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US 10,288,084 B2Granted
Low-profile blowers and methods
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsJohn D. Lofy, Ryan Walsh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A blower configured to be positioned in confined spaces and to provide ventilation of a fluid, such as temperature controlled air, is disclosed. In various embodiments, the blower is configured to have a reduced axial thickness, which can be desired in such confined spaces. In some embodiments, the blower has an integral filter, a wire channel for the routing of one or more wires, and/or an exposed backplate. In some embodiments, the blower has a snap-fit circuit board, containment system for mounting the motor, one or more vanes for directing fluid flow, shrouded impeller, and/or integrated connector.
Claims32
A blower comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space, the housing including an inlet and an outlet;
- wherein the housing has a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side joined by a sidewall;
- an electric motor assembly located within the interior space, the electric motor assembly comprising an electric motor;
- an impeller comprising a central hub portion and a plurality of blades, the impeller being coupled with the motor assembly, the motor assembly configured to selectively rotate the impeller;
- wherein the impeller is configured to draw a fluid into the interior space of the housing via the inlet and to discharge the fluid from the interior space via the outlet;
- wherein the fluid proceeds through a portion of the interior space, the portion being in communication with the outlet;
- and
- a circuit board positioned in the interior space and below the impeller, the circuit board comprising a plurality of electronic components and an outer periphery, at least one of the electronic components having an axial height above the circuit board of at least 1.0 mm, the at least one of the electronic components being positioned axially within the central hub portion of the impeller,
- wherein the at least one of the electronic components are positioned in the interior space, and wherein the at least one of the electronic components having an axial height above the circuit board of at least 1.0 mm is positioned on the circuit board radially outside of the electric motor.
6 more elements
A blower comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space, the housing including an inlet and an outlet;
- wherein the housing has a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall;
- an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space, the motor assembly comprising a backplate having an outer periphery, the backplate being coupled to the housing and the outer periphery of the backplate being within an outer periphery of the housing;
- an impeller comprising a plurality of blades and a central hub having a radial extent, the impeller being coupled with the motor assembly, the motor assembly configured to selectively rotate the impeller;
- wherein the impeller is configured to draw a fluid into the interior space of the housing via the inlet and to discharge the fluid from the interior space via the outlet;
- wherein the fluid proceeds through a portion of the interior space, the portion being in communication with the outlet;
- and
- a circuit board positioned in the interior space and adjacent the impeller, the circuit board having an outer periphery and comprising a plurality of electronic components coupled to the circuit board;
- wherein the second side of the housing comprises a mounting aperture passing fully through the second side, the backplate configured to be positioned in the mounting aperture, the second side comprising an inner surface facing toward the interior space and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the backplate and the circuit board are positioned axially within or substantially flush with the outer surface and the inner surface, respectively.
6 more elements
A blower comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space and comprising an inlet, an outlet, a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall, and an aperture;
- an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space, the motor assembly comprising a backplate having an outer periphery, the backplate being engaged with the housing such that the backplate blocks at least a portion of the aperture in the housing, the outer periphery of the backplate positioned within an outer periphery of the housing;
- an impeller comprising a plurality of blades, the impeller being coupled with the motor assembly, the motor assembly configured to selectively rotate the impeller about an axis of rotation;
- wherein the impeller is configured to draw a fluid into the interior space of the housing via the inlet and to discharge the fluid from the interior space via the outlet;
- wherein the plurality of blades are configured to direct the fluid through a portion of the interior space, each of the plurality of blades having a separation zone of the fluid, the separation zone located on a radially inward portion of each blade, and each of the plurality of blades having a reattachment zone of the fluid, the reattachment zone located on a radially outward portion of each blade;
- and
- a circuit board positioned in the interior space and below the impeller, the circuit board having an outer periphery and comprising a plurality of electronic components coupled to the circuit board;
- wherein the blades are axially disposed generally above the circuit board by an axial distance, the blades disposed at least partly within the outer periphery of the circuit board by a radial distance;
- and
- wherein the outer periphery of the backplate is at least partly radially beyond the outer periphery of the circuit board.
7 more elements
A blower comprising:
- a housing defining an interior space and comprising:
- an inlet;
- an outlet;
- a first side and a second side joined by a sidewall;
- and
- a radially extending channel comprising an outer end and an inner end;
- an electric motor assembly disposed within the interior space;
- an impeller comprising a plurality of blades, the impeller being coupled with the motor assembly, the motor assembly configured to selectively rotate the impeller;
- wherein the impeller is configured to draw a fluid into the interior space of the housing via the inlet and to discharge the fluid from the interior space via the outlet;
- wherein, during operation of the blower, the fluid proceeds through a portion of the interior space;
- a conductor configured to supply electric power to the motor assembly;
- wherein the conductor extends from outside the housing into the interior space, a portion of the conductor passing through the radially extending channel between the outer and inner ends;
- a cover member that engages with the radially extending channel;
- wherein the portion of the conductor that passes through the radially extending channel is positioned, in the axial direction, between the cover member and the interior space;
- and
- a circuit board positioned in the interior space and below the impeller, the circuit board having an outer periphery and comprising a plurality of electronic components coupled to the circuit board;
- wherein the blades of the impeller are axially disposed generally an axial distance from the circuit board, the blades being disposed at least partly within the outer periphery by a radial distance.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.