Circumferential arc segment motor cooling fan

Abstract

A cooling fan according to the present invention includes a housing. A fan assembly includes a plurality of fan blades carrying a rotor ring at the outer circumference of the fan assembly. A plurality of stator elements are supported by the housing to confront the rotor ring around only a portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly. A motor controller is operatively connected to the stator elements to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly.

1 . A cooling fan system comprising: 
 a first housing;    a fan assembly having an outer circumference and including a plurality of fan blades and a rotor ring carried at the outer circumference of the fan assembly;    a first plurality of stator elements supported by the first housing to confront the rotor ring around only a first portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly; and    a motor controller operatively connected to the first plurality of stator elements to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         2 . The cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor ring includes a plurality of permanent magnets and the first plurality of stator elements is configured as a brushless DC (BLDC) motor.  
     
     
         3 . The cooling fan system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor ring includes a plurality of metal laminations and the first plurality of stator elements is configured as a switched reluctance motor (SRM).  
     
     
         4 . The cooling fan system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second housing; and    a second plurality of stator elements supported by the second housing to confront the rotor ring around only a second portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the second plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         5 . The cooling fan system of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second housings are arranged symmetrically around the rotor ring.  
     
     
         6 . The cooling fan system of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a third housing;    a fourth housing;    a third plurality of stator elements supported by the third housing to confront the rotor ring around only a third portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the third plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly; and    a fourth plurality of stator elements supported by the fourth housing to confront the rotor ring around only a fourth portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the fourth plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the rotor ring to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         7 . The cooling fan system of  claim 6 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth housings are arranged symmetrically around the rotor ring.  
     
     
         8 . A cooling fan system comprising: 
 a first housing located in an outer perimeter portion of the fan area;    a fan assembly having an outer circumference and comprising: 
 a hub mounted on a journal; and  
 a plurality of fan blades supported by the hub, the fan blades having a configuration selected based on a desired cooling performance of the cooling fan system;  
   a first plurality of stator elements supported by the first housing around a first portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly; and    a motor controller operatively connected to the first plurality of stator elements to induce force on the fan assembly to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         9 . The cooling fan system of  claim 8 , wherein the fan assembly includes a rotor ring carried by the fan blades at the outer circumference of the fan assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The cooling fan system of  claim 9 , wherein the rotor ring includes a plurality of permanent magnets and the first plurality of stator elements is configured as a brushless DC (BLDC) motor.  
     
     
         11 . The cooling fan system of  claim 9 , wherein the rotor ring includes a plurality of metal laminations and the first plurality of stator elements is configured as a switched reluctance motor (SRM).  
     
     
         12 . The cooling fan system of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 a second housing located in the outer perimeter portion of the fan area; and    a second plurality of stator elements supported by the second housing around a second portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the second plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the fan assembly to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         13 . The cooling fan system of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second housings are arranged symmetrically around the fan assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The cooling fan system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a third housing located in the outer perimeter portion of the fan area;    a fourth housing located in the outer perimeter portion of the fan area;    a third plurality of stator elements supported by the third housing around a third portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the third plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the fan assembly to turn the fan assembly; and    a fourth plurality of stator elements supported by the fourth housing around a fourth portion of the outer circumference of the fan assembly, the fourth plurality of stator elements being operatively connected to the motor controller to induce force on the fan assembly to turn the fan assembly.    
     
     
         15 . The cooling fan system of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth housings are arranged symmetrically around the fan assembly.