Large air movers, e.g., fans, used in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, require routine maintenance. In some settings, such as in commercial buildings, such fans are mounted directly over openings in the building side walls or roof through which the fans exhaust or intake air.
Conventionally, access to such fans is designed to take place on the side of the building on which the part(s) of the fan (usually the motor and/or fan blade) are located. Thus, if the fan motor is positioned mostly on the inside of the building, then the motor is designed to be serviced from the inside of the building. Conversely, for a fan that is mounted to the outside of the building, then the fan is designed to be serviced from outside the building. Servicing the fan can require moving it axially from away from the opening and/or pivoting it away from the opening. In any case, substantial additional space is required for this service or access position of the fan, in addition to the space it occupies in its normal operating position.
In some applications, it is not convenient or possible to provide such additional space. In other applications, providing access to the fan in its access position poses risks to maintenance personnel (e.g., if personnel must work at great heights within the inside of the building). It would be helpful to provide alternative solutions to accessing fans for maintenance and other purposes.
Described below is a fan mounting arrangement or fan assembly in which a fan having a motor and a fan blade is mounted on a movable fan support. The fan support is mounted adjacent an opening through which the fan moves air on a first side of the opening and has extension members extendable from a fan operating position on the first side of the opening to a fan access position on a second side of the opening. In the access position, the extension members extend through the opening from the first side to the second side so the motor and fan blade can be accessed from the second side. In some applications, the opening is fitted with one or more doors having louvers, and the door(s) can be opened to allow the fan to be moved to the access position.
Referring to
The fan 102 is shown positioned on a first side 110 in its normal operating position. The fan 102 can be moved through the opening O to its access position (shown in dashed lines) on a second side 112, e.g., to access the fan motor, fan blade and/or other component. In the illustrated implementation, the fan 102 is configured as an exhaust fan that defines an airflow direction A as shown extending from the first side 110 to the second side 112. As examples only, the fan's belt or drive may require replacement or adjustment, the fan blade or the fan blade pitch may need to be changed and/or various electrical components may need to be replaced or serviced. As best seen in
In some implementations, there is at least one door 120 provided to cover the opening O, typically from the second side 112. The door 120 may be hinged or otherwise movable (such as, e.g., by sliding) or removable to expose the opening O so that the fan 102 can be moved through the opening O to the second side 112 and into the access position. In the illustrated implementation, there is a pair of hinged doors 122, 124 in a bi-fold configuration that are arranged to cover the opening as shown in
The door or doors 120, 122, 124 may have louvers 126 or other form of openings through which air can be conveyed while the doors are closed and the fan is in operation. The louvers, which are sometimes referred to as a grille, are sized and shaped to provide adequate airflow yet prevent entry of water, debris, animals and trespassers. In some implementations, the louvers 126 are movable, either manually or with a mechanism (not shown) to adjust the amount of airflow through the doors.
Referring to
As also shown in
As shown in
In one implementation, the fan support 108 has a width of about 9 feet. Thus, each of the doors 122, 124 has a width of about 4 feet 6 inches. The depth of the fan support, and the corresponding amount of extension provided to permit the fan 102 to be moved from the operating position to the access position, can be between about 3 feet and about 5 feet. Of course, these dimensions can be adapted for specific implementations as would be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art.
The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems should not be construed as limiting in any way. Instead, the present disclosure is directed toward all novel and nonobvious features and aspects of the various disclosed embodiments, alone and in various combinations and subcombinations with one another. The disclosed methods, apparatus, and systems are not limited to any specific aspect or feature or combination thereof, nor do the disclosed embodiments require that any one or more specific advantages be present or problems be solved.
In view of the many possible embodiments to which the disclosed principles may be applied, it should be recognized that the illustrated embodiments are only preferred examples and should not be taken as limiting the scope of protection. Rather, the scope of protection is defined by the following claims. We therefore claim all that comes within the scope of these claims.
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Number | Date | Country |
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0838639 | Apr 1998 | EP |
Entry |
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