Patent Application
20150345512
Embodiments described herein generally relate to fan assemblies. Specific examples may include industrial fan assemblies, such as plenum fans.
In the industry of industrial fans, there are numerous configurations that may be used to fit certain customer needs. This can result in a challenging manufacturing process requiring large numbers of different components that are needed to manufacture all of the various configurations of fan assemblies. Improved in fan assemblies and methods or manufacturing fan assemblies are desired.
The following description and the drawings sufficiently illustrate specific embodiments to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may incorporate structural, logical, electrical, process, and other changes. Portions and features of some embodiments may be included in, or substituted for, those of other embodiments. Embodiments set forth in the claims encompass all available equivalents of those claims.
The fan assembly 100 includes a support frame 120 to hold the motor 110, which in turn holds the impeller 112. In the example shown, the support frame 120 includes a number of components. The number of components shown in
In the example of
In one example the collection of components, including rails 122, rails 124, the motor mount 126 and the upper portion 128 of the support frame 120 are fixed with respect to one another, and form a base, such that a number of adjustable components may be positioned with respect to the base.
As noted above, in the example of
A number of advantages are provided in configurations including a number of adjustable components. As described in more detail below, a smaller number of components can be used for a variety of fan assembly configurations. For example, by adjusting individual components during manufacture, a number of substantially identical components can be arranged to fit a number of different motor sizes. This simplifies manufacturing by reducing a number of components that need to be on hand to assemble various different configurations of fan assemblies.
In one example, markings 146 are included on one or more of the components of the support frame 120 to indicate a location within the range of vertical motion. In one example, markings 146 are included on both the fixed portion 142 and the movable portion 144. In one example, the markings 146 include indented features that are stamped, etched, or otherwise formed into a metal portion of one or more of the components. In one example, the markings include mating indents that click the movable portion 144 into one of several available discrete vertical location within the range of vertical motion.
In one example, mating indents are used to hold the movable portion 144 in place until a weld or other fastener can more permanently secure a location of the movable portion 144 for a given configuration, such as a selected motor size. In one example, fasteners such as rivets, swage locks, screws, bolts, etc. are used to join components of the support frame 120. In one example, the components are joined using other methods, such as adhesives, or welding.
The fan assembly 102 is shown in
In
In the example of
The examples of
In the example of
Further, despite the difference in motor size,
Notably in both
To better illustrate the method and apparatuses disclosed herein, a non-limiting list of embodiments is provided here:
Example 1 includes a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a motor, having a motor shaft, an impeller coupled to the motor shaft, and a support frame coupled to the motor. The support frame includes a base, having a motor mounting surface, and a number of components, mountable to the base, wherein a location of the components is adjustable with respect to the base to locate the components at a specified distance from the motor shaft for a number of different motor sizes.
Example 2 includes the fan assembly of example 1, further including markings to indicate a vertical location of the components within a pre-selected range.
Example 3 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 1-2, wherein the markings include indented features in a metal portion of the support frame and the components.
Example 4 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 1-3, wherein the number of components includes an inlet plate.
Example 5 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 1-4, wherein the number of components includes one or more mounting feet.
Example 6 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 1-5, wherein the number of components includes one or more thrust isolator brackets.
Example 7 includes a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a motor, having a motor shaft, an impeller coupled to the motor shaft, and a support frame coupled to the motor. The support frame includes a base, having a motor mounting surface, a number of components, attached to the base, and a number of markings on the base and the number of components to locate the components at a specified distance from the motor shaft for a number of different motor sizes.
Example 8 includes the fan assembly of example 7, wherein the number of markings are indented features in a metal portion of the support frame and the components.
Example 9 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 7-8, wherein the impeller is a centrifugal impeller.
Example 10 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 7-9, wherein the number of components includes an inlet plate.
Example 11 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 7-10, wherein the number of components includes one or more mounting feet.
Example 12 includes the fan assembly of any one of examples 7-11, wherein the number of components includes one or more thrust isolator brackets.
Example 13 includes a method of making fan assemblies. The method includes forming a first fan assembly, including selecting a first motor having a first motor size, mounting the selected motor to a support frame base, attaching an impeller to a motor shaft of the first motor, and attaching a plurality of components to the support frame base, including attaching a faceplate, wherein a faceplate location is centered on the motor shaft of the first motor. The method includes forming a second fan assembly having a different motor size than the first motor size, using an identical support frame base and an identical plurality of components, wherein locations of the plurality of components on the support frame are different than in the first fan assembly, and are placed with respect to the different motor size.
Example 14 includes the method of example 13, wherein attaching a plurality of components to the support frame base includes aligning markings between the components and the support frame base wherein the markings correspond to the selected motor.
Example 15 includes the method of any one of examples 13-14, wherein attaching a plurality of components includes attaching a number of mounting feet to the support frame base, wherein a distance from each mounting foot to the motor shaft is substantially the same in the first fan assembly and the second fan assembly.
Example 16 includes the method of any one of examples 13-15, wherein attaching a plurality of components includes attaching a thrust isolator bracket to the support frame base, wherein the thrust isolator bracket is centered on the motor shaft in the first fan assembly and the second fan assembly.
Example 17 includes the method of any one of examples 13-16, wherein attaching a number of components to the support frame base includes welding.
Example 18 includes the method of any one of examples 13-17, wherein attaching a number of components to the support frame base includes attaching a fastener between the number of components and the support frame base.
The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. In this document, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, composition, formulation, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
