US2962207A

US2962207A - Blower wheel

Info

Publication number: US2962207A
Application number: US679885A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert A Mayne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-23
Filing date: 1957-08-23
Publication date: 1960-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-29

Description

Nov. 29, 1960 R- MAYNE. 2,962,207

BLOWER WHEEL Filed Aug. 23, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. EOKEETfl MAIYNE H/S arrow/5Y5 Nov. 29, 1960 R. A. MAYNE BLOWER WHEEL 3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed Aug. 23, 1957 Jill 5 14/5 flTTOEA/EVS Nov. 29, 1960 R. A. MAYNE 2,962,207

BLOWER WHEEL Filed Aug. 23, .1957

'3 Shets-Sheet 5 JIE. 9

INVENTOR. 20552 T A7. MKZVNE BY g United States Patent BLOWER WHEEL Robert A. Mayne, 42 Forrer Road, Dayton 9, Ohio Filed Aug. 23, 1957, Ser. No. 679,885 6 Claims. (Cl. 230-134) This invention pertains to a blower wheel and more particularly to a blower wheel of the centrifugal type.

An object of this invention is to produce a blower wheel made from sheet metal stampings that are easily assembled, resulting in a .dependable wheel that is efficient in performance; that is easily balanced and that is inexpensive.

Another object of this invention is to provide a centrifugal type of blower wheel wherein the blades and the end disc are made from two pieces of stampings, one half of the blades being integral with an end disc, which is also used to support the blower wheel, and the other half of the blades being integral with a ring surrounding the intake opening of the Wheel.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of manufacture and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view looking into the blades of the finished blower wheel.

Figure 2 .is an end view of .the blower wheel as viewed from the right of Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is an end view of the blower wheel showing the intake opening of the blower wheel, and as viewed from the left of Figure 1. i A

Figure 4 is a sheet metal stamping stamped from a piece of sheet metal, used in forming one of the members used in the manufacture of blower wheels.

Figure 5 is a view as seen from one edge of the stamping shown in Figure 4 after the extensions forming the bladeelements have been curved.

Figure 6 is an end view ofone of the stampingsafter the extensions used in forming the blades have been deflected through 90 from the position shown in Figures4and5.

Figure 7 is an end view of the stamping as seen from the right of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end view of another stamping used in manufacturing the blower wheel, as viewed after the extensions used in forming the blades have been deflected at right angles to the plane of the original sheet metal blank.

Figure 9 is another view of the blank as seen from the right of Figure 8.

This blower wheel is manufactured from two pieces of sheet metal halves, one half of the blades being integral with one stamping and the other half integral with the other stamping.

As may best be seen by referring to Figure 4, a blank is stamped from a piece of sheet metal. This blank includes a disc like annular supporting portion 12 provided with a centrally disposed hole 14. The blank contains a plurality of extensions 16. In the particular stamping shown in Figure 4, there are 12 of these extentions. Each of the extensions terminates in a tab 18. These extensions 16 form a substantially 60 angle with respect to the tangent of the disc 12. A substantially triangular connecting portion 20 is located between the main body of the extension 16 and the vdisc 12. As best seen in Figure 4, a neck portion extending substantially along a line 42 is narrower than the total width of the blade 30. While the stamping 10 is in the flat position, it is placed in a forming die so as to curve the extensions 16, as clearly seen in Figure 5. The contour or curvature of the extension 16 is identical to the desired curvature of the blades 30 found in the blower wheel shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The pitch or radius of curvature of all the blades are the same. At the same time that the extensions 16 are curved, the stamping 10 is provided with ribs 32 so as to reinforce the disc portion 12. The second stamping 10a used in forming the blower wheel is identical to the stamping 10 as far "as the extensions 16 are concerned. The only difference between the .two stampings resides in the center portion. Instead of a round hole 14 as shown in Figure 4, a large opening 34 is found in the second stamping 10a. So that in reality, the extensions 16, of the second stamping, are supported on the ring portion 36. As shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 9, the inner margin of the .ring portion 36 is curved inwardly at 38 so that the ring 36 is designed to have a venturi effect, or to provide a smooth path for the air to flow into the finished blower wheel when in use. Each of the

stampings

10 and 10a is provided with small ovate openings 40 located in the triangular connecting portions or extensions 20, as clearly shown in the drawings. There being as many openings 40 as there are extensions or blades .in each stamping.

After the extensions 16 have been curved as shown in Figure 5, these extensions are bent so that the extensions project at right angles to the disc portion 12 and the ring portion 36. These extensions are bent substantially along the line 42 that forms a 30 angle with respect to the radius .44, as shown in Figure 4. 'When it is stated that the extensions are bent along the line 42 this is merely an approximation, in that the blades are curved, and the blades may be bent along the curved line rather than the straight line. The blades and the disc 12, after the extensions have been bent so as to formlthe blades 30, are shown in Figures 6 and 7. The end ring 36 and the ext'ensions, bent at right angles to form blades 30, are shown .in Figures 8 and 9. The :two

stampings

10 and 10a are now ready to be assembled into'a blower wheel. The blades 30 of'one stamp ing are slipped in .endwaysbetween the blades 30 of the other stamping. The .tabs 18 projecting through the openings .40 of .the ,opposite stamping. These tabs are bent at right angles 86' asto be folded against the disc 12 or the ring 36 as the case may be. The two stampings are thereby locked together, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. For some purposes the tabs 18 when folded may be spot Welded to the disc 12 or to the ring 36 so as to give greater rigidity to the blower wheel.

The curvature of blades of one stamping correspond to the curvature of blades of the other stamping so that the blades are, so to speak, parallel to each other when the stampings are assembled into a blower wheel.

It is not feasible to mount the disc 12 directly ona shaft without some hub arrangement. This may consist of a die cast hub, a machined hub, or it may consist of sheet metal parts formed from stampings. The type of hub used is immaterial, as far as the structure of the blower blades and the method of manufacturing the blades is concerned.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3, a hub 50 may have been staked in position. Instead of staking the hub it may have the margins spun against the disc, or it may be die cast in position. Suitable set screws 52 may be provided to: lock the hub on a shaft.

From the disclosure herein, it can readily be seen that ample blade area has been provided for an efiicient blower wheel. The number of blades may be varied to suit the particular requirements. By having one half of the blades integral with one stamping and the other half of the blades integral with the other stamping, the blades being interleaved, a sufiicient number of blades may be provided for efficient operation of a blower wheel. The particular blower wheel shown herein is generally referred to as a single inlet wheel, that is, all of the air is drawn in from one end of the blower through the large opening 34 in the ring 36. Furthermore, by curving the inner margin of the ring, air is drawn in from a large area so as to be propelled by the blower blades.

Instead of the ring 36 in the disc 12 being located in opposite ends, the ring 36 could be provided with arcuate grooves for the blades integral with the stamping 12, the ring 36 can then be inserted so as to abut the inner side of the disc 12, a ring or retaining means could be used for supporting the outer ends of the blades.

Two of these blower wheels may be used to form a double inlet wheel by merely butting the disc of one wheel 12 against a disc of a like wheel. In that event, the ribs 32 would be eliminated on the outside disc but could be provided inside of the disc.

Instead of using two stampings, like those shown in the drawings, one of the stampings may consist of a cup-shaped member drawn from a piece of sheet metal, the cup-shaped member having blades struck inwardly from the periphery thereof. The other stamping may be similar to the stamping a provided with a large opening. The blades of the stamping are interleaved with the inwardly struck blades of the cup-shaped member so as to double the blade area. By this arrangement, a blower wheel utilizing a cup-shaped member with blades integral therewith together with a stamping produces a blower wheel having greater efficiency and much greater blade area than in a blower wheel without the use of a stamping.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A blower wheel including two stampings, each of said stampings including a substantially circular supporting structure, a plurality of substantially triangular connecting portions projecting outwardly from each of the supporting structures, each of said triangular portions having an aperture, and a plurality of equally spaced blower blades extending at right angles from the triangular portions, there being one blade for each triangular portion, the blades of the two stampings being interleaved so that every other blade projects from the triangular portions of one stamping, the remaining blades from the other stamping, the end of each blade being provided with a tab, the two stampings being spaced apart axially and in opposed relation so that the tabs on blades of one stamping project through the apertures in the triangular portions of the other stamping and interlocked therewith, the blades of both stampings lying beyond the substantially circular supporting structures.

2. A blower wheel including two stampings, each of said stampings including a substantially circular supporting structure, a plurality of substantially triangular connecting portions projecting outwardly from each of the supportingstructures, and a plurality of equally spaced blower blades extending at right angles from the triangular portions, there being one blade for each triangular portion, the two stampings being spaced apart axially and in opposed relation, the blades of the two stampings being interleaved so that every other blade projects from the triangular portions of one stamping to the triangular portion of the other stamping, the remaining blades from the other stamping in like manner, the ends of the blades of one stamping being fixedly secured to triangular portions of the other stamping, the blades of both stampings lying beyond the substantially circular supporting structure.

3. A blower Wheel according to claim 2, wherein the blower blades have a curved cross sectional area.

4. A blower wheel according to claim 2, wherein one of the circular supporting structures consists of a ring having a hollow air passage.

5. A blower wheel according to claim 2, wherein the blades of each stamping are provided with tabs extending substantially at right angles to the main body of the blades and fixedly attached to the triangular portions of the other stamping.

6. A blower wheel according to claim 2, wherein the portion joining the blade to its triangular portion is narrower than the width of the blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,541 Tedman Nov. 5, 1929 1,827,316 Haynsworth Oct. 13, 1931 2,272,695 Evans Feb. 10, 1942 2,362,868 Upson Nov. 14, 1944 2,785,850 Sprouse Mar. 19, 1957 new... I