# US 11,111,961 B2 · Coanda effect bearing cooler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,111,961 B2 - Document ID: US11111961B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/487,293 - Filed: 2018-01-10 - Published: 2020-02-20 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-22 - Assignees: Flowserve Management Company - Applicants: Flowserve Management Company - Inventors: Scott C. Judge; Andrew Todd Koehler; Stephen R. Schappert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111961B2 ## CPC - F16C 37/00: Cooling of bearings - H02K 9/14: wherein gaseous cooling medium circulates between the machine casing and a surrounding mantle - F04D 29/547: {having a special shape in order to influence fluid flow} - H02K 5/207: {with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air} - F04D 25/08: the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation - F04D 29/441: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F05D 2260/60: Fluid transfer - F16C 2360/46: Fans, e.g. ventilators - H02K 5/18: with ribs or fins for improving heat transfer - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A compact, energy efficient air cooling system for a rotating shaft bearing module includes a Coanda surface having a periphery that smoothly curves from a radial center to axial alignment with a side of the module. A fan blade mounted on the shaft directs an airflow radially parallel and adjacent to the Coanda surface, causing the airflow to be bent by the Coanda effect from radial to axial, and to be directed along the side of the housing. Embodiments that can be applied to existing housings include a Coanda panel adjacent to the housing end face. A double suction fan blade can draw both external air and air from between the panel and the housing. In other embodiments the housing end face itself is a Coanda surface. A fan cover can have an inwardly curved periphery that forms a reduced gap or nozzle with the Coanda surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for air cooling a module of a system that includes a rotating shaft extending through and beyond an end face of a housing of the module, the end face being substantially perpendicular to the rotating shaft and a side of the housing being substantially parallel to the rotating shaft, the system comprising: a Coanda panel mounted adjacent to the end face of the housing, the Coanda panel having a central opening through which the shaft extends, an exterior Coanda surface of the Coanda panel having a central region that is radially perpendicular to the shaft and a periphery that curves smoothly from radial to axial, so that a rim of the Coanda surface is directed axially and is substantially aligned with the side of the housing; a fan assembly including a fan blade and a fan cover; the fan blade is mounted to the shaft proximal and exterior to the Coanda surface and is located between the fan cover and the Coanda surface, both of the fan blade and the fan cover are smaller in diameter than the side of the housing and are configured to direct a flow of air parallel and adjacent to the Coanda surface, so that after it has flowed beyond the fan cover, the flow of air is attached by the Coanda effect to the Coanda surface, and is thereby redirected by the periphery of the Coanda surface, without impacting any ductwork, to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is a double suction fan blade that is configured to draw air both from an exterior side of the fan blade and through the central opening of the Coanda panel from a space between the Coanda panel and the end face of the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan cover includes a periphery that is curved inward so as to form a reduced gap between the periphery of the cover and the Coanda surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a bend radius of the Coanda surface periphery is at least two inches. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan blade is made from a non-metallic material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the fan blade is made of a polymeric material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the module is a bearing module that supports the rotating shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the side of the housing is not surrounded by ductwork. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the Coanda surface is textured. ### Claim 10 An air-cooled rotating shaft apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a rotating shaft; a module having a housing, the housing having an end face and a side, wherein: the rotating shaft extends through and beyond the end face, the side of the housing is substantially parallel to the rotating shaft, and an exterior surface of the end face is a Coanda surface having a central region that is radially perpendicular to the shaft and a periphery that curves smoothly from radial to axial, so that a rim of the Coanda surface is directed axially and is substantially aligned with the side of the housing; and a fan assembly including a fan blade and a fan cover; the fan blade is mounted to the shaft proximal and exterior to the Coanda surface and is located between the fan cover and the Coanda surface, both of the fan blade and the fan cover being smaller in diameter than the side of the housing, the fan assembly being configured to direct a flow of air parallel and adjacent to the Coanda surface, so that beyond the fan cover, the flow of air is attached by the Coanda effect to the Coanda surface and is thereby redirected by the periphery of the Coanda surface, without impacting any ductwork, to the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the side of the housing includes axially extending radial fins. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fan cover includes a periphery that is curved inward so as to form a reduced gap between the periphery of the cover and the Coanda surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a bend radius of the Coanda surface periphery is at least two inches. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fan blade is made from a non-metallic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fan blade is made of a polymeric material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the module is a bearing module that supports the rotating shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the side of the housing is not surrounded by ductwork. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the Coanda surface is textured.