US3910718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Limited deflection flexible bladed fan for use with viscous shear clutch
Assignee: Siemens Bendix Automotive Electronics Ltd
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Filing: 1974-03-18
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-03-18
Abstract
Abstract For use with a viscous shear clutch, a flexible bladed fan having a rigid reinforcement member overlying the upstream side of each flexible blade thereof and extending rearward at an acute angle to the plane of fan rotation a distance greater than 50% of the blade width.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Miller Macewen
- 👤 Richard Paul Beldam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:41
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/26; F04D29/32; F04D29/38; F04D29/382
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
306 words
In an automotive cooling fan, rotatable in a plane, for use with a viscous shear clutch, said fan having a hub and a plurality of fan blade assemblies each comprising an arm extending radially outwardly from said hub and a flexible resilient blade having a leading portion, defined by the direction of fan rotation, extending radially along said arm and connected to said arm radially therealong, said blade having radially spaced inner and outer side edges and extending transversely to a trailing portion thereof terminating in a trailing edge spaced rearwardly of said arm and said blade curved from said arm to a position at said trailing edge downstream of said arm, relative to the direction of airflow from said fan, said blade presenting a transversely extending convex surface on the upstream side thereof, said trailing portion and said trailing edge decambering to a relatively more upstream position as rotational speed increases, and a rigid reinforcement member radially connected to and against the upstream side of said blade leading portion, said reinforcement member extending radially along said leading portion and transversely therefrom toward said blade trailing portion overlying said convex surface, said reinforcement member spaced a progressively greater distance from said blade convex surface toward the trailing portion of said blade, the improvement in which: said reinforcement member extends transversely, at an acute angle to said plane, to a trailing position along a line extending generally radially along said blade and said reinforcement member at radially spaced positions along said line respectively adjacent said inner and outer sidE edges, said line spaced transversely from the connection of said reinforcement member to said blade a distance greater than 50% of the transverse extent of said blade to said blade trailing edge from said connection, whereby said reinforcement member restrains decambering of said blade beyond said acute angle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
306 words
In an automotive cooling fan, rotatable in a plane, for use with a viscous shear clutch, said fan having a hub and a plurality of fan blade assemblies each comprising an arm extending radially outwardly from said hub and a flexible resilient blade having a leading portion, defined by the direction of fan rotation, extending radially along said arm and connected to said arm radially therealong, said blade having radially spaced inner and outer side edges and extending transversely to a trailing portion thereof terminating in a trailing edge spaced rearwardly of said arm and said blade curved from said arm to a position at said trailing edge downstream of said arm, relative to the direction of airflow from said fan, said blade presenting a transversely extending convex surface on the upstream side thereof, said trailing portion and said trailing edge decambering to a relatively more upstream position as rotational speed increases, and a rigid reinforcement member radially connected to and against the upstream side of said blade leading portion, said reinforcement member extending radially along said leading portion and transversely therefrom toward said blade trailing portion overlying said convex surface, said reinforcement member spaced a progressively greater distance from said blade convex surface toward the trailing portion of said blade, the improvement in which: said reinforcement member extends transversely, at an acute angle to said plane, to a trailing position along a line extending generally radially along said blade and said reinforcement member at radially spaced positions along said line respectively adjacent said inner and outer sidE edges, said line spaced transversely from the connection of said reinforcement member to said blade a distance greater than 50% of the transverse extent of said blade to said blade trailing edge from said connection, whereby said reinforcement member restrains decambering of said blade beyond said acute angle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 in which said radially spaced positions are spaced more than 50% of the blade radial extent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 in which said blade is connected to said arm at said acute angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 in which said reinforcement member is connected against said blade in one plane and, adjacent said connection to said blade and rearwardly thereof, is bent upstream and then rearwardly and extends therefrom transversely rearwardly at said acute angle in a second plane spaced upstream from said one plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement claimed in claim 4 in which said blade is connected to said arm at said acute angle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement claimed in claim 5 in which said one and said second planes are parallel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement claimed in claim 6 in which said reinforcement member comprises a continuous web extending radially along said blade leading portion and, integral with said member, a plurality of integral radially spaced fingers transversely extending toward said blade trailing position, said trailing position along said line thereby interrupted by the space between said fingers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement claimed in claim 7 in which said distance is on the order of about 70%.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 in which said reinforcement member comprises a continuous web extending radially along said blade leading portion and, integral with said member, a plurality of integral radially spaced fingers transversely extending toward said blade trailing position, said trailing position along said line thereby interrupted by the space between said fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement claimed in claim 1 in which said distance is on the order of about 70%.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
303 words
In the combination of a viscous shear clutch and an automotive cooling fan, said fan having a hub and a plurality of fan blade assemblies each comprising an arm extending radially outwardly from said hub and a flexible resilient blade having a leading portion, defined by the direction of fan rotation, extending radially along said arm and connected to said arm radially therealong, said blade having radially spaced inner and outer side edges and extending transversely to a trailing portion thereof terminating in a trailing edge spaced rearwardly of said arm and said blade curved from said arm to a position at said trailing edge downstream of said arm, relative to the direction of airflow from said fan, said blade presenting a transversely extending convex surface on the upstream side thereof, said trailing portion and said trailing edge decambering to a relatively more upstream position as rotational speed increases, and a rigid reinforcement member radially connected to and against the upstream side of said blade leading portion, said reinforcement member extending radially along said leading portion and transversely therefrom toward said blade trailing portion overlying said convex surface, said reinforcement member spaced a progressively greater distance from said blade convex surface toward the trailing portion of said blade, the improvement in which: said reinforcement member extends transversely, at an acute angle to said plane, to a trailing position along a line extending generally radially along said blade and said reinforcement member at radially spaced positions along said line respectively adjacent said inner and outer side edges, said line spaced transversely from the connection of said reinforcement member to said blade a distance greater than 50% of the transverse extent of said blade to said blade trailing edge from said connection, whereby said reinforcement member restrains decambering of said blade beyonD said acute angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
303 words
In the combination of a viscous shear clutch and an automotive cooling fan, said fan having a hub and a plurality of fan blade assemblies each comprising an arm extending radially outwardly from said hub and a flexible resilient blade having a leading portion, defined by the direction of fan rotation, extending radially along said arm and connected to said arm radially therealong, said blade having radially spaced inner and outer side edges and extending transversely to a trailing portion thereof terminating in a trailing edge spaced rearwardly of said arm and said blade curved from said arm to a position at said trailing edge downstream of said arm, relative to the direction of airflow from said fan, said blade presenting a transversely extending convex surface on the upstream side thereof, said trailing portion and said trailing edge decambering to a relatively more upstream position as rotational speed increases, and a rigid reinforcement member radially connected to and against the upstream side of said blade leading portion, said reinforcement member extending radially along said leading portion and transversely therefrom toward said blade trailing portion overlying said convex surface, said reinforcement member spaced a progressively greater distance from said blade convex surface toward the trailing portion of said blade, the improvement in which: said reinforcement member extends transversely, at an acute angle to said plane, to a trailing position along a line extending generally radially along said blade and said reinforcement member at radially spaced positions along said line respectively adjacent said inner and outer side edges, said line spaced transversely from the connection of said reinforcement member to said blade a distance greater than 50% of the transverse extent of said blade to said blade trailing edge from said connection, whereby said reinforcement member restrains decambering of said blade beyonD said acute angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement claimed in claim 11 in which said blade is connected to said arm at said acute angle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement claimed in claim 12 in which said reinforcement member comprises a continuous web extending radially along said blade leading portion and, integral with said member, a plurality of integral radially spaced fingers transversely extending toward said blade trailing position, said trailing position along said line thereby interrupted by the space between said fingers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement claimed in claim 13 in which said distance is on the order of about 70%.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement claimed in claim 14 in which said radially spaced positions are spaced more than 50% of the blade radial extent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |