Fan with resilient hub

摘要

A resilient hub assembly comprises a top plate, bottom plate, central hub, and outer spars. The central hub is coupled between the top plate and the bottom plate. The outer spars are coupled between the top plate and the bottom plate, and the outer spars are positioned in a circular arrangement about a common longitudinal axis of the top plate and the bottom plate. The resilient hub assembly is configured to be flexible. The top plate and/or the bottom plate may comprise cutouts, and/or the outer spars may be positioned as to allow a gap between the central hub and the outer spars to promote flexibility.

主权项

1. A hub assembly comprising:
a. a top plate, wherein the top plate is flexible; b. a bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is flexible, wherein the top plate and bottom plate are coupled together and are configured to form a central hub defining a longitudinal axis of the top plate and the bottom plate, wherein the top plate and the bottom plate each comprise a plurality of cutouts arranged in an angular array about the common longitudinal axis of the top plate and the bottom plate; c. a plurality of outer spars, wherein the outer spars are coupled to and extend generally outwardly from the top plate and the bottom plate, and wherein the cutouts of the top plate and of the bottom plate are positioned within alternating gaps of successive outer spars; and d. a plurality of fan blades, wherein each of the outer spars of the plurality of outer spars is disposed within a fan blade.