US2007231128A1PendingUtilityA1

Fan assembly

45
Assignee: CATERPILLER INCPriority: Mar 31, 2006Filed: Mar 31, 2006Published: Oct 4, 2007
Est. expiryMar 31, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James J. Callas
F04D 29/164
45
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a fan including a plurality of fan blades, and each of the fan blades includes a tip. The fan assembly also includes a fan shroud surrounding the fan blades. The fan shroud includes a recess, and the recess includes an inner surface and at least two side surfaces. The fan assembly also includes at least one flexible member provided on at least one of the surfaces of the recess or the tips of the fan blades. At least one of a portion of the at least one flexible member or the tips of the fan blades is received in the recess.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A fan assembly comprising: 
 a fan including a plurality of fan blades, each of the fan blades including a tip;    a fan shroud surrounding the fan blades, the fan shroud including a recess, the recess including an inner surface and at least two side surfaces; and    at least one flexible member provided on at least one of the surfaces of the recess or the tips of the fan blades, at least one of a portion of the at least one flexible member or the tips of the fan blades being received in the recess.    
   
   
       2 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member includes a plurality of fibers.  
   
   
       3 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fibers are attached to a mat, the mat being adhered to the at least one of the surfaces of the recess or the tips of the fan blades.  
   
   
       4 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fibers are provided on the inner surface and the side surfaces of the recess.  
   
   
       5 . The fan assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of fibers are provided on the entire inner surface and the entire side surfaces of the recess.  
   
   
       6 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the fan blades further include side edges, and the plurality of fibers are provided on at least a portion of the side edges of the fan blades and the tips of the fan blades.  
   
   
       7 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fibers provided on the fan blades are integrally formed with the fan blades.  
   
   
       8 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fibers are provided on the inner surface and the side surfaces of the recess.  
   
   
       9 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member includes at least one spring on each of the tips of the fan blades, and a cover for covering the at least one spring.  
   
   
       10 . The fan assembly of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the cover is received in the recess of the fan shroud.  
   
   
       11 . The fan assembly of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of fibers are provided on the inner surface and the side surfaces of the recess.  
   
   
       12 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member includes a flexible edge section.  
   
   
       13 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one flexible member is formed of at least one of carbon fiber, plastic, nylon, polyethylene, or rubber.  
   
   
       14 . A fan assembly configured to draw air flow through a radiator associated with an engine, the fan assembly comprising: 
 a fan including a plurality of fan blades, each of the fan blades including a tip;    a fan shroud surrounding the fan blades;    at least one spring on each of the tips of the fan blades; and    a cover for covering the at least one spring, the cover being attached to the spring.    
   
   
       15 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the fan shroud includes a recess in which at least a portion of each of the covers is received.  
   
   
       16 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the cover extends over the tip of the associated fan blade.  
   
   
       17 . A fan assembly configured to draw air flow through a radiator associated with an engine, the fan assembly comprising: 
 a fan including a plurality of fan blades, each of the fan blades including a tip;    a fan shroud surrounding the fan blades, the fan shroud including a recess, the recess including an inner surface and at least two side surfaces; and    a plurality of fibers provided on at least one of the surfaces of the recess or the tips of the fan blades, at least a portion of the fibers being received in the recess.    
   
   
       18 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fibers are attached to at least one mat, the at least one mat being adhered to the inner surface and the side surfaces of the recess.  
   
   
       19 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the fan blades further include side edges, and the plurality of fibers are provided on at least a portion of the side edges of the fan blades and the tips of the fan blades.  
   
   
       20 . The fan assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of fibers provided on the fan blades are integrally formed with the fan blades.

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