Methods and apparatus for preventing moisture in fan motor housings
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRobert Keith Hollenbeck, James Everett Grimm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fan assembly includes a shroud attached to a motor housing to prevent negative pressure from developing within the motor housing and prevent moisture from being drawn into drain openings. The assembly includes a fan, a motor, a motor housing, and a fan control. The motor and fan control are disposed within the motor housing. The motor housing includes drain openings to permit the motor housing to be assembled and to permit moisture to drain to the environment from the motor housing. The shroud is attached downstream from the fan such that the drain openings remain open to the environment.
Claims22
A method for preventing moisture from entering a fan motor assembly using a shroud, the fan motor assembly including a fan, a motor housing, and a motor disposed within the motor housing, the motor configured to control rotation of the fan about an axis of rotation, the motor housing including a rotating portion and a stationary portion, said method comprising the steps of:
- attaching the shroud against the motor housing stationary portion wherein the shroud facilitates preventing a negative pressure from developing within the motor housing;
- and operating the fan.
A fan assembly comprising:
- a fan comprising a plurality of blades;
- a motor for controlling rotation of said fan about an axis of rotation;
- a motor housing comprising a rotating portion and a stationary portion, said motor disposed within said motor housing;
- and
- a shroud attached to said motor housing and configured to facilitate preventing a negative pressure from developing within said motor housing to prevent moisture from entering said motor housing.
A housing assembly for a fan motor, said housing assembly comprising:
- a body comprising a rotatable first body portion and a stationary second body portion, said first body portion rotatably coupled to said second body portion;
- and
- a shroud attached against said second body portion and configured to facilitate preventing a negative pressure from developing within said motor housing to prevent moisture from entering said motor housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.