Patent Application
20250084854
The disclosed subject matter relates generally to a fan assembly. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to a fan assembly suitable to provide an axial airflow downstream of the fan assembly.
Heat transfer system, generally, includes a heat exchanger and a fan arranged upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger to generate a flow of air that passes through the heat exchanger, and exchanges heat with the fluid flowing through the heat exchanger. However, the airflow exiting the fan has a strong tangential component, making the engine room airflow complex, and difficult to manage strategically. Also, airflow having strong tangential component reduces the heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger, arranged downstream of the fan, as heat exchanger fins are generally aligned with the axis of the fan.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a fan assembly is provided. The fan assembly includes a first fan configured to rotate in a first direction. The first fan includes a shroud having an inner surface defining a flow chamber, and a plurality of first blades arranged circularly around a central axis of the first fan and extending radially inwardly from the shroud towards the central axis of the first fan. Each of the plurality of first blades is arranged inside the flow chamber and includes an outer edge connected to the inner surface of the shroud. The fan assembly also includes a second fan configured to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and having a plurality of second blades arranged inside the flow chamber and coaxially to the plurality of first blades. The second fan is arranged upstream or downstream of the first fan.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat transfer system is provided. The heat transfer system includes a heat exchanger and a fan assembly arranged upstream or downstream of the heat exchanger to facilitate a flow of air through the heat exchanger. The fan assembly is configured to direct the air to the heat exchanger in a substantially axial direction. The fan assembly includes a first fan configured to rotate in a first direction. The first fan includes a shroud having an inner surface defining a flow chamber, and a plurality of first blades arranged circularly around a central axis of the first fan and extending radially inwardly from the shroud towards the central axis of the first fan. Each of the plurality of first blades is arranged inside the flow chamber and includes an outer edge connected to the inner surface of the shroud. The fan assembly also includes a second fan configured to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and having a plurality of second blades arranged inside the flow chamber and coaxially to the plurality of first blades. The second fan is arranged upstream or downstream of the first fan.
In accordance with yet a further embodiment of the present disclosure a propulsion system is disclosed. The propulsion system includes a power source for generating power and a fan assembly configured to direct a flow of air in a substantially axial direction. The fan assembly includes a first fan configured to rotate in a first direction and includes a shroud having an inner surface defining a flow chamber. The first fan also includes a plurality of first blades arranged circularly around a central axis of the first fan and extending radially inwardly from the shroud towards the central axis of the first fan. Each of the plurality of first blades is arranged inside the flow chamber and includes an outer edge connected to the inner surface of the shroud. The fan assembly also includes a second fan configured to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first direction and having a plurality of second blades arranged inside the flow chamber and coaxially to the plurality of first blades. The second fan is arranged upstream or downstream of the first fan.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. Embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views and examples of
Referring to
As shown, the heat transfer system 104 includes a heat exchanger 108 configured to facilitate an exchange of heat between an air flowing across the heat exchanger 108 and a fluid/coolant flowing inside various conduits of the heat exchanger 108. The heat exchanger 108 is arranged in fluid communication with the power source 102 and configured to receive relatively hot fluid from the power source 102 and provides relatively cooled fluid to the power source 102 for cooling the power source 102. To facilitate the flow of air across the heat exchanger 108, the heat transfer system 104 includes a fan assembly 110 arranged upstream of the heat exchanger 108 in the direction of flow of the air. However, it may be appreciated that the fan assembly 110 may be arranged downstream of the heat exchanger 108.
As shown, the fan assembly 110 includes a first fan 112 adapted to rotate in a first direction and a second fan 114 adapted to rotate in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and arranged downstream of the first fan 112. It may be appreciated that both the fans 112, 114 are axial fans. Accordingly, air entering the fan assembly 110 in a substantially axial direction, exit the fan assembly 110 in the substantially axial direction, reducing the tangential components of the air flow and turbulent air flow inside a power source chamber, for example, engine chamber of a vehicle or a generator. Further, the fan assembly 110 includes at least one drive assembly to rotate the first fan 112 and the second fan 114.
Referring to
Similar to the first fan 112, the second fan 114 includes a second hub 140 and a plurality of second blades 142 arranged inside the flow chamber 122 and arrayed circularly inside the flow chamber 122 about a central axis 144 of the second hub 140 (i.e., central axis 146 of the second fan 114). Further, the second fan 114 includes a ring 148 arranged inside the flow chamber 122 and coaxially to the shroud 116 of the first fan 112. As shown, the second blades 142 extend from the second hub 140 to an inner surface 150 of the ring 148 and are connected to both the second hub 140 and the ring 148. Accordingly, the ring 148 is arranged circumferentially around the second blades 142 and tips of the second blades 142 are connected to the inner surface 150 of the ring 148. Moreover, as seen in
Additionally, the at least one drive assembly includes a single drive assembly 160 that rotates both the first and second fans 112, 114. As shown, in
In an embodiment, the drive mechanism 162 includes a motor 166 arranged outside the shroud 116 and a drive 168 operatively coupling the motor 166 to the shroud 116 and configured to rotate the shroud 116 (i.e., the first fan 112). In an embodiment, the shroud 116 may include a plurality of teeth 170 arrayed circularly along a circumference of the body 117 of the shroud 116, and the drive 168 is operatively engaged with the teeth 170 to rotate the first fan 112. In some embodiments, the drive 168 may include a gear 172 operatively coupled to the teeth 170 and the motor 166 to rotate the first fan 112 in response to an actuation of the motor 166. In some embodiments, the drive 168 may include a belt assembly having a toothed belt engaged with the teeth 170 and a pair of rollers supporting the toothed belt and configured to move the toothed belt in response the actuation of the motor 166 to rotate the first fan 112. Although the gear and belt assembly in conjunction with the teeth 170 of the shroud 116 are contemplated to drive and rotate the first fan 112, it may be appreciated that the drive mechanism 162 may include any other device or mechanism, for example, a chain sprocket assembly or any suitable assembly, known in the art, configured to rotate the first fan 112 and is arranged outside the shroud 116.
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Moreover, the fan assembly 510 includes a drive assembly 560 that is different from the drive assembly 160 of the fan assembly 110. As shown, the drive assembly 560 is arranged inside a radial gap 154 defined between the shroud 516 and the ring 548, and includes a drive mechanism 562 having a motor 566 and drive 568, for example, a gear 572, coupled to the motor 566 and adapted to rotate in response to the actuation of the motor 566. As shown, the gear 572 is operatively engaged with the teeth 570 of the first fan 512 as well as the teeth 574 of the second fan 514, and therefore rotates both the first fan 512 and the second fan 514 together in response to the actuation of the motor 566. Also, due to the arrangement of the gear 572 inside the gap 154, and engagement with the teeth 570 of the first fan 512, and the teeth 574 of second fan 514, the gear 572 rotates the first fan 512 and the second fan 514 in opposite direction from each other.
As the first fan 112, 312, 512 and the second fans 114, 214, 514 are rotates in the opposite directions, the majority of air flow exiting the fan assembly 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 has axial component providing a uniform axial flow through the heat exchanger 108 and inside the propulsion room. For example, engine room. Also, due to the arrangement of both the first blades 126 and the second blades 142 inside the flow chamber 122, the vortex losses are minimized, facilitating a generation of air flow in the axial direction. Also, due to the presence of blades of both the fans inside the shroud, fan efficiency is improved as well as noise generated by the fan assembly is reduced as the shroud embracing the fan blades eliminates/suppresses fan blade tip vortices.
Although the fan assembly 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 is contemplated and explained with reference to the heat transfer system 104 of the propulsion system 100, it may be envisioned that the fan assembly 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 may be utilized in any other application areas, such as, but not limited to, a propulsion system for a vehicle without the heat exchanger, for example, a boat, a jet ski, a fluid circulation pump, or any other suitable application areas known in the art. Further, the fan assembly 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, may facilitate the circulation of a fluid or air over one or more components or inside a chamber without the heat exchanger or being part of the propulsion system 100.
The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best illustrate certain principles and various embodiments as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The scope of the invention is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.
