# US 2013/0156572 A1 · Fan unit for a heat exchanger

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- Number: US 2013/0156572 A1
- Document ID: US20130156572A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/720,489
- Filed: 2012-12-19
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19
- Assignees: Johnson Electric S.A.
- Inventors: Francesco MURADOR; Valentino TENCO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156572A1

## CPC

- F04D 29/646: {Mounting or removal of fans}
- F01P 5/06: Guiding or ducting air to, or from, ducted fans
- F01P 11/10: Guiding or ducting cooling-air, to, or from, liquid-to-air heat exchangers
- F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps}
- F01P 2005/046: {with electrical pump drive}
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F01P: COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with cooling of propulsion units in vehicles B60K11/00; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials C09K5/00; {cooling of gas-turbine engines F02C7/12}; heat exchange in general, radiators F28)

## Abstract

A fan unit for a heat exchanger of a vehicle, has a plate-like support structure or shroud which has a main opening defining a passage for a flow of air for ventilation of the heat exchanger, and an electric fan arranged to cause the flow of air. The fan has a drive motor and an impeller connected to the motor. The support structure or shroud has a top side intended to extend at a small distance from a horizontal cross-member of the heat exchanger or the vehicle, so that an interspace is defined between them. This top side of the support structure or shroud has a flexible sealing gasket which has a configuration such that, in the assembled operating condition of the fan unit, the gasket is able to close off the interspace.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Fan unit for a heat exchanger of a motor vehicle, comprising:
a plate-like support structure or shroud which has a main opening defining a passage for a flow of air for ventilation of the heat exchanger; and
an electric fan mounted in the region of said main opening for inducing said flow of air and including an electric drive motor and an impeller connected to said motor; and
said support structure or shroud having a top side intended to extend at a small distance from a horizontal cross-member of the heat exchanger or the motor vehicle, so that an interspace is defined between them,
wherein said top side of the support structure or shroud is provided with a flexible sealing gasket having a configuration such that, in the assembled operating condition of the fan unit, said gasket is able to close off said interspace.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fan unit of claim 1, wherein said gasket comprises:
a fixing profile intended to engage with a corresponding retaining formation provided along the said top side of the support structure or shroud; and
a lip-type sealing profile.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The fan unit of claim 2, wherein said lip-type sealing profile is formed as one piece with said fixing profile.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The fan unit of claim 2, wherein between the fixing profile and the sealing profile the gasket has at least one longitudinal groove suitable for defining a flexible intermediate zone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fan unit of claim 4, wherein the flexible intermediate zone is in the form of a resilient hinge.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The fan unit of claim 2, wherein said retaining formation has a cross-section substantially in the form of the digit “1” and the fixing profile of the gasket has a recessed seat with a cross-section matching that of the remote portion of said retaining formation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The fan unit of claim 6, wherein the retaining formation has transverse retaining projections which engage inside corresponding holes in a wall of the recessed seat of the fixing profile of the gasket.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fan unit of claim 1, wherein the impeller comprises a hub and a plurality of blades extending generally radially from the hub, the radially outer ends of the blades being connected to a peripheral ring.