Fan motor assembly with noise suppression

Abstract

A low-noise air moving motor assembly includes a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft, a fan assembly coupled to the rotatable shaft which generates an airflow that passes over at least a portion of the motor assembly. A self-extinguishing flame and noise suppression sleeve is at least partially disposed around the motor assembly. Ideally, the sleeve is a 94 V-0 rated foam material. The fan assembly includes a fan secured to the shaft, a diffuser/bracket assembly coupled to the motor assembly which rotatably receives the shaft. A fan shroud is secured to the diffuser/bracket assembly, wherein rotation of the fan draws air in through the fan shroud and out the diffuser/bracket assembly, the diffuser/bracket assembly having at least one foam piece coupled to curvilinear vanes reduce the noise of air flowing therethrough.

1 . A low-noise air moving motor assembly comprising: 
 a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft;    a fan assembly coupled to said rotatable shaft which generates an airflow that passes over at least a portion of said motor assembly; and    a self-extinguishing flame and noise suppression sleeve at least partially disposed around said motor assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan assembly has an outer diameter and wherein said noise suppression sleeve has a sleeve diameter disposed about said fan assembly outer diameter.  
   
   
       3 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said noise suppression sleeve is a foam material with self-extinguishing flame properties.  
   
   
       4 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a sleeve cover attached to said noise suppression sleeve;    said noise suppression sleeve having a shroud end attached to said fan assembly opposite a distal edge which forms a sleeve opening, and said sleeve cover is attached to said distal edge.    
   
   
       5 . The assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said sleeve has a cover hole therethrough and wherein said motor assembly extends through said cover hole.  
   
   
       6 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sleeve is in touching contact with said motor assembly.  
   
   
       7 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said noise suppression sleeve has a shroud end attached to said fan assembly opposite a distal edge.  
   
   
       8 . The assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said distal edge is curved inwardly to form a sleeve opening.  
   
   
       9 . The assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said motor assembly extends through said sleeve opening and said distal edge is in touching contact with said motor assembly.  
   
   
       10 . The assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said fan assembly comprises: 
 a fan secured to said shaft;    a diffuser/bracket assembly coupled to said motor assembly, said diffuser/bracket assembly rotatably receiving said shaft;    a fan shroud secured to said diffuser/bracket assembly, wherein rotation of said fan draws air in through said fan shroud and out said diffuser/bracket assembly, said diffuser/bracket assembly having at least one foam piece coupled thereto to reduce the noise of air flowing therethrough.    
   
   
       11 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said diffuser/bracket assembly comprises: 
 a fan end bracket; and    a diffuser coupled to said fan end bracket;    said fan end bracket comprising a planar plate having bracket openings therethrough adjacent said at least one motor bracket, said at lest one foam piece disposed on said at least one motor bracket adjacent said bracket opening to absorb noise.    
   
   
       12 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said diffuser/bracket assembly comprises: 
 a fan end bracket having at least one motor bracket for carrying said motor assembly, said fan end bracket having a motor opening therethrough; and    a diffuser coupled to said fan end bracket, said diffuser having a plurality of peripheral openings therethrough, said diffuser having a plurality of blades extending from one side thereof toward said fan end bracket, said at least one foam piece disposed on at least one of said plurality of blades to absorb noise.    
   
   
       13 . The assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said blades are curvilinear and provide a concave surface, said foam being disposed on said concave surfaces.  
   
   
       14 . The assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said diffuser/bracket assembly comprises: 
 a fan end bracket having at least one motor bracket for carrying said motor assembly, said fan end bracket having a motor opening therethrough; and    a diffuser coupled to said fan end bracket, said diffuser having a plurality of channels extending from one side thereof toward said fan end bracket, said at least one foam piece disposed on at least one of said plurality of blades to absorb noise.    
   
   
       15 . The assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said channels are curvilinear and provide a concave surface, said foam being disposed on said concave surfaces.  
   
   
       16 . A low noise air-moving motor assembly, comprising: 
 a motor assembly having a rotatable shaft; and    a fan assembly coupled to said motor assembly, said fan assembly including a fan secured to said shaft;    a fan end bracket for carrying said motor assembly, said fan end bracket having bracket openings therethrough, and a diffuser coupled to said fan end bracket, said diffuser having openings therethrough, wherein rotation of said fan generates an airflow that passes through said bracket openings and said openings, said fan end bracket carrying at least one foam piece to absorb noise generated by said fan.    
   
   
       17 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a noise suppression sleeve at least partially disposed around said motor assembly.    
   
   
       18 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said fan end bracket has at least one motor bracket for carrying said motor assembly, said bracket openings adjacent said at least one motor bracket, said at least one motor bracket having noise suppression foam disposed thereon.  
   
   
       19 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said diffuser has a plurality of curvilinear blades which direct the airflow from the fan toward said motor assembly, said curvilinear blades having noise suppression foam disposed thereon.  
   
   
       20 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a noise suppression sleeve at least partially disposed around said motor assembly, wherein said sleeve and said at least one foam piece exhibits self-extinguishing flame properties.    
   
   
       21 . The assembly according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a fan shroud at least partially enclosing said fan assembly and secured to said fan end bracket, said fan shroud having an inlet port.    
   
   
       22 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a noise suppression sleeve positioned about said fan assembly, wherein said fan shroud has a plurality of exhaust ports, and said sleeve is placed in close proximity to said exhaust ports.    
   
   
       23 . The assembly according to  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a noise suppression sleeve having at least one internal flange that forms a labyrinth flow path, said fan shroud having a tangential exhaust port, and said sleeve fitting upon said tangential exhaust port.