Patents by Inventor Robert J. Van Houten
Robert J. Van Houten has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11499564Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly features a shroud barrel comprising an inlet, the radius of said inlet at its upstream end being greater than the radius of said inlet at its downstream end. An angle, in a plane including the fan axis, between the surface of said inlet and the direction of the fan axis varies non-monotonically with respect to a surface coordinate which increases with distance along the surface of the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Publication number: 20210095684Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly features a shroud barrel comprising an inlet, the radius of said inlet at its upstream end being greater than the radius of said inlet at its downstream end. An angle, in a plane including the fan axis, between the surface of said inlet and the direction of the fan axis varies non-monotonically with respect to a surface coordinate which increases with distance along the surface of the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2020Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Patent number: 10844868Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly features a shroud barrel comprising an inlet, the radius of said inlet at its upstream end being greater than the radius of said inlet at its downstream end. An angle, in a plane including the fan axis, between the surface of said inlet and the direction of the fan axis varies non-monotonically with respect to a surface coordinate which increases with distance along the surface of the inlet.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2016Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Patent number: 10480527Abstract: An axial fan comprising a hub and a plurality of blades extending from a periphery of the hub. Each of the blades has a thickness which varies from a leading edge to a trailing edge and from a root to a tip. The blades are unevenly spaced around the periphery of the hub in a pattern which is not balanced. The fan is balanced by variance in blade thickness among the plurality of blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Publication number: 20180320705Abstract: An axial fan comprising a hub and a plurality of blades extending from a periphery of the hub. Each of the blades has a thickness which varies from a leading edge to a trailing edge and from a root to a tip. The blades are unevenly spaced around the periphery of the hub in a pattern which is not balanced. The fan is balanced by variance in blade thickness among the plurality of blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Patent number: 10041505Abstract: An airflow assembly includes a fan, a shroud, a plurality of ribs, and a fan support. The fan has a number of fan blades. The shroud includes (i) a plenum defining a plenum opening located adjacent to the number of fan blades, and (ii) a barrel extending from the plenum so as to surround the plenum opening. The plenum further defines at least one airflow opening spaced apart from the plenum opening. Each of the plurality of ribs extends inwardly from the barrel. The fan support is attached to the plurality of ribs and is configured to support the fan. The at least one airflow opening is not an attachment structure or a guiding structure, is not configured to receive a fastening member, and does not function as a water drain.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignees: Robert Bosch LLC, Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: William M. Stevens, Mark D. Caplan, Yoonshik Shin, Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20180094637Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly features a shroud barrel comprising an inlet, the radius of said inlet at its upstream end being greater than the radius of said inlet at its downstream end. An angle, in a plane including the fan axis, between the surface of said inlet and the direction of the fan axis varies non-monotonically with respect to a surface coordinate which increases with distance along the surface of the inlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2016Publication date: April 5, 2018Inventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Yoonshik Shin
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Patent number: 9404511Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly includes a fan having a blade tip geometry which minimizes the adverse effect of a tip gap. The maximum blade thickness exhibits a significant increase adjacent the blade tip. In some constructions, the maximum thickness at the blade tip is at least 100 percent greater than the maximum thickness 0.10 R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the trailing-edge thickness at the blade tip is approximately the same as the trailing-edge thickness 0.10 R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the increase in blade thickness follows the square of the distance from the position where the increase begins.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 9157455Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Mark L. Bilodeau, Mark D. Caplan, F. Raymond Cote, Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 9004860Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly includes fan having a blade tip geometry which provides a desired blade loading in the presence of a tip gap. The maximum camber exhibits a sudden and significant increase as the blade tip radius R is closely approached in the direction of increasing radial position. In some constructions, the maximum camber at the blade tip radius R is at least 10 percent greater than the maximum camber at a radial position r where r/R=0.95. In some constructions, the blade angle increases by more than 0.01 radians from a radial position r where r/R=0.95 to the blade tip radius R. The maximum camber at the blade tip radius R is at least 0.06 times the chord length in some constructions.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20140271172Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly includes a fan having a blade tip geometry which minimizes the adverse effect of a tip gap. The maximum blade thickness exhibits a significant increase adjacent the blade tip. In some constructions, the maximum thickness at the blade tip is at least 100 percent greater than the maximum thickness 0.10R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the trailing-edge thickness at the blade tip is approximately the same as the trailing-edge thickness 0.10R away from the blade tip. In some constructions, the increase in blade thickness follows the square of the distance from the position where the increase begins.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20120321474Abstract: An airflow assembly includes a fan, a shroud, a plurality of ribs, and a fan support. The fan has a number of fan blades. The shroud includes (i) a plenum defining a plenum opening located adjacent to the number of fan blades, and (ii) a barrel extending from the plenum so as to surround the plenum opening. The plenum further defines at least one airflow opening spaced apart from the plenum opening. Each of the plurality of ribs extends inwardly from the barrel. The fan support is attached to the plurality of ribs and is configured to support the fan. The at least one airflow opening is not an attachment structure or a guiding structure, is not configured to receive a fastening member, and does not function as a water drain.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLCInventors: William M. Stevens, Mark D. Caplan, Yoon Shin Shik, Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20120301329Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Robert Bosch LLCInventors: Mark L. Bilodeau, Mark D. Caplan, F. Raymond Cote, Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 8137070Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly has a skew distribution which reduces fan noise while minimizing radial tip deflection. The difference between the maximum value of leading-edge skew and the value of leading-edge skew at the fan radius is at least 10 degrees. The ratio of the difference of the leading-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius to the difference of the trailing-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius is at least 2.5.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20110223024Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly has a skew distribution which reduces fan noise while minimizing radial tip deflection. The difference between the maximum value of leading-edge skew and the value of leading-edge skew at the fan radius is at least 10 degrees. The ratio of the difference of the leading-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius to the difference of the trailing-edge skew between the maximum value and the value at the fan radius is at least 2.5.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Publication number: 20110211949Abstract: A free-tipped axial fan assembly includes fan having a blade tip geometry which provides a desired blade loading in the presence of a tip gap. The maximum camber exhibits a sudden and significant increase as the blade tip radius R is closely approached in the direction of increasing radial position. In some constructions, the maximum camber at the blade tip radius R is at least 10 percent greater than the maximum camber at a radial position r where r/R=0.95. In some constructions, the blade angle increases by more than 0.01 radians from a radial position r where r/R=0.95 to the blade tip radius R. The maximum camber at the blade tip radius R is at least 0.06 times the chord length in some constructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventor: Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 5967764Abstract: A fan and electric motor combination (or a fan adapted to be used in such a combination) which provides improved cooling for the motor, using a centrifugal impeller including rotating impeller blades. The impeller blades span between an impeller inlet and an impeller outlet, and they rotate to assist cooling airflow for the motor. Cooling airflow is also assisted by the position of the impeller in that the impeller outlet is positioned upstream of an intersection of the fan blade trailing edge and the hub. Therefore, cooling airflow is assisted by at least some (preferably all) of the pressure drop across the axial fan. If the impeller outlet is positioned still further upstream, e.g., upstream of an intersection of the fan blade leading edge and the hub, then the motor cooling airflow is assisted by all or nearly all of the pressure drop across the axial fan.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1997Date of Patent: October 19, 1999Assignee: Bosch Automotive Systems CorporationInventors: Jeff D. Booth, Robert J. Van Houten
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Patent number: 5957663Abstract: A cooling system for an automotive vehicle of the type having a radiator through which a coolant fluid flows includes a fan motor for driving a fan which moves air through the radiator; an alternator for supplying an output voltage to the fan motor; and a voltage regulator which selectively excites the alternator's field winding in response to a control signal, determined on the basis of at least one operational parameter of the vehicle indicative of the cooling requirements of the engine which powers the vehicle to control the output voltage of the alternator, thereby controlling the speed of the fan motor.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: September 28, 1999Assignee: Bosch Automotive Motor Systems Corp.Inventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Steven W. Day
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Patent number: 5931640Abstract: A counter-rotating fan which comprises a forward-skewed upstream rotor and a backskewed downstream rotor. The counter-rotating fan may be used in a cooling module with a heat exchanger, for example as an engine cooling fan in a vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1997Date of Patent: August 3, 1999Assignee: Robert Bosch CorporationInventors: Robert J. Van Houten, Robert I. Hickey
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Patent number: 5000660Abstract: An axial flow fan comprising: a cental hub rotatable on an axis; and a plurality of blades extending from the hub, each of the blades comprising a root portion adjacent to the hub, and terminating in a tip portion, the root portions of the blades being approximately evenly spaced around the hub; wherein each of the blades exhibits a curvature from the root portion of the blade to the blade's tip portion, the curvature being in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis on which the fan rotates; and wherein the curvature differs between at least two of the blades, such that the distance between the tip portions of at least wo sets of adjacent blades is unequal. The invention therefore achieves the advantage of having uneven blade spacing near the tips while maintaining high solidity near the hub, where the blade spacing is even. Uneven blade spacing near the tips reduces noise. Having high solidity near the hub, where non-dimensional loading is highest, maintains higher dynamic performance.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1989Date of Patent: March 19, 1991Assignee: Airflow Research and Manufacturing CorporationInventors: Robert J. Van Houten, David Daiute