Dual bearing set for cooling a fan of a vehicle
By designing a support group including connecting the coupling, the support member and the rotor, using the sharing design of the first and second bearings and the special structure of the rotor, the problems of excessive load and short life of the support group in the prior art are solved, and a longer working life and lower maintenance costs are achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380075966.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-10-28
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-26
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-10
AI Technical Summary
In the prior art, the bearing set used to support the cooling fans of the vehicle engines causes the bearing to bear a larger load, shorten its working life, and higher production and assembly costs when handling more and more heat.
A support group including connecting a coupling, a support member and a rotor is designed to reduce the load on the bearing by the first and second bearings, and to accommodate larger size auxiliary elements through the special configuration and dimensional design of the rotor.
Extend the working life of the support set, reduce maintenance costs and machine downtime, while reducing production and assembly complexity and cost.
Smart Images
Figure CN120129616A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a support group for supporting a fan for cooling a vehicle engine, and to an assembly comprising a rotary drive shaft, a damper and a support group.
[0002] In the technical field related to internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, it is known that it is necessary to associate said engine with devices for dissipating the heat generated during operation.
[0003] As Figure 1 shown, referring to the state of the art, said device comprises a fan 1 which is designed to push air towards the engine or the radiator and is mounted on a support 3 connected to a pulley 4 which is intended to receive movement from a drive shaft which is mounted on a bearing 5 which is keyed to a support 6 which is fixed to a fixed base of the engine. The support 3 is connected, at the front, to a viscous static coupler 2 etc., which is axially arranged between the fan 1 and the support 3 connected to the pulley and which effects a variable rotational coupling between the pulley 4 and the fan 1.
[0004] In the known construction, the movement receiving pulley 4 for driving the fan 1 is moved by another pulley 10 moved by the drive shaft 11, and a damper 12 is arranged between the drive shaft and the pulley 10, which damper 12 is designed to absorb and damp the torsional stresses generated by the internal combustion engine.
[0005] Generally, the damper 12 can be in the form of a large-diameter disc, with which the pulley can be combined if required.
[0006] Due to the small volume available in the engine compartment, it is envisaged that the fan axis AV is offset with respect to the engine axis AM, and the bearing 5 supporting the movement receiving pulley 4 of the fan is located in the region of the pulley 4 itself, the size of which bearing 5 is designed according to the available space.
[0007] In Figure 1 the arrangement shown, the support 3 supporting the viscous static coupler 2 is thus fixed to the pulley 4 in a position axially upstream of the damper 12 (i.e. close to the base 6 and far from the fan 1), and the bearing 5 is also upstream of the damper 12. The support 3 is also arranged axially upstream of the viscous static coupler 2.
[0008] With this construction, the bearing 5 has to support the loads generated by the belt tension for driving the fan and the protruding weights of the fan assembly and the viscous static coupler.
[0009] However, in recent generations of internal combustion engines, an increasing amount of heat needs to be handled, which has led to a significant increase in the size of the fan and the associated viscous coupling associated with it. This has resulted in an increase in the load acting on bearing 5, which is subjected to greater stress, has a shorter working life, and therefore requires expensive replacement, along with the resulting costs and machine downtime.
[0010] Therefore, the technical problem posed is to provide a support group for supporting the cooling fan of a vehicle engine, which can provide a solution to the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art in order to obtain a longer working life for the said group.
[0011] Regarding this problem, it is also required that the support group should be easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and have a low weight.
[0012] According to the present invention, these results are obtained by a support group for supporting a fan according to the features of claim 1.
[0013] Therefore, according to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a support group for supporting a cooling fan for a vehicle engine, which includes a connecting coupling for coupling with the fan, a support member, and a rotor, which is designed to rotate about a longitudinal axis in order to rotationally drive the coupling, which performs a variable rotational coupling of the rotor and the fan together.
[0014] The support member includes: a base, which is designed to be rigidly fastened to a fixed part of the engine; and an axially extending portion, which extends cantilever-like from the base to an end located near the coupling for coupling with the fan.
[0015] A first bearing is keyed to the axially extending portion of the support member in a position near the base and away from the coupling in use, and a second bearing is keyed to the axially extending portion of the support member in a position near the coupling. The rotor is coaxially mounted on the axially extending portion of the support member and includes a first part and a second part. The first part extends axially away from the coupling and is mounted on the outer ring of the first bearing. The second part extends axially and has a terminal portion away from the base, which is coupled to the coupling for coupling with the fan.
[0016] The first part of the rotor may include an element for receiving rotational motion, which is designed to be connected to a motion generating device, which is driven by a drive shaft; the said motion receiving element is preferably in the form of a pulley.
[0017] The support group further includes a connecting member, which is rigidly connected to the end portion of the second part of the rotor and enables the connection between the rotor and the coupling; the connecting member is connected downstream of the rotor in the axial direction and upstream of the coupling in the axial direction of the connection, and is thus axially located between the said end portion of the rotor and the connecting coupling. The connecting member is preferably in the form of a cover, which is fastened to the end portion of the second rotor part by fastening means.
[0018] According to the invention, the end portion remote from the base and / or the connecting member are mounted on the second bearing.
[0019] Other preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims, which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
[0020] The invention also relates to an assembly, which includes a drive shaft assembly, a damper and a support group according to the appended claims.
[0021] Further details can be obtained from the following description of non-limiting examples of embodiments of the subject matter of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0022] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a fan support group according to the prior art is shown; and
[0023] Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of a fan support group according to the invention is shown.
[0024] As Figure 2 shown, for the purpose of easier illustration only, a pair of reference axes are assumed, namely a longitudinal axis X-X that coincides with or is parallel to the fan axis AV and a transverse / radial axis Y-Y that is perpendicular to the previous axis. A preferred example of an embodiment of a support group 100 for supporting a fan 101 according to the invention is connected to a viscous static coupling 102 (which is coupled to the fan 101), and includes a fixed support member, which includes: a base 106, which is designed to be rigidly fastened to a fixed component of an engine or an engine compartment; and an extension portion 106a, which extends longitudinally / axially in the direction of X-X towards a distal end, which faces the fan 101 in use.
[0025] A first bearing 105a is keyed to the axial extension portion 106a of the base 106 at a position close to the base 160 and remote from the coupling 102 (and thus remote from the fan 101).
[0026] A second bearing 105b is keyed to the axial extension portion 106a at a position remote from the base and close to the end of the axial extension portion 106a facing the fan in use.
[0027] The rotor 104 is coaxially mounted on the extension 106a of the support and is designed to rotate about a longitudinal axis which, in the example, coincides with the axis of rotation AV of the fan 101.
[0028] The rotor 104 comprises:
[0029] - A first part 104a which is axially remote from the fan 101, keyed to the outer ring of the first bearing 105a and includes means for receiving movement which, in the example, include a pulley;
[0030] - A second part 104a which extends axially from the first part 104 towards the coupling 102 and the fan 101 and has an end part 104b1 axially close to the coupling 102 which is mounted on the second bearing 105b.
[0031] The rotor 104 is designed to be rotationally driven by the pulley of the first part 104a which can be connected by a belt to a pulley for generating movement driven by a drive shaft.
[0032] The connecting member 107 is rigidly connected to the end of the second part 104b and is designed to connect the rotor 104 to the viscous coupling 102. The connecting member 107 is in particular coaxial with the rotor and is in the form of a cover for example which is fastened to the end of the second rotor part 104b by fixing means.
[0033] The presence of two bearings 105a, 105b spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal axial direction will allow the loads acting on the support group to be separated so that the first bearing 105a mainly supports the belt tension while the second bearing mainly supports the total cantilever weight of the viscous coupling 102 and the fan 101, thus reducing the loads acting on the bearings and therefore their wear while increasing the duration of the support group and thus reducing maintenance operations, which is beneficial for the lower cost and efficiency of the engine.
[0034] In Figure 2 the arrangement shown, the support for connection to the coupling 102 is fixed to the rotor 104 in a position axially downstream of the damper 112. The first bearing is arranged in a position axially upstream of the damper 112. While the second bearing is arranged axially downstream of the damper 112.
[0035] Due to the special construction and dimensional design of the support member having a base 106 and an axially extending portion 106a, it is also possible to maintain the axial position of the viscous static coupler and the axial distance between the fan axis AV and the engine axis AM unchanged, so that the damper 112 and any pulley integrated therewith (not always present) can be accommodated. Advantageously, the arrangement of the drive shaft, the damper 112 and the fan support group according to the present specification does not require structural changes to the engine compartment and various devices accommodated therein.
[0036] Moreover, in the shown preferred embodiment, the rotor 104 has such a cross-sectional form that a first portion 104a is formed with: a radially outer axial arm 104a1, which is formed as a motion receiving element, such as a pulley; a radially inner axial arm 104a2, which is fastened to the outer ring of the first bearing 105a; and a radial arm 104a3, which extends from the outer axial arm towards the rotation axis AV. The radial arm connects the two axial arms together and has a radially inner end connected to the second portion 104b of the rotor.
[0037] The second portion 104b has: the end portion, which is formed as an axial end arm 104b1 close to the coupler 102; and an axial arm 104b2, which is away from the coupler 102 and is connected to the first rotor portion 104a, particularly to the radially inner end of the radial arm 104a3. Preferably, the distal axial arm 104b2 is arranged radially inwardly with respect to the end arm 104b1 close to the coupler. In this preferred embodiment, a radial arm 104b3 extending from the end arm towards the rotation axis connects the two axial arms 104b1, 104b2 together.
[0038] This construction advantageously allows a larger radial space to be obtained between the first bearing and the second bearing, so that larger-sized auxiliary elements, such as the damper 112, can be accommodated.
[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the connecting member 107 can be mounted on the second bearing 105b, or the second bearing 105b can be arranged in such an axial position that the end portion of the second rotor portion 104b and a part of the connecting member fastened thereto are simultaneously mounted on the second bearing.
[0040] As is known, a viscous static coupler is usually provided for positive connection coaxially with a rotating cover or shaft, for example, by a flange joint or a threaded joint. The present invention is equally applicable to other types of coaxial couplers that can be positively connected axially downstream of the connecting member to variably rotatably connect the rotating connecting member / rotor and the fan together.
[0041] Although described in connection with numerous embodiments and numerous preferred examples of embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood that the scope of protection of this patent is only determined by the following claims.
Claims
1. A support group (100) for supporting a cooling fan (101) for a vehicle engine, the support group comprising: a coupler (102) for coupling with the fan (101); a rotor (104) designed to rotate about a longitudinal axis of rotation (AV) so as to rotationally drive the coupler; and a support member (106); wherein the support member includes: a base (106) designed to be rigidly fastened to a fixed part of the engine; and an axially extending portion (106a) that extends cantileveredly from the base to an end near the coupler (102) for coupling with the fan (101); wherein the support group includes: - a first bearing (105a) keyed to the axially extending portion (106a) of the support member in a position near the base (106) and away from the coupler (102) in use; - a second bearing (105b) keyed to the axially extending portion (106a) of the support member in a position near the coupler; and wherein the rotor (104) is coaxially mounted on the axially extending portion of the support member and includes: a first portion (104a) axially remote from the coupler (102) and keyed to the outer ring of the first bearing (105a); and a second portion (104b) that extends axially and has a distal portion remote from the base, the distal portion being rigidly connected to a connecting member (107) connecting the rotor (104) and the coupler (102), the connecting member (107) being arranged in an axial position between the distal portion of the rotor and the coupler (102); wherein the distal portion of the rotor remote from the base and / or the connecting member (107) is mounted on the second bearing (105b), and the coupler performs a variable rotational coupling between the distal portion and the fan.
2. The support group according to claim 1, wherein: the first portion (104a) of the rotor (104) includes a motion receiving element for receiving rotational motion, the motion receiving element being designed to be connected to a motion generating device driven by a drive shaft.
3. The support group according to claim 2, wherein: the motion receiving element is in the form of a pulley.
4. The support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the connecting member (107) rigidly connected to the end portion (104b1) of the second portion (104b) of the rotor is in the form of a coaxial cover fastened to the end portion of the second rotor portion (104b) by fastening means.
5. The support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the cross-sectional shape of the first portion (104a) of the rotor is formed with: an axially outer arm (104a1) radially outside, the axially outer arm being shaped according to the motion receiving element; and a radial arm (104a3) that extends from the axially outer arm toward the longitudinal axis of rotation (AV) and has a radially inner end connected to the second portion (104b) of the rotor.
6. The support group according to the preceding claim, wherein: The first part (104a) of the rotor also has an axially internal axial arm (104a2) radially inside, and the axially internal axial arm is keyed to the outer ring of the first bearing (105a), and the radial arm connects the axially external axial arm and the axially internal axial arm of the first part.
7. The support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The cross-sectional shape of the second part (104b) is formed with: the end part, the end part includes an axially end arm (104b1) near the coupler (102); and a distal axially arm (104b2), the distal axially arm is away from the coupler (102) and is connected to the first part (104a) of the rotor, in particular to the radially inner end of the radial arm (104a3) of the first part (104a).
8. The support group according to the preceding claim, wherein: The distal axially arm (104b2) of the second part (104b) of the rotor (104) is arranged radially inside relative to the axially end arm (104b1) near the coupler, and a radial arm (104b3) extending from the axially end arm (104b1) towards the axis of rotation connects the axially end arm and the distal axially arm (104b1, 104b2).
9. The support group according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The second bearing (105b) is arranged in an axial position such that the axially end arm (104b1) near the coupler is keyed to the outer ring of the second bearing (105b).
10. The support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The coupler is a bonded static coupler.
11. The support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The coupler is coaxially and positively connected to the connecting member (107).
12. An assembly including a drive shaft rotating about a drive axis (AM) and the support group according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The drive shaft is coaxially connected to a damper (112), the damper (112) is arranged downstream of the drive shaft along the drive axis, the longitudinal axis of rotation of the rotor is parallel and axially offset relative to the drive shaft, and the damper (112) is arranged in an axial position between the first bearing and the second bearing of the support group.
13. The assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein: A motion generating element for generating the motion of the rotor is rotationally driven by the drive shaft and is connected to the motion receiving element of the rotor (104) of the support group through a transmission device, and the motion generating element is in particular a pulley.
14. The assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein: The motion generating element is axially arranged upstream of the damper (112).