Inflow element, especially for a combustion air flow path in a vehicle heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259289-B2
Application number	US-201414337945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2014
Priority date	Jul 23, 2013
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A combustion air inflow path, for a vehicle heater, includes a bottom area (24) and an outer circumferential wall (26) adjoining the bottom area (24) and extending essentially in the direction of a central longitudinal axis (L) of the inflow element (22). An inner circumferential wall (32) is arranged at a radially spaced location from the outer circumferential wall (26) and defines a space area (52) with same. An inflow opening arrangement (38) is provided for the inflow of air into the inflow element (22). The inflow opening arrangement (38) is provided in the bottom area (24) and is designed to generate a turbulent flow.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflow element for a combustion air inflow path for a vehicle heater, the inflow element comprising:
a bottom area having a bottom wall;
an outer circumferential wall adjoining the bottom area and extending essentially in the direction of a central longitudinal axis of the inflow element;
an inner circumferential wall arranged at a radially spaced location from the outer circumferential wall and axially overlapping with the outer circumferential wall, such that a space area is defined radially between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall, the inner circumferential wall ending at a spaced location from the bottom area in a direction of the central longitudinal axis, the inner circumferential wall surrounding and defining a discharge opening; and
an inflow opening arrangement being provided in the bottom area and comprising a plurality of inflow openings arranged following each other in a circumferential direction in a ring-shaped configuration around the bottom wall for the inflow of air into the inflow element, the inflow opening arrangement comprising flow guide elements associated with the inflow openings, one of the flow guide elements being provided between at least two of the inflow openings that follow each other and being designed to generate a turbulent flow, the flow guide elements being arranged between a second inner circumferential wall adjoining the bottom wall and the outer circumferential wall, the inflow opening arrangement and the space area defined radially between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall being provided in a same radial area, such that the inflow openings are located axially opposite the space area.

2. The inflow element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:
the bottom wall is arranged essentially centrally in relation to the central longitudinal axis; and
the bottom wall is arranged at least one of axially opposite a discharge opening and in a same axial area as the discharge opening.

3. The inflow element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the flow guide elements are arranged at least one of with an equal pitch and with a pitch in a same direction in relation to a principal direction of inflow.

4. The inflow element in accordance with claim 3 , wherein upstream end areas of the flow guide elements, in relation to the principal direction of inflow, are offset in relation to downstream end areas of the flow guide elements, in a circumferential direction.

5. The inflow element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the inflow opening arrangement is arranged at least one of axially opposite the space area formed between the outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall and essentially in the same radial area.

6. The inflow element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the space area formed between the outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall is defined axially by another bottom area.

7. The inflow element in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:
the another bottom area comprises a bottom wall; and
the bottom wall of the another bottom area is of a ring-shaped design.

8. The inflow element in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:
the another bottom area comprises a bottom wall; and
the bottom wall of the another bottom area is located axially opposite the inflow opening arrangement.

9. The inflow element in accordance with claim 6 , wherein:
the another bottom area comprises a bottom wall; and
the bottom wall of the another bottom area adjoins the outer circumferential wall and the inner circumferential wall.

10. An inflow assembly unit for a first combustion air inflow path for a vehicle heater, the inflow assembly unit comprising
an inflow element comprising:
a bottom area;
an outer circumferential wall adjoining the bottom area and extending essentially in the direction of a central longitudinal axis of the inflow element;
an inner circumferential wall arranged at a radially spaced location from the outer circumferential wall and axially overlapping with the outer circumferential wall, such that a space area is defined radially between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall, the inner circumferential wall ending at a spaced location from the bottom area in a direction of the central longitudinal axis and defining a discharge opening; and
an inflow opening arrangement comprising a plurality of inflow openings arranged following each other in a circumferential direction about the central longitudinal axis for the inflow of air into the inflow element, the inflow opening arrangement being provided in the bottom area and being designed to generate a turbulent flow, the inflow opening arrangement and the space area defined radially between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumferential wall being provided in a same radial area, such that the inflow openings are located axially opposite the space area;

an air flow sound muffler comprising an air inlet area, for receiving air flowing through the inflow element.

11. The air inflow assembly unit in accordance with claim 10 , wherein:
the inflow openings are in connection with the discharge opening surrounded by the inner circumferential wall.

12. The inflow assembly unit in accordance with claim 11 , wherein in the inflow opening arrangement:
the plurality of inflow openings are arranged such that they follow each other around a bottom wall of the bottom area; and
flow guide elements associated with the inflow openings.

13. The inflow assembly unit in accordance with claim 12 , wherein:
the bottom wall is arranged essentially centrally in relation to the central longitudinal axis; and
the bottom wall is arranged at least one of axially opposite a discharge opening and in a same axial area as the discharge opening.

14. The inflow assembly unit in accordance with claim 12 , wherein one of the flow guide elements is provided between at least two of the inflow openings that follow each other.

15. The inflow assembly unit in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the inflow openings are arranged in a ring-shaped configuration around the bottom wall.

16. An inflow element for an air inflow path, the inflow element comprising:
a bottom wall;
a substantially cylindrical outer circumferential wall adjoining said bottom wall at an axial end of said outer circumferential wall, said outer circumferential wall having a longitudinal axis;
an inner circumferential wall arranged at a radially spaced location from said outer circumferential wall, said inner circumferential wall and said outer circumferential wall axially overlapping with respect to said longitudinal axis, said inner circumferential wall and said outer circumferential wall defining a space area, said space area being radially between said inner and outer circumferential wall where said inner and outer circumferential wall axially overlap; and
an inflow opening arrangement provided in said bottom wall, said inflow opening arrangement defining a plurality of inflow openings arranged in a circumferential direction about said longitudinal axis, said inflow openings being positioned radially between said inner and outer circumferential wall, said inflow openings being positioned axially opposite said space area, said inflow openings being shaped to generate a turbulent flow in said space area.

17. The inflow element in accordance with claim 16 , wherein:
the inflow openings are radially tapering in a direction of flow.

Assignees

• Eberspaecher Climate Control Sys Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Panterott Thomas
• Apfelbeck Robert
• Findeis Thorsten
• Collmer Andreas
• Barthel Frank

Classifications

• B60H2001/2281

  Air supply, exhaust systems · CPC title

• F23M9/02

  in air inlets · CPC title

• F23L1/00

  Passages or apertures for delivering primary air for combustion  (baffles or deflectors in air inlets F23M9/02) · CPC title

• B60H1/2203 Primary

  the heat being derived from burners · CPC title