eurekastar
Well-known member
@ Joel
No, the fans on top are the suction fans. Take a look at the above photos. In the photo of the bottom bearing and bearing boot -- that is actually the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">bottom</span> of the motor assembly where the spider and separator attaches. Notice all the slots around the the periphery. Air is sucked by the fans (on top) through those holes. The air is then vented around the sides of the motor before passing through the holes around the periphery of the bearing plate and finally into the fan assembly itself. The fan assembly sits on top of that bearing plate. Notice too the plastic shroud that surrounds the motor. It keeps the air flow concentrated and directed from the slots on the bottom of the motor (water pan side) and up through the periphery of the bearing plate and finally through the suction fans themselves. With the D4, Rainbow went to a completely different (and more efficient and compact) motor/fan design with the motor itself on top and the fan assembly on the bottom where the spider and separator are attached. The D3 motor does look awkward because it looks top heavy. But the fan assembly on top is actually very light (being made of aluminum, I think). Once the motor is attached to its support ring and the support ring is attached to the lower vacuum housing, it is very stable. Additional support and stability is provided by the plastic baffle inside the top housing of the vacuum. You can see the stripped baffle through the opaque plastic on top. By the way, there is an internal cooling fan on the armature too. You can see that in the second photo. The attached photo is a more clear view of the top of the bearing plate where the fan assembly sits. Again, the fans draw air through those holes around the periphery. (I took this photo while "bench testing" the motor before I assembled the fans on top of it)
No, the fans on top are the suction fans. Take a look at the above photos. In the photo of the bottom bearing and bearing boot -- that is actually the <span style="text-decoration: underline;">bottom</span> of the motor assembly where the spider and separator attaches. Notice all the slots around the the periphery. Air is sucked by the fans (on top) through those holes. The air is then vented around the sides of the motor before passing through the holes around the periphery of the bearing plate and finally into the fan assembly itself. The fan assembly sits on top of that bearing plate. Notice too the plastic shroud that surrounds the motor. It keeps the air flow concentrated and directed from the slots on the bottom of the motor (water pan side) and up through the periphery of the bearing plate and finally through the suction fans themselves. With the D4, Rainbow went to a completely different (and more efficient and compact) motor/fan design with the motor itself on top and the fan assembly on the bottom where the spider and separator are attached. The D3 motor does look awkward because it looks top heavy. But the fan assembly on top is actually very light (being made of aluminum, I think). Once the motor is attached to its support ring and the support ring is attached to the lower vacuum housing, it is very stable. Additional support and stability is provided by the plastic baffle inside the top housing of the vacuum. You can see the stripped baffle through the opaque plastic on top. By the way, there is an internal cooling fan on the armature too. You can see that in the second photo. The attached photo is a more clear view of the top of the bearing plate where the fan assembly sits. Again, the fans draw air through those holes around the periphery. (I took this photo while "bench testing" the motor before I assembled the fans on top of it)
