# US 9,004,067 B2 · Single or multiple stage blower and nested volute(s) and or impeller(s) thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,004,067 B2 - Document ID: US9004067B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/312,079 - Filed: 2007-11-02 - Published: 2009-12-10 - Granted: 2015-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2006-11-03 - Assignees: RedMed Limited - Applicants: Barton John Kenyon; Ian Malcolm Smith; Andrew Wilson; Nicholas Jerome Reed - Inventors: Barton John Kenyon; Ian Malcolm Smith; Andrew Wilson; Nicholas Jerome Reed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9004067B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/662: {Balancing of rotors (compensating imbalance G01M1/36)} - A61M 16/0057: {Pumps therefor} - F04D 29/281: {for fans or blowers} - F04D 29/30: Vanes - F04D 29/666: {by means of rotor construction or layout, e.g. unequal distribution of blades or vanes} - A61M 16/0066: {Blowers or centrifugal pumps} - A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise - F05D 2240/304: related to the trailing edge of a rotor blade - Y10T 29/49329: Centrifugal blower or fan - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An impeller includes a top shroud, a bottom shroud, and a plurality of vanes extending from the top shroud to the bottom shroud. The top and bottom shrouds are generally planar, and a lower edge of each vane tapers from an outer edge of the bottom shroud to a transverse tip edge thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An impeller comprising a plurality of vanes at least partially sandwiched between first and second substantially planar shrouds that extend in substantially parallel planes, said first shroud having an outer diameter larger than an outer diameter of said second shroud, each vane having a length along opposite edges of the vane extending substantially radially outwardly in a lengthwise direction, a width less than said length and defined by a distance between said opposite edges, and a radially outer transverse tip edge connecting said opposite edges; and wherein the width of each vane reduces continuously in the lengthwise direction from an outer edge of said second shroud to the radially-outer transverse tip edge of the vane. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the first shroud is formed with a center opening and the outer diameter of the second shroud is less than a diameter of the center opening in the first shroud. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein said first shroud is a top shroud and said second shroud is a bottom shroud. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the first and second shrouds are disk-like. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of vanes include a prime number of vanes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of vanes includes a substantially straight or planar configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein each of said opposite edges includes a substantially straight or planar configuration. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the first shroud is a top shroud and the second shroud is a bottom shroud, and said opposite edges include a top edge at least partially engaged with the top shroud and a bottom edge at least partially engaged with the bottom shroud, and wherein the bottom edge extends upwardly at an angle from the outer edge to the radially-outer transverse tip edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the radially-outer transverse tip edge includes a lower end spaced upwardly from the plane of the second shroud. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the width tapers between 1-3 mm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The impeller according to claim 10, wherein the width tapers between 1.5-2 mm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the radially-outer transverse tip edge comprises a stepped and/or notched or chamfered tip edge. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The impeller according to claim 12, wherein the radially-outer transverse tip edge includes a straight chamfer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The impeller according to claim 12, wherein the radially-outer transverse tip edge includes a convex chamfer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The impeller according to claim 12, wherein the outer transverse tip edge includes a concave notch. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A positive airway pressure device for delivering pressurized therapy gas, comprising: a blower to pressurize gas in the range of about 4-30 cm H2O; each said blower including a motor having the shaft and the impeller according to claim 1. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The positive airway pressure device of claim 16, wherein said shaft has two ends and at least one said impeller provided to each said end. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The positive airway pressure device according to claim 16, wherein the motor includes a motor body having an end bell, and a base plate insert is provided to the end bell to sit under the impeller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The positive airway pressure device of claim 18, wherein the base plate insert is tapered. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The positive airway pressure device according to claim 18, wherein the base plate insert is clipped or snap-locked to the end bell. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1 wherein the second shroud overlaps an inner portion of said plurality of vanes and the first shroud overlaps an outer portion of said plurality of vanes. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The impeller according to claim 21, wherein the first shroud extends to the radially-outer transverse tip edges of said plurality of vanes. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The impeller according to claim 1, wherein the impeller is molded in one piece. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The impeller according to claim 23, wherein the impeller is formed from a plastic material. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The impeller according to claim 23, wherein the impeller is formed of a polycarbonate or polypropylene material.