FAN ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS BURNER APPLIANCE AND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING THE FAN ASSEMBLY

Description

[0001] The present patent application relates to a fan assembly for a gas burner appliance. Further on, the present patent application relates to an assembly comprising such a fan assembly.

[0002] EP 3 015 768 A1 discloses an assembly comprising a gas valve for providing a gas flow, a fan for providing an air flow and a gas/air mixer for mixing the gas with the air thereby providing a gas/air mixture. The fan comprises a fan housing with a fan plate housing part and a fan impeller housing part, wherein the fan impeller housing part is mounted to the fan plate housing part. The fan comprises further a fan impeller, said fan impeller being positioned within an interior space of the fan module housing defined by the fan plate housing part and the fan impeller housing part. A burner door through which the assembly is connectable to a gas burner is provided together with the fan impeller housing part as monolithic element.

[0003] DE 10 2010 008 988 A1 discloses a pre-mix fan assembly for a gas burner appliance. This pre-mix fan assembly has a fan housing, a fan impeller being positioned with the fan housing and a fan motor for driving the fan impeller. The fan motor is carried by a mounting plate attached to the fan housing. A printed circuit board is attached to the mounting plate, wherein the printed circuit board comprises electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan. The printed circuit board comprising the electronic components and the fan motor are positioned within a cover.

[0004] EP 2 996 227 A2, US 2016/285339 A1, US 2016/200440 A1, US 2015/300355 A1 and US 2016/202572 A1 disclose additional prior art.

[0005] Against this background, a novel fan assembly is provided.

[0006] The fan assembly according to the present disclosure is defined in claim 1.

[0007] The fan assembly according to the present disclosure comprises a fan module and an electronic module.

[0008] The fan module of the novel fan assembly has a fan module housing comprising a fan plate housing part, a fan impeller housing part and a collar housing part. The fan impeller housing part is mounted to the fan plate housing part at a first side of the fan plate housing part. The collar housing part is mounted to the fan plate housing part at an opposite second side of the fan plate housing part.

[0009] The fan module of the novel fan assembly further has a fan impeller. Said fan impeller is positioned at the first side of the fan plate housing part within a first interior space of the fan module housing defined by the fan plate housing part and the fan impeller housing part. The fan module of the novel fan assembly further has a cooling impeller. Said cooling impeller is positioned at the second side of the fan plate housing part within a second interior space of the fan module housing defined by the fan plate housing part and the collar housing part.

[0010] The fan module of the novel fan assembly further has first electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly. Said first electronic components are positioned within the second interior space. Said first electronic components are cooled or can be cooled by said cooling impeller.

[0011] The electronic module of the novel fan assembly has an electronic module housing. The electronic module of the novel fan assembly further has second electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly. Said second electronic components are positioned with said electronic module housing. Said second electronic components of the electronic module are electrically or electronically connected to the first electronic components of the fan module.

[0012] The electronic module housing of the electronic module is releasably mounted to collar housing part of the fan module housing of the fan module.

[0013] The electronic module housing is releasably mounted to collar housing part in such a way that for mounting the electronic module to the fan module and for unmounting the electronic module from the fan module the electronic module is guided relocatable at the collar housing part in a linear direction running perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cooling impeller and/or running perpendicular to a rotation axis of the fan impeller.

[0014] The novel fan assembly provides a compact solution of mounting the electronic module of the fan assembly to the fan module of the fan assembly to allow easy service and reliable functionality.

[0015] The novel fan assembly allows easy service of electronics by pulling the electronic module to front. The novel fan assembly provides a very compact design requiring only little space within the gas burner appliance.

[0016] Preferably, the novel fan assembly has guide elements for guiding the electronic module at the collar housing part while mounting and unmounting the electronic module and the fan module. The guide elements may be provided at the collar housing part of the fan module housing and at the electronic module housing. Said guide elements may provide guide rails. These features of the novel fan assembly are preferred to provide a compact solution and to allow easy service and reliable functionality.

[0017] Preferably, said collar housing part of the fan module housing of the fan module has an end stop limiting the linear movement of the electronic module relative to the fan module while mounting the electronic module to the fan module. Said collar housing part of the fan module housing of the fan module may have a locking element for securing the electronic module at the fan module. These features of the novel fan assembly are also preferred to provide a compact solution and to allow easy service and reliable functionality.

[0018] Preferably, the novel fan assembly has compensation elements for compensating a clearance between the electronic module and the fan module when the electronic module and the fan module are mounted together, wherein said compensation elements may be provided by elastically deformable protrusions at the electronic module housing and/or collar housing part. These features of the novel fan assembly are also preferred to provide a compact solution and to allow easy service and reliable functionality.

[0019] Preferably, a wall section of the collar housing part defines together with a wall section of the electronic module housing a flow channel for cooling air, wherein the wall section of the collar housing part and the wall section of the electronic module housing preferably each have an indentation defining the flow channel for cooling air when the electronic module and the fan module are mounted together. These features of the novel fan assembly are also preferred to provide a compact solution and to allow easy service and reliable functionality.

[0020] An assembly comprising a gas valve, the novel fan assembly and a gas/air mixer is defined in claim 15.

[0021] Preferred developments of the invention are provided by the dependent claims and the description which follows. Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing, in which:

Figure 1

shows a front view of an assembly comprising a gas valve, a fan assembly and a gas/air mixer, the fan assembly having a fan module and an electronic module;

Figure 2

shows a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 3

shows the front view of Figure 1 with connector locks of the electronic module being opened;

Figure 4

shows a partial exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 5

shows a cross-section of the of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 6

shows a perspective view of the electronic module;

Figure 7

shows the detail VII of Figure 6;

Figure 8

shows the detail VIII of Figure 6;

Figure 9

shows a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 1 without the electronic module;

Figure 10

shows a detail of Figure 9;

Figure 11

shows a perspective view of a collar housing part of a fan module housing of the fan module;

Figure 12

shows the detail XII of Figure 11;

Figure 13

shows the detail XIII of Figure 11;

Figure 14

shows the detail XIV of Figure 3;

Figure 15

shows a perspective view of the detail of Figure 14;

Figure 16

shows a perspective view of the electronic module and the collar housing part of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 17

shows a detail of Figure 3 with a partial cross section;

Figure 18

shows a cross section of Figure 16;

Figure 19

shows a side view of the assembly of Figure 1;

Figure 20

shows a perspective view of a detail of the electronic module.

[0022] The present disclosure relates to a novel fan assembly of a gas burner appliance. Preferably, the novel fan assembly is part of an assembly of a gas burner appliance comprising in addition to the fan assembly also a gas valve and a gas/air mixer.

[0023] Figures 1 to 5 all show different views of an assembly 10 of a gas burner appliance comprising a fan assembly 11, a gas/air mixer 12 and a gas valve 13. The assembly 10 is a premix assembly providing a gas/air mixture M (see Figure 5) to a burner chamber (not shown) of the gas burner appliance. The gas/air mixture M is provided by the gas/air mixer 12, namely by mixing a flow of gas G (see Figure 5) with a flow of air A (see Figure 5). The flow of gas G is provided by the gas valve 13. The fan assembly 10 is positioned downstream of the gas/air mixer 12.

[0024] The fan assembly 10 sucks in the gas/air mixture M. The amount of flow of the gas/air mixture M depends on the fan speed of the fan assembly 10, wherein the fan speed of the fan assembly 10 depends on the desired burner load of the gas burner appliance. The fan speed of the fan assembly 10 defines the amount of the air flow A and thereby the amount of the gas/air mixture flow M.

[0025] The opening position of the gas valve 13 is preferably controlled in such a manner that at any desired burner loads and therefore at any fan speeds of the fan assembly 11 the mixing ratio of gas G and air A within the gas/air mixture M is kept constant.

[0026] The fan assembly 11 comprises a fan module 14 and a electronic module 15.

[0027] The fan module 14 of the fan assembly 11 has a fan module housing 16 comprising a fan plate housing part 17, a fan impeller housing part 18 and a collar housing part 19. The fan impeller housing part 18 is mounted to the fan plate housing part 17 at a first side of the fan plate housing part 17. The collar housing part 19 is mounted to the fan plate housing part 17 at an opposite second side of the fan plate housing part 17. The collar housing part 19 and the fan impeller housing part 18 are both firmly attached to the fan plate housing part 17.

[0028] The fan module 14 of the fan assembly 11 further has fan impeller 20. Said fan impeller 20 is positioned at the first side of the fan plate housing part 17 within a first interior space of the fan module housing 16 defined by the fan plate housing part 17 and the fan impeller housing part 18. The fan impeller 20 is driven by a fan motor (not shown) of the fan module 14. The fan impeller 20 rotates around a rotation axis 21.

[0029] The fan module 14 of the fan assembly 11 further has a cooling impeller 22. Said cooling impeller 22 is positioned at the second side of the fan plate housing part 17 within a second interior space of the fan module housing 16 defined by the fan plate housing part 17 and the collar housing part 19.

[0030] The fan motor is preferably also positioned within said second interior space of the fan module housing 16. The cooling impeller 22 rotates around a rotation axis 23.

[0031] The rotation axis 21 of the fan impeller 20 and the rotation axis 23 of the cooling impeller 22 may run parallel to each other. Preferably, these rotation axes 21, 23 fall together.

[0032] The fan module 14 of the fan assembly 11 further has first electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly 14. Said first electronic components are positioned - together with the cooling impeller 22 and the fan motor - within the second interior space. Said first electronic components may comprise a speed sensor and power components. Said first electronic components may be cooled by said cooling impeller 22, preferably together with motor winding of the fan motor.

[0033] The electronic module 15 of the fan assembly 11 has an electronic module housing 24.

[0034] The electronic module 15 of the fan assembly 11 has second electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly 11, said second electronic components being positioned with said electronic module housing 24.

[0035] Said second electronic components which are positioned in the electronic module housing 24 are electrically or electronically connected to said first electronic components which are positioned in the fan module housing 16. This connection is provided by wires 49 or by a cable 49 running between the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14. Said wires or a cable 49 can be best seen in Figure 3. A connector 50 terminating said wires or a cable 49 is connected to a receptacle 54 of the electronic module 15.

[0036] The electronic module housing 24 of the electronic module 15 is releasably mounted to collar housing part 19 of the fan module housing 16, namely in such a way that for mounting the electronic module 15 to the fan module 14 and for unmounting the electronic module 15 from the fan module 14 the electronic module 15 is guided relocatable at the collar housing part 19 in a linear direction running perpendicular to the rotation axis 23 of the cooling impeller 22 and/or running perpendicular to the rotation axis 21 of the fan impeller 20.

[0037] Preferably, the mounting and unmounting direction of electronic module 15 runs perpendicular to the rotation axis 23 of the cooling impeller 22 and to the rotation axis 21 of the fan impeller 20. Said mounting and unmounting direction is indicated in Figure 4 by the arrows 51. Said mounting and unmounting direction 51 runs in Z direction (see Figure 2).

[0038] The mounting/unmounting direction 51 for the electronic module 15 at/from the fan module 14 is defined by guide elements 25, 26, 27, 28. The guide elements 25, 26, 27, 28 are guiding the electronic module 15 at the collar housing part 19 while mounting and unmounting the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14.

[0039] The collar housing part 19 of the fan module housing 16 of the fan module 14 has first upper and lower guide elements 25, 26. The electronic module housing 24 of the electronic module 15 has second upper and lower guide elements 27, 28. Said first upper and lower guide elements 25, 26 of the collar housing part 19 and said second first upper and lower guide elements 27, 28 of the electronic module housing 24 define together the linear direction 51 of movement while mounting and unmounting the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14. Said first upper and lower guide elements 25, 26 of the collar housing part 19 and said second first upper and lower guide elements 27, 28 of the electronic module housing 24 provide guide rails for said linear movement.

[0040] Said electronic module 15 has in addition to the second electronic components third electronic components. Said third electronic components control the operation of other components of the gas burner appliance, e.g. of the gas valve 13 of the assembly 10. Said third electronic components may also control the operation of an ignition device of the gas burner appliance and/or the operation of a water pump the gas burner appliance and/or the operation of a water valve of the gas burner appliance.

[0041] Said third electronic components which are positioned in the electronic module housing 24 are electrically or electronically connected to the respective other components of the gas burner appliance by wires 52 or a cable 52 running between the electronic module 15 and the respective other components of the gas burner appliance. Said wires or a cable 52 can be best seen in Figures 1, 3. A connector 53 terminating said wires or a cable 52 is connected to a receptacle 55 of the electronic module 15.

[0042] The mounting/unmounting of the electronic module 15 at/from the fan module 14 can be performed when the connectors 50, 53 are disconnected from the respective receptacles 54, 55 of the electronic module 15.

[0043] The electronic module further comprises door-like connector locks 56, 57. When the connector locks 56, 57 are opened (see Figures 1, 2, 14, 15) the connectors 50, 53 can be connected to and disconnected from the receptacles 54, 55, When the connector locks 56, 57 are closed (see Figures 1, 2) said connecting/disconnecting operation of the connectors 50, 53 and receptacles 54, 55 is not possible.

[0044] When the connectors 50, 53 are received by or connected to the receptacles 54, 55 and when the connector locks 56, 57 are closed, the connector locks 56, 57 secure the connector 50, 53 of the respective wires/cable 49, 52 at the electronic module housing 24.

[0045] Said collar housing part 19 of the fan module housing 16 of the fan module 14 has an end stop 29 limiting the linear movement of the electronic module 15 relative to the fan module 14 while mounting the electronic module 15 to the fan module 14. The end stop 29 of the collar housing part 19 acts together with a back side of the electronic module housing 24 of the electronic module 15.

[0046] Said collar housing part 19 of the fan module housing 16 of the fan module 14 further has a locking element for securing the electronic module 15 at the fan module 14. Said locking element is preferably provided by a snap lock 30. Said snap lock 30 engages a section 31 of the electronic module housing 24 when the electronic module 15 is mounted to the fan module 14. The snap lock 30 is an elastically deformable element. When the snap lock 30 is in an unactuated status, the snap lock 30 secures the electronic module 15 at the fan module 14. When the electronic module 15 shall be unmounted from the fan module 14, it is necessary to elastically deform the snap lock 30. Stops 61 provided at the collar housing part 19 proximate to the snap lock 30 limit the elastic deformation of the snap lock 30 to avoid the risk that the same becomes damaged.

[0047] Said section 31 of the electronic module housing 24 acting together with the snap lock 30 is provided at a front side of the electronic module housing 24 of the electronic module 15. When the snap lock 30 engages the section 31 at the front side of the electronic module housing 24, the back side of the electronic module housing 24 is resting against the end stop 29. The section 31 of the electronic module housing 24 which acts together with the snap lock 30 has a protrusion 32 engaging into a recess 33 of the snap lock 30 when the snap lock 30 secures the electronic module 15 at the fan module 14.

[0048] The fan assembly 11 further has compensation elements 34 and 36 for compensating clearance between the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14. Said compensation elements 34 and 36 compensate the clearance between the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14 when the electronic module 15 is mounted to the fan module 14.

[0049] First compensation elements 34 compensate a clearance between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 in the direction running parallel to the rotation axes 21, 23 of the cooling impeller 22 and fan impeller 20.

[0050] Said first compensation elements 34 compensate a clearance between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 in X direction (see Figure 2).

[0051] Second compensation elements 36 compensate a clearance between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 in the direction running perpendicular to the rotation axes 21, 23 of the cooling impeller 22 and fan impeller 20 and running perpendicular for the linear direction 51 of movement of the electronic module 15 when mounting and unmounting the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14.

[0052] Said second compensation elements 36 compensate a clearance between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 in Y direction (see Figure 2).

[0053] Said compensation elements 34, 36 are preferably provided by elastically deformable protrusions at the electronic module housing 24 and/or collar housing part 19.

[0054] When a compensation element is provided by the electronic module housing 24 - see compensation elements 36 in Figures 6, 7 - the same acts together with a surface area 37 at the collar housing part 19 (see Figure 16). When a compensation element is provided by the collar housing part 19 - see compensation elements 34 in Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 - the same acts together with a surface area 35 at the electronic module housing 24 (see Figure 6, 7, 8).

[0055] When the electronic module housing 24 is mounted at collar housing part 19, said compensation elements 34, 36 are elastically deformed and the same rest against the corresponding surface area 35, 37 thereby compensating a clearance between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19.

[0056] The end stop 29 also provides a third clearance compensation element between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 for clearance compensation in Z direction (see Figure 2).

[0057] Said end stop 29 which is provided by the collar housing part 19 is positioned in the region of the first upper guide element 25 of the collar housing part 19. Another end stop 62 (see Figures 11, 13) is provided at by the collar housing part 19. Said other end stop 62 is positioned in the region of the first lower guide element 25 of the collar housing part 19. The other end stop 62 provides also a third clearance compensation element between the electronic module housing 24 and the collar housing part 19 for clearance compensation in Z direction (see Figure 2).

[0058] Preferably, a wall section of the collar housing part 19 defines together with a wall section of the electronic module housing 24 a flow channel 38 for cooling air. The wall section of the collar housing part 19 and the wall section of the electronic module housing 24 preferably each have an indentation 39, 40 defining the flow channel 38 for the cooling air when the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14 are mounted together.

[0059] The cooling impeller 22 can suck in cooling air through said flow channel 38 and can provide said cooling air to cool the first electronic components being positioned within the second interior space of the fan module housing 16.

[0060] The cooling air used to cool the first electronic components can flow out of the second interior space through at least one gap (not visible) between the collar housing part 19 and the fan plate housing part 17.

[0061] As mentioned above, the electronic module 15 is electrically or electronically connected to the respective other components of the gas burner appliance by wires or the cable 52. See Figures 1, 3. Said cable 52 is U-shaped. At least one cable holder 59 provides the U-shape of the cable 52. If water condensate drips from top of gas burner appliance on the cable 52, said water runs along the cable 52, but because of U shape on bottom it drips down and does not enter the connector 53.

[0062] Figure 20 shows a spare fuse 58 for the electronic components. The spare fuse 58 is accessible without removing the electronic module 15.

[0063] A handle 60 provided at a side wall of the electronic module housing 24 of the electronic module 15 allows an easy and secure handling of the electronic module 15 while mounting and unmounting the electronic module 15 and the fan module 14.

[0064] The present disclosure provides further the assembly 10 comprising the above described fan assembly 11, the gas valve 13 and the gas/air mixer 12. The gas valve 13 has a gas valve housing 41 providing a gas inlet 42 and a gas outlet 43. The gas/air mixer 12 has a gas/air mixer housing 44 providing a gas inlet 45, an air inlet 46 and a gas/air mixture outlet 47.

[0065] The gas valve 13 is mounted to the gas/air mixer 12 in such a way that the gas outlet 42 of the gas valve housing 41 is in communication with the gas inlet 45 of the gas/air mixer housing 44.

[0066] The gas/air mixer 12 is mounted to the fan assembly 11 in such a way that the gas/air mixture outlet 47 of gas/air mixer housing 44 is in communication with a gas/air mixture inlet 48 of fan impeller housing part 18.

List of reference signs

[0067] 

10

assembly

11

fan assembly

12

gas/air mixer

13

gas valve

14

fan module

15

electronic module

16

fan module housing

17

fan plate housing part

18

fan impeller housing part

19

collar housing part

20

fan impeller

21

rotation axis

22

cooling impeller

23

rotation axis

24

electronic module housing

25

first upper guide element

26

first lower guide element

27

second upper guide element

28

second lower guide element

29

end stop

30

snap lock

31

section

32

protrusion

33

recess

34

first compensation element

35

surface area

36

second compensation element

37

surface area

38

flow channel

39

indentation

40

indentation

41

gas valve housing

42

gas inlet

43

gas outlet

44

gas/air mixer housing

45

gas inlet

46

air inlet

47

gas/air mixture outlet

48

gas/air mixture intlet

49

wire/cable

50

connector

51

mounting/unmounting direction

52

wire/cable

53

connector

54

receptacle

55

receptacle

56

connector lock

57

connector lock

58

spare fuse

59

cable holders

60

handle

61

stop

62

end stop

Claims

1. Fan assembly (11) of a gas burner appliance, comprising

a fan module (14), said fan module (14) having

a fan module housing (16) comprising a fan plate housing part (17), a fan impeller housing part (18) and a collar housing part (19), wherein the fan impeller housing part (18) is mounted to the fan plate housing part (17) at a first side of the fan plate housing part (17), and wherein the collar housing part (19) is mounted to the fan plate housing part (17) at an opposite second side of the fan plate housing part (17),

a fan impeller (20), said fan impeller (20) being positioned at the first side of the fan plate housing part (17) within a first interior space of the fan module housing (16) defined by the fan plate housing part (17) and the fan impeller housing part (18),

a cooling impeller (22), said cooling impeller (22) being positioned at the second side of the fan plate housing part (17) within a second interior space of the fan module housing (16) defined by the fan plate housing part (17) and the collar housing part (19),

first electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly (14), said first electronic components being positioned within the second interior space, wherein said first electronic components are cooled by said cooling impeller (22),

an electronic module (15), said electronic module (15) having

an electronic module housing (24),

second electronic components for controlling the operation of the fan assembly, said second electronic components being positioned with said electronic module housing (24),

wherein said second electronic components are electrically or electronically connected to said first electronic components,

wherein the electronic module housing (24) is releasably mounted to collar housing part (19) in such a way that for mounting the electronic module (15) to the fan module (14) and for unmounting the electronic module (15) from the fan module (14) the electronic module (15) is guided relocatable at the collar housing part (19) in a linear direction running perpendicular to a rotation axis (23) of the cooling impeller (22) and/or running perpendicular to a rotation axis (21) of the fan impeller (20).

2. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized by
guide elements (25, 26, 27, 28) for guiding the electronic module (15) at the collar housing part (19) while mounting and unmounting the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14).

3. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that

the collar housing part (19) of the fan module housing (16) of the fan module (14) has first upper and lower guide elements (25, 26),

the electronic module housing (24) of the electronic module (15) has second upper and lower guide elements (27, 28),

said first upper and lower guide elements (25, 26) of the collar housing part (19) and said second upper and lower guide elements (27, 28) of the electronic module housing (24) define together the linear direction of movement while mounting and unmounting the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14).

4. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that
said first upper and lower guide elements (25, 26) of the collar housing part (19) and said second upper and lower guide elements (27, 28) of the electronic module housing (24) provide guide rails.

5. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that
said electronic module (15) has third electronic components for controlling the operation of other components of the gas burner appliance.

6. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by
a first cable (49) or first wires (49) connecting the second electronic components of said electronic module (15) to the fan module and to the first electronic components of the fan module (14).

7. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 5 and 6, characterized by
a second cable (52) or second wires (52) connecting the third electronic components of said electronic module (15) to other components of the gas burner appliance.

8. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that
the electronic module housing (24) has receptacles (54, 55) for receiving a connector (50, 53) of the respective cable or respective wires (49, 52) and connector locks (56, 57) for securing the connector (50, 53) of the respective cable or wires (49, 52) at the electronic module housing (24).

9. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that
said collar housing part (19) of the fan module housing (16) of the fan module (14) has an end stop (29, 62) limiting the linear movement of the electronic module (15) relative to the fan module (14) while mounting the electronic module (15) to the fan module (14).

10. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that

said collar housing part (19) of the fan module housing (16) of the fan module (14) has a locking element for securing the electronic module (15) at the fan module (14),

said locking element being preferably provided by a snap lock (30) engaging a section (31) of the electronic module housing (24) when the electronic module (15) is mounted to the fan module (14).

11. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that
said section (31) of the electronic module housing (24) has a protrusion (32) engaging into a recess (33) of the snap lock (30) when the snap lock (30) secures the electronic module (15) at the fan module (14).

12. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by
compensation elements (34, 36) for compensating a clearance between the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14) when the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14) are mounted together, said compensation elements are preferably provided by elastically deformable protrusions at the electronic module housing (24) and/or collar housing part (19).

13. Fan assembly as claimed in claim 12, characterized by

first compensation elements (34) for compensating a clearance between the electronic module housing (24) and the collar housing part (19) of the fan module housing (16) in the direction running parallel to the rotation axis of the cooling impeller (22) and running parallel to a rotation axis of the fan impeller (20), and/or

second compensation elements (36) for compensating a clearance between the electronic module housing (24) and the collar housing part (19) of the fan module housing (16) in the direction running perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cooling impeller (22), running perpendicular to the a rotation axis of the fan impeller (20) and running perpendicular for the linear direction of movement of the electronic module (15) when mounting and unmounting the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14).

14. Fan assembly as claimed in one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that

a wall section of the collar housing part (19) defines together with a wall section of the electronic module housing (24) a flow channel (38) for cooling air,

the wall section of the collar housing part (19) and the wall section of the electronic module housing (24) preferably each have an indentation (49, 40) defining the flow channel (38) for cooling air when the electronic module (15) and the fan module (14) are mounted together.

15. Assembly (10) comprising

a gas valve (13) having a gas valve housing (41) providing

a gas inlet (42)

a gas outlet (43),

a fan assembly (11) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 14,

a gas/air mixer (12) having a gas/air mixer housing (44) providing

a gas inlet (45),

an air inlet (46),

an gas/air mixture outlet (47),

wherein the gas valve (13) is mounted to the gas/air mixer (12) in such a way that the gas outlet (42) of the gas valve housing (41) is in communication with the gas inlet (45) of the gas/air mixer housing (44).

wherein the gas/air mixer (12) is mounted to the fan assembly (11) in such a way that the gas/air mixture outlet (47) of gas/air mixer housing (44) is in communication with a gas/air mixture inlet (48) of fan impeller housing part (18).

Ansprüche

1. Lüfteranordnung (11) einer Gasbrennereinrichtung, die aufweist:

ein Lüftermodul (14), wobei das Lüftermodul (14) aufweist:

ein Lüftermodulgehäuse (16), das einen Lüfterplattengehäuseteil (17), einen Lüfterradgehäuseteil (18) und einen Manschettengehäuseteil (19) aufweist, wobei der Lüfterradgehäuseteil (18) an dem Lüfterplattengehäuseteil (17) auf einer ersten Seite des Lüfterplattengehäuseteils (17) montiert ist, und wobei der Manschettengehäuseteil (19) an dem Lüfterplattengehäuseteil (17) auf einer entgegengesetzten zweiten Seite des Lüfterplattengehäuseteils (17) montiert ist,

ein Lüfterrad (20), wobei das Lüfterrad (20) auf der ersten Seite des Lüfterplattengehäuseteils (17) in einem ersten Innenraum des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16), der durch den Lüfterplattengehäuseteil (17) und den Lüfterradgehäuseteil (18) definiert ist, positioniert ist,

ein Kühlrad (22), wobei das Kühlrad (22) auf der zweiten Seite des Lüfterplattengehäuseteils (17) in einem zweiten Innenraum des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16), der durch den Lüfterplattengehäuseteil (17) und den Manschettengehäuseteil (19) definiert ist, positioniert ist,

erste Elektronikkomponenten zum Steuern des Betriebs der Lüfteranordnung (14), wobei die ersten Elektronikkomponenten in dem zweiten Innenraum positioniert sind, wobei die ersten Elektronikkomponenten durch das Kühlrad (22) gekühlt werden,

ein Elektronikmodul (15), wobei das Elektronikmodul (15) aufweist:

ein Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24),

zweite Elektronikkomponenten zum Steuern des Betriebs der Lüfteranordnung, wobei die zweiten Elektronikkomponenten mit dem Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) positioniert sind,

wobei die zweiten Elektronikkomponenten elektrisch oder elektronisch mit den ersten Elektronikkomponenten verbunden sind,

wobei das Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) lösbar an dem Manschettengehäuseteil (19) derart montiert ist, dass zum Montieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) an dem Lüftermodul (14) und zum Demontieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) von dem Lüftermodul (14) das Elektronikmodul (15) an dem Manschettengehäuseteil (19) in einer linearen Richtung verschiebbar geführt ist, die senkrecht zu einer Drehachse (23) des Kühlrads (22) verläuft und/oder senkrecht zu einer Drehachse (21) des Lüfterrads (20) verläuft.

2. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch
Führungselemente (25, 26, 27, 28) zum Führen des Elektronikmoduls (15) an dem Manschettengehäuseteil (19) beim Montieren und Demontieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) und des Lüftermoduls (14).

3. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

der Manschettengehäuseteil (19) des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16) des Lüftermoduls (14) erste obere und untere Führungselemente (25, 26) aufweist,

das Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) des Elektronikmoduls (15) zweite obere und untere Führungselemente (27, 28) aufweist,

die ersten oberen und unteren Führungselemente (25, 26) des Manschettengehäuseteils (19) und die zweiten oberen und unteren Führungselemente (27, 28) des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) zusammen die lineare Bewegungsrichtung bei Montieren und Demontieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) und des Lüftermoduls (14) definieren.

4. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die ersten oberen und unteren Führungselemente (25, 26) des Manschettengehäuseteils (19) und die zweiten oberen und unteren Führungselemente (27, 28) des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) Führungsschienen bereitstellen.

5. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Elektronikmodul (15) dritte Elektronikkomponenten zum Steuern des Betriebs anderer Komponenten der Gasbrennereinrichtung aufweist.

6. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, gekennzeichnet durch
ein erstes Kabel (49) oder erste Drähte (49), die die zweiten Elektronikkomponenten des Elektronikmoduls (15) mit dem Lüftermodul und mit den ersten Elektronikkomponenten des Lüftermoduls (14) verbinden.

7. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 5 und 6, gekennzeichnet durch
ein zweites Kabel (52) oder zweite Drähte (52), die die dritten Elektronikkomponenten des Elektronikmoduls (15) mit anderen Komponenten der Gasbrennereinrichtung verbinden.

8. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 6 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
das Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) Aufnahmen (54, 55) zum Aufnehmen eines Verbinders (50, 53) des jeweiligen Kabels oder der jeweiligen Drähte (49, 52) und Verbinderverriegelungen (56, 57) zum Sichern des Verbinders (50, 53) des jeweiligen Kabels oder der jeweiligen Drähte (49, 52) an dem Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) aufweist.

9. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Manschettengehäuseteil (19) des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16) des Lüftermoduls (14) einen Endanschlag (29, 62) aufweist, der die lineare Bewegung des Elektronikmoduls (15) relativ zu dem Lüftermodul (14) bei Montieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) an dem Lüftermodul (14) begrenzt.

10. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

der Manschettengehäuseteil (19) des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16) des Lüftermoduls (14) ein Verriegelungselement zum Sichern des Elektronikmoduls (15) an dem Lüftermodul (14) aufweist,

das Verriegelungselement vorzugsweise durch eine Schnappverriegelung (30) bereitgestellt ist, die einen Abschnitt (31) des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) in Eingriff nimmt, wenn das Elektronikmodul (15) an dem Lüftermodul (14) montiert wird.

11. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
der Abschnitt (31) des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) einen Vorsprung (32) aufweist, der in eine Aussparung (33) der Schnappverriegelung (30) eingreift, wenn die Schnappverriegelung (30) das Elektronikmodul (15) an dem Lüftermodul (14) sichert.

12. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, gekennzeichnet durch
Ausgleichselemente (34, 36) zum Ausgleichen eines Spiels zwischen dem Elektronikmodul (15) und dem Lüftermodul (14), wenn das Elektronikmodul (15) und das Lüftermodul (14) aneinander montiert sind, wobei die Ausgleichselemente vorzugsweise durch elastisch verformbare Vorsprünge an dem Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) und/oder Manschettengehäuseteil (19) bereitgestellt sind.

13. Lüfteranordnung nach Anspruch 12, gekennzeichnet durch

erste Ausgleichselemente (34) zum Ausgleichen eines Spiels zwischen dem Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) und dem Manschettengehäuseteil (19) des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16) in der Richtung, die parallel zu der Drehachse des Kühlrads (22) verläuft und parallel zu einer Drehachse des Lüfterrads (20) verläuft, und/oder

zweite Ausgleichselemente (36) zum Ausgleichen eines Spiels zwischen dem Elektronikmodulgehäuse (24) und dem Manschettengehäuseteil (19) des Lüftermodulgehäuses (16) in der Richtung, die senkrecht zu der Drehachse des Kühlrads (22) verläuft, senkrecht zu der einer Drehachse des Lüfterrads (20) verläuft und senkrecht für die lineare Bewegungsrichtung des Elektronikmoduls (15) bei Montieren und Demontieren des Elektronikmoduls (15) und des Lüftermoduls (14) verläuft.

14. Lüfteranordnung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass

ein Wandabschnitt des Manschettengehäuseteils (19) zusammen mit einem Wandabschnitt des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) einen Strömungskanal (38) für Kühlluft definiert,

der Wandabschnitt des Manschettengehäuseteils (19) und der Wandabschnitt des Elektronikmodulgehäuses (24) vorzugsweise jeweils eine Vertiefung (49, 40) aufweisen, die den Strömungskanal (38) für Kühlluft definiert, wenn das Elektronikmodul (15) und das Lüftermodul (14) aneinander montiert sind.

15. Anordnung (10), die aufweist:

ein Gasventil (13), das ein Gasventilgehäuse (41) aufweist, das bereitstellt:

einen Gaseinlass (42),

einen Gasauslass (43),

eine Lüfteranordnung (11) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14,

einen Gas-/Luft-Mischer (12), der ein Gas-/Luft-Mischergehäuse (44) aufweist, das bereitstellt:

einen Gaseinlass (45),

einen Lufteinlass (46),

einen Gas-/Luft-Gemischauslass (47),

wobei das Gasventil (13) an dem Gas-/Luft-Mischer (12) derart montiert ist, dass der Gasauslass (42) des Gasventilgehäuses (41) in Kommunikation mit dem Gaseinlass (45) des Gas-/Luft-Mischergehäuses (44) ist,

wobei der Gas-/Luft-Mischer (12) an der Lüfteranordnung (11) derart montiert ist, dass der Gas-/Luft-Gemischauslass (47) des Gas-/Luft-Mischergehäuses (44) in Kommunikation mit einem Gas-/Luft-Gemischeinlass (48) des Lüfterradgehäuseteils (18) ist.

Revendications

1. Ensemble de ventilateur (11) d'un brûleur à gaz, comprenant

un module de ventilateur (14), ledit module de ventilateur (14) ayant

un logement de module de ventilateur (16) comprenant une partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17), une partie logement de turbine de ventilateur (18) et une partie logement de collier (19), la partie logement de turbine de ventilateur (18) étant montée sur la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) au niveau d'un premier côté de la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17), et la partie logement de collier (19) étant montée sur la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) au niveau d'un deuxième côté opposé de la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17),

une turbine de ventilateur (20), ladite turbine de ventilateur (20) étant positionnée au niveau du premier côté de la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) au sein d'un premier espace intérieur du logement de module de ventilateur (16) défini par la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) et la partie logement de turbine de ventilateur (18),

une turbine de refroidissement (22), ladite turbine de refroidissement (22) étant positionnée au niveau du deuxième côté de la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) au sein d'un deuxième espace intérieur du logement de module de ventilateur (16) défini par la partie logement de plaque de ventilateur (17) et la partie logement de collier (19),

des premiers composants électroniques pour commander le fonctionnement de l'ensemble de ventilateur (14), lesdits premiers composants électroniques étant positionnés au sein du deuxième espace intérieur, lesdits premiers composants électroniques étant refroidis par ladite turbine de refroidissement (22),

un module électronique (15), ledit module électronique (15) ayant

un logement de module électronique (24),

des deuxièmes composants électroniques pour commander le fonctionnement de l'ensemble de ventilateur, lesdits deuxièmes composants électroniques étant positionnés avec ledit logement de module électronique (24),

lesdits deuxièmes composants électroniques étant connectés électriquement ou électroniquement auxdits premiers composants électroniques,

le logement de module électronique (24) étant monté de façon amovible sur la partie logement de collier (19) de telle sorte que pour monter le module électronique (15) sur le module de ventilateur (14) et pour démonter le module électronique (15) du module de ventilateur (14) le module électronique (15) soit guidé de façon à pouvoir être replacé au niveau de la partie logement de collier (19) dans une direction linéaire allant perpendiculairement à un axe de rotation (23) de la turbine de refroidissement (22) et/ou allant perpendiculairement à un axe de rotation (21) de la turbine de ventilateur (20).

2. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 1, caractérisé par
des éléments de guidage (25, 26, 27, 28) pour guider le module électronique (15) au niveau de la partie logement de collier (19) lors du montage et du démontage du module électronique (15) et du module de ventilateur (14).

3. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que

la partie logement de collier (19) du logement de module de ventilateur (16) du module de ventilateur (14) a des premiers éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (25, 26),

le logement de module électronique (24) du module électronique (15) a des deuxièmes éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (27, 28),

lesdits premiers éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (25, 26) de la partie logement de collier (19) et lesdits deuxièmes éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (27, 28) du logement de module électronique (24) définissent ensemble la direction linéaire de déplacement lors du montage et du démontage du module électronique (15) et du module de ventilateur (14) .

4. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que
lesdits premiers éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (25, 26) de la partie logement de collier (19) et lesdits deuxièmes éléments de guidage supérieur et inférieur (27, 28) du logement de module électronique (24) fournissent des rails de guidage.

5. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que
ledit module électronique (15) a des troisièmes composants électroniques pour commander le fonctionnement d'autres composants du brûleur à gaz.

6. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé par
un premier câble (49) ou des premiers fils (49) connectant les deuxièmes composants électroniques dudit module électronique (15) au module de ventilateur et aux premiers composants électroniques du module de ventilateur (14).

7. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 5 et la revendication 6, caractérisé par
un deuxième câble (52) ou des deuxièmes fils (52) connectant les troisièmes composants électroniques dudit module électronique (15) à d'autres composants du brûleur à gaz.

8. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 6 ou la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que
le logement de module électronique (24) a des réceptacles (54, 55) pour recevoir un connecteur (50, 53) du câble respectif ou des fils respectifs (49, 52) et des verrous de connecteur (56, 57) pour assujettir le connecteur (50, 53) du câble ou des fils respectifs (49, 52) au niveau du logement de module électronique (24) .

9. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que
ladite partie logement de collier (19) du logement de module de ventilateur (16) du module de ventilateur (14) a une butée d'extrémité (29, 62) limitant le déplacement linéaire du module électronique (15) relativement au module de ventilateur (14) lors du montage du module électronique (15) sur le module de ventilateur (14).

10. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce que

ladite partie logement de collier (19) du logement de module de ventilateur (16) du module de ventilateur (14) a un élément de verrouillage pour assujettir le module électronique (15) au niveau du module de ventilateur (14),

ledit élément de verrouillage étant préférablement fourni par une serrure à ressort (30) se mettant en prise avec une section (31) du logement de module électronique (24) lorsque le module électronique (15) est monté sur le module de ventilateur (14).

11. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que
ladite section (31) du logement de module électronique (24) a une saillie (32) se mettant en prise dans un évidement (33) de la serrure à ressort (30) lorsque la serrure à ressort (30) assujettit le module électronique (15) au niveau du module de ventilateur (14).

12. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, caractérisé par
des éléments de compensation (34, 36) pour compenser un jeu entre le module électronique (15) et le module de ventilateur (14) lorsque le module électronique (15) et le module de ventilateur (14) sont montés ensemble, lesdits éléments de compensation sont préférablement fournis par des saillies élastiquement déformables au niveau du logement de module électronique (24) et/ou de la partie logement de collier (19).

13. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans la revendication 12, caractérisé par

des premiers éléments de compensation (34) pour compenser un jeu entre le logement de module électronique (24) et la partie logement de collier (19) du logement de module de ventilateur (16) dans la direction allant parallèlement à l'axe de rotation de la turbine de refroidissement (22) et allant parallèlement à un axe de rotation de la turbine de ventilateur (20), et/ou

des deuxièmes éléments de compensation (36) pour compenser un jeu entre le logement de module électronique (24) et la partie logement de collier (19) du logement de module de ventilateur (16) dans la direction allant perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation de la turbine de refroidissement (22), allant perpendiculairement à l'axe de rotation de la turbine de ventilateur (20) et allant perpendiculairement pour la direction linéaire de déplacement du module électronique (15) lors du montage et du démontage du module électronique (15) et du module de ventilateur (14) .

14. Ensemble de ventilateur tel que revendiqué dans l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, caractérisé en ce que

une section de paroi de la partie logement de collier (19) définit avec une section de paroi du logement de module électronique (24) un canal d'écoulement (38) pour refroidir l'air,

la section de paroi de la partie logement de collier (19) et la section de paroi du logement de module électronique (24) ont préférablement chacune une indentation (49, 40) définissant le canal d'écoulement (38) pour refroidir l'air lorsque le module électronique (15) et le module de ventilateur (14) sont montés ensemble.

15. Ensemble (10) comprenant

soupape à gaz (13) ayant un logement de soupape à gaz (41) fournissant

une entrée de gaz (42)

une sortie de gaz (43)

un ensemble de ventilateur (11) tel que revendiqué dans l'une des revendications 1 à 14,

un mélangeur gaz/air (12) ayant un logement de mélangeur gaz/air (44) fournissant

une entrée de gaz (45)

une entrée d'air (46),

une sortie de mélange gaz/air (47),

la soupape à gaz (13) étant montée sur le mélangeur gaz/air (12) de telle sorte que la sortie de gaz (42) du logement de soupape à gaz (41) soit en communication avec l'entrée de gaz (45) du logement de mélangeur gaz/air (44),

le mélangeur de gaz/air (12) étant monté sur l'ensemble de ventilateur (11) de telle sorte que la sortie de mélange gaz/air (47) du logement de mélangeur gaz/air (44) soit en communication avec une entrée de mélange gaz/air (48) de la partie logement de turbine de ventilateur (18).

Drawing