An engine cooling fan having flexible steel blades whose pitch varies with engine speed has been developed to replace the viscous clutch used in many vehicles today. By controlling the geometric shape of the fan, maximum air flow is provided at low speeds, and noise and horsepower are reduced at high speeds. Extensive stress analysis and material development were necessary to insure adequate service life. The final design was proved out with over one million miles of in-vehicle fleet testing before release.An engine cooling fan having flexible steel blades whose pitch varies with engine speed has been developed to replace the viscous clutch used in many vehicles today. By controlling the geometric shape of the fan, maximum air flow is provided at low speeds, and noise and horsepower are reduced at high speeds. Extensive stress analysis and material development were necessary to insure adequate service life. The final design was proved out with over one million miles of in-vehicle fleet testing before release.
The Ford Flex Fan
Sae Technical Papers
Mid-Year Meeting ; 1965
1965-02-01
Conference paper
English
Online Contents | 2009
|Newcomers: 2010 Ford Flex EcoBoost
Automotive engineering | 2009
|Automotive engineering | 2008
|First drives: Ford Flex LTD AWD
Automotive engineering | 2009
|LA show report - Ford Flex, Hyundai Azera
Online Contents | 2011