Abstract: A fan assembly for an electrical device which comprises a number of heat generating electrical components mounted in an enclosure that includes a front wall, a rear wall and two generally parallel sidewalls. The fan assembly comprises a plurality of fans which are arranged in a row that extends generally perpendicularly between the sidewalls. Each fan comprises an axis of rotation which is oriented at an angle relative to the sidewalls, and the fan assembly further includes a plurality of inlet plenums which each communicate with an inlet end of a corresponding fan and a plurality of exhaust plenums which each communicate with an outlet end of a corresponding fan. In operation, the fans generate an airflow which is distributed through the enclosure by the inlet and exhaust plenums to thereby cool the electrical components.

Abstract: A fan comprises a fan housing which includes a fan inlet, a motor which is connected to the fan housing, and an impeller which is removably connected to the motor. The impeller includes an impeller hub, a number of impeller blades which extend radially outwardly from the impeller hub, an impeller leading edge, an impeller trailing edge and an impeller tip. The fan housing includes an inlet shroud which is positioned over the impeller. The inlet shroud comprises an upstream end portion within which the fan inlet is formed and a downstream end portion which is removably connected to a separate portion of the fan housing. The inlet shroud further includes a first section which extends axially from the upstream end portion to approximately the impeller leading edge, a second section which extends axially from the first section to approximately the impeller trailing edge, and a third section which extends axially from the second section to approximately the downstream end portion.

Abstract: A fan assembly for an electrical device which comprises a number of heat generating electrical components mounted in an enclosure that includes a front wall, a rear wall and two generally parallel sidewalls. The fan assembly comprises a plurality of fans which are arranged in a row that extends generally perpendicularly between the sidewalls. Each fan comprises an axis of rotation which is oriented at an angle relative to the sidewalls, and the fan assembly further includes a plurality of inlet plenums which each communicate with an inlet end of a corresponding fan and a plurality of exhaust plenums which each communicate with an outlet end of a corresponding fan. In operation, the fans generate an airflow which is distributed through the enclosure by the inlet and exhaust plenums to thereby cool the electrical components.

Abstract: A cooling fan includes an impeller which comprises a plurality of radially extending blades, each of which includes a blade hub, a blade tip and a blade midspan approximately midway between the hub and the tip. In addition, each blade includes a camber of between about 60° and 90° at the blade hub, between about 15° and 40° at the blade midspan and between about 15° and 40° at the blade tip.

Abstract: A cooling fan having a fan housing, a motor which is positioned within the fan housing and a plurality of electronics components which are associated with the motor includes at least one strut which extends radially between the motor and the fan housing and on which the electronics components are mounted.

Abstract: A cooling fan comprises an impeller which includes a plurality of radially extending blades, each of which includes a blade hub, a blade tip and a blade midspan approximately midway between the hub and the tip. In addition, each blade comprises a blade suction surface, and substantially the entire blade suction surface is visible from the forward looking aft direction.

Abstract: A fan comprises a fan housing which includes a fan inlet, a motor which is connected to the fan housing, and an impeller which is removably connected to the motor. The impeller includes an impeller hub, a number of impeller blades which extend radially outwardly from the impeller hub, an impeller leading edge, an impeller trailing edge and an impeller tip. The fan housing includes an inlet shroud which is positioned over the impeller. The inlet shroud comprises an upstream end portion within which the fan inlet is formed and a downstream end portion which is removably connected to a separate portion of the fan housing. The inlet shroud further includes a first section which extends axially from the upstream end portion to approximately the impeller leading edge, a second section which extends axially from the first section to approximately the impeller trailing edge, and a third section which extends axially from the second section to approximately the downstream end portion.

Abstract: An air mover, such as a cooling fan, comprises a motor and an impeller which is driven by the motor to generate a flow of air through a flowpath. The motor comprises at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, each of which is in fluid communication with the flowpath. In operation of the air mover, a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet openings causes a portion of the flow of air to flow into the inlet opening, through the motor and out the outlet opening to thereby cool the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a number of electronic components comprises an enclosure within which the components are positioned, an arrangement for circulating a cooling fluid to the components so that the cooling fluid can evaporate on or proximate the components and thereby absorb the heat generated by the components, a mechanism for condensing the evaporated cooling fluid, and a reservoir which is in fluid communication with the circulating means and within which the condensed cooling fluid collects.

Abstract: A cooling fan includes an impeller which comprises a plurality of radially extending blades, each of which includes a blade hub, a blade tip and a blade midspan approximately midway between the hub and the tip. In addition, each blade includes a camber of between about 60° and 90° at the blade hub, between about 15° and 40° at the blade midspan and between about 15° and 40° at the blade tip.

Abstract: A cooling fan comprises an impeller which includes a plurality of radially extending blades, each of which includes a blade hub, a blade tip and a blade midspan approximately midway between the hub and the tip. In addition, each blade comprises a blade suction surface, and substantially the entire blade suction surface is visible from the forward looking aft direction.

Abstract: A cooling fan comprises a fan housing, a motor which is positioned within the fan housing, a plurality of electronics components which are associated with the motor, and at least one strut which extends radially between the motor and the fan housing, and on which the electrical components are mounted.

Abstract: An air mover, such as a cooling fan, comprises a motor and an impeller which is driven by the motor to generate a flow of air through a flowpath. The motor comprises at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, each of which is in fluid communication with the flowpath. In operation of the air mover, a pressure difference between the inlet and outlet openings causes a portion of the flow of air to flow into the inlet opening, through the motor and out the outlet opening to thereby cool the motor.

Abstract: A method for designing a fan having a motor which drives an impeller comprises providing an outlet guide vane assembly which includes a hub and a plurality of guide vanes that extend radially outwardly from the hub, attaching the hub to the motor, determining an approximate amount of heat which is generated by the motor during operation of the fan, determining an approximate surface area which is required to dissipate the heat into a surrounding air stream, and configuring the guide vanes to comprise a total surface area which is approximately equal to the required surface area. In this manner, the heat generated by the motor during operation of the fan can be dissipated by the guide vanes.