A fan motor includes: a motor housing; a rotating shaft; a rotor; a stator disposed outside the rotor; an impeller having at least one blade and a hub; and an impeller cover surrounding an outer circumference of the impeller and defining an air suction inlet. The impeller cover includes: a shroud having an inner diameter that expands in an air flow direction; and a non-metallic coating layer coated on an inner circumferential surface of the shroud and having a lower strength than the blade. The non-metallic coating layer includes: a first area having a first thickness; a second area having a second thickness thinner than the first thickness and defining a stepped portion with the first area, thereby minimizing leakage flow caused by the pressure difference from a pressure-side surface to a suction-side surface of the blade to reduce flow path loss and improving efficiency of the fan motor.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that includes a plurality of elongated metallic fan blades, a first metallic end ring, a second metallic end ring, and a metallic hub support connected to the fan blades intermediate the first and second end rings. The fan blades include straight inlet edges radially inward from first and second radially inner edges of the first and second metallic end rings so that inlet portions of the blades extend radially inward from the first and second metallic end rings. In another aspect, a fan assembly is provided that includes a hub support having a hub strip and a hub ring. The hub strip has an elongate configuration with an attachment portion connected to the hub ring at one end of the hub strip and another attachment portion connected to the hub ring at an opposite end of the hub strip.

A method of manufacturing a centrifugal fan is provided that includes cutting a metal sheet to form a positive pressure surface forming member and a negative pressure surface forming member, respectively, forming a positive pressure surface and a negative pressure surface; pressing the positive pressure surface forming member and the negative pressure surface forming member to form a first curved surface forming the positive pressure surface and a second curved surface forming the negative pressure surface; trimming the positive pressure surface forming member provided with the fast curved surface and the negative pressure surface forming member provided with the second curved surface to form a shroud bonding surface and a main plate bonding surface; bending the shroud bonding surface and the main plate bonding surface; bonding the positive pressure surface forming member and the negative pressure surface forming member to each other; and bonding the shroud bonding surface and a shroud to each other and bonding the main plate bonding surface and a main plate to each other in a bonded state of the positive pressure surface forming member and the negative pressure surface forming member.

An impeller includes a shell having a plurality of blades. The shell may also define a cavity. The impeller may further include a backplate that engages at least a portion of the shell. The backplate can include a post which can be coupled to the impeller through a fastener such as a threaded nut. The backplate can be thereafter clamped to the impeller shell. Seals can be provided in the impeller, such as in the backplate. The backplate and impeller shell can be piloted onto each other. In some forms splines can be used to secure the backplate to the impeller shell.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that can be manufactured while producing a significantly reduced amount of scrap material. More specifically, the fan assembly utilizes a hub ring and one or more hub strips to support a plurality of blades rather than a solid center disc or end disc used by some prior approaches. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes bending a member into an annular configuration and joining end portions of the member together to rigidly fix the member in the annular configuration. The rigid annular member may be used as an end ring, a hub ring, an orifice, or other component, while producing significantly less scrap material than traditional approaches.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that can be manufactured while producing a significantly reduced amount of scrap material. More specifically, the fan assembly utilizes a hub ring and one or more hub strips to support a plurality of blades rather than a solid center disc or end disc used by some prior approaches. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes bending a member into an annular configuration and joining end portions of the member together to rigidly fix the member in the annular configuration. The rigid annular member may be used as an end ring, a hub ring, an orifice, or other component, while producing significantly less scrap material than traditional approaches.

Disclosed aspects relate to cooling electronics. A set of recirculation flaps is coupled with a cooling fan. At least one recirculation flap has a ferrous material. In various embodiments, the set of recirculation flaps is arranged in an open position in response to air pressure from the cooling fan, and is arranged in a closed position in response to substantially no air pressure from the cooling fan. A controller is coupled with the cooling fan. The controller indicates a set of indicated positions for the set of recirculation flaps based on a tachometer value. An electromagnet is connected with the controller to position the set of recirculation flaps in the set of indicated positions using the ferrous material. In various embodiments, the electromagnet engages the ferrous material to arrange the set of recirculation flaps in an open position.

Disclosed aspects relate to cooling electronics. A set of recirculation flaps is coupled with a cooling fan. At least one recirculation flap has a ferrous material. In various embodiments, the set of recirculation flaps is arranged in an open position in response to air pressure from the cooling fan, and is arranged in a closed position in response to substantially no air pressure from the cooling fan. A controller is coupled with the cooling fan. The controller indicates a set of indicated positions for the set of recirculation flaps based on a tachometer value. An electromagnet is connected with the controller to position the set of recirculation flaps in the set of indicated positions using the ferrous material. In various embodiments, the electromagnet engages the ferrous material to arrange the set of recirculation flaps in an open position.

In one aspect, a fan assembly is provided that can be manufactured while producing a significantly reduced amount of scrap material. More specifically, the fan assembly utilizes a hub ring and one or more hub strips to support a plurality of blades rather than a solid center disc or end disc used by some prior approaches. In another aspect, a method is provided that includes bending a member into an annular configuration and joining end portions of the member together to rigidly fix the member in the annular configuration. The rigid annular member may be used as an end ring, a hub ring, an orifice, or other component, while producing significantly less scrap material than traditional approaches.

A method includes a casing disposing step for disposing a top casing, with a split surface of the top casing facing downward, at a workable position where a space is secured such that it is possible to dispose a vane segment attached to the top casing below the top casing. Next, a segment moving step is executed for moving the vane segment attached to the top casing in a circumferential direction and disposing the vane segment in the space below the top casing.