Claims
- 1. A planform defining the shape of blades of a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly, each blade having a root, a tip, and a span between the root and tip, said planform comprising:
- a first region adjacent the root of the blade having forward curvature;
- a second region adjacent the tip of the blade having backward curvature; and
- an intermediate region disposed between said first region and said second region having substantially straight curvature.
- 2. The planform according to claim 1 wherein said first region having forward curvature extends from the root to a terminus located about forty-percent of the span of the blade.
- 3. The planform according to claim 2 wherein said intermediate region having substantially straight curvature extends from said terminus of said first region to an end point located about sixty-percent of the span of the blade and said second region having backward curvature extends from said end point of said intermediate region to the tip of the blade.
- 4. The planform according to claim 1 wherein said second region having backward curvature extends from the tip to an end point of said intermediate region located between about sixty and seventy-percent of the span of the blade.
- 5. A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising:
- a central hub; and
- a plurality of blades with a planform, a root joined to said hub, a tip, and a span between said root and said tip, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub and each said planform having:
- (a) a first region adjacent said root of said blade with forward curvature;
- (b) a second region adjacent said tip of said blade with backward curvature; and p2 (c) an intermediate region disposed between said first region and said second region with substantially straight curvature.
- 6. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 5 further comprising an outer ring, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub to said ring.
- 7. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 6 wherein said ring has an axial depth of about 23 mm.
- 8. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 5 wherein said first region with forward curvature extends from said root to a terminus located about forty-percent of said span of said blade.
- 9. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 8 wherein said intermediate region with substantially straight curvature extends from said terminus of said first region to an end point located about sixty-percent of said span of said blade and said second region with backward curvature extends from said end point of said intermediate region to said tip of said blade.
- 10. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 5 wherein said second region with backward curvature extends from said tip to an end point of said intermediate region located between about sixty and seventy-percent of said span of said blade.
- 11. A blade for a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly comprising:
- a root;
- a tip;
- a span between said root and said tip;
- a planform having:
- (a) a first region adjacent said root of said blade with forward curvature.
- (b) a second region adjacent said tip of said blade with backward curvature, and
- (c) an intermediate region disposed between said first region and said second region with substantially straight curvature; and
- an airfoil section having:
- (a) a leading edge,
- (b) a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent said leading edge,
- (c) a trailing edge,
- (d) a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from said nose section to said trailing edge,
- (e) a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from said nose section to said trailing edge, and
- (f) a thin, highly cambered aft section formed adjacent said trailing edge and between said pressure surface and said suction surface, said aft section having a location of maximum camber,
- said nose section having a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said airfoil section between said pressure surface and said suction surface and said nose section blending smoothly into said pressure surface and said suction surface.
- 12. The blade according to claim 11 wherein said first region with forward curvature extends from said root to a terminus located about forty-percent of said span of said blade.
- 13. The blade according to claim 12 wherein said intermediate region with substantially straight curvature extends from said terminus of said first region to an end point located about sixty-percent of said span of said blade and said second region with backward curvature extends from said end point of said intermediate region to said tip of said blade.
- 14. The blade according to claim 11 wherein said second region with backward curvature extends from said tip to an end point of said intermediate region located between about sixty and seventy-percent of said span of said blade.
- 15. A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising:
- a central hub; and
- a plurality of blades, each blade having:
- (a) a root,
- (b) a tip,
- (c) a span between said root and said tip,
- (d) a planform including:
- (1) a first region adjacent said root of said blade with forward curvature:
- (2) a second region adjacent said tip of said blade with backward curvature; and
- (3) an intermediate region disposed between said first region and said second region with substantially straight curvature, and
- (e) an airfoil section including:
- (1) a leading edge;
- (2) a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent said leading edge;
- (3) a trailing edge;
- (4) a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from said nose section to said trailing edge;
- (5) a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from said nose section to said trailing edge; and
- (6) a thin, highly cambered aft section formed adjacent said trailing edge and between said pressure surface and said suction surface, said aft section having a location of maximum camber,
- said nose section having a thickness which is greater than the thickness of said airfoil section between said pressure surface and said suction surface and said nose section blending smoothly into said pressure surface and said suction surface.
- 16. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 15 further comprising an outer ring, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub to said ring.
- 17. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 16 wherein said ring has an axial depth of about 23 mm.
- 18. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 15 wherein said first region with forward curvature extends from said root to a terminus located about forty-percent of said span of said blade.
- 19. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 18 wherein said intermediate region with substantially straight curvature extends from said terminus of said first region to all end point located about sixty-percent of said span of said blade and said second region with backward curvature extends from said end point of said intermediate region to said tip of said blade.
- 20. The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 15 wherein said second region with backward curvature extends from said tip to an end point of said intermediate region located between about sixty and seventy-percent of said span of said blade.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/342,358 filed on Nov. 18, 1994.
US Referenced Citations (35)
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
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Apr 1992 |
EPX |
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Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
342358 |
Nov 1994 |
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