CA1192801A - Engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangement - Google Patents
Engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangementInfo
- Publication number
- CA1192801A CA1192801A CA000404972A CA404972A CA1192801A CA 1192801 A CA1192801 A CA 1192801A CA 000404972 A CA000404972 A CA 000404972A CA 404972 A CA404972 A CA 404972A CA 1192801 A CA1192801 A CA 1192801A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fan
- radiator
- shell
- air
- hub
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ENGINE COOLING FAN AND
FAN SHROUDING ARRANGEMENT
Abstract of the Disclosure Compact fan and shroud package for radiators with fan blades curved rearwardly to position rotating shroud at optimized distance from radiator for improved air flow through radiator.
FAN SHROUDING ARRANGEMENT
Abstract of the Disclosure Compact fan and shroud package for radiators with fan blades curved rearwardly to position rotating shroud at optimized distance from radiator for improved air flow through radiator.
Description
ENGINE COOLING FAN AND
FA~I SHROIJDING ARRANGEMENT
This invention relat~s to vehicle engine cooling and more particularly to a new and improved multibladed engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangement which operates with hiyh efficiency and reduced noise level in providing improved flow of cooling air through a radiator while requiring minimized engine compartment space.
Prior to the present invention, various engine cooling ~an and fan shrouding arrangements have been provided for vehicles which have increased fan efficiency and reduced noises generated by the fan. ~n some of the more advanced designs, a fixed shroud and bracket construction has been utilized to centrally support a fan motor so that a shrouded fan driven thereby is effectively immersed within the ~ixed shroud to provide for improved fan operation. To provide for quantity flow of air through the radiator outside of the area immediately in front of the fan, it was necessary to slant the shrouded fan at an angle with respect to the radiator to open up the fan to the radiator for the improved ~ide flow of air into the fan. Because of space restrictions in crowded eng:ine compartments and higher standards ~or engin~ cooling, compact Ean and fan shroud packages are needed which will pump larger volumes of a:ir through larger areas oE the radiator ~or more efective transfer of the heat energy from the engine coolant circulated therein.
'rO this end, this invention incorporates an en~eloping shroud which is ~ixed with respect to the engine cooling radiator and which has integral ' bracket structure for supporting the fan motor centrally therein. The ~an motor drives a multi-bladed ~an which has specialized blading for pumping air with improved efficiency and q~lietness and also for supporting a rotating shroud immersed within the ~ixed shroud so tha-t there is highly effective pneumatic sealing of the recirculating flow paths between the fixed and rotating shroud.
More particularly, in this invention the spaced and outwardly extending fan blades are curved rearwardly to effectively support a rotating shroud a predetermined distance from the rear face of -the radiator~ With -this rearward position of the rotating shroud, the radiator is efectively opened to the fan for increased side flow of air into the fan and increased cooling o~ the coolant circulation in the radiatorO Additionally, the rearwardly curved blades have a curved leading edge to progres~
sively cut into any air turbulence to reduce blade generated noises~
This fan and fan shroud arrangement further allows the shrouding to be square]~ mounted w.ith respect to the radiator and pro~ides for a thi.nner package for increased clearance between the fan components and the ~ehicJ.e engine to reduce the possibility of heat deyradat:ion and to facilitate serVicing.
These and o-ther Eeatures, objects and advantages o:E this invention will be more apparent ~orn the fo:l:lowing detailed ~e~cription and drawing in which:
:Figure 1 i~ an exploded perspective vi.ew o$ an automotive engirle cooling radiator, cooling fan and ~an shrouding package, embodying a preferred embodiment of ~his in~ention;
Figure 2 is a side view partially in section of the fan and shroud assembly of Figure l as connected to the radiator and supports therefor;
Figure 3 is an end view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 with some componen~s removed;
and Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the fan and shroud with parts broken away taken generally along lines 4-4 of Figure 2.
Turning now in greater detail to Figure l, there is shown a conventional engine cvoling radiator l connected by brackets 3 and 5 to e].onga-ted upper and lower horizontal radiator supports 7 l~ and 9. The radiator l is preferably positioned at the front of the vehicle on the outboard side of a transversely mounted internal combustion engine ll diagrammatically illustratea in Figure 2.
Engine 11 is hydraulically connected by suitable hoses to the radiator so that engine cooling fluids can circulate therebetween and the heat energy can be dispersed in the radiator.
Disposed between the radiator and the enyine i~ a cooling Ean and shroud assembly 15 ~ 25 ~or inducincJ a 1.ow o air through the radiator : on demand by conventional thermostat:ic controls not shown. This assembly includes a fan mounting bracke~ and ~ixed shroud unit 17 pre~erably molded Erom a ~u:ltable plastic material. The unit 17 has 3U a box-l:Lk~3 ma.in ~hell 18 with laterally spaced and downwardly projecting mounting l.egs 19 which fit : into corr~3sponaing recesses 21 in the lower horizon t~l suppo:rt 9. Upwardly extending mounting legs 23 have openings formed therein through which ~hreaded fasteners 25 extend and into threaded connection with upper radiator support 7 to thereby secure the unit 17 behind the radiator. The main shell 18 has an open front covering area of the radiator.
The laterally spaced vertical lines 29-29 of ~igure 1 illustrate the side boundary of area X and the extent of coverage of the fixed shroud. The main shell has a rearwardly extending ejector 31 integral with ~he main shell 18 which has a bell-mouthed inlet portion and an axially extending cylindrical body portion that termina-tes rearwardly in an annular edge 32. Extending radially inwardly from -the cylindrical body portion of the ejector 31 are fo~r arcuately spaced spokes 35 which support at their inner ends : 15 an annular mounting ring 37 that has a centrali~ed opening for receiving and supportlng a generally cylindrical electrical fan drive motor 39. Thîs motor has an output shaft which drives a fan and rotating shroud unit 41 molded from a suitable plastic material. The fan and shroud unit has a centralized cup~like hub 43 which is drivingly connected to the output shaft of the ~otor by threaded fasteners 45. A plu~ality of thin fan blades 47 cur~e rearwardly from the outer ~eriphery oE the hub into tip connection with an inner wall of a bell-mouthed .rotating shroud 49. With these cuxved blacles~ the rotat:iny shxoud is backed off o~ ~nd ~c~uared wit~ respect to the rear ~ace of the rad:iator to an e,xtent irl which there is cluant:ity ,slde flow of air illustrated b~ flow axrc)W~ A in~o a low pressure area, indicated by circ~l~ C on th~ xad.iator which is immediately in ~ronk of the fan and which generally corresponds to the diameter of the fanO This provides for improved radiator cooling hy the shrouded Ean since there i.s high volume flow through the radiator immediately in front of the fan, i.e., circle C and additionally substantial air flow through the radiator core outside of circle C covered by the fixed shroud as indicated by the side flow arrows A. From this region oE low pressure, the fan discharges air into the engine compartment.
Recirculation of air from the engine compartment into the entrance of the fan is retarded by the shroud configuration as explained in U.S. patent 4,329,946 for Shrouded Arrangement for Engine Cooling Fan issued ~ay 18, 1982.
Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of blades 47 in providing the rearward set back of the rotating shroud 49 with respect to the orward face of the hub. If the blades had no significant rearward curvature, the rotating shroud would be positioned substantially closer to the rear face oE
the radiator such as along the plane through a vertical line along the ront face of hub 43 for example. With such location, most of ~he air pumped through the radiator would be through the area of circle C and the side flow, arrows A, would be substantially diminished.
In addition to providing for improved fan cooling operation through rotating shroud positioning, the fan blades provide for more eEeicient and c~uieter pumping. $he thin leading edges S3 Oe the extending Ean blades are arcuate.ly curved in the direction oE rotation indicated by arrow R in Figure 3 while sweeping rea~wardly into connection with the rotating shroud so tha-t th,ey progressively slice into any substantial turbulent air flow. With such encounter, there is reduced an noise as compared to fans with little or no curvature in the leading edge of their blades.
After entering the blades the twist in the air foil section from the hub to the rotating shroud illus-trated in Figure 4 provides for high efficiency pumping without substantial flow separation.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described to illustrate this invention, other embodiments employing the concepts and ideas of this invention will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is set forth in the following claims.
FA~I SHROIJDING ARRANGEMENT
This invention relat~s to vehicle engine cooling and more particularly to a new and improved multibladed engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangement which operates with hiyh efficiency and reduced noise level in providing improved flow of cooling air through a radiator while requiring minimized engine compartment space.
Prior to the present invention, various engine cooling ~an and fan shrouding arrangements have been provided for vehicles which have increased fan efficiency and reduced noises generated by the fan. ~n some of the more advanced designs, a fixed shroud and bracket construction has been utilized to centrally support a fan motor so that a shrouded fan driven thereby is effectively immersed within the ~ixed shroud to provide for improved fan operation. To provide for quantity flow of air through the radiator outside of the area immediately in front of the fan, it was necessary to slant the shrouded fan at an angle with respect to the radiator to open up the fan to the radiator for the improved ~ide flow of air into the fan. Because of space restrictions in crowded eng:ine compartments and higher standards ~or engin~ cooling, compact Ean and fan shroud packages are needed which will pump larger volumes of a:ir through larger areas oE the radiator ~or more efective transfer of the heat energy from the engine coolant circulated therein.
'rO this end, this invention incorporates an en~eloping shroud which is ~ixed with respect to the engine cooling radiator and which has integral ' bracket structure for supporting the fan motor centrally therein. The ~an motor drives a multi-bladed ~an which has specialized blading for pumping air with improved efficiency and q~lietness and also for supporting a rotating shroud immersed within the ~ixed shroud so tha-t there is highly effective pneumatic sealing of the recirculating flow paths between the fixed and rotating shroud.
More particularly, in this invention the spaced and outwardly extending fan blades are curved rearwardly to effectively support a rotating shroud a predetermined distance from the rear face of -the radiator~ With -this rearward position of the rotating shroud, the radiator is efectively opened to the fan for increased side flow of air into the fan and increased cooling o~ the coolant circulation in the radiatorO Additionally, the rearwardly curved blades have a curved leading edge to progres~
sively cut into any air turbulence to reduce blade generated noises~
This fan and fan shroud arrangement further allows the shrouding to be square]~ mounted w.ith respect to the radiator and pro~ides for a thi.nner package for increased clearance between the fan components and the ~ehicJ.e engine to reduce the possibility of heat deyradat:ion and to facilitate serVicing.
These and o-ther Eeatures, objects and advantages o:E this invention will be more apparent ~orn the fo:l:lowing detailed ~e~cription and drawing in which:
:Figure 1 i~ an exploded perspective vi.ew o$ an automotive engirle cooling radiator, cooling fan and ~an shrouding package, embodying a preferred embodiment of ~his in~ention;
Figure 2 is a side view partially in section of the fan and shroud assembly of Figure l as connected to the radiator and supports therefor;
Figure 3 is an end view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2 with some componen~s removed;
and Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the fan and shroud with parts broken away taken generally along lines 4-4 of Figure 2.
Turning now in greater detail to Figure l, there is shown a conventional engine cvoling radiator l connected by brackets 3 and 5 to e].onga-ted upper and lower horizontal radiator supports 7 l~ and 9. The radiator l is preferably positioned at the front of the vehicle on the outboard side of a transversely mounted internal combustion engine ll diagrammatically illustratea in Figure 2.
Engine 11 is hydraulically connected by suitable hoses to the radiator so that engine cooling fluids can circulate therebetween and the heat energy can be dispersed in the radiator.
Disposed between the radiator and the enyine i~ a cooling Ean and shroud assembly 15 ~ 25 ~or inducincJ a 1.ow o air through the radiator : on demand by conventional thermostat:ic controls not shown. This assembly includes a fan mounting bracke~ and ~ixed shroud unit 17 pre~erably molded Erom a ~u:ltable plastic material. The unit 17 has 3U a box-l:Lk~3 ma.in ~hell 18 with laterally spaced and downwardly projecting mounting l.egs 19 which fit : into corr~3sponaing recesses 21 in the lower horizon t~l suppo:rt 9. Upwardly extending mounting legs 23 have openings formed therein through which ~hreaded fasteners 25 extend and into threaded connection with upper radiator support 7 to thereby secure the unit 17 behind the radiator. The main shell 18 has an open front covering area of the radiator.
The laterally spaced vertical lines 29-29 of ~igure 1 illustrate the side boundary of area X and the extent of coverage of the fixed shroud. The main shell has a rearwardly extending ejector 31 integral with ~he main shell 18 which has a bell-mouthed inlet portion and an axially extending cylindrical body portion that termina-tes rearwardly in an annular edge 32. Extending radially inwardly from -the cylindrical body portion of the ejector 31 are fo~r arcuately spaced spokes 35 which support at their inner ends : 15 an annular mounting ring 37 that has a centrali~ed opening for receiving and supportlng a generally cylindrical electrical fan drive motor 39. Thîs motor has an output shaft which drives a fan and rotating shroud unit 41 molded from a suitable plastic material. The fan and shroud unit has a centralized cup~like hub 43 which is drivingly connected to the output shaft of the ~otor by threaded fasteners 45. A plu~ality of thin fan blades 47 cur~e rearwardly from the outer ~eriphery oE the hub into tip connection with an inner wall of a bell-mouthed .rotating shroud 49. With these cuxved blacles~ the rotat:iny shxoud is backed off o~ ~nd ~c~uared wit~ respect to the rear ~ace of the rad:iator to an e,xtent irl which there is cluant:ity ,slde flow of air illustrated b~ flow axrc)W~ A in~o a low pressure area, indicated by circ~l~ C on th~ xad.iator which is immediately in ~ronk of the fan and which generally corresponds to the diameter of the fanO This provides for improved radiator cooling hy the shrouded Ean since there i.s high volume flow through the radiator immediately in front of the fan, i.e., circle C and additionally substantial air flow through the radiator core outside of circle C covered by the fixed shroud as indicated by the side flow arrows A. From this region oE low pressure, the fan discharges air into the engine compartment.
Recirculation of air from the engine compartment into the entrance of the fan is retarded by the shroud configuration as explained in U.S. patent 4,329,946 for Shrouded Arrangement for Engine Cooling Fan issued ~ay 18, 1982.
Figure 4 illustrates the configuration of blades 47 in providing the rearward set back of the rotating shroud 49 with respect to the orward face of the hub. If the blades had no significant rearward curvature, the rotating shroud would be positioned substantially closer to the rear face oE
the radiator such as along the plane through a vertical line along the ront face of hub 43 for example. With such location, most of ~he air pumped through the radiator would be through the area of circle C and the side flow, arrows A, would be substantially diminished.
In addition to providing for improved fan cooling operation through rotating shroud positioning, the fan blades provide for more eEeicient and c~uieter pumping. $he thin leading edges S3 Oe the extending Ean blades are arcuate.ly curved in the direction oE rotation indicated by arrow R in Figure 3 while sweeping rea~wardly into connection with the rotating shroud so tha-t th,ey progressively slice into any substantial turbulent air flow. With such encounter, there is reduced an noise as compared to fans with little or no curvature in the leading edge of their blades.
After entering the blades the twist in the air foil section from the hub to the rotating shroud illus-trated in Figure 4 provides for high efficiency pumping without substantial flow separation.
While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described to illustrate this invention, other embodiments employing the concepts and ideas of this invention will now become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention is set forth in the following claims.
Claims (3)
1. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly for forcing cooling air through a radiator forwardly mounted in a vehicle in which engine coolant is circulated comprising support means adjacent to the radiator, a fan shroud and fan mounting shell operatively secured to said support adjacent to said radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly extending wall portion with a terminal forward edge adjacent to the rearward face of said radiator to provide a large area intake for air flowing there-through, said shell further having a generally cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion to provide a reduced dimensioned air ejector for said shell, spoke means extending inwardly from said air ejector, a fan drive motor supported by said spoke means extending axially into said shell and having an output shaft, a fan operatively connected to said drive motor and rotatably mounted in said shell, said fan describing an area substantially smaller than that of said intake and having a central hub operatively connected to said output shaft of said motor, a plurality of arcuately spaced blades each having a backwardly swept front edge extending radially outwardly from said hub, an annular shroud fixed to the outer end portions of said blades for rotation therewith in said air ejector, said annular shroud being axially and backwardly positioned by said blades at predetermined rearward spacing from said radiator and from a forward surface of said hub to increase the air space between said fan and said radiator for the optimized flow of air through said radiator into said fixed shell and the pumping of said flow by said fan.
2. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly for forcing cooling air through a radiator in which engine coolant is circulated comprising support means adjacent to the radiator, a fan shroud and fan mount shell operatively secured to said support adjacent to and in substantial parallel relationship with said radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly extending wall portion to provide an intake for air flowing through the radiator, said shell further having a generally cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion to provide a reduced dimensioned air ejector for said shell, spoke means extending inwardly from said air ejector, a fan drive motor supported by said spoke means extending axially into said shell and having an output shaft, a fan operatively mounted in said shell, said fan having a central hub with a forward front face operatively mounted on said output shaft of said motor, a plurality of arcuately spaced blades mounted on said hub having leading edges reversely curved in the direction of rotation and backwardly swept from said radiator and said front face of said hub and extending generally radially outwardly from said hub, an annular shroud having an area substantially less than the area of said wall portion of said shell fixed to the end portions of said blades for rotation in an immersed position in said fixed ejector and axially positioned by said blades at predetermined and optimized spacing from said front face of said hub and said radiator whereby there is optimized flow of air through said radiator bounded by said wall portion of said shell for discharge through said ejector by operation of said fan.
3. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly for forcing cooling air through a radiator forwardly mounted in a vehicle and in which engine coolant is circulated comprising support means adjacent to the radiator, a fan shroud and fan mounting shell operatively secured to said support means adjacent to said radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly extending wall extending forwardly to a front edge to provide a large area intake for air flowing through the radiator, said shell further having a generally cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion to provide a reduced dimensioned air ejector for said shell, spoke means extending inwardly from said air ejector, a fan drive motor supported by said spoke means extending axially into said shell and having an output shaft, a fan operatively connected to said drive motor and rotatably mounted in said shell, said fan having a central hub, said hub having a forward face operatively secured to said output shaft and a peripheral wall extending around a forward portion of said motor, said fan having a plurality of arcuately spaced blades each having a backwardly swept front edge extending radially outwardly from said peripheral wall, an annular shroud having an area substantially smaller than said area of said intake and fixed to the outer end portions of said blades for rotation therewith in said air ejector, said annular shroud being axially and backwardly positioned in said ejector by said blades at predetermined spacing from said radiator and from the front edge of said peripheral wall of said shell and with respect to said forward face of said hub to open and optimize spacing between said fan and said radiator for optimized air flow through said radiator as defined by the front edge of said shell and into said fan for discharge thereby.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US32461181A | 1981-11-24 | 1981-11-24 | |
| US324,611 | 1981-11-24 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1192801A true CA1192801A (en) | 1985-09-03 |
Family
ID=23264347
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000404972A Expired CA1192801A (en) | 1981-11-24 | 1982-06-11 | Engine cooling fan and fan shrouding arrangement |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5893927A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1192801A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0674731B2 (en) * | 1985-10-30 | 1994-09-21 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Shroud mounting structure for radiators for small vehicles |
| US4836148A (en) * | 1988-06-13 | 1989-06-06 | General Motors Corporation | Shrouding for engine cooling fans |
-
1982
- 1982-06-11 CA CA000404972A patent/CA1192801A/en not_active Expired
- 1982-11-24 JP JP20473482A patent/JPS5893927A/en active Granted
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6326254B2 (en) | 1988-05-28 |
| JPS5893927A (en) | 1983-06-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |