Evaporator fan with shroud assembly

Abstract

A shroud for mounting a fan is provided. The shroud may include a plate, a hub, a first leg, and a second leg. The plate may include an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate. The hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of a fan. The first leg and the second leg are mounted to and extend between the hub and the aperture edge. The first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second leg may include a second leg portion having a second curve shape in the plane. The first curve shape may be an arc of a circle. A fan housing may include the shroud, an actuator to effect rotation of the fan, and a mounting bracket, which mounts the actuator to the shroud.

1 . A shroud for mounting a fan, the shroud comprising:
 a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate;   a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of a fan;   a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and   a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.   
     
     
         2 . The shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg mounts to the hub approximately tangentially. 
     
     
         3 . The shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg mounts to the hub on a first side and further wherein the second leg mounts to the hub on a second side, the second side opposite the first side. 
     
     
         4 . The shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes a first end and a second end, and further wherein the first leg mounts to the aperture edge at the first end and at the second end. 
     
     
         5 . The shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the second leg includes a second leg portion having a second curve shape in the plane. 
     
     
         6 . The shroud of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a third leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the third leg includes a third leg portion having a third curve shape in the plane; and   a fourth leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the fourth leg includes a fourth leg portion having a fourth curve shape in the plane.   
     
     
         7 . The shroud of  claim 6 , wherein the first leg includes a first end and a second end, and further wherein the first leg mounts to the aperture edge at the first end and the first leg mounts to the hub at the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The shroud of  claim 1 , further comprising a first mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the first mounting brace including a first receptacle capable of accepting a first mounting arm. 
     
     
         9 . The shroud of  claim 8 , further comprising a second mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the second mounting brace including a second receptacle capable of accepting a second mounting arm. 
     
     
         10 . The shroud of  claim 8 , further comprising a latch extending from a side of the first mounting brace. 
     
     
         11 . The shroud of  claim 10 , wherein the latch extends from a side of the first receptacle of the first mounting brace. 
     
     
         12 . The shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc. 
     
     
         13 . A fan housing, the fan housing comprising:
 an actuator operably coupled with a fan to effect rotation of the fan;   a mounting bracket; and   a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
 a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate; 
 a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the fan; 
 a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and 
 a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge. 
   
     
     
         14 . The fan housing of  claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a body and a first mounting arm extending from the body, and further wherein the shroud further comprises a first mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the first mounting brace including a first receptacle capable of accepting the first mounting arm. 
     
     
         15 . The fan housing of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a second mounting arm extending from the body, and further wherein the shroud further comprises a second mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the second mounting brace including a second receptacle capable of accepting the second mounting arm. 
     
     
         16 . The fan housing of  claim 14 , wherein the shroud further comprises a latch extending from a side of the first receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The fan housing of  claim 16 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a clasp extending from a side of the first mounting arm, and further wherein the clasp is capable of engaging the latch. 
     
     
         18 . The fan housing of  claim 13 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc. 
     
     
         19 . A fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising:
 a fan, the fan comprising a plurality of blades;   an actuator operably coupled with the fan to effect rotation of the plurality of blades;   a mounting bracket; and   a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
 a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate; 
 a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the plurality of blades; 
 a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and 
 a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge. 
   
     
     
         20 . The fan assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc. 
     
     
         21 . A refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:
 a housing, the housing including a plurality of walls and a door, the plurality of walls and the door defining an enclosed receptacle;   a fan, the fan comprising a plurality of blades;   an actuator operably coupled with the fan to effect rotation of the plurality of blades;   a mounting bracket; and   a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
 a plate, wherein the plate mounts to an interior surface of the enclosed receptacle, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate; 
 a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the plurality of blades; 
 a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and 
 a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.