Engine fan

Abstract

In a fan module ( 10 ) of a vehicle engine, the fixed shroud ( 12 ) of the module ( 10 ) has a circular opening ( 16 ) receiving a fan ( 14 ) rotating about a main axis (X). The opening ( 16 ) is circumvented by a peripheral wall ( 18 ) cylindrically extending in the downstream direction (DD) beyond the fan ( 14 ) toward a corner edge where the wall ( 18 ) angles radially and inwardly to extend toward a circular downstream edge. The downstream portion of the peripheral wall ( 18 ) forms an annular channel (C) opening in the upstream direction (UD) The channel (C) forming an axial continuation of the gap (G) that is between the tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ) of the fan ( 14 ). The gap (G) is continuous, non-divided and non-partitioned.

1 . A fan module ( 10 ) of a vehicle engine, the fan module having an upstream direction (UD) and a downstream direction (DD) axially opposite to the upstream direction, the fan module comprising
 a fixed shroud ( 12 ) receiving, in an opening, ( 16 ) a fan ( 14 ) with blades ( 20 ) rotating about a main axis (X), the opening ( 16 ) being circumvented by a peripheral wall ( 18 ) extending in the direction (DD) beyond the fan ( 14 ) toward a corner edge ( 40 ) where the peripheral said wall ( 18 ) reorients radially and inwardly to extend toward a circular edge ( 34 ) downstream of the fan ( 14 ) so that a downstream portion ( 42 ) of the peripheral wall ( 18 ) forms an annular channel (C) opening in the upstream direction (UD), the channel (C) forming a continuous space to the gap (G) that is between tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ) of the fan ( 14 ) and the peripheral wall ( 18 ), the gap (G) being continuous, non-divided and non-partitioned,   wherein a 360° aperture ( 48 ) is formed between a downstream outer edge ( 30 ) of the fan ( 14 ) and the circular edge ( 34 ) of the peripheral wall ( 18 ), wherein the annular channel (C) is arranged downstream of the 360° aperture ( 48 ) and, during operation of the module ( 10 ), a peripheral counter air stream (F 2 ) is able to enter the gap (G) and the channel (C) through the 360° aperture ( 48 ).   
     
     
         2 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel (C) is also free of obstacles and forms a continuous, non-divided and non-partitioned space. 
     
     
         3 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein reinforcement ribs ( 52 ) are formed and confined in the channel (C). 
     
     
         4 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the circular edge ( 34 ) and the downstream outer edge ( 30 ) of the fan ( 14 ) have equal diameters so that the circular edge ( 34 ) faces the tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ). 
     
     
         5 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the circular edge ( 34 ) has a smaller diameter than the downstream outer edge ( 30 ) of the fan ( 14 ). 
     
     
         6 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the circular edge ( 34 ) has a larger diameter than the diameter of the downstream outer edge ( 30 ) of the fan ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the downstream portion of the peripheral wall ( 18 ) extends from the corner edge ( 40 ) to the circular edge ( 34 ) and has a profile forming a quadrant ( 44 ). 
     
     
         8 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the downstream portion of the peripheral wall ( 18 ) extends from the corner edge ( 40 ) to the circular edge ( 34 ) and forms a frustoconical portion ( 46 ) with an apex upstream of the fan ( 14 ). 
     
     
         9 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the fan ( 14 ) comprises a ring ( 24 ) with a portion ( 26 ) joining the tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ), the gap (G) being between the ring ( 24 ) and the peripheral wall ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 8 , wherein the portion ( 26 ) of the ring ( 28 ) that joins the tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ) is cylindrical about the main axis (X). 
     
     
         11 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the portion ( 26 ) of the ring ( 24 ) that joins the tips ( 22 ) of the blades ( 20 ) is non-cylindrical, the portion being for instance conical or curved. 
     
     
         12 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the shroud ( 12 ) is provided with at least one stator-arm ( 50 ) radially extending and integrally connecting the peripheral wall ( 18 ) between the corner edge ( 40 ) and the circular edge ( 34 ) externally of the annular channel (C). 
     
     
         13 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall ( 18 ) is cylindrical. 
     
     
         14 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall ( 18 ) is non-cylindrical. 
     
     
         15 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral wall ( 18 ) is conical. 
     
     
         16 . The fan module ( 10 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral wall ( 18 ) is curved.