EP0735831B1 - Adjustable pulsator - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP94/03639 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 25, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 25, 1995 PCT Filed Nov. 5, 1994 PCT Pub. No. WO95/17113 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 29, 1995The invention is directed to an air-moving pulsator (12) for an electric hair dryer (10) which, for the purpose of creating a pulsing action in the air stream, includes a rotor (20, 41) rotatably supported in a substantially tubular housing portion (13) and having an impeller (11) adapted to be impacted by the air stream exiting from the hair dryer (10), wherein there is arranged upstream of the rotor (20, 41), as seen when looking in the discharge direction of the air stream, a stator (38) provided with selectively moveable vanes for varying the pulsation frequency and adapted to impart rotation to the air stream about its axis. In a preferred embodiment, stator (38) is provided with air-directing blades (28) pivotally mounted on radially oriented spokes (26), and the air-directing blades (28) carry cam follower pins (31) at the ends of arms (29). A cam ring (32) is rotatably secured by outer ring (33) on the housing portion (13) and has helical camming slots (36) to cam the pins (31).

Description

The invention relates to an air-flowable pulsator for an electric hair dryer, which essentially produces a pulsating air flow in one tubular housing part with a longitudinal axis rotatably mounted rotor with drive elements that come out of the hair dryer with the Air flow can be acted upon and the rotor in the exit direction of the air flow a stator provided with means for varying the pulsation frequency is arranged in front.

Such a pulsator is already known from CH 682 293 A5. This describes a pulsator for the arrangement in the air duct of a hair dryer with air deflecting agents and a rotor. The air deflecting means are in the form of mutually parallel slats a concentric about the air duct axis rotatable lamellar ring and the The rotor is mounted on an axis of rotation arranged perpendicular to the air duct axis. By means of the circular disk-shaped rotor, the air duct is alternated opened and closed. This causes the blow dryer to blow through generated air flow pulsed following the pulsator and straight from the hair dryer exit. By rotating the fins with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor can regulate the pulsation frequency of the air flow exiting the hair dryer will. Furthermore, in a pulsator according to CH 682 293 A5 for generating the Rotation requires a flap control in the circular disk-shaped rotor.

From another document DE 32 25 944 A1, a pulsator is known, which one Rotor coaxially mounted to the air outlet of the hair dryer housing with several has parallel wings and a right-angled wing. Here are the wings arranged in parallel are approximately equally inclined, while the right-angled wing Wing on opposite sides of the axis of rotation after each opposite Directions is inclined. Impinges the airflow exiting the hair dryer one of the inclined surfaces of the right-angled wing, the rotor is in Rotation offset, the parallel wings a swirl of the exiting Cause airflow. This airflow is said to be a pulsating separation and Cause lifting of the hair to be dried. The disadvantage here is that the opposite slope of the right-angled wing the manufacture of Rotors is complex and requires a complicated injection molding tool because these parts are mass-produced by injection molding. Likewise, through this inclined surfaces of the right-angled wing the weight of the Rotor increases, which is particularly low in terms of air flow dimensioned hair dryer complicates the drive of the rotor. In addition, at In this version of the pulsator, the pulsation frequency cannot be specifically set, i.e. variable, which is a serious disadvantage for the user.

The invention is therefore based on the problem of a known pulsator in this regard to further develop that the rotor is structurally simple and can be produced with little effort and the air flow emerging from the pulsator can be varied.

This problem is solved in that the axis of rotation of the rotor is coaxial in the Housing part is arranged and the air flow by means of the stator in a rotary motion around the longitudinal axis the housing can be moved.

On the one hand, this is a structurally simple and therefore also with little effort manufacturable design of the rotor specified, with the design of the stator the air flow emerging from the pulsator can also be varied. On the other hand is a by the coaxial arrangement of the axis of rotation of the rotor in the pulsator housing continuous flow through the hair dryer achieved. Furthermore, the air gets through the stator already has an orientation in the form of a rotational movement, which causes the drive elements flow is effective and the rotor is driven, resulting in a desired pulsating effect. The means for varying the pulsation frequency enable the user to use a pulsation frequency of different strengths as required adjust, making the hair advantageous depending on the hair density or degree of drying can be raised and / or swirled more or less. In one shot the pulsation of the air flow is completely eliminated, so that the hair dryer can then be used in the usual way without the pulsator from Hair dryer must be removed. The rotor itself does not need any additional special parts to make the rotary movement, i.e. to generate the swirl of the air flow. Such a pulsator is therefore essentially for all hair dryers, including hair dryers with a low air flow, to generate a pulsating air flow applicable and can also be manufactured relatively easily.

The stator advantageously has guide vanes whose angle of attack with respect to the Longitudinal axis of the pulsator is changeable. By changing the angular position of the The airflow receives guide vanes with respect to the pulsator axis differently strong swirl, i.e. it turns into a varying amount of rotation around its own Axis offset and thus causes a different rapid rotation of the rotor.

The fact that each of the guide vanes pivotable on a bearing rings Spoke is mounted, the spokes preferably being radial in the tubular Housing part are arranged is a structurally simple adjustment for the guide vanes are provided.

In an advantageous development, the guide blades have an arm on one side on, which lies in an opening in the tubular housing part and on carries a pin at its free end.

It is advantageous to have a cam ring on the tubular housing part helical slots in which the pins of the arms intervene, preferably the cam ring through an outer ring a collar of the pulsator housing is positioned axially. Now the user turns on the outer ring and thus on the curve ring, the pins slide into the helical slots, which changes the angular position of the Guide vanes changed.

In a development of the invention, spring arms are formed on the cam ring, that slide with their free end on a flat surface of the federal government. Thereby creates a friction brake, which turns off automatically Curve ring and outer ring existing unit prevented, with which unwanted changes in the angular position of the guide vanes excluded becomes.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the drive elements are as Deflection blades and center rib formed and the deflection blades in arranged essentially parallel to each other in the rotor. This arrangement of Deflecting vanes causes the airflow from the longitudinal axis to one certain angle is deflected and the axis of the rotation of the rotor Airflow describes a cone jacket.

Because the deflecting vanes have essentially the same curvature will have an almost over the entire air outlet cross-section causes uniform deflection of the air flow.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the drive elements of the Rotors designed as spokes and rib. The swirled, i.e. Airflow rotated about its axis hits the Spokes and the rib on, which drives and deflects the rotor.

The rotor advantageously has an air outlet partially and eccentrically closing plate on. So that the airflow can only come from the Leaving the remaining cross-section, the axis of the air flow approximately in Center of gravity of the remaining cross-section lies and when the rotor rotates describes a circular path. The adjustment of the guide vanes and thus the With this configuration, the pulsation frequency can already be increased described manner.

In an advantageous embodiment, the rotor with one axis is preferred stored in two bearing sleeves, each on an air outlet grille and in the center are provided between the spokes. This arrangement enables one slight rotation of the rotor and ensures precise storage.

Further features, advantages and possible uses of the invention result from the following description of the exemplary embodiments which are shown in more detail in the drawings. Thereby form all described and / or features depicted individually or in any combination of the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their summary in the Claims and their relationship.

Fig. 1

Einen Längsschnitt durch den Pulsator in Ebene B-B der Fig. 2;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch den Pulsator in Ebene A-A der Fig. 1, wobei der Kurvenring nicht geschnitten ist;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht des Pulsators in Richtung D der Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht des Rotors in Richtung E der Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt durch eine Speiche in Ebene C-C der Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

eine Abwicklung des Kurvenringes mit Bezug auf Fig. 2;

Fig. 7

einen Längsschnitt des Rotors gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 8

eine Ansicht des Rotors der Fig. 7 in Richtung F.

Show it:

Fig. 1

A longitudinal section through the pulsator in plane BB of FIG. 2;

Fig. 2

a cross section through the pulsator in plane AA of Figure 1, wherein the cam ring is not cut.

Fig. 3

a view of the pulsator in the direction D of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4

a view of the rotor in the direction E of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5

a cross section through a spoke in the plane CC of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6

a development of the cam ring with reference to Fig. 2;

Fig. 7

a longitudinal section of the rotor according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 8

a view of the rotor of FIG. 7 in the direction F.

To generate a pulsating air flow, a hair dryer 10 (only partially shown) a pulsator 12 can be coupled. To do this, instructs tubular housing part 13 on an air inlet side 14 fasteners 15 on, by means of which a detachable connection between hair dryer 10 and Pulsator 12 can be realized. On the side of the air outlet 16 covers Air outlet grille 17 which is essentially tubular housing part 13, which forms the pulsator housing. The rotor 20 for generating the pulsating Air flow has a hub 21, in which an axis 25 made of steel is inserted. Deflection vanes 22 are provided as drive elements 11 essentially parallel to each other within a ring segment 23 (Fig.4) are arranged and approximately the same curvature exhibit. A rotor is located in front of the rotor 20 in the direction of the air outlet 16 38 with spokes 26. On each of the spokes 26 there is a bearing ring 27 Guide blade 28 pivotally arranged. At the outer end of the guide vanes 28 arms 29 are provided in each case, which pass through openings 30 in the tubular housing part 13 lie. The arms 29 are curved so that they are the Follow the curvature of the tubular housing part 13. At its free end the arms 29 have a molded-on pin 31 which fits into one helical slot 36 of a cam ring 32 protruding is arranged. The cam ring 32 is at least by an outer ring 33 partially covered and by means of this on a collar 34 of the tubular Housing part 13 set. The outer ring 33 and the cam ring are preferred 32 connected by means of locking means 35.

The rotor 20 is preferably mounted in two bearing sleeves 18, 19 which on Air outlet grille 17 and are provided centrally between the spokes 26. With corresponding design changes, this is also possible Storage in a bearing sleeve. Now the air flows out of the hair dryer 10 in In the direction of the air outlet 16, it first meets the spokes 26 with the Guide vanes 28. Used by the user by rotating the outer ring 33 and thus on the cam ring 32 with respect to the angular position of the guide vanes 28 changed the longitudinal axis of the pulsator 12 so that it deviates from zero the air flow a swirl. This air flow acts on the deflector blades 22 and the central rib 24 (Fig.4), which correspond to the drive elements 11 and the Set rotor 20 in rotation. Depending on the size of the deviation Angular position from the zero position changes the strength of the swirl and thus the speed of the rotor 20 inevitably. By the deflecting blades 22 the air is deflected so that the axis of the air flow is a cone describes. The emerging air flow changes its position constantly. He meets thus constantly a different location on the surface to be dried. This is from User perceived as pulsation. This phenomenon causes spreading and Lifting the hair to be dried, this effect being particularly effective occurs with short to medium length hair, but overall for each hair length an advantageous, gentle and faster drying of the hair enables. The user can thus by rotating the outer ring 33 Change the angular position of the guide vanes 28 and thereby the pulsation frequency influence, depending on whether a strongly or weakly pulsating Airflow is desired. The pivot angle of the guide vanes 28 moves preferably in a range from -5 ° to + 15 ° with respect to the zero position (Fig.5). In a basic position, in which the angle of the guide vanes 28 to Longitudinal axis of the pulsator is zero, the pulsation frequency is also up Zero and the hair dryer 10 acts approximately like a device without a pulsator 12. It can also be used to manufacture hair dryers with an integrated pulsator, since the optional generation of both a non-pulsating and one pulsating air flow is possible without changes to the device.

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the pulsator 12. The stator 38 has preferably three spokes 26 which are arranged radially. In the middle between the spokes 26, the axis 25 of the rotor 20 is inserted into the hub 21. The Spokes 26 carry guide vanes 28 by means of bearing rings 27 outer end of the arms 29 are provided, which with their pin 31 in the Openings 30 protrude into the tubular housing part 13. Is covered the tubular housing part 13 through the cam ring 32 on the spring arms 37 are molded. These spring arms 37 slide with their free ends on one Flat surface of a collar 34 of the tubular housing part 13 (Fig. 1), whereby a friction brake is created, which prevents the outer ring 33 and Turn the cam ring 32 automatically and thereby a change in Angular position of the guide vanes 28 during handling regardless of User can be done.

The air outlet grille 17, which covers the pulsator 12 on one side, has in the middle the bearing sleeve 18, Fig. 3. The immediately behind the Air outlet grille 17 in the pulsator 12 arranged rotor 20 as shown in FIG. 4 from a sleeve designed as a ring segment 23 with a central rib 24 as one of the drive elements 11, wherein the ring segment 23 on diametrically opposite sections is flattened. The centric in the rotor 20 is Hub 21 provided. The drive elements 11 are clearly recognizable in shape of deflecting blades 22, which run parallel to one another and are approximately the same are curved, the curvature being substantially in the front view the same area appears, as well as the midrib 24 (Fig. 4).

The change in the angular position of the Guide vanes 28 illustrates. The spokes 26 are cylindrical Part enclosed by the bearing rings 27, which the guide vanes 28th store swivel. The pin 31, which is arranged on the arm 29, changes at Rotation on the cam ring 32 its position with respect to the tubular Housing part 13, since it in the helical slots 36 of the cam ring 32 slides. By changing his position regarding the tubular housing part 13, the pin 31 causes a change in Angular position of the guide vanes 28. The molded on the cam ring 32 Spring arms 37 slide on a flat surface of the collar 34 (FIG. 1). They form one Friction brake, which prevents the rings 32, 33 from turning back unintentionally (FIG. 1) and an automatic change in the angular position of the guide vanes 28 is prevented regardless of the user.

In a second embodiment according to FIGS. 7 and 8, a rotor 41 consists a ring segment 44 with a hub 42, which is analogous to the first Embodiment for the rotatable mounting of the rotor element 41 is used. Preferably three spokes 43 are at approximately the same distance in the ring segment 44 arranged. A plate 46 is located opposite the spokes 43 provided that partially and eccentrically closes the air outlet cross section.

A rib 45 is provided approximately in the center of the plate 46. Will now be a Air flow directed towards air outlet 16, it becomes analogous to the first Embodiment on the stator 38 upstream of the rotor 41 with a Provide swirl and acts with this swirl on the drive elements 11 - the Spokes 43 and rib 45. This air flow causes the rotor to rotate 41, the plate 46 partially covering the air outlet cross section and thereby the exiting air is given a pulsation effect. The adjustment of the Angular position of the guide vanes 28 for changing the rotor speed and thus the pulsation frequency takes place analogously to the first embodiment.

Claims (12)

1. An air-moving pulsator (12) for an electric hair dryer (10) which, for the purpose of creating a pulsing action in an air stream, includes a rotor (20, 41) mounted for rotation in a substantially tubular housing portion (13) having a longitudinal axis, and comprising impeller means (11) adapted to be impacted by the air stream exiting from the hair dryer (10), and in which a stator (38) is arranged upstream of the rotor (20, 41) as seen when looking in the discharge direction of the air stream, said stator being provided with means for varying the pulsation frequency, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the rotor (29) is disposed coaxially in the housing portion (13), and that the stator is capable of imparting to the air stream a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the housing portion (13).
2. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the stator (38) includes air-directing blades (28) whose angular position relative to the longitudinal axis (47) of the pulsator (12) is variable.
3. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each of the air-directing blades (28) is pivotally mounted on a spoke (26) by means of bearing rings (27), said spokes (26) being preferably radially disposed within the tubular housing portion (13).
4. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the air-directing blades (28) have at one end thereof an arm (29) resting in an aperture (30) of the tubular housing portion (13) and carrying a pin (31) at its free end.
5. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cam ring (32) having helically shaped slots (36) is mounted on the tubular housing portion (13), said slots being engaged by the pins (31) of the arms (29), said cam ring (32) being preferably axially located relative to a collar (34) of the tubular housing portion (13) by means of an outer ring (33).
6. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that spring arms (37) sliding with their free ends on a plane surface of the collar (34) are integrally formed on the cam ring (32).
7. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impeller means (11) are configured as deflector blades (22) and central rib member (24), and that said deflector blades (22) are arranged in the rotor (20) in an essentially parallel relationship to each other.
8. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the deflector blades (22) are provided with an essentially equal curvature.
9. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the impeller means (11) of the rotor (41) are configured as spokes (43) and rib member (45).
10. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (20, 41) has an axle (25) preferably supported in two bearing bushings (18, 19) provided respectively on an air outlet screen (17) and centrally between the spokes (26).
11. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotor (41) is provided with a plate (46) blocking an air outlet end (16) partially and eccentrically.
12. The air-moving pulsator as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rotor (20) is configured as a flow deflector through which a continuous stream is movable.

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