US 7,352,094 B2 · Equipment fan

Abstract

An improved fan useful for ventilating applications in motor vehicles features a modular structure, which facilitates quick replacement of any components likely to fail. A first module (110) is intended for permanent installation on the part that is to be cooled. A second module (110) is configured for quick engagement to and disengagement from the first module. The second module preferably comprises a hub (22; 362), an internal stator (60; 332) mounted on the hub, and one or more struts (74; 344) connecting the hub to a cylindrical casing part (76; 336) which surrounds but is spaced from the outside of the fan wheel (46; 348). The struts form a lattice (112) which can be easily grasped for swapping out the second module when repair or replacement becomes necessary. The fan has a Hall sensor (50) and a control circuit (156) which regulates fan speed according to PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) or DC voltage signals (164) supplied from outside and has means (186; 244) for generating a fault signal in the event of a fault state, and for sending the fault signal out on a control line (90).

Claims30

Dependent claims

An equipment fan, comprising

a fan wheel (46;
348) adapted to be driven by
an external-rotor motor (20) whose internal stator (60;
362) is mounted on a hub (22;
332) which in turn is connected via at least one strut (74;
334) to
an approximately cylindrical casing part (76;
336) that surrounds an outer side of the fan wheel (46;
348) at a distance;
and
a housing (110;
322) that is configured for releasable reception of said casing part (76;
336) and in turn is configured for mounting on an object (136, 138), and wherein
a protrusion (98;
340) is provided on the outer side of the casing part (76;
336);
and there is provided in the housing (110;
322) a member (120, 122, 124;
342, 344) for latching of said protrusion (98;
340), into which said protrusion (98;
340) snap-locks when the casing part (76;
336) and the housing (110;
322) are in a predefined position relative to each other.

20 more elements

An equipment fan comprising:

a fan wheel (46;
348) adapted to be driven by
an external-rotor motor (20) whose internal stator (60;
362) is mounted on a hub (22;
332) which in turn is connected via at least one strut (74;
334) to
an approximately cylindrical casing part (76;
336) that surrounds an outer side of the fan wheel (46;
348) at a distance;
and
a housing (110;
322) that is configured for releasable reception of said casing part (76;
336) and in turn is configured for mounting on an object (136, 138), said housing being equipped on one side with a housing protective lattice (112;
326) for the passage of air;
and wherein
the hub (22;
332) and casing part (76;
336) are equipped, on a side facing away from the housing protective lattice (112;
326), with a protective lattice (74, 80;
334), so that, after the casing part (76;
336) and housing (110;
322) are joined, the equipment fan has a protective lattice on both sides;
the protective lattice (74, 80) provided on the hub (22) and casing part (76) are provided with at least one mark (82, 84, 122) which indicates the opening and/or closing direction in which the casing part (76) must be rotated, relative to the housing (110), in order to initiate the relevant operation.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Equipment fan

Life of this patent

Equipment fan

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30