Patent ID: 7654793
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a) a fan; b) a motor which drives the fan: c) a shroud surrounding the fan and situated in operative relationship with a heat exchanger that is mounted on a vehicle, said shroud comprising a plurality of groups of struts comprising a first group of struts and a second group of struts; d) said first group of struts, including i) a first strut extending from the motor to the shroud in a radial direction; and ii) a first plurality of companion struts, parallel with the first strut; and e) said second group of struts, including i) a second strut extending from the motor to the shroud in a radial direction; and ii) a second plurality of companion struts, parallel with the second strut; a third group of struts, including: a third strut extending from the motor to the shroud in a radial direction; and a third plurality of companion struts, being parallel with the third strut; wherein a total number of said second plurality of companion struts is less than a total number of said first plurality of companion struts, said fan, shroud and motor being mounted on the vehicle in operative relationship with said heat exchanger; and wherein no strut-to-strut bracing is present along spans of struts.