Engine drive apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10865741-B2
Application number	US-201916518004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2019
Priority date	Jul 30, 2018
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

There is disclosed an engine drive apparatus comprising an engine configured to generate a power by combusting mixed gas of air and gas fuel; a fan assembly arranged in an upstream of the engine and configured to super-charge the mixed gas towards the engine; and a mixer provided in an upstream of the fan assembly and configured to mix the air and the fuel with each other, wherein the fan assembly comprises a motor; and a fan connected with the motor via a shaft to drive, and the air is supplied to the mixer after passing through the motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine drive apparatus comprising:
an engine configured to generate a power by combusting mixed gas of air and gas fuel;
a fan assembly arranged in an upstream of the engine and configured to super-charge the mixed gas towards the engine; and
a mixer provided in an upstream of the fan assembly and configured to mix the air and the fuel with each other,
wherein the fan assembly comprises
a motor; and
a fan connected with the motor via a shaft to drive, and
the air is supplied to the mixer after passing through the motor.

2. The engine drive apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly comprises
a fan housing provided to accommodate the fan inside and having an open lower end; and
a support bracket configured to support the motor in the upper area of the fan housing, space a apart from the fan housing,
an inlet hole is formed in an upper end surface of the fan housing and configured to draw the mixed gas formed by the mixer towards the fan.

3. The engine drive apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the support bracket comprises,
a motor sheet on which the motor is disposed;
a shaft penetrating hole formed in the motor sheet and configured to pass the shaft there through; and
a plurality of support frames configured to support the motor sheet in a state of being spaced apart from the inlet hole, and
lower ends of the support frames are coupled to coupling grooves that are formed in an outer area of an upper surface of the fan housing with respect to a radial direction of the inlet hole, respectively.

4. The engine drive apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the fan assembly comprises,
a diffuser arranged in a lower end of the fan; and
a lower bracket arranged under the diffuser to have the diffuser disposed thereon and coupled to a lower end of the fan housing, and
an outlet hole configured to discharge the mixed gas pressurized by the fan is formed in the lower bracket.

5. The engine drive apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the lower bracket comprises,
a diffuser coupling portion upwardly projected from a center area to couple the diffuser;
a housing coupling portion configured to form a circumference of the lower bracket and coupled to a lower end of the fan housing; and
a plurality of ribs radially extended from the diffuser coupling portion towards the housing coupling portion to define the outlet hole.

6. The engine drive apparatus of claim 4 , wherein when the motor is driven, the mixed gas is drawn via the inlet hole in a direction that becomes farther from the motor, and the mixed gas is then pressurized by the fan and discharged via the outlet hole.

7. The engine drive apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
an air flow path configured to guide air towards the mixer;
a mixed air flow path configured to guide the mixed gas towards the engine; and
a flow path forming case comprising a first space in communication with the air flow path; and a second space independent from the first space and in communication with the mixed gas flow path,
wherein the motor is arranged in the first space and the fan housing is arranged in the second space.

8. The engine drive apparatus of claim 7 , wherein a separation plate is provided in the flow path forming case and configured to partition off an internal space into the first space provided in an upper space and the second space provided in a lower space, and
a support bracket sheet is provided in the separation plate and a circumference of the support bracket is disposed on the support bracket sheet.

9. The engine drive apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the flow path forming case comprises,
first and second side cases configured to define both lateral surfaces;
an upper case configured to define some areas of the upper, front and rear surfaces; and
a lower case configured to define the other area of the upper, front and rear surfaces, and
a first inlet hole corresponding to the first space and a second outlet hole corresponding to the second space are formed in the first side case, and
a first outlet hole corresponding to the first space and a first inlet hole corresponding to the second space are formed in the second side case.

10. The engine drive apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the air flow path comprises an air inlet channel connected with the first inlet hole; and an air outlet channel connected with the first outlet hole, and
the mixed gas flow path comprises a mixed gas inlet channel connected with the second inlet hole; and a mixed gas outlet channel connected with the second outlet hole.

11. The engine drive apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the air inlet channel is provided to facilitate communication between an external environment and the first space, and
the air outlet channel is provided to facilitate communication between the first space and the mixer, and
the mixed gas inlet channel is provided to facilitate communication between the mixer and the second space and the mixed gas outlet channel is provided to facilitate communication between the second space and the engine.

12. The engine drive apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a guide bracket is provided in the flow path forming case and supporting a lower end of the fan assembly and configured to guide the mixed gas pressurized by the fan assembly towards the second outlet hole.

13. The engine drive apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the guide bracket comprises,
a body comprising a communication hole that is in communication with an outlet hole of the fan assembly;
a fan assembly sheet provided in a circumference of the communication hole and configured to have a lower circumference of the fan assembly disposed thereon; and
a first shut-off wall upwardly extended from the body and comprising a first opening formed in one lateral surface directed towards the second inlet hole.

14. The engine drive apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the guide bracket further comprises,
a second shut-off wall downwardly extended from the body and comprising a second opening formed in one lateral surface directed towards the second outlet hole.

15. The engine drive apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of the fan assemblies are provided in the flow path forming case and serially arranged side by side, and
the mixed gas sequentially passes through the plurality of the fan assemblies.

16. The engine drive apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of the fan assemblies are spaced apart from each other and the plurality of the guide brackets are corresponding to the plurality of the fan assemblies, and
the second opening formed in one of each two neighboring guide brackets is in communication with the first opening formed in the other one.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Sungbae
• Kim Taekyung
• Jung Younggyu

Classifications

• F02B33/32

  Engines with pumps other than of reciprocating-piston type (with crankcase pumps F02B33/02) · CPC title

• F04D29/5806

  Cooling the drive system · CPC title

• F25B27/00

  Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy (F25B30/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F02B33/40 Primary

  of non-positive-displacement type · CPC title

• F02B39/16

  Other safety measures for, or other control of, pumps · CPC title