US20110200445A1 - Propeller fan, fluid feeder and molding die - Google Patents
Propeller fan, fluid feeder and molding die Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110200445A1 US20110200445A1 US13/125,449 US200813125449A US2011200445A1 US 20110200445 A1 US20110200445 A1 US 20110200445A1 US 200813125449 A US200813125449 A US 200813125449A US 2011200445 A1 US2011200445 A1 US 2011200445A1
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- Prior art keywords
- propeller fan
- blade
- blades
- connection portion
- rotation
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- Abandoned
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- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title claims description 18
- 238000007664 blowing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 102
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Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/38—Blades
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C33/38—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor characterised by the material or the manufacturing process
- B29C33/40—Plastics, e.g. foam or rubber
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D19/00—Axial-flow pumps
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/05—Shafts or bearings, or assemblies thereof, specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/053—Shafts
- F04D29/054—Arrangements for joining or assembling shafts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/263—Rotors specially for elastic fluids mounting fan or blower rotors on shafts
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/325—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps for axial flow fans
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/325—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps for axial flow fans
- F04D29/329—Details of the hub
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/38—Blades
- F04D29/384—Blades characterised by form
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/26—Rotors specially for elastic fluids
- F04D29/32—Rotors specially for elastic fluids for axial flow pumps
- F04D29/38—Blades
- F04D29/388—Blades characterised by construction
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04D—NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
- F04D29/00—Details, component parts, or accessories
- F04D29/60—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling
- F04D29/64—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of axial pumps
- F04D29/644—Mounting; Assembling; Disassembling of axial pumps especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
- F04D29/646—Mounting or removal of fans
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2240/00—Components
- F05D2240/20—Rotors
- F05D2240/30—Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
- F05D2240/303—Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor related to the leading edge of a rotor blade
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- F05D2240/00—Components
- F05D2240/20—Rotors
- F05D2240/30—Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor
- F05D2240/304—Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor related to the trailing edge of a rotor blade
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a propeller fan, a fluid feeder and a molding die, and particularly to a propeller fan for an air blower, a molding die for molding the propeller fan from resin and a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan such as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-88999 has disclosed an axial fan aimed at increasing a lifting power of propeller blades and also increasing a strength thereof by supplying, in a separated fashion, positive and negative pressures to positive and suction surfaces of each propeller blade, respectively (Patent Document 1).
- the axial fan disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a plurality of propeller blades that are formed on an outer periphery of a hub and extend radially outward from an axis of the hub.
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-314399 has disclosed a propeller fan aimed at eliminating necessity of after-treatment on a boss having a rotation axis aperture, and improving gate processing (Patent Document 2).
- the propeller fan disclosed in Patent Document 2 has the hub of a cylindrical or a circular-conical form as well as blades formed integrally with the hub.
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-74196 has disclosed a propeller fan aimed at providing a form of a hub that improves air flowing, exhibiting a good performance in connection with improvement of forms of blades and a head, a rib and a boss of the hub, allowing an easy manufacturing operation, improving a stacking property and an improved strength, and exhibiting a good transporting property (Patent Document 3).
- the propeller fan disclosed in Patent Document 3 has a boss arranged at a center of rotation.
- the boss has an outer surface formed of a large round head and a cylindrical portion.
- the round head serves as a guide so that the manufactured propeller fans can be successively and deeply stacked on each other.
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-133392 has disclosed an axial blade wheel that is aimed at achieving an inexpensive and efficient packing without impeding any blowing performance (Patent Document 4).
- Patent Document 4 a radius of a hub on an intake side is partially reduced, and each end of the hub has a round from.
- propeller fans have been used in air blowers and refrigeration machines.
- an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided with a propeller fan for blowing air on a heat exchanger.
- the propeller fan has such characteristics that the blowing capacity near a center of the fan where a peripheral speed is low is smaller than that on a radially outer side of the fan. Due to such characteristics, when a resistance object causing a large pressure loss such as a heat exchanger is arranged in an air flow passage, the air flows forward on the radially outer side of the fan, but a reverse flow occurs near the center of the fan. This results in a problem that pressure-flow rate characteristics (i.e., characteristics relating to a pressure and a flow rate) of the fan deteriorate in a high static-pressure range.
- a large boss hub is arranged at the center of rotation, and the plurality of blades extend from the outer periphery of the boss hub.
- the large boss hub closes a reverse flow region near the center of the fan, it is possible to prevent reverse flow and to suppress deterioration of the pressure-flow rate characteristics of the fan near a high static-pressure range.
- the blade has an attack angle. Therefore, base portions of the blades exhibit a twisted positional relationship if the base portions of the blades extend as there are.
- the provision of the large boss hub facilitates the integral formation of the plurality of blades that perform the air blowing.
- a first problem is as follows. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the pressure-flow rate characteristics in the high static-pressure range to a certain extent. However, the rotation center portion cannot be sufficiently and effectively utilized in a range of a low pressure and a large air flow rate, resulting in a problem that a blowing efficiency is low.
- a second problem is as follows. The provision of the large boss hub increases a mass of the propeller fan, and therefore increases the load on a drive motor, resulting in a problem of increased power consumption.
- a third problem is increase in material cost and therefore increase in manufacturing cost.
- the propeller fan requires the structure that allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in the direction of its rotation axis when the manufactured propeller fans are to be stored or transported.
- an object of the invention is to overcome the above problems, and particularly to provide a propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- Another object of the invention is to overcome the above problems, and particularly to provide a propeller fan that greatly contributes to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design, and allows stacking for storing, transporting and the like.
- a propeller fan according to the invention is a propeller fan in which a plurality of blades for blowing are coupled together with a space kept in a rotational direction therebetween, and a coupled region has a form for performing the blowing according to rotation.
- the propeller fan thus configured, since the region where the plurality of blades are coupled together has the form for performing the blowing (i.e., creating an air flow), the blowing in a forward direction can be performed even near a rotation center of the blades so that a blowing capacity can be improved. This can implement the propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- the coupled region has a blade-surface-like form for performing the blowing according to the rotation.
- the region coupling the plurality of blades and having the blade-surface-like form can contribute to the blowing.
- the propeller fan is integrally provided with a member for performing rotational driving around the coupled region. This configuration can simplify the structure of the propeller fan.
- the plurality of blades and the coupled region are integrally molded to form the propeller fan. This configuration can simplify the structure of the propeller fan.
- a propeller fan includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; and a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades.
- the propeller fan thus configured, since the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing, the blowing in a forward direction can be performed even near a rotation center of the blades so that a blowing capacity can be improved. This can implement the propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- connection portion extends radially outward from a rotation shaft for driving and rotating the propeller fan.
- the propeller fan thus configured, it is possible to increase an area of the blade surfaces contributing to the blowing, to reduce a size of the rotation shaft and to reduce a mass of the propeller fan. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a power required for driving the propeller fan, and the structure can greatly contribute to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- connection portion forms the blade-surface-like surface.
- the propeller fan thus configured effectively uses the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion, and thereby can improve the blowing capacity.
- the plurality of blades and the connection portion form a blade surface having an integral and continuously smooth form.
- the blades and the connection portion form the blade surface having an integral and continuously smooth form, and this blade surface contributes to the blowing so that the blowing capacity can be significantly improved.
- the propeller fan further includes a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding from the connection portion toward at least one of the intake side and the outlet side.
- a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis is longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the line.
- the blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side in the rotational direction.
- a base portion of the front edge of a first blade included among the plurality of blades is connected to a base portion of the rear edge of a second blade neighboring to the first blade.
- the connection portion extends from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of the front edge toward the base portion of the rear edge.
- the connection portion continues to the blade surface of the blade and extends in a blowing direction from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of the front edge toward the base portion of the rear edge.
- the connection portion is configured to have a function of blowing air in the blowing direction of the propeller fan from the intake side to the outlet side.
- connection portion connects the base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades together, and such a fan form is implemented that the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion can contribute to the blowing.
- the front edge is provided with a first convex portion protruding toward a suction surface side of the blade.
- the front edge is provided with the first convex portion protruding toward the suction surface side of the blade, the first convex portion forms a vortex, which flows on the blade surface along a flow line to prevent separation of the flow on the blade surface. Therefore, the performance and efficiency of the propeller fan can be improved, and noises due to the separation can be reduced, resulting in reduction of the fan noises.
- a coupling portion between the rear edge and the connection portion is provided with a second convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of the blade.
- the portion provided with the second convex portion increases a chord length so that the blowing can be performed by a larger force.
- a coupling portion between the rear edge and an outer peripheral portion of the blade is provided with a third convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of the blade.
- the portion provided with the third convex portion increases a chord length so that the blowing can be performed by a larger force.
- the rear edge is provided with a concave portion hollowed in the rotational direction of the blade.
- the provision of the concave portion reduces an area of the blade to reduce efficiently a drag. Since the area of the blade decreases, the air flow rate decreases when the rotation speed is constant, but the drag efficiently decreases so that the power consumption can be reduced when the air flow rate is constant.
- a length X of a line between opposite ends of the concave portion or a common tangential line with respect to unclear opposite ends of the concave portion is equal to or larger than 0.33 times an outer diameter of the blades.
- a length Y from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the blades.
- the propeller fan thus configured, owing to the setting in which the length Y from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the blades, it is possible to suppress more effectively the rate of decrease in air flow rate when the rotation speed is constant. Also, owing to the setting that the length X of a line between opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line is equal to or larger than 0.33 times the outer diameter of the blades, it is possible to increase more effectively the rate of decrease in power consumption at the constant air flow rate.
- the plurality of blades and the connection portion have a thin-thickness form, and are formed integrally with each other. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the mass of the propeller fan can be reduced, and rigidity thereof can be improved.
- the blade-surface-like surface is formed continuously to the blade surface of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blade surface of the blade and the blade-surface-like surface of the connection portion are integrated to contribute to the blowing so that the blowing capacity can be significantly improved.
- a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades and a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade are formed to continue to each other through the blade-surface-like surface. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blowing capacity can be further improved significantly.
- the blade-surface-like surface includes a first portion continuing from a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades, and a second portion continuing from a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade.
- the connection portion further has a surface of a not-blade-surface form formed between the first and second portions and arranged coaxially to the rotation center of the blades. According to the propeller fan thus configured, even when the connection portion partially has the surface of the not-blade-surface form, the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion can improve the blowing capacity.
- the propeller fan is formed by twisting a single plate-like member.
- the propeller fan according to the invention can be obtained by effecting twisting work on a metal plate for example.
- the propeller fan is made of a thin integral member having a curved surface. Since the propeller fan thus configured is made of the thin integral member having the curved surface, the propeller fan according to the invention can be simply formed.
- the propeller fan is molded from resin. According to the propeller fan thus configured, it is possible to implement the propeller fan having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- a fluid feeder according to the invention includes one of the propeller fans described above. According to the fluid feeder thus configured, it is possible to implement the fluid feeder that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- a molding die according to the invention is used for molding one of the propeller fans described above. According to the molding die thus configured, it is possible to manufacture the propeller fan having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- the molding die includes a gate for supplying flowable resin.
- the blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side.
- the gate is formed in the connection portion or the coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a boundary between the front edge of the first blade among the plurality of blades and the rear edge of the second blade neighboring to the first blade.
- occurrence of a weld line in the connection portion or the coupled region can be suppressed in a boundary position between the front edge of the first blade and the rear edge of the second blade. Thereby, lowering of the breaking rigidity of the propeller fan can be prevented.
- the molding die includes a gate for supplying flowable resin.
- the blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction.
- the gate is formed in the connection portion continuing to the base portion of the blade or the coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a vicinity of the front edge. According to the molding die thus configured, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a weld line in the front edge portion of the coupled region or the connection portion continuing to the base portion of the blade. Thereby, it is possible to prevent lowering of the breaking rigidity of the propeller fan.
- a propeller fan includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades; and a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades, protruding from the intake side of the connection portion, and having an end surface parallel to a plane perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the blades.
- the propeller fan When the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis is longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the above line.
- the propeller fan further includes a flat surface portion arranged on the outlet side of the connection portion, having an outer form larger than an outer form of the rotation shaft when projected (i.e., image-projected) in a direction of the rotation axis of the blades, and having a flat surface parallel to the end surface.
- the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing so that the propeller fan can blow the air in the forward direction even near the rotation center of the blades. This reduces the power required for driving the propeller fan. Consequently, it is possible to achieve the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- the propeller fan has the flat surface portion having a larger outer form than the rotation axis and having a flat surface parallel to the end surface, the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked such that the end surface of the rotation shaft is in close contact with the flat surface of the flat surface portion. This allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in a simple manner for storing or transporting the propeller fans.
- the propeller fan further includes an annular protrusion protruding from the outlet side of the connection portion, and arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades.
- the annular protrusion has an inner form larger than the outer form of the rotation shaft when projected in the direction of the rotation axis of the blades.
- the propeller fan includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades; and a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades, and protruding from the intake side of the connection portion.
- a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis being longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the line.
- the propeller fan further includes an annular protrusion arranged on the intake side of the connection portion, arranged radially outside the rotation shaft and protruding to a position higher than the rotation shaft in the direction of the rotation axis of the blades.
- the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing so that the propeller fan can blow the air in the forward direction even near the rotation center of the blades.
- This increases the area of the blade surface contributing to the blowing and reduces the size of the rotation shaft so that the mass of the propeller fan can be small. This reduces the power required for driving the propeller fan. Consequently, it is possible to achieve the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked together through the annular protrusions. This allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in a simple manner for storing or transporting the propeller fans.
- a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades continues to a second blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade through the blade-surface-like surface.
- the blade surface of the blade and the blade-surface-like surface of the connection portion are integrated to contribute to the blowing, and therefore can significantly improve the blowing capacity.
- the propeller fan is molded from resin.
- the propeller fan thus configured can have a small weight and a high rigidity.
- a fluid feeder according to another aspect of the invention includes one of the propeller fans described above. Since the fluid feeder fan thus configured has the propeller fan according to the invention, it is possible to achieve the fluid feeder greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- a molding die according to another aspect of the invention is used for molding one of the propeller fans described above from resin.
- This molding die thus configured can produce the propeller fan made of resin and having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- the invention can provide the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design. Also, the invention can provide the propeller fan that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design, and allows stacking for the storing or transporting.
- FIG. 1 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a first embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an intake side) of an arrow II in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an outlet side) of an arrow III in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propeller fan in FIG. 1 viewed from the intake side.
- FIG. 5 is a plan showing an example of a propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 295 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 130 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 95 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 9 is a plan showing a propeller fan for comparison.
- FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between a rotation speed and an air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate and power consumption of a drive motor according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 12 shows pressure-flow rate characteristics of the propeller fan according to the embodiment in FIG. 5 and the propeller fan for the comparison in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 13 illustrates a mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 14 is another view for illustrating a mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 15 is further another view for illustrating the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 16 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the propeller fan in FIG. 16 viewed from the intake side.
- FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the propeller fan taken along line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17 .
- FIG. 19 is a plan showing a central portion of the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XIX in FIG. 18 .
- FIG. 20 is a cross section showing a stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans in FIG. 18 .
- FIG. 21 is a cross section showing a first modification of the structure for stacking a plurality of propeller fans.
- FIG. 22 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXII in FIG. 21 .
- FIG. 23 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans in FIG. 21 .
- FIG. 24 is a cross section showing a second modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans.
- FIG. 25 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXV in FIG. 24 .
- FIG. 26 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans in FIG. 24 .
- FIG. 27 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 28 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the intake side) of an arrow XXVIII in FIG. 27 .
- FIG. 29 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the outlet side) of an arrow XXIX in FIG. 27 .
- FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the propeller fan in FIG. 27 viewed from the intake side.
- FIG. 31 is a side view showing a propeller fan of a fifth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 32 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXXII in FIG. 31 .
- FIG. 33 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan in FIGS. 31 and 32 .
- FIG. 34 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 35 is a graph showing a relationship between a rotation speed and an air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 36 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and a power consumption of a drive motor according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 37 illustrates, for comparison, the air flow rates exhibited corresponding to the same rotation speed.
- FIG. 38 illustrates, for comparison, the power consumptions of the drive motors exhibited corresponding to the same air flow rate.
- FIG. 41 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan in FIG. 34 .
- FIG. 42 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a seventh embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 43 is a cross section showing molding dies used for producing the propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 44 is a plan showing an example of positions where gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with two blades according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 45 is a plan showing an example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with three blades according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 46 shows an example for comparison of a propeller fan having a gate located in a position other than those shown in FIG. 44 .
- FIG. 47 shows an example for comparison of a propeller fan having gates located in positions other than those shown in FIG. 45 .
- FIG. 48 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the two-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 49 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the three-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 50 shows, as an example for comparison, a propeller fan provided with gates in positions other than those shown in FIG. 48 .
- FIG. 51 shows, as an example for comparison, a propeller fan provided with gates in positions other than those shown in FIG. 49 .
- FIG. 52 shows an outdoor unit of an air conditioner with the propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 1 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a first embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 2 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an intake side) of an arrow II in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an outlet side) of an arrow III in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propeller fan in FIG. 1 viewed from the intake side.
- Propeller fan 10 has a plurality of blades 21 A and 21 B that are circumferentially spaced from each other for performing air blowing according to rotation, and also has a connection portion 31 that has a blade surface 36 as a surface of a blade-surface-like form for performing the blowing, and is located between the plurality of blades 21 A and 21 B neighboring to each other for connecting base portions of blades 21 A and 21 B together.
- Propeller fan 10 rotates around a center axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and blows the air from an intake side to an outlet side in FIG. 1 .
- connection portion 31 is defined inside imaginary circle 102
- blades 21 A and 21 B are defined outside imaginary circle 102 .
- propeller fan 10 has a form in which the plurality of blades 21 A and 21 B for the blowing are spaced from each other in the rotational direction and are coupled together, and the region of such coupling has a form that perform the blowing according to the rotation.
- Propeller fan 10 is prepared by integral molding of synchronous resin such as glass-fiber-filled AS (Acrylonitrile-Styrene) or the like.
- Propeller fan 10 is of a two-blade type, and has blades 21 A and 21 B, which may be collectively referred to as “blades 21 ” hereinafter.
- Blades 21 A and 21 B are equally spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the rotation axis of propeller fan 10 , i.e., center axis 101 . Blades 21 A and 21 B have the same forms, which can match each other when one of them rotates around center axis 101 toward the other.
- Blade 21 has a front edge 21 b located on a forward side in the rotational direction of propeller fan 10 , a rear edge 21 c located on the opposite side in the rotational direction, an outer edge 21 a located on the radially outermost side with respect to center axis 101 , a leading blade edge 21 d smoothly connecting front edge 21 b and outer edge 21 a together, and a trailing blade edge 21 e smoothly connecting rear edge 21 c and outer edge 21 a together.
- Leading blade edge 21 d has a crescent- or scythe-like sharp form.
- Blade 21 has a blade surface 26 that performs the blowing according to the rotation of propeller fan 10 (i.e., blowing the air from the intake side to the outlet side).
- Blade surface 26 is formed on each of the sides facing to the inlet side and the outlet side, respectively. Blade surface 26 is formed in a region surrounded by front edge 21 b, leading blade edge 21 d, outer edge 21 a, trailing blade edge 21 e and rear edge 21 c. Blade surface 26 is formed throughout the area of the region surrounded by front edge 21 b, leading blade edge 21 d, outer edge 21 a, trailing blade edge 21 e and rear edge 21 c. Each of blade surfaces 26 of blades 21 A and 21 B is formed of a curved surface that inclines to move from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves in the circumferential direction from front edge 21 b toward rear edge 21 c.
- Blades 21 A and 21 B are coupled together by connection portion 31 arranged round center axis 101 .
- Connection portion 31 has blade surfaces 36 on the sides facing to the intake side and the outlet side, respectively, and has a blade-like form.
- Blade surface 36 is formed continuously to each of blade surfaces 26 of blades 21 A and 21 B.
- Blade surfaces 26 of blades 21 A and 21 B is formed continuously to each other through blade surface 36 .
- front edge 21 b of blade 21 A is opposed to rear edge 21 c of blade 21 B in the direction of a line passing through blades 21 A and 21 B, and front edge 21 b of blade 21 B and rear edge 21 c of blade 21 A are opposed to each other in the same direction.
- the direction of inclination of the blade surface of blade 21 A and the direction of inclination of the blade surface of blade 21 B exhibit such a positional relationship that these directions are twisted with respect to each other with center axis 101 located therebetween.
- the inclination of the blade surface decreases as the position moves from blade surface 26 of each of blades 21 A and 21 B to blade surface 36 of connection portion 31 , and blade surface 36 of blade 21 A is smoothly connected to blade surface 36 of blade 21 B on a line passing through center axis 101 .
- blades 21 A and 21 B as well as connection portion 31 form blade surfaces 26 and blade surface 36 , respectively, which extend continuously to each other in a tangential fashion.
- the region coupling blades 21 A and 21 B together has a form that performs the blowing according to the rotation
- the region coupling blades 21 A and 21 B together has a blade-surface-like form for blowing the air according to the rotation.
- Connection portion 31 has such a form that the position changes from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of front edge 21 b of blade 21 A toward the base portion of rear edge 21 c of blade 21 B, and such that the position moves from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of front edge 21 b of blade 21 B toward the base portion of rear edge 21 c of blade 21 A.
- Connection portion 31 has such a form that the position changes from the portion continuing to blade surface 26 of blade 21 extends from the intake side, in the blowing direction, to the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of front edge 21 b of blade 21 A toward the base portion of rear edge 21 c of blade 21 B, and the portion continuing to blade surface 26 of blade 21 extends from the intake side, in the blowing direction, toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of front edge 21 b of blade 21 B toward the base portion of rear edge 21 c of blade 21 A.
- Connection portion 31 is configured to have a function of supplying the air flow from the intake side, in the blowing direction, of propeller fan 10 toward the outlet side.
- Blades 21 A and 21 B as well as connection portion 31 have thin forms, respectively, and are integral with each other.
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment has the two blades, each of which has an integral form as a whole and extends radially outward from the center of center axis 101 , and blades 21 A and 21 B are integrally formed with connection portion 31 therebetween.
- Propeller fan 10 has an integral form including blades 21 A and 21 B as well as the region coupling blades 21 A and 21 B together.
- Propeller fan 10 has a boss hub 41 as a rotation shaft.
- Boss hub 41 connects propeller fan 10 to a drive source, i.e., an output shaft of an electric motor (not shown).
- Boss hub 41 has a circular cylindrical form, and is connected at a position overlapping center axis 101 to connection portion 31 .
- Boss hub 41 extends in a direction of center axis 101 from blade surface 36 on the intake side.
- boss hub 41 that is a member for rotationally driving blades 21 A and 21 B is formed integrally with them and is located coaxially to the region coupling blades 21 A and 21 B together.
- boss hub 41 is not restricted to the cylindrical form, and can be appropriately changed according to the structure connected to the output shaft of the motor.
- Boss hub 41 may extend from blade surface 36 on the outlet side, and also may extend from blade surfaces 36 on the intake and outlet sides.
- Connection portion 31 has a form extending radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of boss hub 41 .
- connection portion 31 when viewed in the direction of center axis 101 of propeller fan 10 , connection portion 31 is formed such that a minimum distance L 1 from center axis 101 to the outer edge of connection portion 31 on an imaginary line Z perpendicularly crossing center axis 101 is larger than a distance L 2 from center axis 101 to the outer edge of boss hub 41 on imaginary line Z (see FIG. 2 ).
- a section of propeller fan 10 taken along imaginary plane that contains center axis 101 and imaginary line Z in FIG. 2 has a substantially elliptical form, and a ratio of b/a is equal to 0.078 where “a” and “b” indicates a length in a circumferential direction (long axis) and a length in the axial direction (short axis), respectively.
- connection portion 31 has an excessively small resin thickness, resulting in a problem in strength. Further preferably, the ratio b/a is set to or above 0.046.
- connection portion 31 has an excessively large thickness so that a problem such as molding sink occurs in molding property, and the propeller fan has an excessively large mass, which impairs the blowing performance.
- the ratio b/a is set to or below 0.089
- FIG. 5 is a plan showing an example of the propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- propeller fan 10 has an outer diameter of 460 mm when viewed in the direction of center axis 101 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 295 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 130 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan in FIG. 5 taken in a position of 95 mm in diameter.
- FIG. 6 shows a section of blade 21
- FIG. 7 shows a section of a boundary portion between blade 21 and connection portion 31
- FIG. 8 shows a section of connection portion 31 .
- blade 21 has the blade-like form, and the section thereof in the circumferential direction extending between front and rear edges 21 b and 21 c has the thickness that decreases as the position moves from a position near the center of the blade toward front edge 21 b or rear edge 21 c, and particularly has the largest thickness in the position shifted from the center of the blade toward front edge 21 b.
- connection portion 31 has substantially the same blade-like form as blade 21 described above.
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment has the section of the blade-like form in any section position between outer edge 21 a and center axis 101 .
- propeller fan 10 that is integrally formed of the synthetic resin, but the material of the propeller fan according to the invention is not restricted to the resin.
- propeller fan 10 may be formed by effecting twist working on a single metal plate, or may be formed of an integral thin member having a curved surface. In these cases, boss hub 41 that is independently formed may be joined to the rotation center of propeller fan 10 .
- Propeller fan 10 is provided with connection portion 31 of a blade-like form connecting blades 21 A and 21 B together. Owing to this structure, even the rotation center portion that could not be practically and sufficiently used as the boss hub in the conventional structure can be effectively used as the blade having a blade-like sectional form and a large attack angle. This significantly enhances the blowing performance near the center where the peripheral speed is lower than that in the outer peripheral portion, and the blowing performance of the whole fan can be significantly improved.
- connection portion 31 having the section of the blade-like form so that the mass of the propeller fan can be reduced. This reduces the load on the drive motor, and can reduce the electric power consumption at the constant air flow rate.
- propeller fan 10 Since the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed can be reduced, the noise can be reduced. (In recent years, there is a tendency, e.g., in the air conditioner, that the air flow rate is increased for improving the energy-saving properties. This results in a problem that the noises increase to impair the degree of comfort in housing conditions. Conversely, propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can increase the air flow rate without increasing the noise.)
- the fan efficiency can be improved and the power consumption can be reduced.
- the air flow rate is increased for improving the energy-saving properties. This results in a problem that the power consumption of the motor increases.
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can suppress the increase in power consumption of the motor even when the air flow rate is increased. When the air flow rate is not increased, the power consumption of the motor can be reduced owing to the improvement of the efficiency.
- propeller fan 10 can implement the propeller fan that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design in connection with the global environment conservation.
- FIG. 9 is a plan showing a propeller fan for comparison.
- a propeller fan 110 for comparison is provided at its rotation center with a boss hub 141 having an outer diameter of 130 mm, and is also provided with blades 121 ( 121 A and 121 B) extending radially outward from boss hub 141 .
- the shape and size of blade 121 is substantially the same as those of blade 21 in FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between the rotation speed and the air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- the air flow rates were measured at various rotation speeds, using propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment in FIG. 5 and propeller fan 110 for the comparison in FIG. 9 .
- the air flow rate of propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was larger than that of propeller fan 110 for the comparison in every rotation speed range.
- propeller fan 110 for the comparison exhibited the air flow rate of 44.49 m 3 /min
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment exhibited the air flow rate of 46.79 m 3 /min (equal to 105.2% of that of the comparison example).
- FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and the power consumption of the drive motor (i.e. motor for driving) according to the embodiment.
- the power consumption of propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was smaller than that of propeller fan 110 for the comparison in every air flow range.
- the power consumption of propeller fan 110 for the comparison was 49.8 W
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was 46.2 W (equal to 107.8% of that of the comparison example).
- propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can increase the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed, and can reduce the power consumption of the drive motor at the constant air flow rate.
- FIG. 12 shows the pressure-flow rate characteristics of the propeller fan according to the embodiment in FIG. 5 and the propeller fan for the comparison in FIG. 9 .
- the comparison was made between propeller fan 10 of 460 mm in outer diameter according to the embodiment and propeller fan 110 of 460 mm in outer diameter for the comparison, and particularly was made in connection with the pressure-flow rate characteristics (P: static pressure-Q: flow rate) at the rotation speed of 700 rpm.
- propeller fan 10 improved the P-Q characteristics at the constant rotation speed, as compared with propeller fan 110 for the comparison. Also, the power consumption of the drive motor at the constant air flow rate was reduced, and the motor efficiency was significantly improved.
- FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 13 to 15 , the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment will be specifically described below.
- boss hub 41 is extremely small, and even a portion thereof near the center operates as the blade, in contrast to the propeller fan for the comparison. Therefore, the wind flows onto blade surface 36 through front edge 21 b (S 2 in FIG. 14 ) of connection portion 31 forming a boundary with respect to the base portion of blade 21 . Thereafter, the flow line slightly expands beyond the concentric circle as indicated by R 2 in FIG. 14 . Similarly to the propeller fan for the comparison, the hatched portion (area B) inside the line R 2 cannot perform the work of the blower producing the wind.
- FIG. 15 shows an area difference (A ⁇ B) between the regions of them where the fans cannot perform the work of the blower producing the wind.
- the propeller fan according to the embodiment can increase the lift by an amount corresponding to the above area difference (A ⁇ B). It is known that the wind is produced by a reaction force caused by the reaction of the lift, and the larger lift causes the larger reaction force, and increases the blowing performance.
- FIG. 16 is a plan showing the propeller fan according to a second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. 3 relating to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the propeller fan in FIG. 16 viewed from the intake side.
- FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the propeller fan taken along line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 17 .
- propeller fan 10 has the plurality of blades 21 A and 21 B that are circumferentially spaced from each other for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connection portion 31 that has blade surface 36 as a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation and connects the base portions of blades 21 A and 21 B neighboring to each other.
- propeller fan 10 is formed by coupling the plurality of blades 21 A and 21 B, which perform the blowing, to each other and providing the coupled region that assumes the form for performing the blowing according to the rotation.
- Propeller fan 10 further has boss hub 41 serving as the rotation shaft that is arranged coaxially to the rotation center of blades 21 A and 21 B, protrudes from the intake side of connection portion 31 and has an end surface 42 parallel to the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis of blades 21 A and 21 B.
- minimum distance L 1 from the rotation axis to the outer edge of connection portion 31 on imaginary line Z perpendicularly crossing the center axis is larger than distance L 2 from the center axis to the outer edge of boss hub 41 on imaginary line Z.
- Propeller fan 10 further has a flat surface portion 43 parallel to end surface 42 .
- boss hub 41 is projected (i.e., image-projected) in the direction of the rotation axis of blades 21 A and 21 B, an outer form of flat surface portion 43 is larger than that of boss hub 41 .
- Propeller fan 10 rotates around center axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and thereby performs the blowing from the intake side in FIG. 1 to the outlet side.
- connection portion 31 is defined inside imaginary circle 102
- blades 21 A and 21 B are defined outside imaginary circle 102 .
- FIG. 19 is a plan showing a central portion of the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XIX in FIG. 18 .
- boss hub 41 has end surface 42 on a portion extending in the direction of center axis 101 from connection portion 31 on the intake side. End surface 42 extends parallel to the plane perpendicular to the direction of center axis 101 . In this embodiment, when the intake side of propeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction of center axis 101 , end surface 42 has a circular outer shape, and has an outer diameter d 1 with respect to center axis 101 .
- Propeller fan 10 has flat surface portion 43 providing flat surface 44 .
- Flat surface portion 43 is located on the side remote from the intake side where boss hub 41 is arranged, i.e., on connection portion 31 on the outlet side.
- Flat surface 44 is formed as the end surface of flat surface portion 43 , and extends parallel to end surface 42 of boss hub 41 .
- Flat surface 44 is formed in a position protruding from blade surface 36 of connection portion 31 in the direction of center axis 101 .
- flat surface 44 when the outlet side of propeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction of center axis 101 , flat surface 44 has a circular outer form, and has an outer diameter d 2 larger than outer diameter d 1 with respect to the center defined by center axis 101 .
- Flat surface 44 is formed coaxially to end surface 42 .
- end surface 42 and flat surface 44 have the circular outer forms, respectively. This is not restrictive, and these may have polygonal forms or elliptic forms, respectively.
- FIG. 20 is a cross section showing a stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans in FIG. 18 .
- the plurality of propeller fans 10 are stacked in the height direction thereof (i.e., in the direction of center axis 101 ).
- the plurality of propeller fans 10 are stacked such that the inlet side and therefore the outlet side of each propeller fan 10 are directed in the vertically same directions as those of the others, respectively.
- the plurality of propeller fans are stacked such that flat surface 44 of upper propeller fan 10 is placed on end surface 42 of lower propeller fan 10 .
- Propeller fan 10 according to the second embodiment of the invention thus configured can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment.
- propeller fan 10 has boss hub 41 pf reduced sizes owing to provision of the blade-like connection portion 31 . Since flat surface portion 43 is configured such that flat surface 44 has a larger outer form than end surface 42 formed on boss hub 41 of the reduced sizes, the plurality of propeller fans 10 can be stacked stably.
- the propeller fan i.e., propeller fan 110 for comparison in FIG. 9
- the vertically neighboring boss hubs of the propeller fans can be combined so that the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked relatively easily.
- blade surface 36 of connection portion 31 formed at the rotation center causes another problem that propeller fans 10 cannot be stacked without difficulty.
- flat surface portion 43 is located on the outlet side opposite to the intake side on which boss hub 41 is located.
- FIG. 21 is a cross section showing a first modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans.
- FIG. 22 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXII in FIG. 21 .
- a propeller fan 48 in this modification includes a protrusion 45 in addition to the structures in FIG. 18 .
- Protrusion 45 is arranged on the same side as flat surface portion 43 , i.e., on connection portion 31 on the outlet side.
- Protrusion 45 has an annular form coaxial to center axis 101 , and protrudes in the direction of center axis 101 from flat surface 44 .
- protrusion 45 when the outlet side of propeller fan 48 is viewed in the direction of center axis 101 , protrusion 45 has the annular form having a circular section, and an inner diameter d 3 thereof with respect to a center defined by center axis 101 is larger than outer diameter d 1 of boss hub 41 .
- the annular section of protrusion 45 may be appropriately modified according to the form of boss hub 41 .
- FIG. 23 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans in FIG. 21 .
- annular protrusion 45 of upper propeller fan 48 is fitted around boss hub 41 of lower propeller fan 48 when the plurality of propeller fans 48 are stacked such that flat surface 44 of upper propeller fan 48 is placed on end surface 42 of lower propeller fan 48 , as is done in the form shown in FIG. 20 .
- the fitting of boss hub 41 into annular protrusion 45 can prevent horizontal shifting of the positions of propeller fans 48 so that propeller fans 48 can be stacked more stably.
- FIG. 24 is a cross section showing a second modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans, and corresponds to FIG. 18 showing the first embodiment.
- FIG. 25 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXV in FIG. 24 .
- a propeller fan 49 has a protrusion 46 .
- Protrusion 46 protrudes from the same side as boss hub 41 , i.e., from connection portion 31 on the intake side.
- Protrusion 46 has the annular form and is located on the outer periphery of boss hub 41 .
- protrusion 46 is coaxial to center axis 101 and has an annular form having an outer diameter d 4 larger than outer diameter dl of boss hub 41 .
- Protrusion 46 protrudes in the direction of center axis 101 to a position higher than boss hub 41 .
- FIG. 26 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans shown in FIG. 24 .
- the plurality of propeller fans 49 are stacked in the height direction thereof (i.e., in the direction of center axis 101 ).
- the plurality of propeller fans 49 are stacked such that the inlet side and therefore the outlet side of each propeller fan 49 are directed in the vertically same directions as those of the others, respectively.
- the plurality of propeller fans 49 are stacked such that blade surface 36 on the outlet side of upper propeller fan 49 is placed on annular protrusion 46 of lower propeller fan 49 .
- the plurality of propeller fans 49 can be stably stacked through annular protrusions 46 . Also, a balance piece can be attached to annular protrusion 46 to eliminate an imbalance of propeller fan 49 .
- Propeller fans 48 and 49 according to the third embodiment of the invention having the above structure can achieve substantially the same effect as that of the second embodiment.
- a propeller fan according to a fourth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated.
- FIG. 27 is a side view showing the propeller fan according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 28 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the intake side) of an arrow XXVIII in FIG. 27 .
- FIG. 29 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the outlet side) of an arrow XXIX in FIG. 27 .
- FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the propeller fan in FIG. 27 viewed from the intake side.
- Propeller fan 50 has the plurality of blades 21 ( 21 A, 21 B and 21 C) that are circumferentially spaced from each other for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and also has connection portion 31 that has blade surface 36 serving as the blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connects the base portions of blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C of the plurality of neighboring blades 21 together.
- Propeller fan 50 rotates around center axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and thereby performs the blowing from the intake side to the outlet side in FIG. 16 .
- connection portion 31 is defined inside imaginary circle 102 and blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C are defined outside imaginary circle 102 .
- imaginary circle 102 is drawn similarly to propeller fan 50 .
- Propeller fan 50 is a three-blade fan having blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C. Blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C are equally spaced from each other in the circumferential direction around center axis 101 . Blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C have the same forms.
- Blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C are connected together by connection portion 31 arranged around center axis 101 .
- the three blades that are formed of a single member and extend radially outward from center axis 101 are integrally formed of blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C as well as connection portion 31 .
- Propeller fan 50 has boss hub 41 as the center shaft.
- Connection portion 31 extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of boss hub 41 .
- connection portion 31 is formed such that minimum length L 1 of connection portion 31 measured from center axis 101 along imaginary line Z passing through center axis 101 is longer than length L 2 of boss hub 41 measured from center axis 101 along imaginary line Z (see FIG. 28 ).
- Propeller fan 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention having the above structure can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment.
- the propeller fan according to the invention may have four or more blades.
- a propeller fan according to a fifth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated.
- FIG. 31 is a side view showing the propeller fan of the fifth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 32 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXXII in FIG. 31 .
- blade surface 36 of connection portion 31 in a propeller fan 52 is formed of a blade surface 36 M that is a first portion continuously extending from blade surface 26 of blade 21 A and a blade surface 36 N that is a second portion continuously extending from blade surface 26 of blade 21 B.
- Connection portion 31 further has a flat surface 37 that is a surface of a not-blade-surface form.
- Flat surface 37 has a form that does not contribute to the blowing by propeller fan 52 , and is flat in this embodiment.
- Flat surface 37 is formed between blade surfaces 36 M and 36 N.
- Flat surface 37 is arranged coaxially to center axis 101 , and extends radially outward from boss hub 41 . In a direction of a line connecting blade surfaces 36 M and 36 N, flat surface 37 has a larger width than boss hub 41 .
- FIG. 33 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan in FIGS. 31 and 32 .
- FIG. 33 corresponds to FIG. 32 .
- a propeller fan 53 according to this modification has flat surface 37 of which width in the direction of the line connecting between blade surfaces 36 M and 36 N is smaller than that of boss hub 41 .
- connection portion 31 may have blade surface 36 contributing to the blowing, whereby the blowing performance can likewise be improved.
- the width of flat surface 37 can be minimized as far as possible so that the areas of blade surfaces 36 M and 36 N can be increased, and the blowing performance can be effectively improved.
- Propeller fans 52 and 53 according to the fifth embodiment of the invention having the above structure can achieve substantially the same effect as the firs embodiment.
- a propeller fan of a sixth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated.
- FIG. 34 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- a propeller fan 56 according to the embodiment has concave portions 22 formed at rear edges 21 c of blades 21 A and 21 B, respectively.
- Each concave portion 22 is hollowed from rear edge 21 c of blade 21 toward front edge 21 b, i.e., in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of the blades 21 .
- Concave portion 22 is formed to have trailing blade edge 21 e of a crescent- or scythe-like form.
- X indicates a length of the line extending between the opposite ends of concave portion 22 and, when the opposite ends are not clear, X indicates a length of a common tangential line with respect to the opposite ends.
- Length X is equal to or larger than 0.33 times outer diameter D of the blades (0.33 ⁇ X/D)
- a length Y from the deepest position of the concave portion to the above line extending between the opposite ends of the concave portion, or to the above tangential line is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times outer diameter D of the blades (Y/D ⁇ 0.068).
- FIG. 35 is a graph indicating a relationship between the rotation speed of the propeller fan and the air flow rate in the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 36 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and the power consumption of the drive motor according to the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- the provision of concave portions 22 reduces the area of the blades to reduce efficiently a drag or resistance. Since the area of blades decreases, the air flow rate at a constant rotation speed decreases, but the drag efficiently decreases so that the power consumption can be reduced when the air flow rate is constant.
- FIG. 37 illustrates, for comparison, the air flow rates exhibited corresponding to the same rotation speed.
- a value under each flow rate indicates a ratio of the air flow rate with respect to the air flow rate (44.49 m 3 /min) of propeller fan 110 for comparison in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 38 illustrates, for comparison, the power consumptions of the drive motors exhibited corresponding to the same air flow rate.
- a value under each power consumption indicates a ratio of the power consumption with respect to the power consumption (49.8 W) exhibited by propeller fan 110 for the comparison in FIG. 9 .
- the ordinate in the figure gives a relative efficiency that is a ratio of the power consumption attained by propeller fan 56 in FIG. 34 with respect to that of propeller fan 110 for comparison in FIG. 9 when the air flow rate is 40 m 3 /min.
- the ordinate in the figure gives a relative ratio of the air flow rate that is attained by propeller fan 56 in FIG. 34 with respect to that of propeller fan 110 for comparison in FIG. 9 when the rotation speed is 900 rpm.
- concave portion 22 is formed at rear edge 21 c of blade 21 , the value of X/D does not exceed 0.5.
- concave portion 22 is more preferably formed to satisfy the relationship of (0.37 ⁇ X/D ⁇ 0.5).
- the case where the value of Y/D is zero corresponds to propeller fan 10 of the first embodiment.
- concave portion 22 is more preferably formed to satisfy the relationship of (0 ⁇ Y/D ⁇ 0.043).
- the propeller fan When a resistant object causing a large pressure loss such as a heat exchanger is present in an air flow path, the propeller fan is likely to cause such a phenomenon that a flow from a central portion of the fan, i.e., a portion of a low peripheral speed separates from the blade surface.
- the separation occurs throughout the blade surfaces of the fan.
- the separation occurs on a part (a region near the center) of the blade surfaces of the fan.
- the performance of the propeller fan according to the embodiment lowers similarly to the propeller fan for the comparison.
- the invention can exhibit its effect to the maximum extent.
- the pressure loss is present in the air flow path, and the portion near the center of the blades is in such a situation that the separation is likely to occur. It can be assumed that the separation partially occurs in the hatched region in FIG. 15 of the propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- the following structure is employed for completely preventing the separation in the hatched portion and effectively deriving the effect of the invention.
- a vortex (blade tip vortex) occurring on leading blade edge 21 d is guided to this hatched portion to refill it with kinetic energy.
- the tip vortex can be fixed in this position so that the region of the hatched portion in FIG. 15 can always be refilled with the kinetic energy. Consequently, the separation in the region of the hatched portion in FIG. 15 is suppressed, and the effect of the invention can be efficiently derived.
- FIG. 41 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan in FIG. 34 .
- three blades 21 A, 21 B and 21 C are provided at their rear edges 21 c with concave portions 22 , respectively.
- Concave portion 22 has substantially the same form as concave portion 22 formed in propeller fan 56 having the two blades.
- Propeller fan 56 thus structured according to the sixth embodiment of the invention can achieve substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment.
- the propeller fan according to a seventh embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated.
- FIG. 42 is a plan showing the propeller fan according to the seventh embodiment of the invention.
- a propeller fan 57 according to the embodiment has convex portions 58 , i.e., first convex portions formed at front edges 21 b of blades 21 A and 21 B, respectively.
- Convex portion 58 has a round form protruding toward the suction surface side (intake side) of blade surface 21 .
- convex portion 58 When viewed from the suction surface side, convex portion 58 has a curved surface rising from the surface of blade surface 26 .
- Convex portion 58 is formed near the periphery of connection portion 31 .
- convex portions 58 form a vortex 104 according to the rotation of blades 21 , and vortex 104 thus formed moves on blade surfaces 26 and 36 .
- This vortex 104 prevents the separation or peeling of the air flow that occurs in a region 103 on blade surfaces 26 and 36 , or in the region of the hatched portion in FIG. 15 . Consequently, the performance and efficiency of the fan are improved, and the noises due to the separation can be reduced.
- the effect of suppressing the separation on blade surfaces 26 and 36 improves the pressure-flow rate characteristics so that the air blowing can be performed corresponding to the high pressure loss.
- a convex portion 59 expanding oppositely to the rotational direction of blades 21 is formed as a second convex portion in a coupling portion between connection portion 31 and each of rear edges 21 c of respective blades 21 A and 21 B.
- Convex portion 59 formed at rear edge 21 c of blade 21 A protrudes toward front edge 21 b of blade 21 B
- convex portion 59 formed at rear edge 21 c of blade 21 B protrudes toward front edge 21 b of blade 21 A.
- a convex portion 60 expanding oppositely to the rotational direction of blades 21 is formed as a third convex portion in a coupling portion between the outer peripheral portion (outer edge 21 a ) of each blade 21 and rear edge 21 c of each of blades 21 A and 21 B.
- Convex portion 60 formed at trailing blade edge 21 e of blade 21 A protrudes toward leading blade edge 21 d of blade 21 B
- convex portion 60 formed at trailing blade edge 21 e of blade 21 B protrudes toward leading blade edge 21 d of blade 21 A.
- the above structure increases a chord length of the portion provided with convex portions 59 and 60 , and can blow the air flow by a larger force.
- the blowing capacity is small in a position where a radius of rotation is short.
- the effect of extending the chord by provision of convex portion 59 can achieve a larger blowing capacity in spite of the fact that the radius of rotation is small.
- the fan has a large blowing capacity in a position where the radius of rotation is large.
- the chord of the region where the largest blowing capacity is obtained is extended so that the air flow rate of the fan at the constant rotation speed can be increased, and the larger blowing capacity can be obtained.
- convex portion(s) may be formed of one or an appropriate combination of convex portions 58 to 60 .
- Propeller fan 57 thus structured according to the seventh embodiment of the invention can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment.
- the structures of the various propeller fans have been described as the first to seventh embodiments. However, these are not restrictive, and the structures of the propeller fans described in connection with the first to seventh embodiment can be appropriately combined to configure a new propeller fan.
- FIG. 43 is a cross section showing the molding dies used for producing the propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- molding dies 61 have a stationary die 62 and a movable die 63 .
- Stationary and movable dies 62 and 63 define a cavity having substantially the same shapes as propeller fan 10 for injecting flowable resin thereinto.
- Molding die 61 may be provided with a heater (not shown) for increasing the flowability of the resin injected into the cavity.
- a heater for increasing the flowability of the resin injected into the cavity.
- Such arrangement of the heater is particularly effective when synthetic resin having an increased strength such as glass-filled AS resin is used.
- Molding die 61 shown in FIG. 43 is employed on the assumption that stationary die 62 forms a pressure surface of propeller fan 10 , and movable die 63 forms a suction surface.
- stationary die 62 may form the suction surface of propeller fan 10
- movable die 63 may form the pressure surface.
- the propeller fan is made of metal, and is integrally formed by draw forming of press working.
- a thick metal plate cannot be used for such drawing without difficulty, and increases a mass or weight so that a thin metal plate is generally used.
- a large propeller fan cannot have a sufficient strength (rigidity) without difficulty.
- a part that is formed of a metal plate thicker than the blade portion and is called “spider” may be used for fixing the blade portion to the rotation axis.
- the metal plate used for it is thin and has a constant thickness, which results in a problem that the blade portion cannot have a blade-like sectional form.
- FIG. 44 is a plan showing an example of positions where gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with two blades of the embodiment.
- FIG. 45 is a plan showing an example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with three blades according to the embodiment.
- molding dies 61 have gates 66 for supplying or injecting the resin into the cavity defined by stationary and movable dies 62 and 63 in FIG. 43 .
- gates 66 are formed in connection portion 31 and are located in positions corresponding to boundaries each defined between front and rear edge 21 b and 21 c of neighboring blades 21 .
- FIGS. 46 and 47 show comparison examples of the propeller fans that have the gates in positions other than those shown in FIGS. 44 and 45 , respectively.
- a weld line 67 (where the flows of flowable resin joined together in the dies so that a crack is liable to occur due to a low strength) may occur in the boundary between front edge 21 b of each blade 21 and rear edge 21 c of the neighboring blade 21 .
- stress concentration occurs in the boundary between front edge 21 b of each blade 21 and rear edge 21 c of neighboring rear edge 21 c so that a crack is liable to occur along weld line 67 , and the breaking strength of the fan is remarkably low.
- gates 66 are formed in connection portion 31 and particularly in the positions that correspond to the respective boundaries each defined between front and rear edges 21 b and 21 c of neighboring blades, so that weld line 67 can be produced in the position that does not significantly lower the breaking strength of the fan as shown in the figures. Thus, the lowering of the breaking strength of the fan can be prevented.
- FIG. 48 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the two-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- FIG. 49 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the three-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment.
- gates 66 are preferably located in connection portion 31 continuing to the base portions of blades 21 , and particularly in the positions corresponding to the vicinities of the front edges 21 b, i.e., in the positions that are circumferentially closer to front edges 21 b of blades 21 than rear edges 21 c of the same blades, respectively.
- FIGS. 50 and 51 show, as examples for comparison, propeller fans provided with gates in positions other than those shown in FIGS. 48 and 49 .
- weld line 67 may occur in the positions on connection portion 31 continuing to the base portion of blades 21 , and particularly in the positions near front edges 21 b.
- the crack is liable to occur along weld line 67 , and the breaking strength of the fan remarkably lowers.
- gates 66 are arranged in the positions on connection portion 31 continuing to the base portions of blades 21 , and particularly in the positions near front edge 21 b, and this structure can form weld line 67 in the illustrated position that does not significantly lower the breaking strength of the fan. Consequently, the lowering of the breaking strength of the fan can be prevented.
- FIG. 52 shows an outdoor unit of an air conditioner with the propeller fan in FIG. 1 .
- an outdoor unit 75 of the air conditioner includes a blower 73 having propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment and a drive motor 72 .
- Blower 73 feeds a fluid.
- Outdoor unit 75 has an outdoor heat exchanger 74 , and performs efficient heat exchange, using blower 73 .
- Blower 73 is arranged in outdoor unit 75 by a motor angle 76 .
- outdoor unit 75 has propeller fan 10 already described in connection with the first embodiment, and therefore can suppress generation of noises to attain low operation noises.
- propeller fan 10 improves the air flow efficiency so that the energy consumption of outdoor unit 75 can be low. Similar effect can be achieved by using the propeller fan already described in connection with one of the second to seventh embodiments.
- the outdoor unit of the air conditioner has been described as an example of the fluid feeder.
- substantially the same effect can be achieved by applying the propeller fan of the invention to various devices for feeding the fluid such as an air purifier, a humidifier, an electric fan, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
- the invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that base portions of the plurality of blades are continuously coupled together.
- the invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, and at least a part of the base portions of the blades is not continuously connected to the convex portion.
- the invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that the minimum length of the convex portion from the rotation center is smaller than the minimum length of the base portions of the blades from the rotation center.
- the convex portion is small so that the blades have a large area and the propeller fan has a small mass. Since the blades have the large area, the blades can be effectively used even in the rotation-central portion that is conventionally a dead angle region, and the air flow rate can be increased when the rotation speed is constant. Since the propeller fan has a small mass, this reduces a load on the motor, and can reduce the power consumption at the constant air flow rate.
- the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the propeller fan includes a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction, a rear edge located on the opposite side in the rotational direction and a peripheral portion extending in a circumferential direction between a tip end portion of the front edge and a tip end portion of the rear edge, and the base portion of the front edge of each of blades and the base portion of the rear edge of the neighboring blade match with each other and are continuously coupled together.
- the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the front edge of each of the plurality of blades is coupled in a direction from the intake side to the outlet side to the rear edge of the neighboring blade.
- the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the rear edge has a concave portion (recessed portion) extending toward the front edge, line between the opposite ends of the concave portion, or a common tangential line with respect to the opposite ends that are nor clear has a length equal to or larger than 0.33 times the outer diameter of the fan, and a length from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or from the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the fan.
- This structure reduces the area of the blades to reduce effectively a drag.
- the propeller fan described above is characterized in that it is molded from resin.
- This structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal. Further, this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes. Since this structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal, the blowing performance can be improved. Since this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes, the load on the motor can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
- the invention is a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan described above.
- the invention is a molding die for molding the propeller fan described above from resin.
- the present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, and a rotation center portion on the outlet side is provided with a flat surface portion larger than a circumferential width of the convex portion on the intake side.
- This structure can improve the blowing performance of the propeller fan, and allows axial stacking (i.e., stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans by a very simple manner for storing or transporting them.
- the present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, a rotation center portion on the outlet side is provided with an annular protrusion, and a circumferential width of an inner side of the annular protrusion is equal to or larger than a circumferential width of the outer side of the convex portion on the intake side.
- This structure can improve the blowing performance of the propeller fan. Also, horizontal shifting or deviation can be prevented so that this structure allows axial and stable stacking (i.e., stable stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans for storing or transporting them. Further, a balance piece may be attached to the annular protrusion for eliminating imbalance of the propeller fan.
- the present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, and an annular protrusion is arranged on a radially outer side of the convex portion on the intake side.
- the above structure improves the blowing performance of the propeller fan, and allows stacking (i.e., stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans for storing or transporting them. Further, when the annular protrusion on the intake side has an axial height smaller than a height of the convex portion, a balance piece may be attached to the annular protrusion for eliminating imbalance of the propeller fan.
- the propeller fan described above is characterized in that it is molded from resin.
- This structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal. Further, this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes. Since this structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal, the blowing performance can be improved. Since this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes, the load on the motor can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
- the invention is a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan described above.
- the invention is a molding die for molding the propeller fan described above from resin.
- the present invention is primarily applied to a fluid feeder such as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
- a fluid feeder such as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
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Abstract
In a propeller fan, a plurality of blades for blowing are coupled together with a space in a rotational direction kept therebetween, and a coupled region has a form for performing the blowing according to the rotation thereof. This structure provides a propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
Description
- The present invention relates to a propeller fan, a fluid feeder and a molding die, and particularly to a propeller fan for an air blower, a molding die for molding the propeller fan from resin and a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan such as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
- In connection with conventional propeller fans, for example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-88999 has disclosed an axial fan aimed at increasing a lifting power of propeller blades and also increasing a strength thereof by supplying, in a separated fashion, positive and negative pressures to positive and suction surfaces of each propeller blade, respectively (Patent Document 1). The axial fan disclosed in
Patent Document 1 has a plurality of propeller blades that are formed on an outer periphery of a hub and extend radially outward from an axis of the hub. - Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-314399 has disclosed a propeller fan aimed at eliminating necessity of after-treatment on a boss having a rotation axis aperture, and improving gate processing (Patent Document 2). The propeller fan disclosed in Patent Document 2 has the hub of a cylindrical or a circular-conical form as well as blades formed integrally with the hub.
- Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-74196 has disclosed a propeller fan aimed at providing a form of a hub that improves air flowing, exhibiting a good performance in connection with improvement of forms of blades and a head, a rib and a boss of the hub, allowing an easy manufacturing operation, improving a stacking property and an improved strength, and exhibiting a good transporting property (Patent Document 3). The propeller fan disclosed in
Patent Document 3 has a boss arranged at a center of rotation. The boss has an outer surface formed of a large round head and a cylindrical portion. In a manufacturing process of the propeller fan, the round head serves as a guide so that the manufactured propeller fans can be successively and deeply stacked on each other. - Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-133392 has disclosed an axial blade wheel that is aimed at achieving an inexpensive and efficient packing without impeding any blowing performance (Patent Document 4). In the axial blade wheel disclosed in Patent Document 4, a radius of a hub on an intake side is partially reduced, and each end of the hub has a round from.
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 3-88999
- Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2000-314399
- Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-74196
- Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 5-133392
- Conventionally, propeller fans have been used in air blowers and refrigeration machines. For example, an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided with a propeller fan for blowing air on a heat exchanger. The propeller fan has such characteristics that the blowing capacity near a center of the fan where a peripheral speed is low is smaller than that on a radially outer side of the fan. Due to such characteristics, when a resistance object causing a large pressure loss such as a heat exchanger is arranged in an air flow passage, the air flows forward on the radially outer side of the fan, but a reverse flow occurs near the center of the fan. This results in a problem that pressure-flow rate characteristics (i.e., characteristics relating to a pressure and a flow rate) of the fan deteriorate in a high static-pressure range.
- Also, as disclosed in the foregoing patent documents, such a structure of the propeller fan has been known that a large boss hub is arranged at the center of rotation, and the plurality of blades extend from the outer periphery of the boss hub. In these propeller fans, since the large boss hub closes a reverse flow region near the center of the fan, it is possible to prevent reverse flow and to suppress deterioration of the pressure-flow rate characteristics of the fan near a high static-pressure range. Usually, the blade has an attack angle. Therefore, base portions of the blades exhibit a twisted positional relationship if the base portions of the blades extend as there are. However, the provision of the large boss hub facilitates the integral formation of the plurality of blades that perform the air blowing.
- However, the above propeller fan with the large boss hub suffers from a plurality of problems described below.
- A first problem is as follows. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the pressure-flow rate characteristics in the high static-pressure range to a certain extent. However, the rotation center portion cannot be sufficiently and effectively utilized in a range of a low pressure and a large air flow rate, resulting in a problem that a blowing efficiency is low. A second problem is as follows. The provision of the large boss hub increases a mass of the propeller fan, and therefore increases the load on a drive motor, resulting in a problem of increased power consumption. A third problem is increase in material cost and therefore increase in manufacturing cost. These three problems result in remarkable disadvantages in energy-saving properties and resource-saving design in view of recent consideration of global environment.
- As disclosed in above
Patent Documents 3 and 4, the propeller fan requires the structure that allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in the direction of its rotation axis when the manufactured propeller fans are to be stored or transported. - Accordingly, an object of the invention is to overcome the above problems, and particularly to provide a propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design. Another object of the invention is to overcome the above problems, and particularly to provide a propeller fan that greatly contributes to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design, and allows stacking for storing, transporting and the like.
- A propeller fan according to the invention is a propeller fan in which a plurality of blades for blowing are coupled together with a space kept in a rotational direction therebetween, and a coupled region has a form for performing the blowing according to rotation.
- According to the propeller fan thus configured, since the region where the plurality of blades are coupled together has the form for performing the blowing (i.e., creating an air flow), the blowing in a forward direction can be performed even near a rotation center of the blades so that a blowing capacity can be improved. This can implement the propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- Preferably, the coupled region has a blade-surface-like form for performing the blowing according to the rotation. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the region coupling the plurality of blades and having the blade-surface-like form can contribute to the blowing.
- Preferably, the propeller fan is integrally provided with a member for performing rotational driving around the coupled region. This configuration can simplify the structure of the propeller fan.
- Preferably, the plurality of blades and the coupled region are integrally molded to form the propeller fan. This configuration can simplify the structure of the propeller fan.
- A propeller fan according to another aspect of the invention includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; and a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades.
- According to the propeller fan thus configured, since the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing, the blowing in a forward direction can be performed even near a rotation center of the blades so that a blowing capacity can be improved. This can implement the propeller fan greatly contributing to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- Preferably, the connection portion extends radially outward from a rotation shaft for driving and rotating the propeller fan.
- In the propeller fan thus configured, it is possible to increase an area of the blade surfaces contributing to the blowing, to reduce a size of the rotation shaft and to reduce a mass of the propeller fan. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a power required for driving the propeller fan, and the structure can greatly contribute to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- Preferably, the connection portion forms the blade-surface-like surface. The propeller fan thus configured effectively uses the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion, and thereby can improve the blowing capacity.
- Preferably, the plurality of blades and the connection portion form a blade surface having an integral and continuously smooth form. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blades and the connection portion form the blade surface having an integral and continuously smooth form, and this blade surface contributes to the blowing so that the blowing capacity can be significantly improved.
- Preferably, the propeller fan further includes a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding from the connection portion toward at least one of the intake side and the outlet side. Preferably, when the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis is longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the line. According to the propeller fan thus configured, it is possible to increase an area of the blade surfaces contributing to the blowing, to reduce a size of the rotation shaft and to reduce a mass of the propeller fan. Thereby, it is possible to reduce a power required for driving the propeller fan, and the structure can greatly contribute to energy-saving properties and resource-saving design.
- Preferably, the blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side in the rotational direction. A base portion of the front edge of a first blade included among the plurality of blades is connected to a base portion of the rear edge of a second blade neighboring to the first blade. Preferably, the connection portion extends from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of the front edge toward the base portion of the rear edge. Preferably, the connection portion continues to the blade surface of the blade and extends in a blowing direction from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of the front edge toward the base portion of the rear edge. Preferably, the connection portion is configured to have a function of blowing air in the blowing direction of the propeller fan from the intake side to the outlet side.
- According to the propeller fan thus configured, the connection portion connects the base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades together, and such a fan form is implemented that the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion can contribute to the blowing.
- Preferably, the front edge is provided with a first convex portion protruding toward a suction surface side of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the front edge is provided with the first convex portion protruding toward the suction surface side of the blade, the first convex portion forms a vortex, which flows on the blade surface along a flow line to prevent separation of the flow on the blade surface. Therefore, the performance and efficiency of the propeller fan can be improved, and noises due to the separation can be reduced, resulting in reduction of the fan noises.
- Preferably, a coupling portion between the rear edge and the connection portion is provided with a second convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the portion provided with the second convex portion increases a chord length so that the blowing can be performed by a larger force.
- Preferably, a coupling portion between the rear edge and an outer peripheral portion of the blade is provided with a third convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the portion provided with the third convex portion increases a chord length so that the blowing can be performed by a larger force.
- Preferably, the rear edge is provided with a concave portion hollowed in the rotational direction of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the provision of the concave portion reduces an area of the blade to reduce efficiently a drag. Since the area of the blade decreases, the air flow rate decreases when the rotation speed is constant, but the drag efficiently decreases so that the power consumption can be reduced when the air flow rate is constant.
- Preferably, a length X of a line between opposite ends of the concave portion or a common tangential line with respect to unclear opposite ends of the concave portion is equal to or larger than 0.33 times an outer diameter of the blades. A length Y from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the blades. According to the propeller fan thus configured, owing to the setting in which the length Y from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the blades, it is possible to suppress more effectively the rate of decrease in air flow rate when the rotation speed is constant. Also, owing to the setting that the length X of a line between opposite ends of the concave portion or the above tangential line is equal to or larger than 0.33 times the outer diameter of the blades, it is possible to increase more effectively the rate of decrease in power consumption at the constant air flow rate.
- Preferably, the plurality of blades and the connection portion have a thin-thickness form, and are formed integrally with each other. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the mass of the propeller fan can be reduced, and rigidity thereof can be improved.
- Preferably, the blade-surface-like surface is formed continuously to the blade surface of the blade. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blade surface of the blade and the blade-surface-like surface of the connection portion are integrated to contribute to the blowing so that the blowing capacity can be significantly improved.
- Preferably, a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades and a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade are formed to continue to each other through the blade-surface-like surface. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blowing capacity can be further improved significantly.
- Preferably, the blade-surface-like surface includes a first portion continuing from a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades, and a second portion continuing from a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade. The connection portion further has a surface of a not-blade-surface form formed between the first and second portions and arranged coaxially to the rotation center of the blades. According to the propeller fan thus configured, even when the connection portion partially has the surface of the not-blade-surface form, the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion can improve the blowing capacity.
- Preferably, the propeller fan is formed by twisting a single plate-like member. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the propeller fan according to the invention can be obtained by effecting twisting work on a metal plate for example.
- Preferably, the propeller fan is made of a thin integral member having a curved surface. Since the propeller fan thus configured is made of the thin integral member having the curved surface, the propeller fan according to the invention can be simply formed.
- Preferably, the propeller fan is molded from resin. According to the propeller fan thus configured, it is possible to implement the propeller fan having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- A fluid feeder according to the invention includes one of the propeller fans described above. According to the fluid feeder thus configured, it is possible to implement the fluid feeder that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- A molding die according to the invention is used for molding one of the propeller fans described above. According to the molding die thus configured, it is possible to manufacture the propeller fan having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- Preferably, the molding die includes a gate for supplying flowable resin. The blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side. The gate is formed in the connection portion or the coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a boundary between the front edge of the first blade among the plurality of blades and the rear edge of the second blade neighboring to the first blade. According to the molding die thus configured, occurrence of a weld line in the connection portion or the coupled region can be suppressed in a boundary position between the front edge of the first blade and the rear edge of the second blade. Thereby, lowering of the breaking rigidity of the propeller fan can be prevented.
- Preferably, the molding die includes a gate for supplying flowable resin. The blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction. The gate is formed in the connection portion continuing to the base portion of the blade or the coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a vicinity of the front edge. According to the molding die thus configured, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a weld line in the front edge portion of the coupled region or the connection portion continuing to the base portion of the blade. Thereby, it is possible to prevent lowering of the breaking rigidity of the propeller fan.
- A propeller fan according to still another aspect of the invention includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades; and a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades, protruding from the intake side of the connection portion, and having an end surface parallel to a plane perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of the blades. When the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis is longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the above line. The propeller fan further includes a flat surface portion arranged on the outlet side of the connection portion, having an outer form larger than an outer form of the rotation shaft when projected (i.e., image-projected) in a direction of the rotation axis of the blades, and having a flat surface parallel to the end surface.
- According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing so that the propeller fan can blow the air in the forward direction even near the rotation center of the blades. This reduces the power required for driving the propeller fan. Consequently, it is possible to achieve the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- Since the propeller fan has the flat surface portion having a larger outer form than the rotation axis and having a flat surface parallel to the end surface, the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked such that the end surface of the rotation shaft is in close contact with the flat surface of the flat surface portion. This allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in a simple manner for storing or transporting the propeller fans.
- Preferably, the propeller fan further includes an annular protrusion protruding from the outlet side of the connection portion, and arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades. The annular protrusion has an inner form larger than the outer form of the rotation shaft when projected in the direction of the rotation axis of the blades. According to the propeller fan thus configured, when the upper and lower propeller fans are stacked, the annular protrusion is engaged with the rotation shaft. This engagement restricts the horizontal shifting of the positions so that the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked more stably.
- The propeller fan according to further another aspect of the invention includes a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades; and a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of the blades, and protruding from the intake side of the connection portion. When the propeller fan is viewed in a direction of a rotation axis, a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of the connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis being longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of the rotation shaft on the line. The propeller fan further includes an annular protrusion arranged on the intake side of the connection portion, arranged radially outside the rotation shaft and protruding to a position higher than the rotation shaft in the direction of the rotation axis of the blades.
- According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blade-surface-like surface formed on the connection portion contributes to the blowing so that the propeller fan can blow the air in the forward direction even near the rotation center of the blades. This increases the area of the blade surface contributing to the blowing and reduces the size of the rotation shaft so that the mass of the propeller fan can be small. This reduces the power required for driving the propeller fan. Consequently, it is possible to achieve the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design. Further, the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked together through the annular protrusions. This allows stable stacking of the plurality of propeller fans in a simple manner for storing or transporting the propeller fans.
- Preferably, a blade surface of a first blade among the plurality of blades continues to a second blade surface of a second blade neighboring to the first blade through the blade-surface-like surface. According to the propeller fan thus configured, the blade surface of the blade and the blade-surface-like surface of the connection portion are integrated to contribute to the blowing, and therefore can significantly improve the blowing capacity.
- Preferably, the propeller fan is molded from resin. The propeller fan thus configured can have a small weight and a high rigidity.
- A fluid feeder according to another aspect of the invention includes one of the propeller fans described above. Since the fluid feeder fan thus configured has the propeller fan according to the invention, it is possible to achieve the fluid feeder greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design.
- A molding die according to another aspect of the invention is used for molding one of the propeller fans described above from resin. This molding die thus configured can produce the propeller fan made of resin and having a small weight and a high rigidity.
- As described above, the invention can provide the propeller fan greatly contributing to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design. Also, the invention can provide the propeller fan that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design, and allows stacking for the storing or transporting.
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FIG. 1 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a first embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 2 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an intake side) of an arrow II inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an outlet side) of an arrow III inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propeller fan inFIG. 1 viewed from the intake side. -
FIG. 5 is a plan showing an example of a propeller fan inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 295 mm in diameter. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 130 mm in diameter. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 95 mm in diameter. -
FIG. 9 is a plan showing a propeller fan for comparison. -
FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between a rotation speed and an air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate and power consumption of a drive motor according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 12 shows pressure-flow rate characteristics of the propeller fan according to the embodiment inFIG. 5 and the propeller fan for the comparison inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 13 illustrates a mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 14 is another view for illustrating a mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 15 is further another view for illustrating the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 16 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a second embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the propeller fan inFIG. 16 viewed from the intake side. -
FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the propeller fan taken along line XVIII-XVIII inFIG. 17 . -
FIG. 19 is a plan showing a central portion of the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XIX inFIG. 18 . -
FIG. 20 is a cross section showing a stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans inFIG. 18 . -
FIG. 21 is a cross section showing a first modification of the structure for stacking a plurality of propeller fans. -
FIG. 22 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXII inFIG. 21 . -
FIG. 23 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans inFIG. 21 . -
FIG. 24 is a cross section showing a second modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans. -
FIG. 25 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXV inFIG. 24 . -
FIG. 26 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans inFIG. 24 . -
FIG. 27 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 28 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the intake side) of an arrow XXVIII inFIG. 27 . -
FIG. 29 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the outlet side) of an arrow XXIX inFIG. 27 . -
FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the propeller fan inFIG. 27 viewed from the intake side. -
FIG. 31 is a side view showing a propeller fan of a fifth embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 32 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXXII inFIG. 31 . -
FIG. 33 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan inFIGS. 31 and 32 . -
FIG. 34 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a sixth embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 35 is a graph showing a relationship between a rotation speed and an air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the sixth embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 36 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and a power consumption of a drive motor according to the sixth embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 37 illustrates, for comparison, the air flow rates exhibited corresponding to the same rotation speed. -
FIG. 38 illustrates, for comparison, the power consumptions of the drive motors exhibited corresponding to the same air flow rate. -
FIG. 39 is a graph illustrating, for comparison, the power consumption of the drive motor exhibited when X/D changes while Y/D is constant (=0.068) and the air flow rate is constant. -
FIG. 40 is a graph illustrating, for comparison, an air flow rate exhibited when Y/D changes while X/D is constant (=0.33) and the rotation speed is constant. -
FIG. 41 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan inFIG. 34 . -
FIG. 42 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to a seventh embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 43 is a cross section showing molding dies used for producing the propeller fan inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 44 is a plan showing an example of positions where gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with two blades according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 45 is a plan showing an example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with three blades according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 46 shows an example for comparison of a propeller fan having a gate located in a position other than those shown inFIG. 44 . -
FIG. 47 shows an example for comparison of a propeller fan having gates located in positions other than those shown inFIG. 45 . -
FIG. 48 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the two-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 49 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the three-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 50 shows, as an example for comparison, a propeller fan provided with gates in positions other than those shown inFIG. 48 . -
FIG. 51 shows, as an example for comparison, a propeller fan provided with gates in positions other than those shown inFIG. 49 . -
FIG. 52 shows an outdoor unit of an air conditioner with the propeller fan inFIG. 1 . - 10, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 56 and 57 propeller fan, 21, 21A, 21B and 21C blades, 21 b front edge, 21 c rear edge, 22 concave portion, 26, 36, 36M and 36N blade surface, 31 connection portion, 37 surface, 41 boss hub, 42 end surface, 43 flat surface portion, 44 flat surface, 45 and 46 protrusion, 58, 59 and 60 convex portion, 61 molding die, 66 gate, 75 outdoor unit, 101 center axis
- Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding members bear the same reference numbers.
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FIG. 1 is a side view showing a propeller fan according to a first embodiment of the invention.FIG. 2 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an intake side) of an arrow II inFIG. 1 .FIG. 3 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from an outlet side) of an arrow III inFIG. 1 .FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the propeller fan inFIG. 1 viewed from the intake side. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 to 4 , a basic structure of apropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment is described below.Propeller fan 10 has a plurality ofblades connection portion 31 that has ablade surface 36 as a surface of a blade-surface-like form for performing the blowing, and is located between the plurality ofblades blades -
Propeller fan 10 rotates around acenter axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and blows the air from an intake side to an outlet side inFIG. 1 . In the figure, whenpropeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101 andimaginary circle 102 is drawn toseparate blades center axis 101,connection portion 31 is defined insideimaginary circle 102, andblades imaginary circle 102. - The basic structure of
propeller fan 10 can be also described or expressed as follows.Propeller fan 10 has a form in which the plurality ofblades - Then, a structure of
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment will be described below.Propeller fan 10 is prepared by integral molding of synchronous resin such as glass-fiber-filled AS (Acrylonitrile-Styrene) or the like. -
Propeller fan 10 is of a two-blade type, and hasblades blades 21” hereinafter. -
Blades propeller fan 10, i.e.,center axis 101.Blades center axis 101 toward the other. -
Blade 21 has afront edge 21 b located on a forward side in the rotational direction ofpropeller fan 10, arear edge 21 c located on the opposite side in the rotational direction, anouter edge 21 a located on the radially outermost side with respect tocenter axis 101, a leadingblade edge 21 d smoothly connectingfront edge 21 b andouter edge 21 a together, and a trailingblade edge 21 e smoothly connectingrear edge 21 c andouter edge 21 a together. Leadingblade edge 21 d has a crescent- or scythe-like sharp form. -
Blade 21 has ablade surface 26 that performs the blowing according to the rotation of propeller fan 10 (i.e., blowing the air from the intake side to the outlet side). -
Blade surface 26 is formed on each of the sides facing to the inlet side and the outlet side, respectively.Blade surface 26 is formed in a region surrounded byfront edge 21 b, leadingblade edge 21 d,outer edge 21 a, trailingblade edge 21 e andrear edge 21 c.Blade surface 26 is formed throughout the area of the region surrounded byfront edge 21 b, leadingblade edge 21 d,outer edge 21 a, trailingblade edge 21 e andrear edge 21 c. Each of blade surfaces 26 ofblades front edge 21 b towardrear edge 21 c. -
Blades connection portion 31 arrangedround center axis 101. -
Connection portion 31 has blade surfaces 36 on the sides facing to the intake side and the outlet side, respectively, and has a blade-like form.Blade surface 36 is formed continuously to each of blade surfaces 26 ofblades blades blade surface 36. In this embodiment,front edge 21 b ofblade 21A is opposed torear edge 21 c ofblade 21B in the direction of a line passing throughblades front edge 21 b ofblade 21B andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A are opposed to each other in the same direction. Therefore, the direction of inclination of the blade surface ofblade 21A and the direction of inclination of the blade surface ofblade 21B exhibit such a positional relationship that these directions are twisted with respect to each other withcenter axis 101 located therebetween. The inclination of the blade surface decreases as the position moves fromblade surface 26 of each ofblades blade surface 36 ofconnection portion 31, andblade surface 36 ofblade 21A is smoothly connected toblade surface 36 ofblade 21B on a line passing throughcenter axis 101. Thus,blades connection portion 31 form blade surfaces 26 andblade surface 36, respectively, which extend continuously to each other in a tangential fashion. - In
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment, theregion coupling blades region coupling blades - The base portions of front and
rear edges respective blades rear edges respective blades Connection portion 31 has such a form that the position changes from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion offront edge 21 b ofblade 21A toward the base portion ofrear edge 21 c ofblade 21B, and such that the position moves from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion offront edge 21 b ofblade 21B toward the base portion ofrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A. -
Connection portion 31 has such a form that the position changes from the portion continuing toblade surface 26 ofblade 21 extends from the intake side, in the blowing direction, to the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion offront edge 21 b ofblade 21A toward the base portion ofrear edge 21 c ofblade 21B, and the portion continuing toblade surface 26 ofblade 21 extends from the intake side, in the blowing direction, toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion offront edge 21 b ofblade 21B toward the base portion ofrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A.Connection portion 31 is configured to have a function of supplying the air flow from the intake side, in the blowing direction, ofpropeller fan 10 toward the outlet side. -
Blades connection portion 31 have thin forms, respectively, and are integral with each other. Thus,propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment has the two blades, each of which has an integral form as a whole and extends radially outward from the center ofcenter axis 101, andblades connection portion 31 therebetween.Propeller fan 10 has an integralform including blades region coupling blades -
Propeller fan 10 has aboss hub 41 as a rotation shaft.Boss hub 41 connectspropeller fan 10 to a drive source, i.e., an output shaft of an electric motor (not shown).Boss hub 41 has a circular cylindrical form, and is connected at a position overlappingcenter axis 101 toconnection portion 31.Boss hub 41 extends in a direction ofcenter axis 101 fromblade surface 36 on the intake side. Inpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment,boss hub 41 that is a member for rotationally drivingblades region coupling blades - The form of
boss hub 41 is not restricted to the cylindrical form, and can be appropriately changed according to the structure connected to the output shaft of the motor.Boss hub 41 may extend fromblade surface 36 on the outlet side, and also may extend from blade surfaces 36 on the intake and outlet sides. -
Connection portion 31 has a form extending radially outward from an outer peripheral surface ofboss hub 41. In other words, when viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101 ofpropeller fan 10,connection portion 31 is formed such that a minimum distance L1 fromcenter axis 101 to the outer edge ofconnection portion 31 on an imaginary line Z perpendicularly crossingcenter axis 101 is larger than a distance L2 fromcenter axis 101 to the outer edge ofboss hub 41 on imaginary line Z (see FIG. 2). - In an example of the preferable form of
propeller fan 10, a section ofpropeller fan 10 taken along imaginary plane that containscenter axis 101 and imaginary line Z inFIG. 2 has a substantially elliptical form, and a ratio of b/a is equal to 0.078 where “a” and “b” indicates a length in a circumferential direction (long axis) and a length in the axial direction (short axis), respectively. - When the resin molding is performed so that the ratio b/a between a and b falls within a range from 0.03 to 0.15, it is possible to provide the propeller fan that does not impair the molding property and the blowing performance, and does not have a problem in strength.
- When the ratio b/a is smaller than 0.03,
connection portion 31 has an excessively small resin thickness, resulting in a problem in strength. Further preferably, the ratio b/a is set to or above 0.046. - When the ratio b/a is larger than 0.150,
connection portion 31 has an excessively large thickness so that a problem such as molding sink occurs in molding property, and the propeller fan has an excessively large mass, which impairs the blowing performance. Further preferably, the ratio b/a is set to or below 0.089 -
FIG. 5 is a plan showing an example of the propeller fan inFIG. 1 . Referring toFIG. 5 ,propeller fan 10 has an outer diameter of 460 mm when viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 295 mm in diameter.FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 130 mm in diameter.FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a sectional form of the propeller fan inFIG. 5 taken in a position of 95 mm in diameter.FIG. 6 shows a section ofblade 21,FIG. 7 shows a section of a boundary portion betweenblade 21 andconnection portion 31, andFIG. 8 shows a section ofconnection portion 31. - Referring to
FIGS. 6 and 7 ,blade 21 has the blade-like form, and the section thereof in the circumferential direction extending between front andrear edges front edge 21 b orrear edge 21 c, and particularly has the largest thickness in the position shifted from the center of the blade towardfront edge 21 b. Referring toFIG. 8 ,connection portion 31 has substantially the same blade-like form asblade 21 described above. Thus,propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment has the section of the blade-like form in any section position betweenouter edge 21 a andcenter axis 101. - The description has been given on
propeller fan 10 that is integrally formed of the synthetic resin, but the material of the propeller fan according to the invention is not restricted to the resin. For example,propeller fan 10 may be formed by effecting twist working on a single metal plate, or may be formed of an integral thin member having a curved surface. In these cases,boss hub 41 that is independently formed may be joined to the rotation center ofpropeller fan 10. - Description will now be given on operations and effects implemented or offered by
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment. -
Propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment is provided withconnection portion 31 of a blade-likeform connecting blades - By increasing the area of the blade for the blowing, it is possible to increase the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed. Further, a major portion of the large boss hub that is present in and near the rotation center in the conventional structure is replaced with
connection portion 31 having the section of the blade-like form so that the mass of the propeller fan can be reduced. This reduces the load on the drive motor, and can reduce the electric power consumption at the constant air flow rate. - Further, the effects derived from the above operations and effects can be as follows:
- (1) Since the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed can be reduced, the noise can be reduced. (In recent years, there is a tendency, e.g., in the air conditioner, that the air flow rate is increased for improving the energy-saving properties. This results in a problem that the noises increase to impair the degree of comfort in housing conditions. Conversely,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can increase the air flow rate without increasing the noise.) - (2) Since the pressure-flow rate characteristics can be improved, the fan performance can be improved. (In recent years, there is a tendency, e.g., in the air conditioner, that the pressure loss increases as the performance of a heat exchanger is increased for improving the energy-saving properties. Since the air flow rate lowers as the pressure loss of the heat exchanger increases (i.e., the trade-off relationship), there is a problem that the effect by the increase in performance of the heat exchanger cannot be sufficiently achieved. Conversely,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can improve the pressure-flow rate characteristics, and therefore can suppress the lowering of the air flow rate in the heat exchanger causing a large pressure loss. Consequently, it is possible to achieve sufficiently the effect of increasing the performance of the heat exchanger.) - (3) The fan efficiency can be improved and the power consumption can be reduced. (In recent years, there is a tendency, e.g., in the air conditioner, that the air flow rate is increased for improving the energy-saving properties. This results in a problem that the power consumption of the motor increases. Conversely,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can suppress the increase in power consumption of the motor even when the air flow rate is increased. When the air flow rate is not increased, the power consumption of the motor can be reduced owing to the improvement of the efficiency.) - (4) Reduction in weight can reduce a material, and can further reduce the power consumption of the motor. (When the fan has a large weight, bearing loss of a motor shaft and the like increase, and additional power consumption is required. Conversely,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can significantly reduce the weight of the fan, and thereby the bearing loss of the motor shaft and the like can be reduced so that the power consumption of the motor can be reduced.) - For the reasons described above,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can implement the propeller fan that greatly contributes to the energy-saving properties and the resource-saving design in connection with the global environment conservation. - Then, description will be given on the practical examples that were implemented for confirming the foregoing operations and effects offered by
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 9 is a plan showing a propeller fan for comparison. Referring toFIG. 9 , apropeller fan 110 for comparison is provided at its rotation center with aboss hub 141 having an outer diameter of 130 mm, and is also provided with blades 121 (121A and 121B) extending radially outward fromboss hub 141. The shape and size ofblade 121 is substantially the same as those ofblade 21 inFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 10 is a graph showing a relationship between the rotation speed and the air flow rate of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. Referring toFIG. 10 , the air flow rates were measured at various rotation speeds, usingpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment inFIG. 5 andpropeller fan 110 for the comparison inFIG. 9 . As can be seen from the graph ofFIG. 10 , the air flow rate ofpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was larger than that ofpropeller fan 110 for the comparison in every rotation speed range. For example, when the rotation speed was 900 rpm,propeller fan 110 for the comparison exhibited the air flow rate of 44.49 m3/min, andpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment exhibited the air flow rate of 46.79 m3/min (equal to 105.2% of that of the comparison example). -
FIG. 11 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and the power consumption of the drive motor (i.e. motor for driving) according to the embodiment. Referring toFIG. 11 ,propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 5 andpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 were used, and the power consumption of each drive motor was measured at various air flow rates. As can be seen from the graph in the figure, the power consumption ofpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was smaller than that ofpropeller fan 110 for the comparison in every air flow range. For example, when the air flow rate was 40 m3/min, the power consumption ofpropeller fan 110 for the comparison was 49.8 W, andpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment was 46.2 W (equal to 107.8% of that of the comparison example). - It can be confirmed from the practical example described above that
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment can increase the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed, and can reduce the power consumption of the drive motor at the constant air flow rate. - Then, the description will be given on a mechanism of improving the performance of
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment. -
FIG. 12 shows the pressure-flow rate characteristics of the propeller fan according to the embodiment inFIG. 5 and the propeller fan for the comparison inFIG. 9 . Referring toFIG. 12 , the comparison was made betweenpropeller fan 10 of 460 mm in outer diameter according to the embodiment andpropeller fan 110 of 460 mm in outer diameter for the comparison, and particularly was made in connection with the pressure-flow rate characteristics (P: static pressure-Q: flow rate) at the rotation speed of 700 rpm. - As can be seen from the graph in the figure,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment improved the P-Q characteristics at the constant rotation speed, as compared withpropeller fan 110 for the comparison. Also, the power consumption of the drive motor at the constant air flow rate was reduced, and the motor efficiency was significantly improved. -
FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. Referring toFIGS. 13 to 15 , the mechanism of the propeller fan according to the embodiment will be specifically described below. - When
blades 21 of the fan are driven to rotate, the wind passes over blade surfaces 26. In this operation, the wind first meetsfront edge 21 b ofblade 21, then flows alongblade surface 26 and flows out beyondrear edge 21 c ofblade 21. - A phenomenon occurring near a center of the action of
blades 21 will now be discussed. On the propeller fan for the comparison (seeFIG. 13 ), the wind flows ontoblade surface 26 throughfront edge 21 b (S1 inFIG. 13 ) at the position where the base portion ofblade 21 is in contact withboss hub 141, Thereafter, it turns and is affected by the centrifugal force so that a flow line expands slightly outward as indicated by R1 inFIG. 13 beyond a concentric circle. A hatched portion (area A) inside line R1 cannot perform the work of the blower producing the wind. - Conversely, according to the propeller fan of the embodiment,
boss hub 41 is extremely small, and even a portion thereof near the center operates as the blade, in contrast to the propeller fan for the comparison. Therefore, the wind flows ontoblade surface 36 throughfront edge 21 b (S2 inFIG. 14 ) ofconnection portion 31 forming a boundary with respect to the base portion ofblade 21. Thereafter, the flow line slightly expands beyond the concentric circle as indicated by R2 inFIG. 14 . Similarly to the propeller fan for the comparison, the hatched portion (area B) inside the line R2 cannot perform the work of the blower producing the wind.FIG. 15 shows an area difference (A−B) between the regions of them where the fans cannot perform the work of the blower producing the wind. - It is well known in aerodynamics that a lift is proportional to an area. The propeller fan according to the embodiment can increase the lift by an amount corresponding to the above area difference (A−B). It is known that the wind is produced by a reaction force caused by the reaction of the lift, and the larger lift causes the larger reaction force, and increases the blowing performance.
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FIG. 16 is a plan showing the propeller fan according to a second embodiment of the invention.FIG. 16 corresponds toFIG. 3 relating to the first embodiment.FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the propeller fan inFIG. 16 viewed from the intake side.FIG. 18 is a cross section showing the propeller fan taken along line XVIII-XVIII inFIG. 17 . - Referring to
FIGS. 1 , 2, 16, 17 and 18, description will be given on a basic structure ofpropeller fan 10 according to the embodiment.Propeller fan 10 has the plurality ofblades connection portion 31 that hasblade surface 36 as a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation and connects the base portions ofblades propeller fan 10 is formed by coupling the plurality ofblades -
Propeller fan 10 further hasboss hub 41 serving as the rotation shaft that is arranged coaxially to the rotation center ofblades connection portion 31 and has anend surface 42 parallel to the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis ofblades propeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction of its rotation axis, minimum distance L1 from the rotation axis to the outer edge ofconnection portion 31 on imaginary line Z perpendicularly crossing the center axis is larger than distance L2 from the center axis to the outer edge ofboss hub 41 on imaginary line Z.Propeller fan 10 further has aflat surface portion 43 parallel to endsurface 42. Whenboss hub 41 is projected (i.e., image-projected) in the direction of the rotation axis ofblades flat surface portion 43 is larger than that ofboss hub 41. -
Propeller fan 10 rotates aroundcenter axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and thereby performs the blowing from the intake side inFIG. 1 to the outlet side. In the figure, whenpropeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101 andimaginary circle 102 is drawn toseparate blades center axis 101,connection portion 31 is defined insideimaginary circle 102, andblades imaginary circle 102. - Then, description will be given on the structure employed for stacking the plurality of
propeller fans 10 for storing or transporting.FIG. 19 is a plan showing a central portion of the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XIX inFIG. 18 . - Referring to
FIGS. 18 and 19 ,boss hub 41 hasend surface 42 on a portion extending in the direction ofcenter axis 101 fromconnection portion 31 on the intake side.End surface 42 extends parallel to the plane perpendicular to the direction ofcenter axis 101. In this embodiment, when the intake side ofpropeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101,end surface 42 has a circular outer shape, and has an outer diameter d1 with respect tocenter axis 101. -
Propeller fan 10 hasflat surface portion 43 providingflat surface 44.Flat surface portion 43 is located on the side remote from the intake side whereboss hub 41 is arranged, i.e., onconnection portion 31 on the outlet side.Flat surface 44 is formed as the end surface offlat surface portion 43, and extends parallel to endsurface 42 ofboss hub 41.Flat surface 44 is formed in a position protruding fromblade surface 36 ofconnection portion 31 in the direction ofcenter axis 101. In this embodiment, when the outlet side ofpropeller fan 10 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101,flat surface 44 has a circular outer form, and has an outer diameter d2 larger than outer diameter d1 with respect to the center defined bycenter axis 101.Flat surface 44 is formed coaxially to endsurface 42. - The embodiment has been described in connection with the case where
end surface 42 andflat surface 44 have the circular outer forms, respectively. This is not restrictive, and these may have polygonal forms or elliptic forms, respectively. -
FIG. 20 is a cross section showing a stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans inFIG. 18 . Referring toFIG. 20 , the plurality ofpropeller fans 10 are stacked in the height direction thereof (i.e., in the direction of center axis 101). In this case, the plurality ofpropeller fans 10 are stacked such that the inlet side and therefore the outlet side of eachpropeller fan 10 are directed in the vertically same directions as those of the others, respectively. The plurality of propeller fans are stacked such thatflat surface 44 ofupper propeller fan 10 is placed onend surface 42 oflower propeller fan 10. -
Propeller fan 10 according to the second embodiment of the invention thus configured can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment. - Additionally,
propeller fan 10 according to the embodiment hasboss hub 41 pf reduced sizes owing to provision of the blade-like connection portion 31. Sinceflat surface portion 43 is configured such thatflat surface 44 has a larger outer form thanend surface 42 formed onboss hub 41 of the reduced sizes, the plurality ofpropeller fans 10 can be stacked stably. - When the propeller fan (i.e.,
propeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 ) has the large boss hub from which the plurality of blades extends radially outward, the vertically neighboring boss hubs of the propeller fans can be combined so that the plurality of propeller fans can be stacked relatively easily. However, when the portion provided with the boss hub of the propeller fan is replaced with blade-like connection portion 31 for improving the blowing capacity of the fan,blade surface 36 ofconnection portion 31 formed at the rotation center causes another problem thatpropeller fans 10 cannot be stacked without difficulty. - Conversely, according to the embodiment,
flat surface portion 43 is located on the outlet side opposite to the intake side on whichboss hub 41 is located. Thereby,propeller fans 10 can be stacked throughboss hub 41 andflat surface portion 43. Consequently, the plurality ofpropeller fans 10 can be stably stacked together by a simple manner for storing or transporting. - This embodiment will be described below in connection with a modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans for storing or transporting as described in the second embodiment.
-
FIG. 21 is a cross section showing a first modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans.FIG. 22 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXII inFIG. 21 . - Referring to
FIGS. 21 and 22 , apropeller fan 48 in this modification includes aprotrusion 45 in addition to the structures inFIG. 18 .Protrusion 45 is arranged on the same side asflat surface portion 43, i.e., onconnection portion 31 on the outlet side.Protrusion 45 has an annular form coaxial to centeraxis 101, and protrudes in the direction ofcenter axis 101 fromflat surface 44. In this embodiment, when the outlet side ofpropeller fan 48 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101,protrusion 45 has the annular form having a circular section, and an inner diameter d3 thereof with respect to a center defined bycenter axis 101 is larger than outer diameter d1 ofboss hub 41. - The annular section of
protrusion 45 may be appropriately modified according to the form ofboss hub 41. -
FIG. 23 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans inFIG. 21 . According to the modification, as shown inFIG. 23 ,annular protrusion 45 ofupper propeller fan 48 is fitted aroundboss hub 41 oflower propeller fan 48 when the plurality ofpropeller fans 48 are stacked such thatflat surface 44 ofupper propeller fan 48 is placed onend surface 42 oflower propeller fan 48, as is done in the form shown inFIG. 20 . - According to the structure, the fitting of
boss hub 41 intoannular protrusion 45 can prevent horizontal shifting of the positions ofpropeller fans 48 so thatpropeller fans 48 can be stacked more stably. -
FIG. 24 is a cross section showing a second modification of the structure for stacking the plurality of propeller fans, and corresponds toFIG. 18 showing the first embodiment.FIG. 25 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXV inFIG. 24 . - Referring to
FIGS. 24 and 25 , apropeller fan 49 according to this modification has aprotrusion 46.Protrusion 46 protrudes from the same side asboss hub 41, i.e., fromconnection portion 31 on the intake side.Protrusion 46 has the annular form and is located on the outer periphery ofboss hub 41. When the intake side ofpropeller fan 49 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101,protrusion 46 is coaxial to centeraxis 101 and has an annular form having an outer diameter d4 larger than outer diameter dl ofboss hub 41.Protrusion 46 protrudes in the direction ofcenter axis 101 to a position higher thanboss hub 41. -
FIG. 26 is a cross section showing the stacked state of the plurality of propeller fans shown inFIG. 24 . Referring toFIG. 26 , the plurality ofpropeller fans 49 are stacked in the height direction thereof (i.e., in the direction of center axis 101). The plurality ofpropeller fans 49 are stacked such that the inlet side and therefore the outlet side of eachpropeller fan 49 are directed in the vertically same directions as those of the others, respectively. The plurality ofpropeller fans 49 are stacked such thatblade surface 36 on the outlet side ofupper propeller fan 49 is placed onannular protrusion 46 oflower propeller fan 49. - According to this structure, the plurality of
propeller fans 49 can be stably stacked throughannular protrusions 46. Also, a balance piece can be attached toannular protrusion 46 to eliminate an imbalance ofpropeller fan 49. -
Propeller fans - A propeller fan according to a fourth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as
propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated. -
FIG. 27 is a side view showing the propeller fan according to the fourth embodiment of the invention.FIG. 28 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the intake side) of an arrow XXVIII inFIG. 27 .FIG. 29 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction (from the outlet side) of an arrow XXIX inFIG. 27 .FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the propeller fan inFIG. 27 viewed from the intake side. - Referring to
FIGS. 27 to 30 , description will be given on the basic structure of apropeller fan 50 according to the embodiment.Propeller fan 50 has the plurality of blades 21 (21A, 21B and 21C) that are circumferentially spaced from each other for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and also hasconnection portion 31 that hasblade surface 36 serving as the blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connects the base portions ofblades blades 21 together. -
Propeller fan 50 rotates aroundcenter axis 101 that is an imaginary axis, and thereby performs the blowing from the intake side to the outlet side inFIG. 16 . In the figure, whenpropeller fan 50 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101 and suchimaginary circle 102 is drawn that separatesblades center axis 101,connection portion 31 is defined insideimaginary circle 102 andblades imaginary circle 102. When a propeller fan has four ormore blades 21,imaginary circle 102 is drawn similarly topropeller fan 50. -
Propeller fan 50 is a three-bladefan having blades Blades center axis 101.Blades -
Blades connection portion 31 arranged aroundcenter axis 101. Inpropeller fan 50 according to the embodiment, the three blades that are formed of a single member and extend radially outward fromcenter axis 101 are integrally formed ofblades connection portion 31. -
Propeller fan 50 hasboss hub 41 as the center shaft.Connection portion 31 extends radially outward from the outer peripheral surface ofboss hub 41. In other words, whenpropeller fan 50 is viewed in the direction ofcenter axis 101,connection portion 31 is formed such that minimum length L1 ofconnection portion 31 measured fromcenter axis 101 along imaginary line Z passing throughcenter axis 101 is longer than length L2 ofboss hub 41 measured fromcenter axis 101 along imaginary line Z (seeFIG. 28 ). -
Propeller fan 50 according to the fourth embodiment of the invention having the above structure can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment. - The propeller fan according to the invention may have four or more blades.
- A propeller fan according to a fifth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as
propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated. -
FIG. 31 is a side view showing the propeller fan of the fifth embodiment of the invention.FIG. 32 is a plan showing the propeller fan viewed in a direction of an arrow XXXII inFIG. 31 . - Referring to
FIGS. 31 and 32 ,blade surface 36 ofconnection portion 31 in apropeller fan 52 according to the embodiment is formed of ablade surface 36M that is a first portion continuously extending fromblade surface 26 ofblade 21A and ablade surface 36N that is a second portion continuously extending fromblade surface 26 ofblade 21B. -
Connection portion 31 further has aflat surface 37 that is a surface of a not-blade-surface form.Flat surface 37 has a form that does not contribute to the blowing bypropeller fan 52, and is flat in this embodiment.Flat surface 37 is formed between blade surfaces 36M and 36N.Flat surface 37 is arranged coaxially to centeraxis 101, and extends radially outward fromboss hub 41. In a direction of a line connectingblade surfaces flat surface 37 has a larger width thanboss hub 41. -
FIG. 33 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan inFIGS. 31 and 32 .FIG. 33 corresponds toFIG. 32 . Referring toFIG. 33 , apropeller fan 53 according to this modification hasflat surface 37 of which width in the direction of the line connecting between blade surfaces 36M and 36N is smaller than that ofboss hub 41. - In the case where
connection portion 31 hasflat surface 37,connection portion 31 may haveblade surface 36 contributing to the blowing, whereby the blowing performance can likewise be improved. As is done in the modification shown inFIG. 33 , the width offlat surface 37 can be minimized as far as possible so that the areas of blade surfaces 36M and 36N can be increased, and the blowing performance can be effectively improved. -
Propeller fans - A propeller fan of a sixth embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as
propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated. -
FIG. 34 is a plan showing a propeller fan according to the sixth embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 34 , apropeller fan 56 according to the embodiment hasconcave portions 22 formed atrear edges 21 c ofblades concave portion 22 is hollowed fromrear edge 21 c ofblade 21 towardfront edge 21 b, i.e., in a direction opposite to the rotational direction of theblades 21.Concave portion 22 is formed to have trailingblade edge 21 e of a crescent- or scythe-like form. - In this embodiment, X indicates a length of the line extending between the opposite ends of
concave portion 22 and, when the opposite ends are not clear, X indicates a length of a common tangential line with respect to the opposite ends. Length X is equal to or larger than 0.33 times outer diameter D of the blades (0.33≦X/D), and a length Y from the deepest position of the concave portion to the above line extending between the opposite ends of the concave portion, or to the above tangential line is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times outer diameter D of the blades (Y/D≦0.068). -
FIG. 35 is a graph indicating a relationship between the rotation speed of the propeller fan and the air flow rate in the sixth embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 35 , propeller fan 56 (outer diameter D=460 mm, X/D=0.37 and Y/D=0.068) according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 34 andpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 were used to measure the air flow rates at various rotation speeds. -
FIG. 36 is a graph showing a relationship between the air flow rate of the propeller fan and the power consumption of the drive motor according to the sixth embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 36 , propeller fan 56 (outer diameter D=460 mm, X/D=0.37 and Y/D=0.068) according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 34 andpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 were used to measure the power consumption of the drive motor at various rotation speeds. - Referring to
FIGS. 35 and 36 , the provision ofconcave portions 22 reduces the area of the blades to reduce efficiently a drag or resistance. Since the area of blades decreases, the air flow rate at a constant rotation speed decreases, but the drag efficiently decreases so that the power consumption can be reduced when the air flow rate is constant. -
FIG. 37 illustrates, for comparison, the air flow rates exhibited corresponding to the same rotation speed.FIG. 37 shows values of the air flow rates attained when the propeller fans (outer diameter D=460 mm) having different values of X/D and Y/D are used and the rotation speed is 900 rpm. A value under each flow rate indicates a ratio of the air flow rate with respect to the air flow rate (44.49 m3/min) ofpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 38 illustrates, for comparison, the power consumptions of the drive motors exhibited corresponding to the same air flow rate.FIG. 38 shows values of the power consumptions of the drive motor attained when the propeller fans (outer diameter D=460 mm) having different values of X/D and Y/D are used and the air flow rate is 40 m3/min. A value under each power consumption indicates a ratio of the power consumption with respect to the power consumption (49.8 W) exhibited bypropeller fan 110 for the comparison inFIG. 9 . - Referring to
FIGS. 37 and 38 , as Y/D changes while X/D is constant, the air flow rate at the constant rotation speed increases in accordance with decreasing of Y/D, and the power consumption at the constant rotation speed is substantially constant. By employingconcave portion 22 satisfying the relationship of (Y/D≦0.068), it is possible to reduce more effectively the decreasing ratio of the air flow rate with respect to the air flow rate ofpropeller fan 110 for comparison shown inFIG. 9 . - As X/D changes while Y/D is substantially constant, the power consumption at the constant air flow rate decreases according to increase in X/D. By employing
concave portion 22 satisfying the relationship of (0.33≦X/D), it is possible to increase more effectively the relative efficiency with respect to the power consumption ofpropeller fan 110 for comparison shown inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 39 is a graph illustrating, for comparison, the power consumption of the drive motor exhibited when X/D changes, Y/D is constant (=0.068) and the air flow rate is constant. The ordinate in the figure gives a relative efficiency that is a ratio of the power consumption attained bypropeller fan 56 inFIG. 34 with respect to that ofpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 when the air flow rate is 40 m3/min. -
FIG. 40 is a graph illustrating, for comparison, the air flow rate exhibited when Y/D changes, X/D is constant (=0.33) and the rotation speed is constant. The ordinate in the figure gives a relative ratio of the air flow rate that is attained bypropeller fan 56 inFIG. 34 with respect to that ofpropeller fan 110 for comparison inFIG. 9 when the rotation speed is 900 rpm. - In
propeller fan 56 shown inFIG. 34 , sinceconcave portion 22 is formed atrear edge 21 c ofblade 21, the value of X/D does not exceed 0.5. Referring toFIG. 39 ,concave portion 22 is more preferably formed to satisfy the relationship of (0.37≦X/D<0.5). The case where the value of Y/D is zero corresponds topropeller fan 10 of the first embodiment. Referring toFIG. 40 ,concave portion 22 is more preferably formed to satisfy the relationship of (0<Y/D≦0.043). - The mechanism of the operations and effects achieved by
concave portion 22 will be described below. - When a resistant object causing a large pressure loss such as a heat exchanger is present in an air flow path, the propeller fan is likely to cause such a phenomenon that a flow from a central portion of the fan, i.e., a portion of a low peripheral speed separates from the blade surface.
- When the pressure loss is extremely large and may exceed the capacity of the fan, the separation occurs throughout the blade surfaces of the fan. When the pressure loss is within the capacity of the fan, the separation occurs on a part (a region near the center) of the blade surfaces of the fan.
- When the complete separation occurs in the hatched portion in
FIG. 15 (i.e., the region where the propeller fan according to the embodiment is superior to the propeller fan for the comparison), the performance of the propeller fan according to the embodiment lowers similarly to the propeller fan for the comparison. When there is a method of effectively suppressing this separation, the invention can exhibit its effect to the maximum extent. - Usually, the pressure loss is present in the air flow path, and the portion near the center of the blades is in such a situation that the separation is likely to occur. It can be assumed that the separation partially occurs in the hatched region in
FIG. 15 of the propeller fan according to the embodiment. The following structure is employed for completely preventing the separation in the hatched portion and effectively deriving the effect of the invention. - Thus, a vortex (blade tip vortex) occurring on leading
blade edge 21 d is guided to this hatched portion to refill it with kinetic energy. By formingconcave portion 22 atrear edge 21 c, the tip vortex can be fixed in this position so that the region of the hatched portion inFIG. 15 can always be refilled with the kinetic energy. Consequently, the separation in the region of the hatched portion inFIG. 15 is suppressed, and the effect of the invention can be efficiently derived. -
FIG. 41 is a plan showing a modification of the propeller fan inFIG. 34 . In the embodiment shown inFIG. 41 , threeblades rear edges 21 c withconcave portions 22, respectively.Concave portion 22 has substantially the same form asconcave portion 22 formed inpropeller fan 56 having the two blades. Whenconcave portions 22 are formed in the propeller fan having the three blades, it is possible to reduce the power consumption at the constant air flow rate, while reducing the area of the blades to reduce efficiently the drag. -
Propeller fan 56 thus structured according to the sixth embodiment of the invention can achieve substantially the same effect as that of the first embodiment. - The propeller fan according to a seventh embodiment of the invention basically and substantially has the same structure as
propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. Description of the same structures is not repeated. -
FIG. 42 is a plan showing the propeller fan according to the seventh embodiment of the invention. Referring toFIG. 42 , apropeller fan 57 according to the embodiment hasconvex portions 58, i.e., first convex portions formed atfront edges 21 b ofblades Convex portion 58 has a round form protruding toward the suction surface side (intake side) ofblade surface 21. When viewed from the suction surface side,convex portion 58 has a curved surface rising from the surface ofblade surface 26.Convex portion 58 is formed near the periphery ofconnection portion 31. - According to the structure described above,
convex portions 58 form avortex 104 according to the rotation ofblades 21, andvortex 104 thus formed moves onblade surfaces vortex 104 prevents the separation or peeling of the air flow that occurs in aregion 103 onblade surfaces FIG. 15 . Consequently, the performance and efficiency of the fan are improved, and the noises due to the separation can be reduced. The effect of suppressing the separation onblade surfaces - In this embodiment, a
convex portion 59 expanding oppositely to the rotational direction ofblades 21 is formed as a second convex portion in a coupling portion betweenconnection portion 31 and each ofrear edges 21 c ofrespective blades Convex portion 59 formed atrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A protrudes towardfront edge 21 b ofblade 21B, andconvex portion 59 formed atrear edge 21 c ofblade 21B protrudes towardfront edge 21 b ofblade 21A. - In this embodiment, a
convex portion 60 expanding oppositely to the rotational direction ofblades 21 is formed as a third convex portion in a coupling portion between the outer peripheral portion (outer edge 21 a) of eachblade 21 andrear edge 21 c of each ofblades Convex portion 60 formed at trailingblade edge 21 e ofblade 21A protrudes toward leadingblade edge 21 d ofblade 21B, andconvex portion 60 formed at trailingblade edge 21 e ofblade 21B protrudes toward leadingblade edge 21 d ofblade 21A. - The above structure increases a chord length of the portion provided with
convex portions convex portion 59 can achieve a larger blowing capacity in spite of the fact that the radius of rotation is small. The fan has a large blowing capacity in a position where the radius of rotation is large. The chord of the region where the largest blowing capacity is obtained is extended so that the air flow rate of the fan at the constant rotation speed can be increased, and the larger blowing capacity can be obtained. - The embodiment has been described in connection with
propeller fan 57 provided withconvex portions 58 to 60. However, the convex portion(s) may be formed of one or an appropriate combination ofconvex portions 58 to 60. -
Propeller fan 57 thus structured according to the seventh embodiment of the invention can achieve substantially the same effect as the first embodiment. - The structures of the various propeller fans have been described as the first to seventh embodiments. However, these are not restrictive, and the structures of the propeller fans described in connection with the first to seventh embodiment can be appropriately combined to configure a new propeller fan.
- This embodiment will now be described in connection with a structure of molding dies for
molding propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment from resin. -
FIG. 43 is a cross section showing the molding dies used for producing the propeller fan inFIG. 1 . Referring toFIG. 43 , molding dies 61 have astationary die 62 and amovable die 63. Stationary and movable dies 62 and 63 define a cavity having substantially the same shapes aspropeller fan 10 for injecting flowable resin thereinto. - Molding die 61 may be provided with a heater (not shown) for increasing the flowability of the resin injected into the cavity. Such arrangement of the heater is particularly effective when synthetic resin having an increased strength such as glass-filled AS resin is used.
- Molding die 61 shown in
FIG. 43 is employed on the assumption that stationary die 62 forms a pressure surface ofpropeller fan 10, and movable die 63 forms a suction surface. However, stationary die 62 may form the suction surface ofpropeller fan 10, and movable die 63 may form the pressure surface. - The propeller fan is made of metal, and is integrally formed by draw forming of press working. A thick metal plate cannot be used for such drawing without difficulty, and increases a mass or weight so that a thin metal plate is generally used. In this case, a large propeller fan cannot have a sufficient strength (rigidity) without difficulty. Also, a part that is formed of a metal plate thicker than the blade portion and is called “spider” may be used for fixing the blade portion to the rotation axis. However, this results in a problem that the mass is large, a fan balance is impaired. In general, the metal plate used for it is thin and has a constant thickness, which results in a problem that the blade portion cannot have a blade-like sectional form.
- Conversely, the above problems can be collectively overcome by using the resin for forming
propeller fan 10. -
FIG. 44 is a plan showing an example of positions where gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with two blades of the embodiment.FIG. 45 is a plan showing an example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing a propeller fan with three blades according to the embodiment. - Referring to
FIGS. 44 and 45 , molding dies 61 havegates 66 for supplying or injecting the resin into the cavity defined by stationary and movable dies 62 and 63 inFIG. 43 . Preferably,gates 66 are formed inconnection portion 31 and are located in positions corresponding to boundaries each defined between front andrear edge blades 21. In the case of the two-blade fan, these are formed in the boundaries betweenfront edge 21 b ofblade 21A andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21B, and betweenfront edge 21 b ofblade 21B andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A, respectively, In the case of the three-blade fan, these are formed in the boundaries betweenfront edge 21 b ofblade 21A andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21C, betweenfront edge 21 b ofblade 21C andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21B, and betweenfront edge 21 b ofblade 21B andrear edge 21 c ofblade 21A, respectively. -
FIGS. 46 and 47 show comparison examples of the propeller fans that have the gates in positions other than those shown inFIGS. 44 and 45 , respectively. - Referring to
FIGS. 46 and 47 , whengate 66 is located in the position shown inFIG. 46 or 47 other than the foregoing positions, a weld line 67 (where the flows of flowable resin joined together in the dies so that a crack is liable to occur due to a low strength) may occur in the boundary betweenfront edge 21 b of eachblade 21 andrear edge 21 c of the neighboringblade 21. In the propeller fan according to the embodiment, stress concentration occurs in the boundary betweenfront edge 21 b of eachblade 21 andrear edge 21 c of neighboringrear edge 21 c so that a crack is liable to occur alongweld line 67, and the breaking strength of the fan is remarkably low. - Referring to
FIGS. 44 and 45 , however,gates 66 are formed inconnection portion 31 and particularly in the positions that correspond to the respective boundaries each defined between front andrear edges weld line 67 can be produced in the position that does not significantly lower the breaking strength of the fan as shown in the figures. Thus, the lowering of the breaking strength of the fan can be prevented. -
FIG. 48 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the two-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment.FIG. 49 is a plan showing another example of the positions where the gates are located in the molding die for producing the three-blade propeller fan according to the embodiment. - Referring to
FIGS. 48 and 49 ,gates 66 are preferably located inconnection portion 31 continuing to the base portions ofblades 21, and particularly in the positions corresponding to the vicinities of thefront edges 21 b, i.e., in the positions that are circumferentially closer tofront edges 21 b ofblades 21 thanrear edges 21 c of the same blades, respectively. -
FIGS. 50 and 51 show, as examples for comparison, propeller fans provided with gates in positions other than those shown inFIGS. 48 and 49 . - Referring to
FIGS. 50 and 51 , whengates 66 are located, e.g., in the illustrated positions shifted from the foregoing positions,weld line 67 may occur in the positions onconnection portion 31 continuing to the base portion ofblades 21, and particularly in the positions nearfront edges 21 b. In the propeller fan according to the embodiment, since the stress concentration occurs in the positions onconnection portion 31 continuing to the base portions ofblades 21, and particularly in the positions nearfront edge 21 b, the crack is liable to occur alongweld line 67, and the breaking strength of the fan remarkably lowers. - Referring to
FIGS. 48 and 49 , however,gates 66 are arranged in the positions onconnection portion 31 continuing to the base portions ofblades 21, and particularly in the positions nearfront edge 21 b, and this structure can formweld line 67 in the illustrated position that does not significantly lower the breaking strength of the fan. Consequently, the lowering of the breaking strength of the fan can be prevented. - Then, description will be given on an outdoor unit of an air conditioner as an example of a fluid feeder having
propeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment. -
FIG. 52 shows an outdoor unit of an air conditioner with the propeller fan inFIG. 1 . Referring toFIG. 52 , anoutdoor unit 75 of the air conditioner includes ablower 73 havingpropeller fan 10 according to the first embodiment and adrive motor 72.Blower 73 feeds a fluid.Outdoor unit 75 has anoutdoor heat exchanger 74, and performs efficient heat exchange, usingblower 73.Blower 73 is arranged inoutdoor unit 75 by amotor angle 76. - In this structure,
outdoor unit 75 haspropeller fan 10 already described in connection with the first embodiment, and therefore can suppress generation of noises to attain low operation noises. - Further,
propeller fan 10 improves the air flow efficiency so that the energy consumption ofoutdoor unit 75 can be low. Similar effect can be achieved by using the propeller fan already described in connection with one of the second to seventh embodiments. - In this embodiment, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner has been described as an example of the fluid feeder. However, substantially the same effect can be achieved by applying the propeller fan of the invention to various devices for feeding the fluid such as an air purifier, a humidifier, an electric fan, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
- Technical ideas of the propeller fan according to the invention can be summarized as follows.
- The invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that base portions of the plurality of blades are continuously coupled together.
- Also, the invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, and at least a part of the base portions of the blades is not continuously connected to the convex portion.
- Further, the invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and is characterized in that the minimum length of the convex portion from the rotation center is smaller than the minimum length of the base portions of the blades from the rotation center. According to this structure, the convex portion is small so that the blades have a large area and the propeller fan has a small mass. Since the blades have the large area, the blades can be effectively used even in the rotation-central portion that is conventionally a dead angle region, and the air flow rate can be increased when the rotation speed is constant. Since the propeller fan has a small mass, this reduces a load on the motor, and can reduce the power consumption at the constant air flow rate.
- Further, according to the invention, the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the propeller fan includes a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction, a rear edge located on the opposite side in the rotational direction and a peripheral portion extending in a circumferential direction between a tip end portion of the front edge and a tip end portion of the rear edge, and the base portion of the front edge of each of blades and the base portion of the rear edge of the neighboring blade match with each other and are continuously coupled together.
- Further, according to the invention, the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the front edge of each of the plurality of blades is coupled in a direction from the intake side to the outlet side to the rear edge of the neighboring blade.
- Further, according to the invention, the propeller fan described above is characterized in that the rear edge has a concave portion (recessed portion) extending toward the front edge, line between the opposite ends of the concave portion, or a common tangential line with respect to the opposite ends that are nor clear has a length equal to or larger than 0.33 times the outer diameter of the fan, and a length from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or from the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of the fan. This structure reduces the area of the blades to reduce effectively a drag. Since the area of the blades decreases, the air flow rate decreases when the rotation speed is constant, but the drag effectively decreases so that the power consumption can be reduced when the air flow rate is constant. It is assumed that X (the width of the concave portion) indicates the length of the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or the length of the above tangential line, and Y (depth of the concave portion) indicates the length from the line between the opposite ends of the concave portion or from the above tangential line to the deepest position of the concave portion. When Y changes while X is substantially constant, the ratio of the air flow rate with respect to a constant rotation speed decreases, and the ratio of input with respect to a constant air flow rate is substantially constant. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce Y. When X changes while Y is substantially constant, the ratio of the air flow rate with respect to a constant rotation speed decreases, and the ratio of input with respect to a constant air flow rate decreases. Therefore, it is desired to decrease X when the air flow rate with respect to a constant rotation speed is to be increased, and to increase X when the air flow rate with respect to a constant rotation speed is to be reduced.
- Further, according to the invention, the propeller fan described above is characterized in that it is molded from resin. This structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal. Further, this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes. Since this structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal, the blowing performance can be improved. Since this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes, the load on the motor can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
- Further, the invention is a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan described above.
- Further, the invention is a molding die for molding the propeller fan described above from resin.
- The present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, and a rotation center portion on the outlet side is provided with a flat surface portion larger than a circumferential width of the convex portion on the intake side.
- This structure can improve the blowing performance of the propeller fan, and allows axial stacking (i.e., stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans by a very simple manner for storing or transporting them.
- Further, the present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, a rotation center portion on the outlet side is provided with an annular protrusion, and a circumferential width of an inner side of the annular protrusion is equal to or larger than a circumferential width of the outer side of the convex portion on the intake side.
- This structure can improve the blowing performance of the propeller fan. Also, horizontal shifting or deviation can be prevented so that this structure allows axial and stable stacking (i.e., stable stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans for storing or transporting them. Further, a balance piece may be attached to the annular protrusion for eliminating imbalance of the propeller fan.
- Further, the present invention is a propeller fan that has a plurality of blades for blowing air by rotation, and has a connection portion continuously coupling base portions of the plurality of blades, and is characterized in that the propeller fan has a convex portion including a rotation shaft located coaxially to a rotation center of the blades and protruding toward an inlet side and/or an outlet side, a circumferential width of the base portion of the blade is smaller than a circumferential width of the convex portion, and an annular protrusion is arranged on a radially outer side of the convex portion on the intake side.
- When the annular protrusion on the intake side has an axial height larger than a height of the convex portion, the above structure improves the blowing performance of the propeller fan, and allows stacking (i.e., stacking in the direction of height) of the propeller fans for storing or transporting them. Further, when the annular protrusion on the intake side has an axial height smaller than a height of the convex portion, a balance piece may be attached to the annular protrusion for eliminating imbalance of the propeller fan.
- Further, according to the invention, the propeller fan described above is characterized in that it is molded from resin. This structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal. Further, this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes. Since this structure can provide the blade portion having a section of a blade-like form in contrast to the case where it is made of metal, the blowing performance can be improved. Since this structure can reduce a mass of the propeller fan of large sizes, the load on the motor can be reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.
- Further, the invention is a fluid feeder provided with the propeller fan described above.
- Further, the invention is a molding die for molding the propeller fan described above from resin.
- Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being interpreted by the terms of the appended claims.
- The present invention is primarily applied to a fluid feeder such as an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, an air purifier, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, a fan heater, a cooling device and a ventilating device.
Claims (37)
1. A propeller fan, wherein
a plurality of blades for blowing are coupled together with a space kept in a rotational direction therebetween, and
a coupled region has a form for performing the blowing according to rotation.
2. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
said coupled region has a blade-surface-like form for performing the blowing according to the rotation.
3. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
a member for performing rotational driving around said coupled region is integrally arranged.
4. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
said plurality of blades and the coupled region are integrally molded.
5. A propeller fan comprising:
a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation; and
a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of said plurality of neighboring blades.
6. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said connection portion extends radially outward from a rotation shaft for driving and rotating the propeller fan.
7. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said connection portion forms said blade-surface-like surface.
8. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said plurality of blades and said connection portion form a blade surface having an integral and continuously smooth form.
9. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of said blades and protruding from said connection portion toward at least one of the intake side and the outlet side.
10. The propeller fan according to claim 9 , wherein
when the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of said connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis is longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of said rotation shaft on said line.
11. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side in the rotational direction, and
a base portion of said front edge of a first blade included among said plurality of blades is connected to a base portion of said rear edge of a second blade neighboring to said first blade.
12. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
said connection portion extends from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of said front edge toward the base portion of said rear edge.
13. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
said connection portion continues to the blade surface of said blade and extends in a blowing direction from the intake side toward the outlet side as the position moves from the base portion of said front edge toward the base portion of said rear edge.
14. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
said connection portion is configured to have a function of blowing air in the blowing direction of the propeller fan from the intake side to the outlet side.
15. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
said front edge is provided with a first convex portion protruding toward a suction surface side of the blade.
16. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
a coupling portion between said rear edge and said connection portion is provided with a second convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of said blade.
17. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
a coupling portion between said rear edge and an outer peripheral portion of said blade is provided with a third convex portion protruding oppositely to the rotational direction of said blade.
18. The propeller fan according to claim 11 , wherein
said rear edge is provided with a concave portion hollowed in the rotational direction of said blade.
19. The propeller fan according to claim 18 , wherein
a length X of a line between opposite ends of said concave portion or a common tangential line with respect to unclear opposite ends of said concave portion is equal to or larger than 0.33 times an outer diameter of said blades, and
a length Y from the line between the opposite ends of said concave portion or said tangential line to the deepest position of said concave portion is equal to or smaller than 0.068 times the outer diameter of said blades.
20. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said plurality of blades and said connection portion have a thin-thickness form, and are formed integrally with each other.
21. The propeller fan according to claim 5 , wherein
said blade-surface-like surface is formed continuously to the blade surface of said blade.
22. The propeller fan according to claim 21 , wherein
a blade surface of a first blade among said plurality of blades and a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to said first blade are formed to continue to each other through said blade-surface-like surface.
23. The propeller fan according to one claim 21 , wherein
said blade-surface-like surface includes a first portion continuing from a blade surface of a first blade among said plurality of blades, and a second portion continuing from a blade surface of a second blade neighboring to said first blade, and
said connection portion further has a surface of a not-blade-surface form formed between said first and second portions and arranged coaxially to the rotation center of said blades.
24. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
said propeller fan is formed by twisting a single plate-like member.
25. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
said propeller fan is made of a thin integral member having a curved surface.
26. The propeller fan according to claim 1 , wherein
said propeller fan is molded from resin.
27. A fluid feeder comprising the propeller fan according to claim 1 .
28. A molding die used for molding the propeller fan according to claim 1 from resin.
29. The molding die according to claim 28 , comprising:
a gate for supplying flowable resin, wherein
said blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction and a rear edge located on the opposite side, and
said gate is formed in said connection portion or said coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a boundary between said front edge of the first blade among said plurality of blades and said rear edge of the second blade neighboring to said first blade.
30. The molding die according to claim 28 , comprising:
a gate for supplying flowable resin, wherein
said blade has a front edge located on a forward side in the rotational direction, and
said gate is formed in said connection portion continuing to the base portion of said blade or said coupled region, and is located in a position corresponding to a vicinity of said front edge.
31. A propeller fan comprising:
a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation;
a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades;
a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of said blades, protruding from the intake side of said connection portion, and having an end surface parallel to a plane perpendicular to a direction of a rotation axis of said blades,
a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of said connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis being longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of said rotation shaft on said line, when the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis; and
a flat surface portion arranged on the outlet side of said connection portion, having an outer form larger than an outer form of said rotation shaft when projected in a direction of the rotation axis of said blades, and having a flat surface parallel to said end surface.
32. The propeller fan according to claim 31 , further comprising:
an annular protrusion protruding from the outlet side of said connection portion, and arranged coaxially to a rotation center of said blades, wherein
said annular protrusion has an inner form larger than the outer form of said rotation shaft when projected in the direction of the rotation axis of said blades.
33. A propeller fan comprising:
a plurality of blades circumferentially spaced from each other for performing blowing according to rotation;
a connection portion having a blade-surface-like surface for performing the blowing according to the rotation, and connecting base portions of the plurality of neighboring blades;
a rotation shaft arranged coaxially to a rotation center of said blades, and protruding from the intake side of said connection portion,
a minimum distance from the rotation axis to an outer periphery of said connection portion on a line perpendicularly crossing the rotation axis being longer than a distance from the rotation axis to the outer periphery of said rotation shaft on said line, when the propeller fan is viewed in the direction of the rotation axis; and
an annular protrusion arranged on the intake side of said connection portion, arranged radially outside said rotation shaft and protruding to a position higher than said rotation shaft in the direction of the rotation axis of said blades.
34. The propeller fan according to claim 31 , wherein
a blade surface of a first blade among said plurality of blades continues to a second blade surface of a second blade neighboring to said first blade through said blade-surface-like surface.
35. The propeller fan according to claim 31 , wherein
said propeller fan is molded from resin.
36. A fluid feeder comprising the propeller fan according to claim 31 .
37. A molding die used for molding the propeller fan according to claim 31 from resin.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2008-272314 | 2008-10-22 | ||
JP2008-272354 | 2008-10-22 | ||
JP2008272314A JP4388992B1 (en) | 2008-10-22 | 2008-10-22 | Propeller fan, fluid feeder and mold |
JP2008272354A JP4388993B1 (en) | 2008-10-22 | 2008-10-22 | Propeller fan, fluid feeder and mold |
PCT/JP2008/070759 WO2010047001A1 (en) | 2008-10-22 | 2008-11-14 | Propeller fan, fluid feeder and mold |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110200445A1 true US20110200445A1 (en) | 2011-08-18 |
Family
ID=42119061
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/125,449 Abandoned US20110200445A1 (en) | 2008-10-22 | 2008-11-14 | Propeller fan, fluid feeder and molding die |
Country Status (8)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110200445A1 (en) |
EP (3) | EP2351935A4 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101321604B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102197228B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2008363120B2 (en) |
EG (1) | EG26990A (en) |
MY (2) | MY152199A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010047001A1 (en) |
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US20130108461A1 (en) * | 2010-07-15 | 2013-05-02 | Fujitsu General Limited | Propeller fan and manufacturing method thereof |
US20160025101A1 (en) * | 2013-04-04 | 2016-01-28 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Propeller fan, blower device, and outdoor equipment |
CN106996393A (en) * | 2016-01-22 | 2017-08-01 | 日本斯频德制造株式会社 | Possesses the cooling tower of axial fan |
US20170369138A1 (en) * | 2016-06-24 | 2017-12-28 | Charles S. McKinny, JR. | Propeller Assembly |
US20180238343A1 (en) * | 2015-09-08 | 2018-08-23 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Propeller fan, propeller fan device, and air conditioner outdoor unit |
US20180335055A1 (en) * | 2017-05-12 | 2018-11-22 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Blower and air conditioning apparatus having the same |
US20190127035A1 (en) * | 2017-11-02 | 2019-05-02 | Charles S. McKinny, JR. | Propeller Assembly |
US10527058B2 (en) | 2016-09-21 | 2020-01-07 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Propeller fan and air conditioner having the same |
US11187238B2 (en) | 2017-08-09 | 2021-11-30 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Propeller fan, air-sending device, and refrigeration cycle apparatus |
US20220003242A1 (en) * | 2018-11-22 | 2022-01-06 | Gd Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd. | Axial-flow impeller and air-conditioner having the same |
US11313377B2 (en) | 2018-11-30 | 2022-04-26 | Fujitsu General Limited | Propeller fan |
US11536288B2 (en) | 2018-03-22 | 2022-12-27 | Fujitsu General Limited | Propeller fan |
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CN107178512A (en) * | 2017-07-27 | 2017-09-19 | 张兴军 | Propeller type fan and mold for forming |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2383473A3 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
EP2381113B1 (en) | 2019-01-02 |
WO2010047001A1 (en) | 2010-04-29 |
CN102197228B (en) | 2014-05-14 |
EP2351935A1 (en) | 2011-08-03 |
CN102197228A (en) | 2011-09-21 |
MY152199A (en) | 2014-08-29 |
EP2383473B1 (en) | 2020-08-05 |
KR101321604B1 (en) | 2013-10-22 |
AU2008363120B2 (en) | 2012-08-16 |
EP2381113A3 (en) | 2017-06-21 |
MY168004A (en) | 2018-10-10 |
EP2383473A2 (en) | 2011-11-02 |
AU2008363120A1 (en) | 2010-04-29 |
EP2381113A2 (en) | 2011-10-26 |
KR20110067168A (en) | 2011-06-21 |
EG26990A (en) | 2015-03-09 |
EP2351935A4 (en) | 2017-05-03 |
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