End ring of fan wheel of a fan coil unit including a flange

Abstract

A fan wheel of a blower fan includes a first base portion including a first flange, a second base portion including a second flange and a plurality of blades extending between the first base portion and the second base portion. The fan wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation. A first end ring is attached to an inner perimeter of the first base portion, the first end ring including a third flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation. A second end ring is attached to an inner perimeter of the second base portion, the second end ring including a fourth flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation.

1 . A fan wheel of a blower fan, the fan wheel comprising:
 a first base portion including a first flange;   a second base portion including a second flange;   a plurality of blades extending between the first base portion and the second base portion, wherein the fan wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation;   a first end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the first base portion, the first end ring including a third flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation; and   a second end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the second base portion, the second end ring including a fourth flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation.   
   
   
       2 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of blades define a wheel outer diameter and the third flange and the fourth flange define an end ring outer diameter, and the end ring outer diameter is greater than the wheel outer diameter. 
   
   
       3 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first flange and the second flange are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       4 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the first end ring and the second end ring are substantially identical. 
   
   
       5 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the third flange and the fourth flange are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       6 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the third flange and the fourth flange are transverse to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       7 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  further including a wheel disc attached to each of the plurality of blades at a location that is substantially equidistant from a first end and an opposing second end of the plurality of blades, wherein the wheel disc includes a hub that receives a shaft of a motor, and the motor rotates the shaft to rotate the fan wheel about the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       8 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of blades are substantially parallel. 
   
   
       9 . The fan wheel as recited in  claim 1  wherein the fan wheel is substantially cylindrical. 
   
   
       10 . A fan coil unit comprising:
 a coil, wherein refrigerant flows through the coil; and   a blower fan that draws air over the coil to exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the coil, wherein the blower fan includes a housing and a fan wheel located in the housing,   wherein the fan wheel includes a first base portion including a first flange, a second base portion including a second flange and a plurality of blades extending between the first base portion and the second base portion, wherein the fan wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and   wherein the fan wheel includes a first end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the first base portion, the first end ring including a third flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation, and a second end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the second base portion, the second end ring including a fourth flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation.   
   
   
       11 . The fan coil unit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the plurality of blades define a wheel inner diameter and the third flange and the fourth flange define an end ring inner diameter, the housing includes an inlet orifice having an orifice diameter, and the orifice diameter is substantially equal to the end ring inner diameter and greater than the wheel inner diameter, and the fan wheel draws air over the coil and into the inlet orifice of the housing and discharges the air through an outlet of the housing. 
   
   
       12 . The fan coil unit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the plurality of blades define a wheel outer diameter and the third flange and the fourth flange define an end ring outer diameter, and the end ring outer diameter is greater than the wheel outer diameter. 
   
   
       13 . The fan coil unit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the first flange and the second flange are substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       14 . The fan coil unit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the third flange and the fourth flange are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       15 . The fan coil unit as recited in  claim 10  wherein the third flange and the fourth flange are transverse to the axis of rotation. 
   
   
       16 . A refrigeration system comprising:
 a compressor for compressing a refrigerant;   a condenser for cooling the refrigerant;   an expansion device for expanding the refrigerant; and   a fan coil unit including an evaporator coil and a blower fan, wherein the refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil and the blower fan draws air over the evaporator coil to reject heat to the refrigerant, wherein the blower fan includes a housing and a fan wheel located in the housing,   wherein the fan wheel includes a first base portion including a first flange, a second base portion including a second flange and a plurality of blades extending between the first base portion and the second base portion, wherein the fan wheel is rotatable about an axis of rotation, and   wherein the fan wheel includes a first end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the first base portion, the first end ring including a third flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation, and a second end ring attached to an inner perimeter of the second base portion, the second end ring including a fourth flange that extends outwardly relative to the axis of rotation.