Blower wheel assembly with steel hub, and method of making same

Abstract

The invention includes a blower wheel assembly and method characterized by a hub formed with a piece of annealed carbon steel tubing cut to an appropriate length. The tubing is formed into the hub by a tube end forming machine. The hub includes a first tubular portion connected to a second tubular portion by a flange portion. The first tubular portion is dimensioned to be received by a central hole in a backplate. The first tubular portion is inserted into the central hole of the backplate and the first tubular portion is stamped against the backplate holding the hub thereto. A shaft is inserted into the second tubular portion and the second tubular portion is press fitted onto the shaft. The hub could also be formed of a piece of sheet metal with one or more tabs formed in the hub by punching holes in the hub around an annular ring. A backplate includes an array of tab receiving holes adapted to receive the one or more tabs. A tubular portion is formed by stamping a central hole using progressive tooling. The tubular portion is adapted to be press fitted onto a shaft. The hub is attached to the backplate by the one or more tabs being inserted through the array of tab receiving holes and the one or more tabs being flattened against the back surface of the backplate

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.