Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2025-05-09)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness, 112 - Written Description/Enablement

CLAIMS:
\[Claim 1\] A centrifugal air blower comprising a case body that accommodates therein a centrifugal fan and a motor adapted to rotary drive the centrifugal fan, and configured to draw in air from an axial-direction center part of the case body and discharge air from a radial-direction side surface of the case body, wherein the case body comprises: a first case configured to be assembled to cover the centrifugal fan and provided with an intake opening part at an axial-direction center part and an annular first air blowing path formed at a radial-direction outer side; and a second case comprising, at an outer circumferential side of a bottom plate configured to axially support the motor to be rotatable, an annular second air blowing path formed on a radial-direction outer side of an outer-circumferential end part of the centrifugal fan, the second air blowing path being configured to be assembled with the first air blowing path, a dome-shaped space part formed on an opposite surface side to the intake opening part by a hub and a main plate continuing thereto of the centrifugal fan accommodates the motor in such a manner as to overlap in the axial direction, and an exhaust port is provided to a radial-direction side surface of the second case while being partitioned by a diffuser, the diffuser being formed upright at the bottom plate forming the second air blowing path and being coupled to an annular end part arranged at the radial-direction outer side. \[Claim 2\] The centrifugal air blower according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser panels formed upright at the bottom plate at a given interval, and in plan view of an inner surface of the second case, the diffuser panels are coupled to the annular end part in such a manner as to be formed upright in an arc-like shape from a radial-direction inner side to outer side of the bottom plate while having gradually increasing height, the bottom plate forming the second air blowing path. \[Claim 3\] The centrifugal air blower according to claim 1, wherein, at an inner wall surface between a radial-direction inner wall and a radial-direction outer wall forming the first air blowing path and formed upright in a concentric manner, in plan view of the first case, ridges are formed at a given interval in such a manner as to continue in an arc-like shape from the radial-direction inner wall toward the radial-direction outer wall while having gradually increasing height. \[Claim 4\] The centrifugal air blower according to claim 3, wherein, a ridge included in a first diffuser provided to the first air blowing path of the first case and a diffuser panel included in a second diffuser provided to the second air blowing path of the second case are each formed in an arc-like shape to follow a rotation direction of the centrifugal fan.

OFFICE ACTION:
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The Information Disclosure Statement(s) submitted February 20, 2025 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b)  CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1, line 7 recites “an axial-direction center part” however line 3 previously introduced “an axial-direction center part” and it is unclear whether line 7 is referring to the same feature or introducing an additional feature. For the purpose of examination, line 7 will be treated as referring to “the axial-direction center part”.
Claim 1, line 11 recites “a radial-direction outer side” however line 8 previously introduced “a radial-direction outer side”. These appear to be separate features since they are associated with the “first case” and “second case” respectively. If these are separate features, then they should be given unique names, for instance the feature in line 11 could be re-named “a second radial-direction outer side”. For the purpose of examination, line 11 will be treated as referring to “a second radial-direction outer side”.
The issue is further compounded because line 20 also recites “the radial-direction outer side” and it is unclear to which “radial-direction outer side” the line refers. For the purpose of examination, line 20 will be treated as referring to “the second radial-direction outer side”.
Claim 1, line 17 recites “a radial-direction side surface” which raises the same issue since lines 3-4 previously introduced “a radial-direction side surface”. These appear to refer to the same feature. For the purpose of examination, line 17 will be treated as referring to “the radial-direction side surface”.
Claims 2-4 depend from claim 1 and contain its limitations and therefore are rejected for the same reason.
Claim 2, line 5 recites “a radial-direction inner side to outer side” and the phrase “outer side” raises at least one possible issue. First, it is unclear whether the term lacks proper antecedent basis (such as being introduced with “a”). Second, claim 1 previously introduced “an outer circumferential side” and “a radial-direction outer side” of the annular first air blowing path, and “a radial-direction outer side” for an annular second air blowing path (a second radial-direction outer side” as discussed above), and it is unclear whether the “outer side” is a new feature which requires new antecedent basis or is referring to one of the previously introduced outer sides. For the purpose of examination, claim 2 will be treated as introducing “an outer side”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2021/0239127 to Uni as modified by US 2017/0240078 to Ishii.
In Reference to Claim 1
Uni teaches:
A centrifugal air blower (1) comprising:
a case body (4) that accommodates therein a centrifugal fan (1) and a motor (M) adapted to rotary drive the centrifugal fan, and configured to draw in air from an axial-direction center part (part having air supply 4c) of the case body and discharge air from the case body,
wherein the case body comprises:
a first case (4a) configured to be assembled to cover the centrifugal fan and provided with an intake opening part (4c) at the axial-direction center part and an annular first air blowing path (4d) formed at a radial-direction outer side (radially outer end, see Figure 2A); and
a second case (4b, see paragraph 39) comprising, at an outer circumferential side of a bottom plate (motor board 6, board support portion 6a, see paragraph 39) configured to axially support the motor to be rotatable, an annular second air blowing path (4e, see paragraph 42) formed on a second radial-direction outer side (radially outer end) of an outer-circumferential end part (main plate 2b, impeller 2c) of the centrifugal fan, the second air blowing path being configured to be assembled with the first air blowing path (see paragraph 42),
a dome-shaped space part (4i) formed on an opposite surface side to the intake opening part by a hub (2a) and a main plate (2b) continuing thereto of the centrifugal fan accommodates the motor in such a manner as to overlap in the axial direction, and
an exhaust port (4f) is provided to the second case while being partitioned by a diffuser (4r), the diffuser forming the second air blowing path and being coupled to an annular end part (4h2) arranged at the second radial-direction outer side (see paragraphs 37-42 and Figure 2A).
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Uni fails to teach:
The air is discharged from a radial-direction side surface, and the exhaust port is provided to the radial-direction side surface, the diffuser being formed upright at the bottom plate.
Ishii teaches:
A centrifugal air blower (50) comprising a first case (51a) and a second case (51b), and an exhaust port (50b, 50c, 50d, 50e), wherein air is discharged from a radial-direction side surface (radially outer sides, see Figure 4), wherein the exhaust port is provided to the radial-direction side surface with a diffuser (spaces leading to exhaust ports), the diffuser being formed upright (extending up and down directions in Figure 6) at a bottom plate (57) (see paragraphs 40-42 and Figures 4-6).
One having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have had the technological capability to modify the centrifugal air blower of Uni by re-positioning and re-orienting the exhaust port to be provided at the radial-direction side surface and to discharge air from the radial-direction side surface, and forming the diffuser upright at the bottom plate as taught by Ishii as both references are directed to centrifugal blowers having exhausts, and which would yield predictable results. In this case, the predictable result would be a centrifugal blower which directs the air radially outward.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-4 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:  The prior art of record fails to teach a plurality of diffuser panels which are formed in an arc-like shape from a radial-direction inner side to an outer side of the bottom plate while having a gradually increasing height as recited in claim 2. Uni teaches diffuser panels (4r) which have an arc-like shape, however the panels are not formed upright from a radial-direction inner side or gradually increase in height. Ishii fails to teach diffuser panels.
The prior art of record fails to teach ridges formed at an inner wall surface between a radial-direction inner wall and a radial-direction outer wall, the ridge formed in an arc-like shape from the radial-direction inner wall toward the radial-direction outer wall while having gradually increasing height as recited in claim 3. Uni fails to teach ridges along an inner wall surface.
Claim 4 depends from claim 3 and contains its limitations, and therefore would be allowable for the same reason.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 6,093,096 to Miyata teaches a centrifugal fan in a car seat.

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: Remarks Claims 1, 3 and 4 are pending in the present application. With this Response, Applicant has amended claim 1 and cancelled claim 2. Applicant respectfully submits that the present application is in condition for allowance based on the discussion which follows.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. 112 Claims 1-4 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112(b) as allegedly being indefinite based on various recited terms. With this response, Applicant has amended claim 1 addressing the issues identified in the outstanding Office Action. For example, claim 1 has been amended to clarify the previously recited parts.In view of the amendments to claim 1, Applicant respectfully submits that all claims are in compliance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112 and therefore respectfully request that the rejection to the claims under 35 U.S.C. §112 be withdrawn.Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. X103 Claim 1 was rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103 as allegedly being obvious from U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0239127 (hereinafter "Uni") as modified by U.S. Patent Application Publication No.: 2017/0240078 (hereinafter "Ishii"). Applicant respectfully submits that upon full consideration of currently pending claim 1, the cited prior art references and in view of the following discussion, claim 1 will be found to be novel and in no way obvious in view of the cited prior art.The present invention, for example as recited in claim 1, is directed to a unique centrifugal air blower which comprises specific parts that allow for air to be drawn in a specific direction and a specific exhaust port which, in combination provides for unique aspects which are novel and in no way obvious in view of the prior art.In the outstanding Office Action, it was alleged that Uni has a diffuser at the bottom portion of the annular blowing path of the centrifugal blower) and an assertion that Ishii has a device that draws air from the center part by the blower of the seat air conditioning system and discharges air to four sides from the radial-direction outer side of the rotation axis).However, Applicant respectfully submits that the diffuser disclosed in Uni is not formed upright at the bottom plate, but is formed between the bottom outer peripheral wall 4h1 and the bottom inner peripheral wall 4h2 forming the second blowing path 4e, and is provided, at the bottom portion, with the exhaust holes 4f partitioned by the beams 4g.Further Uni is has side surface of its case body that is closed to maintain rigidity of the case body, and the air is discharged from the exhaust holes at the bottom portion of the second blowing path. A person skilled in the art would not consider modifying its configuration to discharge air to four sides from the radial-direction outer side of the rotation axis like the blower disclosed in Ishii. This lack of incentive to modify the device of Uni will be readily apparent when one fully understands the Uni device and the problem the inventors of Uni solved with its device.Uni has been developed to solve a problem of decrease in durability and reliability of a case used for seat air conditioning in the configuration of the blower disclosed in Ishii where the blower draws air from the center part of the upper case and discharges air to four sides of the case from the radial-direction outer side of the rotation axis. Thereby, the plurality of exhaust holes for exhausting compressed air to the outside of the case body are drilled at the bottom portion of the second blowing path in the circumferential direction at prescribed intervals in the annular blowing path. Therefore, it is described that the side surface of the case body can be closed and rigidity of the case body is improved. (Uni specification, paragraph [00111]).Therefore, modifying the configuration of the blower disclosed in Uni where the plurality of exhaust holes for exhausting compressed air to the outside of the case body are drilled at the bottom portion of the second blowing path to the configuration of the blower disclosed in Ishii where air is discharged to four sides from the radial-direction outer side of the rotation axis is not conceivable even with application of common general technical knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in the art, there is no motivation or incentive to combine these configurations, and combining these configurations causes a logical contradiction.Neither Uni nor Ishii discloses or implies the configuration corresponding to "an exhaust port is provided to a radial-direction side surface of the second case while being partitioned by a diffuser, the diffuser being coupled to the bottom plate and an annular opening end part, the diffuser includes a plurality of diffuser panels formed upright at the bottom plate at a given interval, and in plan view of an inner surface of the second case, the diffuser panels are each coupled to the opening end part in such a manner as to be formed upright in an arc-like shape from a radial-direction inner side to a radial-direction outer side of the bottom plate while having gradually increasing height, the bottom plate forming the second air blowing path" in the amended claim 1. Applicant also respectfully notes that the Examiner, on page 7 of the Office Action agrees that the "prior art fails to teach a plurality of diffuser panels which are formed in an arc-like shape from a radial-direction inner side to an outer side of the bottom plate while having a gradual increasing height." (See Office Action, page 7, lines 5-7).In view of the foregoing, Applicant respectfully submits that Uni in view of Ishii fails to teach or in any way make obvious the subject matter of claim 1. Therefore respectfully request that the rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 be withdrawn.Allowable Subject Matter Applicant gratefully appreciates the indication that claims 3 and 4 would be allowable if the issues under 35 U.S.C. §112 were addressed. In view of statements regarding allowable subject matter, Applicant believes claim 2 should also be indicated as allowable. Applicant further notes that the subject matter of claim2 has now been incorporated into claim 1. Applicant respectfully submits and in view of the discussion above, all pending claims, i.e. claims 1, 3 and 4 are in condition for allowance.Conclusion In view of the foregoing, Applicant respectfully submits that the present application is in condition for allowance. Should the Examiner come to a contrary conclusion, the Examiner is invited to contact the undersigned at the telephone number listed below.Respectfully submitted, Date: July 14, 2025 /Stephen Weyer/ By: Stephen J. Weyer Registration No. 43259 STITES & HARBISON PLLC+1800 Diagonal Road *Suite 325*Alexandria, VA 22314 TEL: 703-739-4900 * FAX: 703-739-9577 * CUSTOMERNo. 881

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
EXAMINER’S AMENDMENT
An examiner’s amendment to the record appears below. Should the changes and/or additions be unacceptable to applicant, an amendment may be filed as provided by 37 CFR 1.312. To ensure consideration of such an amendment, it MUST be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee.
Authorization for this examiner’s amendment was given in an interview with Stephen Weyer (Reg. 43,259) on September 11, 2025.
The application has been amended as follows:
IN THE CLAIMS:
In claim 1, line 22, the phrase “an in plan view” has been changed to --and in plan view--.
The above change has been made to overcome a possible objection.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3, and 4 are allowed.
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20170240078A1: Claims:
A seat air conditioning system comprising: a seat pad that constitute a seat on which a user is seated and that is resiliently deformed to support the user on a surface side of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad includes a plurality of ventilation passages that open respectively on the surface side; a surface cover that has air permeability and is disposed to cover the surface side of the seat pad; an air outlet at which airs blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages meet; and a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein air blown out from the air outlet is straightened to flow into the suction port, wherein: the blower includes: a rotation shaft; a centrifugal multiblade fan that has a plurality of blades, which are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction with the rotation shaft as its center and are supported by the rotation shaft; and a case that accommodates the centrifugal multiblade fan and has the suction port, which opens on one side of the rotation shaft in its axial direction and on the air outlet-side; the plurality of blades guide an airflow, which is blown out from the air outlet-side, radially outward of the rotation shaft, so that the airflow, which is blown out from the air outlet-side is straightened to flow toward the suction port; and Î¸ 1 and Î¸ 2 are different from each other, where: Î¸ 1 is an angle that is formed in a rotation direction of the rotation shaft between a flow direction of air flowing through each of the plurality of ventilation passages, and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction; and Î¸ 2 is an angle that is formed in the rotation direction of the rotation shaft between each of the plurality of blades and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction.
a seat pad that constitute a seat on which a user is seated and that is resiliently deformed to support the user on a surface side of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad includes a plurality of ventilation passages that open respectively on the surface side;
a surface cover that has air permeability and is disposed to cover the surface side of the seat pad;
an air outlet at which airs blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages meet; and
a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein air blown out from the air outlet is straightened to flow into the suction port, wherein:
the blower includes: a rotation shaft; a centrifugal multiblade fan that has a plurality of blades, which are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction with the rotation shaft as its center and are supported by the rotation shaft; and a case that accommodates the centrifugal multiblade fan and has the suction port, which opens on one side of the rotation shaft in its axial direction and on the air outlet-side;
a rotation shaft;
a centrifugal multiblade fan that has a plurality of blades, which are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction with the rotation shaft as its center and are supported by the rotation shaft; and
a case that accommodates the centrifugal multiblade fan and has the suction port, which opens on one side of the rotation shaft in its axial direction and on the air outlet-side;
the plurality of blades guide an airflow, which is blown out from the air outlet-side, radially outward of the rotation shaft, so that the airflow, which is blown out from the air outlet-side is straightened to flow toward the suction port; and
Î¸ 1 and Î¸ 2 are different from each other, where: Î¸ 1 is an angle that is formed in a rotation direction of the rotation shaft between a flow direction of air flowing through each of the plurality of ventilation passages, and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction; and Î¸ 2 is an angle that is formed in the rotation direction of the rotation shaft between each of the plurality of blades and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction.
Î¸ 1 is an angle that is formed in a rotation direction of the rotation shaft between a flow direction of air flowing through each of the plurality of ventilation passages, and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction; and
Î¸ 2 is an angle that is formed in the rotation direction of the rotation shaft between each of the plurality of blades and a direction of a corresponding tangent line tangent to the circumferential direction.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein: Î¸ 1 satisfies 90Â°<Î¸ 1 <180Â°; and Î¸ 2 satisfies 20Â°<Î¸ 2 <80Â°.
Î¸ 1 satisfies 90Â°<Î¸ 1 <180Â°; and
Î¸ 2 satisfies 20Â°<Î¸ 2 <80Â°.
A seat air conditioning system comprising: a seat pad that constitute a seat on which a user is seated and that is resiliently deformed to support the user on a surface-side of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad includes a plurality of ventilation passages that open respectively on the surface-side; a surface cover that has air permeability and is disposed to cover the surface-side of the seat pad; an air outlet at which airs blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages meet; and a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein air blown out from the air outlet is straightened to flow into the suction port, wherein the seat pad includes a guide part that guides airflows, which are blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages, from the air outlet-side toward the suction port.
a seat pad that constitute a seat on which a user is seated and that is resiliently deformed to support the user on a surface-side of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad includes a plurality of ventilation passages that open respectively on the surface-side;
a surface cover that has air permeability and is disposed to cover the surface-side of the seat pad;
a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein air blown out from the air outlet is straightened to flow into the suction port, wherein the seat pad includes a guide part that guides airflows, which are blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages, from the air outlet-side toward the suction port.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 7 , wherein the guide part is formed to project from a part of the seat pad that is opposed to the suction port toward the suction port.
A seat air conditioning system comprising: a seat pad that constitute a seat on which a user is seated and that is resiliently deformed to support the user on a surface-side of the seat pad, wherein the seat pad includes a plurality of ventilation passages that open respectively on the surface-side; a surface cover that has air permeability and is disposed to cover the surface-side of the seat pad; an air outlet at which airs blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages meet; a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein a direction in which the air outlet and the suction port are aligned is an alignment direction; an outlet passage which is defined by the seat pad and to which the plurality of ventilation passages are connected, wherein the outlet passage extends in a direction crossing the alignment direction and includes the air outlet at its part that is opposed to the suction port; and a straightening member that is provided between the air outlet and the suction port on the rear surface-side of the seat pad to straighten an airflow flowing from the air outlet, by causing pressure loss in a flow of air flowing from the air outlet in the direction crossing the alignment direction before the flow of air flowing from the air outlet in the direction crossing the alignment direction flows into the suction port and to flow the airflow into the suction port.
an air outlet at which airs blown out respectively from the plurality of ventilation passages meet;
a blower that includes a suction port located on a rear surface-side of the seat pad to be connected to the air outlet and that suctions air from the surface cover-side through the plurality of ventilation passages, the air outlet, and the suction port, wherein a direction in which the air outlet and the suction port are aligned is an alignment direction;
an outlet passage which is defined by the seat pad and to which the plurality of ventilation passages are connected, wherein the outlet passage extends in a direction crossing the alignment direction and includes the air outlet at its part that is opposed to the suction port; and
a straightening member that is provided between the air outlet and the suction port on the rear surface-side of the seat pad to straighten an airflow flowing from the air outlet, by causing pressure loss in a flow of air flowing from the air outlet in the direction crossing the alignment direction before the flow of air flowing from the air outlet in the direction crossing the alignment direction flows into the suction port and to flow the airflow into the suction port.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 9 , wherein: the straightening member is disposed in the outlet passage.
the straightening member is disposed in the outlet passage.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 9 , wherein: the straightening member includes a wall that defines a plurality of passages through which the flow of air flows in the alignment direction; and the wall straightens air blown out from the air outlet by causing pressure loss in the flow of air flowing in the direction crossing the alignment direction, and flows the air into the suction port.
the straightening member includes a wall that defines a plurality of passages through which the flow of air flows in the alignment direction; and
the wall straightens air blown out from the air outlet by causing pressure loss in the flow of air flowing in the direction crossing the alignment direction, and flows the air into the suction port.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 11 , wherein the straightening member is a three-dimensional knitted fabric with the wall formed from fiber.
The seat air conditioning system according to claim 9 , wherein the blower includes: a rotation shaft whose axial direction is the alignment direction; a centrifugal multiblade fan that has a plurality of blades, which are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction with the rotation shaft as its center and are supported by the rotation shaft; and a case that accommodates the centrifugal multiblade fan and has the suction port, which opens on one side of the rotation shaft in its axial direction and on the air outlet-side.
a rotation shaft whose axial direction is the alignment direction;
a case that accommodates the centrifugal multiblade fan and has the suction port, which opens on one side of the rotation shaft in its axial direction and on the air outlet-side.
Ref US20210239127A1: Claims:
A centrifugal blower in which a centrifugal fan and a motor driving the centrifugal fan to rotate are housed in a case body, and air is supplied from a central part in an axial direction of the case body and exhausted from a bottom portion on an outer side in a radial direction of the case body, wherein the case body includes a first case assembled so as to cover the centrifugal fan, in which an opening for air supply is provided at a central part and a first blowing path is formed on the outer side in the radial direction, and a second case rotatably supporting the motor, in which a second blowing path to be combined with the first blowing path is formed on an outside of an outer peripheral end of the centrifugal fan in the radial direction, a plurality of exhaust holes for exhausting compressed air to an outside of the case body are drilled at a bottom portion of the second flowing path in a circumferential direction at prescribed intervals in an annular blowing path formed by combining the first case and the second case around the outer side in the radial direction of the case body, and a diffuser inclined diagonally downward with respect to a rotation direction of the centrifugal fan is provided at a position facing respective exhaust holes.
wherein the case body includes a first case assembled so as to cover the centrifugal fan, in which an opening for air supply is provided at a central part and a first blowing path is formed on the outer side in the radial direction, and
a second case rotatably supporting the motor, in which a second blowing path to be combined with the first blowing path is formed on an outside of an outer peripheral end of the centrifugal fan in the radial direction,
a plurality of exhaust holes for exhausting compressed air to an outside of the case body are drilled at a bottom portion of the second flowing path in a circumferential direction at prescribed intervals in an annular blowing path formed by combining the first case and the second case around the outer side in the radial direction of the case body, and
a diffuser inclined diagonally downward with respect to a rotation direction of the centrifugal fan is provided at a position facing respective exhaust holes.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is provided integrally with the second case, in which a plurality of diffuser plates are arranged so that the diffuser plates adjacent in the circumferential direction do not overlap one another in plan view in the axial direction.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein the diffuser is provided integrally with the second case, in which a plurality of diffuser plates are arranged so that the diffuser plates adjacent in the circumferential direction overlap one another in plan view in the axial direction.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 2 , wherein an upstream end portion in an exhaust direction of each diffuser plate forming the diffuser is chamfered to form an R-surface.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein each diffuser plate forming the diffuser has a skew shape shifted by a prescribed amount in the rotating direction of the centrifugal fan with respect to the radial direction.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal fan has a hub assembled integrally with a rotor yoke at a central part, a main plate continuing from the hub on the outer side in the radial direction is formed in a dome shape, a plurality of impeller blades are formed to stand on the main plate in the circumferential direction at prescribed intervals, and a shroud annually connecting outer edge portions of respective impeller blades is formed.
the centrifugal fan has a hub assembled integrally with a rotor yoke at a central part,
a main plate continuing from the hub on the outer side in the radial direction is formed in a dome shape,
a plurality of impeller blades are formed to stand on the main plate in the circumferential direction at prescribed intervals, and
a shroud annually connecting outer edge portions of respective impeller blades is formed.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein the motor is housed in an overlapping manner in a dome-shaped space formed by the hub of the centrifugal fan and the main plate continuing from the hub on an opposite surface side of the opening for air supply.
The centrifugal blower according to claim 1 , wherein the centrifugal fan is configured so that blades of a sub-impeller are each formed to stand on the main plate in the vicinity of the outer side in the radical direction between adjacent impeller blades.
Ref US6093096A: Claims:
An air conditioning apparatus for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, said air conditioning apparatus comprising: a case for forming an air passage, said case having at least first and second air outlets for blowing air toward the passenger compartment; a centrifugal fan having a plurality of blades and a circular outer peripheral portion, said centrifugal fan being disposed in said case; and a rotary door for opening and closing said first and second air outlets, said rotary door being disposed to simultaneously open both said first and second outlets; wherein said first and second air outlets are formed in said case to be arranged in a circumference direction of said centrifugal fan and to face said outer peripheral portion of said centrifugal fan; said centrifugal fan is a backward curved fan in which each blade is curved backward relative to a rotation direction of said centrifugal fan; each blade has a first end at a most outer side in a radius direction of said centrifugal fan, a second end at a most inner side in the radius direction, and a bent portion between said first end and said second end; said first end is disposed at a rear side of said second end relative to said the rotation direction of said centrifugal fan; and said bent portion protrudes toward a front side in the rotation direction of said centrifugal fan.
a case for forming an air passage, said case having at least first and second air outlets for blowing air toward the passenger compartment;
a centrifugal fan having a plurality of blades and a circular outer peripheral portion, said centrifugal fan being disposed in said case; and
a rotary door for opening and closing said first and second air outlets, said rotary door being disposed to simultaneously open both said first and second outlets; wherein
said first and second air outlets are formed in said case to be arranged in a circumference direction of said centrifugal fan and to face said outer peripheral portion of said centrifugal fan;
said centrifugal fan is a backward curved fan in which each blade is curved backward relative to a rotation direction of said centrifugal fan;
each blade has a first end at a most outer side in a radius direction of said centrifugal fan, a second end at a most inner side in the radius direction, and a bent portion between said first end and said second end;
said first end is disposed at a rear side of said second end relative to said the rotation direction of said centrifugal fan; and
said bent portion protrudes toward a front side in the rotation direction of said centrifugal fan.
The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotary door includes a peripheral wall having a circular arc shape in cross section, said rotary door being disposed in said case at an outer side of said outer peripheral portion of said centrifugal fan, said air conditioning apparatus further comprising: a guide portion disposed on an inner peripheral surface of said peripheral wall of said rotary door to be rotated integrally with said peripheral wall, said guide portion being disposed in such a manner that a sectional area of an air-blowing passage between said inner peripheral surface of said peripheral wall and said outer peripheral portion of said centrifugal 
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