Patent · US Expired

Fan shroud arrangement

US4181172A · kind A · utility

43Cited by
6References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1977
Grant dateJan 1, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF04D29/326
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The mechanism shown and described herein is a cooling fan and associated dual shroud arrangement including (1) a rotating shroud comprised of a ring secured to the outer tips of the fan blades and a bell-mouthed inlet formed on the leading edge of the ring, and (2) a stationary shroud secured at one end or edge thereof to the radiator and terminating at the outer end thereof in an annular edge in front or upstream of the bell-mouthed inlet. A predetermined clearance is defined between the stationary shroud and the bell-mouthed inlet, effective to provide a smooth recirculating airflow around the rotating shroud and back into the main airflow stream, thereby substantially eliminating tip-vortex characteristics and resultant tip-clearance noise, and without unsteady flow interactions that cause rotational noise. In one alternate embodiment, the radiator is used in lieu of the stationary shroud for cooperation with the bell-mouthed inlet.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.