Inventors:
Phillip D. Morgan - Noblesville IN
Kevin M. Cahill - Fishers IN
Phillip B. Cutler - Indianapolis IN
Assignee:
Engineered Cooling Systems, Inc. - Indianapolis IN
International Classification:
F04D 2934
Abstract:
The invention provides a more durable composite fan assembly with a metal hub including a portion adapted for rotation and for engagement with a plastic body and including at least one peripheral portion offset from its plane of rotation, and a plastic body forming a plurality of air-moving blades molded in engagement with the offset peripheral portion of the metal hub. The offset peripheral portion of the metal hub can comprise a number of configurations, for example, it can comprise one or more annular portions formed adjacent the periphery of the hub, including but not limited to, a complete annulus offset from the plane of rotation of the hub periphery. The offset peripheral portion can also comprise one or more portions at the periphery of the metal hub, which are out of the plane of rotation, preferably so that at least two offset portions extend out of the plane of rotation at an acute angle of about 10. degree. to 30. degree. on one or both sides of their plane of rotation. The offset portion may be formed by a plurality of peripheral portions which are formed to provide a wavy peripheral portion of the metal hub, including, for example, a plurality of joined waffle-like peripheral segments that are alternatingly displaced in both directions from the plane of rotation of the peripheral portion of the central hub.