Cross flow fan

Abstract

A fan for a cross flow fan assembly, including a plurality of elongate fan blades supported in an axial cylindrical pattern about a rotational axis by disk shape fan blade mounting members located adjacent ends of the blades. The fan blades have radial outer end portions defining an outer diameter of the fan, radial inner end portions opposite the radial outer end portions, and curved intermediate portions between the radial outer end portions and the radial inner end portions, respectively. Each of the fan blades is oriented such that the radial outer end is at about a 28° angle to a line tangent to the fan diameter at the outer end portion thereof, and the radial inner end portion is directed radially inwardly directly toward the axis or such that a line tangential to the radial inner end portion will pass through the axis.

1 . A cross flow fan for a cleaning system of an agricultural combine, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate fan blades supported in an axial cylindrical pattern about a rotational axis of the fan by disk shape fan blade mounting members located adjacent axial ends of the blades and rotatable about the axis, the fan blades having radial outer end portions defining an outer diameter of the fan, radial inner end portions opposite the radial outer end portions, and curved intermediate portions between the radial end portions, respectively;    wherein each of the fan blades is oriented such that the radial outer end portion is at about a 28° angle to a line tangent to the fan diameter at the radial outer end portion and the radial inner end is directed radially inwardly directly toward the axis.    
   
   
       2 . The cross flow fan of  claim 1 , wherein the radial outer end portions of adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 2.3 and 2.4 inches.  
   
   
       3 . The cross flow fan of  claim 2 , wherein the radial inner end portions of the adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 1.6 and 1.7 inches.  
   
   
       4 . The cross flow fan of  claim 3 , wherein each fan blade has an overall width as measured between the radial end portions thereof of between about 2.5 and 2.6 inches.  
   
   
       5 . The cross flow fan of  claim 4 , wherein the curved intermediate portion of each of the fan blades has a radius of curvature of between about 2.0 and 2.1 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The cross flow fan of  claim 1 , wherein the disk shape fan blade mounting members each include axially facing curved grooves for receiving and holding longitudinal ends of the fan blades, at least the grooves of a center one of the mounting members being adapted for receiving and holding alternating ones of the blades extending in opposite directions.  
   
   
       7 . A cross flow fan for an agricultural combine for generating and directing a flow of air to a cleaning system of the combine, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate fan blades supported in an axial cylindrical pattern about a rotational axis by disk shape fan blade mounting members located adjacent axial ends of the blades and rotatable about the axis, each of the fan blades having a radial outer end portion defining an outer diameter of the fan, a radial inner end portion opposite the radial outer end portion, and a curved shape extending between the radial end portions;    wherein each of the fan blades is oriented such that the radial outer end portion is oriented at about a 28° angle to a line tangent to the fan diameter at the radial outer end portion and the radial inner end portion is oriented such that a line tangent thereto will pass through the axis.    
   
   
       8 . The cross flow fan of  claim 7 , wherein the radial outer end portions of adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 2.3 and 2.4 inches.  
   
   
       9 . The cross flow fan of  claim 8 , wherein the radial inner end portions of the adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 1.6 and 1.7 inches.  
   
   
       10 . The cross flow fan of  claim 7 , wherein each fan blade has an overall width as measured between the radial end portions thereof of between about 2.5 and 2.6 inches.  
   
   
       11 . The cross flow fan of  claim 7 , wherein the curve shape of each of the fan blades has a radius of curvature of between about 2.0 and 2.1 inches.  
   
   
       12 . The cross flow fan of  claim 7 , wherein the disk shape fan blade mounting members each include axially facing curved grooves for receiving and holding longitudinal ends of the fan blades, at least the grooves of a center one of the mounting members being adapted for receiving and holding alternating ones of the blades extending in opposite directions.  
   
   
       13 . The cross flow fan of  claim 7 , wherein the fan has a diameter of from about 15 to about 16 inches.  
   
   
       14 . A cross flow fan for an agricultural combine for generating and directing a flow of air to a cleaning system of the combine, comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate fan blades supported in an axial cylindrical pattern about a rotational axis by disk shape fan blade mounting members located adjacent axial ends of the blades and rotatable about the axis, each of the fan blades having a radial outer end portion defining an outer diameter of the fan, a radial inner end portion opposite the radial outer end portion, and a curved shape extending between the radial end portions;    wherein the fan has a diametrical extent of from about 15 to about 16 inches and each of the fan blades is oriented such that the radial outer end portion is oriented at about a 28° angle to a line tangent to the fan diameter at the radial outer end portion and the radial inner end portion is oriented such that a line tangent thereto will pass through the axis.    
   
   
       15 . The cross flow fan of  claim 14 , wherein the radial outer end portions of adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 2.3 and 2.4 inches.  
   
   
       16 . The cross flow fan of  claim 15 , wherein the radial inner end portions of the adjacent ones of the fan blades are spaced apart by between about 1.6 and 1.7 inches.  
   
   
       17 . The cross flow fan of  claim 14 , wherein each fan blade has an overall width as measured between the radial end portions thereof of between about 2.5 and 2.6 inches.  
   
   
       18 . The cross flow fan of  claim 14 , wherein the curve shape of each of the fan blades has a radius of curvature of between about 2.0 and 2.1 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The cross flow fan of  claim 14 , wherein the disk shape fan blade mounting members each include axially facing curved grooves for receiving and holding longitudinal ends of the fan blades, at least the grooves of a center one of the mounting members being adapted for receiving and holding alternating ones of the blades extending in opposite directions.