초록 ▼

A fan assembly that includes a fan having a fan hub and motor having a drive shaft and a drive member coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft. The fan hub includes an inner face and an outer face. The drive member contacts the inner face of the fan hub to define a plurality of d

A fan assembly that includes a fan having a fan hub and motor having a drive shaft and a drive member coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft. The fan hub includes an inner face and an outer face. The drive member contacts the inner face of the fan hub to define a plurality of discrete drive member contact zones between the drive member and the inner face of the fan hub. A clip engages the drive shaft and the outer face of the fan hub to couple the fan to the drive shaft. The clip contacts the outer face of the fan hub to define a plurality of discrete clip contact zones between the clip and the outer face of the fan hub. The plurality of drive member contact zones are generally aligned with the plurality of clip contact zones.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fan assembly comprising: a motor including a drive shaft;a fan including, a fan hub having an aperture through which the drive shaft extends, an inner face that faces toward the motor, and an outer face that faces away from the motor, anda plurality of fan blades that extend radially from the f

1. A fan assembly comprising: a motor including a drive shaft;a fan including, a fan hub having an aperture through which the drive shaft extends, an inner face that faces toward the motor, and an outer face that faces away from the motor, anda plurality of fan blades that extend radially from the fan hub,a drive member coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft, the drive member contacting the inner face of the fan hub to define a plurality of discrete drive member contact zones between the drive member and the inner face of the fan hub, the drive member applying a first pressure to the inner face of the fan hub at the drive member contact zones to inhibit movement of the fan along the drive shaft; anda clip that engages the drive shaft and the outer face of the fan hub to couple the fan to the drive shaft, the clip contacting the outer face of the fan hub to define a plurality of discrete clip contact zones between the clip and the outer face of the fan hub, the clip applying a second pressure to the outer face of the fan hub at the clip contact zones to inhibit movement of the fan along the drive shaft, andwherein the plurality of drive member contact zones are generally aligned with the plurality of clip contact zones. 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of the clip contact zones is directly opposed to a respective one of the plurality of drive member contact zones. 3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of discrete drive member contact zones includes three three discrete drive member contact zones and the plurality of discrete clip contact zones includes discrete clip contact zones, and wherein each one of the three drive member contacts zones is directly opposed to a respective one of the three clip contact zones. 4. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive member includes a plurality of arms that extend radially from the drive shaft, wherein the fan hub includes a recess at least partially formed from the inner face of the fan hub, wherein the plurality of arms are received in the recess to couple the fan to the drive shaft for co-rotation, and wherein each one of the plurality of drive member contact zones is defined where one of the plurality of the arms contacts the inner face of the fan hub. 5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of arms includes three arms, each arm defining a respective drive member contact zone where the arm contacts the inner face of the fan hub, wherein the recess of the fan hub includes three corresponding arm portions to couple the fan to the drive shaft for co-rotation, wherein the plurality of discrete clip contact zones includes three discrete clip contact zones, and wherein each of the three clip contacts zones is directly opposed to one of the three drive member contact zones. 6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clip contact zones are defined by a plurality of raised projections of the outer face of the fan hub. 7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clip contact zones are defined between a plurality of recessed portions formed in the outer face of the fan hub. 8. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clip contact zones are defined between a plurality of recessed portions formed in the clip. 9. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clip contact zones are defined by a plurality of raised projections of the clip. 10. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of drive member contact zones are defined by a plurality of raised projections on the inner face of the fan hub. 11. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clip contact zones are arranged symmetrically about the aperture of the fan hub, and wherein the plurality of drive member contact zones are arranged symmetrically about the aperture of the fan hub. 12. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip only applies the second pressure to the outer face of the fan hub at the plurality of discrete clip contact zones, and wherein the drive member only applies the first pressure to the inner face of the fan hub at the plurality of discrete drive member contact zones. 13. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the fan assembly is an automotive cooling fan assembly, the fan assembly further comprising a shroud including a shroud hub and a plurality of stationary blades that extend radially from the shroud hub, and wherein the motor is coupled to the shroud hub. 14. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each one of the plurality of clip contact zones is at least partially directly opposed to a respective one of the plurality of drive member contact zones. 15. A fan assembly comprising: a motor including a drive shaft;a fan including, a fan hub having an aperture through which the drive shaft extends, an inner face that faces toward the motor, and an outer face that faces away from the motor, anda plurality of fan blades that extend radially from the fan hub,a drive member coupled to the drive shaft for rotation with the drive shaft, the drive member applying a first pressure to the inner face of the fan hub to inhibit movement of the fan along the drive shaft; anda clip including, a first radial edge,a second radial edge, anda groove at least partially defined between the first and the second radial edges, the groove receiving the drive shaft to engage the clip and the outer face of the fan hub to couple the fan to the drive shaft, the clip contacting the outer face of the fan hub to define a clip contact zone between the clip and the outer face of the fan hub, the clip applying a second pressure to the outer face of the fan hub at the clip contact zone to inhibit movement of the fan along the drive shaft, andwherein there is no clip contact zone directly adjacent either one of the first radial edge and the second radial edge of the clip. 16. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein there is no clip contact zone within about 25 degrees of either one of the first radial edge and the second radial edge of the clip. 17. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the clip contact zone is located adjacent an outer periphery of the clip, wherein the first and second radial edges extend to the outer periphery such that the groove defines an opening in the outer periphery. 18. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the clip contact zone is adjacent a recessed portion formed in the outer face of the fan hub. 19. The fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the clip contact zones includes a plurality of discrete clip contact zones between the clip and the outer face of the fan hub, wherein the drive member contacts the inner face of the fan hub to define a plurality of discrete drive member contact zones between the drive member and the inner face of the fan hub, the drive member applying the pressure to the inner face of the fan hub at the drive member contact zones, wherein the plurality of drive member contact zones are generally aligned with the plurality of clip contact zones. 20. The fan assembly of claim 19, wherein each one of the plurality of clip contact zones is directly opposed to a respective one of the plurality of drive member contact zones.