Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a blower enclosure configured to secure to a base and house a blower. The blower enclosure includes a main body defining an internal blower chamber, and at least one access door configured to open to allow access to the blower. The enclosure may also include a gland plate secured over a preformed opening in the main body. The gland plate may include an O-ring configured to sealingly engage an outlet pipe of the blower. The enclosure may further include a fixed filter shroud configured to allow a user to install and remove a filter element without the use of a tool.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a blower assembly, and more particularly to an enclosure for a blower assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Centrifugal blowers are used with various applications. For example, centrifugal blowers may be used to power an air knife that may be used to remove moisture and debris from products and packaging. After the moisture and debris has been removed, date codes and other information may be printed on the products and packaging. 
     Typically, a centrifugal blower is housed in a protective enclosure. The protective enclosure protects the blowers from moisture and debris. After the blower assembly is used, the assembly area may be washed down. The enclosure protects the blower from the wash fluid. Additionally, the enclosure may dampen or otherwise minimize the sound created by an operating blower. 
     A conventional blower enclosure includes front, rear, top, and lateral walls integrally formed with one another. The bottom of the enclosure is open ended. The five sided enclosure is typically lowered onto a steel frame and is secured through mounting brackets. In particular, the enclosure is secured to the frame through screws or bolts. Seams are formed at the union of the lateral, front, and rear walls and the frame. The seams may provide a path for moisture to infiltrate into the interior chamber of the enclosure where the blower resides. 
     In order to service the blower, motor, and/or filters contained within the enclosure, an operator typically unfastens the bolts or screws that secure the enclosure to the frame, and removes the enclosure from the frame. That is, the operator engages each fastener with a tool, such as a screwdriver, ratchet, wrench, or the like. Additionally, before removing the enclosure, outlet pipes are removed. Servicing the blower and other components in this manner may take a substantial amount of time. 
     Other types of enclosures include an access door that is secured via screws. The access door is proximate a filter element within the blower assembly. In order to change the filter element, an operator unscrews the fasteners, and opens the door to gain access to the filter element. However, the access door does not provide access to the blower or motor. In order to service the blower or motor, the entire enclosure typically is removed from the base. 
     Additionally, during assembly of the blower assembly, an opening is cut or formed through the enclosure. An outlet pipe configured to be attached to the blower is secured through the outlet. For example, a typical outlet pipe includes a flange configured to secure to the enclosure. A plurality of gaskets are positioned around the tube before it is passed through the opening. The gaskets abut against the enclosure around the opening in order to provide a seal. The process of cutting a hole through the enclosure for the outlet pipe provides another step for an operator to perform during the overall installation process. 
     Thus, a need exists for a blower enclosure that provides quick and easy access to the blower and other components. A need also exists for a system and method of quickly and easily servicing a blower and components within blower enclosure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a blower enclosure or cover configured to secure to a base and house a blower. The blower enclosure may include a main body defining an internal blower chamber, and at least one access door configured to open to allow access to the blower. Access to the blower may be gained without removing the blower enclosure from the base. 
     The access door allows access to the internal chamber when the access door is in the open position. The access door and the main body provide a fluid-tight barrier when the access door is in the closed position. 
     The enclosure may include two access doors, wherein a first of the access doors is positioned on a first side of the main body, and a second of the access doors is positioned on a second side of the main body. The second side may be opposite the first side. For example, the first side may be the front side, while the second side may be the rear side. 
     The enclosure may also include at least one fixed filter shroud that includes at least one guide rib configured to guide a pre-filter into position, a groove located between the guide rib and the main body, and a retaining clip. The pre-filter is securely retained by the groove and the retaining clip. An open end of the shroud provides access to the pre-filter. 
     Certain embodiments of the present invention also provide a blower assembly including an air blower, a motor, and a cover. The air blower includes an air outlet tube, and is operable to force air through the air outlet tube. The motor is operatively connected to the air blower. The cover may include a main body defining an internal blower chamber, at least one access door secured to the main body and selectively moveable between open and closed positions. The air blower and the motor are housed within said main body, and the access door provides access to the air blower and the motor when the access door is in the open position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric front view of a blower assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom elevation view of a blower enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side elevation view of a blower enclosure according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a top elevation view of a gland plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side elevation view of an outlet pipe secured to an enclosure wall through a gland plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower assembly during a first filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower assembly during a second filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower assembly during a third filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower assembly during a fourth filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric front view of a blower assembly  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The blower assembly  10  includes a blower enclosure or cover  12  having a bottom wall  14  integrally formed with lateral walls  16 , which are in turn integrally formed with a top wall  18 . Filter shrouds  20  outwardly extend from each lateral wall  16 . The bottom ends of the filter shrouds  20  are open. Mesh pre-filters  21  are configured to be secured within the filter shrouds  20 . The pre-filters  21  are configured to trap large airborne particulates. 
     The blower enclosure  12  also includes front and rear access doors  22 . In order to show the internal components of the blower assembly  10 , the front access door is not shown in  FIG. 1 . Internal grooves  23  configured to receive and retain the access doors  22  are formed between the bottom, lateral, and top walls  14 ,  16 , and  18  on the front and rear of the enclosure  12 . The access doors  22  and the grooves  23  cooperate with one another to provide a seamless, water-tight union. For example, the interior surfaces of the access doors  22  may include sealing gasket members around their edges. 
     The walls  14 ,  16 , and  18 , and the access doors  22  define an internal chamber  24 . A centrifugal blower  26  and a motor  28  are secured within the internal chamber  24 . The blower  26  and the motor  28  may be secured to an interior surface of the bottom wall  14  through brackets  30  and fasteners  32 . The blower  26  may be operatively connected to the motor  28  through belts, pulleys, and the like (not shown). 
     The blower  26  is, in turn, operatively connected to an outlet pipe  34  that is configured to deliver air from the blower  26  out of the blower assembly  10 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the outlet pipe  34  passes through the top wall  18  of the enclosure  12 . Alternatively, the outlet pipe  34  may pass through the bottom wall  14 . 
     The enclosure  12  may be formed of polypropylene and may be secured to a steel base. The enclosure  12  protects the blower  26 , the motor  28 , and the filters  21  in wash-down environments and reduces sound levels to within OSHA standards. The access doors  22  may be formed of clear Lexan. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevation view of the blower enclosure  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the outlet pipe  34  extends through the bottom wall  14  of the enclosure  12 . The access doors  22  are secured to grooves (not shown in  FIG. 2 ) formed in the enclosure  12 . Each access door  22  is secured within the grooves through a plurality of spring actuator fasteners  40 . Each spring actuator fastener  40  may be a spring cam mechanism that may be quickly and easily engaged. For example, the spring actuator fasteners  40  may be half turn, fast lock fasteners. 
     In order to gain access to the interior of the blower enclosure  12 , a user simply engages the spring actuator fasteners  40  in order to remove the access door  22 . Each access door  22  may also include a graspable handle  42 . Thus, a user disconnects the access door  22  by engaging the spring actuator fasteners  40 , and then grasps the access door  22  through the handle  42  in order to remove the access door  22  from the remainder of the enclosure  12 . 
     Because the blower enclosure  12  includes access doors  22  at the front and rear, a user may gain access to the interior of blower enclosure  12  from two distinct areas. Thus, if the blower  26  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) within the blower enclosure  12  needs to be serviced, a user merely opens one or both access doors  22  (instead of completely removing the blower enclosure from a base). The access doors  22  allow the internal components of the blower assembly  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) to be serviced without removing or adjusting the outlet pipe  34  and/or other duct work. 
     While the access doors  22  are shown secured to the walls  14 ,  16 , and  18  through a plurality of spring actuator fasteners  40 , the access doors  22  may, alternatively, be configured to slide, rotate (such as through hinges), or swivel open with respect to the blower assembly  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). For example, one side of an access door  22  may be operatively connected to a hinge, while the distal end of the access door  22  may lock into place through a latch. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate bottom and side views, respectively, of the blower enclosure  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , each filter shroud  20  includes guide ribs  44  that are configured to guide the pre-filters  21  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 ) into a secured position (as discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 7-10 ). 
     The bottom wall  14  of the enclosure  12  includes a preformed opening  46 . Optionally, the preformed opening  46  may be formed through the top wall  18  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) depending on the location of the outlet pipe  34 . The outlet pipe  34  is sealably secured to a gland plate  48  that is secured over the preformed opening  46 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a top elevation view of the gland plate  48 . The gland plate  48  is a planar sheet having a rectangular shape with rounded corners  49 . Optionally, the gland plate  48  may be various other shapes. 
     The perimeter and cross-sectional area of the gland plate  48  are both greater than the perimeter and cross-sectional area of the preformed opening  46  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) formed through either the bottom or top wall  14  or  18  of the enclosure  12  (shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ). The gland plate  48  includes fastener through holes  50  proximate each rounded corner  49 . The fastener through holes  50  are configured to align with corresponding fastener through holes formed through the bottom or top wall  14  or  18  of the enclosure  12 . 
     An outlet pipe passage  52  is formed through the gland plate  48 . A sealing O-ring  54  is secured within the gland plate  48  and extends into the outlet pipe passage  52 . The O-ring  54  extends over the circumference of an interior edge  56  that defines the outlet pipe passage  52 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side elevation view of the outlet pipe  34  secured to the bottom wall  14  of the enclosure  12  through the gland plate  48  The gland plate  48  is positioned over the preformed opening  46  formed through the bottom wall  14  of the enclosure  12 . Planar surfaces of the gland plate  48  overlap portions of the bottom wall  14  that bound the preformed opening  46 . The gland plate  48  is secured to the bottom wall  14  through fasteners  60  that are positioned within the through holes  50  and the aligned through holes  62  formed through the bottom wall  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , an outer edge  64  of the O-ring  54  is compressively sandwiched within a reciprocal notch  66  formed within the gland plate  48 . The outlet pipe  34  is urged into the outlet pipe passage  52  (shown in  FIG. 5 ) in the direction of arrow A. As the outlet pipe  34  is passed through the outlet pipe passage  52 , the O-ring  54  sealingly engages the outer surface of the outlet pipe  34 , thereby forming a fluid tight barrier. The outlet pipe  34  may be secured to the gland plate  48  before or after the gland plate  48  is secured to the enclosure  12 . The gland plate  48  provides a quick and easy way to secure the outlet pipe  34  with respect to the enclosure  12  without cutting an additional hole through the enclosure  12 . Moreover, the outlet pipe  34  is sealingly secured to the gland plate  48  through the O-ring  48 . Therefore, there is no need for additional gaskets around the outlet pipe  34  on either side of the wall  14 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front elevation view of the blower assembly  10  during a first filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the blower enclosure  12  may be secured to a base  70 . The base  70  may include adjustable leveling support pads  71 . Thus, the height of each support column  73  of the base  70  may be adjusted. 
     In order to install the pre-filters  21 , each pre-filter  21  is urged into the filter shroud  20  through an open bottom end  72  of the filter shroud  20  in the direction of arrow B. A retaining clip  74  is positioned proximate a lower portion of the lateral wall  16  and the open bottom end  72  of the filter shroud  20 . Each pre-filter  21  may be configured to be retained by a series of smaller clips  74  or clamps, or a large clip or clamp above and below a pre-filter  21  that spans the entire length of the pre-filter  21 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a front elevation view of a blower assembly  10  during a second filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pre-filter  21  continues to be urged in the direction of arrow B until its bottom end is above the retaining clip  74 . During this movement, the angled guide ribs  44  force the top of the pre-filter  21  toward the interior chamber of the enclosure  12  into a groove  80  defined between the lateral wall  16  and the guide ribs  44 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a front elevation view of the blower assembly  10  during a third filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. After the bottom end of the pre-filter  21  has cleared the retaining clip  74 , the bottom end of the pre-filter  21  is swung in the direction of arrow C about the pivot defined by the top end of the pre-filter  21  positioned within the groove  80 . 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a front elevation view of the blower assembly  10  during a fourth filter installation stage according to an embodiment of the present invention. After the bottom end of the pre-filter  21  is swung into position as shown in  FIG. 9 , the pre-filter  21  is merely allowed to drop down in the direction of arrow D. As such, the bottom end of the pre-filter  21  is retained by the retaining clip  74 , while the top end of the pre-filter  21  is retained within the groove  80  formed between the lateral wall  16  and the guide ribs  44 . 
     In order to remove the pre-filter  21 , the process is simply reversed. For example, the secured pre-filter  21  is pushed upward so that it disengages from the retaining clip  74 . The bottom end of the pre-filter  21  is then swung away from the internal chamber of the enclosure  12 . At this point, the pre-filter  21  may then be removed from the filter shroud  20  through the open bottom end  72 . 
     Thus, the blower enclosure  10  provides a quick and easy system and method of changing pre-filters  21 . The pre-filters  21  may be changed without the use of tools, and without removing the enclosure  12  from the base. In fact, the pre-filters  21  may be changed without opening an access door  22 . 
     Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a blower enclosure that provides quick and easy access to the blower and other internal components. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method of quickly and easily servicing a blower and components within a blower enclosure. 
     While various spatial terms, such as upper, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, and the like may used to describe portions of the blower assembly, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.