Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080213097 | ANGLED AIRFOIL EXTENSION FOR FAN BLADE - An angled fan blade extension includes an attachment portion and an angled portion. The attachment portion is configured to facilitate securing the angled fan blade extension to the distal end of a fan blade. The angled portion is configured to extend from the distal end of the attachment portion, creating an angled extension relative to the fan blade. Adding angular fan blade extensions to fan blades may improve the airflow control, and thereby increase the utility and efficiencies of a fan. | 09-04-2008 |
20090072108 | Ceiling Fan with Angled Mounting - A fan system comprises a fan, a bracket configured to mount to a ceiling structure, and a mounting assembly coupling the fan with the bracket. The mounting assembly comprises a fan mounting assembly secured to the fan; and a bracket mounting assembly secured to the bracket. The mounting assembly includes an elongate member extending between the fan mounting assembly and the bracket mounting assembly. The fan mounting assembly is configured to permit adjustment of the orientation of the fan axis about two axes that are perpendicular to the fan axis. The bracket mounting assembly is configured to permit adjustment of the orientation of the elongate member axis about two axes that are perpendicular to the elongate member axis. The bracket mounting assembly permits self-adjustment of the mounting assembly, to re-position the center of gravity of the fan system underneath the bracket after the fan axis orientation has been adjusted. | 03-19-2009 |
20090081045 | Aerodynamic Interface Component for Fan Blade - A fan comprises a hub, a plurality of fan blades, and a plurality of interface components. Each interface component is configured to mount at the first end of a corresponding fan blade. Each interface component is further configured to simultaneously engage an outer surface of the hub and the first end of the fan blade. For instance, the outer surface of the hub may be curved, and a hub-engaging edge of each interface component may be complementarily curved to provide a substantially continuous fit between the hub-engaging edge of each interface component and the curved outer surface of the hub. Each interface component may further comprise a resilient member configured to resiliently bear against the first end of a corresponding fan blade. In addition, each interface component may further comprise a sleeve configured to extend along a portion of the length of a corresponding fan blade. | 03-26-2009 |
20090097975 | Ceiling Fan with Concentric Stationary Tube and Power-Down Features - A fan system comprises a hub, a plurality of fan blades, a drive system, and a stationary tube. The hub is configured to rotate. The fan blades are mounted to the hub. The drive system comprises a rotatable hollow output shaft. The hollow output shaft is in communication with the hub, such that the drive system is operable to rotate the hub via the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is inserted through the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is configured to remain stationary as the hollow output shaft rotates. Wires and the like may be passed through the stationary tube, to reach an accessory mounted at the bottom of the stationary tube. The fan system may also include a detector, such as a heat detector, a smoke detector, or an accelerometer. The detector may power down the fan system in response to detecting certain conditions. | 04-16-2009 |
20090162197 | Automatic Control System and Method to Minimize Oscillation in Ceiling Fans - A fan system includes a fan and a fan rotation speed control. The speed control is operable to command the fan to rotate at a speed selected from a certain range of rotation speeds. A fan oscillation detector may be coupled with the fan to detect oscillation of the fan as the speed control is operated to rotate the fan at various speeds among the range of fan rotation speeds. The fan oscillation detector may comprise an accelerometer or other device. Oscillation amounts detected by the oscillation detector are compared against each other or against an oscillation threshold value. A programmer device identifies fan rotation speeds at which the oscillation amount exceeds the threshold or is otherwise unacceptable, and programs the fan rotation speed control to prevent an operator from being able to select those speeds at which the oscillation amount exceeds the threshold or is otherwise unacceptable. | 06-25-2009 |
20090208333 | Ceiling Fan System with Brushless Motor - A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality of fan blades. The motor is coupled with the hub by a hollow drive shaft, such that the drive system of the fan system is gearless. The motor is controlled by a PFC-based control module, which is in communication with sensors that are configured to sense parameters associated with operation of the fan system. The control module is configured to react in certain ways to certain conditions detected by the sensors, such that the fan system uses feedback-based control algorithms. A remote control panel is in communication with the control module. The remote control panel is operable to display fault conditions detected by the sensors. Blade retainers prevent fan blades from falling when a fan blade breaks free from the hub. Pins prevent the hub from falling when the hub breaks free from the rotor. | 08-20-2009 |
20100104461 | Multi-Part Modular Airfoil Section and Method of Attachment Between Parts - A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality of fan blades. Each of the fan blades includes a substantially rigid spine member, a resilient leading edge member, and a resilient trailing edge member. The leading edge member and trailing edge members are removably coupled with the spine member, such that different leading edge members and different trailing edge members may be chosen to customize the leading and trailing edges of the fan blades. Each fan blade may have more than one type of leading edge member or more than one type of trailing edge member. The leading edge member and trailing edge member may each be coupled with the spine member by urging the leading edge member and trailing edge member in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the spine member. | 04-29-2010 |
20100247316 | High Efficiency Ducted Fan - A fan assembly comprises a hub and fan blades. The hub includes a plurality of sockets configured to receive complementary mounting blocks of the fan blades. The mounting blocks each include at least one tapered shoulder portion. The mounting blocks are each tapered along three dimensions. Each mounting block comprises a rear face seated against a complementary rear face of the corresponding socket and a front face that is exposed relative to the hub. A cap secures the fan blades to the hub. The fan assembly may also include one or more shrouds positioned about the fan blades. The one or more shrouds may be substantially straight cylinders, may be flared or bell-shaped, may comprise a cage, may have any other suitable configuration, or may be omitted altogether. | 09-30-2010 |
20100278637 | Ceiling Fan with Variable Blade Pitch and Variable Speed Control - A fan comprises a hub, fan blades, and inserts. The hub comprises outwardly extending mounting tabs that lie along a common horizontal plane. The fan blades are hollow, such that each mounting tab is inserted in the hollow interior of a corresponding fan blade. Each insert is positioned in the hollow interior of each fan blade, between each mounting tab of the hub and the interior surface of the corresponding fan blade. Each insert is configured to position and maintain the chord line of each corresponding fan blade at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal plane of the hub. A kit may include several insert sets to choose from to provide adjustable angle of attack. A fan control system includes a dimmer switch and a control module, which allows the dimmer switch to be used to infinitely adjust the speed of a fan motor within a range. | 11-04-2010 |
20110081246 | AIR FENCE FOR FAN BLADE - A fan comprises a rotatable hub, a plurality of fan blades coupled with the hub, and a plurality of air fences coupled with the fan blades. Each fan blade has a free end and an opposite end secured to the hub. The air fences are positioned at selected locations along the length of the fan blades, between the ends of the fan blades. Each air fence includes a fin, which may extend upwardly or downwardly from the fan blade. Each air fence may be formed of a resilient material and may be configured to allow the air fence to be snapped onto a fan blade. Each air fence may define an opening through which a fan blade may be inserted. One or more surfaces of the air fence may be contoured to complement a surface contour of an airfoil shaped fan blade. | 04-07-2011 |
20110262278 | FAN BLADE RETENTION SYSTEM - A fan comprises a rotatable hub assembly having an inner anchor assembly, a plurality of fan blades, a motor assembly, and a plurality of cables. The outer ends of the cables are coupled to the outer ends of the fan blades, and the inner ends of the cables are coupled to the inner anchor assembly. The inner anchor assembly may further include a disc-shaped plate and a plurality of inner anchor members to which the cables may be coupled. The inner anchor members may include a rear anchor portion and fore anchor portion, and these anchor portions may be angularly offset. A plurality of winglets and/or outer anchor members may be coupled to the outer ends of the fan blades to which the outer ends of the cables may be coupled. The outer ends of the cables may further comprise swaged tips outboard of the winglets and/or outer anchor members. | 10-27-2011 |
20120177500 | ANGLED AIRFOIL EXTENSION FOR FAN BLADE - An angled fan blade extension includes an attachment portion and an angled portion. The attachment portion is configured to facilitate securing the angled fan blade extension to the distal end of a fan blade. The angled portion is configured to extend from the distal end of the attachment portion, creating an angled extension relative to the fan blade. Adding angular fan blade extensions to fan blades may improve the airflow control, and thereby increase the utility and efficiencies of a fan. | 07-12-2012 |
20120177509 | CEILING FAN WITH CONCENTRIC STATIONARY TUBE AND POWER-DOWN FEATURES - A fan system comprises a hub, a plurality of fan blades, a drive system, and a stationary tube. The hub is configured to rotate. The fan blades are mounted to the hub. The drive system comprises a rotatable hollow output shaft. The hollow output shaft is in communication with the hub, such that the drive system is operable to rotate the hub via the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is inserted through the hollow output shaft. The stationary tube is configured to remain stationary as the hollow output shaft rotates. Wires and the like may be passed through the stationary tube, to reach an accessory mounted at the bottom of the stationary tube. The fan system may also include a detector, such as a heat detector, a smoke detector, or an accelerometer. The detector may power down the fan system in response to detecting certain conditions. | 07-12-2012 |
20130251522 | BALL AND SOCKET FAN MOUNT - A fan mounting assembly has a mount, a ball member, and a support. The support is disposed within a vertical opening of the ball member and is coupled to the ball member. The mounting assembly may further comprise a wedge driven between an interior surface of the ball member and an exterior surface of the support in order to prevent movement of the support within the ball member. The mount has a mounting portion and a socket portion. The socket portion has a tapered interior surface. The tapered surface may have a constant angle. The ball member and support are disposed within the socket portion such that an outer surface of the ball member rests upon the tapered surface of the socket portion. The tapered surface may have features configured to prevent rotation of the ball member within the socket portion. | 09-26-2013 |
20140023507 | CEILING FAN SYSTEM WITH BRUSHLESS MOTOR - A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality of fan blades. The motor is coupled with the hub by a hollow drive shaft, such that the drive system of the fan system is gearless. The motor is controlled by a PFC-based control module, which is in communication with sensors that are configured to sense parameters associated with operation of the fan system. The control module is configured to react in certain ways to certain conditions detected by the sensors, such that the fan system uses feedback-based control algorithms. A remote control panel is in communication with the control module. The remote control panel is operable to display fault conditions detected by the sensors. Blade retainers prevent fan blades from falling when a fan blade breaks free from the hub. Pins prevent the hub from falling when the hub breaks free from the rotor. | 01-23-2014 |
20140072431 | Multi-Part Modular Airfoil Section and Method of Attachment Between Parts - A fan system includes a motor, a rotatable hub, and a plurality of fan blades. Each of the fan blades includes a substantially rigid spine member, a resilient leading edge member, and a resilient trailing edge member. The leading edge member and trailing edge members are removably coupled with the spine member, such that different leading edge members and different trailing edge members may be chosen to customize the leading and trailing edges of the fan blades. Each fan blade may have more than one type of leading edge member or more than one type of trailing edge member. The leading edge member and trailing edge member may each be coupled with the spine member by urging the leading edge member and trailing edge member in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis defined by the spine member. | 03-13-2014 |
20140286779 | AIR FENCE FOR FAN BLADE - A fan comprises a rotatable hub, a plurality of fan blades coupled with the hub, and a plurality of air fences coupled with the fan blades. Each fan blade has a free end and an opposite end secured to the hub. The air fences are positioned at selected locations along the length of the fan blades, between the ends of the fan blades. Each air fence includes a fin, which may extend upwardly or downwardly from the fan blade. Each air fence may be formed of a resilient material and may be configured to allow the air fence to be snapped onto a fan blade. Each air fence may define an opening through which a fan blade may be inserted. One or more surfaces of the air fence may be contoured to complement a surface contour of an airfoil shaped fan blade. | 09-25-2014 |
20140348649 | CEILING FAN WITH MOISTURE PROTECTION FEATURES - A fan may be designed for the strategic diversion of moisture through or around a housing enclosing a controller and/or a motor. The enclosure may include one or more paths for directing moisture away from the controller or the motor. For instance, the housing may include a gap between a support structure and the housing for preventing moisture from entering the housing. The housing may also include a hollow structure for directing fluid through the housing. Additionally, the housing may include one or more channels, raised walls, gutters, and shields for preventing fluid, such as liquid water, from entering an enclosure for the controller or motor. | 11-27-2014 |
20150023802 | Ceiling Fan with Variable Blade Pitch and Variable Speed Control - A fan comprises a hub, fan blades, and inserts. The hub comprises outwardly extending mounting tabs that lie along a common horizontal plane. The fan blades are hollow, such that each mounting tab is inserted in the hollow interior of a corresponding fan blade. Each insert is positioned in the hollow interior of each fan blade, between each mounting tab of the hub and the interior surface of the corresponding fan blade. Each insert is configured to position and maintain the chord line of each corresponding fan blade at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal plane of the hub. A kit may include several insert sets to choose from to provide adjustable angle of attack. A fan control system includes a dimmer switch and a control module, which allows the dimmer switch to be used to infinitely adjust the speed of a fan motor within a range. | 01-22-2015 |
20150078902 | FAN BLADE RETENTION SYSTEM - A fan comprises a rotatable hub assembly having an inner anchor assembly, a plurality of fan blades, a motor assembly, and a plurality of cables. The outer ends of the cables are coupled to the outer ends of the fan blades, and the inner ends of the cables are coupled to the inner anchor assembly. The inner anchor assembly may further include a disc-shaped plate and a plurality of inner anchor members to which the cables may be coupled. The inner anchor members may include a rear anchor portion and fore anchor portion, and these anchor portions may be angularly offset. A plurality of winglets and/or outer anchor members may be coupled to the outer ends of the fan blades to which the outer ends of the cables may be coupled. The outer ends of the cables may further comprise swaged tips outboard of the winglets and/or outer anchor members. | 03-19-2015 |