Engine cooling fan with ring reinforcement
A cooling fan for use in an engine of an automotive vehicle includes a central hub, a plurality of blades and an annular reinforcement element. The central hub is pivotally coupled to the vehicle. The plurality of blades has distal ends spaced radially outwardly relative to the central hub. The annular reinforcement element is fixedly secured to the plurality of blades, the reinforcement element is spaced radially inwardly relative to the distal ends of the plurality of blades to prevent a build-up of ice between the fan and a shroud or housing surrounding the fan.
1 . A cooling fan for use in an engine of an automotive vehicle, said fan comprising:
a central hub pivotally coupled to the vehicle;
a plurality of blades, each of said plurality of blades having a distal end spaced radially outwardly relative to said central hub; and
an annular reinforcement element fixedly secured to said plurality of blades, said reinforcement element being spaced radially inwardly relative to said distal ends of said plurality of blades.
2 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement element is integrally formed with said plurality of blades.
3 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of blades have a predetermined length, said reinforcement element being spaced radially inwardly from said distal ends by a distance ranging between 10-50% of said predetermined length.
4 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement element is a substantially continuous ring.
5 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 1 having at least three blades extending radially outwardly from said central hub.
6 . A cooling assembly for a radiator for an automotive vehicle, said cooling assembly comprising:
a fan shroud having an outer wall defining a generally cylindrical space;
a cooling fan pivotally coupled to said vehicle, said fan disposed within said cylindrical space of said fan shroud, said fan having
a central hub pivotally coupled to the vehicle;
a plurality of blades having distal ends spaced radially outwardly relative to said central hub; and
an annular reinforcement element fixedly secured to said plurality of blades, said reinforcement element being spaced apart from said outer wall of said shroud so as to minimize a build-up of ice therebetween.
7 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said reinforcement element is integrally formed from plastic with said plurality of blades.
8 . The cooling fan as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said plurality of blades have a predetermined length, said reinforcement element being spaced radially inwardly from said outer wall of said shroud by a distance ranging between 12-60% of said predetermined length.