Back to results
US 7,789,628 B2Granted
Plastic fans having improved fan ring weld line strength
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsJonathan B. Stagg, Donald E. Buckley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Injection molded ring fan embodiments and methods for making them. The methods influence material flow during the injection molding process such that a major portion of the materials flowing in opposite directions in the outer rings preferably flow past one another, intermix in a swirling relationship, and/or collide at an angle relative to one another. This results in better material mixing or integration of the flow fronts. In one embodiment, the thickness of the outer ring varies in different portions between adjacent fan blades.
Claims9
A molded plastic ring fan comprising:
- a central hub member;
- a plurality of blade members molded to said hub member and extending radially outward therefrom;
- and
- an outer ring member molded to the outer ends of said blade member;
- said outer ring member having ring sections extending between pairs of said outer ends of said blade members;
- each of said ring sections having a first thickness adjacent a first one of said pairs of outer ends of said blade members, and having a second thickness adjacent the second of said pairs of outer ends of said blade member;
- said first thickness being greater than said second thickness;
- wherein when said ring fan is molded, the flow fronts of the plastic material in each ring section intermix with one another.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.