Curved Fan Motor Support Struts for Torsional Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fan motor mounts require high rigidity while minimizing material usage and maximizing airflow, which existing designs fail to achieve efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A motor carrier design with curved struts that intersect and have a circumferential component, increasing torsional stiffness and minimizing material usage, while allowing for a large airflow opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional radial struts are used to connect outer and inner support parts, then the motor mount achieves basic structural support, but the torsional stiffness is insufficient and material usage is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The struts are curved in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the airflow opening, transforming straight radial connections into curved pathways. This curvature increases the moment of inertia and torsional stiffness of the struts without increasing material quantity, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and material usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The strut design adds a circumferential component to the radial connection, transitioning from a purely radial configuration to a two-dimensional curved configuration in the plane perpendicular to the axis. This dimensional enhancement provides greater structural rigidity while maintaining material efficiency.
2Strength
If more material is used in the motor mount to increase rigidity, then the structural strength improves, but the airflow opening cross-section is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Curved struts achieve higher bending stiffness for the same material quantity compared to straight struts, allowing the motor mount to maintain structural rigidity while occupying less cross-sectional area in the airflow path.
Solution Approach 2:
The design optimizes the curvature radius and strut thickness parameters to achieve the required stiffness-to-area ratio, allowing minimal material placement that maximizes both structural performance and airflow cross-section.
3Ease of manufacture
If straight radial struts are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the torsional stiffness and structural performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The curved strut geometry can be directly formed using injection molding or similar manufacturing processes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving superior torsional stiffness compared to straight struts of equivalent material usage.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the motor mount covers a large cross-section to increase structural stability, then the torsional stiffness improves, but the airflow opening is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
Curved struts provide enhanced structural stability and torsional resistance while occupying minimal cross-sectional area, allowing the motor mount to stabilize the motor assembly without significantly obstructing the airflow opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved strut design concentrates material where it is most effective for torsional resistance (in the curved geometry) while minimizing material presence in the airflow cross-section, creating local optimization of both structural and flow properties.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A motor support for a fan comprises an outer support part (1), an inner support part (3) for mounting a motor (5), struts (4) connecting the outer support part (1) to the inner support part (3), and an airflow opening (7) defining an axis (L). The inner support part (3) is located within the airflow opening (7). The struts (4) divide the airflow opening (7). A first end (40) of each strut (4) is located on the outer support part (1), and a second end (43) of each strut (4) is located on the inner support part (3). The struts (4) are curved in a plane perpendicular to the axis (L). The struts (4) intersect. The motor support according to the invention exhibits high torsional stiffness with a maximized flow cross-section.