APPARATUS FOR MOVING AIR

An apparatus for moving air radially outwardly from a rotational axis of a rotating vane provides an air scoop fixed to a ceiling facing surface of a fan vane, the air scoop having a motor end portion, a discharge end portion, a leading edge portion, a trailing edge portion, a fan vane facing surface, an opposing surface, and the air scoop defines a pitched plenum between the fan vane facing surface and an adjacent surface of the fan vane and a vertical distance between the leading edge portion of the air scoop and the leading edge portion of the fan vane is larger than a vertical distance between the trailing edge portion of the air scoop and the trailing edge portion of the fan vane.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for moving air. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for moving air parallel to a longitudinal axis of a fan vane and generally transverse to an axis of rotation of the fan vane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dictionaries, including but not limited to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition, 2000 were used in the drafting of this US Non-Provisional patent application.

As used herein, the term “plenum” is defined as a space, or enclosure, in which air, or other gas, is at a pressure greater than that of the outside atmosphere.

The term “vane” is defined as any of several usually relatively thin, rigid, flat or sometimes curved surfaces radially mounted along an axis, as a blade in a turbine, or a sail on a windmill, that is turned by, or used to turn a fluid.

Throughout history, fans have been employed to generate air currents and airflow to allow for cooling and air circulation. Originally, fans were manually operated, but as technology developed, fans became powered appliances, generally using electrical current. Fans are available in a variety of configurations, but commonly have an electrical motor having a shaft that rotates about an axis of the shaft. Fixedly secured to the shaft is a plurality of spacedly arrayed fan blades, or vanes, that are generally thin, elongate, have a leading edge, a trailing edge, an end portion proximate to the motor shaft and an end portion opposite the motor shaft. The blades/vanes are pitched/angulated relative to a plane that is perpendicular to the motor shaft, so that the blades/vanes draw and/or push air/fluid as the blades/vanes rotate in an arc of movement about the axis of rotation.

Fans are available in a wide variety of configurations, including, but not limited to ceiling fans that are fixedly secured spacedly below a room ceiling, fans that are mounted on vertical stands that rest on a floor surface and oscillate, and fans that are fixedly secured to wall surfaces, which may also oscillate.

One universal feature of all known fans, is that the air currents created by the rotating fan blades/vanes move in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the blades/vanes. As a result, airflow and air currents do not move radially outwardly from the fan blade/vanes. As a further result, fans with rotating blades/vanes tend to only generate air currents, and move air, in a column that has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the fan blades/vanes arranged about the shaft. This is a recognized drawback, as most rooms in which fans are employed, are rectilinear in structure and substantially larger than the diameter of the fan blade's/vanes. As a result, air currents and airflow are not generated in portions of the rooms that are spacedly remote from the fan and the rotating blades/vanes.

Therefore, an apparatus for moving air which overcomes and avoids the short-comings attendant with the prior art devices and practices utilized heretofore is the subject matter of the present application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air along a longitudinal axis 49 of a fan vane 40 as the fan vane 40 moves about an axis of rotation 29 and through an arc of movement, the apparatus comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to a surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the air scoop 60 has a body 61 that defines a longitudinal axis 77, and the air scoop body 61 has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a vane facing surface 67 and an opposing surface 66.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: a plenum 68 defined between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the air scoop body 61 and an adjacent surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein a vertical distance 71 between the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61 and the leading edge portion 44 of the fan vane 40 is larger than a vertical distance 78 between the trailing edge portion 65 of the air scoop body 61 and the trailing edge portion 45 of the fan vane 40.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the air scoop 60 is removably fixed to the fan vane 40.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the plenum 68 is tapered between the leading edge portion 64 and the trailing edge portion 65.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the plenum 68 is tapered between the motor end portion 62 and the discharge end portion 63.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the motor end portion 62 of the air scoop body 61 is defined by a solid wall that extends between the proximate end portions of the air scoop body 61 and the fan vane 40 and wherein the discharge end portion 63 of the air scoop body 61 defines an orifice between the fan vane 40 and the proximate end portion of the air scoop body 61.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: an auxiliary fan motor 120 having an auxiliary motor shaft 121 that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis 49 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary motor shaft 121 carries a fan 122 having at least one fan vane 123 for moving air as the auxiliary motor shaft 121 rotates; and the auxiliary fan motor 120 is proximate a motor end portion 42 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 operatively communicates with a fan motor housing 21 to receive powering energy therefrom, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 blows air into an open end portion of a plenum 68 proximate the fan motor housing 21, and the air that is blown into the plenum 68 by the auxiliary fan 122 is discharged from the plenum 68 through a discharge opening 76 of the plenum 68 opposite the auxiliary fan motor 120.

A further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: a second air scoop 90 fixed to a surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40 and oriented opposite the air scoop 60, the second air scoop 90 having, a pitched body 107 that has a motor end portion 91, a spaced apart discharge end portion 92, a leading edge portion 93, a trailing edge portion 94, a fan vane facing surface 96, an opposing surface 95, and a second plenum 97 is defined between the fan vane facing surface 96, an opposing surface 95 of the pitched body 107 and a proximate surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40; and the leading edge portion 93 of the second air scoop 90 is opposite the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61.

A still further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air along a longitudinal axis 29 of a fan vane 40 as the fan vane 40 moves about an axis of rotation 29 of a fan motor shaft 23 and through an arc of movement, the fan vane 40 having a motor end portion 42 proximate the fan motor shaft 23, a spaced apart outer end portion 43, a leading edge portion 44, a trailing edge portion 45, a ceiling facing surface 46 and a floor facing surface 47, the apparatus for moving air comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to a surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40, the air scoop 60 having, a pitched body 61 that has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67, an opposing surface 66 and a plenum 68 is defined between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the pitched body 61 and a proximate surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

An even still further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air generally radially outwardly from a rotational axis 29 of a pitched fan vane 40 being moved along the arc by fan motor shaft 23, the pitched fan vane 40 having body 41 with a motor end portion 42 proximate the fan motor shaft 23, an outer end portion 43 opposite the fan motor shaft 23, a leading edge portion 44, a trailing edge portion 45, a ceiling facing surface 46 and a floor facing surface 47, the apparatus for moving air comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to surface 46, 47 of the pitched fan vane 40, the air scoop 60 having, a body 61 that has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67, and an opposing surface 66, and the air scoop 60 defines a plenum 68 between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the body 61 and the adjacent surface 46, 47 of the pitched fan vane 40 and a vertical distance 71 between the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61 and the leading edge portion 44 of the pitched fan vane 40 is larger than a vertical distance 78 between the trailing edge portion 65 of the air scoop body 61 and the trailing edge portion 45 of the pitched fan vane 40.

An even still further aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein an air scoop 60 is fixed to both the ceiling-facing surface 46 and to the floor facing surface 47 of the fan vane 40.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE FIGURES

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to the following accompanying Figures.

FIG. 1 is a partial cutaway, perspective view of a ceiling facing surface of a fan motor housing carrying a plurality of spacedly arrayed fan vanes thereon, one fan vane carrying the air scoop on a ceiling facing surface of the fan vane.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the fan vane and air scoop shown in FIG. 1 showing the leading edge of the fan vane, the air scoop, the plenum opening along the leading edge and the discharge end portion of the plenum.

FIG. 3 is a downward looking plan view of the fan vane and air scoop of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an orthographic side view of the fan vane and air scoop of FIG. 1, showing the opening to the plenum.

FIG. 5 is an orthographic side view of the fan vane and air scoop of FIG. 1, showing the trailing edge of the fan vane and air scoop.

FIG. 6 is an orthographic cross-sectional view of the fan vane and air scoop of FIG. 3, taken on line A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second contemplated embodiment of the apparatus for moving air, showing a second air scoop defining a second plenum opposite the first air scoop.

FIG. 8 is a downward looking plan view of the second contemplated embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway, perspective view of a third contemplated embodiment of the apparatus for moving air having an auxiliary fan motor adjacent the motor end portion of the air scoop.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a fourth contemplated embodiment of the apparatus for moving air having an auxiliary fan motor carried by the fan housing, and positioned adjacent the motor end portion of the air scoop.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the fourth contemplated embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an orthographic side view of the fourth contemplated embodiment shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an artistic representation of airflow over, about, and under the fan vanes and air scoops, showing plural fan vanes having air scoops aligned horizontally and moving through an arc of movement and creating airflow.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of plural spacedly arrayed fan vanes each carrying an air scoop thereon, and having arrows showing the direction of rotation and arrows showing the direction of air movement.

 DETAILED WRITTEN DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the Constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

Our apparatus for moving air is utilized with a fan 20, preferably a ceiling fan (FIG. 1) although other fans, such as, but not limited to, oscillating fans and stationary fans may also benefit from the present invention. Commonly a fan 20 has a fan motor housing 21 which has an outer circumferential/peripheral edge portion 24, and a fan motor support 22 which allows the fan 20 to be secured at a desired location and in a desired orientation, for example, but not limited to, suspended from a ceiling surface. In such an orientation, the fan 20 will define/have a fan motor ceiling facing surface 25 and a fan motor floor-facing surface 26. The fan 20 commonly has a fan motor shaft 23 that carries a plurality of spacedly arrayed fan vane supports 27 that each carry a fan vane 40 that is secured to the support 27 with fasteners 28, such as, but not limited to, threaded fasteners. In alternative configurations (not shown), the plural spacedly arrayed fan vanes 40 may be in a unitary assembly.

The fan vane 40 has a body 41 with a motor end portion 42 that is positioned proximate the fan motor shaft 23, an outer end portion 43 opposite the fan motor shaft 23, a leading edge portion 44, a trailing edge portion 45, a ceiling facing surface 46 and a floor facing surface 47. The fan vane 40 is “pitched” or “angulated” (offset from horizontal) so that the vane acts as a “wedge” or a “ramp” as it moves though air, resulting in movement of the air.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fan 20 is contemplated to be a ceiling fan (FIG. 1), but the present invention is not limited to use with ceiling fans and may also be utilized with fans that are supported on frames and/or brackets and which may be movable, and/or positioned in locations and orientations other than generally spaced apart from and adjacent a ceiling surface. More particularly, it is contemplated the present invention may be used with oscillating fans and/or stationary fans and fans that are positioned at angles relative to the ceiling and floor surfaces.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, our apparatus for moving air an generally provides an air scoop 60 that has a body 61 and the air scoop 60 is attached to the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40.

The body 61 of the scoop 60 has a motor end portion 62 that is proximate the fan motor housing 21 of the fan 20, a discharge end portion 63 that is distal from the fan motor housing 21 and defines a longitudinal axis 77, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67 and an opposing surface 66 that is opposite the fan vane 40.

A plenum 68 is defined by the body 61 between the fan vane facing surface 67 and the spaced apart generally planar surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40. The plenum 68 extends between the motor end portion 62 and the discharge end portion 63 and also between the leading edge portion 64 and the trailing edge portion 65. As shown in FIG. 6, the plenum 68 is tapered toward the trailing edge portion 65 so that a vertical distance 71 between the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61 and the leading edge portion 44 of the fan vane 40 is larger than a vertical distance 78 between the trailing edge portion 65 of the air scoop body 61 and the trailing edge portion 45 of the fan vane 40.

In one preferred embodiment the air scoop 60 is permanently secured to the fan vane 40 such as by unitary formation or by permanent fixing, such with an adhesive or mechanical connector, but not limited to these two identified fixing means. In a further contemplated embodiment, such as for retrofitting existing fans 20 and/or fan vanes 40 the air scoop 60 may be removably fixed to the fan vane 40 with means such as “clips”, removable fasteners, and/or resiliently deformable protrusions/tabs carried by the air scoop body at predetermined locations along a peripheral edge portion of the air scoop body 61 that interconnect with adjacent edge portions of the fan vane 40 to secure the air scoop 60 to the fan fane 40.

Although not shown in the drawings, the air scoop 60 plenum 68 may also be tapered between the motor end portion 62 and the discharge end portion 63. Further still, the motor end portion 62 of the air scoop body 61 may be closed/obstructed relative to the fan vane 40 and the discharge end portion 63 of the air scoop body 61 may be open relative to the fan vane 40.

In a further contemplated embodiment, an auxiliary fan motor 120 exacerbates airflow. The auxiliary fan motor 120 has an auxiliary motor shaft 121 aligned with the longitudinal axis 49 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary motor shaft 121 carries a fan 122 having at least one fan vane 123 for moving air as the auxiliary motor shaft 121 rotates; and the auxiliary fan motor 120 is fixed to a ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40 proximate a motor end portion 42 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 operatively communicates with a fan motor housing 21 to receive powering energy therefrom, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 blows air into an open motor end portion 62 of a plenum 68 defined by an air scoop body 61 carried on the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40, and the air that is blown into the plenum 68 by the auxiliary fan 122 is discharged from the plenum 68 through a discharge opening 76 of the plenum 68 opposite the auxiliary fan motor 120.

In a still further contemplated embodiment, the invention further comprises a second air scoop 90 fixed to the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40 and oriented opposite the air scoop 60, the second air scoop 90 having, a pitched body 107 that has a motor end portion 91, a spaced apart discharge end portion 92, a leading edge portion 93, a trailing edge portion 94, a ceiling facing surface 95, a fan vane facing surface 96 and a second plenum 97 is defined between the fan vane facing surface 96 of the pitched body 107 and the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40; and the leading edge portion 93 of the second air scoop 90 is opposite the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61. The second air scoop 90 provides for radial outward movement of air when the direction of rotation of the fan 20 is reversed (clockwise vs. counterclockwise and summer rotation vs. winter rotation)

As shown in FIG. 13, which is an artistic representation of an orthographic side view of plural fan vanes 40 moving in a plane, one after the other from left-to-right, air (represented by arrows) strikes the floor facing surface 47 of the vane 40 and is forced downwardly 34 toward the floor. Only air that contacts the floor facing surface 47 of the vane 40 is forced axially downwardly 34, which responsively limits the size of any “column of moving air” to the diameter of the fan 20. As shown in FIG. 13, air also strikes the fan vane facing surface 67 of the air scoop 60 body 61 and is thereafter directed angularly downwardly into the plenum 68 defined by the air scoop body 61 and the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40. The air is compressed within the plenum 68 by the taper of the plenum 68. The centripetal forces generated by the rotation of the fan vane 40 and the air scoop 60 cause the air within the plenum to be “thrown” radially outwardly toward the discharge end 63 of the air scoop 60 and radially outwardly from the diameter of the fan 20. As is further shown in FIG. 13, air behaving as a fluid, also flows downwardly along the opposing surface 66 (ceiling proximate surface) of the air scoop body 61 to fill a formed low pressure area trailing the moving fan vane 40. This air (that follows the opposing surface 66 of the air scoop body 61 is then both “gathered” into the plenum 68 of the next following fan vane 40 and air scoop 60, so as to be “thrown” radially outwardly beyond the air column diameter, and also forced downwardly by the floor facing surface 47 of the following vane 40. The airflow repeating with each passing vane 40 and air scoop 60 moving along the plane.

As shown in FIG. 14, the air gathered within the plenums is thrown radially outwardly 38 relative to the axis of rotation increasing total airflow within the room by the fan 20 and moving fan vanes 40.

Operation

Having described the structure of our apparatus for moving air, its operation is briefly described.

A principal object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air along a longitudinal axis 49 of a fan vane 40 as the fan vane 40 moves through an arc of movement, the apparatus comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to a ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air along a longitudinal axis 49 of a fan vane 40 as the fan vane 40 moves through an arc of movement, the apparatus comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to a ceiling-facing surface 46 or to a floor facing surface 47 of the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein the air scoop 60 has a body 61 that defines a longitudinal axis 77, and the air scoop body 61 has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67, and an opposing surface 66.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: a plenum 68 defined between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the air scoop body 61 and a spacedly adjacent surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: plural plenums 68, 97 defined between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the air scoop body 61 and a spacedly adjacent surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and wherein a vertical distance 71 between the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61 and a leading edge portion 44 of the fan vane 40 is larger than a vertical distance 78 between the trailing edge portion 65 of the air scoop body 61 and a trailing edge portion 45 of the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and wherein the air scoop 60 is removably fixed to the fan vane 40.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and wherein the air scoop 60 plenum 68 is tapered inwardly from the leading edge portion 64 to the trailing edge portion 65.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and wherein the air scoop 60 plenum 68 is tapered between the motor end portion 62 and the discharge end portion 63.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and wherein the discharge end portion 63 of the air scoop body 61 defines an orifice between the adjacent surfaces of the fan vane 40 and the air scoop 60 body 61.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: an auxiliary fan motor 120 having an auxiliary motor shaft 121 that is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis 49 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary motor shaft 121 carries a fan 122 having at least one fan vane 123 for moving air as the auxiliary motor shaft 121 rotates; and the auxiliary fan motor 120 has a housing 124 that is fixed to the fan vane 40 proximate a motor end portion 42 of the fan vane 40, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 operatively communicates with a fan motor housing 21 to receive powering energy therefrom, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 blows air into an open end portion of a plenum 68 defined by an air scoop body 61 carried on the fan vane 40, and the air that is blown into the plenum 68 by the auxiliary fan 122 is discharged from the plenum 68 through a discharge opening 76 defined by the plenum 68 opposite the auxiliary fan motor 120.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: an auxiliary fan motor 120 having an auxiliary motor shaft 121 that carries a fan 122 having at least one fan vane 123 for moving air as the auxiliary motor shaft 121 rotates; and the auxiliary fan motor 120 has a housing 124 that is fixed to a fan motor housing 21 and receives powering energy therefrom, and the auxiliary fan motor 120 blows air into an open end portion of a plenum 68 defined by an air scoop body 61 carried on the fan vane 40, and the air that is blown into the plenum 68 by the auxiliary fan 122 is discharged from the plenum 68 through a discharge opening 76 defined by the plenum 68 opposite the auxiliary fan motor 120 as the fan vane 40 moves through an arc of movement about a rotational axis 29.

A further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air and further comprising: a second air scoop 90 fixed to the fan vane 40 and oriented opposite the air scoop 60, the second air scoop 90 having, a pitched body 107 that has a motor end portion 91, a spaced apart discharge end portion 92, a leading edge portion 93, a trailing edge portion 94, a fan vane facing surface 96, an opposing surface 95 and a second plenum 97 is defined between the fan vane facing surface 96 of the pitched body 107 and an adjacent surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40; and the leading edge portion 93 of the second air scoop 90 is opposite the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61.

A still further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air transverse to a rotational axis 29 of a fan vane 40 as the fan vane 40 moves through an arc of movement about the rotational axis 29 of a fan motor shaft 23, the fan vane 40 having a motor end portion 42 proximate the fan motor shaft 23, a spaced apart outer end portion 43, a leading edge portion 44, a trailing edge portion 45, a ceiling facing surface 46 and a floor facing surface 47, the apparatus for moving air comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to at least one of the ceiling facing surface 46 of the fan vane 40 or a floor facing surface 47 of the fan vane 40, the air scoop 60 having, a pitched body 61 that has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67, an opposing surface 66 and a plenum 68 is defined between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the pitched body 61 and a spacedly adjacent surface 46, 47 of the fan vane 40.

An even still further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air generally radially outwardly from a rotational axis 29 of an arc of movement of a pitched fan vane 40 being moved along the arc by fan motor shaft 23, the pitched fan vane 40 having body 41 with a motor end portion 42 proximate the fan motor shaft 23, an outer end portion 43 opposite the fan motor shaft 23, a leading edge portion 44, a trailing edge portion 45, a ceiling facing surface 46 and a floor facing surface 47, the apparatus for moving air comprising: an air scoop 60 fixed to the ceiling facing surface 46 of the pitched fan vane 40, the air scoop 60 having, a body 61 that has a motor end portion 62, a discharge end portion 63, a leading edge portion 64, a trailing edge portion 65, a fan vane facing surface 67, an opposing surface 66, and the air scoop 60 defines a pitched plenum 68 between the fan vane facing surface 67 of the body 61 and an adjacent surface 46, 47 of the pitched fan vane 40 and a vertical distance 71 between the leading edge portion 64 of the air scoop body 61 and the leading edge portion 44 of the pitched fan vane 40 is larger than a vertical distance 78 between the trailing edge portion 65 of the air scoop body 61 and the trailing edge portion 45 of the pitched fan vane 40.

An even still further object of the present invention is an apparatus for moving air wherein an air scoop 60 is fixed to both the ceiling facing surface 46 and to the floor facing surface 47 of the fan vane 40.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural and methodical features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown and described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. An apparatus for moving air along a longitudinal axis (49) of a fan vane (40) as the fan vane (40) moves through an arc of movement, the apparatus comprising:

an air scoop (60) fixed to a ceiling facing surface (46), or to a floor facing surface (47), of the fan vane (40) and wherein the air scoop (60) has a body (61) that defines a longitudinal axis (77), and the air scoop body (61) has a motor end portion (62), a discharge end portion (63), a leading edge portion (64), a trailing edge portion (65), a fan vane facing surface (67), and an opposing surface (66), and a plenum (68) defined between the fan vane facing surface (67) of the air scoop body (61) and a spacedly adjacent surface (46), (47) of the fan vane (40); and wherein
a vertical distance (71) between the leading edge portion (64) of the air scoop body (61) and a leading edge portion (44) of the fan vane (40) is larger than a vertical distance (78) between the trailing edge portion (65) of the air scoop body (61) and a trailing edge portion (45) of the fan vane (40).

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

Patent History
Publication number: 20240117812
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 11, 2022
Publication Date: Apr 11, 2024
Inventors: Emory Joseph Clark (Airway Heights, WA), Jeff Bendio (Spokane Valley, WA)
Application Number: 17/963,369
Classifications
International Classification: F04D 29/38 (20060101); F04D 19/00 (20060101); F04D 25/08 (20060101); F04D 25/16 (20060101); F04D 29/34 (20060101);