Double inlet blower wheel

Abstract

A double inlet blower wheel has a plurality of blades having at least one notch. A center disk has an outer diameter and a plurality of slots disposed about a circumference. The slots extend inwardly from the outer diameter of the center disk. The center disk has roll-over tabs for each of the slots, wherein each of the blades engages a respective one of the slots. The plurality of blades are fully encapsulated about a periphery, where an edge of the blades defines a blower wheel outer diameter, where the outer diameter of the center disk is less than the blower wheel outer diameter. A support disk is coupled to a central region of the center disk, providing a greater thickness of the center disk and adds rigidity to the center disk. A pair of inlet rings also respectively secures opposing ends of each of said plurality of blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A double inlet blower wheel comprising:
 a plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of blades has at least one notch defined along a length thereof;   a center disk having an outer diameter, wherein a plurality of slots are defined in the center disk and are disposed about a circumference thereof, wherein the plurality of slots extend a predetermined distance inwardly from the outer diameter of the center disk, wherein the at least one notch of each of the plurality of blades engages a respective one of said plurality of slots, wherein the center disk fully encapsulates each of the plurality of blades about a periphery of each of the plurality of blades, and wherein an edge of the plurality of blades defines a blower wheel outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the center disk is less than the blower wheel outer diameter; and   a pair of inlet rings respectively securing opposing ends of each of said plurality of blades thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots are equally spaced about a circumference of the center disk. 
     
     
         3 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades are curved when viewed from an axis of rotation of the blower wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the center disk further comprises a support disk operably coupled to a central region thereof, wherein support disk provides a greater thickness of the center disk in the central region than at a periphery of the center disk, and wherein the support disk increases a rigidity of the center disk. 
     
     
         5 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the center disk comprises a plurality of roll-over tabs respectively associated with each of the plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of roll-over tabs are configured to respectively encapsulate the plurality of blades about the periphery thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one notch in each of the plurality of blades comprises a V-shaped notch centered along the length thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of slots further define an inner diameter of the center disk, wherein each of the plurality of blades further has a clearance notch, wherein the clearance notch generally opposes the V-shaped notch, wherein the clearance notch of each of the plurality of blades engages the inner diameter of the center disk, and wherein the plurality of roll-over tabs are configured to respectively engage the V-shaped notch of each of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         8 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 7 , wherein the clearance notch is rectangular. 
     
     
         9 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch in each of the plurality of blades comprises one or more of a V-shaped notch and a clearance notch centered along the length thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A double inlet blower wheel, comprising:
 a plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of blades has at least one notch defined along a length thereof;   a center disk having an outer diameter, wherein a plurality of slots are defined in the center disk and are disposed about a circumference thereof, wherein the plurality of slots extend a predetermined distance inwardly from the outer diameter of the center disk, wherein the at least one notch of each of the plurality of blades engages a respective one of said plurality of slots, wherein the center disk fully encapsulates each of the plurality of blades about a periphery of each of the plurality of blades, and wherein an edge of the plurality of blades defines a blower wheel diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the center disk is less than the blower wheel diameter, wherein the center disk further comprises a support disk operably coupled to a central region thereof, wherein support disk provides a greater thickness of the center disk in the central region than at a periphery of the center disk, and wherein the support disk increases a rigidity of the center disk; and   a pair of inlet rings respectively securing opposing ends of each of said plurality of blades thereto.   
     
     
         11 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 10 , wherein the center disk comprises a plurality of roll-over tabs respectively associated with each of the plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of roll-over tabs are configured to respectively encapsulate the plurality of blades about the periphery thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one notch in each of the plurality of blades comprises a V-shaped notch centered along the length thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of slots further define an inner diameter of the center disk, wherein each of the plurality of blades further has a clearance notch, wherein the clearance notch generally opposes the V-shaped notch, wherein the clearance notch of each of the plurality of blades engages the inner diameter of the center disk, and wherein the plurality of roll-over tabs are configured to respectively engage the V-shaped notch of each of the plurality of blade. 
     
     
         14 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one notch in each of the plurality of blades comprises one or more of a V-shaped notch and a clearance notch centered along the length thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of slots are equally spaced about a circumference of the center disk. 
     
     
         16 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of blades are curved when viewed from an axis of rotation of the blower wheel. 
     
     
         17 . A double inlet blower wheel, comprising:
 a plurality of blades, wherein each of the plurality of blades comprises a V-shaped notch and a clearance notch centered along a length thereof, wherein the clearance notch generally opposes the V-shaped notch;   a center disk having an outer diameter, wherein a plurality of slots are defined in the center disk and are disposed about a circumference thereof, wherein the plurality of slots extend a predetermined distance inwardly from the outer diameter of the center disk therein defining an inner diameter of the center disk, wherein the center disk comprises a plurality of roll-over tabs respectively associated with each of the plurality of slots, and wherein each of the plurality of blades engages a respective one of said plurality of slots, wherein the clearance notch of each of the plurality of blades engages the inner diameter of the center disk, and wherein a plurality of roll-over tabs are configured to respectively engage the V-shaped notch of each of the plurality of blade, therein fully encapsulating the plurality of blades about a periphery thereof, wherein an edge of the plurality of blades defines a blower wheel outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter of the center disk is less than the blower wheel outer diameter, and wherein the center disk further comprises a support disk operably coupled to a central region thereof, wherein support disk provides a greater thickness of the center disk in the central region than at a periphery of the center disk, and wherein the support disk increases a rigidity of the center disk; and   a pair of inlet rings respectively securing opposing ends of each of said plurality of blades thereto.   
     
     
         18 . The double inlet blower wheel of  claim 17 , wherein the clearance notch is rectangular.