Fan,especially a ceiling fan with a balanced single blande

Abstract

The invention provides a fan (10) with a blade (12), suitable for use as a ceiling fan. Blade (12) may be regarded as a single blade, although shaft (18) is not attached to blade (12) at one end thereof; rather, shaft (18) is attached to blade (12) at a point between first end (14) and second end (16). Blade (12) is balanced by counterweight means (22) located in blade (12). In on embodiment, blade (12) is connected to shaft (18) by means which permit angular movement, such as a teeter hinge.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fans and, in particular, to a ceiling fan which is balanced. The invention is especially concerned with the type of ceiling fan which may be regarded as having a single blade.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Single blade ceiling fans are desirable because, potentially, they may produce less drag, thereby increasing the efficiency of the fan. This means that greater air flow may be accomplished at lower rotational speeds. Another potential advantage with a single blade is that the weight of the fan may be reduced, thus allowing the span of the blade to be of a larger dimension, compared to a conventional blade for a multi-bladed fan.

However, there have been problems in balancing single-blade fans. Counterweights have been applied to the shaft of the fan, or opposite the mass of the blade. An attempt to address the problem has been made in U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,451, where the ceiling fan blade mounting arrangement produces a centre of rotational gravity that lies outside the vertical axis of the rotating fan.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ceiling fan which can be balanced both statically and dynamically, for stabilised rotation at high and low rotational speeds. It is also an object of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, to provide a ceiling fan which can be an architectural feature, being aesthetically pleasing. In the preferred embodiment, the single bladed fan has a blade similar to the shape of a sycamore seed pod, and thus can have a sculptured shape, which may be appreciated even when the fan is not in use. It is believed that such a shape has aerodynamic advantages compared to the shape of a conventional blade.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a fan including a blade having a first end, a second end, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blade being rotatable by a shaft connected to a motor, wherein the blade is balanced by counterweight means, at least some of which is located in the blade.

The fan of the invention is preferably a ceiling fan but is not limited thereto.

The invention also provides a blade for a fan, the blade having a first end, a second end, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blade being adapted for rotation by a shaft connected to a motor, wherein the blade includes counterweight means.

The blade may be constructed of any suitable material. The material may be a solid low density material or a high density material, such as metal, polymer or wood. The blade may be made from a thin rigid skin filled with foam reinforcing, such as self-skinning polyurethane. Preferably, the fan is made by extrusion blow moulding or reaction injection moulding or other suitable technique, such as metal casting.

Preferably, the blade is an irregular sculptured form. Even more preferably, the blade takes the form of or is adapted from the shape of a sycamore seed pod. The blades in the drawings below are adapted from the shape of a sycamore seed pod. Such a blade is not flat as many conventional fan blades are, but has curves and contours.

In this embodiment, the blade has an aerofoil cross section, with varying vertical thickness from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The aerofoil part of the blade is designed to create less turbulence and drag in its wake. It may require less energy to rotate it about its vertical axis compared to a conventional flat blade and it may also create less wind noise. The aerofoil design may also create higher airflow at lower speeds, compared to conventional ceiling fans.

The blade in this embodiment may be wider than many conventional fan blades. At low speed, a longer chord length aerofoil section is more efficient. The first and second ends are shaped to be curved—preferably elliptical. It is known that aircraft wings with elliptical wing tips (in plan view) produce less turbulence than square ended wing tips at low speed.

In this preferred embodiment, the blade is not linear in plan view but is angled. In this configuration, there is an angle of approximately 170 degrees between the first end and the second end.

The shaft and the motor may be of any suitable shape or arrangement. Preferably, the blade is attached to the shaft at a connection point located between the first end and the second end. It is also preferred that the connection point is closer to the second end than to the first end. Where the blade is bent so that there is an angle of approximately 170 degrees between the first end and the second end, it is preferred that the connection point is at or located close to the angle of bend.

It will be appreciated that the blade of the fan of the present invention may be regarded as a single blade because, although the connection point is preferably located between the first end and the second end, being closer to the second end than to the first end, the whole blade is a single unit. Another view may be taken of the blade: the portion of the blade from the connection point to the first end may be regarded as the primary blade and the portion of the blade from the connection point to the second end may be regarded as a pod, in view of the similarity to a sycamore seed pod. The pod preferably has its leading edge higher than its trailing edge. The pod may not contribute greatly to air flow provided by the fan of the invention. However, the pod may provide aero dynamic lift which can partially balance aero dynamic lift created by the primary blade. In addition, the pod as illustrated in the drawings, below, may be designed to create minimum turbulence in its wake, in order to minimise the energy required to overcome its aero dynamic drag.

The organic form shape, profile and relative orientation of the primary blade and pod of the blade of the invention in this embodiment have been designed to allow the incorporation of at least some of the counterweight means within the form of the blade. The purpose of this is to avoid interruption of the continuous sculptural surface of the blade of the invention whilst allowing the position of the centre of gravity of the blade to be located within the blade.

In the embodiment under discussion, the blade of the invention has been designed so that incorporation of at least some of the counterweight means in the pod causes the centre of mass of the blade of the invention to lie at a point within the blade in top plan view. In addition, the position and mass of the counterweight means may be adjusted to ensure that the combined centre of mass of the blade of the invention and the counterweight means is located on the vertical axis of rotation of the blade of the invention.

In an especially preferred embodiment, the blade is connected to the shaft by means adapted to permit angular movement of the blade relative to the shaft. Preferably, these means include or comprise the type of hinge known as a teeter hinge, an example of which is illustrated in the drawings.

It is also preferred that the centre of mass of the blade of the invention and the counterweight means is located within the body of the blade of the invention, when the blade is viewed in front elevation. The shape, profile and relative orientation of the primary blade and pod may be determined to ensure that the centre of mass is sufficiently far within the blade form to allow all the components required to permit angular movement of the blade relative to the shaft to be located within the blade without compromising the sculptural integrity of the blade form.

The counterweight means preferably includes at least one discrete mass of material. The counterweight means may comprise two or more discrete masses of such material. All the counterweight means may be located in the blade. Alternately, some of the counterweight means may be located in the blade and some elsewhere such as on the shaft. The material of one discrete mass may be the same as or different from the material of another discrete mass in the same fan. In one embodiment, the counterweight means is made of a material having a mass greater than that of the material of the blade. In another embodiment, the counterweight means is made of a material having a mass lesser than that of the material of the blade. In yet another embodiment, the counterweight means is provided by increasing wall thickness within the blade, for example during manufacture. For example, the blade may be manufactured by extrusion blow moulding. During manufacture, the wall thickness of selected parts of the blade may be increased in order to provide all or some of the counterweight means.

By way of another example, a blade may be moulded in two halves, such as top and bottom, by a reaction injection moulding process or other suitable technique, such as metal casting—aluminium or magnesium, fibreglass layup or wood shaping, with different, varying wall sections as required to provide some or all of the counterweight means, prior to joining the two halves to create the complete blade.

Preferably, the location of at least some of the counterweight means is adjustable, so that compensation can be made for manufacturing tolerances. Preferably also, additional counterweights may be added to the fan of the invention for tuning the balance during manufacture. In one embodiment, these are located under a removable cover on the blade. The same cover can cover a cavity into which some or all of the counterweight means may be inserted. Such a cover may be sculpted to match the surface form of the blade or may be a simple flat or round infill, on the top surface of the blade.

Of course, any counterweight means located in the blade may be assembled into a pocket in the exterior of the blade (with or without a cover) or moulded into the surface of the blade (with or without a cover).

Where all the counterweight means is not located in the blade, it is preferred that part of the counterweight means is located on the shaft.

It is preferred that some or all of the counterweight means is located along the leading edge of the blade. Part of the counterweight means may be located along the leading edge and part along the trailing along the blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in connection with certain non-limiting thereof as set out in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of a ceiling fan, viewed from the trailing edge;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the fan of FIG. 1, viewed from the leading edge;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of fan, viewed from the leading edge;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a blade for a further embodiment of a ceiling fan, viewed from the leading edge;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the blade of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the blade of FIGS. 4 and 5, cut away at the second end to show internal construction;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a blade;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of a blade of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a blade which includes a teeter hinge;

FIG. 10 shows in more detail the connection point and part of the teeter hinge of the FIG. 9 embodiment;

FIG. 11 shows the second end of the blade of FIGS. 9 and 10, with counterweight means within the blade in dotted outline;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the blade of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 taken along the line A-A of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 shows cross-sectional detail of the blade taken along the line B-B of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 14 shows the teeter hinge and connection point illustrated in sectional view in FIG. 13

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, ceiling fan 10 has a blade 12 which can be regarded as a single blade having first end 14 and second end 16. Blade 12 is sculptured in a form similar to that of a sycamore seed pod. It is curved and designed to provide a downward draught when it rotates clockwise (as viewed from above).

Blade 12 is rotatable by a shaft 18, connected to an electric motor (not shown) within motor cover 20.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, blade 12 is irregular in shape and is fixed to shaft 18 closer to second end 16 than to first end 14.

In this embodiment, the counterweight means is comprised of a balancing weight 22 located along leading edge 24 of the primary blade (that part between shaft 18 and first end 14) and along the trailing edge of the pod (that part between shaft 18 and second end 16) and close to second end 16. Balancing weight 22 is made from a material which is of greater density than the material of blade 12. Weight 22 comprises a single discrete mass and is moulded to follow the contours of blade 12 so that it is unobtrusive.

Because there is no counterweight attached to shaft 18, motor cover 20 does not need to be enlarged to accommodate any such weight, and indeed may be somewhat smaller than that illustrated.

FIG. 3 shows a similar embodiment to the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the same numbers are used for the same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, a counterweight 28 is located in blade 12 very close to second end 16. In this embodiment, however, weight 28 is somewhat smaller in mass than weight 22 of FIG. 2. There is a second discrete weight 30 (not visible in the figure) attached to shaft 18. The combination of the weights 28 and 30 balances blade 12 when rotating.

If desired, weight 30 on shaft 18 could be divided into two masses and distributed around shaft 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, although this is a different embodiment from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the embodiment of FIG. 3, the same part numbers will be used where the parts are the same or very similar. In this embodiment, blade 12 has substantially elliptical first end 14, substantially elliptical second end 16, leading edge 24 and trailing edge 26. As shown by the plan view of FIG. 5, blade 12 is curved at leading edge 24 and there is an angle of approximately 170° between first end 14 and second end 16. Located at approximately the bend point is connection point 32. In this embodiment, connection point 32 is a circular aperture adapted to receive shaft 18 (not shown). Connection point 32 may be of any other suitable shape.

Blade 12 includes two discrete masses by way of counterweight means, first mass 34 and second mass 36. Each of masses 34 and 36 is inserted within blade 12. Part of second mass 36 can be seen in FIG. 6, inserted in cavity 38. Cover 40 covers first mass 34 and cover 42 covers second mass 36. Each of covers 40 and 42 is removable, so that the mass in the underlying cavity may be removed or changed as appropriate.

It will also be noted from FIG. 6 that blade 12 is generally hollow, being made of thermoplastic polymer material, such as ABS or high density polyethylene.

The embodiment in FIG. 7 is similar to that in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, except that first 34 and second mass 36 are replaced by a single mass 44.

The FIG. 8 embodiment shows in top plan view the embodiment discussed above in connection with FIG. 3.

In the fiber embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a single discrete mass or a plurality of masses may be inserted in cavity 48 covered by cover 50. Cavity 48 is extended in this embodiment to accommodate connection point 32 and teeter hinge 52, discussed in more detail in connection with FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 below.

Shown in ghosted outline in FIG. 11 is a single discrete mass 54 suspended within blade 12 by bracket 56.

Details of teeter hinge 52 can be seen in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. Teeter hinge 52 can be applied to any of the embodiments illustrated herein in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11.

Teeter hinge 52 has cross bar 58 originally attached or integral with (as in this case) plates 60 and 62. Cross bar 58 includes screw hole apertures 64 into which are fitted screws 66 which serve to secure cross bar 58 to blade 12 (refer FIG. 13).

Connection point 32, which connects blade 12 to shaft 18 (not shown) has tail 68. Aperture 70 in tail 68 receives pivot pin 72 to connect tail 68 pivotably to plate 60 and 62.

As can be seen from FIGS. 13 and 14, there is a small amount of clearance between the inner ends of cross bar 58 and tail 68, so that connection point 32 can pivot to a small extent around pivot pin 72.

Blade 12 and the location of the counterweights are designed so that the centre of mass of blade 12 (when viewed in plan) is located approximately in the location of connection point 32 and drive shaft 18 (not shown). Also when viewed in plan, the pivot axis is perpendicular to a line drawn from the axis of rotation of the balanced blade to the centre of lift of the blade portion of the balanced blade. The pivot axis is also aligned with the horizontal plane. The tip of blade 12 is thus free to move in a vertical direction by rotating about the pivot, but is constrained to rotate only in the plane in which the aerodynamic lift force of the blade is acting, thus maintaining the correct angle of attach of the blade.

This is in contrast to conventional fans, where the blades are generally rigidly connected to the motor housing or drive shaft.

It will be appreciated that the aerodynamic centre of blade 12—the point at which lift is deemed to act—will vary, depending on air speed of blade 12 and also on the pitch of blade 12. The aerodynamic force on blade 12 is composed of both lift from blade 12 and also of lift and drag from blade 12, including lift and drag from the part of blade 12 near second end 16. It is preferred that the combined centre of action of these forces is the point which is used to define the line to which the pivot axis is perpendicular. The aerodynamic forces involved are relatively small and consequently the calculation of the angle of the pivot axis may be represented by a range of values.

Because blade 12 is suspended at the centre of mass on the pivot, blade 12 is free to find its own balance—the position where the centre of mass lies on the vertical axis of rotation and the principal axes of inertia of the centre of gravity of balanced blade 12 lie in the vertical and horizontal planes. It is believed that if blade 12 were rigidly mounted and were balanced such that the principal axes of inertia of the centre of gravity were not in the horizontal/vertical planes, even though the centre of gravity might be on the vertical axis, the centrifugal forces would not be balanced and rotation of the blade would shake the bearings of the motor.

When blade 12 is supported at the centre of mass of the balanced blade, and blade 12 is allowed to “self level” because of teeter hinge 52, it has been found that the mass of blade 12 does not impart unwanted centrifugal forces to shaft 18 which would cause blade 12 to run off centre or wobble, cause unwanted vibrations or wear within the motor and/or transmit undue stresses to the mechanism used to fasten the fan assembly to the ceiling. Because the pivot is incorporated at the centre of mass, blade 12 can rotate about this freely. The aerodynamic forces acting on blade 12 cause blade 12 to rotate until the aerodynamic forces are matched by the gravitational and centripetal forces acting on blade 12. Thus, at any given speed, first end 14 will rise until the position is found at which the aerodynamic forces and the gravitational and centripetal forces acting on blade 12 are in balance. Any bending moment on shaft 18 may thus be eliminated or minimised, and fan 10 may run smoothly with no or minimal out-of-balance forces being transmitted to shaft 18, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The fan of the invention provides a worthwhile addition to fan technology, especially where ceiling fans are involved. The fan of the invention can be presented in a modem, streamlined form which can cause movement of a greater is volume of air with less rotational speed.

Claims

1. A blade for a fan comprising:

a first portion having a first end;

a second portion having a second end, the second end opposed to the first end; and

at least one counterweight coupled to one of the first portion and the second portion, both the first and the second portions are adapted to provide aerodynamic lift.

2. The blade of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a first leading edge and a first trailing edge; the second portion has a second leading edge and a second trailing edge; and the aerodynamic lift provided by the second portion at least partially balances the aerodynamic lift provided by the first portion.

3. The blade of claim 1, further comprising a connection point located between the first end and the second end, the connection point for coupling to a shaft.

4. The blade of claim 3, wherein the connection point is located at a junction between the first and the second portions.

5. The blade of claim 3, wherein the center of mass approximately aligns with the connection point.

6. The blade of claim 3, wherein the connection point is closer to the second end than the first end and at least one counterweight is located in the second portion.

7. The blade of claim 3, wherein an angle of approximately 170 degrees between the first end and the second end, and the angle being proximate the connection point.

8. The blade of claim 3, further comprising a variable pitch connector coupled to the connection point, the variable pitch connector permits angular movement relative to a shaft when coupled thereto.

9. The blade of claim 8, wherein the variable pitch connector includes a teeter hinge.

10. The blade of claim 8, wherein the variable pitch connector is located proximate to the center of mass of the blade.

11. The blade of claim 8, further comprising a shaft coupled to the variable pitch connector, and a fan motor coupled to the shaft for rotationally driving the shaft, wherein at any given speed of rotation, the first end will rise until a position is found at which the aerodynamic, gravitational and centripetal forces acting on the blade are balanced to minimize or eliminate any bending moment on the shaft.

12. The blade of claim 11, wherein a point on the first leading edge is constrained to rotate about the variable pitch connector in a plane in which the aerodynamic lift force of the blade on the first leading edge is acting to maintain the correct angle of attack of the blade.

13. The blade of claim 11 wherein, when viewed in plan, the axis of the variable pitch connector is perpendicular to a line drawn from the axis of rotation of the blade when balanced to the center of lift of the first portion.

14. The blade of claim 1, wherein all of the at least one counterweights is located in the first and second portions.

15. The blade of claim 11, wherein part of the at least one counterweight is located on the shaft.

16. The blade of claim 2, wherein some or all of the at least one counterweight is located along the first leading edge of the blade.

17. The blade of claim 2, wherein some of the at least one counterweight is located along the first leading edge of the first portion and some of the at least one counter weight is located along the first trailing edge of the first portion.

18. The blade of claim 11, further comprising a mounting plate coupled to the fan motor for selectively attaching to a ceiling.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A fan assembly comprising:

a blade comprising: a first portion having a first end; a second portion having a second end, the second end opposed to the first end, the blade adapted to provide aerodynamic lift when rotationally driven; and a connection point located between the first end and the second end;

a shaft;

a variable pitch connector coupled to the connection point of the blade and to the shaft, the variable pitch connector permits angular movement relative between the shaft and the blade;

at least one counterweight coupled to either of the blade and the shaft; and

a fan motor coupled to the shaft for rotationally driving the shaft.

22. The fan of claim 21, wherein at any given speed of rotation when driven by the motor, the first end of the first portion of the blade will rise until a position is found at which the aerodynamic, gravitational and centripetal forces acting on the blade are balanced to minimize or eliminate any bending moment on the shaft.