Fan module for a heat exchanger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9488181-B2
Application number	US-201314018025-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2013
Priority date	Sep 5, 2012
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A fan module ( 1 ) includes a support structure ( 2 ), a motor ( 6 ), and an impeller ( 12 ). The support structure ( 2 ) includes an outer frame ( 3 ), an inner seat ( 5 ), and spokes ( 4 ) connecting the outer frame ( 3 ) to the inner seat ( 5 ). The motor ( 6 ) includes a stator ( 7 ) fixed to the inner seat ( 5 ), a rotor ( 8 ) rotatably mounted to the stator ( 7 ), a heat sink ( 11 ) at one end of the stator ( 7 ), and a control circuit ( 9 ) in thermal contact with the heat sink ( 11 ). The impeller ( 12 ) includes a hub ( 13 ) having a front wall ( 13 a ), a side wall ( 13 b ) spaced from the front wall ( 13 a ), and inner vanes ( 17 ) extending from the side wall ( 13 b ) and connected to the front wall ( 13 a ). Top ends of two adjacent inner vanes ( 17 ) are spaced from each other with an intake opening ( 17 c ) defined therebetween.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fan module comprising:
a support structure comprising:
an outer frame;
an inner seat; and
a plurality of spokes connecting the outer frame to the inner seat;

an electric motor comprising:
a stator having a first end fixed to the inner seat of the support structure and a second end opposite to the first end;
a rotor rotatably mounted to the stator;
a heat sink located at the first end of the stator; and
a motor control circuit having components in thermal contact with the heat sink; and

an impeller fixed to the rotor of the motor at the second end of the stator, the impeller comprising:
a hub having:
a front wall fixed to an end of the rotor remote from the inner seat of the support structure;
a side wall surrounding and spaced from a circumferential edge of the front wall; and
a plurality of inner vanes extending inwardly from an inner surface of the side wall, having top ends connected to the front wall, and spaced apart from each other angularly with an intake opening defined between the top ends of two adjacent inner vanes; and a plurality of outer vanes extending from an outer periphery of the side wall of the hub.

2. The fan module of claim 1 , wherein the inner seat of the support structure has an inner deflection surface facing an end edge of the side wall of the hub of the impeller, and at least a portion of the inner deflection surface is inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the motor.

3. The fan module of claim 2 , wherein the at least a portion of the inner deflection surface of the inner seat is curved in cross section.

4. The fan module of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of ribs extend essentially radially from the inner deflection surface of the inner seat of the support structure.

5. The fan module of claim 2 , wherein, on the side facing the side wall of the hub of the impeller, the inner seat of the support structure has a mouth opening defined by the inner deflection surface and having a diameter not less than an outlet diameter of the side wall.

6. The fan module of claim 1 , wherein each inner vane has an inlet portion adjacent to the front wall of the hub and an outlet portion extending essentially radially and axially, the inlet portion is inclined forwardly in a direction of rotation of the impeller, and has a circumferential deviation from and along an axial prolongation of the outlet portion.

7. The fan module of claim 6 , wherein the inlet portion of each inner vane is arcuate and has a convex outer surface, facing the front wall of the hub of the impeller, and an essentially concave inner surface, facing in the opposite direction.

8. The fan module of claim 7 , wherein the inlet portion of each inner vane has, when seen in the radial direction, a cross section shaped like a wing profile.

9. The fan module of claim 1 , wherein each inner vane has a free longitudinal edge on a side opposite to the side wall, and the free longitudinal edge is arcuate and convex.

10. The fan module of claim 1 , wherein the intake openings are formed in the front wall or formed between the front wall and the side wall.

11. A fan module comprising:
a support structure having an outer frame, an inner seat, and a plurality of spokes connecting the outer frame to the inner seat;
an electric motor having a stator fixed to the support structure and a rotor rotatably mounted to the stator; and
an impeller fixed to the rotor of the motor, the impeller comprising:
a hub having:
a front wall defining a plurality of intake openings;
a side wall surrounding the motor, with a space defined between the side wall and the motor;
a plurality of inner vanes extending from an inner surface of the side wall of the hub, each inner vane having an inlet portion adjacent to the front wall and an outlet portion extending essentially radially and axially from the inlet portion, wherein the inlet portion is inclined forwardly with respect to the outlet portion in a direction of rotation of the impeller, and has a circumferential deviation from and increasing along an axial prolongation of the outlet portion; and
a plurality of outer vanes extending from an outer periphery of the side wall of the hub.

12. The fan module of claim 11 , wherein the inlet portion of each inner vane has, when seen in the radial direction, a cross section shaped like a wing profile.

13. The fan module of claim 11 , wherein the inlet portion of each inner vane is arcuate and has a convex outer surface, facing the front wall of the hub of the impeller, and an essentially concave inner surface, facing in the opposite direction.

14. The fan module of claim 11 , wherein each inner vane has a free longitudinal edge on a side opposite to the side wall, and the free longitudinal edge is arcuate and convex.

15. The fan module of claim 11 , wherein each of the inner vane has a top end connected to the front wall, the plurality of intake openings are angularly separated from each other by top ends of the inner vanes.

16. The fan module of claim 11 , wherein the inner seat of the support structure has an inner deflection surface facing an end edge of the side wall of the hub of the impeller, and at least a portion of the inner deflection surface is inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the motor.

17. The fan module of claim 16 , wherein the at least a portion of the inner deflection surface of the inner seat is curved in cross section.

18. The fan module of claim 16 , wherein a plurality of essentially radial ribs extend from the inner deflection surface of the inner seat of the support structure.

19. The fan module of claim 16 , wherein, on the side facing the side wall of the hub of the impeller, the inner seat of the support structure has a mouth opening defined by the inner deflection surface and having a diameter not less than an outlet diameter of the side wall.

Assignees

• Johnson Electric Sa

Inventors

• Parodi Davide
• Innocenti Piergiorgio

Classifications

• F04D19/002

  Axial flow fans · CPC title

• F04D29/5813

  Cooling the control unit · CPC title

• F04D27/00 Primary

  Control, e.g. regulation, of pumps, pumping installations or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids · CPC title

• F04D25/082

  the unit having provision for cooling the motor · CPC title

• F04D29/5806

  Cooling the drive system · CPC title