Blower wheel attachment for clothes dryer

Abstract

A blower wheel for a clothes dryer has a plurality of radial fan blades and a hub having a central opening surrounding a center axis of the blower wheel. A first wall portion extends outwardly from the hub adjacent the central opening to at least partially surround the center axis. An electric motor has a shaft with a threaded shaft end portion extending through the central opening and the at least one first wall portion. The threaded shaft end portion has threads arranged in a predetermined orientation. A nut is held within the at least one first wall portion and secured to the threaded shaft end portion whereby the blower wheel rotates with rotation of the shaft.

1 . A blower wheel attachment comprising:
 a blower wheel comprising a plurality of radial fan blades and a hub having a central opening surrounding a center axis of the blower wheel, and the blower wheel comprising at least one first wall portion extending outwardly from the hub adjacent the central opening to at least partially surround the center axis;   an electric motor having a shaft with a threaded shaft end portion extending through the central opening and the at least one first wall portion, the threaded shaft end portion having threads arranged in a predetermined orientation;   a nut held within the at least one first wall portion and secured to the threaded shaft end portion causing the blower wheel to rotate with rotation of the shaft of the motor.   
   
   
       2 . The blower wheel attachment of  claim 1  wherein the nut is tightened on the threads of the threaded shaft portion during initial rotation of the shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The blower wheel attachment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one first wall portion has a hexagonal shape. 
   
   
       4 . The blower wheel attachment of  claim 1  wherein the at least one first wall portion and nut are shaped to provide an interference fit therebetween to hold the nut relative to the at least one first wall portion. 
   
   
       5 . The blower wheel attachment of  claim 1  wherein the shaft has an intermediate portion of diameter larger than that of the threaded shaft end portion thereby providing a shoulder between the intermediate portion and the threaded shaft end portion, and the blower wheel has at least one second wall portion extending from the hub adjacent the central opening on a side of the blower wheel opposite to that supporting the at least one first wall portion, and the shoulder and the intermediate portion of the shaft being seated against the hub within the at least one second wall portion. 
   
   
       6 . A domestic clothes dryer comprising:
 a cabinet;   a drum mounted for rotation within the cabinet;   a blower wheel assembly for moving air through the drum, said blower wheel assembly comprising:   a blower wheel comprising a plurality of radial fan blades and a hub having a central opening surrounding a center axis of the blower wheel, and the blower wheel comprising at least one first wall portion extending outwardly from the hub adjacent the central opening to at least partially surround the center axis;   an electric motor having a shaft with a threaded shaft end portion extending through the central opening and the at least one first wall portion, the threaded shaft end portion having threads arranged in a predetermined orientation;   a nut held within the at least one first wall portion and secured to the threaded shaft end portion causing the blower wheel to rotate with rotation of the shaft of the motor.   
   
   
       7 . The domestic clothes dryer of  claim 6  wherein the nut is tightened on the threads of the threaded shaft portion during initial rotation of the shaft. 
   
   
       8 . The domestic clothes dryer of  claim 6  wherein the at least one first wall portion has a hexagonal shape. 
   
   
       9 . The domestic clothes dryer of  claim 6  wherein the at least one first wall portion and nut are shaped to provide an interference fit therebetween to hold the nut relative to the at least one first wall portion. 
   
   
       10 . The domestic clothes dryer of  claim 6  wherein the shaft has an intermediate portion of diameter larger than that of the threaded shaft end portion thereby providing a shoulder between the intermediate portion and the threaded shaft end portion, and the blower wheel has at least one second wall portion extending from the hub adjacent the central opening on a side of the blower wheel opposite to that supporting the at least one first wall portion, and the shoulder and the intermediate portion of the shaft being seated against the hub within the at least one second wall portion.