JP5462726B2 - Blower unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a blower unit.

For example, a vehicle has a blower unit for forming an air flow used in a vehicle air conditioner.
In such a blower unit, air is pumped by rotating the blower by a blower motor, and a part of the air is taken in and supplied to the blower motor in order to cool the blower motor.
More specifically, the blower unit includes an air flow path through which air flows and an air intake chamber connected to the air flow path through an opening, and the air taken into the air intake chamber is The blower motor is supplied through a cooling air inlet provided in the intake chamber.

By the way, water may enter the blower unit due to rain, car wash, or the like. Usually, such water flows along the air flow and is discharged to the outside through a drainage mechanism provided in the vehicle air conditioner.
However, when water enters the cooling air inlet provided in the air intake chamber, water is blown against the blower motor, which may cause a malfunction of the blower motor.

  For this reason, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, an embankment wall is provided in front of the cooling air inlet in the air intake chamber in order to prevent water from entering the cooling air inlet. Provided.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-144663 JP 2007-1541 A

However, the vehicle air conditioner must be installed in a limited space of the vehicle. For this reason, it may be difficult to ensure a sufficient height of the blower unit due to layout.
When the height of the blower unit cannot be secured sufficiently, the height of the air intake chamber is lowered accordingly. The height of the embankment wall necessary to prevent the ingress of water from the air flow rate is determined regardless of the height of the air intake chamber. For this reason, if the height of an air intake chamber becomes low, the clearance gap formed between a dike wall and the ceiling of an air intake chamber will become small.
And if the clearance gap formed between a dike wall and the ceiling of an air intake chamber becomes small, since the amount of air which flows into a cooling wind introduction port will decrease and cooling capacity will fall, it will be necessary to suppress the output of a blower motor Such problems occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems. In the blower unit, a sufficient amount of cooling air is supplied to the blower motor and water is reliably prevented from entering the cooling air inlet. Objective.

The present invention adopts the following configuration as means for solving the above-described problems.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air flow path through which air blown by a blower flows, and an air intake chamber which is provided with a cooling air introduction port leading to a blower motor and is connected to the air flow path through an opening. A blower unit comprising: a waterproof wall standing between the cooling air inlet and the opening; and a surrounding wall standing around the cooling air inlet and higher than the waterproof wall, the opening A configuration is adopted in which the upper end of is lower than the upper end of the surrounding wall.
According to a second invention, in the first invention, as the waterproof wall, a wall surface is directed to a flow direction of an air flow flowing from the opening into the air intake chamber, and an inner wall surface of the air intake chamber is The wall surface is directed toward the flow direction of the air flow flowing from the first wall disposed with a gap between the first wall and the gap between the first wall and the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber. And a second wall disposed.
A third invention adopts a configuration in which the floor surface of the air intake chamber is inclined so as to become lower toward the opening in the first or second invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, a configuration is provided in which a water guide path is provided for guiding water accumulated in an upper portion of the blower case forming the air flow path to the air intake chamber. To do.

According to the present invention, cooling is performed by the surrounding wall standing around the cooling air introduction port, and the waterproof wall standing between the cooling air introduction port and the opening connecting the air intake chamber and the air flow path. Water can be prevented from entering the wind inlet. In other words, in the present invention, it is only necessary to prevent water from entering the cooling air inlet through the plurality of walls, and the height of each wall (that is, the surrounding wall and the waterproof wall) can be kept low. Therefore, even when the height of the blower unit cannot be secured sufficiently and the height of the air intake chamber is low, the gap between each wall (that is, the surrounding wall and the waterproof wall) and the ceiling of the air intake chamber. Can be secured sufficiently.
Further, according to the present invention, the surrounding wall is higher than the waterproof wall, and the upper end of the opening connecting the air flow path and the air intake chamber is positioned lower than the upper end of the surrounding wall. For this reason, it is possible to prevent water that has entered the air intake chamber from the opening from directly entering the cooling air inlet without touching the surrounding wall or the waterproof wall.
Therefore, according to the present invention, in the blower unit, it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of cooling air to the blower motor and reliably prevent water from entering the cooling air inlet.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of the blower unit in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a plane sectional view of an air intake chamber with which a blower unit in one embodiment of the present invention is provided. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the air intake chamber with which the modification of the blower unit in one Embodiment of this invention is provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a blower unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the scale of each member is appropriately changed in order to make each member a recognizable size.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment.
The blower unit S1 forms an air flow that becomes conditioned air generated by the vehicle air conditioner and pumps air. The blower unit S1 of the present embodiment includes a blower duct for taking in air, a blower case 1 to which the blower duct is connected, a blower 2 installed in the blower case 1, a blower motor 3 that drives the blower 2, and the like. I have.
Since the blower duct is installed above the blower case 1 and has the same configuration as the conventional one, the description here is omitted and the illustration is also omitted in FIG.

The blower case 1 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from above, and houses a blower 2 and a blower motor 3 therein.
More specifically, the blower case 1 includes a blower housing chamber 1a that houses the blower 2 in the upper center portion, and a blower motor housing chamber 1b that houses the blower motor 3 in the lower center portion. And the opening 1a1 connected to a blower duct is formed in the upper part of the blower storage chamber 1a.
Further, the blower case 1 includes a scroll channel 1c (air channel) disposed so as to surround the blower chamber 1a and the blower motor chamber 1b. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the scroll flow path 1 c is connected to the blower housing chamber 1 a and functions as an air flow path through which air fed by the blower 2 flows. And the discharge side edge part (not shown) of the scroll flow path 1c is connected with the duct of the vehicle air conditioner.

In addition, an air intake chamber 1e connected to the scroll flow path 1c through the opening 1d is provided in the blower case 1. Inside the air intake chamber 1e, a cooling air introduction port 10 communicating with the blower motor 3 is provided.
The cooling air introduction port 10 is configured by an open end on the air intake chamber 1e side of a connection channel 11 that connects the air intake chamber 1e and the blower motor storage chamber 1b. That is, the air taken into the air intake chamber 1e through the opening 1d is configured to be introduced as cooling air from the cooling air introduction port 10 into the blower motor housing chamber 1b.
In addition, the floor surface 1e1 of the air intake chamber 1e is inclined so as to become lower toward the opening 1d, and the cooling air inlet 10 is formed in the floor surface 1e1 and is opened upward.

  FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the air intake chamber 1e. As shown in this figure, the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment has a surrounding wall 12 for preventing water from entering the cooling air inlet 10 and a waterproof wall 13.

The surrounding wall 12 is erected around the cooling air introduction port 10, and is provided so as to surround the cooling air introduction port 10 over the entire circumference of the cooling air introduction port 10 in the present embodiment. The height of the surrounding wall 12 is set to about twice the height of the opening 1d on the opening 1d side.
Note that the surrounding wall 12 does not necessarily have to surround the entire circumference of the cooling air inlet 10, and may be erected on a part around the cooling air inlet 10.

The waterproof wall 13 is erected between the cooling air inlet 10 and the opening 1d, and in the present embodiment, two waterproof walls 13 are provided as a first wall 13a and a second wall 13b.
The first wall 13a is disposed closer to the opening 1d than the second wall 13b, and is disposed with the wall surface facing the flow direction a of the airflow flowing into the air intake chamber 1e from the opening 1d. . Further, both ends of the first wall 13a are provided apart from the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber 1e, and the width of the wall surface directed in the air flow direction a is set to be larger than the width of the opening 1d. Has been.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first wall 13a is partly integrated with the surrounding wall 12 in this embodiment, but it can also be provided separately.

  The second wall 13b is disposed with the wall surface facing the flow direction b of the airflow flowing from the gap S formed between the first wall 13a and the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber 1e. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the second wall 13b has one end separated from the first wall 13a and the other end connected to the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber 1e. It is also possible to provide it separately from the inner wall surface of the chamber 1e.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first wall 13 a and the second wall 13 b are arranged in a square shape that expands toward the back of the air intake chamber 1 e when viewed from the opening 1 d side, and the air flow direction They are arranged at an acute angle with respect to a and b (water intrusion direction). As a result, the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment has an opening 1d that makes it difficult for water to enter the back side of the air intake chamber 1e (that is, the cooling air inlet 10 side) and that enters the back side of the air intake chamber 1e. It is configured so that it can be easily discharged to the side.
The height of the first wall 13a and the second wall 13b is set to about half of the height of the opening 1d.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the blower 2 is connected to the blower motor 3 via the shaft 4, and is driven to rotate by transmitting the power generated by the blower motor 3 via the shaft 4. When the blower 2 is driven to rotate, air is pumped and an air flow is formed in the scroll flow path 1c.

  The blower motor 3 operates based on a command signal input from the outside, and generates power for rotationally driving the blower 2 as described above. In the present embodiment, the blower motor 3 is cooled by blowing air that has entered the cooling air inlet 10 as cooling air.

And in blower unit S1 of this embodiment which has such a composition, when blower motor 3 is operated and an air flow is formed in scroll channel 1c, air is pumped to the air conditioner for vehicles.
When an air flow is formed in the scroll flow path 1c in this way, a part of the air is taken into the air intake chamber 1e through the opening 1d and blown to the blower motor 3 as cooling air through the cooling air introduction port 10.

In some cases, the water that has entered from the blower duct or the like flows into the scroll flow path 1c along the air flow, and a part of the water may enter the air intake chamber 1e. When the water that has entered the air intake chamber 1e enters the cooling air inlet 10, it is blown against the blower motor 3, which may cause a malfunction of the blower motor 3.
On the other hand, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the enclosure wall 12 and the waterproof wall 13 prevent water from entering the air intake chamber 1e.

Here, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, by the surrounding wall 12 standing around the cooling air inlet 10 and the waterproof wall 13 standing between the opening 1d and the cooling air inlet 10, Water can be prevented from entering the cooling air inlet 10. That is, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, it is only necessary to prevent water from entering the cooling air inlet 10 with a plurality of walls, and the height of each wall (that is, the surrounding wall 12 and the waterproof wall 13) is kept low. Is possible. Therefore, even when the height of the blower unit S1 cannot be sufficiently secured due to the layout relationship or the like and the height of the air intake chamber 1e is low, each wall (ie, the surrounding wall 12 and the waterproof wall 13) and the air intake A sufficient gap can be secured between the ceiling of the entrance room 1e.
Further, according to the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the surrounding wall 12 is higher than the waterproof wall 13, and the upper end of the opening 1d connecting the scroll flow path 1c and the air intake chamber 1e is higher than the upper end of the surrounding wall 12. It is considered a low position. For this reason, the water that enters the air intake chamber 1e through the opening 1d by entering the air flow enters the air intake chamber 1e from below the upper end of the surrounding wall 12. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water that has entered the air intake chamber 1e from the opening 1d from directly entering the cooling air inlet 10 without touching the surrounding wall 12 or the waterproof wall 13.
Therefore, according to the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, it is possible to supply a sufficient amount of cooling air to the blower motor 3 and reliably prevent water from entering the cooling air inlet 10.

Further, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the first wall 13a disposed as the waterproof wall 13 with the wall surface facing the flow direction a of the air flow flowing into the air intake chamber 1e from the opening 1d. Have. For this reason, the water flowing into the air intake chamber 1e from the opening 1d can be received by the wall surface of the first wall 13a, and the movement can be stopped.
Therefore, according to the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, water can be prevented from entering the cooling air introduction port 10 from the first wall 13a, and water can be more reliably prevented from entering the cooling air introduction port 10. It becomes possible.

  Further, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the width of the first wall 13a is set larger than the width of the opening 1d. For this reason, even if water enters the air intake chamber 1e from any position of the opening 1d, it can be reliably received by the wall surface of the first wall 13a.

  Further, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the wall surface is directed to the flow direction b of the air flow flowing from the gap S between the first wall 13a and the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber 1e as the waterproof wall 13. The second wall 13b is provided. Therefore, even when water passes through the gap S and enters the back side of the air intake chamber 1e, it can be received by the second wall 13b.

Further, in the blower unit S1 of the present embodiment, the floor surface 1e1 of the air intake chamber 1e is inclined so as to become lower toward the opening 1d. For this reason, even when water enters the back side of the air intake chamber 1e, the water can be easily discharged to the outside of the air intake chamber 1e by passing through the floor surface 1e1.
As shown in FIG. 3, the blower unit is provided with a water conduit 14 for guiding water accumulated on the upper surface of the blower case 1 to the air intake chamber 1e, and discharging the water from the opening 1d to the scroll channel 1c. There is. When the present invention is applied to such a blower unit, the floor surface 1e1 is inclined as described above, and the outlet portion of the water guide passage 14 is provided at a position lower than the surrounding wall 12 and lower than the surrounding wall 12. For example, the water introduced into the air intake chamber 1e can be surely discharged to the scroll passage 1c by the inclination of the floor surface 1e1, and does not enter the cooling air inlet 10.

  As mentioned above, although preferred embodiment of this invention was described referring an accompanying drawing, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration including the two walls of the first wall 13a and the second wall 13b as the waterproof wall 13 has been described.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the posture, shape, and number of waterproof walls can be changed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Blower case, 1c ... Scroll flow path (air flow path), 1d ... Opening, 1e ... Air intake chamber, 1e1 ... Floor surface, 2 ... Blower, 3 ... Blower motor, S ... Gap, 10 ... Cooling air inlet, 12 ... Enclosure, 13 ... Waterproof wall, 13a ... First wall, 13b ... Second wall, 14 ... Waterway, S1 ... Blower unit

Claims (4)

A blower unit comprising: an air flow path through which air fed by a blower flows; and an air intake chamber which is provided with a cooling air introduction port leading to a blower motor and is connected to the air flow path through an opening. ,
A waterproof wall standing between the cooling air inlet and the opening;
A surrounding wall that is erected around the cooling air inlet and is higher than the waterproof wall;
The blower unit, wherein an upper end of the opening is lower than an upper end of the surrounding wall. As the waterproof wall,
A first wall disposed with a gap between the opening and the inner wall surface of the air intake chamber, with the wall surface facing the flow direction of the air flow flowing into the air intake chamber from the opening;
It has a 2nd wall arrange | positioned facing the wall surface with respect to the flow direction of the airflow which flows in through the clearance gap provided between the said 1st wall and the inner wall surface of the said air intake chamber. The blower unit according to claim 1.   The blower unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a floor surface of the air intake chamber is inclined so as to become lower toward the opening.   The blower unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a water guide channel that guides water accumulated in an upper portion of a blower case forming the air flow channel to the air intake chamber.

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