Composite fan housing and method

Abstract

A fan assembly, fan housing, and associated methods are shown. Configurations and methods are shown that include reinforcing layers over a seam of a housing, such as a composite housing. In one example, both an inside and an outside of a seam are reinforced.

1 . A fan assembly, comprising:
 an impeller;   a rotatable shaft coupled to a center of the impeller; and   a housing covering at least a portion of the impeller, the housing including:
 at least two housing portions joined together at a seam; and 
 a reinforcing layer adhered over the seam on an inside of the housing. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the least two housing portions include composite material portions. 
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the least two housing portions include fiberglass reinforced composite portions. 
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing layer includes multiple reinforcing layers. 
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the multiple reinforcing layers includes both a woven fiber reinforced composite layer and random matted fiber reinforced composite layer. 
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two housing portions are adhered together along an extending portion of the two housing portions that extends away from an outside of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . A fan assembly, comprising:
 an impeller;   a rotatable shaft coupled to a center of the impeller; and   a housing covering at least a portion of the impeller, the housing including:
 at least two housing portions joined together at a seam; 
 a first reinforcing layer adhered over the seam on an inside of the housing; and 
 a second reinforcing layer covering the seam on an outside of the housing. 
   
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the least two housing portions include composite material portions. 
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second reinforcing layer includes a fiber reinforced composite layer. 
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , further including a number of mechanical fasteners that engage the two housing portions and the second reinforcing layer on the outside of the housing. 
     
     
         11 . The fan assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two housing portions are adhered together along an extending portion of the two housing portions that extends away from an outside of the housing. 
     
     
         12 . A fan assembly, comprising:
 an impeller;   a rotatable shaft coupled to a center of the impeller; and   a housing covering at least a portion of the impeller, the housing including:
 at least two housing portions joined together at a seam, the seam including an extending portion of the two housing portions that extends away from an outside of the housing; 
 a reinforcing layer adhered over the seam on an inside of the housing; and 
 a reinforcing channel covering the extending portion of the seam; and 
   a number of mechanical fasteners clamping the seam together on the outside of the housing.   
     
     
         13 . The fan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the at least two housing portions are adhered together at the seam. 
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the number of mechanical fasteners are further adhered in place. 
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the least two housing portions include composite material portions. 
     
     
         16 . The fan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing layer includes one or more fiber reinforced composite layers. 
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing channel includes one or more fiber reinforced composite layers. 
     
     
         18 . A method of forming a fan housing, comprising:
 covering a seam with a reinforcing layer adhered over the seam on an inside of the housing;   covering an extending portion of the seam that extends away from an outside of the housing with a reinforcing channel; and   clamping the seam together using a number of mechanical fasteners on the outside of the housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including adhering the extending portion of the seam together. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein covering a seam with a reinforcing layer and covering an extending portion of the seam include covering with one or more fiber reinforced composite layers.