Fan guard having channel to direct cooling air to a piston cylinder

Abstract

A pump includes a housing, a shaft supported by the housing, a piston assembly, a fan blade, and a fan guard. The piston assembly includes a piston cylinder and is operably coupled to the shaft. The fan blade is operable to generate cooling flow. The fan guard is mounted to the housing and includes a channel configured to direct at least a first portion of the cooling flow to the piston cylinder.

1 . A pump, comprising: 
 a housing;    a shaft supported by the housing;    a piston assembly including a piston cylinder and being operably coupled to the shaft;    a fan blade operable to generate cooling flow; and    a fan guard mounted to the housing and including a channel configured to direct at least a first portion of the cooling flow to the piston cylinder.    
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the fan blade is mounted to the shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the fan guard further comprises sidewalls defining the channel, the channel having a first end proximate the piston cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the fan guard further comprises a baffle defined at the first end of the channel and configured to direct the cooling flow to the piston cylinder.  
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the baffle is configured to direct the cooling flow to sidewalls of the piston cylinder.  
   
   
       6 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the sidewalls further define a flared portion located proximate a second end of the channel.  
   
   
       7 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is closed on three sides.  
   
   
       8 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein the housing defines a fan cavity, the fan blade is located at least partially within the fan cavity, and the second end of the channel communicates with the fan cavity.  
   
   
       9 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a fan cavity and the fan blade is located at least partially within the fan cavity.  
   
   
       10 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the fan blade extends beyond the fan cavity defined by the housing into a cavity defined by the fan guard.  
   
   
       11 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a stop surface mounted to the shaft, wherein the fan blade includes a hub abutting the stop surface.  
   
   
       12 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface further comprises an eccentric mounted to the shaft and operably coupled to the piston assembly.  
   
   
       13 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is oriented perpendicularly with respect to an axis of the shaft.  
   
   
       14 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing defines vent openings proximate the piston cylinder to allow exhaust of cooling flow directed by the fan guard to the piston cylinder.  
   
   
       15 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor operable to rotate the shaft, wherein the fan guard is configured to direct a second portion of the cooling flow to the motor.  
   
   
       16 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bearing supporting the shaft, wherein the fan guard is configured to direct a second portion of the cooling flow to the bearing.  
   
   
       17 . The pump of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the cooling flow comprises a radial component of the cooling flow, and the second portion of the cooling flow comprises an axial component of the cooling flow.  
   
   
       18 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the cooling flow comprises a radial component of the cooling flow.  
   
   
       19 . A fan guard, comprising: 
 a front surface defining a cooling flow opening;    sidewalls defining a channel having a first end proximate the cooling flow opening;    a baffle positioned proximate a second end of the channel.    
   
   
       20 . The fan guard of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of rib members spanning the cooling flow opening.  
   
   
       21 . The fan guard of  claim 19 , wherein the sidewalls further define a flared portion located proximate the first end of the channel.  
   
   
       22 . The fan guard of  claim 19 , wherein the channel is closed on three sides.  
   
   
       23 . The fan guard of  claim 19 , wherein the baffle redirects a radial component of cooling air flow received by the fan guard by approximately 90 degrees towards a piston cylinder of an attached pump.