# US 10,871,172 B2 · Fan guard assembly and outdoor unit having the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,871,172 B2 - Document ID: US10871172B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/482,011 - Filed: 2017-04-07 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-31 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jin-baek Kim; Yeon-je Kim; Seong-hyun Yoon; Yi-goo Gong; Je-gu Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871172B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/703: {specially for fans, e.g. fan guards} - F04D 19/002: {Axial flow fans} - F04D 25/0693: {Details or arrangements of the wiring} - F04D 29/325: {for axial flow fans (blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38)} - F04D 29/329: {Details of the hub} - F24F 1/38: Fan details of outdoor units, e.g. bell-mouth shaped inlets or fan mountings - F24F 1/56: Casing or covers of separate outdoor units, e.g. fan guards - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) ## Abstract A fan guard assembly having an improved structure for providing improved performance and an outdoor unit having the same are provided. The fan guard assembly includes: a front panel having an outlet; and a fan guard including a hub provided at the outlet to directly fix a fan motor assembly and a rib connecting between the hub and the front panel. Further, the outdoor unit includes: a cabinet; a bell mouth provided in the cabinet; a fan guard provided at an outlet of the bell mouth; and a fan motor assembly fixed to the fan guard. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An outdoor unit, comprising: a cabinet; a bell mouth provided in the cabinet; a fan guard provided at an outlet of the bell mouth and including a hub having a cup shape with a base of the cup shape forming a center of a front surface of the fan guard and being continuous so that air does not pass through the center, and sides of the cup shape extending from the base so that the cup shape forms an insertion space inside the hub; and a fan motor assembly including a motor that is at least partially inserted into the insertion space and fixed to the hub, wherein the fan guard includes a rib connecting the hub and the cabinet, the fan motor assembly includes a blower fan driven by the motor, a height of the rib increases outwardly from the hub, and the rib includes: a first surface corresponding to a position where the rib is connected to the hub, and a second surface corresponding to a tip of a blade of the blower fan, wherein the first surface has a height of 0.02 to 0.09 times a distance L from a center of the hub to the tip of the blade, and the second surface has a height of 0.04 to 0.2 times the distance L. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib further includes a third surface located between the first surface and the second surface, at a same distance from the first surface and the second surface, respectively, and the third surface has a height of 0.03 to 0.14 times the distance L. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross section of the rib has an increasing tilt angle as the rib extends from the hub with respect to a driving shaft of the motor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rib includes a first surface corresponding to a position where the rib is connected to the hub, and a second surface corresponding to a tip of a blade of the blower fan, wherein the first surface has a tilt angle of 10° to 30°, and the second surface has a tilt angle of 20° to 40°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rib further includes a third surface located between the first surface and the second surface, at a same distance from the first surface and the second surface, respectively, and the third surface has a tilt angle of 15° to 35°. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib includes: a plurality of first ribs radially provided from the hub; and a plurality of second ribs spaced from the hub in a circumferential direction connected to the plurality of first ribs. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of first ribs include: a first rib having a height increasing outwardly from the hub; and an auxiliary rib connecting a second rib of the plurality of second ribs and the cabinet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein a tip of the first rib is located on a plane and a rear end of the first rib has a height increasing from the plane toward the blower fan. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein a transverse section of the first rib has a fan blade shape or an airfoil shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hub has a fastening portion protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the hub, and the fastening portion has a fastening hole to fasten the motor to the hub, and thereby fix the motor to the hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib has an accommodating portion accommodating an electric wire connected to the motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The outdoor unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bell mouth has a through hole through which the electric wire penetrates. ### Claim 13 A fan guard assembly, comprising: a front panel having an outlet; and a fan guard including a hub having a cup shape with a base of the cup shape forming a center of a front surface of the fan guard at a center of the outlet and being continuous so that air does not pass through the center of the front surface, and sides of the cup shape extending from the base so that the cup shape forms an insertion space into which a motor of a fan motor assembly is at least partially insertable and, while at least partially inserted into the hub, is fixable to the hub, and a rib connecting the hub and the front panel, wherein a height of the rib increases outwardly from the hub, and the rib includes: a first surface corresponding to a position where the rib is connected to the hub, and a second surface corresponding to a tip of a blade of a blower fan driven by the motor, wherein the first surface has a height of 0.02 to 0.09 times a distance L from a center of the hub to the tip of the blade, and the second surface has a height of 0.04 to 0.2 times the distance L. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fan guard assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the fan guard has greater rigidity at a radially outward portion as compared to a rigidity at the hub to support the fan motor assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The fan guard assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the front panel and the fan guard are integrally formed.