Cooling Fan With One-Way Clutch Bearing

Abstract

A cooling fan assembly, and method of operation, for use in an engine compartment of a vehicle is disclosed. The cooling fan assembly includes an electric motor having a motor shaft extending therefrom, a one-way clutch bearing mounted on and rotating with the motor shaft, and a cooling fan. The cooling fan includes a central hub with fan blades extending from the central hub. The central hub engages the one-way clutch bearing such that torque is transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in a first direction of rotation and torque is not transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in an opposed direction of rotation.

1 . A cooling fan assembly for use in an engine compartment of a vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor having a motor shaft extending therefrom;   a one-way clutch bearing mounted on and rotatable with the motor shaft; and   a cooling fan including a central hub and a plurality of fan blades extending from the central hub, the central hub operatively engaging the one-way clutch bearing such that torque is transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in a first direction of rotation and torque is not transmitted from the motor shaft to the central hub in an opposed direction of rotation.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one-way clutch bearing includes an outer race that is press fit into the central hub. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 2  wherein the one-way clutch bearing includes an inner race that is press fit onto the motor shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one-way clutch bearing includes an inner race that is press fit onto the motor shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling fan assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cooling fan includes an outer ring connected to radially outer ends of the plurality of fan blades. 
     
     
         6 . A method of providing torque from an electric motor to a cooling fan in an engine compartment of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
 activating the electric motor with an electric current to provide torque to a motor shaft in a first rotational direction;   providing torque in the first rotational direction from the motor shaft, through a one-way clutch bearing, to the cooling fan to cause rotation of the cooling fan in the first rotational direction; and   preventing torque from being transmitted in an opposed rotational direction from the motor shaft, through the one-way clutch bearing, to the cooling fan.