# US 2018/0320699 A1 · Fan assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0320699 A1 - Document ID: US20180320699A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/031,809 - Filed: 2018-07-10 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2013-12-24 - Assignees: Greenheck Fan Corporation - Applicants: Greenheck Fan Corporation - Inventors: Nathan D. Fetting; Scott S. Kurszewski; Joe A. Knoedler; Todd J. Burns - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180320699A1 ## CPC - F04D 25/0606: {the electric motor being specially adapted for integration in the pump} - F04D 29/023: {especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 29/4253: {with axial entry and discharge} - F04D 29/626: {Mounting or removal of fans} - F04D 29/542: {Bladed diffusers (fixing blades to stators F01D9/042)} - F05D 2230/23: by permanently joining parts together - F05D 2230/54: by sheet metal manufacturing - 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 fan assembly in which all of the major structural components of the assembly are mechanically fastened together by non-welding means, such as mechanical fasteners, is disclosed. The disclosure also relates to a fan assembly in which the major structural components have planar segments separated by bend lines that approximate a curved shape, and that can be formed, for example, by a press brake machine. Such a construction can eliminate the necessity for rolling, welding, and painting of the structural components of the fan assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fan assembly comprising: (a) an outer chamber with a plurality of adjoining planar sidewall segments, wherein each planar sidewall forms an obtuse angle with the adjoining sidewall segments to form a tubular structure having a generally polygonal cross-sectional shape having at least five sides, the outer chamber defining a longitudinal axis extending between a first open end and an opposite second open end, wherein the outer chamber is formed by a first section and a second section mechanically fastened to the first section; and (b) a rotatable fan assembly disposed within the outer chamber, the rotatable fan assembly being configured to move an airflow stream through the outer chamber from the first open end to the second open end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer chamber has eight planar sidewall segments separated by bend lines to form a generally octagonal cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section have an equal number of planar sidewall segments. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the outer chamber first and second sections each have a first side flange and a second side flange, and wherein the first side flanges of the first and second sections are secured together by mechanical fasters, and wherein the second side flanges of the first and second sections are secured together by mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the planar sidewall segments is provided with bends to form a first end flange at an outer chamber first end and a second end flange at the outer chamber second end. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fan assembly of claim 5, further comprising: (a) a first adapter ring mounted to the first end flange; and (b) a second adapter ring mounted to the second end flange. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fan assembly of claim 6, further comprising: (a) an inlet cone secured to the first adapter ring; (b) wherein the rotatable fan assembly is a mixed-flow type fan assembly having a rotor inlet adjacent the inlet cone. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising: (a) a motor plate mechanically fastened to the outer chamber, the motor plate being configured to support a motor for driving a fan wheel of the fan assembly; (b) a motor cover for covering the motor and being mechanically fastened to the outer chamber, the motor cover being formed from a plurality of planar segments; (c) a belt seal housing mechanically fastened to the outer chamber proximate the motor plate, the belt seal being housing a belt extending through the outer chamber and coupling the motor to the fan wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising: (a) an inner chamber having a plurality of planar sidewall segments that together form a tubular structure with a cross-sectional polygonal shape, the inner chamber being disposed within the outer chamber and supporting the rotatable fan assembly; and (b) a bearing plate securing the inner chamber to the outer chamber, the bearing plate being mechanically fastened to the inner chamber and to the outer chamber. ### Claim 10 A fan assembly comprising: (a) an outer chamber having a plurality of adjoining planar sidewall segments, wherein each planar sidewall forms an obtuse angle with the adjoining sidewall segments to form a tubular structure with a generally polygonal cross-sectional shape having at least five sides, the outer chamber defining a longitudinal axis extending between a first open end and an opposite second open end, wherein the outer chamber is formed by a plurality of mechanically fastened first sections; (b) an inner chamber having a second plurality of planar sidewall segments that together form a tubular structure with a cross-sectional polygonal shape, the inner chamber being disposed within the outer chamber and defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the inner chamber is formed by a plurality of mechanically fastened second sections; (c) a plurality of turning vanes located between the inner chamber and the outer chamber; (d) a rotatable fan assembly disposed within the outer chamber, the rotatable fan assembly being configured to move an airflow stream through the outer chamber from the first open end to the second open end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein the number of planar sidewall segments of the inner chamber is equal to the number of planar sidewall segments of the outer chamber. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the inner and outer chambers each have eight planar sidewall segments to form a generally octagonal cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the first sections and the second sections each have an equal number of planar sidewall segments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second sections each have a first side flange and a second side flange, wherein: (a) the first side flanges of the inner chamber second sections are secured together by mechanical fasters; (b) the second side flanges of the inner chamber second sections are secured together by mechanical fasters; (c) the first side flanges of the outer chamber first sections are secured together by mechanical fasters; and (d) the second side flanges of the outer chamber first sections are secured together by non-welding means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein each turning vane extends between an inner chamber planar sidewall segment and an outer planar sidewall segment that are parallel to each other. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein each turning vane has a main body including a plurality of planar segments separated by bend lines. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein a turning vane extends between each inner chamber planar sidewall segment to a corresponding outer chamber planar sidewall segment, wherein each turning vane is connected to only one of the inner chamber and the outer chamber. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein each turning vane is secured to the outer chamber or the inner chamber with mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The fan assembly of claim 10, further comprising: (a) a bearing plate supporting the fan assembly, the bearing plate being formed from a plurality of planar sidewall sections and being mounted to the inner chamber and the outer chamber. ### Claim 20 A mixed-flow type fan assembly comprising: (a) an outer chamber having a first section connected to a second section with mechanical fasteners to form a tubular structure having a polygonal shape defined by at least five sides; (b) an inner chamber having a first section connected to a second section with mechanical fasteners to form a tubular structure having a polygonal shape defined by at least five sides; (c) a plurality of turning vanes located between the inner and outer chambers, the plurality of turning vanes being connected to one of the inner and outer chambers by mechanical fasteners; and (d) a fan assembly disposed within the outer chamber, the fan assembly including a mixed-flow type fan rotor configured to move an airflow stream through an annular space defined between the inner and outer chambers. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The mixed-flow type fan assembly of claim 20, further comprising: (a) a tail cone assembly having a first section connected to a second section with mechanical fasteners to form a tapered tubular structure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The mixed-flow type fan assembly of claim 20, wherein the outer chamber first and second sections have the same cross-sectional shape.