Ventilation module with swirler fan

Abstract

The disclosure aims to provide a ventilator module with improved efficiency. The ventilator module employs the dual structure of fans includes a swirler fan and a suction fan, in which the swirler fan is disposed at the front side and the suction fan is disposed at the rear side of the swirler fan so that a swirl formed by the drive of the swirler fan forms a donut-like low pressure zone around an inlet, and a tornado is formed by rotating the donut-like low pressure zone by the drive of the suction fan thereby cause the air below swirler fan to ascend at high velocity so as to be suctioned and discharged.

Claims

1. A ventilator module comprising: a swirler fan having a plurality of fins on a ring-shape main body with the opening at the center portion thereof, the swirler fan having a front side in which a flow inlets; a suction fan disposed at a rear side of the swirler fan; a motor disposed at the rear side of the swirler fan, the motor coupled to the swirler fan and the suction fan with a same axis, configured to drive the swirler fan and the suction fan; and a bell-mouth that surrounds the swirler fan; wherein the swirler fan comprises a center which is connected to the axis of the motor, an annular band which surrounds outside of the center, a plurality of connection rods which extends from outer surface of the center to inner surface of the annular band in a radial direction, and the ring-shape main body which surrounds outer surface of the annular band on which the plurality of fins is formed; and the swirler fan has auxiliary blades on the connection rods to increase the suction air velocity.

2. The ventilator module according to claim 1, further comprising a suction fan case having an opening at a bottom surface thereof and an outlet assembled with the suction fan case.

3. The ventilator module according to claim 1, wherein the bell-mouth is formed as a truncated pyramid, an elliptical truncated cone or a truncated cone with an opening formed at the top thereof and a horizontal end surrounding the bottom thereof.

4. The ventilator module according to claim 1, wherein the swirler fan comprises a center which is connected to the axis of the motor, the ring-shape main body which is combined with the center, an annular band which surrounds outside of the ring-shape main body and has the plurality of fins protruded toward outside of the annular band along outer surface of the annular band, and a plurality of connection rods which extends from outer surface of the ring-shape main body to inner surface of the annular band in a radial direction.

5. A ventilator module comprising: a swirler fan having a plurality of fins on a ring-shape main body with the opening at the center portion thereof; a suction fan disposed at a rear side of the swirler fan; a motor coupled to the swirler fan and the suction fan with a same axis, configured to drive the swirler fan and the suction fan; wherein the swirler fan comprises a center which is connected to the axis of the motor, an annular band which surrounds outside of the center, a plurality of connection rods which extends from outer surface of the center to inner surface of the annular band in a radial direction, and the ring-shape main body which surrounds outer surface of the annular band on which the plurality of fins is formed; and the swirler fan has auxiliary blades on the connection rods to increase the suction air velocity.

6. The ventilator module according to claim 4, wherein the swirler fan has auxiliary blades on the connection rods to increase the suction air velocity.

7. The ventilator module according to claim 1, wherein the suction fan disposed at the rear side of the swirler fan is configured as axial propeller fan, and an outlet of a suction fan case is assembled so as to be on the same axis as a point at which the suction fan is disposed.

8. The ventilator module of claim 1, wherein the motor drives the swirler fan and the suction fan simultaneously.

9. The ventilator module of claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a first motor driving the swirler fan and a second motor driving the suction fan.

10. The ventilator module according to claim 1, wherein the swirler fan has the center portion having a first opening, and a second opening between the center portion and the ring-shape main body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a diagram that illustrates the result of simulation of air current and pressure contours according to a conventional exhaust apparatus of the related art.

(2) FIG. 2 is a diagram that illustrates velocity contours at an inlet of a typical exhaust vent on velocity Contoursplain circular opening% of opening velocity; American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Industrial Ventilation Manual, 23rd Edition.

(3) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates a configuration of a ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(4) FIG. 4 is a cut exploded perspective view of the range hood configured with the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the swirler fan according to the disclosure.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view that illustrates another example of the swirler fan according to the disclosure.

(7) FIG. 7 is a perspective view that illustrates an assembly of the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(8) FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates another example of the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates another configuration of a ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(10) FIG. 10 is a diagram that illustrates the result of simulation of air current and pressure contours formed by the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(11) FIG. 11 is a diagram that illustrates the capture region by the result of simulation of air current and velocity contours formed by the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail, with reference to the attached drawings.

(13) FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates a configuration of a ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(14) A ventilator module according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a swirler fan 100, a suction fan 200, and a motor 300. The ventilator module may further include a suction fan case 400, a bell-mouth 500, an outlet 600 and a housing 700.

(15) A swirler fan 100 provided with an opening 107 at the center thereof, and an suction fan 200 arranged at the rear side of the swirler fan 100 are coupled with one motor 300 via coupling members so as to be simultaneously driven. The two fans are assembled to be coupled with the motor 300 being maintained on the same axis which is an axis 330 of the motor.

(16) FIG. 4 is a cut exploded perspective view of the range hood configured with the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(17) In general, the range hood is installed on the ceiling of kitchen, and thus, a hood body 710 may be installed on the ceiling so as to serve as a support body for various members to be fixed to the ceiling, and improve the aesthetics. The hood body 710 is provided with an opening at the center thereof. The bell-mouth 500 and the swirler fan 100 are disposed at the front side of the hood body 710. The suction fan case 400 which receives the suction fan 200, and the outlet 600 are disposed in the rear side of the hood body.

(18) In addition, it is desirable to install a grid-like guard 800 below the swirler fan 100.

(19) In this case, the housing 700 having a hexahedron shape to form a space therein may be combined with the rear side of the hood body 710. The suction fan case 400 is received in the space of the housing 700, and the motor 300 and the outlet 600 are disposed at a rear side of the housing 700 to be connected to the suction fan case 400.

(20) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the swirler fan according to the disclosure.

(21) The swirler fan 100 is configured such that a plurality of fins 104 are arranged toward the bottom of a main body at the lower side of the planer ring-shape main body 102 having an opened center portion, and a central opening 107 is provided with connection rods 106 to form a connection so that a shaft of the motor 300 is connected to the center, and an annular band 108 with a certain height is erected vertically in between the inner side of the planer ring-shape main body 102 and the connection rods 106 to the center 100a thereof.

(22) Thus, the swirler fan 100 of FIG. 5 includes a center 100a which is connected to the axis 330 of the motor 300, an annular band 108 which surrounds outside of the center 100a, a plurality of connection rods 106 which extends from outer surface of the center 100a to inner surface of the annular band 108 in a radial direction, and a ring-shape main body 102 which surrounds outer surface of the annular band 108 on which a plurality of fins 104 is formed.

(23) In this case, an auxiliary blade 101 with a predetermined slant angle may be formed at a side of the connection rod 106. The auxiliary blade 101 may increase flow speed through the opening 107 when the ring-shape main body 102 rotates.

(24) FIG. 6 is a perspective view that illustrates another example of the swirler fan according to the disclosure.

(25) the swirler fan 100 is configured such that a plurality of connection rods 106 are arranged from the center, and an annular band 108 with a certain height is erected at the end of the connection rods 106, and a plurality of fins 104 are formed at the outer side of the annular band 108 thereof.

(26) Thus, the swirler fan 100 of FIG. 5 includes a center 100a which is connected to the axis 330 of the motor 300, a ring-shape main body 102 which is combined with the center 100a, an annular band 108 which surrounds outside of the ring-shape main body 102 and has a plurality of fins protruded toward outside of the annular band 108 along outer surface of the annular band 108, and a plurality of connection rods 106 which extends from outer surface of the ring-shape main body 102 to inner surface of the annular band 108 in a radial direction.

(27) In addition, an auxiliary blade 101 with a predetermined slant angle may be formed at a side of the connection rod 106. The auxiliary blade 101 may increase suction air velocity through the opening 107 when the ring-shape main body 102 rotates.

(28) In addition, according to another example embodiment of the disclosure, an end of a connection rod 106 may penetrate an annular band 108 to be protruded toward outside, and a fin 104 may be formed on the end of the connection rod 106 in a perpendicular direction. In another example embodiment, the fin 104 may include a horizontal element which is formed on outer surface of the annular band 108 in parallel with the ring-shape main body 102, and a vertical element which is formed at an end of the horizontal element in perpendicular direction.

(29) The swirler fan 100 is rotated by the motor 300 to form a swirl. The swirl forms, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, a donut-like low pressure zone. FIGS. 10 and 11 are exemplary cross-sectional views. When the swirler fan 100 is driven, the air current flows toward the outer side of the swirler fan 100 and then flows back toward the center of the swirler fan 100 thereby forming a low pressure trough. That is, a donut-like (viewed in three dimensions) low pressure zone is formed at the outer side periphery of the swirler fan 100. Due to the low pressure zone, low pressure is also formed around the center portion of the swirler fan 100 so that an ascending air current is generated for a while. However, only with the low pressure formed at the center portion by the swirler fan 100, it is difficult to obtain a desired level of effect in air suction and discharge. Therefore, according to the disclosure, the suction fan 200 is additionally provided at the rear side of the swirler fan 100 and driven so as to generate a stronger ascending air current. When the suction fan 200 and the swirler fan 100 are driven to rotate together, the donut-like low pressure zone takes a circular motion to form a tornado air current that allows a wide range of collection of air. A significantly strong level of low pressure zone is formed at the center portion of the tornado air current so that the air current ascend at high speed by receiving rising propulsion supplied by the suction fan 200. With such a mechanism, the ventilator module according to the disclosure can exhibit powerful and speedy discharge effect of pollutants and odors.

(30) The swirler fan 100 and the suction fan 200 are assembled on the same axis, and the one motor 300 is coupled thereto at the axis so as to drive the swirler fan 100 and the suction fan 200 simultaneously.

(31) The bell-mouth 500 having an opening 520 at an upper portion thereof and an inclined surface which is inclined toward outside and bottom direction along boundaries of the upper portion, as illustrated in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, is provided with a horizontal end 510, expanded in horizontal, at an end of the inclined surface of the bell-mouth 500 which is the bottom of the bell-mouth 500. With such a horizontal end 510, as can be seen from the simulation of FIG. 10, the air current generated by the drive of the swirler fan 100 forms a swirl along the horizontal end 510 thereby enlarging the size of the swirl according to Coanda Effect, which is the tendency of a fluid jet to be attracted to a nearby surface, and as a result, the collection area increases.

(32) In other words, as the air current flows along an inclined surface of the bell-mouth 500 and the horizontal end 510, the travel distance of the air current is extended so that the air current flows back rather than receives a constant propulsion thereby forming the donut-like low pressure zone. It is satisfactory that such a bell-mouth 500 has the inclined surface and the horizontal end 510, and thus, the shape thereof is not necessarily the quadrangular truncated pyramid. When the bell-mouth 500 is formed as a truncated pyramid, an elliptical truncated cone or a truncated cone and the bottom thereof is provided with the horizontal end 510, it is possible to exhibit the same function. In case of the quadrangular truncated pyramid shape, the horizontal end 510 is provided only at an edge in the lateral direction to simplify the configuration.

(33) The bell-mouth 500 also has an opening 520 at the center portion. With the opening 520, it is possible to increase the flow rate of ascending air current at the center portion and to extend the collection range.

(34) When the donut-like low pressure zone is formed according to the configuration of the swirler fan 100 and the bell-mouth 500, it is necessary to apply a driving force to rotate the low pressure zone to form a tornado air current so that a strong ascending air current is formed at the center thereof, which is served by the suction fan 200. As the suction fan 200, a conventionally well-known centrifugal fan (a sirocco fan or a turbo fan) or an axial fan may be applied, and also as a suction fan case 400, a conventionally well-known case is used. The suction fan is a cylinder with an opening 220 at the center thereof and has a plurality of blades 210. The suction fan case 400 as described in FIG. 3 includes a part in which the suction fan 200 is accommodated and a part into which an outlet 600 is assembled, which are configured to be eccentric to each other. In the bottom of the suction fan case 400, an opening 420 is provided at the part in which the suction fan 200 is accommodated, and in the top of the suction fan case 400, an opening is provided at the part into which the outlet 600 is assembled. Other than the suction fan case 400, a housing 700 that accommodates the suction fan case 400 therein may be further applied, and accordingly, the top of the suction fan case 400 may be completely opened. In this case, the top of the suction fan case 400 is assembled to the housing 700, the suction fan case 400 is accommodated in the housing 700 in a manner such that the housing 700 completely seals the air current. This embodiment adopts such a configuration as illustrated in the drawings.

(35) FIG. 7 is a perspective view that illustrates an assembly of the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(36) The motor 300 is combined with a rear end of the suction fan case 400. The suction fan 200 is received in the suction fan case 400. The housing 700 and the bell-mouth 500 are combined with a front end of the suction fan case 400 in order. The axis 330 of the motor 300 penetrates the opening 420 of the suction fan case 400, the suction fan 200, the opening 720 of the housing 700, and the opening 520 of the bell-mouth 500, so that the axis 330 is combined with the center 100a of the swirler fan 100. The outlet 600 is formed toward outside of the suction fan 200 in a radial direction.

(37) FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates another example of the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(38) In addition, as shown on FIG. 8, in a case in which the suction fan, installed at the rear side of the swirler fan 100 with the opening at the center thereof, is configured as an axial propeller fan 250, the outlet of the suction fan case may be assembled to be positioned on the same axis as a point at which the suction fan is disposed. As shown on FIG. 8, the outlet 600 may be assembled to the suction fan case or the housing 450. An opening may be formed at a central portion of the axial propeller fan 250 and between wing frames, so that air flow may be formed therethrough. According to the axial propeller fan 250 of FIG. 8, structure of the ventilator module may be simplified. A motor 300 and the axial propeller fan 250 may be received in the suction fan case 450, and a bell-mouth 500 and the swirler fan 100 may be disposed at a front end of the suction fan case 450.

(39) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view that illustrates another configuration of a ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(40) In cases that the ventilator module according to the disclosure is applied in portable ventilation equipments such as a portable dust collector, a portable welding fume extractor, etc., it is necessary to install filters at the of the outlet to eliminate or trap pollutants. In such cases the suction forces of the suction fan 200 in the ventilator module could be decreased due to the pressure drop by filters. To overcome this problem it is necessary to drive the suction fan 200 at the rear portion with stronger rotational power.

(41) For this application FIG. 9 illustrates another configuration of a ventilator module according to the disclosure comprising a motor 300 with a motor housing 310 to drive a swirler fan 100, and another motor 900 with a suction fan case 400 disposed separately with distance to drive a suction fan 200 independently.

(42) FIG. 10 is a diagram that illustrates the result of simulation of air current and pressure contours formed by the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(43) The air current flows along an inclined surface of the bell-mouth 500 and the horizontal end 510, and flows back forming the donut-like low pressure zone. A significantly strong level of low pressure zone is formed at the center portion of the tornado air current so that the air current ascends at high speed by receiving rising propulsion supplied by the suction fan 200. In addition, FIG. 10 shows that the bell-mouth 500 enlarges the capture regions.

(44) FIG. 11 is a diagram that illustrates the capture region by the result of simulation of air current and velocity contours formed by the ventilator module according to the disclosure.

(45) It shows that the ventilator module according to the disclosure creates the wider capture region and the deeper capture depth than the conventional fans' as shown on FIG. 1.

(46) With such a mechanism, the ventilator module according to the disclosure can exhibit powerful and speedy discharge effect of pollutants and odors.

(47) The right of the disclosure is not limited by the embodiment(s) described hereinbefore, but shall be defined according to the description in the scope of claims hereinafter. It is apparent that a person with an ordinary knowledge of the related art to which the disclosure pertains may conduct various alteration or modification within the scope of the right described in the scope of claims.