Fan assembly

Abstract

A fan assembly includes a first fan and a second fan spaced from the first fan. The first fan includes a first central portion and a plurality of first fan blades being supported by the first central portion. The second fan includes a second central portion and a plurality of second fan blades being supported by the second central portion. The fan assembly also includes a single drive unit configured to selectively operate both of the first and second fans. The single drive unit is spaced from at least one of the first and second fans to indirectly operate at least one of the fans.

1 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a first fan including a first central portion disposed along a first axis and a plurality of first fan blades being supported by the first central portion and spaced radially away from the first axis;   a second fan spaced from the first fan, with the second fan including a second central portion disposed along a second axis and a plurality of second fan blades being supported by the second central portion and spaced radially away from the second axis; and   a single drive unit configured to selectively operate both of the first and second fans, with the single drive unit being spaced from at least one of the first and second fans to indirectly operate at least one of the fans.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the single drive unit is coupled to one of the first and second central portions to directly operate the corresponding one of the fans, and the single drive unit is spaced from the other one of the first and second fans to indirectly operate the other one of the fans. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein one of the first and second fans includes a plurality of magnets, with the single drive unit interacting with the magnets in a spaced apart relationship when indirectly operating the respective one of the first and second fans which causes one of the plurality of first and second fan blades to rotate about the first and second axes respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the single drive unit includes an armature disposed proximal to, and spaced from, the magnets, with the single drive unit configured to electrify the armature when operating the respective one of the first and second fans which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate one of the plurality of first and second fan blades. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein:
 each of the first and second fan blades includes a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end of each of the first and second fan blades being disposed closer to the respective first and second axes than the respective distal end of the first and second fan blades; and 
 the magnets are disposed closer to the distal end of one of the plurality of first and second fan blades than the proximal end of the respective first and second fan blades. 
 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein one of the first and second fans includes an outer ring spaced from the respective first and second central portions such that the respective plurality of first and second fan blades are disposed between the outer ring and the respective central portion, with the magnets being supported by the outer ring. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the single drive unit includes an armature disposed proximal to, and spaced from, the outer ring, with the single drive unit configured to indirectly operate one of the first and second fans by electrifying the armature which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate one of the plurality of first and second fan blades. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the second fan includes the outer ring and the magnets, and the plurality of second fan blades are disposed between the outer ring and the second central portion, and wherein the armature is disposed proximal to the outer ring of the second fan, with the single drive unit configured to electrify the armature when operating the second fan which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate the plurality of second fan blades. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the single drive unit includes a single motor coupled to the first fan to directly operate the first fan to rotate the first fan blades, with the single motor overlapping the first central portion such that the first central portion is at least partially blocked by the single motor axially relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the second central portion include a plurality of spokes spaced from each other to create openings through the second central portion which allows more gaseous fluid to flow through the second fan than the first fan. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the single drive unit includes a controller configured to control the single motor and the armature. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a shroud supporting the first and second fans, wherein the single drive unit includes an armature fixed to the shroud and disposed outside of the first and second fans, and wherein one of the first and second fans includes a plurality of magnets that respond to electrification of the armature to selectively rotate one of the plurality of first and second fan blades due to the armature acting as a stator that drives motion of one of the first and second fan blades through the magnets as a rotor. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 12  wherein:
 the shroud defines a first aperture disposed along the first axis and a second aperture disposed along the second axis, with the first and second apertures spaced from each other; 
 the first fan is disposed in the first aperture and the second fan is disposed in the second aperture; 
 the shroud includes a first wall defining a periphery of the first aperture, with the first wall facing the first axis; 
 the shroud includes a second wall defining a periphery of the second aperture, with the second wall facing the second axis; 
 the second fan includes a plurality of magnets spaced from each other; 
 the single drive unit includes an armature secured to the shroud adjacent to the second wall, with the armature disposed proximal to, and spaced from, the magnets; and 
 the single drive unit is configured to indirectly operate the second fan by electrifying the armature which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate the second fan blades. 
 
     
     
         14 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the armature includes a main body and at least one finger extending outwardly away from the main body, with the finger facing the magnets, and wherein the single drive unit is configured to electrify the main body and the finger when operating the second fan. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the single drive unit includes a single motor coupled to the first fan to directly operate the first fan to rotate the first fan blades, with the single motor overlapping the first central portion such that the first central portion is at least partially blocked by the single motor axially relative to the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the second central portion includes a plurality of spokes spaced from each other to create openings through the second central portion to allow a flow of gaseous fluid therethrough. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein:
 the first and second fans each include an outer ring spaced radially away from the first and second central portions respectively; 
 the first fan blades are disposed between the first central portion and the outer ring of the first fan; 
 the second fan blades are disposed between the second central portion and the outer ring of the second fan; 
 the second fan includes a plurality of magnets supported by the outer ring of the second fan; and 
 the single drive unit includes an armature disposed proximal to, and spaced from, the outer ring of the second fan, with the single drive unit configured to electrify the armature when operating the second fan which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate the second fan blades. 
 
     
     
         18 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 17  wherein:
 at least part of the single drive unit overlaps the first central portion such that the first central portion is at least partially blocked by the at least part of the single drive unit axially relative to the first axis; and 
 the second central portion include a plurality of spokes spaced from each other to create openings through the second central portion to allow a flow of gaseous fluid therethrough. 
 
     
     
         19 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a shroud;   a first fan supported by the shroud and including a first central portion and a plurality of first fan blades being supported by the first central portion;   a second fan spaced from the first fan and supported by the shroud, with the second fan including a second central portion and a plurality of second fan blades being supported by the second central portion; and   a single drive unit configured to selectively operate both of the first and second fans, with the single drive unit being spaced from at least one of the first and second fans to indirectly operate at least one of the fans.   
     
     
         20 . The assembly as set forth in  claim 19  wherein:
 the single drive unit includes a single motor coupled to the first fan to directly operate the first fan to rotate the first fan blades, with the single motor overlapping the first central portion such that the first central portion is at least partially blocked by the single motor axially relative to the first central portion; 
 the second fan includes a plurality of magnets facing the shroud; 
 the single drive unit includes an armature disposed proximal to, and spaced from, the magnets, with the single drive unit configured to indirectly operate the second fan by electrifying the armature which in turn causes the magnets to interact with the armature and rotate the second fan blades; and 
 the single motor is spaced from the second fan such that more gaseous fluid flows through the second fan than the first fan.