Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6196803
-
Patent Number
6,196,803
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 22, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, March 6, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Look; Edward K.
- McDowell; Liam
Agents
- Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 415 2131
- 415 2141
- 415 220
- 415 1212
- 416 244 R
- 416 247 R
- 416 223 R
- 416 228
- 416 235
- 416 237
- 248 317
- 248 318
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An air circulator fan has front and rear fan guard members, each of which have a grille forming a concave dish. A propeller is positioned between the fan guard members, and is attached to the rotary output of a motor. The motor is positioned centrally on the front fan guard member, in a location downstream from the propeller. When the propeller rotates during operation of the fan, air is drawn through the rear fan guard member and out the front fan guard member. Each grille has a first spacing at a major face portion thereof, and a second, lessor spacing proximate a periphery thereof. This arrangement allows debris (such as feathers in a poultry barn) to pass through the major face portion of each grille, but provides a safety feature near the periphery of the guard members. A three-point mount is provided for suspending the fan, with chains or cables, from an overhead surface. In one embodiment, the three-point mount includes a support brace for providing stability to the fan, both while the fan is placed in a desired location and when the fan is operating.
Description
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 motor of the type used with conventional air circulators to be used in conjunction with fan blades conventionally used on box-type fans, which are designed for axial air flow, a combination that was not previously possible.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the air circulator fan provides for a unique mounting arrangement in a suspended position from an overhead surface. In one embodiment, three rings, for receiving the ends of respective chains or cables, are provided on the air circulator fan. One ring is provided on the top of the motor housing, while a pair of rings are provided at spaced applications on one of the fan guard members. The position of the rings permits the fan to be easily positioned and located as desired in a suspended manner. As will be appreciated, by adjusting the length of the various chains, the fan can be positioned so as to throw air in a desired direction. In another embodiment, a brace for suspending the fan from an overhead surface is provided. The support structure includes a pair of metal support beams attached to one of the fan guard members. The support beams extend upwardly from the fan and angle outwardly away from each other at their upper ends. A pair of crossing beams is secured to the upper extending portions of the support beams. In this embodiment, chains or cables are attached proximate an upper end of each support beam and to the motor housing of the motor. Such an arrangement provides stability to the suspended fan, both while positioning the fan in a desired location and during normal operation of the fan.
Additionally, fans in agricultural settings (such as poultry barns) must be able to perform properly even when suspended in a tilted manner. While suspending a conventional box-type fan in a tilted manner often results in undesirable performance, the fan of the present invention performs well even when tilted. In accordance with the present invention, the mounting bracket holds the circulator at an angle so that in the instance of a free hanging fan the thrust action of the air circulator causes the fan assembly to tilt, thereby causing the air flow to be substantially horizontal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The objects and features of the invention noted above are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and in which:
FIG. 1
is a front elevational view of an air circulator fan of the present invention, with portions of the fan removed for ease of illustration and understanding;
FIG. 2
is a right side elevational view of the air circulator fan of the present invention, with a portion of the fan guard broken away for ease of illustration and understanding;
FIG. 3
is a front elevational view of an air circulator fan of the present invention, illustrating a support brace for suspending the fan;
FIG. 4
is a right side elevational view of the illustration of
FIG. 3
;
FIG. 5
is a side elevational view of an alternate orientation for suspending the fan; and
FIG. 6
is a front elevational view of an air circulator fan of the present invention illustrating a spirally formed grill on a fan cage, according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an air circulator fan of the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral
10
. As shown, air circulator fan
10
has a front fan guard member
12
, and a rear fan guard member
14
, each of which is preferably formed of metal. Each fan guard member
12
,
14
forms a concave dish, and has a plurality of respective ribs
16
,
18
. The ribs
16
,
18
extend radially outward, from a generally central location, to an outer periphery of the respective guard members
12
,
14
. Each guard member
12
,
14
has a grille, or screen, as denoted generally by the reference numerals
20
,
22
. The grilles
20
,
22
are preferably formed by spiraling a wire rod member in the manner illustrated. However, grilles
20
,
22
could alternatively be formed from concentric rings. Grilles
20
,
22
are secured to respective ribs
12
,
14
in any conventional manner, such as by welding. Each guard member
12
,
14
has an outer peripheral rim
24
,
26
secured to outer portions of associated ribs
12
,
14
.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, grilles
20
,
22
are formed so to have first and second spacings. Particularly, each grille
20
,
22
is spiraled at a major face portion thereof with a spacing that is approximately three times greater than the spacing of the spiral at an outer peripheral portion of the grille. Preferably, the spacing of the spiraling rod (or concentric rings) at the major face portion of each grille
20
,
22
is approximately 1½ inches, while the spacing of the spiraling rod (or concentric rings) at the outer peripheral portion of the respective grilles
20
,
22
is approximately ½ inch. This unique grille construction permits loose debris, such as feathers, to easily pass through the major face portion of the grilles
20
,
22
. However, the closely spaced spiral (or rings) at the outer periphery of the grilles
20
,
22
provides a safety feature for obstructing fingers and articles of clothing. It will be understood that the fan guard members
12
,
14
could be constructed with grilles spaced at other dimensions, or without a reduced spacing at the periphery of the guard member. A fan having grilles with entirely wide spacing will perform better than a fan having more closely space grilles at the periphery of the grilles. Guard members that are more widely spaced about the entirety of the grilles are particularly useful on fans suspended overhead and out of reach.
Each of front guard member
12
and rear guard member
14
defines a central opening. Particularly, rear guard member
14
defines a central opening
28
adapted to receive a cover, or insert, such as a conventional name or logo bearing plate. Front fan guard member
12
has a central aperture (not shown), for receiving an output portion
32
, of an electrical motor, having a rotary output
34
. Rotary output
34
includes a motor shaft
36
to which a propeller assembly
38
, described below, is attached. The electric motor also includes a housing
30
, as shown. An electrical chord, for providing power to the motor, is designated by reference numeral
31
. Front fan guard member
12
is secured to motor housing
30
by fasteners, in any conventional fastening manner.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, air circulator fan
10
employs a propeller
38
having a hub including a number of outwardly extending wings
52
. A corresponding blade
54
is attached by fasteners
56
to each wing
52
. In operation, propeller
38
rotates in a clockwise direction when viewed from the perspective of FIG.
1
. As such, each blade
54
has a leading edge
58
and a trailing edge
60
. Each blade
54
has an arcuate cut-away portion
62
at a base of the leading edge
58
of the blade
54
, and a flared portion
63
at an inner, trailing portion of the blade
54
. As illustrated, the distance between the leading edge
58
and trailing edge
60
of each blade is greater proximate the hub
50
than proximate an outer tip
64
of the blade
54
. Preferably, each blade
54
is of a type that is manufactured by Revcor, under Specification No. 5-2767. With such blades, the centerline at the inlet region of the fan
10
is not void of a velocity profile. Such blades are particularly useful for stirring air and cooling the fan motor.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a thirty-six (36) inch air circulator fan. In this regard, it is preferred that the diameter of an imaginary circle is formed by the outer tips
64
of propeller
38
when it rotates is slightly less than thirty-six inches and, preferably, is greater than thirty-five inches. More particularly, it is preferred that the stated diameter is 35.8 inches. Preferably, the electrical motor is a 0.5 horsepower motor, although a larger motor could be utilized. For example, a one (1) horsepower motor is preferred for a larger fan, such as a fan having a diameter of approximately forty-eight (48) inches.
Air circulator fan
10
also has a unique mount for suspending the fan
10
from an overhead surface. In one embodiment, motor housing
30
includes a ring
42
on its upper surface. Additionally, a selected pair of outwardly extending ribs
16
on front fan guard member
12
, designated herein as ribs
16
a
,
16
b
, include rings
44
,
46
as illustrated. Rings
42
,
44
and
46
are positioned to receive respective chains or cables
48
,
50
and
51
. As will be appreciated, the position of rings
42
,
44
, and
46
permit the air circulator fan
10
of the present invention to be suspended from an overhead surface, such as a ceiling in a barn. By adjusting the cables or chains
48
,
50
,
51
, the air circulator fan
10
can be positioned as desired. The unique placement of rings
42
,
44
and
46
permit air circulator fan
10
to be easily installed and positioned in a desired location and manner. It will be understood and appreciated that rings could additionally or alternatively be provided on rear fan guard member
14
, or a combination of guard members
12
,
14
, and utilized for suspending air circulator fan
10
in a hanging manner.
In another embodiment, as illustrated in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a brace, designated generally by reference numeral
70
, is provided. Brace
70
has first and second support beams
72
,
74
fastened, by fasteners
76
, to front fan guard member
12
. Additionally, support beams
72
,
74
are secured to guard member
12
by a pair of spacer support members
75
and is fastened to a respective beam
72
,
74
by a fastener
76
. Support beams
72
,
74
, as illustrated, are constructed of angle-iron, but could be constructed in other manners. Furthermore, fasteners
76
are preferably U-bolts, but it will be understood that brace
70
could be attached to front fan guard member
12
according to any conventional attachment technique. Spacers
75
are preferably constructed of a J-hook which is hooked about the grille of guard
12
. Additionally, although brace
70
is preferably attached to front fan guard member
12
(e.g., on the motor side of fan
10
), it should be understood that brace
70
could alternatively be fastened to rear fan guard member
14
or to both front and rear guard members
12
,
14
if brace
70
were slightly modified. As illustrated, each support beam
72
,
74
angles outwardly from a center line of fan
10
, such that the distance between the uppermost ends of support beams
72
,
74
is preferably greater than the diameter of fan
10
.
A pair of cross beams
78
,
80
are fastened, by fasteners
82
, to the upwardly extending portion of support beams
72
,
74
, as illustrated, to provide structural stability to brace
70
. Chain (or cable, rope, etc.)
50
is attached proximate an upper end of support beam
72
and chain
51
is attached proximate an upper end of support beam
74
, at respective apertures
83
,
85
. Chain
48
is preferably linked to the lowermost ends of beams
72
,
74
, as illustrated, and has a portion connected to the link and extending rearwardly, as illustrated in FIG.
4
. Alternatively, chain
48
could be attached to a ring on motor housing
30
, as previously described. Chains
48
,
50
and
51
are suspended from an overhead surface (not shown). As in the foregoing embodiment, by adjusting chains
48
,
50
, and
51
, air circulator fan
10
can be adjusted as desired. Brace
70
provides stability to fan
10
, both while fan
10
is moved into (or out of) a desired position, and also while suspended in a desired location and position for normal operation of fan
10
.
In use, air circulator fan
10
is installed in a desired location within an agricultural facility, such as a poultry barn. Particularly, air circulator fan
10
is suspended from an overhead support, such as a ceiling, by chains or cables
48
,
50
and
51
. As previously described, the outer ends of the respective chains or cables are connected to respective rings
42
,
44
, and
46
, or to the brace
70
, as described. By adjusting the length of one or more of the chains or cables
48
,
50
,
51
, the precise position of air circulator fan
10
can be selected. This is a great improvement over the prior art type box fans which were difficult to selectively mount and which made it difficult to control air direction.
In operation, electrical motor of air circulator fan
10
is activated, causing propeller
38
to rotate in a clockwise direction when viewed from the view of FIG.
1
. Rotation of propeller
38
in such a manner draws air in the direction of the arrows in
FIG. 2
,
FIG. 4
, and
FIG. 5
(which illustrates a fan
10
mounted for vertical distribution of air) and particularly air is drawn through rear fan guard
14
, and blown past front fan guard
12
, and across motor housing
30
. The unique spacing of the grilles
20
,
22
permits debris, such as feathers, within the poultry barn to easily pass through the major face portions of the grilles. Additionally, the unique positioning of the electrical motor prevents feathers and other debris from building up on the motor, and also reduces the heat rise that would otherwise be present if the motor were positioned upstream in the air flow, from the propeller, as in conventional air circulator fans.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with the other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
- 1. A fan comprising:a front fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish; a rear fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish; a motor connected to said front fan guard member, said motor having a rotary output with an outer end extending between said front and rear fan guard members; a propeller attached to said outer end of said rotary output of said motor, wherein said propeller, when rotating, draws air in a direction through said rear fan guard member and out said front fan guard member.
- 2. The fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein said motor is attached at a central location on said front fan guard member.
- 3. The fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein each said grille has a first spacing at a major face portion thereof and a second spacing proximate an outer periphery thereof, wherein said first spacing is greater than said second spacing.
- 4. The fan as set forth in claim 3, wherein said first spacing is three times greater than said second spacing.
- 5. The fan as set forth in claim 1, wherein said propeller has a central hub having a plurality of blades, each said blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein said leading edge forms a cut-away notch in said blade proximate said central hub.
- 6. The fan as set forth in claim 5, wherein each said blade is flared at a trailing edge proximate said central hub.
- 7. The fan as set forth in claim 1, said fan further comprising a three-point mount for suspending said fan from an overhead surface.
- 8. The fan as set forth in claim 7, said motor having a housing, said three-point mount comprising:a first attachment location on said motor housing; second and third spaced-apart attachment locations on one of said front and said rear fan guard members.
- 9. The fan as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second and third spaced-apart attachment locations are on said front fan guard member.
- 10. The fan as set forth in claim 7, said motor having a housing, said three-point mount comprising:a brace, attached to at least one of said front and rear fan guard members, said brace having first and second support beams extending upwardly from said fan, each said support beam having an attachment location proximate an upper end thereof, and proximate a lower end thereof.
- 11. The fan as set forth in claim 10, further comprising at least one spacer positioned between said brace and the said one of said front and rear fan guard members to which said brace is attached.
- 12. A fan guard comprising:a front fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish; a rear fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish, wherein at least one of said grilles has a first spacing at a major face portion thereof and a second spacing proximate an outer periphery thereof, wherein said first spacing is greater than said second spacing; and wherein each said fan guard member has a plurality of ribs extending radially outward, and each said grille is formed of a spiraling rod attached to the ribs of its respective guard member.
- 13. The fan guard as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first grille spacing is approximately three times greater than said second grille spacing.
- 14. The fan guard as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first grille spacing is approximately one and one-half inches and said second grille spacing is approximately one-half inch.
- 15. The fan guard as set forth in claim 12, in combination with fan components, said combination comprising:a motor having a rotary output with an outer end terminating between said front and rear fan guard members; a propeller attached to said outer end of said rotary output of said motor.
- 16. A fan comprising:a first fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish; a second fan guard member having a grille forming a concave dish; a motor having a rotary output with an outer end terminating between said first and second fan guard members, said motor having a motor housing; a propeller attached to said outer end of said rotary output of said motor; and a multi-point mount having at least three mounting locations, wherein a first mounting location is positioned on said motor housing, and a second and a third mounting location are positioned at spaced-apart locations on one of said front and rear fan guard members.
- 17. The fan as set forth in claim 16, wherein said mounting locations comprise rings for permitting the fan to be suspended from an overhead surface.
- 18. The fan as set forth in claim 16, wherein said motor is attached to said front fan guard member, and wherein said propeller, when rotating, draws air through said rear fan guard member and out said front fan guard member.
- 19. The fan as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second mounting locations are positioned on said front fan guard member.
- 20. A fan comprising:a front fan guard member; a rear fan guard member connected to the front fan guard member; a motor connected to the front fan guard member, the motor having a unidirectional rotary output with an outer end extending between the front and rear fan guard members; and a propeller attached to the outer end of the rotary output of the motor, wherein said propeller, when rotating, draws air in a direction through the rear fan guard member and out the front fan guard member.
- 21. The fan as set forth in claim 20, wherein the front and rear fan guards cooperate to define an area where the propeller rotates and wherein the motor is located outside the area.
- 22. The fan as set forth in claim 20, wherein the front fan guard member has an inwardly/propeller facing side and an outwardly facing side and wherein the motor is connected to the front fan guard member on the outwardly facing side.
- 23. A fan comprising:a front fan guard member; a rear fan guard member connected to the front fan guard member; a motor connected to the front fan guard member, the motor having a rotary output with an outer end extending between the front and rear fan guard members; and a propeller attached to the outer end of the rotary output of the motor, the propeller having a plurality of blades, the blades having a concave surface, wherein the blades are oriented such that the concave surfaces of the blades face the motor and wherein said propeller, when rotating, draws air in a direction through the rear fan guard member and out the front fan guard member.
US Referenced Citations (4)