Fan assembly

Abstract

A fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance includes a fan wheel and a bracket connected to the fan wheel. The fan wheel has a fan wheel latching element and the bracket has a bracket latching element. The fan wheel latching element and the bracket latching element form a latching connection when in contact with one another.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A fan assembly for a refrigeration appliance, the fan assembly comprising:
 a fan wheel having a fan, a flange rotatably connected to said fan and a fan wheel latching element;   said flange having a lateral surface on which said fan wheel latching element is disposed, and said flange having an assembly torque support surface for fixing said flange during assembly of the fan assembly;   a bracket connected to said fan wheel and having a bracket latching element; and   said fan wheel latching element and said bracket latching element forming a latching connection when in contact with each other.   
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 one of said fan wheel latching element or said bracket latching element has a recess;   the other of said fan wheel latching element or said bracket latching element has a lug; and   said lug engages in said recess.   
     
     
         18 . The fan assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said assembly torque support is formed by a flat portion. 
     
     
         19 . The fan assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said fan wheel latching element is one of a multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements ( 216 ) disposed on said lateral surface of said flange in a peripheral direction. 
     
     
         20 . The fan assembly according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 said fan wheel has an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;   said multiplicity of fan wheel latching elements form a first fan wheel latching element group and a second fan wheel latching element group; and   said fan wheel latching elements of said first fan wheel latching element group are offset in said axial direction relative to said fan wheel latching elements of said second fan wheel latching element group.   
     
     
         21 . The fan assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said bracket has a ring, and said bracket latching element is associated with said ring. 
     
     
         22 . The fan assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein said ring has an inner surface on which said bracket latching element is disposed. 
     
     
         23 . The fan assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said bracket latching element is one of a multiplicity of bracket latching elements spaced evenly along said inner surface of said ring in a peripheral direction. 
     
     
         24 . The fan assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said fan wheel has an axis of rotation defining an axial direction;   said multiplicity of bracket latching elements form a first bracket latching element group and a second bracket latching element group; and   said bracket latching elements of said first bracket latching element group are offset in said axial direction relative to said bracket latching elements of said second bracket latching element group.   
     
     
         25 . The fan assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said fan wheel latching element extends radially outward and said bracket latching element extends radially inward. 
     
     
         26 . A fan wheel for a fan assembly according to  claim 16 .