Fan Assembly with External Shroud Drive for Heat Exchanger
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Solution Overview
Problem
The hub of traditional fans in heat transfer systems acts as a barrier, restricting airflow and decreasing the efficiency of heat transfer.
Innovation Solution
A fan assembly with a shroud having an inner flow chamber and radially inwardly extending blades, where the drive assembly is positioned outside the shroud and operatively engaged with teeth on the shroud to rotate the fan, minimizing interference with airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional fan hub structure is used to support the blades, then the fan can be manufactured and operated, but the hub acts as a barrier that restricts airflow and decreases heat transfer efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional hub structure from the fan assembly. Instead of having blades mounted on a central hub, the blades are directly supported by the shroud structure, eliminating the hub that was blocking airflow. This extraction of the harmful hub component resolves the contradiction by removing the airflow barrier while maintaining fan functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent repositions the drive mechanism from a central hub location to an external mounting on the shroud. The drive assembly is mounted on the outer surface of the shroud and engages with teeth on the shroud's outer circumference, moving the driving components from the airflow path to the periphery, thus eliminating airflow restriction while maintaining rotational drive capability.
2Productivity
If the drive assembly is positioned inside the hub to rotate the fan blades, then the fan structure is compact, but the drive components interfere with airflow and reduce system efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The shroud serves as an intermediary structure that performs multiple functions: it supports the blades, provides mounting for the external drive assembly, transmits rotational motion via teeth engagement, and eliminates airflow blockage. By using the shroud as the mediating component for drive assembly attachment, the patent achieves external positioning without increasing overall system complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If a hub structure is used to mount the drive mechanism, then the fan can be rotated, but the hub creates a barrier that reduces the volume of air moving through the heat exchanger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the drive mechanism from the central hub location and relocates it to the external shroud surface. The blades are also extracted from hub-mounted configuration and reconfigured to be supported directly by the shroud inner surface. This dual extraction eliminates the hub structure entirely, maximizing airflow volume while maintaining rotation capability through external teeth-to-teeth engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
A fan assembly includes a fan having a shroud having an inner surface defining a flow chamber and an outer surface defining a plurality of teeth arrayed circularly around a circumference of the shroud. The fan also includes a plurality of blades arranged circularly around a central axis of the fan and extending radially inwardly from the shroud towards the central axis of the fan. Each of the plurality of blades is arranged inside the flow chamber and includes an outer edge connected to the inner surface of the shroud. The fan assembly further includes a drive assembly arranged outside the shroud and operatively engaged with the plurality of teeth of the shroud to rotate the fan around the central axis.