Fan for an engine driven generator
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorHerbert A. Bankstahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fan blade configuration for use with a fan in an engine driven generator is disclosed. The invention includes a plurality of fan blade segments fixed to a hub at one end of a rotary shaft. Upon transmission of a driving force to the rotary shaft, the fan blades and hub are rotated to cool the engine driven generator. The fan blades are arranged to extend away from the rotating shaft, and each have a plurality of fins and protrusions molded on opposite sides of the fan blade segments. The fan blade configuration also includes a flexible plate to bias the fan blades against the hub and stabilize the fan blades during rotation.
Claims26
A fan comprising:
- a fan blade assembly having an inner arcuate end;
- a hub having an inner annular lip and an outer annular lip, the outer annular lip adapted to receive the inner arcuate end of the fan blade assembly;
- and
- a flexible plate having an aperture therethrough to receive the inner annular lip therein, the plate attached to the hub and fan blade assembly and configured to tolerate flexation to the fan blade assembly.
A system for cooling an engine driven welding machine generator comprising:
- a rotary shaft having a first end rotatably mounted to a generator housing and a second end, the second end of the rotary shaft rotated by transmission of a driving force applied thereto by a flywheel;
- a hub fastened to the second end of the rotary shaft;
- at least two fan blade segments configured to engage an outer annular lip of the hub;
- and
- a plate affixed to the flywheel and having the at least two fan blade segments mounted thereto, the plate having an aperture to receive an inner annular protrusion of the hub therein.
A method to stabilize a fan for cooling an engine driven welding machine generator, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a number of fins about at least one non-metallic fan segment such that adjacent fins have unequal spacing therebetween;
- providing mounting apertures having metallic inserts in the non-metallic fan segment;
- and
- connecting the at least one fan segment between a hub and a plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.