blower according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat dissipating part (52A) has a pin shape, and a plurality of the heat dissipating parts (52A) are formed in the control device (40).

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