Evaporator fan with shroud assembly
A shroud for mounting a fan is provided. The shroud may include a plate, a hub, a first leg, and a second leg. The plate may include an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate. The hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of a fan. The first leg and the second leg are mounted to and extend between the hub and the aperture edge. The first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The second leg may include a second leg portion having a second curve shape in the plane. The first curve shape may be an arc of a circle. A fan housing may include the shroud, an actuator to effect rotation of the fan, and a mounting bracket, which mounts the actuator to the shroud.
1 . A shroud for mounting a fan, the shroud comprising:
a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate;
a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of a fan;
a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and
a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.
2 . The shroud of claim 1 , wherein the first leg mounts to the hub approximately tangentially.
3 . The shroud of claim 1 , wherein the first leg mounts to the hub on a first side and further wherein the second leg mounts to the hub on a second side, the second side opposite the first side.
4 . The shroud of claim 1 , wherein the first leg includes a first end and a second end, and further wherein the first leg mounts to the aperture edge at the first end and at the second end.
5 . The shroud of claim 1 , wherein the second leg includes a second leg portion having a second curve shape in the plane.
6 . The shroud of claim 5 , further comprising:
a third leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the third leg includes a third leg portion having a third curve shape in the plane; and
a fourth leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the fourth leg includes a fourth leg portion having a fourth curve shape in the plane.
7 . The shroud of claim 6 , wherein the first leg includes a first end and a second end, and further wherein the first leg mounts to the aperture edge at the first end and the first leg mounts to the hub at the second end.
8 . The shroud of claim 1 , further comprising a first mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the first mounting brace including a first receptacle capable of accepting a first mounting arm.
9 . The shroud of claim 8 , further comprising a second mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the second mounting brace including a second receptacle capable of accepting a second mounting arm.
10 . The shroud of claim 8 , further comprising a latch extending from a side of the first mounting brace.
11 . The shroud of claim 10 , wherein the latch extends from a side of the first receptacle of the first mounting brace.
12 . The shroud of claim 1 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc.
13 . A fan housing, the fan housing comprising:
an actuator operably coupled with a fan to effect rotation of the fan;
a mounting bracket; and
a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate;
a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the fan;
a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and
a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.
14 . The fan housing of claim 13 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a body and a first mounting arm extending from the body, and further wherein the shroud further comprises a first mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the first mounting brace including a first receptacle capable of accepting the first mounting arm.
15 . The fan housing of claim 14 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a second mounting arm extending from the body, and further wherein the shroud further comprises a second mounting brace mounted between the first leg and the second leg, the second mounting brace including a second receptacle capable of accepting the second mounting arm.
16 . The fan housing of claim 14 , wherein the shroud further comprises a latch extending from a side of the first receptacle.
17 . The fan housing of claim 16 , wherein the mounting bracket further comprises a clasp extending from a side of the first mounting arm, and further wherein the clasp is capable of engaging the latch.
18 . The fan housing of claim 13 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc.
19 . A fan assembly, the fan assembly comprising:
a fan, the fan comprising a plurality of blades;
an actuator operably coupled with the fan to effect rotation of the plurality of blades;
a mounting bracket; and
a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
a plate, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate;
a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the plurality of blades;
a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and
a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.
20 . The fan assembly of claim 19 , wherein the first curve shape is an arc.
21 . A refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:
a housing, the housing including a plurality of walls and a door, the plurality of walls and the door defining an enclosed receptacle;
a fan, the fan comprising a plurality of blades;
an actuator operably coupled with the fan to effect rotation of the plurality of blades;
a mounting bracket; and
a shroud, the mounting bracket mounting the actuator to the shroud, wherein the shroud comprises
a plate, wherein the plate mounts to an interior surface of the enclosed receptacle, the plate comprising an aperture edge of an aperture in a surface of the plate;
a hub, wherein the hub includes a bore defining an axis of rotation of the plurality of blades;
a first leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge, wherein the first leg includes a first leg portion having a first curve shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and
a second leg mounted to and extending between the hub and the aperture edge.