Patent US3799699A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3799699A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reversible fan assemblies and integral blade and trunnion units
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-05
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Granted: 1974-03-26
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Expires: 1992-06-05
Abstract
Abstract For a reversible fan, a blade is manufactured from a tubular member of a proper gage and diameter by spreading or flattening one end into a blade shape and swaging the other end of the tubular member to a reduced diameter to form an integral trunnion. The tubular member may be first slotted to aid in spreading the blade portion into the proper blade configuration. At the distal end of the trunnion of the integral blade and trunnion unit, a portion of the trunnion can be upset to provide a shoulder for retaining and positioning the integral blade and trunnion in a fan bub in one of two positions for reversing air flow. Springs can be employed to bias each integral blade and trunnion radially outwardly so that the position of these units will be maintained by engagement with complementary indexing structure in the associated hub. As an alternative to upsetting the end of the trunnion, a washer member may be secured on its distal end and a blade indexing mechanism provided by the washer member and cooperating hub assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 R Master
- 👤 H Unkrich
- 👤 R Philipsen
- 👤 K Starr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:49
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/26; F04D29/32; F04D29/34; F04D29/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A fan blade unit for use in reversible fan blade assemblies comprising a swaged trunnion portion, said swaged trunnion portion being of generally cylindrical configuration having an opening in the distal end thereof so as to define thickened sidewalls, said trunnion portion being formed by swaging one end of a metallic tubular member to increase its wall thickness, said swaged trunnion portion also having a shoulder on the distal end thereof, and a blade portion which forms at least a part of the fan blade formed by flattening its opposite end into a blade shape so that the trunnion portion and the blade portion are of integral, one-piece construction, said blade portion defining a single wall thickness at its distal end and a double wall thickness as its proximal end which is twice the wall thickness of said single wall thickness, said thickened sidewalls of said trunnion portion being of greater thickness than said single wall thickness whereby adequate strength is obtained in the resulting transition area between said trunnion and blade portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A fan blade unit for use in reversible fan blade assemblies comprising a swaged trunnion portion, said swaged trunnion portion being of generally cylindrical configuration having an opening in the distal end thereof so as to define thickened sidewalls, said trunnion portion being formed by swaging one end of a metallic tubular member to increase its wall thickness, said swaged trunnion portion also having a shoulder on the distal end thereof, and a blade portion which forms at least a part of the fan blade formed by flattening its opposite end into a blade shape so that the trunnion portion and the blade portion are of integral, one-piece construction, said blade portion defining a single wall thickness at its distal end and a double wall thickness as its proximal end which is twice the wall thickness of said single wall thickness, said thickened sidewalls of said trunnion portion being of greater thickness than said single wall thickness whereby adequate strength is obtained in the resulting transition area between said trunnion and blade portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fan blade unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoulder is of integral, one-piece construction with the trunnion portion and is formed on the distal end of the trunnion portion by upsetting said distal end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fan blade unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoulder is a separate member, and further including attaching bolt means passing through the opening in said trunnion portion, attaching said shoulder to said trunnion portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The fan blade uNit as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoulder includes indexing means formed therewith to maintain the blade unit in selected positions when cooperating with structures in a hub assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The fan blade unit as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening extends through the trunnion portion, and further including a formed depression in the double wall thickness transition area between the trunnion portion and the blade portion opposite the base of said blade portion so that the wall portions in the transition area are in contact thereby closing off the opening through said trunnion portion and strengthen the transition area and reduce noise resulting when the unit is revolved in a hub.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
229 words
A reversible fan assembly comprising a disc-like hub assembly attachable to a rotating shaft having a plurality of equally spaced inwardly directed radial bores in its periphery; a plurality of blade units mounted in said radial bores, each blade unit having an integral blade portion that forms at least a part of the fan blade and a swaged trunnion portion, said swaged trunnion portion being of generally cylindrical configuration having an opening in the distal end thereof so as to define thickened sidewalls, said trunnion portion being formed from a tubular member by swaging one end to form said trunnion portion and flattening the other end to a blade shape to form said blade portion so that the trunnion portion and the blade portion are of integral, one-piece construction; said trunnion portion also having a shoulder on the distal end thereof for securing said distal end within its associated radial bore in said hub assembly in one of several selected positions and against outward radial movement, said blade portion defining a single wall thickness at its distal end and a double wall thickness at its proximal end which is twice the thickness of said single wall thickness, said thickened sidewalls of said trunnion portion being of greater thickness than said single wall thickness whereby adequate strength is obtained in the resulting transition area between said trunnion and blade portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
229 words
A reversible fan assembly comprising a disc-like hub assembly attachable to a rotating shaft having a plurality of equally spaced inwardly directed radial bores in its periphery; a plurality of blade units mounted in said radial bores, each blade unit having an integral blade portion that forms at least a part of the fan blade and a swaged trunnion portion, said swaged trunnion portion being of generally cylindrical configuration having an opening in the distal end thereof so as to define thickened sidewalls, said trunnion portion being formed from a tubular member by swaging one end to form said trunnion portion and flattening the other end to a blade shape to form said blade portion so that the trunnion portion and the blade portion are of integral, one-piece construction; said trunnion portion also having a shoulder on the distal end thereof for securing said distal end within its associated radial bore in said hub assembly in one of several selected positions and against outward radial movement, said blade portion defining a single wall thickness at its distal end and a double wall thickness at its proximal end which is twice the thickness of said single wall thickness, said thickened sidewalls of said trunnion portion being of greater thickness than said single wall thickness whereby adequate strength is obtained in the resulting transition area between said trunnion and blade portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The reversible fan assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the shoulder is of integral, one-piece construction with the trunnion portion and is formed on the distal end thereof by upsetting said distal end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The reversible fan assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the shoulder is attached to the distal end of the trunnion portion with attaching bolt means passing through the opening in said trunnion portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fan blade unit of claim 1 wherein said blade portion is of generally arcuate configuration.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The reversible fan assembly as defined in claim 6 further including counterbores associated with each bore and spring means biasing each of said plurality of blade units whereby each shoulder is seated within a respective counterbore.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said spring means comprises a spring within the opening in the trunnion end portion and a pin biased by said spring into abutment with said hub assembly thereby urging each of said blades radially outwardly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention of claim 10 wherein said spring means comprises a spring on each blade unit intermediate said hub assembly and a respective blade portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-25 | 1977-09-24 | 1978-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-25 | 1981-09-24 | 1982-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-25 | 1985-09-24 | 1986-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |