Cooling fan shroud
AssigneeBoard of Trustees operating Michigan State University
InventorJohn F. Foss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shroud for the cooling fan of a motor vehicle engine provides a circumferential axial flow of air between the fan blade tips and the shroud to improve fan efficiency and engine cooling. The shroud may include a circumferentially extending Coanda surface and adjacent circular throat which directs air flow toward the annulus between the shroud and the fan blade tips. Adjustment of the air pressure and throat dimension allows accurate control of the velocity profile of the air flow through the annulus.
Claims24
An assembly for improving fan operating efficiency comprising, in combination,
- an axial flow fan having a plurality of blade tips,
- a shroud having a substantially circular opening for receiving said fan, a substantially continuous throat extending around said opening and disposed radially outward from said blade tips and an interior passage communicating with said substantially continuous throat, and
- means for providing air to said interior passage of said shroud.
A fan assembly having improved efficiency comprising, in combination,
- an axial fan having a plurality of tips,
- a shroud having a substantially circular opening for receiving said fan and defining a plenum,
- a substantially continuous throat communicating with said plenum and disposed radially outward of said tips, and,
- a curved surface disposed adjacent said throat and extending substantially around said opening.
A shroud for the fan of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination,
- a fan mounted upon a prime mover and having a plurality of tips,
- a fan shroud having an opening for receiving such fan, a throat disposed radially outward from said tips, and an interior passage providing fluid communication with said throat, and
- means for providing air under low pressure to said interior passage.
A method of improving the efficiency of a fan comprising the steps of:
- providing a fan having a plurality of tips,
- providing a shroud having an opening for receiving such fan, a substantially continuous throat disposed radially outward from said fan tips and a curved surface extending from said throat toward said opening, and
- providing a flow of air to said throat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.