Axial fan assembly

Abstract

An axial fan assembly comprises a rotating shaft adapted to be actuated in rotation and axial fan assembly sections. Each assembly section has one rotor, the rotor including a hub rotatably engaged with the shaft and a plurality of blades radially extending from the hub; and one stator in proximity and downstream of each rotor. The stator includes an inner ring rotationally receiving the shaft. A plurality of vanes radially are connected the inner ring, such that a swirl of a flow of air produced by the rotor is reduced when the flow of air goes through the stator. An end-to-end configuration is provided between the axial fan assembly sections so as to increase a static pressure at the outlet of the axial fan assembly.

1 . An axial fan assembly comprising: 
 a rotating shaft adapted to be actuated in rotation;    at least a first and a second axial fan assembly section, each assembly section having: 
 at least one rotor, the rotor including a hub rotatably engaged with the shaft and a plurality of blades radially extending from the hub; and  
 one stator in proximity and downstream of each rotor, the stator including an inner ring rotationally receiving the shaft, and a plurality of vanes radially connected to the inner ring, such that a swirl of a flow of air produced by the rotor is reduced when the flow of air goes through the stator; and  
 an end-to-end configuration between the axial fan assembly sections so as to increase a static pressure at the outlet of the axial fan assembly.  
   
   
   
       2 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vanes have a cross-section becoming progressively curved from a trailing edge to a leading edge.  
   
   
       3 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly comprises at least three of the axial fan assembly section in the end-to-end configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the swirl is eliminated by the stator.  
   
   
       5 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor vanes are defined so as to have a curve.  
   
   
       6 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the rotor has at least one cover plate covering a central portion of the rotor to reduce a back flow passage area through the rotor.  
   
   
       7 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the rotor has one of the cover plates on each side thereof.  
   
   
       8 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the stator has at least one cover plate covering a central portion of the stator, whereby a flow passage in the fan assembly has an annular cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the rotor has one of the cover plates on each side thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the blades has a connector end so as to be connected to the hub of the rotor.  
   
   
       11 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the connector end is retained between a securing ring and the hub.  
   
   
       12 . The fan assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein a set of fasteners secure both the securing ring and the cover plates to the hub.  
   
   
       13 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial fan assembly sections are enclosed in a tunnel consisting of a pair of longitudinal shells.  
   
   
       14 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein an intake portion of the tunnel has a flared shape.  
   
   
       15 . The axial fan assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one access door is provided in any one of the longitudinal shells, to provide access to an interior of the tunnel.