Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a fan and in some aspects to an impeller with increased performance or efficiency. The fan according to some embodiments of the present invention has a housing, an impeller, and a motor driving the impeller. The impeller can be manufactured and/or arranged within the housing to make the fan more efficient under certain operating conditions. In some embodiments, the impeller is equipped with blades having a non-constant radius of curvature. In other embodiments, the impeller is equipped with two sets of blades, which include primary blades and secondary blades. These blades can be offset from each other to increase performance. In yet other embodiments, the space between the secondary blades and the housing can be manipulated to increase performance. Additionally, other embodiments adjust the cross-sectional shape of the flow path through the impeller to increase performance.

Abstract: The axial fan assembly according to some embodiments of the present invention has a shroud, a motor coupled to the shroud, and a fan coupled to the motor. By employing selected vane-to-blade ratios, blade twist angles, blade pitch angles, blade-to-shroud axial gaps, shroud solidities, vane swept angles, and vane inlet and outlet angles of specified amounts or falling within specified ranges, desirable fan performance is achieved. Any one or more of these parameters can be utilized alone or in combination with other parameters as desired.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention provide a two-piece fan housing having a seam between first and second housing pieces. In some embodiments, a portion of the seam extends circumferentially about the fan housing while also extending axially. Also, some embodiments of the present invention provide an integrally-formed intake wall at or adjacent the fan housing intake aperture and extending axially into the fan housing. The axially extending intake wall can also extend radially inwardly to define an inlet restriction of the fan housing.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: The present invention employs improved fan blade shapes to improve fan blade performance in one or more manners (i.e., increased fan efficiency, lower fan noise, greater fluid moving capability, and the like). In some embodiments, the fan blade has a front side, a rear side, an inner attachment portion, an outer edge, a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge. The outer edge can define an arc between a forward position and a rearward position of the fan blade. In some embodiments, the leading edge extends outward and intercepts the arc of the outer edge at the forward position, and the trailing edge extends outward to the rearward position. Various angles, lengths, and other dimensions of the blade can have selected values to produce superior fan performance.

Abstract: The fan blade is used for a cooling fan assembly to be coupled to the shaft of a motor for rotation about an axis. The fan blade has a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge with an outer edge which defines an arc between a forward position and a rearward position. The fan blade leading edge is forwardly swept in the region from 0.5RL to the forward position wherein RL is the length of a straight line from the axis to the forward position. The swept angle &agr;L formed by lines extending from the axis to the blade leading edge at 0.5RL and to the forward position is at least 35 degrees. The camber ratio calculated by HL/LL is larger than 0.10 but less than 0.20. The blade trailing edge is also forwardly swept in the region of 0.5RT to the rearward position wherein RT is the length of a straight line from the axis to the rearward position. The swept angle &agr;T formed by lines extending from the axis to the blade trailing edge at 0.