US3269110A - Combination exhaust suction and radiator cooling fan - Google Patents

Description

Aug. SO, 1966 A. M. CADDELL.

COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTION AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN Filed Nov. 17, 1964 INVENRO: W4

OOOOOOOOOOOOO United States Patent 3,269,110 COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTION AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN Alfred M. Caddell, Philadelphia, Pa. (908 Amosland Road, Prospect Park, Pa. 19076) Filed Nov. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 411,866 6 Claims. (Cl. 6032) The primary object of this invention is to combine in a fan assembly the functions of drawing cooling air through a radiator and, at the same time, effect suction of exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine for explusion to atmosphere.

A second object is to speedily reduce the temperature of the gas and thus maintain a high degree of vacuum in the exhaust system to promote thorough scavenging of the gas, followed by a full air-fuel charge that greatly increases volumetric efiic-iency.

A third object is to speedily reduce the temperature of the gas to rob it of its ability to create voids in the air, the closing of which voids by atmospheric pressure causes the exhaust noise.

A fourth object is to make available a compact, easily accessible exhaust system close to the engine itself.

A fifth object is to make available a radiator having a funnel-shaped duct extending therethrough for making cooling air available to the exhaust gas delivery means prior to entry of the gas into the fan assembly.

A sixth object is to minimize the size of a radiator necessary to effect cooling of an engine.

Other objects and advantages inherent in this invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view, looking downward, of a conventional V-8 engine having stacks leading from each cylinder into a collector manifold for conveying exhaust gas into a drum, which drum houses bearing assemblies and associated functional means and on which the combination exhaust suction and radiator cooling fan is mounted. Also shown is a radiator with connecting fluid-carrying hoses and a funnel-shaped aperture in the radiator for direct air-cooling of the manifold extension.

FIG. 2 is a view of the exhaust suction and air-cooling fan assembly and the collector ring, partly in cross section, for receiving the gas discharged from the nozzles on the tips of the hollow fan blades.

FIG. 3 is a view of a spoke-like means for supporting the exhaust receiving collector ring.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the drum showing the manifold extension, the gas-receiving compartment, the base of the fan assembly, the bearing wheel assemblies and bracket supporting means.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the bearing wheel shown mounted in FIGS. 4 and 9.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the wheel referred to in the previous paragraph, wherein is shown the groove in the periphery of the wheel for maintaining alignment as it travels around the circumferential track formed on ring 12, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sidewise view of one of the hollow fan blades. This view shows the horn-like type of discharge nozzle welded to the tip of the blade for creating centrifugal suction and directional discharge of the exhaust gas into the collector ring. Also, the band for preventing air thrown radially off the blade entering the collector ring. The air-attack side of the blade is broken away to show the interior and trailing side thereof.

FIG. 8 is a view of the same blade, locking upward from its base, to show the opening that matches with the opening in the hollow hub and the opening in the wall of the drum to permit entry of the exahust gas from the gas-receiving compartment into the blade.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional frontal view of the drum, showing castings 17 mounted thereupon, which castings carry bearing wheels 14 that space the drum per se from track 13 and other associated stationary means secured to manifold extension 9.

FIG. 10 is a three-quarter, half-circular view of the drum, showing the castings for carrying the bearing wheels and louvers formed through the wall of the drum to permit centrifugal throw to atmosphere of the air that picks up heat from manifold extension 9.

FIG. 11 is a three-quarter, half-circular view of a supporting tubular conduit having one closed and one open end and identified as 10, FIGS. 4 and 9, through which conduit may be observed a multiplicity of holes for the passage therethrough of air that picks up heat from the area around manifold extension 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, fan assembly 1 is superimposed upon drum 2. This drum is removably secured on the end of crankshaft 3 of engine 4 by means of :plate 5 which is keyed at 5A, shown in FIG. 4. Plate 5, in turn, is removably secured to drum 2 by screw bolts 6, FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

Drum 2 and fan assembly 1, being connected to crankshaft 3, rotate at engine crankshaft speed, the fan assem bly maintaining a constant suction pull on the exhaust side of the engine and clearing the cylinders of what otherwise would be exhaust residuals that vitiate the incoming air-fuel charges. In most engines having conventional exhaust systems, including mufilers, these residuals amount to upwards of 20 percent of a cylinders volume and the retention thereof in the cylinders prevents full charge of fresh air-fuel mixture entering on the induction stroke; which thwarting condition translates into a constant and most serious loss of power for which the herein described centrifugal suction of the exhaust is designed to correct.

As will be noted in FIG. 1, stacks 7 convey the exhaust gas from their respective cylinders to manifold 8 which, in turn, conveys it into manifold extension 9. For simplicity of manufacture and assembly, the sections that comprise the manifold system are made secure to each other by flanges 8A, FIGS. 1 and 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, manifold extension 9 conveys the exhaust gas into compartment 20 which is bounded therearound by drum wall 2, and by end wall 2A and by plate 21, which may be secured by any suitable means to the inner wall of drum 2. Aperture 22 is formed in plate 21 for the protrusion therethrough of manifold extension 9 from which the exhaust gas is discharged into compartment 20. Inasmuch as drum 2, including plate 21, rotate, sufiicient tolerance between plate 21 and manifold extension 9 must necessarily be allowed at this aperture.

Tubular conduit 10 is spaced concentrically around manifold extension 9 by means of spacer assembly 11 at the forward end and at its rear by an integrally formed end wall, which end wall fits sungly around the manifold extension to maintain alignment and offer support thereto. A pair of rings 12 are machined to form press-fits on the outer surface of this conduit, and are further machined to form elevated tracks 13, around which grooved bearing wheels 14 rotate to provide precision, though freely movable, contact between the rotatable drum and the stationary constructions secured to the manifold extension. As shown in FIG. 11, a multiplicity of holes 10A are made available between rings 12, said holes extending through the circular wall of conduit 10 to provide throughfiow of air that enters between spacer assembly 11 to the area surrounding manifold extension 9. This spacer assembly may be removably secured to the inner wall of conduit and to the manifold extension by slip fit or other appropriate means.

In the passage into the area surrounding the manifold extension the constant flow of cooling air absorbs heat by convection from the hot extension carrying the exhaust gas, thus greatly reducing the temperture of the gas before it is discharged into compartment after which the cooling air, now heated, is thrown centrifugally through holes 10A and then through louvers 23 which are formed in the wall of drum 2 to permit radial discharge of the heated air to atmosphere. These louvers are equi-spaced and are so constructed as to induce a centrifugal pump effect on this air, thus assisting greatly in maintaining sensible operating temperatures within the drum and assuring long life to the bearing wheels.

Radiator 37 is shown, as in FIG. 1, mounted forwardly of manifold extension 9. To assist in direct cooling thereof funnel-shaped duct 24 is built into the radiator struc ture. This duct permits unrestricted flow of cooling air from atmosphere and, if the engine is mounted in a forwardly moving vehicle, duct 24 would assure maximum ram pressure effect.

A pair of casting 17 provide the means for supporting bearing wheels 14. As indicated in FIG. 10, and as shown by the mounting of the wheels in FIG. 9, apertures 25 are formed through castings 17 and the wall of drum 2 to accommodate the reception therethrough of the wheels. Bolts 15 serve as'axles that extend through holes 16 in elevated sections 17A of castings 17 and through the hub of wheels 14, around which an assembly of bearings is embedded therein. Castings 17 are superimposed on and made secure to drum 2 by press-fit means, as indicated in FIGS. 9 and 10. And inasmuch as the bearing wheels rotate both within and outside the confines of drum 2, concentrically formed shield caps 26, FIGS. 4 and 9, protect the portions of the wheels that are momentarily outside the drum from possible damage. These caps may be made of any suitable material, such, as a plastic composition. They are removably secured to castings 17 by bolts 27.

Exhaust-suction-cooling-air fan assembly 1 is comprised of a concentrically formed hollow hub from which a plurality of equi-spaced fan blades radially extend. Prior to the mounting of assembly 1, a series of slots, such as is shown at 2B, FIG. 4, will have been formed through the wall of drum 2. Likewise, a series of slots, such as at IE, will have been formed through the hollow hub of the fan assembly. Similarly, slots 1C will have been formed in the base of the blades, as is shown in FIG. 8, all such slots matching with each other to permit a throughflow channel to exist from compartment 20 through the hollow blades 1D to the discharge ends of nozzles 1B. A circular band 1F, shown singly in FIG. 7 and as a complete band in FIG. 2, is secured to each of the nozzles adjacent the tips of blades 1D to prevent air thrown radially off said blades to enter travelway 13B of collector ring 18, as is shown in FIG. 1.

Fan assembly 1 is precisionally mounted on drum 2 by key or screw bolt means, neither of which is shown, in order that the aforesaid slots may be maintained in precision alignment.

Fan blades 1D, FIGS. 2 and 7, have an air attack and a trailing side spaced from each other to provide a hollow passageway therebetween. These sides match perfectly on their edges and may be welded or otherwise secured to each other thereat. Horn-type nozzle 1E, shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, has a 90-degree bend on its exit end to direct the discharge of exhaust gas rearwardly within the confines of collector ring 18. This nozzle may be secured to the tip end of blade ID by welding means, as in FIG. 7.

Collector ring 18 is supported by spoke-assembly 28, FIG. 3, also partially shown in FIG. 4. This assembly is removably secured by brackets 29 to supporting member 30, FIG. 1. This member is secured by screw engagement and lock nut means to boss 31 on engine 4 and, as also shown in FIG. 1, by screw engagement and lock nut means to collar 32 which encompasses manifold extension 9, lending support thereto. Spoke assembly 28 is comprised of a collar to which spokes 28B may be secured by any appropriate means, such as welding. Collar 28 encircles but is concentrically spaced from drum 2.

Collector ring 18 is of round construction as shown in FIG. 1 and partially shown in FIG. 2 and, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, merges into duct 33 that extends toward the rear of the engine where it is connected to blower 35 which speeds the discharge of the exhaust gas to atmosphere. Duct 33 is secured to the collector ring by means of flanges 34. The blower may be operated by 12 volts and in case of a V-8 engine, as is herein shown, another blower may be utilized to handle the output of gas expeditiously.

Obviously, collector ring 18 has an outer and an inner circumferential side. To permit entrance of nozzles 1E into the confines of ring 18, a circumferential travelway is provided in this inner side, as shown at 18D, FIG. 1.

Although not part of this invention, belt pulley 36, which is ordinarily mounted on the crankshaft of an engine to turn the water pump, generator and fan, is shown in both FIGS. 1 and 4. Conceivably, this pulley or a specially provided one, may be utilized to effect rotation of the drum which carries the fan assembly, instead of the drum being mounted, as presently shown in FIG. 1, directly on the crankshaft.

Also, while not a direct part of this invention, radiator 37 is shown, as is also fluid hoses 38 for conveying cooling fluid to and from the engine, the fluid thus being used being cooled by the herein described fan assembly to make the engine operable.

An outstanding by-product, or feature, of this invention is the fact that an internal combustion engine equipped with this combination exhaust suction and air cooling fan gives promise of being unusually quiet. Tests have definitely shown that when the exhaust gas is cooled to about degrees F. it lacks the energy that would otherwise be available to puncture holes in the air, thereby creating partial vacuums. The closing of these vacuums by the surrounding wall of atmospheric pressure air causes the well-known thunder-clap noises. The combination fan, therefore, becomes an effective silencer in its own right.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a fluid-type radiator open to atmosphere and having fluid connection with said engine, said engine having a crankshaft extending toward said radiator, a combination exhaust suction and radiator cooling fan assembly located between the engine and said radiator, a rotatable drum having connection with said crankshaft, a compartment formed in said drum and a manifold system for conveying exhaust gas from the cylinders of the engine to said compartment, said fan assembly being mounted on the periphery of said drum and being comprised of a .hollow hub and a plurality of hollow blades extending radially therefrom, said blades having a discharge nozzle secured on their tips, said hub and said blades having open communication with said compartment for effecting centrifugal suction of said exhaust gas therefrom and said blades having a pitch for drawing cool ing air through said radiator simultaneously with the suction of said gas, a collector ring mounted to receive the gas from said nozzles and a duct merging with said ring for conveying said gas to atmosphere.

2. In combination,, a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine having a forward and a rear end, a crankshaft extending forwardly from said forward end, a plate removably secured to said crankshaft, an assembled drum removably secured to said plate for rotation therewith, said drum being comprised of a cylindrical wall having a closed end and an end open to atmosphere, a compartment in said drum formed by said closed end and a plate spaced forwardly therefrom and made secure within said drum, a centrally located aperture formed in said plate, a manifold extending forwardly from said engine for conveying exhaust gas discharged therefrom, a flangeiconnected extension of said manifold formed to extend into said drum for delivering the gas through said aperture into said compartment, said drum housing a tubular conduit having a closed and an open end concentrically spaced from said manifold extension to provide a spacious area therebetween, an assembly comprised of rings spaced by a plurality of spokes for allowing air to enter said area, said conduit having a multiplicity of holes through the wall thereof, said conduit having a central opening for encompassing said extension on ts closed end and on the open to atmosphere being spaced from said extension by said latter assembly, means for securing said latter assembly to said extension and to said conduit, louvers formed in the wall of said drum to permit the passage therethrough of air centrifugally thrown through said holes from said spacious area.

3. In an assembled drum as described in claim 2, a pair of concentrically formed rings fixedly mounted upon said conduit, a beveled track formed on the periphery of each of said rings, a pair of castings superimposed upon the wall of said drum, matching apertures formed through said castings and through said wall in a line perpendicular to each of said tracks, a plurality of wheels having bearings embedded around their hubs and having grooves formed in their peripheries to match the bevel of said tracks, said wheels being removably supported by said castings for freely revolving around and being equally spaced from each other around said tracks, said wheels partially protruding outwardly through said apertures during their revolutions, covers removably secured to the wall of said drum for protecting that portion of the wheels momentarily extending outwardly therefrom.

4. In combination, a multi-cylinder'internal combustion engine having a forward and a rear end, a fluid-type radiator open to atmosphere and having fluid connection with said engine and being mounted forwardly therefrom, said engine having a crankshaft extending from its forward end, an assembled drum having connection with said crankshaft for obtaining rotation therefrom, a gas-receiving compartment formed within said drum, said engine having a stack leading from each of its cylinders and merging into a manifold extending forwardly beyond the engines forward end, a flange-connected extension of said manifold extending into said drum for conveying exhaust gas discharged from said engine into said receiving compartment, a funnel-shaped aperture formed in said radiator opposite said manifold extension and open to atmosphere at its widest diameter, a fan comprised of a hollow hub having mounted thereupon a plurality of hollow blades extending radially therefrom, each blade having a horn-type nozzle secured at the tip thereof and a pitch for drawing air from atmosphere through said radiator, a bracket removably secured to said engine and extending forward to support said manifold extension, an exhaust gas collector ring supported by an assembly of spoke-like members based in a hub spaced from said drum and secured to said engine, said fan being peripherally mounted upon said drum on that part of the drum wall forming the radial boundary of said compartment, openings in said part, openings in the hub of said fan and openings in the base of said blades, said openings matching each other to form a passageway from said compartment to the discharge end of said nozzles for the centrifugal throw therethrough of said exhaust gas into said collector ring.

5. A collector ring as described in claim 4, said ring having an inner and an outer peripheral side, a circumferential travelway provided in said inner side to a ccom modate the extension of said nozzles to Within the confines of said ring, said ring merging into a duct for the conveyance of exhaust gas toward the rear of said engine, a blower having connection with the terminus of said duct for accelerating the flow of said gas and speeding its discharge to atmosphere.

6. A combination exhaust suction and cooling fan as described in claim 4, said fan having a plurality of blades formed integrally with a hollow hub and extending radially therefrom, each blade having an air attack and a trailing side, said sides being spaced from each other to form a passageway therebetween, said sides being contoured to match each other at their edges and being joined thereat to form an integrated whole, said blades having a pitch for drawing air from atmosphere through the spaces in said radiator and blowing it over said engine, a nozzle secured to the tips of said blades and extending radially therefrom into the confines of said collector ring, a band secured to each of said nozzles adjacent said blade tips for preventing air thrown radially from said blades to enter said collector ring, said nozzles having a curvature at their radial ends for directing the discharge of said exhaust gas toward the rear of said engine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,442 10/ 1917 Frazier -32 1,730,117 10/1929 Brownrigg 60-32 MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

R. D. BLAKESLEE, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A MULTI-CYLINDER INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, A FLUID-TYPE RADIATOR OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE AND HAVING FLUID CONNECTION WITH SAID ENGINE, SAID ENGINE HAVING A CRANKSHAFT EXTENDING TOWARD SAID RADIATOR, A COMBINATION EXHAUST SUCTION AND RADIATOR COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY LOCATED BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND SAID RADIATOR, A ROTATABLE DRUM HAVING CONNECTION WITH SAID CRANKSHAFT, A COMPARTMENT FORMED IN SAID DRUM AND A MANIFOLD SYSTEM FOR CONVEYING EXHAUST GAS FROM THE CYLINDERS OF THE ENGINE TO SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID FAN ASSEMBLY BEING MOUNTED ON THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DRUM AND BEING COMPRISED OF A HOLLOW HUB AND A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW BLADES EXTENDING RADIALLY THEREFROM, SAID BLADES HAVING A DISCHARGE NOZZLE SECURED ON THEIR TIPS, SAID HUB AND SAID BLADES HAVING OPEN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID COMPARTMENT FOR EFFECTING CENTRIFUAL SUCTION OF SAID EXHAUST GAS THEREFROM AND SAID BLADES HAVING A PITCH FOR DRAWING COOLING AIR THROUGH SAID RADIATOR SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE SUCTION OF SAID GAS, A COLLECTOR RING MOUNTED TO RECEIVE THE GAS FROM SAID NOZZLES AND A DUCT MERGING WITH SAID RING FOR CONVEYING SAID GAS TO ATMOSPHERE.

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