Patent Publication Number: US-2023136168-A1

Title: Blower assembly with detachable motor module

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/272,867, filed on Oct. 28, 2021. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to the field of air blowers used in tubs, hand dryers, and so on. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tubs are well known for their primary use, namely a washroom installation in which a user person washes and bathes. Tubs have, however, evolved to add pleasure and comfort to practicality, and are found in many forms, such as bathtubs, spas and whirlpools. 
     Massage systems of various configurations have been provided to inject fluids, such as air or water, into the liquid of the tub, so as to procure a massaging effect for the occupant of the tub. Different types of air massage systems for tubs exist on the market, and some may include blower assemblies to inject the air. These blower assemblies have an electrical motor driving a fan or blower for driving an air flow therethrough. These electrical motors have limited life span and replacing them is often cumbersome. Hence, improvements are sought. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, there is provided a blower assembly, comprising: a first module securable to a structure, the first module defining one of an air inlet and an air outlet; and a second module defining the other of the air inlet and the air outlet, the second module including a motor, the motor drivingly engaged to a blower to, in use, drive an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein the second module is detachably securable to the first module such that the second module is secured to the structure via the first module. 
     In another aspect, there is provided a blower assembly comprising: a first module securable to a structure, the first module defining one of an air inlet and an air outlet, the first module configured to be wired to a power source, and having a first electrical connector; and a second module defining the other of the air inlet and the air outlet, the second module including a motor, the motor drivingly engaged to a fan to, in use, drive an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein the second module is wireless and has a second electrical connector; wherein the second module is detachably securable to the first module by a translation such that the second module is secured to the structure via the first module, and such that the first connector and the second connector are electrically connected for the second module to be electrically powered via the first module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic cutaway view of a bath tub in accordance with one embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic view of an air distribution system in accordance with one embodiment that may be used with the bath tub of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a plan view of a blower assembly of the air distribution system of  FIG.  2    shown in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG.  4    is a three dimensional view of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3    shown in a disassembled configuration; 
         FIG.  5    is a three dimensional exploded view of a heating module of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a cross-sectional exploded view of the heating module of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a three dimensional exploded view of a motor module of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional exploded view of the motor module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is an enlarged three dimensional view of a portion of the motor module of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  10 A  is a three dimensional view of a portion of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3    shown in a disassembled configuration; 
         FIG.  10 B  is a three dimensional view of the portion of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3    shown in a partially assembled configuration; and 
         FIG.  10 C  is a three dimensional view of the portion of the blower assembly of  FIG.  3    shown in an assembled configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , a bathtub, referred to below simply as “tub” is shown at  10 . The expression tub is used herein to describe any such bathing cavity, and may also be referred to as bath, whirlpool, etc. The tub  10  is configured to contain water or like liquids and includes sides  11  and a bottom  12 . The sides  11  may be an assembly of a plurality of interconnected walls distributed around the bottom wall  12  or a single wall having curved portions and extending annularly all around the bottom wall  12 . While the expression “interconnected walls” is used, the tub  10  may have a monolithic continuous surface, seamless, with the interconnection resulting from a manufacturing process. The sides  11  protrude generally upwardly from the bottom wall  12  to define an inner volume for receiving and containing water. The sides and bottom  11 ,  12  of the tub  10  have inner walls  13  and outer walls  14 . A space  15  may be defined between the inner and outer walls  13 ,  14 , for instance if the tub  10  is a freestanding tub. The inner walls  13  are being wetted by water when the tub  10  contains water. If the tub  10  is a freestanding tub, both the inner walls  13  and the outer walls  14  may be visually exposed. In an embodiment, the tub  10  has at least part of the outer walls  14  concealed, as the tub  10  may be embedded in a supporting structure. In such a scenario, there may also only be a single wall  13  (i.e., no outer wall  14 ). As another embodiment, the tub  10  may be said to have only one wall have inner surface  13  and outer surface  14  (that may be concealed), with a space  15  (a.k.a., empty volume, cavity, plenum) optionally between the surfaces  13  and  14  of the single wall. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the tub  10  is a self-supporting tub, commonly referred to as a freestanding tub. Such a tub has the required stiffness to be able to hold the water in the tub  10  and may be solely supported on a ground. In other words, a freestanding tub may not rely on beams (e.g. 2×4) of a wall adjacent the tub for support. As shown, the bottom wall  12  may be laid against the ground. In some cases, legs may be appended to the tub to create an interface between the tub  10  and the ground. The thinning of the side walls is customer driven who want a more esthetic tub, but the price point of such freestanding tubs often require the use of materials other than metal. The thinner side walls of modern freestanding tub make it difficult to incorporate air distribution systems and to replace components of such system when required. However, the air distribution system  20  described herein may be used with any other type of tub  10 . 
     The tub  10 , or any other type of tub, may be equipped with an air distribution system  20  for generating bubbles, air flow or water movement, by injecting air in the water of the tub  10 . The air distribution system  20  includes jets  21  for outputting a stream of air to create massaging jets or other effects for a user of the tub  10 . In an embodiment, the jets  21  are holes in the walls of the tub  10 , with the holes being in fluid communication with the air distribution system  20 . In another embodiment, the jets  21  have tubular bodies mounted to holes in the tub walls. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  2   , the different components of the air distribution system  20  are shown schematically. In the embodiment shown, the air distribution system  20  may include a blower assembly  30  that is operable to draw ambient air and push this drawn ambient air via one or more suitable conduits directly to jets  21 , or to a manifold  23 . Alternatives to a blower assembly  30  include a fan, a ventilator, a pump, etc. The manifold  23  is optionally present to be pneumatically connected to the blower assembly  30  and pneumatically connected to jets  21  via conduits  22 , only two being shown here for illustration purposes, for creating the massaging streams in the water of the tub  10 . If present, the manifold  23  may be optionally connected to a water source or pump  70  to mix water with air to be injected in the tub via the jets  21 . In the present disclosure, the expression “conduit” is intended to encompass any structure suitable for flowing a fluid, such as air and water. A conduit may be, for instance, a pipe, a hose, a tubular member, tubing, a channel, a passage, a plenum and so on. 
     The air distribution system  20  may include a controller  60  that is operatively connected to the blower assembly  30  for operating the air distribution system  20 , with functions such as on/off, and optionally for controlling an amount of air injected in the tub  10  via the jets  21 . The controller  60  may be operatively connected to the air massage system for selectively controlling which of a second set of jets (not shown) is injecting air in the tub  10 . Such an air massage system and controller is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,082, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3 - 4   , the blower assembly  30  is shown in greater detail. The blower assembly  30  defines an air inlet  31  at a first end of the blower assembly  30  and an air outlet  32  at a second end of the blower assembly  30 , that may for example be axially opposed to the air inlet  31 . As observed in  FIG.  3   , the air inlet  31  may be in a lateral portion of the blower assembly  30  (as opposed to being at an axial end). Thus, at installation, the air inlet  31  may be oriented in a selected manner, such as toward the ground for example. As a result, the noise level exhibited by the blower assembly  30  may be reduced in comparison to other positions of the air inlet  31  (such as on an axial end face of the blower assembly  30 ). The blower assembly  30  is operable to draw air flow F from the air inlet  31  to the air outlet  32 . The air outlet  32  may define a connector  33  via which a hose or other suitable conduit may be connected. The blower assembly  30  includes an electrical motor to drive a fan, a blower, an impeller, or other fluid machine to drive an air flow through the blower assembly  30 . 
     Electrical motors, such as brushed motors, are prone to failure. Typically, they may last from about 300 to 500 hours. Once the motor breaks or reaches its end of life by the brushes being worn out, it is often required to replace an entirety of a legacy blower, which may be complicated since the blower has to be disconnected both electrically from a power source and pneumatically from the conduits  22 . This may be quite challenging because the blower assembly  30  is often located in a small space not easily accessible. The blower assembly  30  of the present disclosure may at least partially alleviate these drawbacks. 
     The blower assembly  30  includes a heating module  40  and a motor module  50 . The motor module  50  is detachably securable to the heating module  40  as will be explained in further detail below. The heating module  40  may be secured to the tub  10 , for instance to a wall of the tub  10 . The heating module  40  is described first with reference numerals in the 40s. The motor module  50  is then described with reference numeral in the 50s. It will be appreciated that, in an alternate embodiment, some parts of the motor module  50  may be located in the heating module  40  and vice versa without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
     As will be explained below, the motor module  50  houses a motor of the blower assembly  30 . The motor may be the part having the shortest lifespan in the blower assembly  30 . Typically, when the motor breaks or needs replacement, the whole blower assembly  30  needs replacing, which may be time consuming and costly. The disclosed blower assembly  30 , by way of the motor module  50  containing the motor, may be more rapidly repaired than when a replacement is required, by simply substituting another motor module, containing another motor, for the broken one. Time savings may therefore be achieved. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the heating module  40  includes a housing  41 , which acts as a conduit to direct the air flow F from the air inlet  31  to the air outlet  32  of the blower assembly  30 . The housing  41  may optionally define legs  41 A, two in the embodiment shown but more or less is contemplated, that are used to secure the heating module  40  to the tub  10 , to a structure surrounding the tub  10 , or to the ground or floor. The legs  41 A may project from a cylindrical body of the housing  41 , the cylindrical body of the housing  41  being one possible shape among others. Other types of supports or connections may be used to secure the housing  41  to the bath or surrounding structure. The heating module  40  may be mounted to the wall of the tub  10 , to a structure, to the ground or floor in any suitable ways. For instance, brackets may be used for that purpose, or fasteners cooperating with the legs  41 A or instead of the legs  41 A. The housing  41  defines the air outlet  32  of the blower assembly  30 . The heating module  40  includes an optional heating element  42  that is operable to warm up the air flow F flowing through the blower assembly  30 . The heating element  42  is received within an inner cavity  41 B defined by the housing  41 . The heating element  42  (or heating elements  42 ) may be resistive coils or like elements that convert electric current to heat. A cover plate  43  may be provided and may be removably securable to the housing  41  for enclosing the heating element  42  in the housing  41 , acting optionally as a heat shield for electronic components associated with the motor module  50 . The cover plate  43  defines apertures  43 A to allow the air flow F to flow through the cover plate  43 . The heating element  42  may be secured to the housing  41  either directly or via the cover plate  43 . The cover plate  43  further defines a connector aperture  43 B for defining a passage for a connector as will be described below. All safety components may be present to avoid safety hazards associated with the use of electricity and heat, such safety components not named here. A biasing member(s)  43 C (one or more) may be mounted to the cover plate  43 , such as to have a biasing end project from a plate of the cover plate  43 , and into the cavity receiving the motor module  50 . The biasing member  43 C is sized and positioned for the biasing end to come into contact with the motor module  50  that is assembled to the heating module  40 , as described below. Accordingly, the biasing member  43 C may exert a pressing action on the motor module  50 , for reasons explained below. The biasing member  43 C may be a coil spring, a leaf spring, a resilient elastic pad, among other possibilities. The biasing member  43 C, if present, may be at other locations in the heating module  40 , or on the motor module  50 . 
     A power cable  44  (a.k.a., cable, power cable) is secured to the housing  41 . Hence, in the embodiment shown, electrical power is provided to some of the components of the blower assembly  30  via the heating module  40 . It may alternatively be provided by the motor module  50 . The power cable  44  is therefore electrically connected to the heating element  42 . The heating module  40  further includes a first connector  45 , which may be mounted within the housing  41  aligned with the connector aperture  43 B such that the first connector  45  is accessible when the cover plate  43  is disposed over the opening of the housing  41 . The first connector  45  is electrically connected to the power cable  44 . The first connector  45  is used to transmit power from the heating module  40  to the motor module  50  of the blower assembly  30  as will be explained further below. The heating module  40  for instance includes coils that convert electrical power to heat, for instance by the coils being resistive or including a coolant heated by resistive elements, among other possibilities. 
     Still referring to  FIGS.  5 - 6   , the housing  41  defines one or more, three in the embodiment shown, first connecting members, which correspond herein to L-shaped slots  41 C that are circumferentially interspaced around a periphery of the housing  41 . The L-shaped slots  41 C are located adjacent an opening of the inner cavity  41 B. The L-shaped slots  41 C extend from a peripheral edge  41 D of the housing  41  that circumscribes the opening of the inner cavity  41 B. These L-shapes slots  41 C are used to removably secure the motor module  50  to the heating module  40  as will be explained below. It will be appreciated that other shapes for the slots are contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, such as a J shape, an inverted L, a T. When assembled, the cover plate  43  may be inside of the housing  41 , with the portion of the housing  41  including the first connecting members  41 C (such as the L-shaped slots) projecting beyond a main plane of the cover plate  43 , whereby the first connecting members  41 C are exposed for connection with complementary components. The cover plate  43  may be entered well inside the housing  41  to define a cavity for receiving the motor module  50  therein. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  7 - 8   , the motor module  50  is described in more detail. The motor module  50  encloses an electrical motor assembly, referred to below as motor assembly  51 . The motor assembly  51  includes an electric motor  51 B drivingly engaged to a fan  51 C (such as Fino™ blower), blower, impeller, or any other suitable device able to drawn an air flow. The electric motor  51 B drives rotation of the fan  51 C to induce the air flow F from the air inlet  31  to the air outlet  32 . 
     The motor assembly  51  is received within a housing assembly  52  that may include a rear housing  52 A and a front housing  52 B removably securable to the rear housing  52 A. The front and rear housings  52 A,  52 B conjointly define an inner cavity for receiving the motor assembly  51 . The expressions “front” and “rear” may not have any meaning as to the orientation of the blower  30 , but may merely be present to distinguish between the housings  52 A and  52 B. Moreover, housings  52 A and  52 B may also be referred to as housing portions, concurrently forming a single housing for the motor assembly  51 . The front and rear housings  52 A,  52 B are an option among others, with a housing and cover plate being another. Once the heating module  40  is secured to the motor module  50 , at least a portion of the front housing  52 B may be received within the housing  41  of the heating module  40 , e.g., between the plane of the cover plate  43  and the peripheral edge  41 D. However, this need not be the case and other configurations are contemplated. 
     As shown more particularly in  FIG.  8   , the motor assembly  51  is mounted to the housing assembly  52  via a damper  53 . The damper  53  has a ring shape, but other shapes are contemplated. The damper  53  is disposed around the motor assembly  51  until the damper  53  abuts a first shoulder  51 A defined by the motor assembly  51 . The damper  53  may be used to limit transmission of vibrations from the motor assembly  51  to the housing  52  and to the tub  10 , structure or ground. In some configurations, the damper  53  may be omitted. 
     The motor module  50  may further include acoustic material  54 , having a ring or sleeve shape in the embodiment shown, that is slidably received within the rear housing  52 A. The acoustic material  54  may be interfaced to the rear housing  52 A via support  54 E. The support  54 E may have legs that fit in complementary peripheral slots in the acoustic material to block any rotational movement between the acoustic material  54  and the support  54 E. Moreover, fins  54 F may be on an end plate portion of the support  54 E, and contribute to the cooling of the motor module  50 . The fins  54 F are in the flow path of incoming air entering via the inlet  31 A, with the support  54 E having an air passage  54 G. Thus, the relatively cool inlet air may contribute to the absorption of heat. Then, the motor assembly  51  and the damper  53  are slidably received in the rear housing  52 A until the damper  53  abuts a second shoulder  53 A ( FIG.  8   ) defined at an intersection between two sections of different diameters of the rear housing  52 A. Other stopper arrangements may be used, such as circlips, etc, to assist in locating the damper  53 , if present. The acoustic material  54  may include acoustic foam. In some embodiments, the acoustic material  54  and/or the support  54 E is(are) omitted. A cover  55  may be abutted against the motor assembly  51  and may be engaged to the rear housing  52 A to lock the motor assembly  51 , the damper  53 , and the foam material  54  inside the rear housing  52 A. The cover  55  has a ring shape, but other shapes are contemplated. The cover  55  may have a support neck portion  55 A shaped to receive an end of the motor assembly  51 . The shapes of the many components may be altered as long as the air is able to flow through the blower assembly  30 . 
     Referring more particularly to  FIG.  9   , the rear housing  52 A is removably securable to the front housing  52 B via one or more snap clips, three snap clips  56  being in the embodiment shown. The snap clips  56  may include U-shaped tabs  56 A connected to the front housing  52 B. The U-shaped tabs  56 A are engageable by abutments such as ribs  56 B on the rear housing  52 A. The ribs  56 B may extend in a circumferential direction along a portion of a circumference of the rear housing  52 A. The U-shaped tabs  56 A may alternatively be defined by the rear housing  52 A and the ribs  56 B by the front housing  52 A. Other interconnection components may also be used as alternatives. In use, the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B are rotated one relative to the other until the U-shaped tabs  56 A are in register with the ribs  56 B. Then, the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B are moved toward one another until the U-shaped tabs  56 A come into contact with the ribs  56 B. Further force to bring closer the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B results in the U-shaped tabs  56 A bending away (e.g., by elastic deformation) from the rear housing  52 A until the tabs  56 A are past the ribs  56 B and catch a surface thereof, as observed via recesses or apertures  56 C enclosed by the U-shaped tabs  56 A, thereby limiting movements of the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B one relative to the other. The ribs  56 B may therefore be wedge formations, or latches. The pairs of complementary tabs  56 A and ribs  56 B may be described as being complementary snap-fit connectors, or quick connectors. In the embodiment shown, the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B are rotatable one relative to the other by a sliding motion of the ribs  56 B in relationship to the U-shaped tabs  56 A. Stoppers  56 D, which may be provided in the form of longitudinal lips, may be provided at both extremities of each of the ribs  56 B. The stoppers  56 D are abuttable against the U-shaped tabs  56 A to limit an amplitude of movements of the rear housing  52 A relative to the front housing  52 B. It will be appreciated that any other means for locking the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B together are contemplated. For instance, the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B may be fused, welded, glued, fastened together or any combination of the above without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Any other locking means, such as bayonet lock, latches, keyway and so on may alternatively be used. Consequently, when the housings  52 A and  52 B are interconnected, a rotational degree of freedom is present between them (i.e., a rotational joint), but of limited and controlled amplitude. If more than one present, the complementary pairs of tabs  56 A and ribs  56 B (or equivalent complementary connectors) may not be equidistantly spaced on the circumferences of the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B, to define some clocking feature if a desired orientation is required between the rear housing  52 A and the front housing  52 B. This is optional. 
     Referring back to  FIGS.  7 - 8   , the rear housing  52 A defines one or more, three in the embodiment shown, second connecting members, which are herein tabs  52 C that are circumferentially distributed around a peripheral edge  52 D of the rear housing  52 A. The tabs  52 C are slidably receivable within the L-shaped slots  41 C ( FIG.  5   ) defined by the housing  41  of the heating module  40 . As will be described below with reference to  FIGS.  10 A- 10 C , the cooperation of the tabs  52 C and the L-shaped slots  41 C make the motor module  50  detachable from the heating module  40 . The tabs  52 C may be surface features that are integrally part of the rear housing  52 A (for instance a molded feature) or front housing  52 B, The tabs  52 C may be projections on an otherwise continuous outer surface of the housing  52 A or  52 B. 
     The motor module  50  further includes a second connector  57  ( FIG.  7   ) that is electrically connectable to the first connector  45  ( FIG.  5   ) in a plug and socket manner for example, when the motor module  50  is secured to the heating module  40 . Accordingly, the second connector  57  is accessible from an end wall of the rear housing  52 A of the motor module  50 , for instance via an opening  52 E extending therethrough as shown in  FIG.  4   . The second connector  57  is electrically connected to the motor assembly  51 . In the embodiment shown, electrical power provided from the power cable  44  is provided to the motor module  50  via the heating module  40  (which may include a PCB to support such component). Hence, when it is time to replace the motor assembly  51 , a user may simply separate the motor module  50  from the heating module  40  without having to unplug or otherwise disconnect the motor assembly  51  from any power source. Simplicity, safety, and time savings may be achieved by such a configuration. In other embodiments, the motor module  50  may be connected directly to a power source. 
     In the embodiment shown, the motor module  50  includes secondary connectors  58  and a fuse  59 . The fuse  59  is electrically connected to the motor of the motor assembly  51  and is operable to disconnecting the motor from the power source should power drawn by the electric motor exceeds a given threshold. This may occur, for instance, if rotation of the electric motor is impeded. The fuse  59  is therefore a safety feature, among numerous others that may be present. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  10 A , in the depicted embodiment, to assemble the motor module  50  to the heating module  40 , the two modules  40 ,  50  are oriented in relationship to one another until the tabs  52 C are in register with openings of the L-shaped slots  41 C. To assist, slots  41 C may not be equidistantly circumferentially distributed (with tabs  52 C having a similar pattern) to ensure that a precise alignment is achieved to connect the two modules  40 ,  50 , as a form of clocking feature or clocking distribution. Thus, as shown in  FIG.  10 B , the tabs  52 C are inserted in longitudinal portions of the L-shaped slots  41 C until they become aligned with transversal portions of the L-shaped slots. At this point, the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  become electrically connected to one another via the first and second connectors  45 ,  57 , that were previously aligned in orientation. As shown in  FIG.  100   , the two modules  40 ,  50  are rotated one relative to the other until the tabs  52 C are locked inside the transversal portions of the L-shaped slots  41 C (which may feature an end tooth to form a catch). At that point, the heating module  40  and the motor module  50  are engaged and electrically connected to one another. Protrusions  41 E may be defined by the housing  41  and may face the transversal portions of the L-shaped slots  41 C. The protrusions  41 E may act as a stopper to limit rotation of the two modules  40 ,  50  relative to each other. 
     In the embodiment shown, a rotation of the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  relative to the rear housing  52 A has to be allowed to permit the rotation of the tabs  52 C, which are defined by the rear housing  52 A, within the transversal portions of the L-shaped slots  41 C and to maintain the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  electrically coupled to one another. In the present embodiment, this is permitted by the relative motion of the rear and front housings  52 A,  52 B of the motor module  50  and, more specifically, by the rotational DOF of limited amplitude, e.g., the sliding of the U-shaped tabs  56 A in relationship to the ribs  56 B as bound by the stoppers  56 D. Hence, once the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  become electrically connected to one another, the front housing  52 B remains immobile relative to the housing  41  of the heating module  40 . Rotation of the rear housing  52 A of the motor module  50  relative to the front housing  52 B, thanks to the sliding motion of the U-shaped tabs  56 A relative to the ribs  56 B or like rotational DOF, allows the insertion of the tabs  52 C into the transversal portions of the U-shaped slots  41 C while maintaining the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  electrically coupled. Stated differently, a rotational joint is provided between the portion of the motor module  50  having the connectors  52 C (the tabs) and the portion of the motor module  50  having the electrical connector  57 . 
     In some embodiments, the electrical connection between the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  may be achieved solely after the rotation of the two modules  40 ,  50  and when the tabs  52 C are received within the transversal portion of the L-shaped slots  41 C, for example by having complementary connectors  45 ,  57  having radial faces (as opposed to the axial faces shown in the figures). The connection between the heating module  40  and the motor module  50  may be substantially air tight to minimize air leaks. Seals, such as O-ring  58 A, may be provided for that purpose. In some cases, the contact between the two housings  41 ,  52 A may be sufficient in limiting the leaks. Seal  58 A may bring a biasing effect to contribute to the locking of the modules  40  and  50 . 
     The afore-described locking means of the two modules  40 ,  50  may be referred to as a bayonet lock. It will be appreciate that any other suitable means for removably locking the two modules  40 ,  50  together are contemplated without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, snap clips as described above with reference to  FIGS.  7 - 8    may be used. Any other suitable means may be used. For instance, the two modules  40 ,  50  may be threaded to one another. This may be achieved by having mating threads defined by both of the housing  41  of the heating module  40  and the rear housing  52 A of the motor module  50 . In some other embodiments, a keyway engagement, tongue and grooves, snap fit, and so on may be used to removably secure the two modules together. In some cases, latches may be used to lock the two modules together. In other words, the first and second connecting members may include any means matingly engageable to one another that may suitably detachably lock the two modules  40 ,  50  to one another. 
     Consequently, in an embodiment, when the module  50  is connected to the module  40  that is on site, the module  50  is aligned in rotation with the module  40 , and then forwarded into engagement into the module  40 , by a translation. The translation is stopped when the modules  40  and  50  abut with electrical connection made between them. To lock the modules  40  and  50 , a rotation of the rear housing  52 A is made relative to the front housing  52 B and the module  40 , as the module  40  and the front housing  52 B are immovable relative to one another (and electrically connected). Biasing pressure may be exerted by the biasing member  43 C (if present) to ensure that the modules  40  and  50  remain locked (e.g., if a tooth is present as described above). The rotation of the rear housing  52 A allows same to engage to the module  40 , with an example being shown in  FIGS.  10 A to  10 C . The rotational degree of freedom is optional, as it may be possible to use fasteners as an option to secure the modules  40  and  50  to one another to preserve the electrical connection between them. 
     The principles of the present disclosure are not limited to tub blowers and may be used in many applications. For instance, hand dryer of public restrooms may benefit from this technology since electrical motors of such hand dryer are prone to failure. Hence, a technician may easily repair the hand dryer by simply substituting a new motor module  50 , containing a new motor, for the broken one. Time savings may therefore be achieved. 
     Since the heating module  40  is the one electrically connected to the power source and pneumatically connected to a remainder of the air distribution system  20  ( FIG.  1   ), or to a nozzle of a hand dryer, and remains attached to the tub  10 , or to a casing of the hand dryer, it may not be required to electrically and pneumatically disconnected the blower assembly  30  prior to replacing the motor assembly  51 . The simple movements of the motor module  50  relative to the heating module  40  as explained above with reference to  FIGS.  10 A- 10 C  electrically disconnects the motor assembly  51  from the power source thanks to the first and second connectors  45 ,  57  contained within the respective housings  41 ,  52 . The simple movements would entail a rotation to dislodge the bayonet lock, and a pulling action to separate the connectors  45 ,  57  and remove the motor module  50  from the heating module  40  (e.g., with the assistance of a spring, such as in the biasing member  43 C), with the heating module  40  remaining secured. A replacement motor module  50  could then be used, or the removed motor module  50  could be repaired. 
     A foolproof or alignment feature may be defined by one or both of the two modules  40 ,  50  to prevent a user from angularly misaligning the two modules  40 ,  50  when engaging them to each other. This foolproof feature may include a keyway engagement between the front housing  52 B of the motor module  50  and the housing  41  of the heating module  40 . In the embodiment shown, the keyway engagement includes one or more grooves  52 F ( FIG.  4   ) defined on an outer face of the front housing  52 B and one or more keys  41 F (only one shown in  FIG.  5   ) defined on an inner face of the housing  41  of the heating module  40  (reversal of these features is possible). In the embodiment shown, three grooves  52 F and three keys  41 F are used. The grooves and the keys  52 F,  41 F are distributed non-equidistantly around a circumference of the housings  41 ,  52 B. The one or more grooves and keys  52 F,  41 F may ensure that the housings  41 ,  52 B are engageable to one another in a single orientation one relative to the other. Moreover, as a result, a translation joint may be formed between the front housing  52 B and the housing  41 , to force engagement of the electrical connectors  45 ,  57 . This may ensure a proper alignment of the two connectors  45 ,  57  when engaging the motor module  50  to the heating module  40 . The foolproof feature may include any other means to ensure proper alignment of the two modules. These means may include, for instance, visual indicators, non-circular shape of the housings, etc. 
     While it is referred to as heating module  40 , the module  40  may not have a heating element as explained above. The module  40  may be in a variant referred to as the electrical module, as in such variant it is the module  40  that is connected to a power source (e.g., grid, battery), while the motor module  50  is not. Moreover, the module  40  may also be regarded as the outlet module in another variant. While the air outlet could be on either module  40  or  50 , in the illustrated variant it is the module  40  that is connected to the air outlet, e.g., via the pipe coupling shown, such that the pipe or like conduit can remain connected to the blower assembly  30  when the module  50  is separated therefrom for maintenance. The air inlet  31  may be in the module  50  as the air inlet  31  may draw air from ambient, i.e., it may not be connected to a conduit. The blower may be in either module  40  or  50 . 
     A flow channel of the blower assembly  30 , i.e., from the air inlet  31  to the air outlet  32 , may include flow of air through the air passage  54 G (and through fins  54 F), into the motor assembly  51  and fan  51 C to be propelled, among other components that may be present. 
     The embodiments described in this document provide non-limiting examples of possible implementations of the present technology. Upon review of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present technology. Yet further modifications could be implemented by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, which modifications would be within the scope of the present technology.