Centrifugal fan impeller with variable shape fan blades and method of assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689264-B2
Application number	US-201313836587-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

In one aspect, a flexible fan blade for use in a centrifugal fan impeller having at least one of a rear plate and a front plate with an air inlet is provided. The flexible fan blade comprises a fixed central portion fixedly coupled to at least one of the front plate and the rear plate of the centrifugal fan impeller. The flexible fan blade also includes a trailing edge extending from the fixed central portion and being moveable between a first position and a second position. The trailing edge is fabricated from a compliant material. Furthermore, the trailing edge is flexible in relation to the fixed central portion between a first position and a second position. The flexible fan blade also includes a leading edge extending from the fixed central portion in opposed relation to the trailing edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a centrifugal fan impeller comprising:
providing at least one of a rear plate and a front plate;
providing a plurality of flexible fan blades, each flexible fan blade including:
a fixed central portion;
a trailing edge extending from the fixed central portion, the trailing edge being flexible in relation to the fixed central portion between a first position and a second position; and
a leading edge extending from the fixed central portion in opposed relation to the trailing edge;

coupling a plurality of counterweights to at least one flexible fan blade of the plurality of flexible fan blades such that the plurality of counterweights are adjustable in position to adjust an amount of bias applied to the at least one flexible fan blade, wherein the plurality of counterweights are slidably mounted to an outer surface of the at least one flexible fan blade; and
coupling the plurality of flexible fan blades to the at least one of a rear plate and a front plate.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein coupling the plurality of flexible fan blades includes fixedly coupling the fixed central portion of each of the respective blades of the plurality of flexible fan blades.

3. A centrifugal fan impeller comprising:
a rear plate including a center axis; and
a plurality of flexible fan blades, each flexible fan blade including:
a fixed portion fixedly coupled to said rear plate;
a moveable portion extending from said fixed portion, said moveable portion being moveable between a first position and a second position; and
a plurality of counterweights coupled to said moveable portion to bias said moveable position toward at least one of said first position and said second position, wherein said plurality of counterweights are mounted to an outer surface of said moveable portion.

4. The centrifugal fan impeller in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said rear plate comprises an opening configured to restrict an amount of movement of a respective flexible fan blade of said plurality of flexible fan blades, wherein said respective flexible fan blade of said plurality of flexible fan blades is attached to said rear plate via said opening.

5. The centrifugal fan impeller in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said first position is configured to reduce impeller rotation motion from exterior or alternative air sources.

6. The centrifugal fan impeller in accordance with claim 3 , wherein each respective flexible fan blade of said plurality of flexible fan blades is configured to dynamically change shape in response to aerodynamic and centrifugal forces generated by said centrifugal fan impeller, wherein the dynamically changing shape of said respective flexible fan blade is configured to balance an airflow over said respective flexible fan blade.

7. The centrifugal fan impeller in accordance with claim 3 , wherein each respective flexible fan blade of said plurality of flexible fans blades is configured to dynamically change the moment of inertia of said centrifugal fan impeller.

8. The centrifugal fan impeller in accordance with claim 3 , wherein said first position has a first aerodynamic drag, said second position has a second aerodynamic drag, wherein said first aerodynamic drag is greater than said second aerodynamic drag, wherein said first aerodynamic drag is configured to increase the ability to control said centrifugal fan impeller.

9. A flexible fan blade for use in a centrifugal fan impeller having at least one of a rear plate and a front plate with an air inlet, said flexible fan blade comprising:
a fixed central portion fixedly coupled to at least of one the front plate and the rear plate of the centrifugal fan impeller;
a trailing edge extending from said fixed central portion and being moveable between a first position and a second position, said trailing edge being flexible in relation to said fixed central portion between said first position and said second position;
a leading edge extending from said fixed central portion in opposed relation to said trailing edge; and
a plurality of counterweights coupled to said trailing edge to bias said trailing edge toward at least one of said first position and said second position, wherein said plurality of counterweights are mounted to an outer surface of said trailing edge.

10. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said leading edge and said fixed central portion are fabricated from a rigid material.

11. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said leading edge is moveable between a first position and a second position, said leading edge being flexible in relation to said fixed central portion between said first position and said second position.

12. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said flexible fan blade is fabricated from a flexible material.

13. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said flexible fan blade is formed from a flexible plate having a uniform thickness.

14. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said flexible fan blade dynamically changes shape in response to aerodynamic and centrifugal forces generated by the centrifugal fan impeller.

15. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said plurality of counterweights are adjustable in position to adjust an amount of bias applied to said flexible fan blade.

16. A flexible fan blade for use in a centrifugal fan impeller having at least one of a rear plate and a front plate with an air inlet, said flexible fan blade comprising:
a leading edge fixedly coupled to at least of one the front plate and the rear plate of the centrifugal fan impeller;
a trailing edge fixedly coupled to at least of one the front plate and the rear plate of the centrifugal fan impeller;
a flexible portion extending between said leading edge and said trailing edge and being moveable between a first position and a second position, said flexible portion being flexible in relation to said leading edge and said trailing edge between said first position and said second position; and
a plurality of counterweights coupled to said flexible portion to bias said flexible portion toward at least one of said first position and said second position, wherein said plurality of counterweights are mounted to an outer surface of said flexible portion.

17. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said flexible fan blade is formed from a flexible plate having a uniform thickness.

18. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said flexible fan blade dynamically changes shape in response to aerodynamic and centrifugal forces generated by the centrifugal fan impeller.

19. The flexible fan blade in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said plurality of counterweights are adjustable in position to adjust an amount of bias applied to said flexible portion.

20. A flexible fan blade for use in a centrifugal fan impeller having at least one of a rear plate and a front plate with an air inlet, said flexible fan blade comprising:
a leading edge portion fixedly coupled to at least one of the front plate and the rear plate of the centrifugal fan impeller, said leading edge portion comprising a leading edge and a trailing edge;
a flap hingedly coupled to said leading edge portion, said flap being rotatable in relation to said leading edge portion between a first position and a second position, wherein said flap is biased toward said first position;

Assignees

• Regal Beloit America Inc

Inventors

• Cocks Rachele Barbara
• Hull Michael R
• Golm Jr Norman C
• Beifus Brian L
• Stauffer Zachary
• Warriner Lisa M

Classifications

• F01D5/141 Primary

  Shape, i.e. outer, aerodynamic form (F01D5/148 - F01D5/20 take precedence; blade construction F01D5/147) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49336

  Blade making · CPC title

• F05B2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title

• F04D29/282 Primary

  the leading edge of each vane being substantially parallel to the rotation axis · CPC title

• F04D29/305

  Flexible vanes · CPC title