Apparatus for forming a blower wheel having longitudinally inclined blades

A blower wheel forming apparatus, comprising:

• a first engagement member configured to rotate about a blower wheel axis associated with a blower wheel assembly, the blower wheel assembly comprising a first end cap, a second end cap, and a plurality of blades arranged about a circumference of the first and second end caps and extending therebetween, wherein the blower wheel axis is generally defined by a center of the first end cap and second end cap, and wherein the first engagement member is further configured to mate with the first end cap of the blower wheel assembly, therein generally rotationally fixing the first end cap with respect to the first engagement member about the blower wheel axis;
• a second engagement member configured to mate with the second end cap of the blower wheel assembly, therein generally rotationally fixing the second end cap with respect to the second engagement member about the blower wheel axis;
• a crimping roller configured to rotate about a crimping roller axis that is selectively offset from the blower wheel axis, wherein a circumference of the crimping roller is configured to selectively contact and compress the circumference of the first and second end caps;
• a roller motor configured to rotate the crimping roller about the crimping roller axis;
• a first end motor operably coupled to the first engagement member and configured to individually rotate the first engagement member;
• a second end motor operably coupled to the second engagement member and configured to individually rotate the second engagement member;
• and
• a controller configured to individually control a rotational speed of each of the roller motor, first end motor, and second end motor, wherein, based on a desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap, the controller is configured to rotate the first engagement member a predetermined amount with respect to the second engagement member via the control of the first end motor and the second end motor, and wherein once the predetermined amount of rotation is achieved, the controller is further configured to synchronize a circumferential speed of the first and second end caps and the crimping roller via a control of the respective first and second end motors and crimping motor, therein securing the plurality of blades to the first and second end caps and fixing the desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap.

An apparatus for forming a blower wheel, the blower wheel having a first end cap, a second end cap, and a plurality of blades arranged about a circumference of the first and second end caps and extending therebetween, the apparatus comprising:

• a first engagement member configured to mate with the first end cap;
• a second engagement member configured to mate with the second end cap;
• a crimping roller configured to rotate about a crimping roller axis, wherein a circumference of the crimping roller is configured to selectively contact and compress a circumference of the first and second end caps;
• a roller motor configured to rotate the crimping roller about the crimping roller axis;
• a first end motor operably coupled to the first engagement member;
• a second end motor operably coupled to the second engagement member;
• and
• a controller configured to control a rotational speed of each of the roller motor, first end motor, and second end motor, wherein, based on a desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap, the controller is configured to rotate the first engagement member a predetermined amount with respect to the second engagement member via the control of the first end motor and the second end motor, and wherein once the predetermined amount of rotation is achieved, the controller is further configured to synchronize a circumferential speed of the first and second end caps and the crimping roller via a control of the respective first and second end motors and crimping motor, therein securing the plurality of blades to the first and second end caps and fixing the desired longitudinal pitch of the plurality of blades from the first end cap to the second end cap.