Reversible fan blade assembly
AssigneeBrinly-Hardy Co., Inc.
InventorsNicholas R. Carroll, Scott Carpenter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reversible fan blade assembly for a broadcast spreader is provided. The assembly includes a double-sided or reversible fan that includes one or more appurtenances on each side of the fan. A first shaft couples a gearbox to the fan via a shaft boss located at a central region of the fan. The fan can be easily removed from the fan blade assembly, flipped over 180 degrees, and reinstalled to the fan blade assembly. A second, floating shaft, or alternatively a fan that is separable into pieces, can facilitate installation and removal of the fan from the assembly.
Claims20
A fan blade assembly comprising:
- a fan having a central region, a first side, and a second side, wherein said first side includes one or more appurtenances thereon extending away from said first side, and wherein said second side includes one or more appurtenances thereon extending away from said second side;
- a shaft boss located at said central region of said fan, said shaft boss having a generally cylindrical shape with a length between a first end of said shaft boss and a second end of said shaft boss, an outer surface and a shaft opening therein, said shaft opening being configured to receive therewithin one or more shafts;
- a first shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled within a gearbox and said second end configured to be disposed within said shaft opening.
A fan blade assembly comprising:
- a fan having a central region, a first side, and a second side, wherein said first side includes one or more appurtenances thereon extending away from said first side, and wherein said second side includes one or more appurtenances thereon extending away from said second side;
- a first shaft having a first end and a second end, said first end being coupled within a gearbox;
- a second shaft having a first end and a second end, said second end of said second shaft being configured to be freely received within a hopper of a spreader;
- a shaft boss located at said central region of said fan, said shaft boss having a generally cylindrical shape with a length between a first end of said shaft boss and a second end of said shaft boss, an outer surface and a shaft opening therein;
- wherein said shaft opening is configured to receive therewithin said second end of said first shaft, and to receive said first end of said second shaft collinear with said first shaft;
- and
- a lock configured to couple said first shaft to said shaft boss.
A method of reconfiguring a fan blade of a broadcast spreader, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing said broadcast spreader with a fan blade assembly further comprising a fan having a first side, a second side, and a shaft boss in a central region thereof, wherein said shaft boss further comprises a shaft boss receiver;
- and a shaft having a receiver therein configured to receive a lock for securing said fan to said shaft;
- wherein said fan first side includes one or more first appurtenances and said fan second side includes one or more second appurtenances, and wherein said fan first side is facing a first direction;
- removing said fan from said shaft by removing said lock from said receiver;
- separating said fan from said shaft;
- flipping said fan 180 degrees so as to make said fan first side face in a second direction opposite said first direction;
- inserting said shaft into said shaft boss of said fan;
- aligning said receiver of said shaft with said shaft boss receiver;
- and
- inserting said lock into said receiver of said shaft boss through said receiver of said shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.