Ice deflector for a fan housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10519981-B2
Application number	US-201715809677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2017
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

In various implementations, a fan system may include a housing and a fan. The fan may reside in an orifice of the housing. The fan system may include a grate disposed proximate a top surface and an ice deflector. The ice deflector may inhibit ice formation on portions of the housing, orifice, and/or fan residing in the orifice.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fan system for use with a heating, ventilation, air conditioning system or refrigeration system, the fan system comprising:
a housing formed with an orifice, the housing having a top surface:
at least one flange formed on the top surface of the housing;
a grate sized and configured to cover the orifice and disposed proximate the top surface over at least a portion of the at least one flange;
an ice deflector disposed above the top surface of the housing and over at least a portion of the at least one flange;
the ice deflector comprising:
a base having a bottom surface and a sloped portion on a side opposite the bottom surface, and
an annular protrusion defining an opening wherein the opening of the annular protrusion is over at least a portion of the orifice in the housing;

wherein the sloped portion extends radially from the annular protrusion towards an exterior edge of the ice deflector; and
wherein the grate is disposed between at least a portion of the housing and at least a portion of the ice deflector.

2. The fan system of claim 1 , wherein the annular protrusion of the ice deflector and the orifice of the housing are disposed about a first axis through a center of the housing, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a second axis parallel to a top surface of the ice deflector.

3. The fan of claim 1 , wherein the annular protrusion comprises a ring shaped protrusion.

4. The fan of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises one or more coupling members adapted to couple the ice deflector to the housing.

5. The fan system of claim 1 , wherein the ice deflector comprises one or more coupling members adapted to couple the ice deflector to at least one of the housing or the grate.

6. A fan system comprising:
a housing comprising:
an orifice adapted to receive a fan,
a top surface comprising one or more flanges;
a solid side wall configured to allow airflow through a top and a bottom of the orifice;

an ice deflector comprising:
a base comprised a sloped portion; and
an annular protrusion coupled to the base;

a grate disposed between the housing and the ice deflector; and
wherein the grate is adapted to cover the orifice and at least a portion of one or more of the flanges.

7. The fan system of claim 6 , wherein the annular protrusion of the ice deflector and the orifice of the housing are disposed about a first axis through a center of the housing, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to a second axis parallel to a top surface of the ice deflector.

8. The fan of claim 6 , wherein the annular protrusion comprises a ring shaped protrusion.

9. The fan of claim 6 , wherein the housing comprises one or more coupling members adapted to couple the ice deflector to the housing.

10. The fan system of claim 6 , wherein the ice deflector comprises one or more coupling members adapted to couple the ice deflector to at least one of the housing or the grate.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc

Inventors

• Crawford Carl T
• Mchugh Chris

Classifications

• F04D29/703 Primary

  specially for fans, e.g. fan guards · CPC title

• F04D29/545

  Ducts · CPC title

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• Y10T29/49236

  Fluid pump or compressor making · CPC title