Convex fan shroud

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267419-B2
Application number	US-201414217918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2014
Priority date	Mar 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A convex fan shroud for use with an automotive engine cooling system having a fan and a fan-cooled, liquid-to-air radiator is disclosed. The convex fan shroud has an optimized shape that leads to high air flow rates through the radiator. The convex fan shroud includes a front frame that defines an air-intake opening, a convex top wall connected to the frame, a convex bottom wall connected to the frame, and a pair of opposed convex side walls connected to the frame and to the top and bottom walls. The interior surfaces of the walls are smooth. The convex walls define a barrel-shaped shroud body that includes a round engine-facing opening to accommodate the fan. In addition to generating a higher flow rate, the disclosed inventive concept for a smooth convex fan shroud is relatively low cost to produce and has a relatively high degree of rigidity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shroud for an automotive engine cooling system having a fan and a fan-cooled, liquid-to-air radiator, said shroud comprising:
an inside;
a front frame;
a fan opening;
a top wall connected to said frame;
a bottom wall connected to said frame;
a first side wall connected to said frame and said top and bottom walls; and
a second side wall connected to said frame and said top and bottom walls, said walls being bowed outward relative to said inside between said frame and said opening, said outward bow of said walls defining a portion of a hyperbolic curve in cross-section, one end of said curve ending at said frame and the other end ending at said opening.

2. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 1 wherein said front frame defines an air-intake opening.

3. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 1 wherein said top wall, said bottom wall, said first side wall and said second side wall define a convex-shaped shroud body.

4. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 1 wherein said engine-facing opening is substantially round.

5. The shroud of an automotive engine of cooling system claim 4 wherein the fan is disposed within said shroud body adjacent said engine-facing opening.

6. A shroud for an automotive engine cooling system having a fan and a fan-cooled, liquid-to-air radiator, said shroud comprising:
a front frame;
a shroud body attached to said front frame, said shroud body having an inside, an engine-facing opening, and walls extending from said front frame to said opening, said walls being bowed outward relative to said inside between said frame and said opening, said outward bow of said walls defining a portion of a hyperbolic curve in cross-section, one end of said curve ending at said frame and the other end ending at said opening.

7. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 6 wherein said front frame defines an air-intake opening.

8. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 6 wherein said walls include a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall.

9. The shroud for an automotive engine cooling system of claim 7 wherein said engine-facing opening is substantially round.

10. The shroud of an automotive engine cooling system of claim 9 wherein the fan is disposed within said shroud body adjacent said engine-facing opening.

11. A method for increasing air movement through a liquid-to-air cooling radiator in a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an engine-driven fan comprising the steps of:
forming a fan shroud having a front frame, an inside, an engine-facing opening and a shroud body attached to said frame, said body including walls extending from said frame to said opening, said walls being bowed outward relative to said inside, said outward bow of said walls defining a portion of a hyperbolic curve in cross-section, one end of said curve ending at said frame and the other end ending at said opening; and
placing said shroud adjacent the radiator and at least partially encircling the fan.

12. The method for increasing air movement through a liquid-to-air radiator of claim 11 wherein said walls include a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall.

13. The method for increasing air movement through a liquid-to-air radiator of claim 11 wherein said front frame defines an air-intake opening.

14. The method for increasing air movement through a liquid-to-air radiator of claim 11 wherein said engine-facing opening is substantially round.

15. The method for increasing air movement through a liquid-to-air radiator of claim 14 wherein the fan is disposed within said shroud body adjacent said engine-facing opening.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mehravaran Meisam
• O'Donohue Garrett Michael
• Tyler Jim
• Stewart Lamar

Classifications

• F01P2025/66

  Vehicle speed · CPC title

• F01P7/046

  using mechanical drives · CPC title

• F01P5/04

  Pump-driving arrangements · CPC title

• F01P7/084

  actuated electromagnetically · CPC title

• F01P1/02 Primary

  Arrangements for cooling cylinders or cylinder heads, e.g. ducting cooling-air from its pressure source to cylinders or along cylinders · CPC title