Blower assembly for heat pump water heater system

Abstract

A blower assembly for a water heater includes a blower inlet shroud having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a scroll housing defining an outer surface, an outlet, and a spiral feature. The scroll housing and the blower inlet shroud are connected to each other and define an inner volume. The blower inlet shroud outlet opening is fluidly connected to the scroll housing inner volume. The blower assembly further includes an impeller wheel positioned within the inner volume defined by the blower inlet shroud and the scroll housing. The impeller wheel is configured to move a fluid from the blower inlet shroud inlet opening to the scroll housing outlet opening.

1 . A blower assembly for a water heater, said blower assembly comprising:
 a blower inlet shroud having an inlet opening and an outlet opening;   a scroll housing defining an outer surface, an outlet, and a spiral feature, wherein said scroll housing and said blower inlet shroud are connected to each other and define an inner volume, wherein said blower inlet shroud outlet opening is fluidly connected to the scroll housing inner volume; and   an impeller wheel positioned within the inner volume defined by said blower inlet shroud and said scroll housing, said impeller wheel configured to move a fluid from the blower inlet shroud inlet opening to the scroll housing outlet opening.   
     
     
         2 . The blower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said scroll housing comprises a cavity defined by a sidewall of said scroll housing, said scroll housing also including a neck portion extending from the location of where said scroll housing outlet and said spiral feature meet, wherein said impeller wheel includes a sidewall, and wherein a distance between said impeller wheel sidewall and said cavity sidewall is the smallest at the location of where said scroll housing outlet and said spiral feature meet. 
     
     
         3 . The blower assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said outlet extends from said spiral feature at said neck at an angle of about 77 degrees to about 87 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The blower assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said impeller wheel includes a base, an upper ring and a plurality of blades extending between said base and said upper ring, said base includes a dome feature that extends toward said upper ring. 
     
     
         5 . The blower assembly of  claim 4 , wherein each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades have surfaces that are one of rectangular or curved. 
     
     
         6 . The blower assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said fan blades have a draft angle between and including 0 degrees and 5 degrees, and an angle of attack between and including 12 degrees and 22 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The blower assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said upper ring includes a plurality of raised portions. 
     
     
         8 . The blower assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said base includes at least one opening between adjacent fan blades of said plurality of fan blades. 
     
     
         9 . The blower assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising an adapter connecting a motor to the impeller wheel base. 
     
     
         10 . A water heater system comprising:
 a body including a water storage tank;   a heat pump system connected to said body and in thermal connection with said water storage tank; and   a blower assembly comprising:
 a blower inlet shroud having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; 
 a scroll housing defining an outer surface, an outlet, and a spiral feature, wherein said scroll housing and said blower inlet shroud are connected to each other and define an inner volume, wherein said blower inlet shroud outlet opening is fluidly connected to the scroll housing inner volume; and 
 an impeller wheel positioned within the inner volume defined by said blower inlet shroud and said scroll housing, said impeller wheel configured to move a fluid from the blower inlet shroud inlet opening to the scroll housing outlet opening. 
   
     
     
         11 . The water heater system of  claim 10 , wherein said scroll housing includes a cavity defined by a sidewall of said scroll housing, said scroll housing also including a neck portion extending from the location of where said outlet and said spiral feature meet, wherein said impeller wheel includes a sidewall, and wherein a distance between said impeller wheel sidewall and said cavity sidewall is the smallest at said neck portion. 
     
     
         12 . The water heater system of  claim 11 , wherein said scroll housing outlet extends from said spiral feature at said neck portion at an angle of about 77 degrees to about 87 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The water heater system of  claim 10 , wherein said impeller wheel includes a base, an upper ring and a plurality of blades extending between said base and said upper ring, said base includes a dome feature that extends toward said upper ring. 
     
     
         14 . The water heater system of  claim 13 , wherein each fan blade of said plurality of fan blades have surfaces that are one of rectangular or curved. 
     
     
         15 . The water heater system of  claim 14 , wherein said fan blades have a draft angle between and including 0 degrees and 5 degrees, and an angle of attack between and including 12 degrees and 22 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The water heater system of  claim 13 , wherein said upper ring includes a plurality of raised portions. 
     
     
         17 . The water heater system of  claim 13 , wherein said base includes at least one opening between adjacent fan blades of said plurality of fan blades. 
     
     
         18 . The water heater system of  claim 13 , further comprising an adapter connecting a motor to said impeller wheel base. 
     
     
         19 . A method of assembling a blower assembly for a water heater, the blower assembly including an inlet having an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the blower assembly also including an impeller wheel and a scroll housing defining an outer surface, an outlet, and a spiral feature, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
 connecting the scroll housing to the blower inlet shroud to define an inner volume such that the blower inlet shroud outlet opening is fluidly connected to the scroll housing inner volume; and   positioning the impeller wheel within the inner volume defined by the blower inlet shroud and the scroll housing, such that the impeller wheel is configured to move a fluid from the blower inlet shroud inlet opening to the scroll housing outlet opening.   
     
     
         20 . The method of assembling of  claim 19  wherein the blower assembly further includes adapter, said method further comprising connecting a blower motor to the impeller wheel with the adapter.