Blower apparatus

Abstract

This blower apparatus includes an air blowing portion including a plurality of flat plates arranged with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion. The housing includes an air inlet and an air outlet. At least one of the flat plates includes a plurality of through holes each of which is arranged to pass therethrough in the axial direction. An air flow traveling radially outward is generated between the flat plates by viscous drag of surfaces of the flat, plates and a centrifugal force. Since the air flow is generated between the flat plates, the air flow does not easily leak upwardly or downwardly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blower apparatus comprising:
 an air blowing portion arranged to rotate about a central axis extending in a vertical direction;   a motor portion arranged to rotate the air blowing portion; and   a housing arranged to house the air blowing portion and the motor portion; wherein   the housing includes:
 an air inlet arranged above the air blowing portion, and arranged to pass through a portion of the housing in an axial direction; and 
 an air outlet arranged to face in a radial direction at least one circumferential position radially outside of the air blowing portion; 
   the air blowing portion includes a plurality of flat plates arranged in the axial direction with an axial gap defined between adjacent ones of the flat plates; and   at least one of the flat plates includes a plurality of through holes each of which is arranged to pass therethrough in the axial direction.   
     
     
         2 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 at least one of the flat plates includes an air hole arranged to pass therethrough in the axial direction; 
 each air hole is arranged to be in communication with a space radially outside of the air blowing portion through the axial gap; and 
 each of the through holes is arranged radially outward of the air hole. 
   
     
     
         3 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein each through hole is arranged to have an opening area smaller than an opening area of the air hole. 
     
     
         4 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 at least one of the flat plates includes:
 the air hole; and 
 an air blowing region being a region radially outside of the air hole; and 
   each of the through holes is arranged radially outward of a radial middle of the air blowing region.   
     
     
         5 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 at least one of the flat plates includes:
 the air hole; and 
 an air blowing region being a region radially outside of the air hole; and 
   each of the through holes is arranged radially inward of a radial middle of the air blowing region,   
     
     
         6 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the flat plates includes:
 an inner annular portion being annular, and centered on the central axis; 
 an outer annular portion being annular, centered on the central axis, and arranged radially outside of the inner annular portion; 
 a plurality of ribs each of which is arranged to radially join the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion to each other; and 
 a plurality of air holes each of which is surrounded by the inner annular portion, the outer annular portion, and two circumferentially adjacent ones of the ribs, and is arranged to pass through the flat plate in the axial direction; and 
   a line that joins circumferential middle points of each through hole is arranged to extend radially outward with a curvature substantially equal to a curvature with which each rib is arranged to extend radially outward.   
     
     
         7 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 at least one of the flat plates includes:
 an inner annular portion being annular, and centered on the central axis; 
 an outer annular portion being annular, centered on the central axis, and arranged radially outside of the inner annular portion; 
 a plurality of ribs each of which is arranged to radially join the inner annular portion and the outer annular portion to each other; and 
 a plurality of air holes each of which is surrounded by the inner annular portion, the outer annular portion, and two circumferentially adjacent ones of the ribs, and is arranged to pass through the flat plate in the axial direction; and 
   each of the through holes is arranged on a radially outer extension of a separate one of the ribs.   
     
     
         8 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each through hole is in a shape of a tear drop or an airfoil when viewed in the axial direction. 
     
     
         9 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the through holes are arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction. 
     
     
         10 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 the through holes include:
 a plurality of first through holes each of which is at a first distance from the central axis; and 
 a plurality of second through holes each of which is at a second distance from the central axis, the second distance being different from the first distance; and 
   each of the first through holes is arranged at a circumferential position different from a circumferential position of each of the second through holes.   
     
     
         11 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a center of the air inlet is arranged to coincide with the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the motor portion includes:
 a stationary portion including an armature and a bearing housing; and 
 a rotating portion including a shaft, a bearing member, and a magnet arranged radially opposite to the armature; 
   the bearing housing and a combination of the shaft and the bearing member are arranged to have a lubricating fluid therebetween;   the bearing housing and the rotating portion are arranged to together define a gap defining a seal portion therebetween, the seal portion having a surface of the lubricating fluid defined therein; and   in the seal portion, a distance between the bearing housing and rotating portion is arranged to increase with increasing distance from the surface of the lubricating field.   
     
     
         13 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor portion includes:
 a stationary portion including an armature;   a rotating portion including a magnet arranged radially opposite to the armature; and   a ball bearing arranged to connect the rotating portion to the stationary portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable with respect to the stationary portion.   
     
     
         14 . The blower apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plurality of the air outlets at a plurality of circumferential positions.