Patents by Inventor Robert W. Stairs

Robert W. Stairs 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).

  • Patent number: 7794204
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial fan including a hub adapted for rotation about a central axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and arranged about the central axis. Each of the blades includes a root, a tip, a leading edge between the root and the tip, and a trailing edge between the root and the tip. Each of the blades defines a blade radius between the blade tips and the central axis. Each of the blades defines a decreasing skew angle within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The ratio of blade pitch to average blade pitch increases from a lowest value to a highest value within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The highest value is about 30% to about 75% greater than the lowest value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: William Stevens, Robert W. Stairs
  • Patent number: 7762769
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial fan assembly including a motor having an output shaft rotatable about a central axis and a shroud coupled to the motor. The shroud includes a substantially annular outlet bell centered on the central axis. The axial fan assembly also includes an axial fan having a hub coupled to the output shaft for rotation about the central axis, a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and arranged about the central axis, a substantially circular band coupled to the tips of the blades, and a plurality of leakage stators positioned radially outwardly from the band and adjacent the outlet bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: William Stevens, Robert W. Stairs
  • Publication number: 20070280829
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial fan including a hub adapted for rotation about a central axis and a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and arranged about the central axis. Each of the blades includes a root, a tip, a leading edge between the root and the tip, and a trailing edge between the root and the tip. Each of the blades defines a blade radius between the blade tips and the central axis. Each of the blades defines a decreasing skew angle within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The ratio of blade pitch to average blade pitch increases from a lowest value to a highest value within the outer 20% of the blade radius. The highest value is about 30% to about 75% greater than the lowest value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: William Stevens, Robert W. Stairs
  • Publication number: 20070280827
    Abstract: The present invention provides an axial fan assembly including a motor having an output shaft rotatable about a central axis and a shroud coupled to the motor. The shroud includes a substantially annular outlet bell centered on the central axis. The axial fan assembly also includes an axial fan having a hub coupled to the output shaft for rotation about the central axis, a plurality of blades extending radially outwardly from the hub and arranged about the central axis, a substantially circular band coupled to the tips of the blades, and a plurality of leakage stators positioned radially outwardly from the band and adjacent the outlet bell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: William Stevens, Robert W. Stairs
  • Patent number: 6579063
    Abstract: An efficient axial flow fan comprises a central hub, a plurality of blades, and a band, and is designed to operate in a shroud and induce flow through one or more heat exchangers—in an automotive engine cooling assembly, for example. The fan blades have a radial distribution of pitch ratio that provides high efficiency and low noise in the non-uniform flow field created by the heat exchanger(s) and shroud. The blade has either no sweep, or is swept backward (i.e. opposite the direction of rotation) in the region between the radial location r/R=0.70 and the tip (r/R=1.00). The blade pitch ratio increases from the radial location r/R=0.85 to a radial location between r/R=0.90 and r/R=0.975, and then decreases to the blade tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Stairs, David S. Greeley
  • Publication number: 20030026699
    Abstract: An efficient axial flow fan comprises a central hub, a plurality of blades, and a band, and is designed to operate in a shroud and induce flow through one or more heat exchangers—in an automotive engine cooling assembly, for example. The fan blades have a radial distribution of pitch ratio that provides high efficiency and low noise in the non-uniform flow field created by the heat exchanger(s) and shroud. The blade has either no sweep, or is swept backward (i.e. opposite the direction of rotation) in the region between the radial location r/R=0.70 and the tip (r/R=1.00). The blade pitch ratio increases from the radial location r/R=0.85 to a radial location between r/R=0.90 and r/R=0.975, and then decreases to the blade tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Robert W. Stairs, David S. Greeley