Abstract: An air handling unit for use with an air conditioning system is provided including a housing duct through which air is circulated. A vane-axial flow fan circulates air through the housing duct. The fan includes an impeller having a plurality of fan blades extending therefrom and an axis of rotation arranged substantially in-line with a flow path of the air. A heat exchanger assembly is arranged within the housing duct in a heat transfer relationship with the air circulating through the housing duct.

Abstract: A fan assembly (10) includes a shrouded fan rotor (24) including a plurality of fan blades (28) extending from a rotor hub (30) and rotatable about a central axis (26) of the fan assembly and a fan shroud (32) extending circumferentially around the fan rotor (24) and secured to the plurality of fan blades (28). The shroud (32) has a first axially extending annular portion (38) secured to the plurality of fan blades (28), a second axially extending annular portion (40) radially outwardly spaced from the first axially extending annular portion (38), and a third portion (44)connecting the first (38) and second (40) axially extending annular portions. A casing (22) is positioned circumferentially around the fan shroud (32) defining a radial clearance between the casing and the fan shroud. The casing (22) includes a plurality of casing elements (48) extending from a radially inboard surface (46) of the casing toward the shroud (32) and defining a radial element gap and an axial element gap.

Abstract: An airflow supply duct for use in a transportation refrigeration trailer is provided including an inlet portion adjacent a first end and an outlet portion adjacent a second opposite end. A generally curvilinear central portion is disposed between the inlet portion and the outlet portion. The inlet portion, the central portion, and the outlet portion form an interior flow path. The airflow supply duct has a rectangular cross-section having an approximately uniform cross-sectional area along a length of the airflow duct. A height and width of the airflow supply duct vary along the length of the airflow supply duct such that a ration of the width to the height at the second end is greater than the ration of the width to the height at the first end.

Abstract: A refrigeration system having a refrigeration unit (22) for providing temperature conditioned air to a temperature controlled space, an engine (26) and an electric generation device (24) driven by the engine, is provided with a battery system (28) for supplying electric power. A method of operating the transport refrigeration includes, during a high cooling demand mode, operating the engine (26) to drive the electric generation device (24) for supplying electric power and simultaneously employing the battery system (28) for supplying electric power to jointly power the plurality of power demand loads (50, 42, 46, 48) of the refrigerant unit.

Abstract: A fan assembly includes a shrouded fan rotor having fan blades extending from a hub and rotatable about a central axis. A fan shroud extends circumferentially around the fan rotor and secured to the fan blades. The shroud includes a first axially extending annular portion secured to the fan blades, a second axially extending annular portion radially outwardly spaced from the first axially extending annular portion, and a third portion connecting the first and second axially extending annular portions. A casing is located circumferentially around the fan shroud defining a radial clearance between the casing and the fan shroud, and includes casing wedges extending from a radially inboard surface of the casing toward the shroud and defining a radial wedge gap between a first wedge surface and the shroud and an axial wedge gap between a second wedge surface and an upstream end of the fan shroud.

Abstract: An inducer fan assembly includes a flow collector piece having a motor support surface, a toroidal collector, and a discharge region extending tangentially from the collector. A fan rotor is rotatably mounted relative to the motor support surface. The fan rotor includes a hub surface, and an outer circumferential edge. The fan rotor further includes a plurality of blades that extend from the hub surface. The plurality of blades extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge that extends beyond the outer circumferential edge. The plurality of blades include a first height and a second height that define a blade tip revolved contour. The collector is arranged radially outward from and axially off-set from the hub surface. An inlet casing piece is mounted to the flow collector piece. The inlet casing piece includes a contour that is substantially similar to the blade tip revolved contour of the fan rotor.

Abstract: An axial fan assembly including a casing wall with a forward facing step formed therein and a fan rotor with blade tips, each having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing step so as to reduce the clearance backflow loss in the assembly. A vane is attached to the suction side of each of the blade tips with the vane having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing forward facing step to promote further reduction of clearance backflow. Variations on the invention include the option of an additional inlet bellmouth piece that further restricts the clearance flow and wedges integral to the casing step to improved flow stability.

Abstract: An outlet guide vane system is disclosed for axial flow fans. Construction details are described which reduce losses in the end wall regions of the vanes, particularly for axial flow fans operating at low flow coefficient with strong localized swirl associated with upstream rotor tip clearance flows. In the preferred embodiment, the vane spanwise airfoil stacking line is approximately straight, while leaning circumferentially toward the incoming swirl flow over the majority of the radial span. The stacking line then curves abruptly in the opposite direction over the radially outboard spanwise portion, so as to lean away from the incoming swirl at the vane tip station. The radially outboard portion of the vanes simultaneously include a gradual increase in vane stagger angle, vane camber angle and vane chord. The vane may also include an axial sweep component.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having a structural framework supporting a refrigeration unit including a condenser heat exchanger supported in an upper region of the framework and an engine and an electric generator powered by the engine supported by the framework in an engine compartment in a lower region of the framework, includes a pair of vertically disposed condenser fan/motor assemblies disposed aft of the condenser heat exchanger in side-by-side relationship and above the engine compartment; and a flow partition extending vertically between the pair of condenser fan/motor assemblies.

Abstract: A comfort system outdoor unit with a heat exchanger coil and a fan in its top opening has an orifice structure and an insert registerable with the orifice structure to streamline the inward flow of air that passes over a lower end of the orifice structure. The insert may be fastened directly to the orifice structure lower end, or it may be installed so as to extend substantially from an upper edge of the coil to the orifice structure lower end.

Abstract: An inducer fan assembly includes a flow collector piece having a motor support surface, a toroidal collector, and a discharge region extending tangentially from the collector. A fan rotor is rotatably mounted relative to the motor support surface. The fan rotor includes a hub surface, and an outer circumferential edge. The fan rotor further includes a plurality of blades that extend from the hub surface. The plurality of blades extend from a leading edge to a trailing edge that extends beyond the outer circumferential edge. The plurality of blades include a first height and a second height that define a blade tip revolved contour. The collector is arranged radially outward from and axially off-set from the hub surface. An inlet casing piece is mounted to the flow collector piece. The inlet casing piece includes a contour that is substantially similar to the blade tip revolved contour of the fan rotor.

Abstract: The distribution of condition air into the cargo space of a temperature controlled container is improved. Conditioned air may be selectively distributed into the cargo space from a plenum beneath the cargo support floor through a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced apart openings through the cargo support floor. Side air ducts may be provided extending rearwardly along the side walls of the container for distributing conditioned air received from a pair of side air outlets in a refrigerant unit associated with the container. The side air ducts may have a plurality of air discharge openings and may discharge conditioned air into vertically extending recesses in the side walls. The side air outlets have a selectively variable flow area. The number, location and size of the openings through the cargo support floor, as well as the air discharge openings in the side air ducts, may be selectively varied so as to selectively distribute the conditioned air flow throughout the cargo space.

Abstract: An engine driven generator (17) is provided with first and second stage fans (41,42) at one end thereof. The two-stage fan system draws in ambient air and forces it through the generator windings (38) and rotor-stator air gap (37,39) for the purpose of improving generator cooling. Stationary guide vanes (49) are disposed between the two fans (41,42) for the purpose of de-swirling the flow therebetween. The fans are of the centrifugal type and are preferably backward curved.

Abstract: An improved evaporator air management system for trailer refrigeration systems, including an electrically powered, vertical axis, axial flow fan, arranged so as to draw air through a horizontally mounted evaporator coil. The flow is then driven upward through a nozzle and discharged into the trailer. The nozzle shape graduates from a circular cross-section to a wide-aspect ratio rectangular cross-section, while turning through 90°. The preferred choice of axial flow fan for the invention is the vane-axial type incorporating outlet guide vanes. Provision is made for a single fan-nozzle configuration which may be either centered or transversely off-set with respect to the evaporator coil. An additional option provides for an arrangement with a pair of side-by-side fan-nozzles.

Abstract: An engine driven generator (17) is provided with first and second stage fans (41,42) at one end thereof. The two-stage fan system draws in ambient air and forces it through the generator windings (38) and rotor-stator air gap (37,39) for the purpose of improving generator cooling. Stationary guide vanes (49) are disposed between the two fans (41,42) for the purpose of de-swirling the flow therebetween. The fans are of the centrifugal type and are preferably backward curved.

Abstract: An improved outlet guide vane system is disclosed for axial flow fans. Construction details are described which reduce losses in the end wall regions of the vanes, particularly for axial flow fans operating at low flow coefficient with strong localized swirl associated with upstream rotor tip clearance flows. In the preferred embodiment, the vane spanwise airfoil stacking line is approximately straight, while leaning circumferentially toward the incoming swirl flow over the majority of the radial span. The stacking line then curves abruptly in the opposite direction over the radially outboard spanwise portion, so as to lean away from the incoming swirl at the vane tip station. The radially outboard portion of the vanes simultaneously include a gradual increase in vane stagger angle, vane camber angle and vane chord. The vane may also include an axial sweep component.

Abstract: An axial fan assembly including a casing wall with a forward facing step formed therein and a fan rotor with blade tips, each having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing step so as to reduce the clearance backflow loss in the assembly. A vane is attached to the suction side of each of the blade tips with the vane having an aft facing step which radially overlaps the casing forward facing step to promote further reduction of clearance backflow. Variations on the invention include the option of an additional inlet bellmouth piece that further restricts the clearance flow and wedges integral to the casing step to improved flow stability.

Abstract: An axial fan assembly including a casing wall with a forward facing step formed therein. Formed on the surface of the step is a plurality of circumferentially spaced wedges which are formed and positioned so as to reduce the swirl flow within the clearance gap between the fan rotor and casing. The wedges are formed so the swirling backflow first encounters a circumferentially tapered face and then an abrupt axially oriented face, thereby substantially removing the swirl component. The wedges have a favorable effect on the flow stability of the fan, thereby extending its operating range. Variations include a fan rotor with a rotating shroud with an outwardly extending portion overlapping the step, and a bellmouth piece at the casing inlet.

Abstract: A transport refrigeration system having a structural framework supporting a refrigeration unit including a condenser heat exchanger supported in an upper region of the framework and an engine and an electric generator powered by the engine supported by the framework in an engine compartment in a lower region of the framework, includes a pair of vertically disposed condenser fan/motor assemblies disposed aft of the condenser heat exchanger in side-by-side relationship and above the engine compartment; and a flow partition extending vertically between the pair of condenser fan/motor assemblies.

Abstract: A comfort system outdoor unit with an orifice structure and a fan in its top opening is provided with an insert to streamline the inward flow of air that passes over a lower end of the orifice structure. The insert may be fastened directly to the orifice lower end, or it may be installed so as to extend substantially from an upper edge of the coil to the orifice structure lower end.