# US 11,078,924 B2 · Frame device for a radiator fan module, radiator fan module comprising a frame device and motor vehicle comprising a radiator fan module of this type > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,924 B2 - Document ID: US11078924B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/784,349 - Filed: 2017-10-16 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-04 - Assignees: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Würzburg - Applicants: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Würzburg - Inventors: Tilman Schafer; Antje Findeisen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078924B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/522: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - B60K 11/04: Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds - F04D 25/08: the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation - F04D 29/544: {Blade shapes} - F04D 29/584: {cooling or heating the machine (F04D29/5846, F04D29/5853 take precedence)} - B60K 11/08: Air inlets for cooling; Shutters or blinds therefor - F04D 25/06: the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract The present invention relates to a frame device for a radiator fan module for a motor vehicle, including a frame opening in which a motor seat for receiving a motor is arranged. The motor seat is connected to a frame edge of the frame opening by means of connecting struts. Each connecting strut comprises an inner end connected to the motor seat and an outer end connected to the frame edge of the frame opening. The setting angle of the profile of the respective connecting struts is adapted to the outflow direction of the air flowing out through the frame opening, over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end to the outer end of the connecting strut, such that the flow resistance of the respective connecting struts is as low as possible. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A frame device for a radiator fan module for a motor vehicle, the frame device comprising: a frame opening in which a motor seat for receiving a motor is arranged, wherein the motor seat is connected to a frame edge of the frame opening by connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut comprises an inner end connected to the motor seat and an outer end connected to the frame edge of the frame opening, wherein a connecting-strut angle of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is such that a respective centreline of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is parallel with the outflow direction of non-deflected air flowing out through the frame opening, over the entire length of the centreline of each of the connecting struts from the inner end to the outer end of each of the respective connecting struts, such that the flow resistance of the respective connecting struts is as low as possible, and wherein the length of the cross-sectional profile of the relevant connecting strut decreases continuously or discontinuously from the inner end of the connecting strut to the outer end of the connecting strut. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein each connecting strut is configured such that it has as little an air-deflecting effect as possible. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the connecting-strut angle of the relevant connecting strut is the angle between a tangent to the frame opening and the profile centre line of the cross-sectional profile of the connecting strut, the connecting-strut angle of the relevant connecting strut being constant over the entire length of the connecting strut. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the connecting-strut angle of the relevant connecting strut is constant over the entire length of the connecting strut from the inner end to the outer end of the connecting strut. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the profile thickness of the profile of the relevant connecting strut is constant over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The frame device of claim 5, wherein the profile thickness of the profile of the relevant connecting strut is adapted depending on the strength requirements imposed on the connecting strut or depending on an injection-moulding tool to be filled in order to injection-mould the frame device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the profile thickness of the profile of the relevant connecting strut varies over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The frame device of claim 7, wherein the profile thickness of the profile of the relevant connecting strut is adapted depending on the strength requirements imposed on the connecting strut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The frame device of claim 7, wherein the profile thickness of the profile of the relevant connecting strut is adapted depending on an injection-moulding tool to be filled in order to injection-mould the frame device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the length of the cross-sectional profile of the relevant connecting strut varies over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the relevant connecting strut is configured as a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The frame device of claim 11, wherein at least one of the ends of the profile is rounded and suitable in terms of aerodynamics or manufacturing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The frame device of claim 1, wherein the connecting struts are arranged over the periphery of the motor seat radially relative to, in the rotational direction or counter to the rotational direction of a motor that can be received in the motor seat. ### Claim 14 A radiator fan module comprising a frame device, the frame device comprising a frame opening in which a motor seat for receiving a motor is arranged, wherein the motor seat is connected to a frame edge of the frame opening by connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut comprises an inner end connected to the motor seat and an outer end connected to the frame edge of the frame opening, wherein a connecting-strut angle of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is such that a respective centreline of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is parallel with the outflow direction of non-deflected air flowing out through the frame opening, over the entire length of the centreline of each of the connecting struts from the inner end to the outer end of each of the respective connecting struts, such that the flow resistance of the respective connecting struts is as low as possible. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The radiator fan module of claim 14, wherein the radiator fan module is a radiator fan module which is configured for a motor vehicle. ### Claim 16 A motor vehicle, comprising a radiator fan module comprising a frame device, the frame device comprising a frame opening in which a motor seat for receiving a motor is arranged, wherein the motor seat is connected to a frame edge of the frame opening by connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut comprises an inner end connected to the motor seat and an outer end connected to the frame edge of the frame opening, wherein a connecting-strut angle of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is such that a respective centreline of the cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is parallel with the outflow direction of non-deflected air flowing out through the frame opening, over the entire length of the centreline of each of the connecting struts from the inner end to the outer end of each of the respective connecting struts, such that the flow resistance of the respective connecting struts is as low as possible. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The motor vehicle of claim 16, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a motor radiator and the radiator fan module is provided either on the front or the back of the motor radiator. ### Claim 18 Frame device for a radiator fan module for a motor vehicle comprising: a circular frame opening in which a motor seat for receiving a motor is arranged, wherein the motor seat is connected to a frame edge of the frame opening by connecting struts, wherein each connecting strut comprises an inner end connected to the motor seat and an outer end connected to the frame edge of the frame opening, wherein a connecting-strut angle of the cross-sectional profile of the respective connecting struts is adapted to the outflow direction of the air flowing out through the frame opening, over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end to the outer end of the connecting strut, such that the flow resistance of the respective connecting struts is as low as possible, wherein the connecting-strut angle of the relevant connecting strut increases over the length of the connecting strut from the inner end thereof to the outer end thereof, the connecting-strut angle being in a range of from 40° to 60° at the inner end and increasing to an angle in a range of from 55° to 75° up to the outer end, wherein the length of the cross-sectional profile of the relevant connecting strut decreases continuously or discontinuously from the inner end of the connecting strut to the outer end of the connecting strut, and wherein the cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is such that an entire length of a respective centreline of the respective cross-sectional profile of each of the respective connecting struts is parallel with 1) a non-deflected component of the outflow direction of the air flowing out through the frame opening at the inner end of each of the respective connecting struts and 2) a non-deflected component of the outflow direction of the air flowing out through the frame opening at the outer end of each of the respective connecting struts.