Acme Engineering QBMX Installation Manual

Form 613153

Read and Save These Instructions

INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

QBMX SERIES

The Inline Mixed Flow Fan

INSTALLATION l OPERATION l MAINTENANCE

I. INTRODUCTION

Your Series QBMX Mixed Flow Fan is a carefully engineered
and constructed piece of machinery which will give long
satisfactory service provided correct installation and proper
maintenance practices are observed. These instructions, along
with others for motors, parts or accessories which may be
furnished as part of your fan, are supplied for your information
and guidance. DO NOT DESTROY AFTER INSTALLATION ­RETAIN WITH THE UNIT FOR MAINTENANCE. Preventative
maintenance including periodic inspection, testing, cleaning,
lubrication and replacement of worn parts will forestall
equipment breakdowns and minimize equipment shut-downs.

WARNING! The inner cylinder is not air tight and therefore,
the fan should not be used where the escape of
contaminated air would cause problems. The user must
accept ultimate responsibility for the acceptability of the
fan in his system.

II. RECEIVING AND HANDLING

Fans are prepared for shipment according to the Uniform
Freight Classification Rules of the carriers. The equipment is
carefully inspected before shipment and it is the responsibility
of the carrier that it be in perfect condition upon arrival.

When the carrier accepts a shipment and signs our Bill of
Lading, the carrier is responsible for any subsequent
shortages or damage, evident or concealed, and claim
must be against the carrier.

each end of the unit for handling purposes. In addition, rope
slings may be used around the casing, or eye bolts can be set
in the flange bolt holes. Some vertical units have mounting
brackets which can be used. Do not lift by the fan wheel, drive
shaft, motor or motor base as this could cause damage or
misalignment.

Fan wheels and casings which are furnished with special
coverings, such as rubber, phenolic enamels, or other
protective coatings, should be handled with extreme care as
many of these coatings are easily damaged and even a small
chipped spot will break the continuity of the coating and destroy
its value as a protective covering for the metal.

Fan wheels are carefully balanced to provide smooth
operation. If the fan wheel is damaged during handling, it may
result in an out-of-balance condition and require re-balancing.
If a shaft is dropped or unduly strained, it may be bent which
will also result in out-of-balance operation of the fan.

A fan wheel should never be lifted by or allowed to rest its
entire weight on the side plates or blades. The fan wheel and
shaft assembly can be lifted by slings around the shaft on each
side of the wheel so the wheel is supported by its hub. If a
chain is used there must be sufficient padding on the shaft and
wheel to prevent the scoring of the shaft or injury to the wheel.
The chain or cable should be spread with timbers, or braced by
some other method to prevent damage to the wheel side
plates. If the fan wheel is received separate from the shaft, a
support should be placed through the hub for lifting, making
sure not to injure the finished bore of the wheel.

Immediately upon receipt of a shipment, carefully inspect for
damage and shortage. If any damage and/or shortage is
detected or suspected, the carrier must be asked to conduct an
inspection. The consignee’s representative should not accept
shipment without a notation on the delivery receipt indicating
items not delivered or apparent extent of damage.

When a shipment is opened and damage is found which was
not evident externally (concealed damage), it is mandatory that
the consignee request an immediate inspection by the carrier.
Report damage to the carrier within 15 days. Failure to report
damage within the above time limit will cause rejection of a
claim.

Promptly file a claim against the final carrier. A claim will not be
considered by a transportation company unless presented
within nine (9) months from date of receipt of equipment.

WARNING! Fans should never be lifted by the shaft, motor or
accessories. These are not designed to support total fan weight
and may break causing personal injury or unit damage.

Even though Mixed Flow Fans are rugged in construction,
some care must be taken in handling. Lifting lugs are built on to

III. STORING OR LONG TERM SHUTDOWN

Depending upon size, fan equipment may be shipped from the
factory either assembled as a unit or as sub-assemblies. The
fan manufacturer provides sufficient protection for shipping the
equipment to the jobsite. However, if the equipment is not
installed and operated within several days, additional
precautions are necessary.

Specifications should identify any conditions associated with
non-use or storage of the equipment. Precautions may include
specifying added protection by the fan manufacturer such as
special crating, rust preventative on bare metal parts, special
wrapping using tarps, silica gel bags to limit moisture and
special covers over the inlets/outlets.

Once the equipment has arrived at the jobsite, but is not
installed and placed in operation, the rotor (impeller and shaft)
should be rotated by hand periodically to re-coat all lubricated
parts with grease and to minimize brinnelling in anti-friction
bearings. For assembled fans located in a dirty/moist/cold
location, the equipment should be covered and bearings filled
with grease to minimize contamination from outside elements.
Before start-up, make sure all excess grease is purged out.

Stored motors should follow the specific instructions of the
motor manufacturer.

The factory does not recommend use of any plastic to
cover equipment. This type covering can cause excessive
moisture, condensation, rusting and equipment damage.

In addition the factory recommends that wheels must be
blocked to prevent their being rotated by the wind.

Arr. 9 units can be side wall mounted, ceiling
suspended by rods, supported upside down from the
ceiling or by brackets for a ceiling hung mounting.
Warning: For duct support, the fan should be
supported by the fan’s integral casing flange, not by a
companion flange (for slip duct connection) supplied
as an accessory. The duct must be sufficiently braced
to support the fan and the motor and to prevent
vibration.

IV. INSTALLATION

WARNING! If gases, other than clean air, are to be exhausted
using the fan, then the user bears the responsibility of
determining that the fan is appropriate and safe for the
application.

WARNING! Open all disconnect switches, secure in that
position and allow all rotating or revolving equipment to stop
before removing belt guard, installing or servicing unit. Failure
to do so may result in personal injury or death from electrical
shock or rotating parts.

WARNING! The drive motor and V-belt drive components,
when supplied with the centrifugal fan, have been carefully
selected for this unit’s operating conditions as specified.
Changing the drive motor or V-belt drive components could
result in unsafe operating conditions which could cause
personal injury and/or any of the following:

1. Shaft failure

2. Fan failure

3. Bearing failure

4. Excessive belt wear

5. Motor overload

A. Variable Frequency Drives and Motors

Arr. 9 fans furnished with a mounting base should be
firmly bolted to the foundation or vibration mountings.

Warning: For all mountings options, the ducts must be
braced sufficiently to support the weight of the fan and
motor and to prevent vibration during operation.

C. Elevated Temperatures

Standard steel and aluminum fan construction is good for

-20ºF (-29ºC) to 150ºF (66ºC). Steel fans for handling air up
to 300ºF (149ºC) draw outside air through the belt tube and
inner cylinder. Therefore, care should be taken so as to not
restrict entry to the belt tube. Ambient air should not exceed
100ºF (38ºC).

D. Access

Belts are readily accessible and can be inspected or
replaced without disturbing the installation other than to
remove belt guards or weatherproof hoods, if they are part
of the unit. Access to bearings requires removable door or
duct sections at the discharge end of the fan or removal of
the unit from the duct system.

E. Fan Wheels

All fan wheels are balanced before shipment. They should
fit the shaft snugly. The key should fit both the fan hub and
shaft snugly, and the set screws should be tightened to the
appropriate torque.

There are occasions when a Variable Frequency Drive
(VFD) will cause poor motor performance and possible
damage. To avoid these problems, the Company
recommends the following:

1. Select compatible motor and VFD inverter; if possible,
the motor and the inverter should be from the same
manufacturer or at least the inverter selected should be
recommended by the motor manufacturer.

2. A motor shaft grounding system should be used to
prevent motor bearing damage from eddy currents.

NOTE: The Company will not honor motor warranty
claims if the customer fails to follow these
recommendations.

B. Types of Mounting Supports

Series QBMX Mixed Flow Fans are designed for horizontal
or vertical operation and are so designated by the suffix
letter H or V following the size number; i.e. Size QBMX27V.
Horizontal (H) units must be installed with the shaft
horizontal only. Vertical (V) units can be installed with the
shaft vertical to discharge air either up or down, or they can
be used with the shaft horizontal. QBMX fans can be
furnished with optional vibration isolation, either rubber or
spring type. Flexible duct connections should be used
when flexible mountings are used.

Rotation of the fan equipment and its corresponding fan
wheel is always designated as clockwise viewing it from the
drive side in accordance with AMCA Standards.

F. Bearings

Depending upon bearing speed required, anti-friction
bearings are grease lubricated at the factory.

If the bearings are received separate from the fan or if they
are removed from the fan for any reason, be sure to keep
them clean and free from dirt and other contaminants.

G. Alignment

Bearing alignment is critical even on many ball and roller
bearings designated as “self-aligning”. On all bearings, if
the dust and dirt seals are built into the bearing housing
and not part of the race or journal assembly, alignment
should center the shaft within one-half the normal radial
clearance at the edge of the casing, to prevent excessive
dust seal wear and possible shaft scoring.

H. Wheel/Inlet Installation

The wheel/inlet relationship on industrial fans is important if
optimum performance is to be obtained. The correct factory
placement of these parts can be disturbed by shipment and
handling. The inlet should be centered within the wheel
radially. Enlarged holes in the inlet bell allow for adjustment
of radial clearance when necessary. It is unlikely that the

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wheel should require movement on the shaft to correct the
overlap.

I. Drives

Sheaves should be firmly locked in position and the key
should fit tightly. Alignment is correct when the fan and
motor shafts are parallel and belts are perpendicular to the
shaft. A straight edge or taut cord may be used to line up
the sheaves. Belts should be under light tension and
should feel “live” when thumped. Belts should deflect
slightly under light pressure. Excessive tension should
never be applied since it will damage the cords and shorten
the life of the belts. Never pry the belts over the rim of the
sheave, but slack off on the take-up bolts until the belts can
be slipped over the rim of the sheaves. Prying the belts
over the rim of the sheave may break the cords and
shorten the life of the belts and may possibly damage the
fan.

For QBMX Mixed Flow Fans with belt tubes, make sure
belts are not rubbing against the internal belt guard. On
these fans, belt stretch may be taken care of by
re-positioning the motor base using the next higher base
holes.

J. Fan Pre-Operating Checklist

Without exception, it is recommended that all fans
include applicable guards and safety devices.
Equipment ordered without the applicable safety
devices is clearly the responsibility of the purchaser.
Further, the purchaser warrants that he has
determined and acquired any and all safety devices
required for equipment purchased.

Before putting the fan into operation, remove any shipping
wire or blocking holding the wheel and turn it by hand to be
sure it is free and not rubbing against the casing or inlet.
Check for tightness of the wheel on the shaft. Be sure
bearings are lubricated and in alignment. Check tightness
of bearing collars as they may loosen during shipment.
Check coupling, belts or applicable drive for alignment.

It is advisable to check fan rotation before final duct
connections are made. This is readily done by a
momentary application of electrical current to the driving
motor. The wheel should rotate clockwise when looking in
the discharge in accordance with AMCA nomenclature.

Factory mounted motors on fans may shift during shipment
requiring a check of the V-belt alignment and tension.
Re-position the motor for proper alignment and belt tension
if necessary. Re-position the motor on its base to take care
of belt tension.

Check wheel rotation when starting the unit to be sure it
conforms to the direction of the rotation arrow on the
casing.

Check bearing hold-down bolts and the locking collars or
other devices for tightness. Be sure to check the bearing
for lubrication. See the included bearing instruction book for
details.

The operation of the vane control should be checked
before the fan is started to make sure that all links are free,
that the operation is smooth, and that there is no distortion
of the casing to cause any binding. See the vane control
installation manual for details.

K. Set Screw Tightening Schedule

2. After 500 operating hours or three months, whichever
comes first, tighten set screws to the full recommended
torque.

3. At least once a year, tighten set screws to the full
recommended torque.

Procedure for Tightening Set Screws in Bearings and Hubs

One Set Screw Application

Using a torque wrench, tighten the set screw to the torque
recommended in Table 1.

Two Set Screw Application

1. Using a torque wrench, tighten one set screw to half of
the torque recommended in Table 1.

2. Tighten the second set screw to the full recommended
torque.

3. Tighten the first set screw to the full recommended
torque.

Table 1. Recommended Tightening Torque for

Set Screws

Set Screw Diameter Torque (in-lbs)

#10 35

1/4 80

5/16 126

3/8 240

7/16 384

1/2 744

9/16 1080

5/8 1500

3/4 2580

7/8 3600

1 5400

V. START-UP OPERATION CHECKLIST

Before putting any fan into initial operation the above
instructions must be followed. In addition, the following check
list must be completed.

A. Lock out the primary and all secondary power sources.

B. A complete inspection shall be made of all of the ductwork

and the interior of the fan. Make certain there is no foreign
material which can be drawn into or blown through the fan
or ductwork. Eyes should be protected against undetected
foreign material with safety goggles or other appropriate
means.

C. Make sure the mounting arrangement and the duct

connections are adequately designed in accordance with
the recognized acceptable engineering practices and with
the Company’s recommendations.

D. Check and tighten all hold-down/securing bolts.

E. Check the fan assembly and bearings for proper grounding

to prevent static electricity discharge.

F. Spin the impeller to determine whether it rotates freely and

is not grossly out of balance.

1. Before initial operation of the fan, tighten set screws
according to the procedure outlined below.

G. Inspect the impeller for proper rotation. Wheel rotates

CCW as viewed from the inlet or wheel.

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