Engine cooling fan spacer structure

Claim 2

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess.

Claim 3

A spacEr as recited in claim 1, in which said ribs extend substantially directly axially as they advance into said recess.

Claim 4

A spacer as recited in claim 1, in which said intermediate surface areas have circular extents substantially greater than the circular extents of said ribs.

Claim 5

A spacer as recited in claim 1, in which said body has parallel planar spacing surfaces at its opposite ends disposed perpendicular to said axis for engaging and spacing apart two coacting surfaces.

Claim 6

A spacer as recited in claim 1, in which said body has at said first end thereof a surface disposed transversely of said axis, said centering means including a pilot lug projecting beyond said transverse surface and having an external cylindrical surface centered about said axis.

Claim 7

The combination comprising an engine cooling fan turning about a predetermined axis, a drive structure for turning said fan about said axis, spacer means axially between said fan and drive structure for holding the fan in predetermined spaced relation to the drive structure, and means for securing said fan to said drive structure with said spacer means therebetween, said spacer means including a spacer body having centering means at a first end thereof for locating said fan in predetermined centered relation with respect to said body, said spacer body containing a pilot recess extending generally axially into its second end, there being a pilot projection associated with said drive structure and projecting into said recess, said recess having a peripheral wall extending about said projection and forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially innermost surfaces engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation, said innermost surfaces of the ribs extending at a uniform radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the recess toward said first end of the body, said wall forming intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis greater than that of said radially innermost surfaces of the ribs, and out of contact with said pilot projection, and which intermediate surface areas taper progressively to a reduced radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the body toward said first end thereof.

Claim 8

The combination comprising an engine cooling fan turning about a predetermined axis, a drive structure for turning said fan about said axis, spacer means axially between said fan and drive structure for holding the fan in predetermined spaced relation to the drive structure, and means for securing said fan to said drive structure with said spacer means therebetween, said spacer means including a spacer body having centering means at a first end thereof for locating said fan in predetermined centered relation with respect to said body, said spacer body containing a pilot recess extending generally axially into its second end, there being a pilot projection associated with said drive structure and projecting into said recess, said recess having a peripheral wall extending about said projection and forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially innermost surfaces engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation, said innermost surfaces of the ribs extending at a uniform radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the recess toward said first end of the body, said wall forming intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis greater than that of said radially innermost surfaces of the ribs, and out of contact with said pilot projection, and which intermediate surface areas taper progressively to a reduced radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the body toward said first end thereof.

Claim 9

The combination as recited in claim 6, in which said fan has a radially inner portion extending transversely of said axis and abutting against said first end of said body and containing a circular central opening, said centering means on the body including a pilot lug projecting into said opening in the fan in centering relation.

Claim 10

The combination as recited in claim 6, in which said drive structure includes a water pump having a driven shaft with a forward portion forming said pilot projection extending into said recess.

Claim 11

The combination as recited in claim 6, in which said spacer body has front and rear parallel surfaces disposed directly transversely of said axis and engaging transverse surfaces on said fan and said drive structure respectively, said centering means being a short externally cylindrical pilot lug projecting into a central opening in said fan in centering relation.

Claim 12

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said ribs being of convexly rounded transverse cross section and engaging the outer surface of said projection along only a relatively small portion of its circular extent.

Claim 13

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said ribs being of convexly rounded transverse cross section and engaging the outer surface of said projection along only a relatively small portion of its circular extent.

Claim 14

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said body containing axially extending passages through which a series of elongated bolts are to pass for securing said fan to said drive structure in spaced relation.

Claim 15

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said body containing axially extending passages through which a series of elongated bolts are to pass for securing said fan to said drive structure in spaced relation.

Claim 16

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said body having a first transverse planar surface perpendicular to said axis at said first end of the body for engaging a coacting structure in spacing relation, said centering means including a short pilot lug at said first end of the body projecting beyond the plane of said last mentioned surface and having an outer centering cylindrical surface centered about said axis, said body having at its second end a surface disposed transversely of said axis and extending about said recess, said ribs being of convexly rounded cross-sectional configuration, said intermediate surface areas having circular extents several times as great as the circular extents of said ribs and tapering frustoconically relative to said axis from a diameter substantially greater than said inner surfaces of the ribs to a diameter approximately the same as said innermost surfaces of the ribs, said body having a plurality of passages at circularly spaced locations for passing bolts therethrough for securing said fan to said drive Structure in spaced relation.

Claim 17

A spacer for use in mounting an engine cooling fan to a drive structure turning about a predetermined axis, comprising a spacer body, centering means at a first end of said body for locating said fan in a predetermined centered relation relative to said body for rotation therewith about said axis, said body having at its second end a recess for receiving a centering projection turning about said axis, said recess having a generally axially extending peripheral wall extending about said axis, said wall forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially inner surfaces for engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation and extending at a predetermined uniform radial distance from said axis as the ribs advance more deeply into said recess, said wall of the recess having intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis which is greater than said radial distance of said inner surfaces of said ribs from the axis and which intermediate surface areas progressively taper to reduced radial distances from the axis in advancing more deeply into said recess, said body having a first transverse planar surface perpendicular to said axis at said first end of the body for engaging a coacting structure in spacing relation, said centering means including a short pilot lug at said first end of the body projecting beyond the plane of said last mentioned surface and having an outer centering cylindrical surface centered about said axis, said body having at its second end a surface disposed transversely of said axis and extending about said recess, said ribs being of convexly rounded cross-sectional configuration, said intermediate surface areas having circular extents several times as great as the circular extents of said ribs and tapering frustoconically relative to said axis from a diameter substantially greater than said inner surfaces of the ribs to a diameter approximately the same as said innermost surfaces of the ribs, said body having a plurality of passages at circularly spaced locations for passing bolts therethrough for securing said fan to said drive Structure in spaced relation.

Claim 18

The combination comprising an engine cooling fan turning about a predetermined axis, a drive structure for turning said fan about said axis, spacer means axially between said fan and drive structure for holding the fan in predetermined spaced relation to the drive structure, and means for securing said fan to said drive structure with said spacer means therebetween, said spacer means including a spacer body having centering means at a first end thereof for locating said fan in predetermined centered relation with respect to said body, said spacer body containing a pilot recess extending generally axially into its second end, there being a pilot projection associated with said drive structure and projecting into said recess, said recess having a peripheral wall extending about said projection and forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially innermost surfaces engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation, said innermost surfaces of the ribs extending at a uniform radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the recess toward said first end of the body, said wall forming intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis greater than that of said radially innermost surfaces of the ribs, and out of contact with said pilot projection, and which intermediate surface areas taper progressively to a reduced radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the body toward said first end thereof, said ribs extending substantially directly axially and being of convexly rounded cross sectional configuration, said intermediate surface areas having circular extents several times as great as the circular extents of said ribs.

Claim 19

The combination comprising an engine cooling fan turning about a predetermined axis, a drive structure for turning said fan about said axis, spacer means axially between said fan and drive structure for holding the fan in predetermined spaced relation to the drive structure, and means for securing said fan to said drive structure with said spacer means therebetween, said spacer means including a spacer body having centering means at a first end thereof for locating said fan in predetermined centered relation with respect to said body, said spacer body containing a pilot recess extending generally axially into its second end, there being a pilot projection associated with said drive structure and projecting into said recess, said recess having a peripheral wall extending about said projection and forming a plurality of circularly spaced elongated ribs having radially innermost surfaces engaging the outer surface of said projection in centering relation, said innermost surfaces of the ribs extending at a uniform radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the recess toward said first end of the body, said wall forming intermediate surface areas circularly between said ribs which commence at a radial distance from said axis greater than that of said radially innermost surfaces of the ribs, and out of contact with said pilot projection, and which intermediate surface areas taper progressively to a reduced radial distance from said axis as they advance more deeply into the body toward said first end thereof, said ribs extending substantially directly axially and being of convexly rounded cross sectional configuration, said intermediate surface areas having circular extents several times as great as the circular extents of said ribs.

Claim 20

The combination as recited in claim 13, in which said drive structure includes a water pump rotor having a shaft with a forward externally cylindrical portion forming said pilot projection and engaging the inner surfaces of said ribs, and including means disposed about said shaft and forming a transverse shoulder perpendicular to said axis, said spacer body having front and rear planar surfaces perpendicular to said axis and engaging said fan and said shoulder respectively in spacing relation, said centering means including a short pilot projection extending into an opening in said fan in centering relation and having an external cylindrical surface engaging and locating the fan, said means securing the fan to said drive structure including a series of circularly spaced bolts extending axially at circularly spaced locations and clamping said fan and shoulder against opposite ends of said spacer body, said body containing a series of circularly spaced passages through which said bolts extend.