Patent · US Expired

Integrated fan assembly with variable pitch blades

US6109871A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
47References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 31, 1997
Grant dateAug 29, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01P3/487
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A fan assembly (10) includes first and second housing sections (70, 72) which, when mated by a first set of fasteners, define a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings (162) that lead to an internal housing chamber (82). The fan assembly (10) also includes a plurality of blade units (140), each of which includes an integral support stem (142) having a journal portion (148) rotatably mounted within a respective one of the openings (162), an enlarged flange portion (144) and a radial post portion (138) rotatably supported by a hub member (106) within the internal chamber (82). Each blade unit (140) preferably has a thrust bearing (156), bushing sleeve (158) and fan blade (152) integrated with the support stem (142), with the fan blade (152) being preferably molded to the support stem (142) following positioning of the thrust bearing (156) and bushing sleeve (158) to form an integral component. The fan assembly (10) further includes an actuator member (112) that is movably supported within the internal housing chamber (82) and which is adapted to engage a pin (166) of the support stem (142) at a position offset from a rotational axis thereof to adjust the pitch of the fan blade…

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