×

Fan inlet with curved lip and cylindrical member forming labyrinth seal

  • US 5,423,660 A
  • Filed: 06/17/1993
  • Issued: 06/13/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A plastic, injection-molded shroud in combination with a fan, said fan comprising blades connected at their outer tips by a band, said shroud being positioned around said fan, said shroud extending axially from an inlet portion to an outlet portion, said outlet portion being formed to guide airflow into a heat exchanger;

  • a) said shroud comprising an inlet lip which is curved in cross-section and positioned at the inlet portion of the shroud, said lip extending radially inward and axially downstream from the inlet portion of the shroud to a trailing edge;

    b) said fan band comprising an integral flange extending radially outward from the outer tip of said blades, said flange being flared away from the direction of airflow, toward the outlet of said shroud;

    c) said shroud further comprising an intermediate cylindrical wall attached to said inlet lip of said shroud, said intermediate cylindrical wall being positioned;

         1) radially between the inner surface of said shroud and portions of the outer surface of said fan band so as to form a wall-to-band radially restrictive running clearance;

         2) with its inner radius not exceeding that of the flange on the fan band;

         3) to extend axially rearward from the inlet lip terminating axially adjacent and upstream of the flange on the fan band, forming a flange-to-wall axially restrictive running clearance therebetween.

View all claims
  • 3 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×