US5769607A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-pumping, high-efficiency fan with forward-swept blades
Assignee: Valeo Electrical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-04
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Granted: 1998-06-23
•
Expires: 2017-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A blade for a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly. The blade combines a particular distribution of four, key, blade-design parameters--planform sweep, airfoil chord, maximum airfoil camber, and airfoil pitch angle--to achieve a fan assembly having high pumping, high efficiency, and low noise. Specifically, the blade has a planform with a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along the span from the root to a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the tip. The airfoil of the blade has a chord that continuously increases from the root to the tip, a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at the root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at the tip, and a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at the root and not less than about 0.5 at the tip. The pitch angle of the airfoil of the blade defines three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which the pitch angle continuously decreases from the root, where the pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 1/2-span location; (b) a second region in which the pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location, where the pitch angle has a value not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 7/8-span location; and (c) a third region in which the pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location, where the pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, to the tip.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Neely
- 👤 Michael Brendel
- 👤 John R. Savage
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:44
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/26; F04D29/32; F04D29/325; F04D29/326; F04D29/38; F04D29/384; F04D29/386; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S416/00; Y10S416/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A blade adapted for use in a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly and having a root, a tip, and a span between said root and said tip, said blade comprising: a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to said tip; and an airfoil having a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location to said tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A blade adapted for use in a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly and having a root, a tip, and a span between said root and said tip, said blade comprising: a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to said tip; and an airfoil having a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location to said tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The blade according to claim 1 wherein said sweep angle has a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the blade tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The blade according to claim 1 wherein said pitch angle has a value at about the 7/8-span location not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, a value at about the 1/2-span location not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, and a value at said root not exceeding about 120 % of the tip pitch angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The blade according to claim 1 wherein said airfoil has a maximum camber that continuously decreases from said root to said tip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The blade according to claim 4 wherein said airfoil has a chord and a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The blade according to claim 1 wherein said airfoil has a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The blade according to claim 6 wherein said airfoil has a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
104 words
The blade according to claim 1 wherein: said sweep angle has a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the blade tip; said pitch angle has a value at about the 7/8-span location not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, a value at about the 1/2-span location not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, and a value at said root not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle; and said airfoil has a maximum camber that continuously decreases from said root to said tip and a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The blade according to claim 8 wherein said airfoil has a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip and wherein said maximum camber of said airfoil continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising: a central hub; and a plurality of blades each with a root joined to said hub, a tip, a span between said root and said tip, a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to said tip, and an airfoil, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub and each said airfoil having a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location to said tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising: a central hub; and a plurality of blades each with a root joined to said hub, a tip, a span between said root and said tip, a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to said tip, and an airfoil, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub and each said airfoil having a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location to said tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 further comprising an outer ring, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub to said ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 wherein said sweep angle has a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the blade tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 wherein said pitch angle has a value at about the 7/8-span location not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, a value at about the 1/2-span location not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, and a value at said root not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 wherein said airfoil has a maximum camber that, continuously decreases from said root to said tip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 14 wherein said airfoil has a chord and a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 wherein said airfoil has a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 16 wherein said airfoil has a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
106 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 10 wherein: said sweep angle has a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the blade tip; said pitch angle has a value at about the 7/8-span location not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, a value at about the 1/2-span location not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, and a value at said root not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle; and said airfoil has a maximum camber that continuously decreases from said root to said tip and a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The vehicle fan assembly according to claim 18 wherein said airfoil has a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip and wherein said maximum camber of said airfoil continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
267 words
A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising: a central hub; and a plurality of blades each with a root joined to said hub, a tip, a span between said root and said tip, a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at said tip, and an airfoil, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub; each said airfoil having a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip, a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip, a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip, and a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root, where said pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location, where said pitch angle has a value not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location, where said pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, to said tip.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
267 words
A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine, said fan assembly comprising: a central hub; and a plurality of blades each with a root joined to said hub, a tip, a span between said root and said tip, a planform having a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along said span from said root to a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at said tip, and an airfoil, said blades extending generally radially outward from said hub; each said airfoil having a chord that continuously increases from said root to said tip, a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at said root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at said tip, a solidity not greater than about 1.1 at said root and not less than about 0.5 at said tip, and a pitch angle defining three, separate regions: (a) a first region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from said root, where said pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 120% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 1/2-span location, (b) a second region in which said pitch angle continuously increases from about the 1/2-span location, where said pitch angle has a value not less than about 80% of the tip pitch angle, to about the 7/8-span location, and (c) a third region in which said pitch angle continuously decreases from about the 7/8-span location, where said pitch angle has a value not exceeding about 105% of the tip pitch angle, to said tip.
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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) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |