Blower assembly

Claim 1

A blower assembly for providing a stream of air at a relatively low velocity and low sound level but of broad cross section, said assembly comprising a housing having spaced air inlet and discharge openings, said inlet opening being of substantially circular configuration and said discharge opening having a cross sectional area at least equal to one half the area of said inlet opening, a rotary blower wheel supported in said housing adjacent and in coaxial relationship with said inlet opening, said blower wheel having at least one radial blade supporting member and a plurality of axially extending and circumaxially spaced air moving blades disposed about an axially open central area for receiving air introduced through said inlet opening, said blower wheel and housing adjacent said inlet opening being disposed at least in one annular sealing zone in closely spaced relationship to prevent air flow in a reverse direction through said inlet opening, said air moving blades being inclined rearwardly with respect to the direction of blower wheel rotation and operable at low sound level to induce a flow of air therebetween and in a generally radial outward direction with respect to said wheel and inlet opening, and said housing extending continuously about and in spaced relationship with the circumference of said wheel to arrest said radial outward air flow, and to provide a substantially unobstructed annular plenum zone extending about said blades and to said discharge opening, and an electric motor connected in driving relationship with said blower wheel, said motor being operable to rotate said blower wheel whereby to induce interblade air flow as aforesaid and to pressurize said housing interior with resulting air flow through said discharge opening in a desired stream of relatively low velocity and sound level but broad and uniform cross section.