Method and apparatus for a plastic evaporator fan shroud assembly

• US 6,772,606 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maytag Corporation (Whirlpool Corporation)
• Inventors: Kopf, Bruce A., Coulter, Tim L., Bowen, Michael A., Kirchner, Richard A., Anderson, Troy M., Silbaugh, Eric K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US10/195,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 624/19, 415/220
• US Class Current: 62/419
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/646 Mounting or removal of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/067 Evaporator fan units
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0681 Details thereof

Abstract

An evaporator fan assembly includes a shroud have a plurality of irregularly staggered shroud legs radially outwardly spaced from a fan orifice and terminating in a motor mount. A motor is removably secured to the motor mount by a motor clip. The motor clip preferably includes a pair of legs terminating in a catch or hook that may be secured to a cross-member or support bar between the shroud legs. The motor is secured in a centered position to properly align a fan blade in the fan orifice. The fan blade is secured to the drive shaft of the motor which passes through a hole in the motor mount. A shroud cover may be secured to the shroud.

Claims

1. An evaporator fan assembly for a refrigeration unit comprising:

a shroud having a front side land a rear side and a fan orifice;

a motor mourn spaced from the shroud;

a plurality of shroud legs extending between and connected to the shroud and the motor mount in an irregularly staggered and radially outwardly spaced arrangement about the fan orifice;

a motor; and

a motor clip including one or more legs adapted to connect to the shroud legs to removably secure the motor between the motor clip and the motor mount.

2. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor includes a drive shaft, the motor being positioned on the motor mount so the motor drive shaft extends into the fan orifice.

3. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1, the evaporator fan assembly further comprising a shroud cover.

4. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the motor clip and motor mount center the motor relative to the fan orifice.

5. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 2 wherein the drive shaft passes through a hole in the motor mount.

6. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1 further comprising a fan blade operatively secured within the fan orifice.

7. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1 further comprising support bars secured between the legs and wherein the motor clip is snap fit to the support bars.

8. The evaporator fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the shroud legs include a first end secured to the rear side of the shroud and a second end positioned inwardly from the first end and away from the fan orifice.

9. A method of removably mounting an evaporator motor and fan in a refrigerator, the method comprising:

mounting a shroud assembly to the refrigerator, the shroud including a fan orifice, a motor mount and a plurality of legs irregularly staggered and radially outwardly spaced about the fan orifice, the legs extending between and connected to the fan orifice and the motor mount;

removably securing a motor to the motor mount by placing a motor clip over the motor and snapping the motor clip to the legs; and

operatively securing a fan to the motor so as to reside in the fan orifice.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising securing a shroud cover to the shroud.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising placing grommets on the motor before placing the motor on the motor clip.

12. An improved refrigerator/freezer comprising:

a housing defining a refrigerator/freezer chamber;

a plastic shroud mounted in the housing and including a fan orifice and a plurality of legs irregularly staggered and radially outwardly spaced about the fan orifice;

a motor removably secured to the legs in a snap-fit manner; and

a fan secured to the motor and residing in the fan orifice of the shroud.

13.The refrigerator/freezer of claim 12 further comprising a motor clip for securing the motor to the legs.

13. The refrigerator/freezer of claim 12 wherein the shroud assembly further comprises a shroud cover.

14. The refrigerator/freezer of claim 12 further comprising a grommet between the motor and the plastic shroud.

15. The refrigerator/freezer of claim 12 further comprising a gasket secured around the plastic shroud.