Abstract: A winglet is coupled with an end of a fan blade. The fan blade has an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fan blade defines a chord and a maximum thickness. The winglet comprises a substantially vertical member that has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, which meet at rounded corners. The rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the end of the fan blade. The vertical member has a length that is greater than the chord of the fan blade. The rear edge of the vertical member protrudes rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the end of the fan blade. A mounting member may extend from the vertical member to couple the winglet with the fan blade.

Abstract: A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. A cuff extends from the vertical member to substantially cover at least a portion of the interface between the end of a fan blade and the vertical member. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.

Abstract: A fan includes a hub, several fan blades, and a motor that is operable to drive the hub. A motor controller is in communication with the motor, and is configured to select the rate of rotation at which the motor drives the hub. The fan is installed in a place having a floor and a ceiling. An upper temperature sensor is positioned near the ceiling. A lower temperature sensor is positioned near the floor. The temperature sensors communicate with the motor controller, which includes a processor configured to compare substantially contemporaneous temperature readings from the upper and lower temperature sensors. The motor controller is thus configured to automatically control the fan motor to minimize the differences between substantially contemporaneous temperature readings from the upper and lower temperature sensors. The fan system may thus substantially destratify air in an environment, to provide a substantially uniform temperature distribution within the environment.

Abstract: A winglet is coupled with an end of a fan blade. The fan blade has an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fan blade defines a chord and a maximum thickness. The winglet comprises a substantially vertical member that has a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, which meet at rounded corners. The rear edge of the vertical member has a length that is greater than the maximum thickness of the end of the fan blade. The vertical member has a length that is greater than the chord of the fan blade. The rear edge of the vertical member protrudes rearwardly relative to a vertical plane tangential to the trailing edge of the end of the fan blade. A mounting member may extend from the vertical member to couple the winglet with the fan blade.

Abstract: A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method for filtering and recovering solids from potato process water that results in a product containing a portion of the solids from the potato process water is presented. In general, the method involves providing a plurality of vessels wherein a step in a manufacturing process takes place in each vessel and wherein at least one step in the manufacturing process produces a potato process water having solids. The potato process water is passed through at least one ultrafilter wherein each ultrafilter produces an ultrafilter (u/f) permeate stream and a u/f concentrate stream. The u/f concentrate stream is collected and reintroduced into at least one vessel in the manufacturing process producing a product containing a portion of the solids from the potato process water. The final characteristics of the product remain essentially unchanged.

Abstract: A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.

Abstract: A fan blade comprises an airfoil having a generally elliptical top surface and a generally elliptical bottom surface. The fan blade has a lower radius of curvature toward its leading edge as compared to a higher radius of curvature toward its trailing edge. When mounted to a rotating hub member, elliptical fan blades may provide air movement at significant efficiencies.

Abstract: A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.

Abstract: An enzymatic treatment process for cereal grains is presented. A cereal grain having at least one layer surrounding an endosperm core is provided. The cereal grain is exposed to a mixture comprising water and at least one enzyme. The exposure time is sufficient to allow the mixture to penetrate through at least one layer of the cereal grain wherein at least one layer is broken down from the endosperm core without requiring mechanical destruction of the cereal grain.

Abstract: A circulatory device comprising a large diameter fan having reinforced fan blades with a tapered airfoil shape is disclosed. The fan blades may be formed using an extrusion method of fabrication, wherein each fan blade may comprise a reinforced trailing edge with a downwardly extending flange. The benefit of forming each fan blade with a reinforced trailing edge of the present invention results in improved structural characteristics such that the trailing edge of each fan blade may be fabricated longer so as to improve aerodynamic performance. Also, the reinforced trailing edge resists tearing that may occur during extrusion by adding the bent flanged region to at least one distal end of the trailing edge. For example, the bent portion of the trailing edge tends to rigidly orient the extruded material in a stabilized position more readily during formation.

Abstract: A low speed cooling fan that is designed to cool individuals located in large industrial buildings. A fan with a diameter between 15 to 40 feet consisting of a plurality of blades, with each in the shape of a tapered airfoil, is driven by an electric motor to produce a very large slowly moving column of air. The moving column of air creates a uniformly gentle circulatory airflow pattern throughout the interior of the building thus promoting the natural evaporative cooling process of the human body at all locations inside the building.

Abstract: A low speed cooling fan that is designed to cool individuals located in large industrial buildings. A fan with a diameter between 15 to 40 feet consisting of a plurality of blades, with each in the shape of a tapered airfoil, is driven by an electric motor to produce a very large slowly moving column of air. The moving column of air creates a uniformly gentle circulatory airflow pattern throughout the interior of the building thus promoting the natural evaporative cooling process of the human body at all locations inside the building.