Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Support mounting – carrier or fairing structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-22
2001-03-06
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Support mounting, carrier or fairing structure
C416S24700A, C415S121200, C415S213100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to an air circulation type fan. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a unique air circulation type fan having a unique fan guard, a unique motor position, and a unique mounting system, all making the fan especially adapted for utilization in an agricultural setting, such as in a poultry barn.
In agricultural settings, such as in poultry or cattle barns, the air is usually stirred with fans. Particularly, the air flow requirements in such agricultural settings are typically addressed with a box-type fan. A conventional box-type fan has a housing of sheet metal or other solid material forming a periphery about the fan. A venturi is typically mounted within the box of the fan to enhance the air flow generated by the fan. In hot seasons, box type fans are primarily positioned within the walls of a barn, so as to draw air from inside the barn, through the fan, to the exterior of the barn. These wall mounted box fans stir the air within the barn, thus providing a cooling effect.
It is also common for box-type fans to be positioned not only in the walls of a barn, but to have an array of such fans suspended from the ceiling of the barn. The fans serve to stir the air and, particularly, to move a curtain of air from one fan to the next, thus providing a cooling effect within the barn. With box-type fans in both the barn walls and suspended within the barn, the fans provide a stirring ventilation within the barn.
Conventional box-type fans present a number of drawbacks. One primary drawback of box-type fans is that the box structure of the fan actually serves to block air, thus creating dead zones around the fan. Thus, in an environment in which a great number of box-type fans are utilized, as is often the case, the fans actually serve to interrupt air flow, in an undesirable fashion. Additionally, box-type fans utilize a great deal of material, and are thus expensive to manufacture. Box-type fans are also cumbersome to install and difficult to position or reposition as desired.
In contrast to a conventional box-type fan, air circulation fans have been used widely in manufacturing environments, such as automobile fabrication plants, for the purpose of cooling workers. Conventional air circulator fans incorporate a fan guard assembly having front and rear fan guard members detachably connected to each other. Each front and rear fan guard member forms a concave, dish-shaped grill. In such conventional air circulator fans, the rear fan guard member has a central opening for receiving a portion of an electrical motor. The motor is secured by fasteners to the rear fan guard member, and any conventional propeller or blade arrangement is attached to the electrical motor.
While conventional air circulator type fans are very useful in commercial and industrial environments, they are not applicable in agricultural settings, and particularly poultry barns. In this regard, attempting to use a conventional air circulator fan in a poultry barn would cause loose feathers present in the barn to collect on the grille of the guard members, thus clogging the fan. Additionally, in order to achieve the desired air movement in a poultry barn, the type of propeller assembly, and particularly the type of fan blades, used on a conventional box-type fan are much larger and heavier than the type of propeller assembly and blades utilized on a conventional air circulator. Any attempt to replace the blades conventionally used on an air circulator with those conventionally used in a box-type fan would greatly increase the motor requirement for the air circulator, thus making the fan cost prohibitive. Accordingly, although air circulator fans are less expensive to manufacture than a conventional box-type fan, they are wholly inapplicable to meet the needs found in typical agricultural settings, such as poultry barns.
Accordingly, the need exists for an inexpensive fan for utilization in an agricultural setting, such as a poultry barn, which overcomes the drawbacks of the box-type fan. Additionally, the need exists for an air circulator type fan that may be used in an agricultural setting, such as a poultry barn. The present invention overcomes the limitations of the prior art, and meets these and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to efficiently stir air in an agricultural setting, such as a poultry barn.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an air circulator fan, for use in a poultry barn, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.
It is an object of the present invention to reduce or prohibit loose feathers present in a poultry barn from collecting on the fan guard grille of an air circulator fan utilized in a poultry barn.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an air circulator type fan which is easy to install and position within a barn.
It is an additional object of the invention to substantially reduce or eliminate dead zones associated with the case of conventional box-type fans.
These and other objects are achieved by a unique air circulator fan of the present invention. The air circulator fan has front and rear fan guard members. Each front and rear fan guard member has a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending radially outward from a generally central location. A grille, formed from a spiraling rod or concentric rings, is secured over the ribs to form a concave dish-shaped member. The grille is constructed so that the spacing of the grille is greater at a major, face portion of the fan guard member than proximate the outer periphery of the fan guard member. Particularly, in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the spacing of the grille (e.g., the spirally rod or concentric rings) is approximately three times greater at the face of each fan guard member than proximate an outer peripheral edge of each fan guard member. This spacing permits loose feathers and debris to easily pass through the fan guard members without collecting on the grilles, but provides a safety feature at the outer periphery of the fan guard member by having a spacing through which it is difficult for fingers and/or clothing to pass.
A plurality of selected ribs of the ribs of the front fan guard member are each bent at an outer end to form a hook. Each hook overlaps and partially surrounds the outer peripheral rim of the rear fan guard member, thereby securing the two fan guard members together. When the front fan guard member is secured to the rear fan guard member, the radially extending ribs of the respective guard members are offset from each other, to prevent the radially extending ribs of the rear fan guard member from interfering with the hooks. It will be understood that hook members could, alternatively, or additionally, be formed on outer ends of selected ribs of the rear fan guard member.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the front fan guard member has a central opening. The central opening in the front fan guard member receives an output portion of an electrical motor. A propeller assembly, formed of a hub having a number of radially extending wings, and a blade attached to and corresponding to each of the wings, is secured to the output portion of the motor, and is housed within the combined fan guard members. Importantly, the propeller assembly is positioned on the motor so that air is drawn through the rear fan guard member, out the front fan guard member, and across the motor. Stated differently, in accordance with an aspect of the invention, the motor of the air circulator fan is positioned downstream in the high speed region of the air stream produced by the fan. The position of the motor prevents debris from building up on the motor, and also reduces the temperature rise associated with the motor. This motor position also causes the air to turn more axially than if the motor was positioned upstream from the propeller in a conventional manner. This unique arrangement permits a
Hill D. Lee
Koop Edward N.
Emerson Electric Co.
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Look Edward K.
McDowell Liam
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