Vibration isolating seal for mounting fans and blowers

A vibration isolating and sealing device for mounting a fan having a propeller rotatably secured within a housing, said device comprising:

• a first, substantially rigid frame;
• a second, substantially rigid frame;
• a flexural elastomeric membrane adapted and configured to vibrationally isolate between the first and second frames, disposed and bonded between said first and second frames and being the only structural connection therebetween;
• said second frame defining therein a central opening equal to or larger than the diameter of the propeller;
• and being adapted and configured to channel air to the propeller of the fan;
• and said housing being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to a support surface;
• wherein the second frame is disposed radially inwardly of the first frame and is securable to the fan housings;
• wherein the second frame includes a radially-extending inner surface and an axially-extending surface connected thereto, and wherein the membrane is bonded continuously to both said radially-extending inner surface and said axially-extending surface.

A vibration isolating and sealing device for mounting a fan having a propeller rotatably secured within a housing, said device comprising:

• a first, substantially rigid frame;
• a second, substantially rigid frame;
• a flexural elastomeric membrane adapted and configured to vibrationally isolate between the first and second frames, disposed and bonded between said first and second frames and being the only structural connection therebetween;
• said second frame defining therein a central opening equal to or larger than the diameter of the propeller;
• and being adapted and configured to channel air to the propeller of the fan;
• and said housing being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to a support surface;
• wherein the second frame includes a radially-extending inner surface and an axially-extending surface connected thereto, and wherein the membrane is bonded continuously to both said radially-extending inner surface and said axially-extending surface wherein;
• the second frame is disposed radially inwardly of the first frame and is securable to the fan housing;
• wherein the first frame has a radially-extending inner surface and an axially-extending surface connected thereto, and wherein the membrane is bonded substantially continuously to both said radially-extending inner surface and said axially extending surface.

A vibration isolating and sealing device for mounting a fan having a propeller rotatably secured within a housing, said device comprising:

• a first, substantially rigid frame;
• a second, substantially rigid frame;
• a flexural elastomeric membrane adapted and configured to vibrationally isolate between the first and second frames, disposed and bonded between said first and second frames and being the only structural connection therebetween;
• said second frame defining therein a central opening equal to or larger than the diameter of the propeller;
• and being adapted and configured to channel air to the propeller of the fan;
• and said housing being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to a support surface;
• wherein the second frame includes a radially-extending inner surface and an axially-extending surface connected thereto, and wherein the membrane is bonded continuously to both said radially-extending inner surface and said axially-extending surface wherein;
• the second frame is disposed radially inwardly of the first frame and is securable to the fan housing;
• wherein the second frame comprises a first pair of spaced, parallel, elongate elements;
• and a second pair of spaced, parallel, elongate elements connected to the first pair.

A mounting device for use with a muffin fan comprising a housing including a cage and a fan including a propeller having a plurality of radially-extending blades rotatable mounted on a hub and disposed within the cage, said mounting device includes:

• (a) an outer, substantially rigid frame having a plurality of elongate elements, at least one pair of which being in parallel spaced relation, said outer frame including first mounting means;
• (b) an inner, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements, said inner frame including second mounting means:
• (c) a flexural membrane of generally continuous shape disposed and bonded between said inner frame and said outer frame and being the only structural connection therebetween;
• (d) wherein said cage is fastened to said inner frame by use of said second mounting means;
• and said outer frame is fastened to a surface on which the muffin fan is to be mounted by use of said first mounting means;
• (e) whereby said connection between said cage and said mounting device and between said mounting device and said surface is such as to substantially prevent air passage therethrough when the muffin fan is in operation;
• and
• (f) whereby said mounting device is both a vibration isolator and seal, and supports the static and dynamic loads of the muffin fan while providing a path break for structure borne noise and vibration.

A device comprising a housing including a cage portion and a mounting portion axially connected to said cage portion, a fan including a propeller having a plurality of radially extending blades rotatably mounted on a hub, and wherein the mounting portion includes:

• (a) an outer, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape, and four bulbous protrusions, one disposed between the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, each of said elements having a curved inner surface;
• (b) an inner, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape;
• four bulbous protrusions, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, and four crescent flats, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having a curved inner surface configured so as to define a substantially circular opening within said inner frame having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the propeller, each of said elements having a curved outer surface;
• (c) a flexural membrane of generally continuous square shape and a generally "S" shaped cross-section, wherein said flexural membrane has a curved radially outward surface and a curved radially inward surface, said membrane disposed between and connecting said inner frame to said outer frame, said membrane's outer curved surface being bonded to the inner curved surface of said outer frame and said membrane's inner curved surface being bonded to said outer curved surface of said inner frame;
• (d) wherein said cage portion is bolted to one of said frames through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said one of said frames;
• and said other of said frames is bolted to a substantially flat surface on which the fan is to be mounted through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said other of said frames;
• and
• (e) wherein said connection between said cage portion and said mount portion and between said mount portion and said flat surface is such as to substantially prevent air passage therethrough when the fan is in operation;
• (f) whereby said housing is both a vibration isolator and seal.