Dual-Sided Centrifugal Fan

Abstract

A dual-sided impeller for a centrifugal blower assembly is provided. The dual-sided impeller comprises a plurality of fan ribs defined in a single continuous metal sheet and extending from a hub toward a circumference of the impeller. Each of the plurality of fan ribs has first and second vanes, wherein the first and second vanes extend in opposing directions relative to a plate region of the impeller. The first and second vanes can comprise one or more of a forward-curved vane, a backward-curved vane, a forward-inclined vane, a backward-inclined vane, and a radial vane. The centrifugal blower assembly comprises a blower housing, wherein the dual-sided impeller is disposed within the blower housing. The dual-sided impeller is continuous and is stamped and/or pressed from a single sheet of metal, such as one or more of a sheet of steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A centrifugal impeller, comprising:
 a hub, wherein a center of the hub defines an axis about which the hub is configured to rotate; and   a plurality of fan ribs extending from the hub toward a circumference of the centrifugal impeller, wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are defined in a continuous metal sheet, wherein each of the plurality of fan ribs comprises a plate region, a first vane and a second vane, wherein the plate region is generally planar and oriented generally perpendicular to the axis, and wherein the first vane and second vane extend from the plate region in respective opposing directions, and wherein the first vane and second vane are respectively one of forward-curved, backward-curved, forward-inclined, backward-inclined, and radial.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , wherein both of the first vane and second vane are one of forward-curved, backward-curved, forward-inclined, backward-inclined, and radial. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , wherein the first vane and second vane extend generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , further comprising a strengthener formed in the continuous metal sheet, wherein the strengthener is associated with one or more of the plurality of fan ribs, and wherein the strengthener provides additional rigidity to the plurality of fan ribs. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 4 , wherein the strengthener comprises a ribbed structure formed in the continuous metal sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous metal sheet comprises an uninterrupted and contiguous sheet of metal. 
     
     
         7 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are formed by one or more of a stamping operation and a pressing operation. 
     
     
         8 . The centrifugal impeller of  claim 1 , wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are unitary and continuous with one another. 
     
     
         9 . A centrifugal blower assembly, comprising:
 a blower housing;   a shaft rotatably coupled to the blower housing along an axis; and   a centrifugal impeller disposed within the blower housing, wherein the impeller comprises:
 a hub coupled to the shaft along the axis; and 
 a plurality of fan ribs extending from the hub toward a circumference of the centrifugal impeller, wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are defined in a continuous metal sheet, wherein each of the plurality of fan ribs comprises a plate region, a first vane and a second vane, wherein the plate region is generally planar and oriented generally perpendicular to the axis, and wherein the first vane and second vane extend from the plate region in respective opposing directions, and wherein the first vane and second vane are respectively one of forward-curved, backward-curved, forward-inclined, backward-inclined, and radial. 
   
     
     
         10 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 9 , wherein both of the first vane and second vane are one of forward-curved, backward-curved, forward-inclined, backward-inclined, and radial. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first vane and second vane extend generally parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a strengthener formed in the continuous metal sheet, wherein the strengthener is associated with at least one or more of the plurality of fan ribs, and wherein the strengthener provides additional rigidity to the plurality of fan ribs. 
     
     
         13 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the strengthener comprises a ribbed structure formed in the continuous metal sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous metal sheet comprises an uninterrupted and contiguous sheet of metal. 
     
     
         15 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are formed by one or more of a stamping operation and a pressing operation. 
     
     
         16 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the continuous metal sheet is comprised of one or more of steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the hub and plurality of fan ribs are unitary and continuous with one another. 
     
     
         18 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the blower housing comprises a first inlet associated with a first side of the impeller, a second inlet associated with a second side of the impeller, and an exhaust. 
     
     
         19 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first inlet and second inlet comprise axial inlets defined in opposing sides of the blower housing. 
     
     
         20 . The centrifugal blower assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the exhaust is positioned radially with respect to the axis.