Vibration isolating seal for mounting fans and blowers

Claim 1

A vibration isolating and sealing device for mounting a fan having a propeller rotatably secured within a housing, said device comprising: a first, substantially rigid frame; a second, substantially rigid frame; a flexural elastomeric membrane adapted and configured to vibrationally isolate between the first and second frames, disposed and bonded between said first and second frames and being the only structural connection therebetween; said second frame defining therein a central opening equal to or larger than the diameter of the propeller; and being adapted and configured to channel air to the propeller of the fan; and said housing being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to and supportable by one of the frames and the other frame being securable to a support surface; wherein the first and second frames are each of a generally square shape concentrically disposed relative to one another.

Claim 24

A device comprising a housing including a cage portion and a mounting portion axially connected to said cage portion, a fan including a propeller having a plurality of radially extending blades rotatably mounted on a hub, and wherein the mounting portion includes: (a) an outer, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape, and four bulbous protrusions, one disposed between the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, each of said elements having a curved inner surface; (b) an inner, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape; four bulbous protrusions, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, and four crescent flats, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having a curved inner surface configured so as to define a substantially circular opening within said inner frame having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the propeller, each of said elements having a curved outer surface; (c) a flexural membrane of generally continuous square shape and a generally "S" shaped cross-section, wherein said flexural membrane has a curved radially outward surface and a curved radially inward surface, said membrane disposed between and connecting said inner frame to said outer frame, said membrane's outer curved surface being bonded to the inner curved surface of said outer frame and said membrane's inner curved surface being bonded to said outer curved surface of said inner frame; (d) wherein said cage portion is bolted to one of said frames through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said one of said frames; and said other of said frames is bolted to a substantially flat surface on which the fan is to be mounted through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said other of said frames; and (e) wherein said connection between said cage portion and said mount portion and between said mount portion and said flat surface is such as to substantially prevent air passage therethrough when the fan is in operation; (f) whereby said housing is both a vibration isolator and seal.

Claim 25

A device comprising a housing including a cage portion and a mounting portion axially connected to said cage portion, a fan including a propeller having a plurality of radially extending blades rotatably mounted on a hub, and wherein the mounting portion includes: (a) an outer, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape, and four bulbous protrusions, one disposed between the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, each of said elements having a curved inner surface; (b) an inner, substantially rigid frame having four elongate elements of substantially equal length, each one orthogonally connected at each of its ends to an end of another of the elements so as to form a generally square shape; four bulbous protrusions, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having an axially directed hole therethrough, and four crescent flats, one disposed at each of the ends of adjoining elements and having a curved inner surface configured so as to define a substantially circular opening within said inner frame having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the propeller, each of said elements having a curved outer surface; (c) a flexural membrane of generally continuous square shape and a generally "S" shaped cross-section, wherein said flexural membrane has a curved radially outward surface and a curved radially inward surface, said membrane disposed between and connecting said inner frame to said outer frame, said membrane's outer curved surface being bonded to the inner curved surface of said outer frame and said membrane's inner curved surface being bonded to said outer curved surface of said inner frame; (d) wherein said cage portion is bolted to one of said frames through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said one of said frames; and said other of said frames is bolted to a substantially flat surface on which the fan is to be mounted through said holes in said bulbous protrusions of said other of said frames; and (e) wherein said connection between said cage portion and said mount portion and between said mount portion and said flat surface is such as to substantially prevent air passage therethrough when the fan is in operation; (f) whereby said housing is both a vibration isolator and seal.