Blower

Abstract

A casing is provided with an outer frame defining an internal space and with a partition dividing the internal space into a fan housing and a motor housing. The outer frame is formed with an inlet and an outlet allowing fluid communication between the fan housing and an exterior. The imaginary rotational axis of the fan is substantially coincident with the imaginary central axis of the inlet. The fan is positioned between the inlet and the motor. The fan includes a mount portion mounted on the drive shaft, a generally circular base plate formed integrally with the mount portion, and a plurality of vanes protruding from the base plate toward the inlet. The outer frame includes a slanted portion adjacent to the inlet and slanted in such a manner that a distance between the slanted portion and the imaginary central axis is gradually reduced in a direction toward the inlet.

1 . A blower comprising: 
 a casing provided with an outer frame defining an internal space and with a partition dividing the internal space into a fan housing and a motor housing, the outer frame being formed with an inlet allowing fluid communication between the fan housing and an exterior for sucking fluid into the fan housing therethrough, and an outlet allowing fluid communication between the fan housing and the exterior for discharging fluid from the fan housing to the exterior therethrough, the inlet having an imaginary central axis;    a motor disposed in the motor housing and having a drive shaft that extends into the fan housing; and    a fan disposed in the fan housing and rotatable about an imaginary rotational axis by the motor, the imaginary rotational axis being substantially coincident with the imaginary central axis of the inlet, the fan being positioned between the inlet and the motor, the fan comprising: 
 a mount portion mounted on the drive shaft;  
 a generally circular base plate formed integrally with the mount portion; and  
 a plurality of vanes protruding from the base plate toward the inlet,  
   wherein the outer frame comprises a slanted portion adjacent to the inlet and slanted in such a manner that a distance between the slanted portion and the imaginary central axis is gradually reduced in a direction toward the inlet.    
   
   
       2 . The blower according to  claim 1 , wherein each vane has an edge on a side opposite from the motor; and 
 wherein at least part of the edge is slanted in such a manner that a distance between the at least part of the edge and the imaginary central axis is gradually reduced in a direction toward the inlet, allowing the at least part of the edge to be substantially parallel to the slanted portion.    
   
   
       3 . The blower according to  claim 1 , wherein each vane has an edge on a side opposite from the motor; and 
 wherein the edge and the slanted portion have a space therebetween allowing the edge and the slanted portion to contact each other when the fan deforms during rotation.    
   
   
       4 . The blower according to  claim 3 , wherein the deformation of the fan is caused when the motor rotates at an abnormal speed.  
   
   
       5 . The blower according to  claim 4 , wherein the motor rotates at the abnormal speed when a voltage greater than a rated voltage is applied to the motor.  
   
   
       6 . The blower according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan defines a radial direction; and 
 wherein the plurality of vanes extends in a direction slanted with respect to the radial direction.    
   
   
       7 . A blower comprising: 
 a casing provided with an outer frame defining an internal space and with a partition dividing the internal space into a fan housing and a motor housing, the outer frame being formed with an inlet allowing fluid communication between the fan housing and an exterior for sucking fluid into the fan housing therethrough, and an outlet allowing fluid communication between the fan housing and the exterior for discharging fluid from the fan housing to the exterior therethrough, the inlet having an imaginary central axis;    a motor disposed in the motor housing and having a drive shaft that extends into the fan housing; and    a fan disposed in the fan housing and rotatable about an imaginary rotational axis by the motor, the imaginary rotational axis being substantially coincident with the imaginary central axis of the inlet, the fan being positioned between the inlet and the motor, the fan comprising: 
 a mount portion mounted on the drive shaft;  
 a generally circular base plate formed integrally with the mount portion; and  
 a plurality of vanes protruding from the base plate toward the inlet,  
   wherein, when the fan deforms during rotation, the base plate is contactable with the partition and the plurality of vanes is contactable with the outer frame.    
   
   
       8 . The blower according to  claim 7 , wherein the fan defines a radial direction; and 
 wherein the plurality of vanes extends in a direction slanted with respect to the radial direction.    
   
   
       9 . The blower according to  claim 7 , wherein the deformation of the fan is caused when the motor rotates at an abnormal speed.  
   
   
       10 . The blower according to  claim 9 , wherein the motor rotates at the abnormal speed when a voltage greater than a rated voltage is applied to the motor.  
   
   
       11 . The blower according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer frame comprises a slanted portion adjacent to the inlet and slanted in such a manner that a distance between the slanted portion and the imaginary central axis is gradually reduced in a direction toward the inlet.  
   
   
       12 . The blower according to  claim 11 , wherein each vane has an edge on a side opposite from the motor; and 
 wherein at least part of the edge is slanted in such a manner that a distance between the at least part of the edge and the imaginary central axis is gradually reduced in a direction toward the inlet, allowing the at least part of the edge to be substantially parallel to the slanted portion.    
   
   
       13 . The blower according to  claim 12 , wherein the edge comprises another part slanted in such a manner that a distance between the another part of the edge and the imaginary central axis is gradually increased in a direction toward the inlet; 
 wherein the at least part of the edge and the another part of the edge join together to form a tip portion; and    wherein the tip portion is contactable with the slanted portion.