Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat for use with an occupant classification system (OCS). The seat comprises: a seat base including a seat base support, and a cushion pan mounted on the seat base support and forwardly moveable on the support to extend the seat base. The seat further comprises an intermediate layer fixed with respect to the seat base support and adapted for fastening to a component of the OCS so that when the seat base is extended by the cushion pan moving forward with respect to the seat base support, the intermediate layer does not move forward with the cushion pan but remains substantially stationary. The relationship between the various OCS components can therefore be maintained irrespective of the extension of the seat base.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat for use with an occupant classification system (OCS). The seat comprises: a seat base including a seat base support, and a cushion pan mounted on the seat base support and forwardly moveable on the support to extend the seat base. The seat further comprises an intermediate layer fixed with respect to the seat base support and adapted for fastening to a component of the OCS so that when the seat base is extended by the cushion pan moving forward with respect to the seat base support, the intermediate layer does not move forward with the cushion pan but remains substantially stationary. The relationship between the various OCS components can therefore be maintained irrespective of the extension of the seat base.

Abstract: An engine cooling module 10 which includes a shroud 12, a heat exchanger 18, a fan 14, a motor 13 for driving fan 14, and a plurality of air dams 1. Shroud 12, circumscribing the fan, has a main opening to allow air to pass through the fan to or from a heat exchanger 18. Fan 14 is associated with the shroud 12 to be adjacent to the fan opening to permit air moved by the fan to pass through the heat exchanger. Air dams 1 allow air to flow more easily in one direction than the opposite direction. In the fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide relatively little resistance to the flow. In the direction opposite to fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide more resistance than as compared to the resistance when air flows in the fan flow direction. Under ram air conditions (e.g., when the vehicle is moving), the use of air dams can reduce the load on the fan's motor by cooling properties of ram air, while reducing recirculation, thereby increasing efficiency.

Abstract: An engine cooling module 10 which includes a shroud 12, a heat exchanger 18, a fan 14, a motor 13 for driving fan 14, and a plurality of air dams 1. Shroud 12, circumscribing the fan, has a main opening to allow air to pass through the fan to or from a heat exchanger 18. Fan 14 is associated with the shroud 12 to be adjacent to the fan opening to permit air moved by the fan to pass through the heat exchanger. Air dams 1 allow air to flow more easily in one direction than the opposite direction. In the fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide relatively little resistance to the flow. In the direction opposite to fan flow direction, air dams 1 provide more resistance than as compared to the resistance when air flows in the fan flow direction. Under ram air conditions (e.g., when the vehicle is moving), the use of air dams can reduce the load on the fan's motor by cooling properties of ram air, while reducing recirculation, thereby increasing efficiency.

Abstract: A fan shroud structure 10 including a shroud body 12 having a pair of opposing first sides 14 and a pair opposing second sides 16. The first sides 14 are joined with the second sides 16 at corners 18 so as to form a box-like configuration defining an interior space 20. The shroud body has a front end constructed and arranged to be disposed adjacent to a condenser and a back end constructed and arranged to be disposed adjacent to a radiator. Generally annular wall structure 26 is within the interior space and is constructed and arranged to receive blades of a fan within bounds thereof. Vortex preventing structure 40 is provided in each corner near the back end. The vortex preventing structure is constructed and arranged to prevent large scale eddy current generation of air in the corners as air enters the radiator. Air deflecting structure 50 is provided in each corner near the front end.

Abstract: A turbomachine for moving air comprising includes a shroud disposed about a longitudinal axis and a rotor assembly mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly has a plurality of blades and tips of the blades are coupled to an annular band. The annular band is disposed with respect to the shroud so as to define a gap extending continuously between an outer surface of the annular band and an inner surface of the shroud. A seal structure extends from the inner surface of the shroud and into the gap. The seal structure has a density sufficient to reduce swirl in recirculating airflow and to minimize air leakage across the gap.

Abstract: A fan shroud structure 10 including a shroud body 12 having a pair of opposing first sides 14 and a pair opposing second sides 16. The first sides 14 are joined with the second sides 16 at corners 18 so as to form a box-like configuration defining an interior space 20. The shroud body has a front end constructed and arranged to be disposed adjacent to a condenser and a back end constructed and arranged to be disposed adjacent to a radiator. Generally annular wall structure 26 is within the interior space and is constructed and arranged to receive blades of a fan within bounds thereof. Vortex preventing structure 40 is provided in each corner near the back end. The vortex preventing structure is constructed and arranged to prevent large scale eddy current generation of air in the corners as air enters the radiator. Air deflecting structure 50 is provided in each corner near the front end.

Abstract: A fan 10 includes a hub 12 rotatable about an axis 22; an annular band 16 concentric with the hub and spaced radially outward from the hub; fan blades 14 distributed circumferentially around the hub and extending radially and axially from the hub to the annular band.

Abstract: A high efficiency axial flow fan includes a hub, fan blades and a circular band. The hub rotates about a rotational axis when torque is applied from a shaft rotatably driven by a power source. The circular band is concentric with the hub, connected to the tip of each blade, and is spaced radially outward from the hub. The blades are configured to produce an airflow when rotated about the rotational axis. Each blade has a chord length distribution, stagger angle and dihedral (axial) distance which varies along the length of the blade. The dihedral distance of each blade varies as a function of blade radius from the rotational axis.

Abstract: A high efficiency axial flow fan includes a hub, fan blades and a circular band. The hub rotates about a rotational axis when torque is applied from a shaft rotatably driven by a power source. The circular band is concentric with the hub, connected to the tip of each blade, and is spaced radially outward from the hub. The blades are configured to produce an airflow when rotated about the rotational axis. Each blade has a chord length distribution, stagger angle and dihedral distribution which varies along the length of the blade. The dihedral distance of each blade varies as a function of blade radius from the rotational axis.