Centrifugal blower wheel method of making

Claim 1

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said bladeholding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and siMultaneously applying a generally radially directed force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform radially the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 2

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said bladeholding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and siMultaneously applying a generally radially directed force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform radially the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 3

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and applying substantially constant radially directed force to the peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to deform radially the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 4

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and applying substantially constant radially directed force to the peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to deform radially the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 5

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed generally axially extending side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and deforming the interblade portions of said annular member in a radial direction generally opposite said one radial direction and beyond said exposed blade side edge to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 6

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed generally axially extending side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, and deforming the interblade portions of said annular member in a radial direction generally opposite said one radial direction and beyond said exposed blade side edge to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 8

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, crimping at least one interblade portion of said member to bring said member into relatively light pressure engagement with the exposed side edge portions of said blades, and simultaneously applying force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction oPposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 9

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, crimping at least one interblade portion of said member to bring said member into relatively light pressure engagement with the exposed side edge portions of said blades, and simultaneously applying force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction oPposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 10

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member made from metal adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, setting up a predetermined varying magnetic field, and maintaining said member within the magnetic field so that sufficient magnetic force is transferred from the magnetic field to the entire peripheral surface of said member on the opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 11

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member made from metal adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, setting up a predetermined varying magnetic field, and maintaining said member within the magnetic field so that sufficient magnetic force is transferred from the magnetic field to the entire peripheral surface of said member on the opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction to simultaneously deform the interblade portions of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 12

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, providing a compression apparatus for simultaneously applying force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction, said apparatus including a resilient deformable annular compression tool for effecting pressure engagement with said peripheral surface and means for restraining said tool against deformation in said one radial direction, positioning said tool generally adjacent said peripheral surface, and applying compression force to said tool in a generally axial direction to deform said tool in a direction generally opposite said one radial direction and bring said tool into pressure engagement with said peripheral surface to simultaneously deform the interblade portion of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 13

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a rotatable support member having a circumaxially spaced series of blade-holding means for securing blades against displacement in at least one radial direction, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said blade-holding means and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of the said blades with an associated one of the said blade-holding means with said side edge exposed in a direction generally opposite to said one radial direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades, providing a compression apparatus for simultaneously applying force to the entire peripheral surface of said member on an opposite side thereof from said exposed side edge and in a direction opposite said one radial direction, said apparatus including a resilient deformable annular compression tool for effecting pressure engagement with said peripheral surface and means for restraining said tool against deformation in said one radial direction, positioning said tool generally adjacent said peripheral surface, and applying compression force to said tool in a generally axial direction to deform said tool in a direction generally opposite said one radial direction and bring said tool into pressure engagement with said peripheral surface to simultaneously deform the interblade portion of said member to bring said member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 14

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a radially disposed support member having a circular outer edge portion and including a circumaxially spaced series of blade-receiving notches for securing blades against displacement in a radially inwardly direction, each of said notches opening outwardly through said circular edge portion, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said notches and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed generally axially extending side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of said blades with an associated one of said notches with said side edge exposed in a radially outwardly direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades to surround said circular outer edge portion with the marginal edges of said annular member projecting axially outwardly in opposite directions beyond said circular edge portion, and displacing the interblade portions of said annular member radially inwardly beyond said circuLar edge to bring said annular member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.

Claim 15

A method for making a centrifugal blower wheel comprising the steps of providing a radially disposed support member having a circular outer edge portion and including a circumaxially spaced series of blade-receiving notches for securing blades against displacement in a radially inwardly direction, each of said notches opening outwardly through said circular edge portion, providing a plurality of blades equal in number to said notches and each having a generally axially disposed portion including a radially exposed generally axially extending side edge, engaging said axially disposed portion of each of said blades with an associated one of said notches with said side edge exposed in a radially outwardly direction, positioning an annular member adjacent an exposed side edge of each of said blades to surround said circular outer edge portion with the marginal edges of said annular member projecting axially outwardly in opposite directions beyond said circular edge portion, and displacing the interblade portions of said annular member radially inwardly beyond said circuLar edge to bring said annular member into pressure engagement with each said side edge.