Fan shroud and motor assembly comprised thereof

Abstract

This disclosure proposes designs for a fan shroud that dissipates thermal energy from a motor using a single, externally-powered fan design. Examples of the proposed fan shroud allow the cooling fluid to achieve maximum velocity at a position at which the fan shroud exposes the flow to cooler ambient air that surrounds the fan shroud/motor assembly. In this configuration, the high-velocity cooling fluid draws the cooler ambient air towards the surface of the motor, which, in turn, increases the thermal capacity of the moving cooling fluid to dissipate more thermal energy from the motor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan shroud for a motor, said fan shroud comprising:
 a top element, a first side element, and a front element, wherein the first side element and the front element couple with the top element at a first end, wherein the first side element terminates at a second end that is spaced apart from the motor a first side distance to form a first side gap, wherein the front element has a front contoured edge proximate to and spaced apart from the motor a first front distance to form a front gap, and wherein the first side distance is the same has the first front distance.   
     
     
         2 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , further comprising a second side element that couples with the top element at the first end and terminates at the second end, wherein the second side element is spaced apart form the motor a second side distance to form a second side gap, and wherein the second side distance is the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         3 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , further comprising a back element that couples with the top element, wherein the back element has a back contoured edge that is spaced apart from the motor a first back distance to form a back gap, and wherein the first back distance is the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         4 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first side element forms a planar surface that extends along the shroud axis. 
     
     
         5 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first side element forms a curvilinear surface that extends along the shroud axis. 
     
     
         6 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the top element has an aperture extending therethrough. 
     
     
         7 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first side element and the front element are formed integrally with the top element. 
     
     
         8 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the first contour edge terminates proximate to the second end of the first side element and the second end of the second side element. 
     
     
         9 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , wherein the front element and the back element couple with the first side element and the second side element. 
     
     
         10 . The fan shroud of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more mounting features that secure to one of the front element and the back element. 
     
     
         11 . A fan shroud for a motor, said fan shroud comprising:
 a top element;   a pair of side elements that couple with the top element at a first end and terminate at a second end that is spaced apart from the motor a first side distance and a second side distance to form, respectively, a first side gap and a second side gap;   a front element that couples with the top element and has a front contoured edge proximate to and spaced apart from the motor a first front distance to form a front gap, and   a back element that couples with the top element, the back element has a back contoured edge proximate to and spaced apart from the motor a first back distance to form a back gap, wherein the first side distance is the same as at least one of the first front distance and the first back distance.   
     
     
         12 . The fan shroud of  claim 11 , wherein the second side distance is the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         13 . The fan shroud of  claim 11 , wherein the first back distance is the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         14 . The fan shroud of  claim 11 , wherein the first front distance and the first back distance are the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         15 . The fan shroud of  claim 11 , wherein the side elements comprise a planar surface. 
     
     
         16 . The fan shroud of  claim 11 , wherein the side elements comprise a curvilinear surface that curves relative to a centerline. 
     
     
         17 . A motor assembly, comprising:
 a motor with a central motor axis; and   a fan shroud coupled to the motor, the fan shroud comprising a first side element and a front element, wherein the first side element terminates at a second end that is spaced apart from the motor a first side distance to form a first side gap, wherein the front element has a front contoured edge proximate to and spaced apart from the motor a first front distance to form a front gap, and wherein the first side distance is the same has the first front distance.   
     
     
         18 . The motor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the fan shroud further comprises a second side element that couples with the top element at the first end and terminates at the second end, wherein the second side element is spaced apart form the motor a second side distance to form a second side gap, and wherein the second side distance is the same as the first side distance. 
     
     
         19 . The motor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the fan shroud further comprises a back element that couples with the top element, wherein the back element has a back contoured edge that is spaced apart from the motor a first back distance to form a back gap, and wherein the first back distance is the same as the first front distance. 
     
     
         20 . The motor assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising a fan disposed on the fan shroud, wherein the fan shroud has an aperture to allow cooling fluid to flow through the fan shroud.