AIR BLOWING DEVICE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-208334, filed on Nov. 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to air blowing devices.

2. Background

In known air blowing devices, electricity is supplied to coils of a motor disposed inside a housing to rotate an impeller and generate airflow. In this type of air blowing device, electricity is supplied to the coils of the motor via lead wires. When attaching the motor to the housing, special care is required to draw out the lead wires, which may result in poor workability when drawing out the lead wires.

SUMMARY

An example embodiment of an air blowing device of the present disclosure includes a housing including a through-hole portion penetrating through the housing along a center axis extending vertically, a motor located in the through-hole portion of the housing, and an impeller located inside the through-hole portion of the housing, the impeller to generate airflow flowing in the through-hole portion in an axial direction by being rotated by the motor. The housing includes a main body portion including the through-hole portion, a base portion located inside the through-hole portion, and multiple stationary vanes protruding inward from an inner wall of the through-hole portion of the main body portion. An outer surface of the main body portion includes a lead wire accommodation groove having a recessed shape extending in the axial direction. The multiple stationary vanes are arranged in a circumferential direction. One of the multiple stationary vanes adjacent to the lead wire accommodation groove in the circumferential direction opposes the base portion in a radial direction with a space interposed between the stationary vane and the base portion, and remaining stationary vanes are coupled to the base portion.

The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the example embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an air blowing device according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from above.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air blowing device illustrated in FIG. 1 as viewed from below.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air blowing device illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air blowing device illustrated in FIG. 1, cut along a plane including a center axis thereof.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the housing.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an impeller and a rotor holder according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, including a fixing portion thereof.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the impeller and the rotor holder in a separated state.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example embodiment of an external device using the air blowing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that in this specification, a direction parallel to a center axis C1, which is the center of rotation of an impeller 30 of an air blowing device 100, is referred to as an “axial direction”, a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the center axis C1 is referred to as a “radial direction”, and a direction along an arc centered on the center axis C1 is referred to as a “circumferential direction”. Note that the circumferential direction is not limited to a tangential direction of an arc, but also includes a direction inclined at a certain angle (e.g., 45°) relative to the tangential direction. For example, a direction along an outer peripheral surface of a main body portion 11 of a housing 10 and perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction may also be referred to as the circumferential direction.

In this specification, a shape and positional relationship of each component of the air blowing device 100 will be described with the axial direction being a vertical direction, an intake port 113 of the housing 10 being on an upper side, and an exhaust port 114 of the housing 10 being on a lower side. Note that the vertical direction is a name used merely for description, and does not limit a positional relationship or a direction of the air blowing device 100 when in use.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of an air blowing device 100 as viewed from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air blowing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 as viewed from below. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the air blowing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the air blowing device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1, cut along a plane including a center axis C1 thereof. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing 10. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the housing 10. FIG. 7 is a side view of the housing 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the air blowing device 100 according to the present example embodiment includes the housing 10, a motor 20, an impeller 30, and a cover 40. The housing 10 has a through-hole portion 111 that passes through the housing 10 along the center axis C1 extending vertically. The motor 20 is disposed in the through-hole portion 111 of the housing 10. The impeller 30 is disposed inside the through-hole portion 111 of the housing 10 and is rotated by the motor 20. This generates airflow Afw that flows in the axial direction in the through-hole portion 111. The components of the air blowing device 100 will be described in detail below in order.

Housing 10

The housing 10 includes a main body portion 11, a base portion 12, stationary vanes 13, and a shaft support part 17. The housing 10 is an integrally molded body made of resin. Although details will be described below, the housing 10 serves as an attachment member when attaching the air blowing device 100 to an external device 200.

The main body portion 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is square when viewed in the axial direction. The main body portion 11 has the through-hole portion 111. The main body portion 11 has four side surfaces. Corner portions 112 are sandwiched between the adjacent side surfaces 110. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body portion 11 has four corner portions 112, and each corner portion 112 extends along the center axis C1.

The through-hole portion 111 is provided at the center of the main body portion 11 when viewed in the axial direction, is tubular, and passes through the main body portion 11 in the axial direction. A center line of the through-hole portion 111 coincides with the center axis C1. The through-hole portion 111 has an intake port 113 at an upper end and an exhaust port 114 at a lower end in the axial direction. When the impeller 30 rotates, air sucked in from the intake port 113 becomes the airflow Afw and is exhausted from the exhaust port 114.

A recessed portion 14 recessed relative to other portions is formed on a side surface 110a and a side surface 110b that sandwich a corner portion 112a, which is one of the four corner portions 112 provided in the main body portion 11. The recessed portion 14 is formed across the side surface 110a and the side surface 110b that sandwich the corner portion 112a. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the air blowing device 100 according to the present example embodiment, the recessed portion 14 is formed from the corner portion 112a of the side surface 110a to substantially the center of the side surface 110a in a plan view. Similarly, the recessed portion 14 is formed from the corner portion 112a of the side surface 110b to substantially the center of the side surface 110b in a plan view. The recessed portion 14 is formed continuously from an upper end to a lower end of the main body portion 11 in the axial direction. Note that a depth of the recessed portion 14 is equal to or greater than a thickness of the cover 40.

As will be described in detail below, the cover 40 is attached to the recessed portion 14. When the cover 40 is configured to be attached to both ends in the axial direction, the recessed portion 14 may be provided at least at both ends in the axial direction.

The main body portion 11 has a lead wire accommodation groove 15 and lead wire retaining portions 16 formed on the side surface 110. The lead wire accommodation groove 15 is formed on the side surface 110a. The lead wire accommodation groove 15 is formed at an end portion of the side surface 110a on a side close to the corner portion 112a. The lead wire accommodation groove 15 has a recessed shape recessed radially inward from the side surface 110a, and is formed passing through the main body portion 11 from the upper end to the lower end in the axial direction. That is, the lead wire accommodation groove 15 having a recessed shape extending in the axial direction is formed in the side surface 110 of the main body portion 11. In other words, the lead wire accommodation groove 15 is formed over the entire length of the main body portion 11 in the axial direction.

Lead wires 25, which will be described below, for supplying electricity to the motor 20 are disposed in the lead wire accommodation groove 15. That is, the lead wire accommodation groove 15 has a cross-sectional shape and a size capable of accommodating the lead wires 25.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lead wire retaining portions 16 are provided at an upper end and a lower end of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in the axial direction. The lead wire retaining portions 16 cover an opening of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in a direction intersecting the axial direction, that is, part of the opening formed on the side surface 110a. That is, the lead wire retaining portions 16 cover part of an opening 151 of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 formed in the main body portion 11, in the direction intersecting the axial direction. The lead wire retaining portions 16 retain the lead wires 25 that are about to come out of the lead wire accommodation groove 15, suppressing outward movement of the lead wires 25. To be more specific, outer surfaces of the lead wire retaining portions 16 are flush with the recessed portion 14 on the side surface 110a.

The lead wire retaining portions 16 are beam-shaped and extend from one end of the opening of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 toward the other end. Spaces are formed between tips of the lead wire retaining portions 16 and the other end of the opening 151 of the lead wire accommodation groove 15, and these spaces form lead wire passage portions 161. The lead wires 25 are inserted into the lead wire accommodation groove 15 through the lead wire passage portions 161. The lead wire passage portions 161 are spaces that are adjacent to the lead wire retaining portions 16 in the circumferential direction and connect the lead wire accommodation groove 15 to the outside. That is, the lead wire retaining portions 16 and the lead wire passage portions 161 are provided at least at both ends in the axial direction.

With this configuration, the lead wires 25 can be easily wired toward the opposite side of the base portion 12 of the main body portion 11. In addition, the lead wires 25 accommodated in the lead wire accommodation groove 15 can be suppressed from coming off the main body portion 11. Thus, the lead wires 25 can be grouped together when carrying and attaching the air blowing device 100, improving workability.

A recessed groove 181 recessed in the axial direction is formed in a lower surface 18 of an axial lower end portion of the main body portion 11. The recessed groove 181 couples an axial lower end portion of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 and an axial lower end portion of the through-hole portion 111. The lead wires 25 are inserted into the recessed groove 181. That is, the lead wires 25 that cross the through-hole portion 111 are wired in the recessed groove 181 and then in the lead wire accommodation groove 15.

The base portion 12 is provided inside the through-hole portion 111 of the main body portion 11. To be more specific, the base portion 12 is provided at the lower end portion of the through-hole portion 111 in the axial direction. The base portion 12 includes a bottom plate portion 121 and a side wall portion 122. The bottom plate portion 121 is disc-shaped. The bottom plate portion 121 is provided at a lower portion of the through-hole portion 111 and supports the motor 20. An outer peripheral surface of the bottom plate portion 121 and an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole portion 111 are disposed with a space therebetween in the radial direction. The space between the through-hole portion 111 and the base portion 12 is the exhaust port 114 that exhausts the airflow Afw (see FIG. 4) to the outside.

The side wall portion 122 protrudes upward from an outer edge portion of the bottom plate portion 121 along the axial direction. The side wall portion 122 is formed along the circumferential direction, and a cutout portion 123 is provided only in part of the side wall portion 122 in the circumferential direction.

The cutout portion 123 is formed so as to overlap the corner portion 112a in the circumferential direction. The lead wire accommodation groove 15 is formed at the end portion of the side surface 110a on the corner portion 112a side in the circumferential direction. The side surface 110a is disposed next to the corner portion 112a that overlaps the cutout portion 123 in the circumferential direction.

A substrate 24 (described below) of the motor 20 is disposed over the base portion 12. The lead wires 25 connected to the substrate 24 cross the exhaust port 114 and are disposed inside the lead wire accommodation groove 15. The side wall portion 122 has the cutout portion 123, and the lead wires 25 are drawn outward of the base portion 12 in the radial direction through the cutout portion 123. That is, the lead wires 25 are drawn out at the cutout portion 123. This suppresses the lead wires 25 from being wired at an unreasonable angle, compared with when the lead wires 25 are drawn out above the side wall portion 122.

The housing 10 includes eleven stationary vanes 13 that protrude radially inward from an inner wall of the through-hole portion 111 of the main body portion 11. Note that the number of the stationary vanes 13 is not limited to 11. That is, multiple stationary vanes 13 protrude inward from the inner wall of the through-hole portion 111 of the main body portion 11. The eleven stationary vanes 13 are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. The eleven stationary vanes 13 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, but the arrangement manner is not limited thereto. That is, multiple stationary vanes 13 are arranged in the circumferential direction. The stationary vanes 13 convert a circumferential velocity component of the airflow Afw generated by the impeller 30 into an axial velocity component. That is, the stationary vanes 13 rectify the airflow Afw flowing in the circumferential direction into airflow directed in the axial direction.

Among the eleven stationary vanes 13, ten are first stationary vanes 131 and one is a second stationary vane 132. The stationary vane 13 provided at a position adjacent to the cutout portion 123 in the radial direction is the second stationary vane 132. To be more specific, in a plan view, among the eleven stationary vanes 13, the second stationary vane 132 is the stationary vane 13 adjacent to the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in the circumferential direction, and the second stationary vane 132 faces the base portion 12 in the radial direction through a space 115, while the remaining stationary vanes 13, the first stationary vanes 131, are coupled to the base portion 12.

Accordingly, the lead wires 25 drawn out through the cutout portion 123 can be drawn out through the space 115. The lead wires 25 are then disposed below the second stationary vane 132 and wired across the exhaust port 114. In this manner, the space 115 allows for easy wiring of the lead wires 25.

By configuring the stationary vanes 13 in this manner, the workability of wiring the lead wires 25 for supplying electricity to the motor 20 is improved, and the labor and time required for manufacturing the air blowing device 100 can be reduced. In addition, since the lead wires 25 can be accurately wired at predetermined positions, it is possible to suppress contact between the lead wires 25 and the rotating components such as the motor 20 and the impeller 30.

Radially inner end portions of the first stationary vanes 131 are coupled to the side wall portion 122 of the base portion 12. Thus, the first stationary vanes 131 rectify the airflow Afw and serve as ribs that hold the base portion 12. Since the base portion 12 is held by the ten first stationary vanes 131, the base portion 12 is firmly held to the main body portion 11.

The shaft support part 17 is attached to the base portion 12. The shaft support part 17 holds a stator 23 of the motor 20 and rotatably supports a shaft 21. The shaft support part 17 includes a support sleeve 170, a first bearing 171, and a second bearing 172.

The support sleeve 170 is fixed to a center portion of an upper surface 120, in the axial direction, of the bottom plate portion 121 of the base portion 12 when viewed in the axial direction. Note that the support sleeve 170 may be fixed to the bottom plate portion 121 by, for example, but not limited to, press-fitting, bonding, welding, or the like. Many methods can be adopted to firmly fix the support sleeve 170 to the bottom plate portion 121.

The support sleeve 170 is tubular and extends in the axial direction. The stator 23 is fixed to an outer surface of the support sleeve 170. The first bearing 171 and the second bearing 172 are fixed inside the support sleeve 170 with a space therebetween in the axial direction. The centers of the first bearing 171 and the second bearing 172 coincide with the center axis C1. In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, the first bearing 171 and the second bearing 172 are ball bearings, but are not limited thereto. For example, the bearings can be a fluid bearing, a sliding bearing, or any other bearing that can rotatably support the shaft 21 relative to the support sleeve 170.

The motor 20 includes the shaft 21, a rotor 22, the stator 23, the substrate 24, and the lead wires 25. In the motor 20, when a current is supplied to coils 233 (described below) of the stator 23, the rotor 22 fixed to the shaft 21 rotates together with the shaft 21 about the center axis C1. The motor 20 is an outer rotor type motor in which the rotor 22 disposed radially outward of the stator 23 rotates, but may be an inner rotor type motor as long as the impeller 30 can be rotated.

The shaft 21 is columnar. The shaft 21 is rotatably supported by the support sleeve 170 via the first bearing 171 and the second bearing 172. Thus, the shaft 21 is rotatably supported by the base portion 12, that is, the housing 10, about the center axis C1.

The rotor 22 includes a rotor holder 221, a rotor magnet 224, and a shaft fixing member 225. The rotor holder 221 includes a rotor top plate portion 222 and a rotor tubular portion 223. The rotor top plate portion 222 is disc-shaped extending in the radial direction from the center axis C1. The rotor tubular portion 223 is tubular and extends axially downward from a radial outer edge of the rotor top plate portion 222.

That is, the motor 20 includes the lidded tubular rotor holder 221, which includes the rotor top plate portion 222 at an upper portion thereof and extends in the axial direction.

The rotor magnet 224 is tubular in shape and has north poles and south poles magnetized and arranged alternately in the circumferential direction. The rotor magnet 224 may be formed, for example, by integrally molding a resin containing magnetic powder, or may be formed by arranging multiple magnets in the circumferential direction and fixing the magnets with resin or the like. The rotor magnet 224 is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the rotor tubular portion 223.

The rotor holder 221 is formed of a magnetic material such as iron or nickel. Thus, the rotor holder 221 serves as a back yoke for the rotor magnet 224. Note that methods for fixing the rotor magnet 224 to the rotor tubular portion 223 include, but are not limited to, press-fitting, adhesion, and the like. Many methods can be adopted to firmly fix the rotor magnet 224 to the rotor tubular portion 223.

The rotor top plate portion 222 has a center hole 226, first fixing holes 227, and second fixing holes 228. The center of the center hole 226 coincides with the center axis C1, and the shaft fixing member 225 is attached to the center hole 226. The shaft 21 is fixed to the rotor top plate portion 222 via the shaft fixing member 225. Thus, the shaft 21 and the rotor 22 are fixed together.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first fixing holes 227 and the second fixing holes 228 are both tubular and extend in the axial direction. The first fixing holes 227 and the second fixing holes 228 have the same cross-sectional shape and size when cut perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction. The centers of the first fixing holes 227 and the second fixing holes 228 are disposed on a pitch circle of a common radius centered on the center axis C1, and are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction. The first fixing holes 227 and the second fixing holes 228 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

First protruding portions 313 and second protruding portions 314 (described below) of the impeller 30 are inserted into and fixed to the first fixing holes 227 and the second fixing holes 228, respectively.

The stator 23 includes a stator core 231, an insulator 232, and the coils 233. The stator core 231 has a structure in which electromagnetic steel sheets are layered. The stator core 231 may be a single member formed by sintering powder, casting, or the like.

The stator core 231 has a through-hole passing through the stator core 231 in the axial direction at a center portion when viewed in the axial direction. The support sleeve 170 is fixed inside the through-hole of the stator core 231. A method of fixing the stator core 231 and the support sleeve 170 may be, but is not limited to, press-fitting, bonding, welding, or the like. Many methods can be adopted to firmly fix the support sleeve 170 and the stator core 231. The support sleeve 170 is fixed to the bottom plate portion 121 of the base portion 12. Therefore, the stator core 231 is fixed in the through-hole portion 111 of the housing 10.

The insulator 232 is, for example, a molded body of resin. The insulator 232 covers at least teeth of the stator core 231. Then, a conducting wire is wound around the teeth covered with the insulator 232 from above the insulator 232 to form the coils 233.

The support sleeve 170 passes through a through-hole 240 provided in the substrate 24. Thus, the substrate 24 is fixed to the support sleeve 170. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the substrate 24 is disposed between the stator 23 and the bottom plate portion 121 in the axial direction. The lead wires 25 are connected to the substrate 24. The lead wires 25 are connected to an external power supply unit such as a battery. Electricity from the power supply unit is supplied to the substrate 24 through the lead wires 25. In the substrate 24, a circuit such as a driver circuit that supplies appropriate current to each of the coils 233 at appropriate timing is configured. The substrate 24 and the coils 233 are connected by bus bars 26.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the impeller 30 includes a cup portion 31 and multiple rotor blades 32. The impeller 30 is a molded body of resin. The impeller 30 is an axial fan that generates airflow in the axial direction.

The cup portion 31 includes a cup top plate portion 311 and a cup tubular portion 312. The cup top plate portion 311 is disc-shaped and expands in the radial direction. The cup tubular portion 312 is tubular and extends axially downward from a radial outer edge of the cup top plate portion 311. The cup portion 31 is fixed to the outside of the rotor holder 221.

The cup tubular portion 312 is in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the rotor tubular portion 223. Note that the cup portion 31 and the rotor holder 221 may be fixed by fixing only the rotor top plate portion 222 and the cup top plate portion 311, or by fixing these and also fixing the rotor tubular portion 223 and the cup tubular portion 312. This allows the cup portion 31 and the rotor holder 221 to be fixed more firmly. In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, an axial lower end surface of the cup tubular portion 312 faces an upper end surface of the side wall portion 122 of the base portion 12 in the axial direction. A space is formed between the cup tubular portion 312 and the side wall portion 122 in the axial direction.

That is, the impeller 30 includes the lidded tubular cup portion 31, which includes the cup top plate portion 311 at an upper portion thereof and extends in the axial direction.

Details of fixation of the cup portion 31 of the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 of the rotor 22 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221, including a fixing portion thereof. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 in a separated state.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the rotor holder 221 is fixed inside the cup portion 31. As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, the cup top plate portion 311 of the cup portion 31 includes multiple first protruding portions 313 and multiple second protruding portions 314. In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, five first protruding portions 313 are provided in the cup top plate portion 311. Note that the number of the first protruding portions 313 is not limited to five. The five first protruding portions 313 protrude in the axial direction from an axial lower surface 311a of the cup top plate portion 311. That is, the cup top plate portion 311 includes multiple solid first protruding portions 313 protruding in the axial direction from the axial lower surface. Each of the first protruding portions 313 has a contact portion 315 that extends radially outward from an axial end thereof.

Note that the contact portions 315 are formed on the first protruding portions 313, but may be formed on the second protruding portions 314. That is, at least some of the first protruding portions 313 and the second protruding portions 314 have the contact portions 315 that extend radially outward.

The first protruding portions 313 are inserted into first fixing holes 227 provided in the rotor top plate portion 222 of the rotor holder 221. That is, the rotor top plate portion 222 has the first fixing holes 227 that pass through the rotor top plate portion 222 in the axial direction and into which the first protruding portions 313 fit. The first protruding portion 313 is disposed in contact with the first fixing hole 227. The contact portion 315 is formed at a portion of the first protruding portion 313 that passes through the first fixing hole 227. The contact portion 315 is in contact with an axial lower surface 222a of the rotor top plate portion 222 around an edge portion of the first fixing hole 227. That is, the contact portion 315 is in contact with the lower surface of the rotor top plate portion 222.

This makes it difficult for the cup portion 31 to separate from the rotor holder 221. That is, the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 can be firmly fixed together with a simple configuration. This improves workability, thereby reducing the labor and time required for manufacturing. The contact portion 315 may be configured to expand outward after the first protruding portion 313 is inserted into the first fixing hole 227. For example, a method of molding the cup portion 31 by inserting the rotor holder 221 into a mold may be employed.

For example, an insert molding method can be adopted when molding the rotor holder 221 with the cup portion 31. xxx check However, the method is not limited to this method. For example, tips of the first protruding portions 313 formed of resin may be heated and melted to form the contact portions 315.

In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, five second protruding portions 314 are provided in the cup top plate portion 311. Note that the number of the second protruding portions 314 is not limited to five. The five second protruding portions 314 protrude in the axial direction from the axial lower surface 311a of the cup top plate portion 311. The second protruding portions 314 have through-holes 316 passing through the second protruding portions 314 in the axial direction. That is, the second protruding portions 314 protrude in the axial direction from the axial lower surface 311a of the cup top plate portion 311, and the through-holes 316 pass through an upper surface of the cup top plate portion 311.

The second protruding portions 314 are inserted into second fixing holes 228 provided in the rotor top plate portion 222 of the rotor holder 221. An outer peripheral surface of the second protruding portion 314 is disposed in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the second fixing hole 228. That is, the rotor holder 221 has the second fixing holes 228 that pass through in the axial direction and into which the second protruding portions 314 fit.

With this configuration, air inside the motor 20 can be discharged to the outside through the through-holes 316 of the second protruding portions 314. The heat dissipation efficiency of the motor 20 can be improved, and the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 can be fixed with a simple configuration. This improves workability, thereby reducing the labor and time required for manufacturing.

In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, a cross-sectional shape of the first protruding portion 313 in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction at a position where the first protruding portion 313 is disposed inside the first fixing hole 227 is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the second protruding portion 314 in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction at a position where the second protruding portion 314 is disposed inside the second fixing hole 228. A cross-sectional shape of the first fixing hole 227 in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction is the same as a cross-sectional shape of the second fixing hole 228 in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.

In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, the first protruding portions 313 and the second protruding portions 314 are disposed alternately in the circumferential direction, and adjacent first protruding portions 313 and second protruding portions 314 are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. With this configuration, the first protruding portions 313 can be inserted into the second fixing holes 228, and the second protruding portions 314 can be inserted into the first fixing holes 227.

Note that there are also cases where the first protruding portions 313 and the second protruding portions 314 are not disposed alternately. Even in such cases, the first protruding portions 313 can be inserted into the second fixing holes 228, and the second protruding portions 314 can be inserted into the first fixing holes 227. That is, when at least one of the first protruding portions 313 is inserted into the second fixing hole 228, at least one of the second protruding portions 314 may be inserted into the first fixing hole 227.

With this configuration, even when the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 are misaligned in the circumferential direction, the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 can be fixed together. This improves workability, thereby reducing the labor and time required for manufacturing. Further, by rotating the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221 in the circumferential direction and fixing the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221, it is possible to offset any misalignment in weight balance in the circumferential direction between the impeller 30 and the rotor holder 221. This optimizes rotational balance of the impeller 30, and reduces vibration and noise.

The multiple rotor blades 32 are provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cup portion 31. The multiple rotor blades 32 are arranged in the circumferential direction. In the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, the rotor blades 32 are arranged at equal intervals on an outer surface of the cup portion 31. The rotor blades 32 are molded integrally with the cup portion 31. An upper portion of the rotor blade 32 is located forward of a lower portion in a direction of rotation. Thus, when the impeller 30 rotates, the airflow Afw having velocity components in the axial downward direction and the circumferential direction is generated. The airflow Afw is rectified by converting the circumferential velocity component into an axial downward component by the stationary vanes 13. The rectified airflow Afw is then discharged from the exhaust port 114 of the through-hole portion 111 to the outside of the air blowing device 100.

The cover 40 is attached to the recessed portion 14. Thus, the cover 40 is disposed over the lead wire passage portion 161 provided at the lower end portion in the axial direction. The cover 40 covers the lead wire passage portion 161. As a result, the lead wires 25 are less likely to accidentally come off the lead wire passage portion 161. That is, the cover 40 closes part of the opening 151 of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in the circumferential direction. The depth of the recessed portion 14 is equal to the thickness of the cover 40. Thus, when the cover 40 is attached, outer surfaces of the cover 40 are flush with the side surface 110a and the side surface 110b of the housing 10 other than the recessed portion 14. Note that the depth of the recessed portion 14 may be equal to or greater than the thickness of the cover 40. That is, the recessed portion 14 is formed at least at portions of the side surfaces 110 of the main body portion 11 to which the cover 40 is to be attached, and the depth of the recessed portion 14 is equal to or greater than the thickness of the cover 40.

To be more specific, the recessed portion 14 is formed across the two side surfaces 110a and 110b that sandwich the corner portion 112a that overlaps the cutout portion 123 in the circumferential direction. The cover 40 is disposed over the two side surfaces 110a and 110b that sandwich the corner portion 112a that overlaps the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in the circumferential direction.

With this configuration, the cover 40 is disposed across the two side surfaces 110a and 110b that sandwich the corner portion 112a, making it difficult for the cover 40 to come off the main body portion 11. This suppresses a likelihood of the lead wires 25 coming off the lead wire accommodation groove 15.

Note that in the air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment, the cover 40 is attached at a position to close the lead wire passage portion 161 adjacent to the lead wire retaining portion 16 provided at the lower end in the axial direction. However, the attachment position of the cover 40 is not limited to this position. For example, the cover 40 may be attached at a position to cover the lead wire passage portion 161 at the upper end. In this case, the cover 40 may also be attached at the position to cover the lead wire passage portion 161 at the lower end. That is, covers may be provided at least at both ends in the axial direction.

The cover 40 may be attached at a position to cover part of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 other than the lead wire passage portions 161. The cover 40 may cover an entire length of the opening 151 of the lead wire accommodation groove 15 in the axial direction.

The cover 40 may be a resin member, and a fixing method can be a method of fixing by fitting protruding portions into recessed portions, and includes bonding, welding, or the like. Many other methods that can detachably and firmly fix the cover 40 may be adopted. Further, the cover 40 may be a tape-like member.

By attaching the cover 40, the lead wires 25 can be prevented from coming off the lead wire accommodation groove 15. In addition, by disposing the cover 40 on the recessed portion 14, the outer surfaces of the cover 40 can be made flush with the side surfaces 110 of the main body portion 11. This reduces unevenness on an attachment surface of the main body portion 11, suppressing the cover 40 from coming off when sliding.

When assembling the air blowing device 100, the lead wires 25 are attached to the substrate 24 in advance. After the substrate 24 is fixed to the support sleeve 170, the lead wires 25 are drawn radially outward from the side wall portion 122 of the bottom plate portion 121. The lead wires 25 are then drawn axially downward along the bottom plate portion 121 from the space between the second stationary vane 132 and the bottom plate portion 121. The lead wires 25 then cross the through-hole portion 111 in the radial direction below the second stationary vane 132 in the axial direction, and are disposed in the recessed groove 181. Tips of the lead wires 25 disposed in the recessed groove 181 are then temporarily disposed outside the main body portion 11. Thereafter, the lead wires 25 are passed through the lead wire passage portions 161 provided at the lower end and the upper end in the axial direction, and are accommodated inside the lead wire accommodation groove 15. In this state, the cover 40 is attached to the recessed portion 14. This suppresses the lead wires 25 from coming out of the lead wire accommodation groove 15.

Use of Air Blowing Device 100

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating an example of the external device 200 using the air blowing device 100. The external device 200 illustrated in FIG. 10 is a rack-type server device. The external device 200 includes an attachment portion 201 on a back surface 200b for taking in airflow for cooling internal devices. The air blowing device 100 is attached to the attachment portion 201. The air blowing device 100 is attached to the attachment portion 201 by moving in the axial direction. The airflow Afw generated by operation of the air blowing device 100 forces air outside the external device 200 into the external device 200. Accordingly, devices such as a memory and a CPU provided inside the external device 200 are cooled.

In the air blowing device 100, by attaching the cover 40 to the recessed portion 14, the outer peripheral surfaces of the main body portion 11 other than the recessed portion 14 are flush with the outer peripheral surfaces of the cover 40. This suppresses the cover 40 from getting caught on an inner peripheral surface of the attachment portion 201 when the air blowing device 100 is attached to the attachment portion 201 of the external device 200. This suppresses the cover 40 from coming off or the lead wires 25 being pinched between the external device 200 and the main body portion 11, even when the attachment portion 201 is shaped to be in close contact with the main body portion 11. As a result, the attachment portion 201 is in close contact with the main body portion 11, so that air leakage is suppressed and the airflow Afw generated by the air blowing device 100 can be efficiently sucked into the external device 200. For example, when cooling devices inside the external device 200 with the airflow Afw, cooling efficiency can be increased.

Note that in the present example embodiment, a rack-type server device is given as the external device 200, but the external device 200 is not limited to this. The air blowing device 100 of the present example embodiment can be widely adopted in devices that have a configuration in which airflow flows inside.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure may have the following configurations.

(1)

An air blowing device including a housing including a through-hole portion passing through the housing along a center axis extending vertically, a motor located in the through-hole portion of the housing, and an impeller located inside the through-hole portion of the housing, the impeller to generate airflow flowing in the through-hole portion in an axial direction by being rotated by the motor, in which the housing includes a main body portion including the through-hole portion, a base portion located inside the through-hole portion, and multiple stationary vanes protruding inward from an inner wall of the through-hole portion of the main body portion, an outer surface of the main body portion includes a lead wire accommodation groove having a recessed shape extending in the axial direction, the multiple stationary vanes are arranged in a circumferential direction, and a stationary vane, being one of the multiple stationary vanes, adjacent to the lead wire accommodation groove in the circumferential direction opposes the base portion in a radial direction with a space interposed between the stationary vane and the base portion, and remaining stationary vanes are coupled to the base portion.

(2)

The air blowing device according to item (1), in which the base portion includes a bottom plate portion having a disc shape, located at a lower portion of the through-hole portion, and supporting the motor, and a side wall portion extending upward from an outer edge portion of the bottom plate portion, the side wall portion includes a cutout portion, the cutout portion being discontinuous in the circumferential direction with lead wires of the motor being drawn out through the cutout portion, and the stationary vane adjacent to the cutout portion in the radial direction opposes the base portion in the radial direction with the space interposed between the stationary vane and the base portion, and the remaining stationary vanes are coupled to the side wall portion.

(3)

The air blowing device according to item (1) or (2), in which a lead wire retaining portion is defined in the main body portion and configured to cover a portion of an opening of the lead wire accommodation groove in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and a lead wire passage portion is adjacent to the lead wire retaining portion in the circumferential direction and configured to connect the lead wire accommodation groove to the outside.

(4)

The air blowing device according to any of items (1) to (3), further including a cover to close a portion of an opening of the lead wire accommodation groove in the circumferential direction, in which a recessed portion having a depth equal to or greater than a thickness of the cover is provided on an outer surface of the main body portion at least at a position where the cover is attached.

(5)

The air blowing device according to any one of items (1) to (4), in which the main body portion has a square shape when viewed in the axial direction, the lead wire accommodation groove overlaps a corner portion of the main body portion in the circumferential direction, the recessed portion is provided across two side surfaces sandwiching the corner portion overlapping the lead wire accommodation groove in the circumferential direction, and the cover is located over the two side surfaces sandwiching the corner portion overlapping the lead wire accommodation groove in the circumferential direction.

(6)

The air blowing device according to item (3), in which the lead wire accommodation groove is provided over an entire length of the main body portion in the axial direction, and the lead wire retaining portion and the lead wire passage portion are provided at least at two ends in the axial direction.

(7)

The air blowing device according to item (4), in which the lead wire accommodation groove is provided over an entire length of the main body portion in the axial direction, and the recessed portion and the cover are provided at least at two ends in the axial direction.

(8)

The air blowing device according to any one of items (1) to (7), in which the impeller includes a cup portion including a cup top plate portion at an upper portion and having a lidded tubular shape extending in the axial direction, the motor includes a rotor holder including a rotor top plate portion at an upper portion, having a lidded tubular shape extending in the axial direction, and fixed inside the cup portion, the cup top plate portion includes multiple first protruding portions being solid and protruding in the axial direction from an axial lower surface of the cup top plate portion, and multiple second protruding portions each having a tubular shape, protruding in the axial direction from the axial lower surface of the cup top plate portion and including a through-hole passing through an upper surface of the cup top plate portion, and the rotor top plate portion includes first fixing holes passing through the rotor top plate portion in the axial direction and into which the first protruding portions fit, and second fixing holes passing through the rotor top plate portion in the axial direction and into which the second protruding portions fit.

(9)

The air blowing device according to item (8), in which at least one of the multiple first protruding portions and the multiple second protruding portions includes a contact portion extending radially outward, and the contact portion is in contact with a lower surface of the rotor top plate portion.

(10)

The air blowing device according to item (8) or (9), in which a cross-sectional shape of the multiple first protruding portions in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction at positions where the multiple first protruding portions are disposed inside the first fixing holes is identical to a cross-sectional shape of the second protruding portions in the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction at positions where the second protruding portions are disposed inside the second fixing holes, a shape of the first fixing holes in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction is identical to a shape of the second fixing holes in a cross section perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the axial direction, and when at least one of the multiple first protruding portions is inserted into one of the second fixing holes, at least one of the multiple second protruding portions is inserted into one of the first fixing holes.

Features of the above-described example embodiments and the modifications thereof may be combined appropriately as long as no conflict arises.

While example embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.