US2155264A - Method and apparatus for forming blower wheels - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1939. E. A. FREED 2,155,264

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BLOWER WHEELS Filed Jan. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l r v 'aa FlEl INVENTOR April 18, 1939. E A FR ED 2,155,264

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BLOWER WHEELS Filed Jan. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 18, 1939 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING BLOWER WHEELS Edward A. Freed, Moline, n1.

Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,568v

8 Claims.

My present invention relates to a method and,

apparatus for forming a blower wheel of the type generally used in air blowers. ,The particular design of blower wheel with which this is concerned includes a plurality of fanblades equidistantly spaced around a central support-' ing spider and secured in place thereon by a pair of cylindrical rings which are disposed adjacent the ends thereof. In this design of wheel there are no obstructions to the vends of the blades, since the retaining rings are disposed around the outside of the blades rather than over the ends of the blades as is the construction in some wheels of this kind.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a structure of this kind which is adapted to arrange the parts of the blower wheel in their proper position and the necessary uniform relation to obtain a perfect balanced wheel.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type which is so designed as to permit the wheel to be easily and quickly assembled and at a nominal cost.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the structure employed to assemble the blower wheel, showing the wheel at the beginning of the assembly operation with a number of the fan blades mounted in place;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 2-2 of-Figure 1.;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1 with all the blades assembled and the holding band and gauge plate secured around the wheel;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the wheel dismounted from the assembly fixture and showing the end retaining rings secured in place and the holding band removed; and,

Figure 6 is a view of the complete wheel shown in Figure 5 with the gauge plate removed. A

The blower wheel 5, comprises a plurality of fan blades 6 which are equi-distantly spaced around a central spider and are secured in this spaced relation by a pair of retaining rings 8 which are disposed around the blades 6 adjacent the outer ends thereof. Each blade 6 is provided intermediate its ends with a notch which V lower side of the wheel a retaining band 33 is engages over the outer edge of the spider l and serves to hold the blade 6 against endwise displacement.

The fixture which I employ to assemble the parts of the blower wheel 5 includes a base mem- 5 her II and vertical standards l2 and I3. which. are secured to the base member adjacent the ends thereof. The standards l2 and |3extend upwardly from the base member ll and-arev provided at their upper ends with bearing brackets l5 and I6 respectively. A transverse shaft I1 is journaled in the bearing brackets I5 and I6 and serves to support the blower. Wheel while it is being assembled. v a

To facilitate the proper spacing of the blades 6 while assembling them around the wheel 5 a pair of assembly jigs 2| are used. Each assembly jig 2| comprises a pair of spaced circular disks or plates 22 which are held in spaced relation by means of a cylindrical member 23. The member 23 is of a smaller diameter than the periphery of the disks 22 and the edges' of the member 23 are secured to the adjacent face of the disks. A plurality of notches or slots 25 are provided around the edge of each disk 22. These slots are arcuate and so formed as to receive the blades 6. The slots25 are equi-dlstantly spaced around the disks 22 to arrange the blades 6 in proper spaced relation. The disks 22 are positioned in transverse alignment relatively to each other so that the slots 25 of one disk registers with those of the other disk. A hub 26 is provided centrally of each jig 2| to adapt it to be mounted on the shaft H.

In the process of assembly of the wheel 5, the spider is first placed on the shaft I! and an assembly jig 2| is mounted on the shaft at each side of the spider 1. The jigs 2| are arranged so that the slots 25 of one jig are transversely alignedwith the slots of the other jig and both 40 jigs are then secured to the shaft I! by means of set screws 28 which are provided in the hub members 26. As shown in Figure 1 the jigs 2| are spaced apart so that the distance between their outer faces is slightly less than the length of the fan blades 6. The blades 6 are then placed in the aligned slots '25 of the jigs 2| with the notch 29, which is formed in the inner edge of the blade and between the ends thereof, seated over the outer edge of the spider 1. As the blades are mounted on the wheel the wheel is rotated, so that the blades may always be applied to the wheel at the top thereof. To hold the blades 6 in place as they pass around the 2 employed. The retaining band 33 is disposed centrally' of the blades 8 and is formed of a flexible metal. A hook I is provided on one end of the'band 33 which engages the outer edge of the first blade. A plurality of pins are spaced along the inner face of the band 33 and are so arranged as to engage the outer edges of the succeeding blades. When enough blades 8 are mounted on the jigs 2| to form a complete wheel the ends of the band 33 are secured together by a bolt 36, which extends thru clips 31 secured on the outer face of the band. to retain the blades in place until the rings 8 are mounted over the ends of the blades and the blades secured thereto. As the blades 8 are assembled, the wheel 5 is rotated, and to insure its moving the proper distance each time a blade is added, a ratchet wheel ll is fixed on theend of the shaft I1 and engages a dog 42 which is mounted on the standard II. The dog 42 is normally held in engagement with a notch in the ratchet wheel ll by a spring 43 interposed between the standard I! and a finger 44 formed on the dog 2.

After all of the blades 0 have been assembled in the manner described and the ends of the retaining band 33 are secured together to hold the blades in place, an end rins gauge 46 is then mounted around the wheel 5 and secured by latch members 41. The gauge 46 comprises resilient members or bands 48 which are disposed in spaced relation by arched spacing members which are riveted or otherwise secured to the members ll. By reason of this construction the gauge 46 may be applied over the retaining band 33. The end rings 8 are then mounted around the ends of the blades 6 and in engagement with the adjacent edge of the gauge 46, whereby the rings are arranged so as to produce a perfect balance of the wheel. With the rings I thus held in the proper position they are secured to the ends of the blades i by spot welding or other means. When the rings 8 have been secured to each of the blades 6 the gauge 46 and retaining band a are removed. The assembly jigs it are then removed from the wheel 5 by loosening the set screws 28 and sliding the jig axially out of the end of the wheel.

The particular design of my wheel, that is, with a construction wherein the end rings are secured around the outside of the blades, instead of abutting the ends thereof as are all other wheels of this type with which I am familiar, makesit possible to use an assembly structure of this kind. With this design, having no obstructions at the end of the blades, the assembly jigs may be easily removed, simply by sliding them out of the wheel without reducing the size or changing the jigs in any way. This results in an inexpensive design of jigs and fixtures but one which is very effective and satisfactory in operation.

while I have described a specific form of this invention in more or less detail, it will be apparent that various additions, omissions and substitutions can be made therein without departing from the spirit of v the appended claims.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for assembling a blower wheel of the type having a central spider, a plurality of blades and a retaining ring at each end of said blades, said device comprising a frame, a shaft supported on said frame and adapted to receive said spider.

- a blade assembly jig on said shaft at each side of this invention or the scope of having openings therein to receive saidbladeasaidopenihgsbdhilsodisposedasto locate the blades in proper position around the wheel, and a flexible gauge member adapted to be mounted around the wheel after the blades have been assembled to serve in locating the ring'members in the proper position until they are secured to the ends of the blades, said gauge and said assembly jigs being removable from the wheel after the wheel is assembled.

2. A device for assembling a blower wheel of the type having a plurality of blades, and retaining rings provided around the outer edge of said blade and adjacent the ends thereof, said device comprising a fixture adapted to support the wheel while it is being assembled, including an assembly jig disposed within said wheel and adapted to arrange said blades in the proper position, and a gauge for locating the axial position of the retaining rings, said jig and said gauge adapted to be removed from said wheel after the parts thereof have been secured in assembled relation.

3. A device for assembling a blower wheel having a plurality of blades, said device including assembly has disposed within said wheel and adapted to support said blades while they are being assembled, said jigs being withdrawn as units through the. ends-of the wheel after the blades have been secured in place.

4. An apparatus for assembling a blower wheel having a plurality of blades, comprising noncollapsible assembly jig disposed within said wheel and about which said blades are assembled, there being no obstruction on either the jig or the wheel to interfere with the withdrawal of said jig after the parts of the weel are assembled.

5, The method of assembling a blower wheel, comprising first mounting a central wheel spider on a shaft, next mounting a blade assembly jig on said shaft at each side of said spider, then assembling the blades around said jigs and looking them in engagement with said spider, then applying a gauge member around the blades, next; mounting end retaining rings over the ends of the blades and in contact with said gauge, then securing said rings to said blades, and finally reibngving said assembly jigs and said gauge mem- 6. The method of assembling a blower wheel, comprising first mounting a wheel spider and a blade spacing means on a shaft; next assembling the wheel blades around said spacing means, then applying a-gauge member around the blades, next mounting end retaining rings over the ends of the blades and in contact. with said gauge, then securing said rings to'said blades, and last removing said blade spacing means and said gauge member.

'7. The method of assembling a blower wheel having a central wheel spider and a plurality of fan blades, comprising providing an assembly jig at each side of the spider within the wheel, mounting the blades around the jigs and fastening them in place, and subsequently removing the assembly jigs axially thru theends of said wheel.

8. The method of assembling a blower wheel, comprising first mounting a wheel spider and an assembly jig on a shaft, next assembling the wheel blades around said jig, said blades engaging said spider said spider at a point intermediate their ends,

then mounting end retaining rings over the ends of the blades, then securing said rings to said blades, and last removing said jig from said wheel by axially withdrawing it therefrom.

EDWARD A. FREED.

Images