Michael A Neely

US Patent:

6508627, Jan 21, 2003

Filed:

May 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/870367

Inventors:

Mark Allen Gerken - Union OH
Michael Joseph Neely - Beavercreek OH
Michael Brendel - Centerville OH
James L. E. Meats - Oakwood OH

Assignee:

Lau Industries, Inc. - Dayton OH

International Classification:

F04D 2930

US Classification:

416186R, 416214 R, 416223 B, 298894, 2988972

Abstract:

This centrifugal blower fan wheel has extruded-aluminum airfoil blades. The preferred blades have two hollow regions, separated by an angled mid-load support beam, inside the blade. The nose section of the blade (at the leading edge) and the tail section of the blade (at the trailing edge) have open semi-circular grooves which face the adjacent hollow sections and are designed to accept thread cutting or thread forming screws for attachment of the blade to a ring-shroud and back-plate.

US Patent:

57437211, Apr 28, 1998

Filed:

Apr 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/640357

Inventors:

Mark A. Graham - Kettering OH
Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F01D 112
F04B 1700
H02K 900

US Classification:

415 584

Abstract:

A blower assembly includes a motor cover having (1) a body portion defining a motor cavity, (2) an air flow guide surface connected to an end of the body portion, the guide surface extending radially outwardly from the body portion, and (3) a cooling duct integrally formed with the body portion and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being located at the end of the body portion and the outlet being defined in a sidewall of the body portion. The blower assembly further includes a motor positionable in the motor cavity, the motor having a motor shaft having a central axis. In addition, the blower assembly includes a fan housing is connected to the motor cover, wherein (1) the fan housing defines a scroll cut-off line, and (2) a plane passes through the scroll cut-off line and the central axis, and (3) the cooling duct is positioned adjacent to the plane. The blower assembly also includes a fan positioned within the fan housing, wherein (1) the fan rotates in a rotational direction, and (2) the cooling duct is positioned on the upstream side of the plane relative to the rotational direction of the fan.

US Patent:

57696071, Jun 23, 1998

Filed:

Feb 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/795417

Inventors:

Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
Michael Brendel - Centerville OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2938

US Classification:

416189

Abstract:

A blade for a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly. The blade combines a particular distribution of four, key, blade-design parameters--planform sweep, airfoil chord, maximum airfoil camber, and airfoil pitch angle--to achieve a fan assembly having high pumping, high efficiency, and low noise. Specifically, the blade has a planform with a forward sweep angle continuously increasing in absolute value along the span from the root to a maximum absolute value not exceeding about 15 degrees at the tip. The airfoil of the blade has a chord that continuously increases from the root to the tip, a maximum camber that continuously decreases from a value not greater than about 12% of chord at the root to a value not less than about 5% of chord at the tip, and a solidity not greater than about 1. 1 at the root and not less than about 0. 5 at the tip.

US Patent:

59544880, Sep 21, 1999

Filed:

Apr 20, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/063166

Inventors:

Mark A. Graham - Kettering OH
Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

Valeo, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F01D 112
F04B 1700

US Classification:

4177238

Abstract:

A blower assembly includes a motor cover having (1) a body portion defining a motor cavity, (2) an air flow guide surface connected to an end of the body portion, the guide surface extending radially outwardly from the body portion, and (3) a cooling duct integrally formed with the body portion and having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being located at the end of the body portion and the outlet being defined in a sidewall of the body portion. The blower assembly further includes a motor positionable in the motor cavity, the motor having a motor shaft having a central axis. In addition, the blower assembly includes a fan housing is connected to the motor cover, wherein (1) the fan housing defines a scroll cut-off line, and (2) a plane passes through the scroll cut-off line and the central axis, and (3) the cooling duct is positioned adjacent to the plane. The blower assembly also includes a fan positioned within the fan housing, wherein (1) the fan rotates in a rotational direction, and (2) the cooling duct is positioned on the upstream side of the plane relative to the rotational direction of the fan.

US Patent:

56242344, Apr 29, 1997

Filed:

Jun 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/471270

Inventors:

Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2938

US Classification:

416238

Abstract:

A blade for a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly having a curved planform and a high-lift airfoil. The planform has a first region adjacent the root of the blade with forward curvature, a second region adjacent the tip of the blade with backward curvature, and an intermediate region disposed between the first region and the second region with substantially straight curvature. The airfoil has a leading edge; a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent the leading edge; a trailing edge; a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; and a thin, highly cambered aft section formed adjacent the trailing edge and between the pressure surface and the suction surface. The nose section has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the airfoil between the pressure surface and the suction surface and the nose section blends smoothly into the pressure surface and the suction surface.

US Patent:

55888046, Dec 31, 1996

Filed:

Nov 18, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/342358

Inventors:

Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F01D 514

US Classification:

416223R

Abstract:

An airfoil defining the shape of the blades of a vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly. The airfoil has a leading edge; a rounded, bulbous nose section adjacent the leading edge; a trailing edge; a curved pressure surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; a curved suction surface extending smoothly and without discontinuity from the nose section to the trailing edge; and a thin aft section formed adjacent the trailing edge and between the pressure surface and the suction surface. The aft section has a camber at its location of maximum camber of between 5 and 12% of the chord of the airfoil. The nose section has a thickness which is greater than the thickness of the airfoil between the pressure surface and the suction surface, blends smoothly into the suction surface, and blends smoothly into the pressure surface via a first blend radius forming a convex surface extending from the nose section adjacent the leading edge and a second blend radius forming a concave surface extending from the convex surface to the pressure surface of the airfoil.

US Patent:

58105557, Sep 22, 1998

Filed:

May 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/854548

Inventors:

John R. Savage - Kettering OH
Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2938

US Classification:

416189

Abstract:

A vehicle fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine. The fan assembly has a central hub; an outer, circumferential ring with an inner surface disposed around the hub; a plurality of blades, each blade having a root connected to the hub, a tip connected to the inner surface of the ring, and a span between the root and the tip, the blades extending generally radially outward from the hub to the ring; and at least one bladelet having a base connected to the inner surface of the ring, a free end, and a span between the base and the free end. Preferably, a plurality of bladelets are disposed alternately with the blades on the inner surface of the ring around the circumference of the ring. The span of each bladelet is about 40% to 50% of the span of the blades. The tips of the blades and the bases of the bladelets are connected to the ring over the full width of the blades and the bladelets, respectively.

US Patent:

56811454, Oct 28, 1997

Filed:

Oct 30, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/739944

Inventors:

Michael J. Neely - Dayton OH
Michael Brendel - Centerville OH
John R. Savage - Kettering OH

Assignee:

ITT Automotive Electrical Systems, Inc. - Auburn Hills MI

International Classification:

F04D 2938

US Classification:

416203

Abstract:

A vehicle engine-cooling fan assembly for circulating air to cool an engine. The fan assembly has a central hub with a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the central hub. Each blade has a root joined to the central hub, a tip, and a span formed between the root and the tip. The blades are spaced circumferentially from each other, by unequal spacing angles, around the central hub. The unequal spacing angles minimize noise produced by the fan assembly. The blades are positioned at a radial location along a blade span by unequal setting angles which increase the efficiency of the fan assembly. The blades can have either a straight or a curved planform. Mechanical energy is imparted to the fan assembly from an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, or some other source. Also disclosed is a process for designing a vehicle fan assembly combining unequal fan blade spacing angles and unequal fan blade setting angles.