ADJUSTABLE IMPELLER FOR AXIAL FLOW FAN
A fan assembly has a plurality of blades received on a rotatable hub and held on the hub with a retainment mechanism. The hub has a plurality of hub stations located thereon, each hub station having a plurality of radially extending hub cogs and a hub indexing mark. Each blade in the fan assembly has a blade end having a plurality of radially extending blade cogs configured to interface with the hub cogs. The blade end also has a blade positioning mark adjacent one of the blade cogs. The blade may be rotated with respect to the hub to a plurality of different orientations and still have the blade cogs mesh with the hub cogs.
This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/CN2022/085745, filed Apr. 8, 2022, and entitled ADJUSTABLE IMPELLER FOR AXIAL FLOW FAN, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of InventionThis invention relates to axial flow fans in ventilation systems for animal buildings, and more particularly to a fan with a hub that permits the angle of an impeller blade to be adjusted.
Description of Related ArtAchieving optimal performance from animals raised in commercial animal house buildings (such as a poultry house) depends in part on providing ventilation as correctly and efficiently as possible. Proper ventilation improves overall over air quality, air temperature, and energy usage. Improper ventilation levels can lead to incorrect moisture levels, unsuitable temperatures, and poor air quality.
Ventilation fans are often used as part of the ventilation system for animal houses. Many factors affect the amount of air a fan can move. The power of the motor, size and shape (aerodynamics) of the blades, the material of which the blades are made, the RPM at which the blades spin, and the blade pitch are all factors that contribute to airflow and the performance of the fan.
Other factors being equal, the steeper the blade pitch, the more air the fan will move. At present, the pitch angle of some agriculture fan impellers can't be changed. Others require a time intensive and imprecise method of loosening and repositioning of the fan blade. Some others can be changed, but an additional angle block component must be added. Because of the part and assembly deviations, problems such as impeller vibration often result when trying to change the pitch angle of the fan.
Accordingly, a need exists for a ventilation fan assembly that allows for better adjustment of the fan blades.
BRIEF SUMMARYIn one aspect, the invention is directed to a fan assembly having an impeller with a plurality of blades configured to move air as the impeller is rotated each blade is received on a rotatable hub and held on the hub with a retainment mechanism. The hub has an outward surface with a plurality of hub stations located thereon, each hub station having a plurality of radially extending hub cogs. The hub has a hub indexing mark located adjacent one of the hub cogs. Each blade in the fan assembly has a blade end having a plurality of radially extending blade cogs configured to interface with the hub cogs. The blade end also has a blade positioning mark adjacent one of the blade cogs. The blade cogs and hub cogs are configured so that when the blade is brought into position such that the blade end mates with one of the plurality of hub stations, the hub cogs mesh with the blade cogs. The blade may be rotated with respect to the hub to a plurality of different orientations and still have the blade cogs mesh with the hub cogs.
These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention.
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description.
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The foregoing has broadly outlined some of the more pertinent aspects and features of the present invention. These should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed information in a different manner or by modifying the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, other aspects and a more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Claims
1. A fan assembly having an impeller with a plurality of blades configured to move air as the impeller is rotated each blade is received on a rotatable hub and held on the hub with a retainment mechanism, wherein the hub has an outward surface with a plurality of hub stations located thereon, each hub station having a plurality of radially extending hub cogs, and a hub indexing mark located adjacent one of the hub cogs, wherein each blade has a blade end having a plurality of radially extending blade cogs configured to interface with the hub cogs and a blade positioning mark adjacent one of the blade cogs, the blade cogs and hub cogs configured so that when the blade is brought into position such that the blade end mates with one of the plurality of hub stations, the hub cogs mesh with the blade cogs, and wherein the blade may be rotated with respect to the hub to a plurality of different orientations and still have the blade cogs mesh with the hub cogs.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the retainment mechanism includes a front cover and a rear cover held together with a plurality of bolts and nuts that mechanically secure the blades on the hub.
3. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein the hub has at least one hub station for each of the blades on the fan assembly.
4. The fan assembly of claim 1 when the blade is brought against the hub with the blade positioning mark aligned with the hub indexing mark, the blade has a blade pitch angle that is a benchmark blade angle.
5. The fan assembly of claim 4 wherein the blade can be rotated with respect to the hub in a first direction to decrease the blade angle of the blade relative to the benchmark blade angle, and the blade can be rotated with respect to the hub in a second direction opposite the first direction to increase the blade angle of the blade relative the benchmark blade angle such that the blade angle of the blade can be selected or changed by the operator to any one of a plurality of different blade angles
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 6, 2023
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2023
Inventors: Yu Shao (Suzhou), Shuowei Li (Shanghai), Rock Zhou (Shanghai)
Application Number: 18/296,447