Patent Publication Number: US-9835167-B2

Title: Blower housing, especially for a side channel blower

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2013 226 563.8 filed Dec. 19, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention present invention pertains to a blower housing, which can be used, for example, for a side channel blower of a vehicle heater. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Such a side channel blower is generally used for delivering the combustion air needed for combustion in a fuel-operated vehicle heater in the direction of a combustion chamber. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a blower housing, especially for a side channel blower, which, with a simple structure, makes possible the precise carrying out of assembly procedures in the assembly of a blower, especially a side channel blower. 
     According to the present invention, this object is accomplished by a blower housing, especially for a side channel blower, comprising:
         a first housing part with a motor mounting space for a blower motor, wherein a rotor shaft, rotatable about a shaft axis of rotation, of a blower motor is or can preferably be rotatably mounted at the first housing part,   a housing cover for sealing the motor mounting space, wherein the housing cover has a cover meshing opening,   a second housing part with a cover meshing projection, which is positioned or can be positioned in a meshing manner in the cover meshing opening, wherein the cover meshing opening is sealed with the cover meshing projection being positioned in a meshing manner in the cover meshing opening.       

     In the blower housing constructed according to the present invention, it is made sure by providing the cover meshing opening, on the one hand, that there is access to the end of the rotor shaft lying in the interior of the motor mounting space when mounting a delivery wheel in order to support this rotor shaft axially and thus to prevent an unintended shifting of same during the mounting of the delivery wheel. Further, the meshing interaction between the cover meshing projection and the cover meshing opening guarantees a sealing of the cover meshing opening after assembly of a delivery wheel, such that the cover meshing opening can be reliably sealed against the entry of particles or liquid by mounting the second housing part at the first housing part without additional assembly steps and without additional components. 
     In order to design the access to the end area of the rotor shaft lying in the motor mounting space as simple as possible during the mounting of a delivery wheel onto the rotor shaft, it is suggested that the cover meshing opening be arranged in the area of the shaft axis of rotation with the housing cover positioned at the first housing part. 
     A defined fastening interaction between the first housing part and the housing cover can be achieved, for example, by the first housing part comprising a circumferential wall enclosing the motor mounting space, and by the housing cover having a ring-like housing meshing area, which can be positioned in a meshing manner in an axial end area of the circumferential wall and being supported on an inner surface of the circumferential wall preferably with the intermediate mounting of a ring-like first sealing element. Of course, steps may additionally be provided, for example, the insertion of fastening screws in order to, with the housing cover mounted at the first housing part, entirely eliminate its release from the first housing part. 
     Especially when using the blower housing according to the present invention for a side channel blower, provisions may be made for the first housing part to have a bottom area, wherein a mounting attachment is provided at the bottom area for the rotor shaft, or/and a ring-like delivery channel open in a first axial direction, surrounding the shaft axis of rotation, is provided. Thus, the first housing part fulfils, besides the functionality for accommodating the blower motor, also the functionality for mounting the rotor shaft as well as the functionality for providing a flow space for the air to be delivered in the blower operation. 
     In the blower housing according to the present invention, the circumferential wall may extend from the bottom area in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction. 
     In order to make the meshing of the cover meshing projection in the cover meshing opening easier during the mounting of the second housing part, but to guarantee a tight meshing, on the other hand, it is further suggested that the cover meshing opening is or can be positioned in a meshing manner in the cover meshing opening with intermediate mounting of a ring-like second sealing element. 
     For providing an electrical contacting of the blower motor accommodated in the motor mounting space, it is further suggested that at least one lead-through opening be provided in the housing cover for a connection line of a blower motor. One or more such lead-through openings may be provided laterally next to the cover meshing opening in relation to the shaft axis of rotation of the rotor shaft. In order to also guarantee a tight sealing for such connection lines electrically connecting the blower motor, it is suggested that a connection line sealing attachment be provided at the second sealing element in association with at least one lead-through opening, wherein the connection line sealing attachment comprises a connection line opening for the tight leading through of a connection line and a sealing formation for the tight accommodation of the connection line sealing attachment in a sealing attachment receptacle of the second housing part. 
     In the structure according to the present invention a comparatively precise positioning of the second housing part in relation to the housing cover and thus also in relation to the first housing part can already be provided by the meshing of the cover meshing projection in the cover meshing opening. In order to be able to define this positioning more exactly, it is suggested that a centering formation be provided at the housing cover laterally next to the cover meshing opening in relation to the shaft axis of rotation and a counter-centering formation, in or capable of being brought into centering meshing with the centering formation, is provided at the second housing part. Provisions may be made here, for example, for a formation of centering formation and counter-centering formation to comprise at least one centering projection projecting in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation and for the other formation of centering formation and counter-centering formation to comprise at least one centering projection mount open in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation for accommodating a centering projection. 
     A blower motor control device, for example, may be provided at the second housing part. 
     The present invention further pertains to a side channel blower, especially for a fuel-operated vehicle heater, comprising a housing arrangement constructed according to the present invention, wherein a blower motor is arranged in the motor mounting space and a rotor shaft of the blower motor is preferably rotatably mounted at the first housing part about a shaft axis of rotation, wherein a delivery wheel is carried at an end area of the rotor shaft traversing a bottom area of the first housing part. In case of connection of the delivery wheel to the rotor shaft to be established in a simple manner using the cover meshing opening, it is suggested that the delivery wheel be pressed onto the rotor shaft with a carrying attachment. 
     The present invention further pertains to a method for the assembly of a side channel blower with the structure described above. This method may comprise the following steps: 
     a) providing the first housing part with the blower motor and the rotor shaft and the housing cover as a preassembly assembly unit, 
     b) mounting the delivery wheel at the end area of the rotor shaft traversing the bottom area of the first housing part and thereby supporting the other end area of the rotor shaft through the cover meshing opening, 
     c) inserting the second housing part with its cover meshing projection into the cover meshing opening. 
     The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached figures. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a longitudinal sectional view of a side channel blower; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a housing cover of a blower housing of the side channel blower shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a housing cover mounted at a first housing part; 
         FIG. 4  is the central area of the housing cover with a cover meshing projection of a second housing part meshing in a cover meshing opening; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial view of the second housing part as viewed from its side to be positioned facing toward the housing cover; and 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a connection line sealing attachment, meshing in a sealing attachment receptacle of the second housing part, of a sealing element also provided for sealing the cover meshing projection in the cover meshing opening. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a side channel blower  10 , which comprises as essential system components a blower housing  12 , in the blower housing  12  a blower motor  14 , indicated only schematically, with a rotor  16  and a delivery wheel  20  carried at an end area  18  of the rotor shaft  16 . 
     Blower housing  12  comprises a first housing part  22  with a bottom area  24  and a circumferential wall  26  starting from the bottom area  24 . The circumferential wall  26  encloses a motor mounting space  25  for the blower motor  14 . A mounting attachment  28 , in which the rotor shaft is preferably rotatably mounted about a shaft axis of rotation A via one or more pivot bearings  30 , extends from the bottom area  24  into the motor mounting space  25  in such a way that the end area  18  of the rotor shaft  16  extends on a first axial side  32  of the bottom area  22  beyond this bottom area. The delivery wheel  20  is carried at this end area  18  with a carrying attachment  34  provided centrally thereon. As an alternative, the rotor shaft  16  could be mounted, e.g., at a motor housing arranged in the motor mounting space  25 . 
     Further, a delivery channel  36 , extending in a ring-like manner about the rotor shaft  16  or the shaft axis of rotation A, which is axially open in a first axial direction, i.e., in the upwards direction in the view of  FIG. 1  and is axially overlapped by a delivery area  38  of the delivery wheel  20 , which delivery area has a correspondingly ring-like design and is provided with feed blades, is designed at the bottom area of the first housing part  2 . In this configuration, the circumferential wall  26  extends in a second axial direction opposite this first axial direction, i.e., downwards in the view of  FIG. 1 . In a circumferential area of the bottom area  24 , the delivery channel  36  is interrupted by means of an interrupter area  40 , such that the air delivered by the rotation of the delivery wheel  20  in the circumferential direction along the delivery channel  36  can leave the delivery channel  36  via an air outlet, which is also formed in the interrupter area  40 . 
     The motor mounting space  25  is sealed by a housing cover  44  at an axial end area  42 , at a distance from the bottom area  24 , of the circumferential wall  26 . The housing cover  44  shown in detail in  FIG. 2  has basically a ring-like or ring-disk-like shape with a cover meshing opening  46  formed in a central area of same. The cover meshing opening  46  is positioned at the housing cover  44 , such that it lies essentially concentric to the shaft axis of rotation A and thus also to the rotor shaft  16  with the housing cover  44  mounted at the circumferential wall  26 , such that there is access to the end area  48  of the rotor shaft  16  lying in the motor mounting space  25  in a simple manner through this cover meshing opening  46 . 
     A cover meshing projection  52  is provided at a second housing part  50 . This cover meshing projection has an outer circumferential contour corresponding to the inner circumferential contour of the cover meshing opening  46 . For example, the cover meshing opening  46  and the cover meshing projection  52  can each be designed with a circular circumferential contour. It is further recognized in  FIG. 1  that the cover meshing projection has an essentially cylindrical design and is provided in its free end area with a lead-in bevel  76 , which makes the easy insertion into the cover meshing opening  46  possible. 
     In order to guarantee a tight sealing of the motor mounting space  25  by means of the housing cover  44 , this housing cover has a ring-like housing meshing area  54 , designed as preferably essentially continuous in the circumferential direction. A first sealing element  60 , which has a, for example, ring-like design, lies, in the housing meshing area  54  meshing in the circumferential wall  26 , between its outer surface  56  and an inner surface  58  of the circumferential wall  26  opposite this. This first sealing element, which is designed, for example, with a plurality of preferably ring-like, circumferential sealing ribs or sealing lips  62 , provides, on the one hand, for the above-mentioned tight sealing in the area of the adjoining of the housing cover  44  to the circumferential wall  26  of the first housing part  12  and furthermore provides for a stable holding of the housing cover  44  at the first housing part  12 . In order to reliably secure the housing cover  44  against a release from the first housing part  12 , a plurality of mounting straps  64  may be provided at the housing cover  44 , through which fastening elements, for example, fastening screws, can be inserted into corresponding areas of the first housing part  12 . 
     In order to make the meshing of the cover meshing projection  52  in the cover meshing opening  46  tight as well, a second sealing element  66 , which is also recognizable in  FIG. 2 , is provided. This second sealing element  66  comprises a ring-like first sealing area  68 , which can be positioned in a meshing manner in the cover meshing opening  46  and can be designed with a, for example, Y-like cross-sectional geometry, such that sealing ribs or sealing lips  70 ,  72  are provided, which can be positioned at the housing cover  44 , on the one hand, and at the cover meshing projection  52 , on the other hand. In the meshing positioning of the cover meshing projection  52  shown in  FIG. 4 , the sealing lip  70  abuts against the housing cover  44 , while the sealing lip  72  abuts against the cover meshing projection  52 . It can especially be recognized in  FIG. 3  that the ring-like first sealing area  68  provides a receiving opening  74 , for example, conically tapering in the direction of the motor mounting space  25 , which [receiving opening], in conjunction with the lead-in bevel  76  at the axial end area of the cover meshing projection  52 , makes possible, on the one hand, an insertion of the cover meshing projection, which is simple and avoids damages at the first sealing area  68 , but, on the other hand, also provides for a fluid-tight abutting against the outer circumference of the cover meshing projection  52  because of the design of the second sealing element  66  made of elastic material, for example, rubber material or the like. 
     Further, the second sealing element  66  has a second sealing area  78 , which is laterally adjacent to the first sealing area  68  in relation to the shaft axis of rotation A. In this second sealing area  78  are provided a plurality, three in the example shown, of connection line sealing attachments  80 , which essentially extend away from the housing cover  44  in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation A. These connection line sealing attachments  80  are positioned at the second sealing element  66  in association with lead-through openings  82  provided at the housing cover  44  for connection lines  84  provided for the electrical contacting of the blower motor  14 . It should be pointed out here that the lead-through openings  82 , as this is schematically shown in  FIG. 6 , may be designed as hole-like lead-throughs in the housing cover  44 , which has an essentially planar design, or may be designed as attachments extending from the housing cover  44  in the second axial direction into the connection line sealing attachments  80 . 
     The connection line sealing attachments  80  are designed, in their end area  86  lying at a distance from the housing cover  44 , with a connection line opening  88 , through which a connection line  84  each can be led, wherein the dimensioning of the connection line openings  88  is such that the connection line sealing attachments  80  abut tightly against the outer surface of the connection lines  84  in this area. 
     In the end area  86 , the connection line sealing attachments  80  further have a sealing formation  90 , for example, comprising a plurality of ring-like sealing ribs or sealing lips  92 . With the second housing part  50  mounted at the first housing part  22 , a respective end area  86  of a connection line sealing attachment  80  meshes with a sealing attachment receptacle  94  of the second housing part  50 , such that the sealing formation  90  guarantees a tight sealing, as a result of which in the passage from the housing cover  44  to the second housing part  50  a completely tight sealing is guaranteed for the connection lines  84  leading through both the housing cover  14  and the second housing part  50 . 
     A positioning of the second housing part  50  in relation to the first housing part  22  is already basically provided by the meshing of the cover meshing projection  52  in the cover meshing opening  46 . Especially when the cover meshing projection  52  and the cover meshing opening  46  are designed with a circular contour, a rotation of the second housing part  50  in relation to the first housing part  22  would, however, be possible. In order to prevent this or to preset a further defined positioning for the second housing part  50  in relation to the first housing part  22 , a centering formation  96  is provided at the housing cover  44 . This [centering formation] comprises two centering projections  98 ,  100 , extending essentially in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation A, laterally next to the cover meshing opening  46  in relation to the shaft axis of rotation A. These centering projections may have, for example, a wall-like design and be arranged at an angle of approx. 90° in relation to one another. A counter-centering formation  104  is provided on the side  102  of the second housing part  50  to be positioned facing toward the housing cover  44 . This counter-centering formation has two centering mounts  106 ,  108  open in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation A. Each of these centering mounts  106 ,  108  may be formed, for example, by two counter-centering projections  110 ,  112 , which are arranged at such a distance from one another that a respective centering projection  98  or  100  can be mounted between them. 
     If the second housing part  50  is led up to the housing cover  44  in the direction of the shaft axis of rotation A, then the cover meshing projection  52  enters the cover meshing opening  46  in the course of this movement, on the one hand. On the other hand, the centering projections  98 ,  100  mesh with the centering projection mounts  106 ,  108 , such that a defined rotational positioning of the second housing part  50  in relation to the housing cover  44 , which is already fixed to the first housing part  22 , is achieved. The insertion motion can be continued until, for example, the centering projections  98 ,  100  abut against the second housing part  50  or/and the counter-centering projections  110 ,  112  of the centering projection mounts  106 ,  108  abut against the housing cover  44 . In order to carry out the leading-up motion of the second housing part at the housing cover  44  in a defined manner already in a condition, in which neither does the cover meshing projection  52  mesh with the cover meshing opening  56 , nor is the centering interaction between the centering formation  96  and the counter-centering formation  104  generated, one or more guiding profiles  114 ,  116 , into which correspondingly shaped counter-guiding profile tracks can be inserted at the second housing part  50  and guided therein, may be provided at the housing cover  44 . 
     In the assembly of the side channel blower  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , it is possible to proceed, such that in a first assembly phase, the first housing part  22  with the blower motor  14 , especially also its rotor shaft  16 , and with the housing cover  44  are assembled into a preassembly assembly unit. Here, for example, the housing cover  44  may already be provided as a partial component of the blower motor  14  or of a stator assembly unit of same and be pressed together with the blower motor  14  into the motor mounting space  25  and be fixed to the first housing part  22 . 
     In a second assembly phase, the delivery wheel  20  can then be mounted on this preassembly assembly unit. Here, the delivery wheel  20  with its carrying attachment  34  is pressed axially onto the end area  18  of the rotor shaft  16 . In order to prevent a shifting of this rotor shaft  16  or of the rotor or of the blower motor  14 , an abutment can be formed with a support tool through the cover meshing opening  46 , at which the end area  48  of the rotor shaft  16  can be supported. In a then, next third assembly phase, the second housing part  50 , which may carry a control device, not shown in the figures, for the blower motor  14  in a mounting space  118 , can then be axially led up in the above-described manner until meshing of the cover meshing projection  52  with the cover meshing opening  46  is achieved. In the course of this axial motion, the centering meshing between the centering formation  96  and the counter-centering formation  104  is then also achieved. In order to be able to then also maintain a defined axial positioning between the first housing part  22  and the second housing part  50  in this condition, i.e., to prevent an unintended shifting of the second housing part  50  in the direction of release from the housing part  22 , mounting elements  120 , which are designed, for example, as screw bolts or the like and are only schematically indicated by dotted line in  FIG. 1 , can be led through these two housing parts  22 ,  50 , for example, screwed through. Further, the connection line sealing attachments  80 , which have already been passed through by the connection lines  84 , enter the sealing attachment receptacles  94  provided in the second housing part  50 . In the course of this insertion motion, an electrical connection between the connection lines  84  and the control device provided at the second housing part  50 , for example, can be produced at the same time. For example, the connection lines  84  may be designed as plug contacts, which can enter corresponding plug contact receptacles of the control device. 
     With the above-described structure of a blower housing for a side channel blower, the assembly of the side channel blower is made possible in a simple manner, wherein, after assembling the various housing parts, no openings to the motor mounting space of the blower housing permitting entry of contaminants or liquids remain. It should be pointed out that this advantageous design can also be achieved, of course, when one deviates from the structure described above with reference to the figures in the widest variety of structural manners. Thus, for example, more or fewer connection line sealing attachments may be provided at the second sealing element. Also, the cover meshing opening and the cover meshing projection may be designed with circumferential contours that are different, but are coordinated with one another. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.