Axial flow fan with multiple segment blades

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/321,468 filed Dec. 18, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,569.

The present invention generally relates to blades, and more particularly, to an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades.

Application of fans is increasing along with the rapid development of industrial techniques. For example, fans in heat exchangers or computer equipment can make a temperature therewithin drop.

Specifically, an axial flow fan directly blows air over the computer equipment or rapidly circulates the air to cool the equipment.

FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of the blades of the axial flow fan the prior art. The axial flow fan has a hub 100 and a plurality of blades 102 . Each of the blades 102 equally extends from periphery 104 of the hub 100 . Air drifts into the region of the blades 102 and then the air around the blades 102 is compressed to form airflow when the axial flow fan spins in a direction 106 .

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a blade 102 of the axial flow fan depicted in FIG. 1 . An incident angle 112 is defined as an angle between a line 108 and the flow direction 110 of the air. The line 108 is drawn between a leading edge and a rear edge. There is a separation between the air and the surface of the blades 102 resulting in a stall effect when the incident angle 112 increases up to a specific angle. Turbulence is then formed on the upper surface of the blades 102 . Since the stall effect reduces the work generated by the blades, the efficiency of the axial flow fan is severely decreased.

One object of the present invention is an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades that reforms a boundary layer of fluid on the segment blades to reduce the thickness of the boundary layer thereon. As a result, the prevention of the separation effect between the segment blades and the fluid maintains a laminar flow of the fluid adjacent to the segment blades.

Another object of the present invention is that the total incident angles of a blade unit be divided into a plurality of incident angles of a segment blade to reduce sequentially fluid impact against the surface region of the blades by the incident angles of the segment blades.

Yet another object of the present invention is the ability of the fluid resistance reduction on the surface region of the segment blades to decrease the operation current of an axial flow fan.

According to the above objects, the present invention sets forth an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades. The axial flow fan typically includes a hub and a plurality of blade units. The hub is used to support the blade units. The blade units connect to a periphery of the hub and extend radially outward from the periphery of the hub. Each of the blade units at least includes a first blade and a second blade. A segment space between the first blade and the second blade reforms the boundary layer passing through the first blade and the second blade. The thickness of the boundary layer on the segment blades therefore becomes thinner to prevent segment blades and the fluid from manifesting the separation effect.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the axial flow fan has a frame base, a hub and a plurality of blade units. The hub is pivotally connected to the frame base and supports the blade units. The blade units are connected to a periphery of the hub and extend radially outward from the periphery of the hub. Each of the blade units at least has a plurality of blades. A segment space between the first blade and the second blade maintains a laminar flow of the fluid passed through the surface of the blades by a boundary layer reformation.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the axial flow fan with multiple segment blades has a frame base, a hub, a plurality of rotating blade units and a plurality of still blade units. The hub is attached to the frame base and pivots thereon; the rotating blade units extend from the hub. The still blade units mounted on the frame base form a stationary structure. Each of still blade units has a plurality of segment blades. A segment space between the first blade and the second blade can prevent the surface of the still blade units and the fluid from separating.

Typically, the axial flow fan utilizes the still blade units and rotating blade units, such as the above-mentioned segment blades or a single segment blade. The still blade units mounted on the frame base align the rotating blade units during assembly of the axial flow fan. The still blade units and the frame base are at rest when the axial flow fan is in operation. The fluid is then introduced onto the rotating blades so that the fluid is gradually compressed for a fluid transmission.

In summary, the present invention utilizes an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades to reduce the thickness of the boundary layer by reforming the boundary layer on the surface of the segment blades. Further, the total incident angles of a blade unit are divided into a plurality of incident angles of a segment blade to reduce sequentially fluid impact against the surface region of the blade units. More importantly, the segment blades can be used to reduce resistance on the surface so as to decrease operation current for lower power consumption when the axial flow fan is in operation.

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the blades of an axial flow fan according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a blade of the axial flow fan in FIG. 1 depicted in the prior art;

FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the segment blades of an axial flow fan in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional of a segment blade of the axial flow fan depicted in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a three-dimensional view of an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades in accordance with one preferred embodiment the present invention; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a three-dimensional view of an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades in accordance with another preferred embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a segment blade of the stationary blade depicted in FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention.

The present invention is directed to an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades to introduce fluid by a plurality of blade units positioned around the periphery of a hub. A boundary layer of fluid passed through the segment blades is reformed to reduce the thickness of the boundary layer on the surfaces of the segment blades. As a result, the prevention of the separation effect between the segment blades and the fluid maintains a laminar flow of the fluid adjacent to the segment blades.

Additionally, the total incident angles of a blade unit are divided into a plurality of incident angles of a segment blade to sequentially reduce fluid impact against the surface region of the blade units by the incident angles of the segment blades, respectively. The segment blades can further reduce resistance on the surface region of the segment blades to save the operation current of the blade units. The segment blades are suitable for an axial flow fan or other type of fan and the fluid is air or liquid in the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a three-dimensional view of the blade structure of an axial flow fan in accordance with the present invention. The blade structure typically has a hub 200 and a plurality of blade units 202 . The hub 200 supports the segment blades of each blade unit 202 . The blade units 202 connect to a periphery of the hub 200 and extend radially outward from the periphery 204 of the hub 200 . Each of the blade units 202 at least includes a first blade 202 a and a second blade 202 b . A segment space 206 between the first blade 202 a and the second blade 202 b keeps the fluid passing over the surface of the first blade 202 a and through the second blade 202 b laminar.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of blade units 202 is arranged along the rim of the hub 200 with spaces separating the blade units 202 . Each of the blade units 202 has two or more segment blades 202 a , 202 b . Segment space 206 in flow direction 208 creates a state of separation or overlap between first blade 202 a and second blade 202 b . A state of overlap circulates readily the fluid on the segment blades.

In the present invention, the segment blades 202 a , 202 b of the blade units 202 introduce the fluid so as to reform a boundary layer of fluid, passed through the first blade 202 a and the second blade 202 b , for a thickness reduction of boundary layer on the surface. The segment space 206 between the first blade 202 a and the second blade 202 b therefore prevents the separation effect between the surface of the blade units 202 and fluid.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a segment blade of the axial flow fan in FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention. The first blade 202 a has a first leading edge 210 a and a first rear edge 212 a in each of blade units 202 . The first leading edge 210 a and the first rear edge 212 a define a first chord line 214 a . An angle between an entry direction of the fluid into the first leading angle 210 a and the first chord line 214 a is defined as a first incident angle (A.sub.1) 216 a . The first incident angle (A.sub.1) 216 a has arbitrary angles. Preferably, the first incident angle (A.sub.1) 216 a has a range of about 0.degree.<A.sub.1.ltoreq.30.degree. for a laminar flow when the fluid flows to the first rear edge 212 a.

The second blade 202 b has a second leading edge 210 b and a second rear edge 212 b to define a second chord line 214 b . An angle between an entry direction of the fluid into the second leading edge 210 b and the second chord line 214 b is defined as a second incident angle (A.sub.2) 216 b . The second incident angle (A.sub.2) 216 b has arbitrary angles. The second incident angle (A.sub.2) 216 b preferably has a range of 0.degree.<A.sub.2.ltoreq.30.degree. to keep the fluid adjacent to the second rear edge laminar. In addition, the angle between the radius of the hub and the first or second chord line 214 a , 214 b is defined as installation angles 218 a , 218 b . The first incident angle 216 a and the second incident angle 216 b are generally proportional to the installation angle.

Specifically, the blade units 202 have a total incident angle equal to the sum of the first and the second incident angle 216 a , 216 b . Typically, the more incident angle of the blade unit induces more work resulting in increment of the operation efficiency of the axial flow fan. Each of the segment blades 202 a , 202 b has a maximum incident angle 216 a , 216 b to generate more work in the present invention when the fluid on the surface region of the segment blades 202 a , 202 b is a laminar flow. Moreover, the present invention utilizes a constant total incident angle to calculate and adjust respective incident angle of the segment blades 202 a , 202 b for an efficiency increment of the of the axial flow fan.

The present invention sequentially utilizes the first incident angle (A.sub.1) 216 a of the first blade 202 a and the second incident angle (A.sub.2) 216 b of the second angle 202 b . The second leading edge 210 b of the second blade 202 b absorbs the turbulence flow adjacent to the first rear edge 212 a of the first blade 202 a to eliminate disturbance for a fluid impact reduction against the surface region of the segment blades 202 a , 202 b.

The first blade 202 a and the second blade 202 b have an arbitrary shape in FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first length 211 of the first blade 202 a along the flow direction of the fluid is greater than the second length 213 of the second blade 202 b along the flow direction since the size of the first blade 202 a is greater than that of the second blade 202 b . The first blade 202 a of the blade structure introduces the fluid into the segment blades and then the second blade 202 b receives the fluid from the first blade 202 a to eliminate the turbulence flow of the first blade 202 a.

The first incident angle 216 a and the second incident angle 216 b can generate individually maximum work. The selection of the installation angles 218 a , 218 b optimizes the total incident angles of each blade unit 202 to prevent a stall phenomenon of the blade units.

As a result, the size of the first and second blades 202 a , 202 b , the incident angle 216 a , 216 b , and the relative position of the first and second blades 202 a , 202 b eliminate the stall phenomenon between the fluid and the blade units and reduce the impact force from the fluid when the fluid flows over the blade units.

FIG. 5 shows a three-dimensional view of an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades in accordance with one preferred embodiment the present invention. The axial flow fan has a frame base 202 a , a hub 200 and a plurality of blade units 202 . The hub 200 is connected to the frame base 202 a , pivoting thereupon, to support the multiple segment blades. The blade units 202 are connected to a periphery of the hub 200 and extended radially outward from the periphery. Each of the blade units has a first blade 202 a and a second blade 202 b . A segment space 206 is positioned between the first blade and the second blade to maintain a laminar flow of the fluid passing over a surface region of the first blade 202 a and the second blade 202 b by a boundary layer reformation on the surface of the segment blades.

When the axial flow fan is in operation in a specific direction, the segment blades absorb the fluid and each of the segment blades gradually compresses the fluid to transmit the fluid.

FIG. 6 shows a three-dimensional view of an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The axial flow fan with multiple segment blades has a frame base 302 , a plurality of rotating blade units 222 , a hub 200 and a plurality of still blade units 303 . The hub 200 pivots on the frame base 302 and the hub 200 has rotating blade units 222 . The still blade units 303 mounted on the frame base 302 form a stationary structure and extend radially outward. As mentioned in the first embodiment of the present invention, each of the rotating blade units 222 also has a plurality of blades. The major feature of the second embodiment is that the still blade units 303 are fixed to the frame base 302 to form a steady structure. A segment space 306 between the first blade 303 a and the second blade 303 b maintains a laminar flow (arrows 730 , 740 ) of the fluid passing over a surface region of the first blade 303 a and the second blade 303 b . A third blade 303 c may also be provided.

Typically, the axial flow fan utilizes the still blade units 303 and rotating blade units 222 , such as the above-mentioned segment blades 303 or a single blade. The still blade units 303 mounted on the frame base align with the rotating blade units for assembly of the axial flow fan. The still blade units and the frame base are at rest when the axial flow fan is in operation. The fluid is then introduced into rotating blade units 222 so that the fluid is gradually compressed to transfer the fluid.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of segment blades 303 a , 303 b are positioned along the transmission direction of the fluid and no additional size of the axial flow fan for the benefit of the manufacturing cost reduction. More importantly, the segment blades can be used to reduce resistance on the surface so as to decrease operation current of the axial flow fan for lower power consumption.

The structure of the stationary blade units 303 is similar to the structure of the blade shown in FIG. 4 . For more clearly describing the structure of the stationary blade units 303 , FIG. 7 particularly shows a cross-sectional view of a segment blade of the stationary blade in FIG. 6 in accordance with the present invention. The first blade 702 a (which can be either of blades 303 a and 303 b ) has a first leading edge 710 a and a first rear edge 712 a in each of blade units 702 . The first leading edge 710 a and the first rear edge 712 a define a first chord line 714 a . An angle between an entry direction of the fluid into the first leading angle 710 a and the first chord line 714 a is defined as a first incident angle (A 1 ) 716 a . The first incident angle (A 1 ) 716 a has arbitrary angles. Preferably, the first incident angle (A 1 ) 716 a has a range of about 0°<A 1 ≦30° for a laminar flow (arrow 750 ) when the fluid flows to the first rear edge 712 a.

The second blade 702 b (which can be either of blades 303 b and 303 c ) has a second leading edge 710 b and a second rear edge 712 b to define a second chord line 714 b . An angle between an entry direction of the fluid into the second leading edge 710 b and the second chord line 714 b is defined as a second incident angle (A 2 ) 716 b . The second incident angle (A 2 ) 716 b has arbitrary angles. The second incident angle (A 2 ) 716 b preferably has a range of 0<A 2 ≦30° to keep the fluid adjacent to the second rear edge laminar. In addition, the angle between the radius of the hub and the first or second chord line 714 a , 714 b is defined as installation angles 718 a , 718 b . The first incident angle 716 a and the second incident angle 716 b are generally proportional to the installation angle. As can be seen in FIG. 7 , the first blade 702 A and the second blade 702 b are respectively located in the inner and outer portions of the laminar flow with respect to the center of curvature 760 of the laminar flow.

Specifically, the blade units 702 have a total incident angle equal to the sum of the first and the second incident angle 716 a , 716 b . Typically, the more incident angle of the blade unit induces more work resulting in increment of the operation efficiency of the blade units. Each of the segment blades 702 a , 702 b has a maximum incident angle 716 a , 716 b to generate more work in the present invention when the fluid on the surface region of the segment blades 702 a , 702 b is a laminar flow. Moreover, the present invention utilizes a constant total incident angle to calculate and adjust respective incident angle of the segment blades 702 a , 702 b for an efficiency increment of the blade units.

The present invention sequentially utilizes the first incident angle (A 1 ) 716 a of the first blade 702 a and the second incident angle (A 2 ) 716 b of the second angle 702 b . The second leading edge 710 b of the second blade 702 b absorbs the turbulence flow adjacent to the first rear edge 712 a of the first blade 702 a to eliminate disturbance for a fluid impact reduction against the surface regions of the first blades 702 a and the second blade 702 b . The segment space 706 between the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b keeps the fluid passing over the surface of the first blade 702 a and through the second blade 702 b laminar. The segment space 706 in flow direction 708 creates a state of separation between the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b , that is to say, the first rear edge 712 a of the first blade 702 a does not overlap the second leading edge 710 b of the second blade 702 b in the flow direction 708 . Alternatively, the segment space 706 in flow direction 708 can create a state of overlap between the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b , that is to say, the first rear edge 712 a of the first blade 702 a overlaps the second leading edge 710 b of the second blade 702 b in the flow direction 708 . The segment space 706 in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction 708 creates a state of separation between the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b and the second blade 702 b is in front of the upper surface of the first blade 702 a , that is to say, the second leading edge 710 b of the second blade 702 b is in front of the first rear edge 712 a of the first blade 702 a in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction 708 . Therefore, the second blade 702 b introduces the fluid from the first blade 702 a , and reforms a boundary layer of the fluid passed through the upper surface of the first blade 702 a to reduce the thickness of the boundary layers on the upper surfaces of the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b . The segment space 706 between the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b prevents the separation effect on the surfaces of the first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b , and especially, prevents the separation effect on the upper surface of the first blade 702 a.

The first blade 702 a and the second blade 702 b have an arbitrary shape in FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first length 711 of the first blade 702 a along the flow direction of the fluid is greater than the second length 713 of the second blade 702 b along the flow direction since the size of the first blade 702 a is greater than that of the second blade 702 b . The first blade 702 a of the blade structure introduces the fluid into the segment blades and then the second blade 702 b receives the fluid from the first blade 702 a to eliminate the turbulence flow of the first blade 702 a.

The first incident angle 716 a and the second incident angle 716 b can generate individually maximum work. The selection of the installation angles 718 a , 718 b optimizes the total incident angles of each blade unit 702 to prevent a stall phenomenon of the blade units. As a result, the size of the first and second blades 702 a , 702 b , the incident angle 716 a , 716 b , and the relative position of the first and second blades 702 a , 702 b eliminate the stall phenomenon between the fluid and the blade units and reduce the impact force from the fluid when the fluid flows over the blade units.

According to the above, the present invention utilizes an axial flow fan with multiple segment blades to introduce fluid by a plurality of blade units. A boundary layer of fluid passed through the segment blades is regenerated to reduce the thickness of the boundary layer on the blade surfaces. As a result, the separation between the blade surfaces and fluid is avoided to keep the fluid adjacent to the segment blades a laminar flow. Additionally, the total incident angles of a blade unit are divided into a plurality of incident angles of a segment blade to reduce fluid impact against the surface region of the blades. Furthermore, the fluid resistance reduction on the surface region of the segment blades can decrease the operation current of axial flow fan.

As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoing preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrative rather than limiting of the present invention. It is intended that they cover various modifications and similar arrangements be included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structure.