This invention relates generally to transport refrigeration systems and, more particularly, to an assembly of a condenser fan, fan motor, shroud and frame assembled into a drop-in module.
Transport refrigeration systems are commonly employed in connection with refrigerated transport trailers used in shipping perishable goods. The transport trailer is adapted to be connected to and towed by a truck tractor. The transport refrigeration system includes a refrigerant unit, an electric generator assembly and an engine for driving the electric generator, all supported on a framework structural support configured to be mounted to the front wall of the trailer.
In transport refrigeration systems, the refrigeration unit includes a condenser heat exchanger through which refrigerant is passed in heat exchange relationship with ambient air as a cooling medium for condensing refrigerant from a vapor phase into a liquid phase. Generally one condenser fan is provided, and sometimes two condenser fans are disposed in a side-by-side arrangement, condenser fans are provided to draw the ambient air through the condenser heat exchanger.
Heretobefore, condenser fans for transport refrigeration units have either been driven by belts and pulleys, or by complex arrangements of fan, motor, fan shroud and support structure. When service or component replacement is necessary, the components have to be serviced in place or removed individually for service. Thus, performing service on the various condenser fan components is often difficult and time-consuming due to access limitations. Reassembly, as well, may often be complicated and time-consuming due to necessary adjustments, e.g. belts, and the proper alignment of the reassembled components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,149 discloses a cooling fan module that is included as one component of a total cooling assembly that is adapted for drop-into installation in the engine compartment of an internal combustion engine-powered automotive vehicle. The cooling fan module includes a panel structure in which a cooling fan and fan motor assembly is mounted and to which an electric controls module and an electric cooling pump and motor assembly are also mounted.
In an aspect of the invention, a modular assembly of a condenser fan, fan motor, fan shroud panel, fan support bracket and structural support frame is provided. The modular assembly facilitates removal and reinstallation of the condenser fan and related components for servicing.
In an embodiment, the modular condenser fan assembly includes a support frame having a first side and a second side, a fan shroud panel disposed on the first side of the support frame, a support bracket disposed on the second side of the support frame, and a fan/motor assembly disposed between the fan shroud panel and the support bracket.
In an embodiment, the modular condenser fan assembly includes a support frame having a first side and a second side, a fan shroud panel removably mounted to the support frame on the first side of the support frame, a support bracket removably mounted to the support frame on the second side of the support frame, and a fan/motor assembly disposed between the fan shroud panel and the support bracket.
In an aspect of the invention, a fan and motor assembly for use in a transport refrigeration unit includes a fan impeller disposed about an inside/out motor, whereby the fan impeller rotates with at least a portion of an outer casing of the motor. In an embodiment of the fan and motor assembly, the outer casing of the motor has a rotatable portion and the fan impeller rotates with the rotatable portion of the outer casing of the motor. The fan impeller may include an inner shroud, an outer shroud disposed in spaced relationship and circumscribing the inner shroud, and a plurality of blades extending between the inner shroud and the outer shroud, with the inner shroud being disposed about and rotatable with the rotatable portion of the outer casing of the motor.
Referring now to
The condenser fan/motor assembly 20 includes an impeller 22 that is disposed about an associated fan motor 30, which may be a so-called “inside/out” type motor as illustrated in the depicted embodiments. In an “inside/out” motor, the shaft of the motor is the motor stator and the outer casing, or a portion of the outer casing, is the motor rotor. The impeller 22 has a plurality of blades and an outer shroud 24 and an inner shroud 26. The inner shroud 26 is disposed about a central portion 30A of the outer casing of the motor 30 so as to rotate with the central portion 30A of the outer casing, which as noted before forms the motor rotor. The motor 30 is supplied with electrical power through a cord 65 which connects to a power supply box 80, as seen in
The spider-like support bracket 34 has a plurality of legs 38 extending outwardly and forwardly from a central member 36 that defines an opening adapted to receive the rearward end 32 of the motor 30 in supporting relationship. A plurality of forwardly extending clips 33 may be provided at spaced intervals about the circumference of the central member 36 for correctly aligning the motor 30. At its distal end, each leg 38 has a foot 39 that has a hole therethrough for receiving a mounting device.
The support frame 50 includes a plurality of structural members 52, such as for example box channel members, welded together or otherwise arranged to form a rectangular frame, and a pair of structural members 54, such as for example box channel members. In the exemplary embodiment, the structural members 54 extending transversely between a first pair of oppositely disposed structural members 52C and parallel to a second pair of oppositely disposed structural members 52A, 52B. Additionally, the support frame 50 includes a pair of mounting lugs 56 by which the modular condenser fan assembly 10 may be mounted to the structural frame of the transport refrigeration unit. In the depicted embodiment, the mounting lugs 56 are mounted to the upper support member 52A of the support frame 50, for example by welding. The support frame 50 may also include an additional pair of support lugs 57 mounted to the lower support member 52B of the support frame, for example by welding.
The fan shroud panel 40 has a vertical and horizontal expanse that corresponds generally with the outer dimensions of the support frame 50 and defines a central opening 45. An annular flange 42 extends outwardly from the rear face of the fan shroud panel 40 circumferentially about the central opening 45. Also, if desired, a gasket may be provided about the perimeter of the fan shroud panel 40. The gasket may be formed of a plurality of gasket strips 43, such as for example neoprene strips, adhesively bonded to the fan shroud panel 40, such as illustrated in
To assemble the modular condenser fan assembly 10, first, the fan shroud panel 40 is mounted to the support frame 50 with the rear face of the fan shroud panel abutting a first side, i.e. the forward face in the depicted embodiment, of the support frame 50 by means of removable fasteners, such as for example cap screws 44 extending through the panel 40 and secured into nuts 44A mounted to the transversely extending structural members 54 of the frame. Next, the fan/motor assembly 20 is positioned over the central opening 45 in the fan shroud panel with the annular flange 42 fitting within a forward lip 23 extending about the circumference of the outer shroud 24 of the fan/motor assembly 20. With the fan/motor assembly 20 so positioned, the support bracket 34 is positioned on the motor 30 with the rearward end 32 of the motor 30 received within the central opening 35 of the support bracket 34 and secured to the rim 31 of the rearward end of the motor 30 by removable fastening devices, such as cap screws 37. With the support bracket so positioned, the feet 39 of the respective legs 38 of the support bracket 34 abut against a pair of oppositely disposed structural members 52 of the frame 50 on a second side, i.e. the rear face in the depicted embodiment, of the support frame 50 and are secured thereto by removable fastening devices, such as for example cap screws 58, inserted through mounting holes provided in the feet 39 and secured to nuts 58A mounted to the support members 52, thereby mounting the fan/motor assembly 20 the frame 50. It is to be understood that removable fastening devices other than cap screws with mating nuts may be used to mount the fan shroud panel 40 and the support bracket 34 to the support frame 50.
Referring now to
Referring now to
To remove the modular condenser fan assembly for service of any of the components thereof, the service technician merely needs to remove the two fastening devices 66 securing the upper support lugs 56, loosen the bolts securing the lower support lugs 57, disconnect the motor 30 from the electric power supply, and lift the entire modular assembly out of the unit for easy access to any and all of the components of the modular condenser fan assembly. This feature enables easy access to the modular assembly 10 for service and/or replacement of components and also enables replacement of the entire modular assembly 10 with another modular assembly in a very short amount of time.
Referring now also to
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of description, not limitation. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention. While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the exemplary embodiments as illustrated in the drawing, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will also recognize the equivalents that may be substituted for elements described with reference to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/031,158, filed Feb. 25, 2008, and entitled: Modular Condenser Fan Assembly. This application is related to the following application subject to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United States patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application: U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 210—1151 NP), entitled “Dual Condenser Fans With Center Partition”.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61031158 | Feb 2008 | US |