Heat shield and deflector for engine cooling fan motor

• US 5,180,279 A
• Filed: 03/31/1992
• Issued: 01/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: McCormick, Robert L., Schultz, Allen L., McClelland, Kevin L., Laramie, Matthew J., McLane-Goetz, Lee A. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kwon, John T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sgantzos, Mark
• Application Number:
  US07/861,222
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 415/177, 415/178, 415/175, 415/176, 416/169 A, 165/135
• US Class Current: 415/177
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 1/06 Arrangements for cooling other engine or machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2070/00 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 5/04 Pump-driving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/11 Thermal or acoustic insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/082 the unit having provision for cooling the motor
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5806 Cooling the drive system

Abstract

A cover plate for a cooling fan motor includes a heat shield portion spaced from the motor and a deflector portion extending beyond the motor. The deflector portion redirects axial discharge airflow across the motor to provide cooling, thereby improving the life of the motor bearings and the operating efficiency of the motor.

Claims

1. An assembly for cooling a vehicular engine compartment, comprising:

(a) a fan;

(b) a motor for rotating the fan;

(c) bracket means downstream of the fan for mounting the motor; and

(d) cover plate means to form heat shield means spaced from the motor having an air channel and deflector means for directing exiting airflow from the fan to the air channel.

2. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the deflector means includes a portion angled toward the bracket means.

3. The assembly as specified in claim 1 including means for mounting the cover plate means to the bracket means.

4. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the cover plate means is formed from a heat resistive material.

5. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the heat shield means and the deflector means are integrally formed.

6. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the deflector means includes wall means projecting toward the bracket means.

7. The assembly as specified in claim 2 wherein the angled portion includes wing means projecting toward the bracket means.

8. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein:

(a) the bracket means includes at least two accurately spaced legs; and

(b) the deflector means spans the distance between the legs.

9. The assembly as specified in claim 1 including a shroud for mounting the bracket means and directing air to the fan.

10. The assembly as specified in claim 1 including a rotating shroud attached to the fan.

11. The assembly as specified in claim 1 wherein the motor is an electric motor.

12. A cover plate for an engine cooling fan assembly having a motor supported on a bracket for rotating an axial fan, the cover plate comprising:

(a) heat shield means for preventing radiant heat from reaching the motor; and

(b) deflector means for directing exiting airflow from the fan to the motor for cooling the motor.

13. The cover plate specified in claim 12 wherein:

(a) the heat shield means has a diameter substantially equal to the fan motor; and

(b) the deflector means extends beyond the fan motor to receive and deflect exiting airflow.

14. The assembly as specified in claim 12 wherein the deflector means includes a portion angled toward the bracket.

15. The assembly as specified in claim 12 wherein the heat shield means and the deflector means are integrally formed.

16. The assembly as specified in claim 12 including means for mounting the cover plate to the bracket.

17. The assembly as specified in claim 12 wherein the deflector means includes wall means projecting toward the bracket means.

18. The assembly as specified in claim 14 wherein the angled portion includes wing means projecting toward the bracket means.

19. The assembly as specified in claim 12 wherein the heat shield means is laterally spaced from the motor.

20. The assembly as specified in claim 12 wherein the heat shield means is formed from a heat resistive material.