US 11,835,054 B2
Method for automatic detection of axial cooling fan rotation direction
Huhu Wang, Livonia, MI (US); Edward Dean Tate, Jr., Grand Blanc, MI (US); Karthik Mahadevan Muthuraman, Livonia, MI (US); and Satheesh Kandasamy, Waltham, MA (US)
Assigned to Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., Johnston, RI (US)
Filed by Dassault Systemes Simulia Corp., Johnston, RI (US)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/829,247.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/916,313, filed on Oct. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0115935 A1, Apr. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. F04D 27/00 (2006.01); F04D 19/00 (2006.01); G06F 30/28 (2020.01); G06F 111/10 (2020.01); G06F 113/08 (2020.01); G06F 119/08 (2020.01)
CPC F04D 27/001 (2013.01) [F04D 19/002 (2013.01); G06F 30/28 (2020.01); F05B 2210/40 (2013.01); F05B 2260/84 (2013.01); G06F 2111/10 (2020.01); G06F 2113/08 (2020.01); G06F 2119/08 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A computer-implemented method, for using image processing for determining a fan rotational direction, comprises:
receiving, by a computer processing system, digital data of a three dimensional representation of an axial fan having plural fan blades;
determining, by the computer processing system, a viewing angle of the three dimensional representation of the axial fan relative to a reference vector;
orienting, by the computer processing system, a virtual viewing position of the three dimensional representation of the axial fan to align with the determined viewing angle;
generating, by the computer processing system, a digital image of at least a single blade of the plural fan blades of the axial fan as viewed from the virtual viewing position, the digital image representing a two dimensional projection of the three dimensional representation of the axial fan;
processing, by the computer processing system, the digital image to extract data representing a profile of the single blade;
identifying, by the computer processing system, a first edge and a second edge based on the profile of the single blade represented by the extracted data; and
determining, by the computer processing system based on the first and second edges represented by the extracted data, the fan rotational direction.