Novel approach for fan motor mounting for ease of serviceability

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for a serviceable fan shroud motor support structure which provides a means to repair or replace individual components of the vehicle cooling module such as the fan motor or fan blades, without removing and dismantling the entire vehicle cooling module. The fan shroud motor support structure includes at least one removable spoke, which once removed, would provide access to the portion of the fan assembly requiring service or replacement. Once the repair or replacement is complete, they simply snap the previously removed spokes back into place in order to complete the repair.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan motor support structure utilized in connection with a fan shroud for a vehicle cooling system comprising;
 a fan shroud, the fan shroud being attached to at least one heat exchanger of a vehicle cooling module and having at least one aperture through which air traverses, the fan shroud defining an inner fan shroud rim around the at least one aperture,   at least one fan motor, the at least one fan motor having a fan blade wherein the fan motor is positioned axially centered in relation to the at least one aperture in the fan shroud,   a fan motor support ring surrounding and attaching to the at least one fan motor, and   at least one removable fan motor support spoke radially interconnecting the fan motor support ring and the inner fan shroud rim, wherein   the inner fan shroud rim includes a bead extending along a circumferential direction of the inner fan shroud rim,   the fan motor support spoke comprises a removable attachment means for attaching the spoke to the inner fan shroud rim,   the removable attachment means defines an interference fit groove that receives the inner fan shroud rim, and   the interference fit groove includes a transverse slot that receives the bead when the inner fan shroud rim is received by the interference fit groove.   
     
     
         2 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fan motor support spoke comprises a removable attachment means for attaching the spoke to the fan motor support ring. 
     
     
         3 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means comprises interference fit between the spoke and the fan motor support ring. 
     
     
         4 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment means comprises an intermediate clip removeably attaching the spoke to the fan motor support ring. 
     
     
         5 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 4 , wherein the spoke is attached to the clip in a removable dovetail joint, and the clip is attached to the motor support ring through an interference fit. 
     
     
         6 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spoke is linear in shape. 
     
     
         7 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spoke has is angled outward at an end proximal to the fan shroud rim, positioning the motor supporting ring axially rearward in relation to the fan shroud. 
     
     
         8 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spoke comprises at least one structurally integrated inner support wall. 
     
     
         9 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 1 , wherein the spoke comprises an additional mass attached thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the mass is removeably attached to the spoke. 
     
     
         11 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the mass is integrated with the spoke. 
     
     
         12 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the mass comprises a separate material than the spoke. 
     
     
         13 . The fan motor support structure of  claim 9 , wherein the mass comprises the same material than the spoke.