| Evaporator fan/motor assembly support bracket -> Monitor Keywords |
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Evaporator fan/motor assembly support bracketRelated Patent Categories: Rotary Kinetic Fluid Motors Or Pumps, Working Fluid Passage Or Distributing Means Associated With Runner (e.g., Casing, Etc.), Casing With Mounting MeansEvaporator fan/motor assembly support bracket description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060210396, Evaporator fan/motor assembly support bracket. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/663,409, filed Mar. 18, 2005, and entitled EVAP MOTOR MOUNTING BRACKET, which application is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. [0002] This application is related to the following applications subject to assignment to the common assignee of this application and filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the same date as this application: [0003] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--817NP), entitled "REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER"; [0004] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--816NP), entitled "SEALING SYSTEM FOR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE"; [0005] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--820NP), entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE"; [0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--879NP), entitled "MODULAR REFRIGERATION CASSETTE WITH CONDENSATE EVAPORATIVE TRAY"; and [0007] U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 210.sub.--818NP), entitled "BOTTOM DECK ASSEMBLY FOR REFRIGERATED MERCHANDISER". Each of the afore-listed patent applications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention relates to supporting a fan and motor assembly in general and, more particularly, to a bracket for supporting an evaporator fan and its associated motor in a limited flow passage of a refrigerated merchandiser. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0009] Refrigerated merchandisers have a refrigeration system associated therewith for providing the cooled environment within a refrigerated interior product space defined within the cabinet of the refrigerated merchandiser. The refrigeration systems of such refrigerated merchandisers commonly employ a conventional refrigeration cycle and include an evaporator and an evaporator fan operatively associated with the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet, as well as a condenser, a condenser fan, and compressor. In stand alone cabinets, the compressor, condenser and condenser fan are housed in an equipment compartment separate from and insulated from the refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet. A refrigerant is circulated by a compressor through refrigerant lines connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator in a conventional manner to form a closed circuit. Air within the insulated refrigerated interior product space of the refrigerated cabinet is circulated by the evaporator fan through the evaporator in heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant so as to cool the air. The evaporator and evaporator fan may be disposed within the cooled interior of the refrigerated cabinet, for example in the upper region thereof. [0010] However, it is well-known that the evaporator and evaporator fan may also be housed in the equipment compartment in a section of the equipment compartment insulated from the compressor, condenser and condenser fan. Among other uses, refrigerated merchandisers of this type may be used as product display cabinets for refrigerated or frozen foods, as vending machines, and as cold beverage merchandisers in supermarkets, grocery stores, gas stations, convenience stores, and other retail establishments. For example, cold beverages, such as soft drinks, beer, wine coolers, etc. are commonly in refrigerated merchandisers for self-service purchase by customers. Conventional beverage merchandisers of this type include an insulated cabinet defining a refrigerated interior product display space having one or more glass doors that provide access to that product display space. The beverage product, typically in cans or bottles, single or in six-packs, is stored on shelves within the refrigerated display zone of the cabinet. To purchase a beverage, the customer opens one of the doors and reaches into the refrigerated cabinet to retrieve the desired product from the shelf. [0011] Refrigerated merchandisers equipped with refrigeration units disposed beneath the refrigerated cabinet are disclosed, for example, by Rudick et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,827; 5,402,654; 5,417,079; and 5,417,081. In these refrigerated merchandisers, the refrigerated air from the refrigeration unit flows up from the equipment compartment through a flow duct along the back wall of the cabinet, along the top wall of the cabinet toward the front of the cabinet and down the front of the cabinet to the floor, also referred to as the bottom deck, of the product display zone. Refrigerated air may also enter the product display zone from the rear flow duct through a plurality of openings in the panel separating the flow duct from the product display zone. The refrigerated air from the product display zone returns to the refrigeration unit through an air return inlet opening through the cabinet floor. [0012] It has been recognized that mounting the components of the refrigeration unit on a common platform that may be slid into and out of the equipment compartment disposed in the bottom of the display cabinet renders the refrigeration unit more accessible for cleaning and other servicing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,421, Maynard et al., discloses a refrigerated merchandiser having a modular refrigeration unit that may be removed from a compartment in the bottom of the cabinet for ease of servicing. The condenser and its associated fan are mounted to the forward end of a bottom tray. The evaporator and its associated fan are mounted to the aft side of an upright bulkhead that is mounted to the rearward end of the tray aft of the condenser/condenser fan assembly. The motor driving the evaporator fan is mounted to the bulkhead by means of a generally U-shaped plate having side flanges which are bolted to the bulkhead. Although effective for supporting the evaporator fan and motor assembly, a plate bracket presents a relatively high drag to air flowing into the evaporator fan. Further, the air flowing past such a relatively large plate mounting bracket may generate an undesirable level of noise. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0013] It is an object of one aspect the invention to provide a relatively low profile bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan. [0014] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan having a relatively low drag characteristic. [0015] It is an object of one aspect of the invention to provide a bracket for supporting a motor driving an evaporator fan having a relatively low noise characteristic. [0016] It is an object of a further aspect of the invention to provide a fan, motor and improved mounting bracket assembly. [0017] A bracket is provided for mounting a multi-bladed fan and its associated motor to a support member. The bracket has a body having a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom. The legs are disposed in an asymmetrical relationship with respect to the plurality of blades on the multi-bladed fan. The legs may also be unequal in number to the plurality of fan blades. [0018] In an embodiment, the bracket includes a generally T-shaped body having a longitudinally extending member and a cross-member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first leg extending outwardly from an end of the longitudinally extending member, a second leg extending outwardly from a first end of the cross-member, and a third leg extending outwardly from a second end of the cross-member laterally opposite the first end of the cross- member. Each leg may have a foot extending outwardly therefrom, each foot having a hole therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting said bracket to said support member [0019] In a further aspect of the invention, a fan, motor and bracket assembly is provided including a motor having a drive shaft, a fan having a plurality of blades disposed circumferentially about and extending outwardly from a central fan hub mounted to the drive shaft of the motor, and a bracket having body adapted for mounting the motor thereto. The bracket has a body having a plurality of legs extending outwardly therefrom, each leg adapted to be mounted to a support structure. The legs are disposed in an asymmetrical arrangement with respect to the plurality of fan blades and are unequal in number to the number of fan blades. [0020] In one embodiment of the fan, motor and bracket assembly, the bracket includes a generally T-shaped body having a longitudinally extending member and a cross-member extending laterally to the longitudinally extending member, a first leg extending outwardly from an end of the longitudinally extending member, a second leg extending outwardly from a first end of the cross-member, and a third leg extending outwardly from a second end of the cross-member laterally opposite the first end of the cross- member. At least one hole is provided in the body for receiving a fastener for mounting the motor to the body. Each leg has a foot extending therefrom and having a hole therethrough for receiving a fastener for mounting the bracket to the support member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] For a further understanding of these and objects of the invention, reference will be made to the following detailed description of the invention which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, where: [0022] FIG. 1 is a sectioned side elevation view of a refrigerated merchandiser equipped with a bottom-mounted refrigeration unit cassette; [0023] FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; [0024] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the refrigeration unit cassette of FIG. 1 showing a pair of evaporator fan/motor assemblies mounted therein; Continue reading about Evaporator fan/motor assembly support bracket... 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