Fan ring shroud assembly

• US 8,221,074 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ninh H
• Application Number:
  US11/963,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20090162195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 415/220, 415/213.1, 415/214.1
• US Class Current: 415/213.1
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/526 Details of the casing section radially opposing blade tips ducts F04D29/545
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/646 Mounting or removal of fans

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.

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.

2. The shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein the ring shroud is mounted using one or more supports, each support having a first end coupled to the ring shroud and a second end coupled to the engine.

3. The shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein the flexible boot is a monolithic molded polymeric material.

4. The shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein the ring shroud is an extrusion modified to form a closed curve.

5. The shroud assembly of claim 4, wherein the ring shroud locking feature is a channel formed in the extrusion.

6. The shroud assembly of claim 5, wherein the first end of the flexible boot comprises a joggle, the joggle being capable of lockingly engaging the channel formed in the extrusion.

7. The shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the flexible boot has a concave cross-section.

8. The shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the radiator has a concave cross-section.

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.

10. The fan shroud assembly of claim 9, wherein the ring shroud is an extrusion modified to form a closed curve.

11. The fan shroud assembly of claim 10, wherein the ring shroud locking feature is a channel formed in the extrusion.

12. The fan shroud assembly of claim 11, wherein the first end of the flexible boot comprises a joggle, the joggle being capable of lockingly engaging the channel formed in the extrusion.

13. The shroud assembly of claim 9, wherein the second end of the flexible boot has a concave cross-section.

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.

15. The shroud assembly of claim 14, wherein the ring shroud is mounted using one or more supports, each support having a first end coupled to the ring shroud and a second end coupled to the engine.

16. The shroud assembly of claim 14, wherein the ring shroud is an extrusion modified to form a closed curve.

17. The shroud assembly of claim 16, wherein the ring shroud locking feature is a channel formed in the extrusion.

18. The shroud assembly of claim 17, wherein the first end of the flexible boot comprises a joggle, the joggle being capable of lockingly engaging the channel formed in the extrusion.

19. The shroud assembly of claim 14, wherein the second end of the flexible boot has a concave cross-section.