Abstract: A fan module for a vehicle engine cooling system includes a pair of co-axial, counter-rotating, axial flow fans. Each fan is supported on and driven by a dedicated downstream motor, and each motor is supported by a dedicated shroud. The shroud that supports the first motor includes a barrel, a motor carrier that is surrounded by the barrel, and vanes that extend between the barrel and the motor carrier. For each vane, a line that extends between the vane nose and the vane tail is angled relative to the fan rotational axis, and the angle is selected to minimize air flow losses through the shroud.

Abstract: A fan module for a vehicle engine cooling system includes a pair of co-axial, counter-rotating, axial flow fans. Each fan is supported on and driven by a dedicated downstream motor, and each motor is supported by a dedicated shroud. The shroud that supports the first motor includes a barrel, a motor carrier that is surrounded by the barrel, and vanes that extend between the barrel and the motor carrier. For each vane, a line that extends between the vane nose and the vane tail is angled relative to the fan rotational axis, and the angle is selected to minimize air flow losses through the shroud.

Abstract: An airflow assembly, includes a plenum, a barrel, a fan support, a fan assembly, and a plurality of ribs. The plenum includes an opening structure defining a plenum opening. The barrel extends in a downstream direction from the opening structure, and defines a barrel space and a downstream edge. The fan support is at least partially positioned within the barrel space. The fan assembly is supported by the fan support and includes (i) a motor and (ii) a blade assembly configured to rotate about an axis. Each of the ribs extends between (i) the opening structure or the barrel and (ii) the fan support. The downstream direction is parallel to the axis. An upstream direction is opposite of the downstream direction and parallel to the axis. A plane intersects the axis and is perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A fan shroud for a cooling fan assembly with a fan that is rotatable about an axis of rotation defines a downstream direction along the axis of rotation. The shroud includes a barrel for containing the fan. The barrel is concentric with the axis of rotation and further includes a base portion. A plenum includes a plenum body extending radially from the base portion. The plenum body defines at least one edge of length L1. A skirt extends proximate the at least one edge of length L1 and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. An interface joins the at least one edge of length L1 and the skirt and has a length L1. The interface comprises an underside having a transition surface of a length less than length L1.

Abstract: A fan shroud has a panel including a first surface and a second surface substantially opposite the first surface. A first rib extends substantially perpendicularly from the first surface, and the first rib has an area of discontinuity where a height of the first rib is reduced. A second rib extends substantially perpendicularly from the second surface, and the second rib is substantially aligned with the first rib and positioned substantially opposite the area of discontinuity of the first rib.

Abstract: An airflow assembly, includes a plenum, a barrel, a fan support, a fan assembly, and a plurality of ribs. The plenum includes an opening structure defining a plenum opening. The barrel extends in a downstream direction from the opening structure, and defines a barrel space and a downstream edge. The fan support is at least partially positioned within the barrel space. The fan assembly is supported by the fan support and includes (i) a motor and (ii) a blade assembly configured to rotate about an axis. Each of the ribs extends between (i) the opening structure or the barrel and (ii) the fan support. The downstream direction is parallel to the axis. An upstream direction is opposite of the downstream direction and parallel to the axis. A plane intersects the axis and is perpendicular to the axis.

Abstract: A fan includes a hub and blades. A first edge of each blade is proximate an open end of the hub. A first rib is coupled to the hub and substantially aligned with a first plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the first blade with the hub. The first plane is angularly spaced from a reference plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the second blade with the hub. An angular spacing between the first plane and the reference plane defines one sector. A second rib is aligned with a second plane angularly positioned between the first plane and the reference plane at a location less than or equal to about (1/nR?0.05) sectors from the first plane, in which nR equals the number of ribs divided by the number of blades.

Abstract: A fan includes a hub and blades. A first edge of each blade is proximate an open end of the hub. A first rib is coupled to the hub and substantially aligned with a first plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the first blade with the hub. The first plane is angularly spaced from a reference plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the second blade with the hub. An angular spacing between the first plane and the reference plane defines one sector. A second rib is aligned with a second plane angularly positioned between the first plane and the reference plane at a location less than or equal to about (1/nR?0.05) sectors from the first plane, in which nR equals the number of ribs divided by the number of blades.

Abstract: A fan shroud for a cooling fan assembly with a fan that is rotatable about an axis of rotation defines a downstream direction along the axis of rotation. The shroud includes a barrel for containing the fan. The barrel is concentric with the axis of rotation and further includes a base portion. A plenum includes a plenum body extending radially from the base portion. The plenum body defines at least one edge of length L1. A skirt extends proximate the at least one edge of length L1 and substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. An interface joins the at least one edge of length L1 and the skirt and has a length L1. The interface comprises an underside having a transition surface of a length less than length L1.

Abstract: An automotive engine-cooling fan assembly uses pairs of overlapping fans to improve flow uniformity through the heat exchanger cores and to maximize the amount of fan power that can be achieved with limited motor sizes. One fan of each pair has upstream supports and the other has downstream supports, and these supports are so configured to minimize the axial dimension of the assembly. The use of banded fans maximizes fan performance, and blade skew minimizes fan noise.

Abstract: An automotive engine-cooling fan assembly uses pairs of overlapping fans to improve flow uniformity through the heat exchanger cores and to maximize the amount of fan power that can be achieved with limited motor sizes. One fan of each pair has upstream supports and the other has downstream supports, and these supports are so configured to minimize the axial dimension of the assembly. The use of banded fans maximizes fan performance, and blade skew minimizes fan noise.