Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e. – impellers) – Support mounting – carrier or fairing structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-03-24
2001-01-09
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Fluid reaction surfaces (i.e., impellers)
Support mounting, carrier or fairing structure
C416S005000, C416S21400A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171060
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to ceiling fans.
A typical ceiling fan will include a downrod suspended from the ceiling, a motor having a motor shaft connected to a lower portion of the downrod and a motor body which rotates about the motor shaft, a motor housing secured to either the motor shaft or the downrod assembly which is stationary and surrounds the motor, blade mounting irons which connect to the motor body and extend out of an opening of the motor housing, and blades attached to the blade irons below the motor housing. The use of a separate stationary motor housing forces the blade irons of a typical ceiling fan to extend out of an opening in the housing, which increases the vertical dimension of the portion of the ceiling fan suspended below the downrod. Therefore, there is a need for methods and apparatuses of mounting the fan blades to the motor body which will reduce the vertical dimension of the ceiling fan below the downrod assembly.
Because the motor housing of a typical ceiling fan encloses the motor, the motor housing must have various openings to allow the escape of heat from the motor. However, the openings in the motor housing complicate the design of the motor housing and may limit the escape of heat from the motor because of the limited availability of the apertures in the motor housing. Therefore, there is a need for motor housing that will provide the motor with better heat transfer than a typical motor housing.
Also, electrical wiring for operating a typical ceiling fan passes through a single downrod to the motor. The single downrod screws onto the motor shaft to secure the motor there below. However, the size of the wiring will limit the minimum size of the downrod. Therefore, there is a need for alternative downrods that can have a reduced diameter, and a method of securing the motor to the alternative downrods.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment the present invention is a blade mounting assembly for a ceiling fan having a plurality of blades and a ceiling fan motor with a motor body that rotates about a motor shaft, the blade mounting assembly including: a first ring secured to said motor body; a plurality of sets of first spacers disposed on the first ring, each of the sets of first spacers corresponding to a different one of the plurality of blades; a second ring having a plurality of sets of second spacers disposed therein, each of the sets of second spacers corresponding to a different one of the plurality of blades; and wherein the second ring is secured to the first ring such that each of the plurality of blades are disposed between the corresponding set of first spacers and the corresponding set of second spacers.
In another embodiment, the present is directed to a downrod assembly for a ceiling fan suspended from a ceiling bracket and having a motor, the downrod assembly including: an upper downrod bracket plate pivotally connected to the ceiling bracket; a plurality of downrods connected to the upper downrod bracket; a lower downrod bracket connected to the motor.
In yet another embodiment, the present invention is directed to a hub mounting system for a ceiling fan having a motor body that rotates around a motor shaft, the hub mounting system including: a platter mounting plate secured to the motor shaft, the platter mounting plate having a plurality of mounting slots with a larger initial opening and a smaller sliding opening the smaller sliding openings extending in the same circumferential direction; a hub assembly having a plurality of mounting studs, each one of the plurality of mounting studs corresponding to a different one of the mounting slots in said platter mounting plate; wherein said studs have an upper head that is smaller than the larger initial opening of the mounting slots in the mounting plate and larger than the smaller sliding openings; and wherein the studs further include an inner shaft portion below the upper head that is smaller than the smaller slider openings of the mounting slots in the platter mounting plate.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34147 (1992-12-01), Rezek
patent: 332821 (1885-12-01), Murray, Jr.
patent: 477614 (1892-06-01), Tuerk, Jr.
patent: 4531179 (1985-07-01), Baker
patent: 5944487 (1999-08-01), Pearce
patent: 5951253 (1999-09-01), Gajewski
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
Look Edward K.
Minka Lighting Inc.
Nguyen Ninh
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