Ceiling fans are utilized to move a volume of air about a space. Traditionally, the volume of air is moved via a set of blades on the ceiling fan, which are rotatably driven to push the volume of air. The ceiling fan can be connected to an electrical supply, which powers a motor to drive the blades. A set of blade irons can be used to mount the blades to the motor, or a rotor of the motor, to impart the rotational movement from the motor to the blades.
In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan including a motor having a rotor rotatable about a rotational axis and defining a rotor periphery; at least one blade iron mounted to the rotor and having a first blade mount located radially exteriorly of the rotor periphery and a second blade mount located radially interiorly of the rotor periphery; and a blade mounted to both the first and second blade mount and having a tip extending radially beyond the second blade mount.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan comprising a motor assembly including a stator and a rotor defining a rotor periphery and rotatable about the stator; a blade iron coupled to the rotor and including an arcuate body having a first end and a second end, with a first blade mount provided at the first end and a second blade mount spaced form the first blade mount and a provided at the second end, with the first blade mount and the second blade mount extending radially exterior of the rotor periphery; and a blade mounted to the blade iron at both the first blade mount and the second blade mount.
In yet another aspect, the disclosure relates to a ceiling fan comprising a motor assembly including a stator and a rotor rotatable about the stator; a blade iron hanger coupled to the rotor including an annular body and at least one arm extending from the annular body; and a blade iron including at least one opening adapted to receive the at least one arm of the blade iron hanger through the at least one opening to hang the blade iron form the blade iron hanger to facilitate alignment and mounting of the blade iron to the rotor.
In the drawings:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a blade mounting assembly for a ceiling fan. For purposes of description related to the figures, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
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A set of blades 22, shown as three blades 22, but can be any desired number, extends radially from the motor housing 20. While not required, the set of blades 22 and the motor housing 20 are shaped to provide a smooth transition between the two. The blades 22 can have an airfoil cross-sectional profile. The blades 22 can further include a slight taper, decreasing in chord as the blade extends radially outward from a root to a tip, while any plan-view shape is contemplated.
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The motor assembly 34 can include a motor shaft 60, and can include a stator 58 and a rotor 62 circumscribing and external to the stator 58, and can be a permanent magnet motor, in one non-limiting example. The motor shaft 60 can be hollow to permit electrical wiring to extend to the stator to power the motor assembly 34. The stator 58 can be fixed to the motor shaft 60, with the rotor 62 rotatably driven about the stator 58 and motor shaft 60. The rotor 62 can be an external rotor 62, external to the stator 58. The rotor 62 can include a peripheral ring, which defines a rotational axis, which can be coincident with a longitudinal axis of the motor shaft 60. The rotor 62 can further define a rotor periphery, as the furthest radial extent of the rotor 62 relative to the motor shaft 60.
The rotor 62 can further include an upper rim 64 and a peripheral ring 66 or lower rim configured to rotate with the rotor 62. A first set of openings 68 can be provided in the upper rim 64 and a second set of openings 70 (best seen in
The iron hanger 36 can include an annular body 80 having an upper surface 82 and a lower surface 84, with a sidewall 86 extending between the upper surface 82 and the lower surface 84, and defining a central aperture 94 within the annular body 80. Three sets of arms 88 can extend radially outward from the annular body 80 at the sidewall 86, with each set of arms 88 including two arms 90. A set of fastener apertures 92 can be provided in the annular body 80, extending between the upper surface 82 and the lower surface 84.
The set of blade irons 38 can include three blade irons 100, which can couple to the peripheral ring 66 of the rotor 62 and collectively form a structure underlying the motor assembly 34. Each blade iron 100 can include an arcuate portion as a body 102, which collectively define an annular ring 108 for the body 102 when the set of blade irons 38 are arranged together, as shown. The body 102 can confront the peripheral ring 66 of the rotor 62. A first blade mount 104 and a second mount plate 106 extends from the body 102 of each blade iron 100. The first blade mount 104 and the second mount plate 106 can be positioned radially exterior of the rotor periphery. The first blade mount 104 can be spaced from the second mount plate 106 for each individual blade iron 100, such that the first blade mount 104 is positioned adjacent to another second mount plate 106 of a separate blade iron 100 of the set of blade irons 38, when arranged together, as shown.
The set of blades 22 can include three blades 110. The blades 110 can be shaped complementary to one another, such that arrangement of the blades together forms a continuous, substantially uniform set of blades 22.
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The arms 90 can be arranged in an offset manner, such that each arm 90 is offset from a radius of a circle defined by the annular body 80. Each arm 90 terminates at a tip 130. The tip includes a curved portion 132, which forms a hook 134 at the tip 130. The curved portion 132 extends above the local top surface 124 of the arm 90, to form the hook 134.
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The first blade mount 104 can include a tip wall 170 and opposing sidewalls 172. The first blade mount 104 can have a substantially rectangular shape, having rounded corners at the junction between the tip wall 170 and the opposing sidewalls 172. A set of fastener ridges 174 can be formed in the first blade mount 104, shown as three fastener ridges 174, with each fastener ridge 174 including a fastener aperture 176. A set of support ribs 178 can also be provided in the first blade mount 104, between the fastener ridges 174, providing for increased structural integrity for the blade iron 100. The support ribs 178 nearest the body 102 can extend into and terminate at the exterior wall 142 of the body 102.
The second mount plate 106 can include an upper surface 180 and a pair of opposing sides 182. The upper surface 180 can be partially inset below the pair of opposing sides 182, such that opposing sides 182 extend above the upper surface 180. The second mount plate 106 can terminate at a tip 184, as a flat end of the second mount plate 106. A mount opening 186 can be provided at the tip 184.
Referring now to
The upper portion terminates at an arcuate interior edge 214. A set of fastener extensions 216 can extend from the interior edge 214 of the upper portion 200, opposite of the remainder of the blade 110, and can each include a fastener opening 218. While shown as two fastener extensions 216, any number of fastener extensions 216 is contemplated. The fastener extensions 216 can be arranged complementary to one or more apertures 148 on the top wall 140 of the blade iron 100.
The lower portion 202 can include a top surface 220 and a bottom surface 222. A set of internal ribs 224 are formed on the top surface 220. A similar set of internal ribs can be formed on the upper portion 200, obscured by the current top perspective view, while it is contemplated that that actual rib structure can vary from that shown. A set of receivers 226 can extend from the top surface 220 of the lower portion 202, shown as five receivers 226. The set of receivers 226 can be arranged complementary to the fastener apertures 176 in the fastener ridges 174, the center aperture 168, and the mount opening 186 of the blade iron 100.
Assembling the blades 110 includes sandwiching the blade iron 100 between upper portion 200 and the lower portion 202. In assembly, one or more fasteners (not shown), such as screws, bolts, pins, or the like, can be used to fasten the blade iron 100 to the lower portion 202. The fasteners can extend through the fastener aperture 176, the center aperture 168, and the mount opening 186 and secure within the receivers 226 on the lower portion 202 of the blade 110, securing the blade iron 100 to the lower portion 202. The upper portion 200 can be positioned on top of the lower portion 202, partially encasing the blade iron 100. The fastener extensions 216 can fasten the upper portion 200 to the blade iron 100 at the aperture 148 in the blade iron 100. Finally, the upper portion 200 can be fastened to the lower portion 202. In one non-limiting example, an adhesive can be used to secure the upper portion to the lower portion 202, such as glue or epoxy. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the upper portion 200 can be secured to the lower portion by other methods, such as welding, including ultrasonic welding, or mechanical fastening such as with a screw or bolt, in non-limiting examples, while any suitable method is contemplated. It is preferred that such an attachment method provides a uniform outer surface and appearance, such that there is no visible hardware on the exterior of the completed blade when assembled or installed.
The completed assembly includes the upper portion 200, the lower portion 202, and the blade iron 100 to form a blade assembly 228, which can mount to the motor assembly 34 for rotational movement of the blade assembly 228. The completed blade assembly 228 can have an airfoil cross-sectional profile, for example. Furthermore, in order to balance the blade assemblies 228 for mounting to the remainder of the ceiling fan 10, one or more weights can be fastened to the exposed portion of the blade iron 100 at the depression 166. For example, each completed blade assembly 228 of a set of blade assemblies 228 can be weighed, and the lighter two blade assemblies can have weights added at the depressions 166 to equalize the weights of the blade assemblies 228. Such balancing can provide for uniform rotation of the blades 110 during operation of the ceiling fan 10, which can improve operational efficiency or reduce wobble or vibration of the ceiling fan 10.
Coupling the blade 110 to the blade iron 100 at both the fastener apertures 176 of the first blade mount 104 and the mount opening 186 at the second mount plate 106 provides for a widened, more balanced mount for the blades 110. In this way, blade sag can be reduced, and can provide for improved blade balance, or even overall efficiency improvements during operation. The mounting at separate mount plates that are spaced from one another provides for a dual-mount system for coupling the blades to the blade irons. In this way, blade sage is reduced by utilizing a dual-mount system. Similarly, mounting at multiple locations along the blade iron provides for improved balance, which improves overall operational efficiency and can reduce noise.
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A set of fasteners 250, such as thumb screws for example, extending through the second set of fastener apertures 52 in the iron mount wall 50 of the mount ring 32 can insert into the unoccupied set of apertures 148 in the top wall 140 of the blade iron 100. In this way, the blade iron 100 is secured to the motor mount assembly 244 via the mount ring 32 coupled to the motor assembly 34. In this way, the three blade assemblies 228 can hang onto the arms 90 of the iron hanger 36, and facilitate securing to the mount ring 32. After installing the blade assemblies 228 to the motor mount assembly 244, the motor housing 20 (
The ceiling fan 10 as described herein provides for an improved mount assembly for mounting blades to a motor. The assembly facilitates installation and provides for a ceiling fan with no visible hardware. Additionally, the blade irons can provide for improved mounting, which can reduce blade sag and improve overall operational efficiency.
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In assembly, the spacer 324 can couple to or position at the bottom of the motor assembly 334, and the blade irons 338 can secure to the mount ring 332. The protrusions 436 of the blade iron 338 can insert into the third set of fastener apertures 356 on the mount ring 332, aligning the blade irons with the mount ring 332. Fasteners, such as screws or bolts, can be inserted through the first set of fastener apertures 348 in the iron mount wall 350 of the mount ring 332 and insert into the set of apertures 448 on the top wall 440 of the blade iron 400, securing the blade irons 400 to the motor assembly 334 via the mount ring 332.
The ceiling fans as described herein provide for facilitating installation, and provide for a ceiling fan without any exposed hardware. Additionally, the blade irons provide for reduced blade sag, which can provide for improved ceiling fan lifetime and efficiency. This can further prevent for a quieter operation and an improved overall consumer experience.
To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various embodiments of the present disclosure may be used in combination with each other as desired. For example, one or more of the features illustrated and/or described with respect to one
While aspects of the present disclosure have been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation. Reasonable variation and modification are possible within the scope of the forgoing disclosure and drawings without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure which is defined in the appended claims.
This Application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/723,238, filed Aug. 27, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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