Abstract: A plastic isolator pad having a top wall and opposing side walls depending from the top wall. The isolator pad is typically used for supporting an outboard end of a leaf spring. The isolator pad typically includes a plurality of webs which extend from a bottom surface of the top wall and a plurality of stiffeners which extend between the webs. Also usually provided are opposing ear-like projections which extend laterally from the top wall.

Abstract: Stationary flow control vanes positioned to encounter and redirect recirculating airflow provide a surprising combination of efficiency, low noise, and manufacturability for shrouded, banded, axial fans that are positioned in a housing. Such fan and housing combinations reduce swirl in recirculating airflow, so that the airflow entering the fan (which includes the recirculating airflow) is more ordered and fan performance is improved. The invention is particularly suited for fans that draw airflow through an upstream heat exchanger. It can also be applied to fans that blow air through a downstream heat exchanger. The invention is also suited for ducted fans.

Abstract: A compact, efficient axial flow fan with blades that are rearwardly (i.e., away from the direction of fan rotation) skewed and which are oriented at a pitch ratio which continuously decreases as a function of increasing blade radius along the radially outermost 30% of the blade.

Abstract: A fan in which the root-to-tip net blade skew angle (A.sub.b) (either forward or rearward) is less than 1/2 of the blade spacing; in a first radially inward region of the blade, the blade is rearwardly skewed as indicated by the leading edge skew angle (A.sub.e); in a second region radially outward of the first region, the leading edge skew angle indicates a forward skew.

Abstract: A circumferentially banded fan that forces air through an adjacent heat exchanger and that has an air-guide housing positioned radially outside the band and extending downstream therefrom is disclosed. A plurality of elongated stationary members extend radially inwardly from the housing downstream from the fan blades, and the stationary members have a flow-control surface which removes the rotational component imparted to the airflow by the rotating fan blades. A tangent to the flow control surfaces at their radial center line forms an angle with the airflow exiting the blades which is substantially equal to the tangent-to-axis angle.