Cooling Fan With One-Way Clutch Bearing
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorGregory A. Fernandes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cooling fan assembly, and method of operation, for use in an engine compartment of a vehicle is disclosed. The cooling fan assembly includes an electric motor having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a one-way clutch bearing mounted on and rotating with the motor shaft, and a cooling fan. The cooling fan includes a central hub with fan blades extending from the central hub. The central hub engages the one-way clutch bearing such that torque is transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in a first direction of rotation and torque is not transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in an opposed direction of rotation.
Claims6
A cooling fan assembly for use in an engine compartment of a vehicle comprising:
- an electric motor having a motor shaft extending therefrom;
- a one-way clutch bearing mounted on and rotatable with the motor shaft;
- and
- a cooling fan including a central hub and a plurality of fan blades extending from the central hub, the central hub operatively engaging the one-way clutch bearing such that torque is transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in a first direction of rotation and torque is not transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in an opposed direction of rotation.
A method of providing torque from an electric motor to a cooling fan in an engine compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating the electric motor with an electric current to provide torque to a motor shaft in a first rotational direction;
- providing torque in the first rotational direction from the motor shaft, through a one-way clutch bearing, to the cooling fan to cause rotation of the cooling fan in the first rotational direction;
- and
- preventing torque from being transmitted in an opposed rotational direction from the motor shaft, through the one-way clutch bearing, to the cooling fan.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.