Patent ID: 8152495

Claim:
A cooling fan assembly comprising: a hub carrying an electric motor, said hub having an axis of rotation extending therethrough; a plurality of fan blades spaced circumferentially around said hub; an annular venturi radially surrounding said fan blades; and said venturi having at least one opening to allow air to flow radially out through said at least one opening, wherein said at least one opening is positioned substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation and axially adjacent to an outlet side of said venturi such that said at least one opening extends primarily circumferentially around said venturi and in a direction longitudinal with a plane of rotation of said plurality of fan blades, wherein each said fan blade has a leading edge and a trailing edge substantially medially positioned with respect to a width of said opening wherein rotation of said fan blades caused by said electric motor generates axial airflow through said annular venturi and radial airflow through said at least one opening, and wherein the radial airflow increases as the axial airflow decreases to provide a substantially consistent flow of cooling air.