Abstract: Small winglets placed at the outer end of each fan blade substantially reduce the vortices created in conventional fans by the pressure differential between the low pressure and high pressure sides of the blade. The winglet acts as a barrier, which substantially blocks leakage around the blade tip, thus suppressing vortices. Technical advantages include noise reduction, because there are no shedding vortices to create noise as the blades pass the struts; increased aerodynamic efficiency of the fan, providing higher air flow for the same fan speed, size, and power, because less energy is lost in vortices; and minimal cost impacts, because housings currently used for fans can still be used with standard finger guards and because winglets and blades can be formed integrally of injection molded plastic.

Abstract: A fan frame for encircling an impeller of a fan that includes a base and a plurality of teeth. A hole is formed on the base to form an inner periphery. The plurality of teeth is substantially perpendicular to, and mounted around the inner periphery for encircling the impeller of the fan. A plurality of clearances is formed between each one of the plurality of teeth and its adjacent tooth.

Abstract: A housing for a fan unit has a opening defined by an inner peripheral wall being formed with an expanded section for enlarging a part of the opening so that the speed of the air flowing from a predetermined direction and into the opening is higher than the speed of the air flowing from other directions. Since a part of the opening is enlarged, the flowing resistance of the airflow at the portion provided with the expanded section is low as compared with that at other portions. Therefore, the airflow speed increases for the air flowing from a predetermined direction in the electrical apparatus toward the air inlet of the fan unit, and a larger volume of air is thereby drawn into the air passage and is efficiently exhausted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a high performance molded, substantially non-metallic fan capable of producing at least about 20 cubic feet per minute (“CFM”) per input watt at a static pressure of about 0.00 inches of water. In one embodiment, the fan combines a substantially non-metallic housing, an airfoil cross-sectional fan blade, and a non-metallic hub. The fan blades may be detachable from the hub and rotationally indexable to a variety of pitch angles. Further, the hub and fan blades may include alignment indicia, so that the fan blades can be adjusted to a commensurate pitch relative of other fan blades around the hub.

Abstract: A fan has an associated centrifugal mechanism and a shutter, comprising a plurality of pivoted vanes and a central vane pivotally interconnected with a pair of heavy tie rods. The centrifugal mechanism is driven by the fan propeller and comprises a hermetic housing wherein are located, symmetrical spaced apart in rapport to the fan axis, at least a pair of radial sliding masses operatively connected with flexible cables to an axial sliding reciprocating actuator which is disposed at proximity of the shutter central vane. When the fan starts to operate in either direction by an electric motor, the radial masses slide radially by centrifugal action and pull the axial reciprocating actuator away from the central vane, allowing the shutter heavy tie rods, to open the shutter. When the fan stops, an internal spring housed within the axial sliding reciprocating actuator pushes it against the central vane causing the closing of the shutter.

Abstract: A fan guard has a function of supercharging a fan in addition to supporting a rotor device is disclosed. The fan guard is to be mounted beside the rotor device for supporting the rotor device, and additionally, the fan guard interacts with an airflow generated by the revolution of the rotor blades to supercharge the fan. The fan guard essentially includes a main frame, and a set of guard blades radially arranged inside the main frame and fixed onto an inner surface of the main frame by each one end thereof. Each of the guard blades is preferred to have a shape similar to the shape of the rotor blades, and the set of guard blades can be arranged either upstream or downstream of the rotor blades.

Abstract: A fluid machine comprising a fluid storage tank (1), provided with an inlet (2) and at least with one outlet nozzle (3), and in the area of the outlet nozzle (3) there is mounted, on a holding device (4), at least one rolling rotor (5) represented by a body of a rotary shape.

Abstract: Inducer equipment adapted to a pump having large induction capacity which cludes a case surrounding an inducer rotor having a plurality of blades leaving clearance relative to the case. The clearance between the peripheral portions of the blades and the case is of an increased value greater than the value of the normal clearance over a zone which extends both into a cylindrical first portion of the inside wall of the case upstream from the inducer rotor and into a portion of the inside wall of the case adjacent to the cylindrical first portion and overlapping an upstream portion of the inducer rotor over a distance from the leading edges of the blades of the inducer rotor. The ratio between the clearance of increased value and the clearance of normal value is advantageously greater than 10.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan including a fan hub lying generally in a plane normal to the axis of fan rotation and having a central opening for receiving a motor housing, and a plurality of fan blades of substantially identical construction spaced circumferentially evenly around the fan hub and extending away from the fan hub in a direction parallel to the axis of fan rotation. Each fan blade includes a leading edge at its innermost radial periphery, and the leading edge, at least at the axially upper one-half section thereof, is convexly curved in the shape of a quarter ellipse having a major axis, Mg, substantially parallel to the axis of fan rotation and a minor axis, mh, normal to the major axis Mg. The fan also includes a continuous shroud joined to each fan blade at an axially upper section of the radially outer portion thereof and the shroud is concave in cross-section.

Abstract: With the objective of providing a cooling fan and a cooling fan assembly in which the cooling efficiency is high, and which has been lightened, the invention has been composed by a cooling fan 1, a casing 2 composed from a casing main body 3 and a lid part 4 in which a circular aperture 42 is formed, a fan motor 5 arranged within this casing 2, a circuit board 8 and the like. A plurality of radiator plates 32 are arranged in a standing formation in the outer peripheral part 312 of the casing main body 3. The fan motor 5 includes a rotor 7 in which seven fan blades 72 are arranged as projecting toward the outer peripheral direction, and a stator 6 fixed in a base plate 31. The outermost diameter b of the large diameter part 722 of the fan blades 72 is set so that it is larger than the inner periphery of the aperture 42, and the outer diameter c of the inner diameter part 723 of the fan blades 72 is set as smaller than the inner diameter of the aperture 42.

Abstract: The fan housing of an axial fan having a flow resistance such as a coil or grille in a closely spaced relationship is provided on its discharge side with a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending vanes. The vanes act as a radial diffuser in coacting with the rotational/irregular flow in the fan orifice to radially direct the flow and distribute it over the face of the flow resistance.

Abstract: A blower fan assembly for removing combusted by-products and flue gas from a furnace is presented. The blower fan assembly includes a housing with a cavity for receiving a blower fan. The housing is secured over an opening in a furnace so that when the blower fan rotates, flue gas is drawn from the furnace to an exhaust conduit outside the building in which the furnace is received. The blower fan includes a fan ring connected to a fan disc by a plurality of vanes which are parallel with the axis of rotation. A motor, mounted to the housing, rotates the fan disc. The blower fan draws air in through the fan ring, through the plurality of vanes and out through the exhaust conduit. A static pressure tap is located in the housing and is connected to a pressure sensor which measures the static pressure generated by the blower fan as it rotates.

Abstract: This invention is a quick attach fan guard for shroud type fans. A plurality of L-shaped slots are provided in the front and rear edges of the shroud with hooks with bends in the same are mounted on the fan guard so such bends lie a juxtaposed parallel plane to the interior of the shroud and the hooks engage the slots with such guard being rotated to lock the same to the shroud. At least one bolt is used to prevent undesirable counterrotation which might disconnect the guard from the shroud. Also malletable tabs are provided in a connector plate for the shroud to support the fan when used as a circulating fan. When the fan is used as an exhaust fan, a hook is mounted on the connecting plate for engaging an angle bracket on an adapter plate with a circular opening therein. Pivotable tabs mounted on the interior edges of the shroud engage the circular opening in the adapter plate. The same tabs are also used to stabilize two or more fans when they are stacked during storage and transport.

Abstract: A fan shroud 4 is positioned upstream of a heat exchanger 5. An intake portion 9 of the fan shroud 4 has the shape that the axial length a thereof is smaller than a radial length b thereof, so that the intake portion expands quickly and the air flowing inwardly toward the fan blade is well guided by the intake portion.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling fan assembly comprising: a housing having a central section in a generally dome-shaped configuration with a first axis and with an external periphery formed as a square, the periphery including a wall extending from the periphery of the dome-shaped component and, at its end, inturned ledges in a rectangular configuration, the ledges adapted to be supported upon the periphery opening; a fan supported by the center of the housing and extending therefrom, the fan having a motor with a circular cross-section about an axis of rotation coincident with the axis of the housing, the fan including a plurality of blades secured to the motor for rotation in a plane about the axis of rotation of the motor; and a plurality of louvers to spread out air forced outwardly by the rotation of the fan blades.

Abstract: An inlet orifice structure and impeller assembly for a centrifugal flow fan. The inlet orifice has an elliptical cross section in a plane passing through the axis of rotation of the fan. The impeller is shrouded and also has a similarly elliptical cross section. The impeller is sized so that, when assembled together, the shroud overlaps and rotates around the stationary inlet orifice. In a preferred embodiment, there are 13 impeller blades nonuniformly spaced around a hub plate. A particular blade spacing is disclosed and claimed. The inner surface of the hub plate is arcuately curved to guide the air flow through the fan from its entering axial direction to its radial exiting direction. The contour of the hub plate allows for the fan drive motor to be partially recessed into the plate.

Abstract: An assembly of a fan and shroud is provided in which a shroud has an inner ring which is substantially cylindrical to guide airflow by surrounding blades, an outer ring which has a diameter greater than that of the inner ring and surrounds both the blades and inner ring, and a bell-mouthed airflow guide portion which structurally connects the inner ring and outer ring on the air exhaust side and has a diameter which is gradually enlarged in an air exhaust direction, a section of the airflow guide portion having the shape of part of a circle or ellipse, which starts from a point on an air-exhaust-side extension line of the inner ring and is connected to the outer ring, with the center and the point of tangency thereof both lying along an extension line of the outer ring.

Abstract: An aspirator is mounted on a fan shroud surrounding a vehicle cooling fan. The aspirator has a housing which forms a duct which connects an opening to a port for connecting to a vehicle function. The aspirator is spaced apart from the fan and upstream from the fan and extends at an acute angle with respect to a tangent to a cylindrical wall of the shroud. The aspirator has a near edge which faces generally opposite to a direction of rotation of the fan blades and which is parallel to a leading edge of a fan blade when the leading edge is spaced apart from the near edge by a distance which is slightly larger than the width of the fan blade. The aspirator has a flange which projects parallel to a plane of rotation of the fan and generally in the rotation direction of the fan. The duct has a triangular cross sectional shape with an apex which projects in a direction which is upstream with respect flow of air moved by the fan.

Abstract: An axial flow cooling fan includes a rectangular housing base portion and a plurality of rectangular plate members, all having corner portions and central circular air flow openings. The plate members have corner openings and integral hollow cylindrical spacer members formed on side surfaces of their corner portions and aligned with their corner openings. To construct the housing subassembly the base portion post members are sequentially inserted through the corner openings of each plate member. Resilient finger structures on the outer ends of the post members create a snap-fitted locking engagement with the outermost plate member and anchor the plate members in a stacked, parallel relationship in which the installed plate members are held apart by their integral spacer portions to create side air inlet openings on the subassembly at edge portions of the stacked plate members. The housing base portion has a motor-driven impeller section operatively supported within its central air flow opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for eliminating gas constituents, such as moisture or the like, from a cooking space of an industrial kitchen apparatus or the like, has a radial fan which is arranged close to an essentially vertically housing wall, the drive shaft of the radial fan penetrating the housing wall, and the housing wall having a housing opening close to the circumference of the radial fan with a partition provided close to the circumference of the radial fan for deflecting a part of the flow generated by the fan into the housing opening.

Abstract: A shroud for an axial flow fan having an orifice designed to improve the overall flow efficiency of the fan. In preferred embodiments, the shroud is generally toroidal in form with a cross section that is ellipsoidal in the area of the shroud leading edge with interior and exterior wall segments that taper and converge at the trailing edge of the shroud. The shroud is particularly suited for use with a recessed fan used in the outside enclosure of a "split" air conditioning (including heat pump) system, enabling the same flow of air through the enclosure with less radiated noise than prior art shroud designs.

Abstract: An inlet orifice (12) and an inlet orifice (12) and centrifugal fan (21) assembly that promotes fan efficiency and reduces radiated noise. The orifice has an elliptical entry portion (13) and an elliptical diffuser portion (14) that meet smoothly at a throat (16). The major axes of the two ellipses are parallel to the axis of rotation of the fan (12). The relationship between the major and minor axes of the ellipse defining the entry portion (13) and the relationship between the major and minor axes of the ellipse defining the diffuser portion (14) may be the same or different. The major axes of both ellipses may be equal in length or different. Preferred relationships are disclosed. The fan (21) has an outer envelope (22) that is generally cylindrical but with an entry portion (23) that, when assembled with the orifice (12), extends into the diffuser portion (14) of the orifice (12) and has an outer contour that conforms to the contour of the diffuser portion (14).

Abstract: A housing for a propeller or axial flow fan. The housing comprises an orifice portion, a stator element portion and a motor mount portion, preferably made in a single piece by casting in metal. The single piece construction makes possible the positioning of the axis of rotation of the fan to be used with the housing precisely coincident with the axis of the orifice and thus permits very small fan blade tip to orifice wall clearances to be attained, increasing the efficiency of the fan assembly and reducing its radiated noise. The inlet of the orifice is elliptical to promote attached flow. In a preferred embodiment, the motor mount portion of the housing also is configured to serve as the motor shaft end cap of the electric motor used to drive the fan. The number of parts in a complete fan, housing and motor unit in such a configuration is reduced to two, the fan and the motor, reducing the time required to assemble and install the unit.

Abstract: A fan assembly with a single fan housing that has at least one fan passage adapted to allow air to flow through the housing. A separate fan subassembly is snapped into a motor housing formed within the passages of the fan housing. The subassembly includes an electric motor that rotates an impeller. The rotation of the impeller creates an airflow through the air passage. Attached to the surface of the housing is a conductor that extends from the motor, to an electrical connector that supplies power to the motor from an external power source. The air passage has rounded entrances and is formed such that the passage is shaped like a venturi tube. The rounded edges reduce the head loss through the passage by an order of magnitude, decreasing the pressure drop across the housing and improving the overall efficiency of the fan.

Abstract: A fan device for a refrigerator includes a hollow wall having a front wall portion and a rear wall portion for dividing an interior space of the refrigerator into a heat exchanging zone and a first portion of a storage zone. An air suction opening is formed in the rear wall portion for allowing an air cooled in the heat exchanging zone to be induced into the hollow wall. A fan is disposed in alignment with the air suction opening so as to induce the cooled air. A plurality of forward air outlet slots are formed in the front wall portion for allowing the air in the hollow wall to be blown to the first portion of the storage zone. A rearward air outlet is formed in the rear wall portion for allowing the air in the hollow wall to be blown to a second portion of the storage zone through a duct communicating the rearward air outlet to the second portion.

Abstract: A fan orifice structure and cover intended for use in conjunction with the outside enclosure, usually containing the outside heat exchanger and compressor, of an air conditioning system. The orifice features relatively complex contours that enhance fan efficiency and reduce radiated noise. The cover in which the orifice structure is incorporated can include a plurality of fan motor support brackets and a motor mount. The orificed cover is intended for fabrication from plastic materials by a molding process to minimize cost and weight, maximize strength and durability and to present an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The entire assembly can be molded into a single piece unit.

Abstract: A blower for cooling a magnetron and a transformer, provided with an air guide part for collecting the air current vertically blowing outward from the vicinity of an outer periphery of a propeller fan while using a partition plate which adapts the air current to flow in a fixed direction so that the air current increased in directivity and pressure is blown out along a desired direction.