Note : Les revendications sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are
defined as follows:
1. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly
for forcing cooling air through a radiator forwardly
mounted in a vehicle in which engine coolant is
circulated comprising support means adjacent to the
radiator, a fan shroud and fan mounting shell
operatively secured to said support adjacent to said
radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly
extending wall portion with a terminal forward edge
adjacent to the rearward face of said radiator to
provide a large area intake for air flowing there-
through, said shell further having a generally
cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion to provide
a reduced dimensioned air ejector for said shell, spoke
means extending inwardly from said air ejector, a fan
drive motor supported by said spoke means extending
axially into said shell and having an output shaft, a
fan operatively connected to said drive motor and
rotatably mounted in said shell, said fan describing an
area substantially smaller than that of said intake and
having a central hub operatively connected to said
output shaft of said motor, a plurality of arcuately
spaced blades each having a backwardly swept front edge
extending radially outwardly from said hub, an annular
shroud fixed to the outer end portions of said blades
for rotation therewith in said air ejector, said
annular shroud being axially and backwardly positioned
by said blades at predetermined rearward spacing from
said radiator and from a forward surface of said hub to
increase the air space between said fan and said
radiator for the optimized flow of air through said
radiator into said fixed shell and the pumping of said
flow by said fan.
2. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly
for forcing cooling air through a radiator in which
engine coolant is circulated comprising support means
adjacent to the radiator, a fan shroud and fan mount
shell operatively secured to said support adjacent to
and in substantial parallel relationship with said
radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly
extending wall portion to provide an intake for air
flowing through the radiator, said shell further having
a generally cylindrical and rearwardly extending
portion to provide a reduced dimensioned air ejector
for said shell, spoke means extending inwardly from
said air ejector, a fan drive motor supported by said
spoke means extending axially into said shell and
having an output shaft, a fan operatively mounted in
said shell, said fan having a central hub with a
forward front face operatively mounted on said output
shaft of said motor, a plurality of arcuately spaced
blades mounted on said hub having leading edges
reversely curved in the direction of rotation and
backwardly swept from said radiator and said front face
of said hub and extending generally radially outwardly
from said hub, an annular shroud having an area
substantially less than the area of said wall portion
of said shell fixed to the end portions of said blades
for rotation in an immersed position in said fixed
ejector and axially positioned by said blades at
predetermined and optimized spacing from said front
face of said hub and said radiator whereby there is
optimized flow of air through said radiator bounded by
said wall portion of said shell for discharge through
said ejector by operation of said fan.
3. Vehicle engine cooling fan and shrouding assembly
for forcing cooling air through a radiator forwardly
mounted in a vehicle and in which engine coolant is
circulated comprising support means adjacent to the
radiator, a fan shroud and fan mounting shell
operatively secured to said support means adjacent to
said radiator, said shell having a peripheral forwardly
extending wall extending forwardly to a front edge to
provide a large area intake for air flowing through the
radiator, said shell further having a generally
cylindrical and rearwardly extending portion to provide
a reduced dimensioned air ejector for said shell, spoke
means extending inwardly from said air ejector, a fan
drive motor supported by said spoke means extending
axially into said shell and having an output shaft, a
fan operatively connected to said drive motor and
rotatably mounted in said shell, said fan having a
central hub, said hub having a forward face operatively
secured to said output shaft and a peripheral wall
extending around a forward portion of said motor, said
fan having a plurality of arcuately spaced blades each
having a backwardly swept front edge extending radially
outwardly from said peripheral wall, an annular shroud
having an area substantially smaller than said area of
said intake and fixed to the outer end portions of said
blades for rotation therewith in said air ejector, said
annular shroud being axially and backwardly positioned
in said ejector by said blades at predetermined spacing
from said radiator and from the front edge of said
peripheral wall of said shell and with respect to said
forward face of said hub to open and optimize spacing
between said fan and said radiator for optimized air
flow through said radiator as defined by the front edge
of said shell and into said fan for discharge thereby.