Easily serviceable fan with universal subframe assembly and tensionable guards

摘要

A fan using tensionable safety guards combined with a universal subframe to enhance fan servicing. The preferred fan comprises a parallelepiped housing protectively enclosing an internal subframe securing a drive motor and fan propeller. A reinforcing edge circumscribes the housing front and rear to facilitate guard coupling. The edge comprises an angled brace adjacent to a peripheral lip penetrated by several spaced-apart slits. Fastener orifices penetrate the housing adjacent the slits. A displaceable clip resides in each slit. A clip anchor mates with a fastener that permits an operator to displace the clip outwardly and inwardly to selectively tension the safety guards that cover the housing front and rear. Each guard comprises a rectangular wire mesh. Each clip defines an arcuate cradle that captivates a portion of a safety guard. A transverse notch in each cradle captivates another portion of the guard to firmly seat it. The subframe comprises two parallel elongated brackets, each penetrated by several equidistant follower slots for securing at least one mounting chassis. The chassis comprises a base plate extending between integral slotted sides aligned with appropriate bracket slots to secure the chassis to the brackets. Each chassis base is penetrated by several mounting slots to receive drive motors, propellers, bearings and pulleys. An optional automated tensioning system may be used with belt-driven fans. Two springs pull one chassis from the other to maintain proper belt tension.