US20080187437A1

US20080187437A1 - Air blower having a raised column therein to reduce air flow pressure change and noise

Info

Publication number: US20080187437A1
Application number: US11/703,142
Authority: US
Inventors: Ching-Liang Yu; Yao-Ming Cheng; Kung-Kuan Lai
Original assignee: Apex Medical Corp
Current assignee: Wellell Inc
Priority date: 2007-02-07
Filing date: 2007-02-07
Publication date: 2008-08-07

Abstract

An air blower includes a base having a raised column, an arcuate recess between an inner face of the base and an outer periphery of the column and a bottom nozzle, a fan assembly mounted on top of the raised column to generate air flow and having a conical top face, and a cap securely combined with the base and having a top nozzle combined with the bottom nozzle to form an outlet so that the air flow generated by the fan assembly is first directed to the inner face of the cap and then spiraled downward along the raised column to escape the outlet via the arcuate recess.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air blower, and more particularly to an air blower having therein a raised column formed on top of a base for mounting thereon a fan assembly such that pressure change as well as noise is reduced.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventionally available air blower generally has a fan assembly mounted inside a casing to stir air flow inside the casing. Once the air is stirred, the air flows directly from the air outlet of the air blower. Since the air flows directly out of the air outlet, the air pressure measured at the air outlet is large. Therefore, an air blower as such is often used in the drying process in a fabrication procedure or a heating process to boost the volume of air supply.
Respiratory devices are normally provided with an air blower to constantly provide oxygen to whoever in need. When the foregoing air blower is equipped to the respiratory device, the patient using the respiratory device will experience difficulty in breathing in that the pressure of the air flow is so strong that the patient is not able to comfortably exhale or inhale. Furthermore, the noise generated by the air blower is so loud that the patient who is a long-term respiratory device wearer suffers mentally and physically.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide an improved air blower to mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved air blower to maintain pressure change within a predetermined range and to reduce noise.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned objective, the air blower of the present invention includes a base, a fan assembly and a cap. The base has a column integrally formed on top of the base, an arcuate recess formed between an outer periphery of the column and an inner periphery of the base and a bottom nozzle formed on a side face of the base to communicate with the arcuate recess. The fan assembly is securely mounted on a top face of the column and has a conical top face and a flat bottom face with which the fan assembly is securely connected to the top face of the column. The cap has a ventilation opening, a top nozzle corresponding to the bottom nozzle and a flared top face corresponding to the conical top face of the fan assembly. Due to the flared top face of the cap and the conical top face of the fan assembly, operation of the air blower is quiet and air flow pressure is constant.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the air blower of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air blower with the cap removed; and

FIG. 3 is a schematically cross sectioned view of the air blower of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, it is noted that the in accordance with the present invention include a base (10), a fan assembly (20) and a cap (30).
The base (10) has a column (11) integrally formed on top of the base (10), an arcuate recess (12) formed between an outer periphery of the column (11) and an inner periphery of the base (10) and a bottom nozzle (13) formed on a side face of the base (10) to communicate with the arcuate recess (12).
The fan assembly (20) is securely mounted on a top face of the column (11) and has a conical top face (21) and a flat bottom face (22) with which the fan assembly (20) is securely connected to the top face of the column (11). Multiple blades (23) are mounted between the conical top face (21) and the flat bottom face (22).
The cap (30) has a ventilation opening (31), a top nozzle (32) formed on a side face of the cap (30) and communicating with an interior of the cap (30) and corresponding to the bottom nozzle (13) and a flared top face (33) integrally formed on top of the cap (30) and corresponding to the conical top face (21) of the fan assembly (20).
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 and still using FIG. 1 for reference, it is noted that when the air blower of the present invention is assembled, the fan assembly (20) is mounted on the top face of the column (11) of the base (10) via a threaded bolt (A). Due to provision of a bearing device, the fan assembly (20) is rotatable relative to the column (11) of the base (10). Thereafter, the cap (30) is combined with the base (10) to enclose the fan assembly (20) as well as the column (11). After the combination between the cap (30) and the base (10) is finished, the top nozzle (32) and the bottom nozzle (13) are combined to become an outlet (B). Again, due to the conical top face (21) of the fan assembly (20), a distance (H) between the conical top face (21) of the fan assembly (20) and an inner face of the flared top face (33) of the cap (30) is between 0.3-15 mm. Also, the blades (23) of the fan assembly (20) are facing the inner face of the cap (30) and away from the outlet (B).
Because of the raised column (11), air flow stirred by the operation of the fan assembly (20) first is directed to the inner face of the cap (30). Then following the inner face of the cap (30), the air flow spirals downward along a space between the outer periphery of the column (11) and the inner face of the cap (30). Eventually the air flow escapes from the outlet (B) via the arcuate recess (12).
Because the air flow is first directed to the inner face of the cap (30), pressure of the air flow out of the outlet (B) is smooth. Furthermore, when the air blower of the present invention is used with a respiratory device and the patient is constantly exhaling, the patient will have no difficulty in exhaling. That is, due to the smooth pressure of the air flow out of the outlet (B), the air exhaled by the patient will be easily ventilated from the ventilation opening (31) and the pressure change of the outgoing air flow caused by the exhaled air by the patient is within a limited range. Thus the air flow pressure change is maintained within a previously determined range.
Still further, because the air flow is directly to the inner face of the cap (30) and the distance between the conical top face (21) and the inner face of the flared top face of the cap (30), the noise associated with the operation of the fan assembly (20) is low.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. An air blower comprising:

a base having a raised column integrally formed on a top face of the base, an arcuate recess defined between an inner face of the base and an outer periphery of the column and a bottom nozzle;

a fan assembly firmly mounted on top of the raised column to generate air flow and having a flat bottom face with which the fan assembly is securely connected to the raised column; and

a cap securely combined with the base to enclose therein the fan assembly and the column, the cap having a top nozzle combined with the bottom nozzle to form an outlet so that the air flow generated by the fan assembly is first directed to the inner face of the cap and then spiraled downward along the raised column to escape the outlet via the arcuate recess.

2. The air blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan assembly has a conical top face and cap has a flared top face corresponding to the conical top face of the fan assembly.

3. The air blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan assembly has a conical top face and cap has a flared top face corresponding to the conical top face of the fan assembly and a distance between the conical top face of the fan assembly and an inner face of the flared top face of the cap is between 0.3-15 mm.

4. The air blower as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan assembly has multiple blades away from the outlet.

5. The air blower as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fan assembly has multiple blades between the conical top face and the flat bottom face and the blades are away from the outlet.

6. The air blower as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fan assembly has multiple blades between the conical top face and the flat bottom face and the blades are away from the outlet.