Fan aspirator

A fan aspirator comprising:

• a housing defining a central channel and having a central longitudinal axis;
• a fan assembly comprising a fan configured with a shaft wherein the fan assembly is disposed in the central channel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis wherein the fan assembly is further configured to direct airflow in a direction of the central longitudinal axis through the central channel;
• a pinion gear coupled to the fan and configured to rotate with the fan about the rotational axis, wherein the pinion gear comprises an annular body comprising a gear track, wherein the gear track is disposed on a radially outward surface of the annular body of the pinion gear, wherein the annular body of the pinion gear extends from the shaft of the fan assembly, radially outward of tips of fan blades of the fan, to the gear track of the annular body of the pinion gear;
• and
• a plurality of motors comprising a respective plurality of drive gears, wherein the plurality of motors are coupled to the housing and are distributed circumferentially around a rotational axis such that each drive gear of the respective plurality of drive gears is mechanically coupled to the gear track of the annular body of the pinion gear, wherein the plurality of motors are configured to drive the fan via the respective plurality of drive gears and the pinion gear.

A system for inflating an inflatable device, the system comprising:

• the inflatable device;
• and
• a fan aspirator coupled to the inflatable device, the fan aspirator comprising:
• a housing defining a central channel and having a central longitudinal axis;
• a fan assembly comprising a fan coupled to a shaft, wherein the fan assembly is disposed in the central channel and configured to rotate about a rotational axis that is substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis wherein the fan assembly is further configured to direct airflow in a direction of the central longitudinal axis through the central channel;
• a pinion gear coupled to the fan and configured to rotate with the fan, wherein the pinion gear comprises an annular body comprising a gear track wherein the annular body of the pinion gear extends from the shaft of the fan assembly, radially outward of tips of fan blades of the fan, to the gear track of the annular body of the pinion gear;
• and a plurality of motors comprising a respective plurality of drive gears, wherein the plurality of motors are coupled to the housing and are distributed circumferentially around the rotational axis such that each drive gear of the respective plurality of drive gears are mechanically coupled to the gear track of the annular body of the pinion gear, wherein the plurality of motors are configured to drive the fan via the respective plurality of drive gears and the pinion gear wherein the plurality of motors are coupled to the housing and are distributed circumferentially around the rotational axis such that each drive gear of the respective plurality of drive gears is mechanically coupled to the gear track of the annular body of the pinion gear.