Horton Industries, Inc.

Horton, Inc.

Horton Manufacturing Company Inc.

Hugh K Schilling

Charles D Raines

Leonid Dayen

David R Hennessy

Kevin Cahill

John B Davis

Robert C Bredt

David R Hennesy

A fan blade () includes a working region () having a leading edge () and a pressure side (). A plurality of flow modification features (-to-) are positioned at the working region, including first and second flow modification features (---) each having a wedge shape with a pointed end () and a wider end (), and located on the pressure side. A length of the first flow modification feature is less than a chord length of the fan blade, and the pointed end of the first flow modification feature is spaced from the leading edge. A length of the second flow modification feature is less than the chord length of the fan blade, and the pointed end of the second flow modification feature is spaced from the leading edge. The first and second flow modification features are spaced from each other to define a channel () therebetween.

Fan blade surface features

Rotational control apparatus in the preferred forms of fan clutches (A) are shown including an eddy current drive (224). Specifically, the eddy current drive (224) includes a plurality of permanent magnets (226) mounted circumferentially spaced and with alternating polarity by a holder (228) to a radially extending surface (232) of a housing (62) rotatably mounted by a bearing (58) to the hub portion (24) of a friction disc (28). A magnetically conductive ring (242) is mounted on the opposite axial side of the friction disc (28) than the surface (34) engaged by a friction ring (86, 252) which is rotatably fixed but axially displaceable relative to the housing (62). In the embodiments shown, the friction ring (86, 252) is biased in a disengaged condition from the friction disc (28) by springs (138, 256) and is moved to an engaged condition by a fluid actuated piston (80). In one of the preferred forms, the friction ring (252) includes peripheral gear teeth (256) in slideable gearing relation with gear teeth (250) formed in the housing (62) and is formed of fiber brake material to act as a dampener between the friction disc (28) and the housing (62) to absorb torsional vibration. Thus, the housing (62) and the fan blades mounted thereto are driven with the friction disc (28) in its engaged condition and are driven at a rotational speed less than the speed of the friction disc (28) in its disengaged condition by the eddy current drive (224) and without separate controls for the eddy current drive (224).

Rotational control apparatus

A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention as a combination clutch/brake. The clutch/brake includes an interfacing member formed by first and second pressure plates rotatably mounted but reciprocally related with respect to each other. The interfacing member is reciprocated between one of first and second disk packs by an actuating rod reciprocally mounted in the housing and interconnected to ears formed on the second pressure plate. The actuating rods are reciprocated by actuation canisters located on opposite ends thereof. Each of the actuation canisters includes a piston which is reciprocated by a fluid chamber and a spring located in the fluid chamber. In the first preferred form, the springs of the canisters have a compressional force which are equal and less than required to actuate the clutch/brake such that in the absence of fluid pressure, the actuating rod and interfacing member is in a normal, neutral condition. In another preferred form, the spring of one of the canisters has a compressional force sufficient to actuate the clutch/brake in a normal set condition. Fluid pressure may be electively introduced into the fluid chamber to assist the actuation force spring to return the piston to its set condition and at greater actuation forces.

A rotational control apparatus is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as a brake. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an improved drive disc having an improved ventilated hub and an improved, ventilated friction disc slideably mounted thereon. The hub includes a generally cylindrical portion having axially extending cooling air bores extending therethrough and axially extending fins extending from the opposite axial ends thereof. The friction disc includes first and second, identical, interchangeable component discs interconnected together by columns projecting from the inner surface of the component discs which abut together and form radially extending fins having circumferentially aligned air passageways formed therein. Thus, air can flow through the air entry ports formed adjacent the center of the component discs radially between the component discs and also circumferentially through the air passageways allowing a mixing and turbulence of cooling air increasing friction disc heat transfer and cooling. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins which interconnect the piston and the friction lining pressure plate and also aid in cooling. The axially extending fins of the hub direct and force air through the hub cooling air bores and between the pressure plate and piston to allow increased apparatus heat transfer and cooling.

A spring engaged fluid released fan clutch is disclosed. A sheave connected to a live shaft is connected to rotate with a friction disc. Encompassing the friction disc and rotatable relative thereto is an outer shell portion carrying fan blades. Connected for rotation with the outer shell portion and rotatably mounted on the friction disc is a cylinder plate. An annular piston, having a friction facing, is slidably mounted on a hub provided internally of the outer shell portion and is connected to rotate with the shell portion. Springs urge the piston with its friction facing into engagement with the friction disc to engage the clutch. Fluid pressure is introduced through the hub of said outer shell portion and into a cavity between the cylinder plate and the piston urging the piston away from the friction disc against the action of the springs to disengage the clutch.

Spring engaged fluid released fan clutch for a live shaft

A fluid engaged and spring returned fan clutch for connection with a live rotative source of power including an annular mounting flange for connection with the source of power. The mounting flange terminates in a hub. Also included is an annular friction flange connected to the hub. A first outer shell section is rotatively mounted on the hub and connected to a second outer shell section with fan blades connected thereto. A circular face plate is connected to the second outer shell. A circular piston is axially and slideably mounted on and within the second outer shell section and axially of the face plate thereby forming a cylinder void between the piston and the face plate. A circular resilient bladder member is secured at its peripheral edge portion between the second outer shell section and the face plate with the bladder adjacent the piston and opposed to the face plate. The piston has a ring of friction material connected thereto. A series of spaced springs are mounted between the first outer shell section and the piston for urging the ring of friction material from the friction flange. Fluid pressure is introduced by means of a rotary air union into the cylinder void between the face plate and the bladder to cause the friction material ring to engage the friction flange to thereby rotate the first and second outer shell sections and the fan blades carried thereby against the action of the springs.

Fluid engaged and spring returned fan clutch

A fluid engaged spring released fan clutch having a modular mount usable with a spring engaged fluid released fan clutch is shown according to the teachings of the present invention. The modular unit includes a friction disc and a first outer shell section rotatably mounted thereto. The fluid engaged clutch portion includes a second shell section having an annular cylinder formed therein. A piston having a friction ring mounted thereon is reciprocably received on the annular cylinder and biased by spring means mounted between the piston and the modular mount. A rotary union is mounted on the second shell section for conduction of fluid pressure to cause the piston to move and engage with the friction disc. The spring engaged clutch portion includes a second shell section having a cylindrical plate held in a spaced relation therefrom. A piston having a friction ring mounted thereon is reciprocably received on the cylindrical plate and is biased by springs mounted between the piston and the second shell section. A rotary union is mounted on the second shell section for conducting fluid pressure to cause the piston to move and disengage with the friction disc. A series of fan blades are carried by the shell sections in the most preferred embodiments of the clutches of the present invention.

Fluid engaged spring released fan clutch having a modular mount for a

A fluid set and spring released clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown as including a one-piece hub including a cylindrical portion having a first tapered hole portion for securement to a shaft and a second cylindrical hole portion for receiving a rotary air union. A radially extending flange portion terminating in an annular lip is formed on the cylindrical portion of the hub and forms an annular cavity for the reciprocal receipt of a piston. The clutch further includes a pulley rotatably received on the hub having a recess formed therein. An extension integrally attached to the piston extends into the recess of the pulley for providing friction engagement therebetween. The piston is mounted by bolts threadably secured into the extension and reciprocally received in the annular lip of the hub. The piston is biased into the cavity by springs located between the piston and the hub. The rotary air union is in fluid communication with the cavity behind the piston and includes a base portion which is received in the cylindrical hole portion of the hub. A carbon face seal is received within the base portion and includes a radial flange which fits into a radial recess formed in the base portion to prohibit any rotation of the carbon face seal relative to the hub. A coil spring is positioned against the end of the base portion and biases an O-ring into the dome-shaped end of the carbon face seal for forcing contact of the O-ring against the dome-shaped end of the carbon face seal and for forcing contact of the carbon face seal with a cylindrical mount rotatably received within the base portion of the rotary union.

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Hugh K Schilling