WO2023163582A1

WO2023163582A1 - A mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier

Info

Publication number: WO2023163582A1
Application number: PCT/MY2023/050007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kar Kin LOOI; Yung Lian TANG; Jia Yap TEH
Original assignee: Daikin Research & Development Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Priority date: 2022-02-22
Filing date: 2023-02-09
Publication date: 2023-08-31
Also published as: TW202348904A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mounting structure (100) for mounting a motor (200) for an air purifier. The mounting structure (100) comprises a housing (120) having a surrounding wall (122) defining an interior space with at least an open top end for receiving the motor (200) that has a shaft and an electrical connection wire, and at least a pair of motor shaft receiving portions 0 (123) at the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) for receiving the shaft of the motor (200). The housing (120) further comprises a base having an inclined guide surface (121), and at least an opening (124) at the surrounding wall (122) near a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface (121) for draining liquid from the housing (120).

Description

A MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING A MOTOR FOR AN AIR PURIFIER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mounting structure of a device, and more particularly a mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Air purifiers are devices that process air in interior spaces and supply purified air by removing odors, dust, allergens and other airborne contaminants circulating within the interior spaces. An air purifier generally includes a casing with an air inlet and an air outlet, a purification device for purifying air flowing into the casing, and a fan for drawing air from the air inlet into the inside of the casing and blowing the purified air out from the air outlet. The fan is normally connected to a driving motor for driving the operation of the fan. The driving motor is disposed adjacent to the fan and is fixed in place using suitable mounting means.

There have been a number of mounting means or structures available over the prior art aiming to provide a secure mounting of a driving motor in an air purifier and also an efficient installation of the driving motor using those mounting means. Nevertheless, it is important to fabricate the air purifiers in a manner that their critical components to be protected from liquid intrusion. Few of the air purifiers were provided with preventative means to avoid the critical components from being damaged due to liquid intrusion, particularly on the driving motor that drives operation of the fan.

For instance, CN21 1400025U provides an air purification module having a rotating body for allowing water to be sprayed thereon, a driving motor to drive the rotating body to throw water outwards in radial direction, and a water filter cover above the rotating body for filtering water in the air and for preventing water on the rotating body from flowing upward with the air flow and damaging components above the rotating body, for instance, the driving motor. The water filter cover is having a funnel-shaped structure with a cavity formed on its inner side for accommodating the driving motor. A drainage groove is provided at a position where the base of the driving motor is in contact with the water filter cover in order to drain water flowing down the side wall of the water filter cover. Nevertheless, the components of the air purification module are arranged in vertical manner and such water filter cover may not be applicable for different types of components arrangement, for instance, for those air purification modules with their components arranged horizontally. Also, it may contribute to a higher material cost with application of the water filter cover.

Another prior art document CN210135655U discloses an air purifier that is provided with a fluid channel at the bottom of the air purifier casing for preventing accumulation of liquid inside the air purifier. The motor is disposed inside an enclosed space near to the top of the air purifier so that the liquid is not easy to get contact with the motor. The motor can be protected from potential hazards caused by accidental spills of liquid. Further, there is annular rib provided near the fluid channel to avoid accumulation of liquid in the air purifier. Nevertheless, there may be a concern on heat dissipation of the motor as it is accommodated in the enclosed space without any openings or vents for allowing mixing of ambient air and the heated air therein.

Accordingly, it can be seen in the prior art documents that there exists a need to provide an improved mounting structure of a motor in an air purifier which overcomes the aforesaid problems and shortcomings. The motor mounting structure shall be fabricated in such manner that any liquid to be quickly eliminated from the motor and the air purifier without involving additional accessory parts. Further, the motor mounting structure shall be made to facilitate mounting process of the motor in the air purifier and also to allow efficient dissipation of heat generated by the motor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier that protects the motor from damage due to liquid intrusion, and hence enhancing safety measure of the air purifier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier that is equipped with preventative means to prevent liquid from damaging the motor without fabrication of additional accessory parts.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure with reduced part for facilitating assembly process of a motor in an air purifier.

There is also an object of the present invention to provide a mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier with a much more efficient ventilation of the motor to ensure reliability of the motor.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the above objects can be accomplished by the provision of a mounting structure for mounting a motor for an air purifier that comprises a housing having a surrounding wall defining an interior space with at least an open top end for receiving the motor that has a shaft and an electrical connection wire. The housing also comprises a pair of motor shaft receiving portions at the top end of the surrounding wall for receiving the shaft of the motor.

The housing further comprises a base having an inclined guide surface, accompanied with at least an opening at the surrounding wall that is near to a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface for draining liquid from the housing. It is preferred that the surrounding wall of the housing comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a first side end and an opposing second side end forming the interior space. Further, the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions is formed as inwardly curved portions at the open top end on the first and the opposing second side ends of the surrounding wall.

Furthermore, the housing comprises a concave surface within the interior space for accommodating the motor. The motor is placed inside the housing in a manner that the motor to be fitted to the concave surface with such orientation that the electrical connection wire is facing downwardly. Preferably, the concave surface is provided at a higher level than the inclined guide surface.

In addition, the mounting structure of the motor further comprising a fixing bracket that is detachably coupled to the open top end of the surrounding wall for fixing the motor. Preferably, the fixing bracket is fastened to the open top end of the housing by using a fastening means. Furthermore, the fixing bracket is provided with a pair of opposing inwardly curved portions corresponding to that of the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions.

The present invention also relates to an air purifier comprising an aforedescribed structure for mounting a motor.

The present invention further provides a method of mounting a motor for an air purifier having a shaft and an electrical connection wire using an aforedescribed mounting structure, wherein the method comprising inserting the motor into the housing with the shaft of the motor received by the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions of the housing, and connecting a fixing bracket to the open top end of the surrounding wall by using a fastening means. The motor is placed inside the housing in a manner that the electrical connection wire of the motor is facing downwardly. The base of the housing comprising an inclined guide surface with at least an opening near a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface for draining liquid from the housing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a mounting structure for mounting a motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional perspective view of the mounting structure in Figure 1 taken along the line X-X.

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the mounting structure in Figure 1 taken along the line X-X.

Figure 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mounting structure for mounting a motor, showing an opening at one side of its wall according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a mounting structure that is integrally formed on a base of an air purifier for mounting a motor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The abovementioned and other features and objects of this invention will become more apparent and better understood by reference to the following detailed description. It should be understood that the detailed description made known below is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise form disclosed as the invention may assume various alternative forms. All the relevant modifications and alterations made to the present invention as covered in the detailed description should be construed to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the configuration of the invention is not limited to the configuration mentioned in the following description.

The present invention relates to a mounting structure (100) for mounting a motor (200) for an air purifier, where the motor (200) is coupled to a fan that draws ambient air into the air purifier for purification to supply purified air. The mounting structure (100) for the motor (200) is preferably located at the lower part of the air purifier with a fan compartment disposed adjacent thereto. It is further preferred that the mounting structure (100) is coupled integrally to the fan compartment. Further, the mounting structure (100) is preferably constructed in a manner to reduce parts for easier installation of the motor (200) for the air purifier as well as to prevent operation of the motor (200) from disruption due to liquid intrusion.

Referring to the drawings shown in Figures 1 -5, the invention will now be described in more detail.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the mounting structure (100) for mounting the motor (200) for an air purifier, in which the mounting structure (100) comprising a housing (120) having a surrounding wall (122) defining an interior space with at least an open top end for receiving the motor (200), and preferably the mounting structure (100) is provided with a fixing bracket (140) detachably coupled to the open top end of the surrounding wall(122) for fixing the motor (200) in place. The surrounding wall (122) preferably comprises a distal end, a proximal end, a first side end and an opposing second side end forming the interior space.

Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views taken along line X-X in Figure 1 , showing the internal configuration of the mounting structure (100) of the present invention. The housing (120) is adapted for accommodating the motor (200) that has a shaft and an electrical connection wire. The housing (120) further comprises at least a pair of motor shaft receiving portions (123) at the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) for receiving the shaft of the motor (200). Further, the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions (123) is preferably formed as inwardly curved portions at the open top end, and more preferably on the first and the opposing second side ends of the surrounding wall (122).

It can be seen in Figure 3 that the housing (120) of the present invention comprising a base having an inclined guide surface (121 ). It can be also seen in Figure 4 that the housing (120) of the present invention further comprises at least an opening (124) at the surrounding wall (122) and the opening (124) is preferably disposed near a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface (121 ) for draining any liquid that accidentally spilled or entered the housing (120). Incorporation of the inclined guide surface (121 ) and the opening (124) in the present invention is designed as a liquid drainage structure that could guide liquid to move towards outside of the mounting structure (100).

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening (124) could be extended across one side of the surrounding wall (122) as shown in Figure 4. Alternatively, the opening (124) could be partially extended on one side of the surrounding wall (122) and designed in any shape. The opening (124) may also be used in such a manner that the electrical connection wire of the motor (200) could be routed therethrough so as to provide a shortcut for routing of the wire and there is no need of extending the length of the wire for wire placement over the surrounding wall (122).

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the interior space of the housing (120) further comprising a concave surface (125) corresponding to the outer shape of the motor (200) for accommodating the motor (200). The concave surface (125) is preferably provided at a higher level than the inclined guide surface (121 ), and the width of the concave surface (125) is preferably smaller than the width of the motor (200). The motor (200) is preferably placed inside the housing (120) in a manner that the motor (200) is fitted to the concave surface (125) without having contact with the concave surface (125), while the electrical connection wire is positioned downwardly facing the base of the housing (120). The concave surface (125) is slightly slanted in that any liquid on the concave surface (125) will be directed towards the inclined guide surface (121 ) so that the liquid will not accumulate at the concave surface (122) to prevent damage to the wire and the motor (200).

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing configuration of the mounting structure (100) for mounting a motor (200) for an air purifier according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The motor (200) will be mounted to the mounting structure (100) that is in proximity to a fan compartment. The motor (200) has its shaft connected to the fan for transmitting rotational force to the fan during operation. Further, the fan compartment has a base with an arched surface to conform to the shape of the fan and it is preferably a sirocco fan.

With reference to Figure 5, the motor (200) is mounted in the air purifier using the aforedescribed mounting structure (100), in which the motor (200) is inserted into the housing (120) with the shaft of the motor (200) received by the pair of motor shaft receiving portions (123) of the housing (120). Then, the fixing bracket (140) is connected to the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) by using a fastening means like screws to complete assembly of the motor mounting structure (100). The fixing bracket (140) can be removed easily from the housing (120) when the motor (200) needs to be repaired or replaced.

The fixing bracket (140) is preferably adapted to fit to the open top end of the surrounding wall (122), and more preferably, the fixing bracket (140) conforms to the shape of the open top end of the surrounding wall (122). Further, the fixing bracket (140) is adapted to play similar role as the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions (123) for accommodating the shaft of the motor (200). Preferably, the fixing bracket is provided with a pair of opposing inwardly curved portions corresponding to that of the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions (123). Furthermore, the fixing bracket (140) is designed to have a central opening for exposing a portion of the motor (200) so as to have a much more efficient ventilation of the motor (200), thereby improving heat dissipation of the motor (200) as well as reducing the energy consumption of the motor (200).

Various modifications to these embodiments are apparent to those skilled in the art from the description and the accompanying drawings. The principles associated with the various embodiments described herein may be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the description is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown along with the accompanying drawings but is to be providing broadest scope of consistent with the principles and the novel features disclosed or suggested herein. Accordingly, the invention is anticipated to hold on to all other such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the present invention and appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting structure (100) for mounting a motor (200) for an air purifier, comprising: a housing (120) having a surrounding wall (122) defining an interior space with at least an open top end for receiving the motor (200) that has a shaft and an electrical connection wire, and at least a pair of motor shaft receiving portions (123) at the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) for receiving the shaft of the motor (200); wherein the housing (120) further comprising a base having an inclined guide surface (121 ), and at least an opening (124) at the surrounding wall (122) near a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface (121 ) for draining liquid from the housing (120).

2. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surrounding wall (122) comprising a distal end, a proximal end, a first side end and an opposing second side end forming the interior space.

3. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions (123) is formed as inwardly curved portions at the open top end on the first and the opposing second side ends of the surrounding wall (122).

4. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the housing (120) further comprising a concave surface (125) within the interior space for accommodating the motor (200).

5. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the concave surface (125) is provided at a higher level than the inclined guide surface (121 ).

6. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mounting structure (100) further comprising a fixing bracket (140) detachably coupled to the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) for fixing the motor (200).

7. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the fixing bracket (140) is fastened to the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) by using a fastening means.

8. The mounting structure (100) as claimed in any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the fixing bracket (140) is provided with a pair of opposing inwardly curved portions corresponding to that of the pair of the motor shaft receiving portions (123).

9. An air purifier comprising a mounting structure (100) for mounting a motor (200) according to any of the preceding claims.

10. A method of mounting a motor (200) for an air purifier using a mounting structure (100) comprising a housing (120) having a surrounding wall (122) with at least an open top end for receiving the motor (200) with a shaft and an electrical connection wire, and at least a pair of motor shaft receiving portions (123), wherein the method comprising: inserting the motor (200) into the housing (120) with the shaft of the motor (200) received by the pair of motor shaft receiving portions (123) of the housing (120); and connecting a fixing bracket (140) to the open top end of the surrounding wall (122) by using a fastening means; wherein the motor is placed inside the housing (120) in a manner that the electrical connection wire is positioned at the base of the housing (120); wherein the base of the housing (120) has an inclined guide surface (121 ) with at least an opening (124) near a relatively lower end of the inclined guide surface (121 ) for draining liquid from the housing (120).