Impeller and motor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023211097-A1
Application number	US-202318150148-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2023
Priority date	Jul 13, 2011
Publication date	Jul 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lightweight impeller is provided for use in a pressurised gas source for a CPAP or other breathing assistance apparatus. The impeller can be shroudless or otherwise lightweight.

First claim

1 - 56 . (canceled)

57 . A pressurised gases source comprising:
a centrifugal impeller driven by a motor within a housing, the housing having a gases inlet, a gases outlet and a partition to define a first interior region and a second interior region, wherein the first interior region is defined by the housing and the partition, wherein the first interior region comprises the gases inlet and the centrifugal impeller, and the second interior region is defined by the housing and the partition, wherein the second interior region comprises the gases outlet, wherein the first interior region and the second interior region are fluidly connected by an aperture having a shape with a gradual opening and a closing relative to a plane of the centrifugal impeller formed in or by the partition.

58 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the centrifugal impeller is a lightweight impeller that is shroudless or otherwise has reduced material.

59 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 58 wherein the lightweight impeller is formed in one piece.

60 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the centrifugal impeller is rotatable about a central axis.

61 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , further comprising a volute in the second interior region.

62 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 61 , wherein the volute has a tongue at least partially defining a transition between the volute and the gases outlet, the tongue located in the second interior region.

63 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 61 , wherein the gases outlet is connected to the volute via a volute aperture and the volute aperture and a wall of the volute define a tongue whereby gases circulating in the volute are diverged into the gases outlet.

64 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 61 , wherein the volute has a sealing inner wall defining a space internal to the housing to house a motor.

65 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the gases outlet is an outlet passage tangential or radial to the centrifugal impeller.

66 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the housing comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, the partition being generally circular and dividing the upper housing from the lower housing thereby defining the first interior region and the second interior region.

67 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the aperture is located at least near an outer edge of the partition.

68 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the aperture is formed by a cut-away in the partition or an arrangement of the partition and the housing to create the aperture between the partition and housing.

69 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein a curvature or centre of radius of the aperture is offset from a centre of radius of the partition or otherwise has a curvature that differs from that of a circumference of the partition resulting in an eccentric or otherwise offset circumferential aperture around the circumference of the partition.

70 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the aperture is a crescent shaped opening that spans from a leading edge to a trailing edge.

71 . The pressurised gases source according to claim 57 , wherein the pressurised gases source is included in a CPAP machine.

72 . A pressurised gases source for use with a breathing assistance apparatus, comprising:
a centrifugal impeller driven by a motor within a housing, the housing having a gases inlet, a gases outlet and a partition to define a first interior region and a second interior region, wherein the first interior region is defined by the housing and the partition and comprises the gases inlet and the centrifugal impeller, and the second interior region is defined by the housing and the partition and comprises the gases outlet, wherein the first interior region and second interior region are fluidly connected by a circumferential aperture created between an arrangement of the partition and the housing, wherein the circumferential aperture comprises a crescent shaped opening that spans a leading edge to a trailing edge.

73 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 72 wherein the circumferential aperture is formed by a configuration of the housing or the partition such that the partition and the housing create the circumferential aperture between the housing and the partition.

74 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 72 wherein the circumferential aperture comprises a crescent shaped opening with a gradual opening and a closing relative to a plane of impeller rotation.

75 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 74 wherein an angle of the gradual opening and the closing is tuned to allow for reverse flow to return through the pressurised gases source in a stable fashion.

76 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 75 wherein the angle of the gradual opening and the closing reduces blade passed noise by not having a sharp break in geometry.

77 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 74 wherein the gradual opening and the closing provides tongues.

78 . A pressurised gases source according to claim 74 , wherein a width and a length of the circumferential aperture being able to control velocity in the housing.

79 . A pressurised gases source for use with a breathing assistance apparatus, comprising:
a centrifugal impeller driven by a motor within a housing, the housing having a gases inlet, a gases outlet and a partition to define a first interior region and a second interior region, wherein the first interior region is defined by the housing and the partition and comprises the gases inlet and the centrifugal impeller, and the second interior region is defined by the housing and the partition and comprises the gases outlet, wherein the first interior region and the second interior region are fluidly connected by a circumferential aperture created between an arrangement of the partition and the housing, and wherein the partition is shaped or offset from a centre of the housing so that the circumferential aperture is nonuniform.

80 . The pressurised gases source for use with a breathing assistance apparatus of claim 79 , wherein a curvature or centre of radius of the circumferential aperture is offset from a centre of radius of the partition or otherwise has a curvature that differs from a circumference of the partition resulting in an eccentric or otherwise offset circumferential aperture around the circumference of the partition.

Assignees

• Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd

Inventors

• Bothma Johannes Nicolaas
• Bent Scott
• Darby Adam John

Classifications

• F04D17/162

  Double suction pumps · CPC title

• F04D25/0606

  the electric motor being specially adapted for integration in the pump · CPC title

• F04D29/668

  damping or preventing mechanical vibrations · CPC title

• F04D27/004

  by varying driving speed · CPC title

• G01F1/0755

  with magnetic coupling only in a mechanical transmission path · CPC title