Fan assembly

Abstract

A fan assembly is mainly provided with a center hub and a plurality of fan blades. The center hub has a center rotational axis. The fan blades extend from the center hub. Each of the fan blades has a leading surface and a trailing surface. The trailing surface of at least one of the fan blades includes an intake opening disposed at a first radial distance from the center rotational axis and a jet disposed at a second radial distance from the center rotational axis. The jet is in direct fluid communication with the intake opening such that during operation of the fan assembly airflow is directed from the intake opening to the jet for reducing power required to operate the fan assembly.

1 . A fan assembly comprising:
 a center hub having a center rotational axis; and   a plurality of fan blades extending from the center hub, each of the fan blades having a leading surface and a trailing surface,   the trailing surface of at least one of the fan blades including an intake opening disposed at a first radial distance from the center rotational axis and a jet disposed at a second radial distance from the center rotational axis, with the jet being in direct fluid communication with the intake opening such that during operation of the fan assembly airflow is directed from the intake opening to the jet to reduce power required to operate the fan assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one of the fan blades further includes a channel that provides direct fluid communication between the intake opening and the jet.   
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 the channel is disposed between the leading surface and the trailing surface of the at least one of the fan blades.   
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein
 the channel extends from the first distance to the second distance.   
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the jet includes a plurality of jet holes.   
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 the jet holes are circular holes.   
     
     
         7 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 the jet holes are located on a distal half of the blade.   
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 the jet holes are spaced in from a radially extending edge of the trailing surface.   
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 each of the jet holes has a smaller cross sectional area than a cross sectional area of the intake opening.   
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein
 each of the jet holes has a smaller cross sectional area than a cross sectional area of a channel that provides direct fluid communication between the intake opening and the jet holes.   
     
     
         11 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the intake opening is positioned adjacent the center hub.   
     
     
         12 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein
 the intake opening has a larger cross sectional area than a cross sectional area of the jet.   
     
     
         13 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprises
 each of the fan blades includes a corresponding intake opening disposed at a first radial distance from the center rotational axis and a corresponding jet extending from the center hub disposed at a second radial distance from the center rotational axis.   
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one of the fan blades includes a first blade part defining the leading surface and a second blade part defining at least part of the trailing surface, with the first and second blade parts being physically separate pieces that are joined together.   
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein
 the at least one of the fan blades further includes a channel that provides direct fluid communication between the intake opening and the jet, with the channel being formed between an interface of the first and second blade parts.   
     
     
         16 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein
 the jet is formed on the first blade part of the at least one of the fan blades.   
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein
 the intake opening is formed on the first blade part of the at least one of the fan blades.