Fan ring shroud assembly
First Claim
1. A shroud assembly for an engine cooling fan, the fan being disposed between an engine and a radiator, the shroud assembly comprising:
- (a) a ring shroud fixedly mounted adjacent to the fan and having a locking feature formed therein, the locking feature comprising;
(i) a C-shaped channel having opening at a forward end; and
(ii) a lip disposed forward of the opening of the C-shaped channel and extending in a radially outward direction;
(b) a radiator shroud mounted rearward of the radiator, the radiator shroud having a first end with a first aperture located to receive at least a portion of air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture; and
(c) a flexible boot having a first end and a second end, the first end of the boot lockingly engaging the locking feature of the ring shroud to removably attach the flexible boot to the ring shroud, the second end of the boot being in contact with the second end of the radiator shroud so that the boot provides fluid communication between the ring shroud and the radiator shroud, the flexible boot comprising;
(i) a toe portion extending in a rearward direction and being disposed within the channel, the channel restraining the toe portion in a radial direction; and
(ii) a forward facing surface disposed forward of the toe portion and extending in a radially inward direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shroud assembly for an engine cooling fan positioned between an engine and a radiator includes a ring shroud, a radiator shroud, and a flexible boot. The ring shroud is mounted adjacent to the fan and includes a locking feature. The radiator shroud, which is mounted to the rear of the radiator, has a first end with a first aperture for receiving air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture. A first end of the flexible boot engages the locking feature of the ring shroud to secure the flexible boot to the ring shroud. A second end of the flexible boot contacts the radiator shroud so that the boot provides fluid communication between the ring shroud and the radiator shroud.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A shroud assembly for an engine cooling fan, the fan being disposed between an engine and a radiator, the shroud assembly comprising:
-
(a) a ring shroud fixedly mounted adjacent to the fan and having a locking feature formed therein, the locking feature comprising; (i) a C-shaped channel having opening at a forward end; and (ii) a lip disposed forward of the opening of the C-shaped channel and extending in a radially outward direction; (b) a radiator shroud mounted rearward of the radiator, the radiator shroud having a first end with a first aperture located to receive at least a portion of air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture; and (c) a flexible boot having a first end and a second end, the first end of the boot lockingly engaging the locking feature of the ring shroud to removably attach the flexible boot to the ring shroud, the second end of the boot being in contact with the second end of the radiator shroud so that the boot provides fluid communication between the ring shroud and the radiator shroud, the flexible boot comprising; (i) a toe portion extending in a rearward direction and being disposed within the channel, the channel restraining the toe portion in a radial direction; and (ii) a forward facing surface disposed forward of the toe portion and extending in a radially inward direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A fan shroud assembly for use in a vehicle having a radiator, an engine, and a cooling fan mounted to the engine, the fan shroud assembly comprising:
-
(a) a ring shroud adapted to be fixedly mounted relative to the engine and positioned adjacent to the fan, the ring shroud having a locking feature formed therein, the locking feature comprising; (i) a C-shaped channel having opening at a forward end; and (ii) a lip disposed forward of the opening of the C-shaped channel and extending in a radially outward direction; (b) a radiator shroud mounted rearward of the radiator, the radiator shroud having a first end with a first aperture located to receive at least a portion of air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture; and (c) a flexible boot having a first end and a second end, the first end being lockingly engagable to the locking feature of the ring shroud to removably attach the flexible boot to the ring shroud, a preload maintaining sliding contact between the flexible boot and the radiator shroud, the boot providing fluid communication between the ring shroud and an area at a rear end of the radiator, the flexible boot comprising; (i) a toe portion extending in a rearward direction and being disposed within the channel, the channel restraining the toe portion in a radial direction; and (ii) a forward facing surface disposed forward of the toe portion and extending in a radially inward direction. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A vehicle having an engine compartment, the vehicle comprising:
-
(a) an engine mounted within the engine compartment; (b) a radiator disposed within the engine compartment, the radiator being located forward of the engine and being adapted to manage engine temperature; (c) a fan rotatably mounted to the engine, the fan having a plurality of blades extending radially from a fan hub; (d) a ring shroud fixedly attached to the engine, the ring shroud being located adjacent to the plurality of fan blades; (e) a radiator shroud mounted at a rear surface of the radiator, the radiator shroud having a first end with a first aperture located to receive at least a portion of air flowing rearwardly through the radiator, and a second end with a second aperture for discharging air received by the first aperture, the ring shroud having a locking feature formed therein, the locking feature comprising; (i) a C-shaped channel having opening at a forward end; and (ii) a lip disposed forward of the opening of the C-shaped channel and extending in a radially outward direction; and (f) a flexible boot having a first end and a second end, the first end lockingly engaging the locking feature of the ring shroud to removably attach the flexible boot to the ring shroud, the second end being in contact with the second end of the radiator shroud so that the boot provides fluid communication between the ring shroud and the radiator shroud, the flexible boot comprising; (i) a toe portion extending in a rearward direction and being disposed within the channel, the channel restraining the toe portion in a radial direction; and (ii) a forward facing surface disposed forward of the toe portion and extending in a radially inward direction. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification