US3189982A

US3189982A - Method of making integral fan and slinger ring

Info

Publication number: US3189982A
Application number: US142639A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth A Merz
Original assignee: Torin Corp
Current assignee: Torin Corp
Priority date: 1961-10-03
Filing date: 1961-10-03
Publication date: 1965-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-22

Description

June 22, 1965 K. A. MERZ 3,139,982

METHOD OF MAKING INTEGRAL FAN AND SLINGER RING Filed 001;. s, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. v .KENNETH A. MERZ A TTORNE Y5 June 22, 1965 K. A. MERZ 3,189,982

METHOD OF MAKING INTEGRAL FAN AND SLINGER RING Filed Oct. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 3 United States Patent 3,189,982 METHGD 6F MAKltNG FNTEGRAL FAN ANFJ SlLltNGER RiN-G Kenneth A. Mara, Qornwall, Conn, assigner to The Torrington h'lanufactnring Company, Torrington, Conn, a corporation of (Ionneetieut Filed Diet. 3, 1951, Ser. No. M2,,d39 Claims. (till. 29-4568) This invention relates to an integral fan and slinger ring of the type wherein a hub section of the fan is oifset axially with respect to the slinger ring and, more particularly, the invention relates to a method of making such a fan and slinger ring.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a method of producing a fan and slinger ring of the type mentioned wherein the need for expensive blanking and drawing tools is eliminated and a substantial economic advantage in manufacture is achieved.

The drawings illustrate structure specific to three forms of the method of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the structure shown and the method forms described, and that the drawlugs and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of the specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan View of an intermediate blank formed in accordance with the method of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a completed integral fan and slinger ring produced in accordance with the method of the invention;

PEG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally as indicated at 3-3 in FIG. 1 and showing a portion of a fan blade, a connecting tab, and a slinger ring, back ground parts being omitted:

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIG. 3, but showing the tab in a preformed condition;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to F163. 3 and 4, but showing the parts completed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to FIG. 4, but showing a tab performed in accordance with a second form of the method of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view showing a tab formed and arranged in accordance with still another form of the method of the invention; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken generally as indicated at 8-8 in FIG. 7. i

It has heretofore been a conventional practice to form an integral fan and slinger ring of the type referred to by providing a flat circular blank and forming the same into a conical configuration as in a drawing operation. Subsequently, as in a blanking operation, selected portions of the conical blank have been severed to define the various elements of the fan and slinger ring and, finally, the necessary forming has been accomplished to provide an annular flange on the slinger ring and to pitch the blades. This method is capable of producing a satisfactory integral fan and slinger ring, but the method has not been economically advantageous. Drawing tools required to form the cone and blanking tools suitable for operation on a conical blank are extremely expensive. In a fact, the costs encountered have been so excessive as to Patented June .22, 1965 prevent the manufacture of this type of fan in low quantity production.

In the practice of the method in the present invention, the need for expensive drawing and blanking tools is elimihated and a substantial economic advantage is achieved in both low and high quantity production. In general, the method of the invention comprises the steps of providing a one-piece sheet metal blank which has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all of the elements of the fan and slinger ring in connected relationship, but in substantially flat form. Thus, blanking can be accomplished at low cost on a fiat rather than a cone-shaped blank. In order that subsequent forming of the blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section may be accomplished without excessive deformation and/ or rupture of the said elements, the flat blank is provided with at least one annular area wherein the fan elements or portions thereof are arranged so as to have dimensions between inner and out r boundaries of the area which are greater than the radial distance between the boundaries. in forming of the blank which effects pitching of the blade and the axial offset relationship of the hub section, the differences between the interboundary dimensions of the said elements or portions thereof and the radial distance between boundaries are employed to accommodate axial movement of the hub section relative to the slinger ring. Thus, a particular arrangement of elements or portions thereof in a selected annular area on the blank accommodates the necessary movement for the final offset arrangement of the hub section and the necessity of providing an intermediate conical blank and the costs attendant upon the provision of such a blank are wholly eliminated.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, it will be observed that a completed fan and slinger ring shown therein comprises a plurality of similarly pitched and circumaxially spaced air moving blades ill, 10. Five

blades

10, 10 are shown, but the method of the invention is equally adaptable to the production of fan and slinger ring assemblies with various numbers of blades. The blades it], 10 are comparatively broad throughout major portions of their lengths, but relatively narrow

inner pants

12, 12 thereof have their inner edge portions connected with and formed integrally with a hub section 14. The hub section 14 is offset axially with respect to an integral slinger ring 16 which includes an annular flange 18 extending in an axial direction from its outer edge. The slinger ring 316 is disposed about the blades til, it as shown and is connected thereto by means of

small connecting tabs

20, 20 extending between said ring and outer edge portions of the blades. Outer end portions of the tabs 20, 2t) lie substantially in the plane of the slinger ring is, but inner edge portions thereof are slightly twisted in. keeping with the pitch of the blades it ill, FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be observed that a blank shown therein has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all of the elements of the completed fan and slinger ring in connected relationship. The said elements are, however, defined in a fiat form. A flat hub section 14 of the blank is connected with

inner parts

12, 12 of flat blades ill, 10 which are in turn connected with a planar slinger ring section 16 by

flat tabs

20, 20. The blank may be provided in a conventional flat blanking operation and may properly be characterized as an intermediate blank, a fiat circular initial or first blank being supplied for the blanking operation.

Now, the selection of a particular annular area on the intermediate blank as well as the manner in which elements or portions of elements falling within the boundaries of the area are arranged to provide for dimensions greater than the radial distance between said boundaries may vary within the scope of the invention. Preferably, however, an annular area on the blank is selected between the hub section 14 and the slinger ring section 16 and is at such location and of such width that it will bound a minimum aggregate mass of metal. Thus, in FIG. 1, an annular area including the tabs 20, 2% is selected and such area may be identified by its inner and outer boundaries which are represented respectively by the broken line 22 and the inner edge 24 of the slinger ring section 16. As will be noted, the inner boundary 22 of the area registers with the inner edges of the tabs 2t 2% while the outer boundary 24 thereof registers with the outer edges of said tabs.

In a first form of the method, the tabs 2h, 2% are arranged so as to have dimensions between the

boundaries

22 and 24 greater than the radial distance between said boundaries by displacing at least a portion of each tab from the plane of the flat intermediate blank. That is, the intermediate blank is provided as mentioned above by a flat blanking operation and the tabs 2t 20 are thereafter performed to the desired arangement of excess dimension.

7 As illustrated in FIG. 3, each tab Ztl has a lengthwise dimension x after formation of the intermediate blank of FIG. 1. As will be observed, the dimension x is also equal to the radial distance between the inner and

outer boundaries

22 and 24 of the aforesaid annular area. Preforming of the tabs 29, 20 as by drawing with a suitable tool is then accomplished to displace at least a portion of each tab from the plane of the blank. As illustrated in FIG. 4, preforming is preferably accomplished toprovide for a bowed configuration of each tab 20 viewed in an axial plane. A lengthwise dimension y 4 its center line disposed on a radius.

the intermediate blank to pitch the blades and to axially offset the hub section of a fan and slinger ring including the tabs 243a, a will result in stretching and approximate straightening of the tabs to the configuration illusrated in FIG. 5. Obviously, excessive deformation and/ or rupture of the tabs or other elements in the fan and slinger ring assembly will be positively avoided.

A third form of the method of the present invention involves the provision of tabs of the type shown at 2% in FIG. 7. The tab Ztib is flat as illustrated in FIG. 8 and extends in an intermediate blank such as shown in FIG. 1 between a blade 10]) and a slinger ring section 16b. The tab does not, however, extend along or have Instead, the tab is inclined with respect to all radii and with respect to all axial planes. Thus, the tab 2% has a lengthwise dimension y in excess of a dimension x the dimensioin x being measured along a radius and between inner and outer boundaries 22b and 24b of a selected annular area of the tabs 20 measured arcuately then exceeds the former lengthwise dimension x of the tabs and accordingly exceeds the radial distance between the

boundaries

22 and 24 of the selected angular area.

- The amount by which the dimension y exceeds the dimension x may vary within the scope of the invention. However, preforming of the

tabs

20, 20 is preferably accomplished so that their dimension y is substantially equal to a dimension 2: illustrated in FIG. 5. As will be observed, the dimension 2 represents the length of the

tabs

20, 20 in the completed fan and slinger ring assembly. That is, the preformed tabs 20, 2th of FIG. 4 are stretched so as to be approximately straightened in the subsequent forming operation of pitching the

blades

10, 10 and moving the hub section 14 to its axially offset position. the

tabs

20, 20 accommodates the necessary axial movement of the hub section 14 relative to the slinger ring 16 without excessive deformation and/or tearing of the tab as previously mentioned.

In FIG. 6 it will be observed that a tab 2 41a has a corrugated cross section in an axial plane. The said tab is preformed to'such shape in the practice of a second form of the method of the invention. In the said sec- 0nd form of the method, a circular initial or first Such stretching and approximate straightening of blank may be operated on in a blanking operation to form the fiat intermediate blank of FIG. 1 as described above. Thereafter, each of the tabs 24M, Ztla of the intermediate blank may be preformed to the corrugated cross section of FIG. 6 as in a suitable drawing operation.

Here again, the initial lengthwise dimension 2: of the tabs is effectively increased to exceed the radial distance between the boundaries 22a and 24a of an annular area selected as described above. An arcuate lengthwise dimension y of the preformed tabs Ztia, Ztia approximately equals the aforesaid arcuate lengthwise dimension y of the preformed

tabs

20, 20. Thus, subsequent forming of which includes the tab 2% and corresponding tabs not shown. Thus, a dimensional excess is provided to ac- 'commodate axial movement of a hub section relative to the slinger ring section 16b without excessive deformation or rupture of the tab Ztlb shown and corresponding tabs.

In practicing the third form of the method, the inclined arrangement of the tabs 20b, 26b for excess dimension is provided in a blanking operation which produces a flat intermediate blank similar to that shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, and during the forming operation which effects pitching of the blades and axial movement of the hub section, relative rotation is effected between the slinger ring section 1617 and the blades 1%, 10b to arrange the longitudinal center lines of the tabs 20]), 20b at least approximately in axial planes. Such relative rotation effectively elongates the tabs 20b, 20b so that the required axial hub section movement is accommodated without deformation or rupture of the tabs or other elements of the fan and slinger ring assembly.

Arrows

26, 26 in FIG. 7 indicate the direction of relative rotation of the fan blades and slinger ring for the tab 20b shown.

Formation of the flange 18 on the fan and slinger ring is not critical in the practice of the method of the present invention. Irrespective of the form of the method practiced, the flange 18 may be formed at various stages in the manufacture of the fan and slinger ring. As one example, it will be noted that a drawing operation may be accomplished prior to formation of the intermediate blank.

Now from the foregoing it will be apparent that conventional and inexpensive cutting and forming tools can be employed in the practice of each form of the method of the present invention. Blanking can be accomplished on a flat initial or first blank or workpiece and the ex pense of providing blanking tools operable on a conical blank is wholly avoided. Expensive drawing tools for providing a conical blank are also obviously unnecessary. Moreover, light drawing tools operable on a flat intermediate blank to provide the bowed or corrugated tabs of FIGS. 4 and 6 may be of a comparatively simple and inexpensive design. Similarly, a tool rotating means for effecting relative rotation during forming with the tabs 20b, Zfib is readily provided at low cost.

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a one-piece sheet metal blank which has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all the aforesaid elements in 3,1s9,9sa

connected relationship but in substantially flat form and which has tabs with dimensions between their inner and outer end portions which are greater than the radial distance between said end portions, and forming said blanl to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the displacement of said tabs in such manner than the differences between their said end portion-to-end portion dimensions and the said radial distance between their end portions are employed to accommodate axial movement of the hub section without excessive deformation and rupture of the aforesaid elements.

2. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially oifset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a one-piece sheet metal blank which has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in substantially flat form and which has tabs which extend at least partially out of the plane of the blank between their inner and outer end portions so as to have dimensions between said end portions which are greater than the radial distance between the end portions, and forming said blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the displacement of said tabs in such manner that the differences between their said end portion-to-end portion dimensions and the said radial distance between their end portions are employed to accommodate axial movement of the hub section without excessive deformation and rupture of the aforesaid elements.

3. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of sirrilarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a one-piece sheet metal blank which has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in flat form and which has tabs with center lines which extend angularly between their end portions with respect to radii so as to have end portion-to-end portion dimensions greater than the radial distance between their end portions, and forming said blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the displacement of said tabs in such manner that the differences between their said end portion-to-end portion dimensions and the said radial distance between their end portions are employed to accommodate axial movement of the hub section without excessive deformation and rupture of the aforesaid elements.

4. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a fiat sheet metal blank, severing selected portions from the blank to define the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in flat form, effectively elongating each tab by displacing at least a portion thereof from the plane of the blank, and forming the blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the stretching and approximate straightening of the tabs whereby the axial offset movement of the hub section is accommodated without excessive deformation and rupture of the tabs.

5. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the lades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a fiat sheet metal blank, severing selected portions from the blank to define the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in flat form, effectively elongating each tab by preforming the same in a bowed configuration which extends from the plane of the blank, and forming the blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the stretching and approximate straightening of the tabs whereby axial offset movement of the hub section is accommodated without excessive deformation and rupture of the tabs.

6. A method of an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the stinger ring,'and a hub section substantially olfset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a flat sheet metal blank, severing selected portions from the blank to define the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in flat form, effectively elongating each tab by preforming the same to a corrugated cross section in an axial plane, and forming the blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the stretching and approximate straightening of the tabs whereby axial offset movement of the hub section is accommodated without excessive deformation and rupture of the tabs.

'7. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a flat sheet metal blank, severing selected portions of the blank to define the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in flat form with the tab center lines extending angularly with respect to radii, and forming the blank to pitch the blades and to offset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including relative rotation of the slinger ring and the blades to arrange the tab center lines approximately on radii and to thereby effectively elongate the tabs and accommodate axial oflset movement of the hub section without excessive deformation and rupture of the tabs.

8. A method of making an integral fan and slinger ring which includes a plurality of similarly pitched circumaxially spaced air moving blades, a slinger ring disposed about the blades, a plurality of connecting tabs extending respectively between outer edge portions of the blades and the slinger ring, and a hub section substantially offset axially with respect to the tabs and connected with inner edge portions of the blades; said method comprising the steps of providing a one-piece sheet metal blank which has selected portions severed therefrom so as to define all the aforesaid elements in connected relationship but in substantially flat form, displacing the metal of the blank out of the plane of the blank in a narrow annular area bounding a minimum aggregate mass of metal located between the slinger ring and hub section portions of the blank, and forming the blank to pitch the blades and to ofiset the hub section thereof axially with respect to the tabs, said last mentioned step including the generally radial elongation of the displaced metal in said annular area to accommodate the axial tion and rupture of the aforesaid elements.

Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 8,454 1910 Great Britain.

WHETMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A METHOD OF MAKING AN INTEGRAL FAN AND SLINGER RING WHICH INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF SIMILARLY PITCHED CIRCUMAXIALLY SPACED AIR MOVING BLADES, A SLINGER RING DISPOSED ABOUT THE BLADES, A PLURALITY OF CONNECTING TABS EXTENDING RESPECTIVELY BETWEEN OUTER EDGE PORTIONS OF THE BLADES AND THE SLIGNER RING, AND A HUB SECTION SUBSTANTIALLY OFFSET AXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE TABS AND CONNECTED WITH INNER EDGE PORTIONS OF THE BLADES; SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF PROVIDING A ONE-PIECE SHEET METAL BLANK WHICH HAS SELECTED PORTIONS SEVERED THEREFROM SO AS TO DEFINE ALL THE AFORESAID ELEMENTS IN CONNECTED RELATIONSHIP BUT IN SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT FORM AND WHICH HAS TABS WITH DIMENSIONS BETWEEN THEIR INNER AND OUTER END PORTIONS WHICH ARE GREATER THAN THE RADIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID END PORTIONS, AND FORMING SAID BLANK TO PITCH THE BLADES AND TO OFFSET THE HUB SECTION THEREOF AXIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE TABS, SAID LAST MENTIONED STEP INCLUDING THE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID TABS IN SUCH MANNER THAN THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEIR SAID END PORTION-TO-END PORTION DIMENSIONS AND THE SAID RADIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THEIR END PORTIONS ARE EMPLOYED TO ACCOMMODATE AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE HUB SECTION WITHOUT EXCESSIVE DEFORMATION AND RUPTURE OF THE AFORESAID ELEMENTS.