BLOWER HOUSING
A blower includes an impeller configured to be turned about a rotational axis of the impeller, and a housing. The housing includes a wrapper which curves in a circumferential direction about the rotational axis along a spiral contour. The housing also includes a side wall coupled to an edge of the wrapper such that an inner transition region between the side wall and the wrapper, which at least partially forms a flow path of the blower between an inlet and an outlet of the blower, is rounded and not pointed.
1 . A blower, comprising:
an impeller configured to be turned about a rotational axis of the impeller; and
a housing comprising a wrapper which curves in a circumferential direction about the rotational axis, and comprising a side wall coupled to an edge of the wrapper such that an inner transition region between the side wall and the wrapper, which at least partially forms a flow path of the blower between an inlet and an outlet of the blower, is rounded and not pointed.
2 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with respect to a cross-section of the blower taken to include the rotational axis therein, and wherein the U-shaped cross-sectional profile of the side wall extends between the edge of the wrapper and the impeller.
3 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the inner transition region comprises a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with respect to a cross-section of the blower taken to include the rotational axis therein.
4 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises a flange, and wherein the wrapper comprises an outer ridge forming an inner recess in which the flange of the side wall is disposed to couple the side wall to the wrapper.
5 . The blower of claim 4 , comprising a crimping engagement between the outer ridge and the flange.
6 . The blower of claim 4 , comprising a weld between the outer ridge and the flange.
7 . The blower of claim 1 , comprising an air intake opening about which the side wall circumferentially extends, wherein the impeller is in fluid communication with the air intake opening and configured to draw air into the flow path of the blower through the air intake opening.
8 . The blower of claim 1 , comprising an air output opening, wherein a radial dimension of the flow path relative to the rotational axis of the impeller increases in size as the flow path approaches the air output opening.
9 . The blower of claim 8 , wherein the inner transition region between the side wall and the wrapper comprises a curvature which increases in obtuseness as the inner transition region extends about the impeller and approaches the air output opening.
10 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper comprises a first piece of sheet metal, and wherein the side wall comprises a second piece of sheet metal.
11 . The blower of claim 1 , comprising an opposing side wall coupled to an opposing edge of the wrapper such that an additional inner transition region between the opposing side wall and the wrapper, which at least partially forms the flow path of the blower, is rounded and not pointed.
12 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the inner transition region comprises a flat segment of the wrapper.
13 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the side wall comprises an outer ridge forming an inner recess therein, wherein the wrapper comprises a flange, and wherein the flange is disposed within the inner recess of the outer ridge to couple the side wall to the wrapper.
14 . The blower of claim 1 , wherein the wrapper curves in the circumferential direction about the rotational axis along a spiral contour.
15 . A blower, comprising:
an impeller configured to be turned about a rotational axis of the impeller; and
a housing comprising a wrapper having an edge that curves in a circumferential direction about the rotational axis and along a spiral contour, and comprising a side wall coupled to the edge of the wrapper, wherein the wrapper comprises an outer ridge extending along the edge and forming an inner recess therein, wherein the side wall comprises a flange, and wherein the flange is disposed in the outer ridge to couple the side wall to the wrapper such that an inner transition region between the side wall and the wrapper, which at least partially forms a flow path of the blower, is rounded and not pointed.
16 . The blower of claim 15 , comprising a weld between the outer ridge and the flange.
17 . The blower of claim 15 , comprising a crimping engagement between the outer ridge and the flange.
18 . The blower of claim 15 , wherein the side wall, the inner transition region, or both form a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with respect to a cross-section having the rotational axis therein, and wherein the U-shaped cross-sectional profile is disposed between the impeller and a segment of the wrapper.
19 . The blower of claim 15 , wherein the wrapper comprises a first piece of sheet metal, and wherein the side wall comprises a second piece of sheet metal.
20 . The blower of claim 15 , comprising an air intake opening about which the side wall extends, wherein the impeller is fluidly coupled to the air intake opening and configured to draw air into the flow path of the blower through the air intake opening.
21 . A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising a blower, wherein the blower comprises:
an impeller configured to be turned about a rotational axis of the impeller; and
a housing comprising a wrapper that curves in a circumferential direction about the rotational axis, and comprising a side wall coupled to an edge of the wrapper such that an inner transition region between the side wall and the wrapper, which at least partially forms a flow path of the blower, is rounded and not pointed, and wherein the side wall, the inner transition region, or both form a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with respect to a cross-section having the rotational axis disposed therein.
22 . The HVAC system of claim 21 , wherein the wrapper comprises an outer ridge extending along the edge of the wrapper and forming an inner recess therein, wherein the side wall comprises a flange, and wherein the flange is disposed in the outer ridge to couple the side wall to the wrapper.
23 . The HVAC system of claim 22 , wherein the blower comprises a weld between the outer ridge and the flange, or wherein the blower comprises a crimping engagement between the outer ridge and the flange.
24 . The HVAC system of claim 21 , wherein the wrapper comprises a first piece of sheet metal, and wherein the side wall comprises a second piece of sheet metal.
25 . The HVAC system of claim 21 , wherein the wrapper curves in the circumferential direction about the rotational axis along a spiral contour.