Spring Biased Detent Patents (Class 416/206)
  • Patent number: 11959490
    Abstract: A ceiling fan or similar air-moving device can include a motor for rotating one or more blades to drive a volume of air about a space. A blade iron can couple the blades to the motor. A connection assembly provides for connecting the ceiling fan blade to the blade iron. The connection assembly provides for aligning the blade with a set of fingers and can slide from a first position to a second position to secure the blade to a blade iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Charles William Botkin, Bobby Neal Norwood
  • Patent number: 11168698
    Abstract: A ceiling fan can include a motor having a rotor defining a rotational axis and a rotor periphery. At least one blade iron is mounted to the rotor and includes a first blade mount located radially exterior of the rotor periphery and a second blade mount located radially interior of the rotor periphery. A blade mounts to the blade iron at both the first blade mount and the second blade mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventors: Charles William Botkin, Bobby Neal Norwood, Matthew McPherson, James Thomas Breeden, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10400614
    Abstract: Various aspects include a turbomachine bucket, corresponding shim and related turbine rotor. In some cases, a steam turbine bucket includes: a blade having a first end, and a second end opposite the first end; a tip at the first end of the blade; and a base at the second end, the base including a dovetail for complementing a corresponding dovetail slot in a steam turbine rotor, the dovetail having: a body; a plurality of projections extending from the body in opposing directions for complementing a plurality of recesses in the corresponding dovetail slot; and a shim locking slot extending through the body along the opposing directions, the shim locking slot being open at a bottom surface of the body and sized to engage a shim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Steven Sebastian Burdgick, Thomas Joseph Farineau, John James Ligos
  • Patent number: 9651058
    Abstract: A T-shaped fan blade arm attachment is disclosed for securing ceiling fan blades to a rotor of a ceiling fan motor. The fan blade arms have T-shaped ends with an elastomeric ring disposed adjacent the T-shapes ends. A mounting bracket has mounting holes with opposed slots for receiving the T-shaped ends of the fan blade arms. The opposed slots are preferably aligned at an angle to the horizontal when mounted to a ceiling fan motor. The mounting bracket has a flat surface exteriorly disposed on the mounting bracket adjacent to respective ones of the mounting holes. The mounting bracket has two cams with lock grooves disposed on interior surfaces of the mounting bracket, adjacent to respective ones of the mounting holes. The T-shaped ends insert into the mounting holes and are rotated to guide the T-shaped ends of the fan blade arms into the lock grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: LITEX INDUSTRIES, LIMITED
    Inventors: John F. Mares, Donald J. Ladanyi, Zhi Jian He, Shou Zhi Li
  • Patent number: 8858181
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (30) for blockage of vanes in a circumferential groove (10) of a turbine engine disc, the device being intended to deploy in a radial direction to be locked in the circumferential groove open radially. According to the invention, the blocking device comprises a first and a second piece (32, 34) designed to deploy in the radial direction by relative displacement of these pieces in the circumferential direction (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Yvon Cloarec
  • Patent number: 8764398
    Abstract: A concentrated-mass device including a main oscillating mass held radially in a horizontal plane by main resilient means inside a casing suitable for being secured to the hub is provided. The device includes a secondary main oscillating mass suspended by secondary resilient means inside a recess in said main oscillating mass to oscillate along a vertical axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane, the secondary oscillating mass being constrained to move in translation together with the main oscillating mass in the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
    Inventors: Vincent Girard, Stéphane Mazet
  • Patent number: 8668451
    Abstract: A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed which has a motor (13) and an annular array of blade irons (14) each having a blade (15) mounted thereto. Each blade iron includes a body portion (18) and a mounting portion (19). The body portion (18) has a motor mounting flange (21) which includes a trapezoidal shaped groove 28 and a flat spring (32). The mounting portion (19) includes a trapezoidal shaped or dove tailed tongue (40) which has a depression (42) adapted to receive the spring to lock to the position of the body portion relative to the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Fred Haynes
  • Patent number: 8616849
    Abstract: A fan blade platform assembly comprises a plate insert shaped and dimensioned to span a gap formed between the opposed facing platforms of adjacent fan blades of a turbo fan engine. The plate insert can be retained in engagement under arresting shoulders provided on the adjacent fan blades by a spring force exerted by a spring insert held captive and in contact between the plate insert and an outer surface of the fan hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: David H. Menheere, Andreas Elfetheriou, Philip Ridyard
  • Publication number: 20130315742
    Abstract: A ventilator with a reversible system for cooling and cleaning radiators can reverse the blades (1) about the shaft (5) thereof, such that forced air circulation cleans out dust, weed chaff, cereal chaff, sugarcane chaff and other small dirt particles suspended in the air and that end up on or attached to the radiator wings and air inlet grids, thus preventing the entire engine cooling system from heating up.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jose Roberto ALVES
  • Patent number: 8430637
    Abstract: An airfoil 11 for attachment to a hub 13 of a windmill 15 or other turbomachine, the airfoil 11 comprises a leading rod 17 and a trailing rod 27, the leading rod 17 and trailing rod 27 preferably are flexible and able to deflect in a direction opposite to that of the direction of rotation, the leading rod 17 having a first end 19 and a second end 21, the first end 19 secured by a leading rod mount 23 of the hub 13 located at a leading mount location 25, the trailing rod 27 has a base end 29 and a tip end 31, the tip end 31 connected with the second end 21 of the leading rod 17, and the base end 29 secured by a trailing rod mount 33 of the hub 13 located at a trailing mount location 35, and fabric sleeve 37 is stretched over the leading rod 17 and the trailing rod 27; the aerodynamic characteristics of each airfoil are configurable by modifying the orientation of the position/alignment of the leading red 17 relative to the trailing rod 27; and the invention including an assembly of airfoils attached to a hub 1
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Adam Richard Brown
  • Patent number: 8408876
    Abstract: Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Bucher, John C. Bucher
  • Patent number: 8337162
    Abstract: Quick attachable and detachable mounting arms for ceiling fans. A first version has flat headed fasteners initially attached to one end of mounting arms, with key-hole slots in the endshield of the ceiling fan motor. The user raises the mounting arm so that the flat headed fasteners fits through the larger openings in the keyhole slots and then pulls the mounting arm outward until the arm locks in place by the smaller opening portions of the keyhole slots. Rubber type gaskets and washers help lock and hold the mounting arms in place. The flat headed fasteners can also be located on the endshields with the keyhole slots on mounting arms. A second embodiment includes inwardly deformable springably snapable fasteners that can be located on the ends of the mounting arms which can deform inwardly and expand after passing through slots on the endshield of the rotor. Alternatively, the fasteners can be located on the bottom of the endshield with the receiving slots on the ends of the mounting arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Bucher, John C. Bucher
  • Patent number: 8142155
    Abstract: Provided are a wind turbine generator and a method for constructing a wind turbine generator that allow for alleviation of construction costs, particularly for large wind turbine generators, and alleviation of limitations on construction due to weather. Provided are a rotor head that has a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades and that is rotated by wind power received by the plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, a front segment disposed on top of a tower and constituting a nacelle to which the rotor head is attached, a rear segment attached to the front segment and constituting the nacelle, a front frame disposed in the front segment and positioned between the rotor head and the tower so as to support a load on the rotor head, a rear frame disposed in the rear segment and attached to the front frame, a front cover covering the periphery of the front segment, and a rear cover covering the periphery of the rear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Hisao Miyake, Masaaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8047791
    Abstract: Provided are a wind turbine generator and a method for constructing a wind turbine generator that allow for alleviation of construction costs, particularly for large wind turbine generators, and alleviation of limitations on construction due to weather. Provided are a rotor head that has a plurality of wind turbine rotor blades and that is rotated by wind power received by the plurality of wind turbine rotor blades, a front segment disposed on top of a tower and constituting a nacelle to which the rotor head is attached, a rear segment attached to the front segment and constituting the nacelle, a front frame disposed in the front segment and positioned between the rotor head and the tower so as to support a load on the rotor head, a rear frame disposed in the rear segment and attached to the front frame, a front cover covering the periphery of the front segment, and a rear cover covering the periphery of the rear segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Numajiri, Hisao Miyake, Masaaki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8033786
    Abstract: A vane assembly for a gas turbine engine comprising an axial loading element disposed between a mounting element of the vane ring and a cooperating portion of the supporting structure, such as to generate a load force therebetween in an axial direction. The axial load force limits unwanted relative movement between the vane ring and the supporting structure during operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Durocher, John Pietrobon, Alan Juneau, Dennis English
  • Patent number: 8021119
    Abstract: A locking plate fast fastening ceiling fan blades includes a clamp plate. A chute is formed on the clamp plate, where a pushing board is contained. The clamp plate in the chute is provided with a first wedge unit and a thru hole. Thus, when a set of blades is installed on a blade rack of a ceiling fan, only the blade is set around several pillars on the blade rack, the clamp plate of fixing plate is set to locate on the pillar, and a pillar is made to pass through the thru hole. The pushing board of fixing plate is shifted toward the pillar, making the front end of pushing board stay close to the side of pillar and the first wedge unit of clamp plate stay close to the terminal of pushing board for fast and exact completion of fixing of the blade onto the blade rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Air Cool Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cliff Wang
  • Patent number: 8007239
    Abstract: A cooling fan (20) includes a housing (22) and an impeller (24). The housing has a base (221), a sidewall (222) extending from a periphery of the base with an air outlet (226) defined therein, and a cap (223) covering the sidewall. The impeller has a plurality of blades (242) rotatably received in the housing for generating an airflow. An air channel (225) is formed between tip portions of the blades and an inner face of the sidewall. The air outlet has a near section (226A) and a far section (226C). The airflow first reaches the near section and then the far section. The base of the housing has a protrusion (227) extending into the air outlet for guiding the airflow flowing towards the far section from the near section of the air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Bai Hwang, Ran Lin
  • Patent number: 7927076
    Abstract: Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Bucher, John C. Bucher
  • Publication number: 20100284813
    Abstract: A locking plate fast fastening ceiling fan blades includes a clamp plate. A chute is formed on the clamp plate, where a pushing board is contained. The clamp plate in the chute is provided with a first wedge unit and a thru hole. Thus, when a set of blades is installed on a blade rack of a ceiling fan, only the blade is set around several pillars on the blade rack, the clamp plate of fixing plate is set to locate on the pillar, and a pillar is made to pass through the thru hole. The pushing board of fixing plate is shifted toward the pillar, making the front end of pushing board stay close to the side of pillar and the first wedge unit of clamp plate stay close to the terminal of pushing board for fast and exact completion of fixing of the blade onto the blade rack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventor: Cliff WANG
  • Patent number: 7766622
    Abstract: Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co, Ltd. Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E Bucher, John C Bucher
  • Patent number: 7677870
    Abstract: A turbo machine airfoil, such as a blade or a vane in a compressor, in which the airfoil root portion includes screw threads having a dove tail cross sectional shape, and the rotor disk includes holes having similar screw threads such that a blade or vane can be easily replaced by unscrewing the old blade or vane and screwing in a new blade or vane. A locking pin biased by a spring is located in the root of the airfoil to lock the airfoil in the threaded hole to prevent the airfoil from loosening due to vibrations and to lock the airfoil in place at a desired angle of attack for maximum efficiency of the turbo machine. The removable cover plate is located on the casing and over the rotor disk such that the blade can be removed through the opening without the need to disassemble the turbo machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Florida Turbine Techologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred P. Matheny
  • Patent number: 7591632
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side channel compressor, comprising a housing shell and a running wheel. The running wheel is mounted to be rotatable with respect to the housing shell to provide two annular sealing areas between the housing shell and the running wheel. The housing shell between the first and the second sealing area can be made of one piece. The gap dimensions of the first and second sealing areas can be adjusted by means of a disc spring/nut system or a wobble means. A fan impeller may be fixed on the motor shaft, and the housing shell can comprise cooling ribs, wherein the cooling ribs are arranged and formed such that the air conveyed by the fan impeller sweeps through the cooling ribs. One of the annular sealing areas can include a dead volume chamber. The housing shell may be a casting or a machined extruded profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Baecke, Peter Hartung, Iugo Müller
  • Patent number: 7281899
    Abstract: Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: King of Frans, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Bucher, John C. Bucher
  • Patent number: 7172392
    Abstract: A wind turbine with at least one blade having a pitch axis that is offset laterally so that the blade does not intersect with an axis of rotation of the wind turbine, and a center of mass and an aerodynamic center are offset from the pitch axis in the direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the wind turbine. The blade is arranged so that the blade can pitch towards stall against the action of a resilient device and also so that the centrifugal loading on at least one of the blade and one or more components optionally attached to the blade, acts against the spring in a direction to shed power by pitching the blade towards stall and also so that the torque loading provided by a power conversion device acts to pitch the blade in the opposite direction, so as to reduce the amount of load shedding whenever the power is being extracted from the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Iskra Wind Turbine Manufacturers Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Andrew Wastling, John Charles Balson, David Irving, Robert James Cann
  • Patent number: 7146971
    Abstract: An impeller for a supercharger for an internal combustion engine and a supercharger incorporating such an impeller is disclosed. The impeller includes a molded upper part having a top wall defining a top opening. The top wall extends outwardly to a lateral edge and the top wall includes a plurality of vanes extending therefrom. The upper part is shaped to permit said upper part to be formed in a parting mold. A molded lower part is also provided which includes a bottom wall extending outwardly to a lateral side edge. The lower part has a plurality of radially extending vanes, and the lower part is shaped to permit said lower part to be formed in a parting mold. The upper and lower parts may be attached together to form a high speed molded impeller, which in turn is incorporated into a supercharger for an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Peter G. Mokry
  • Patent number: 7134844
    Abstract: A install blade bracket for a ceiling suspended fan comprises: a discal seat is disposed at a bottom of the rotary assembly, the discal seat is formed with a recess, in the recess are defined a plurality of locking cavities and a plurality of receiving cavities, a plurality of positioning structures disposed in the respective receiving cavities; a plurality of fan blade mounting brackets each of which is provided with a locking portion and a plurality of projections correspondingly to the locking cavities and the positioning structures, each of the projections has a curved limit surface and a guiding slope arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventor: Fan Robin
  • Patent number: 7101153
    Abstract: The conventional fan blade is replaced by a frame over which any of a wide range of decorative fabrics or other similar materials is drawn and secured by a clamping method to form a lightweight fan blade of any surface design desired by the user. The decorative fabric replaces the heavy fan blade while still providing its function of air circulation. The same decorative fabrics or other similar materials are also used as coverings or trim for the body of the fan motor housing. The fan blade frame may take any shape suitable for causing the circulation of air as by a conventional fan blade. Elimination of the fan blade mass of conventional designs makes possible significant reductions in power consumption, and significant reductions in stress, wear, and tear on the fan's ceiling mountings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Thomas Cartwright
  • Patent number: 7008192
    Abstract: A fan comprising one or more releasable fan blades secured to a hub portion. A spring biased pin may be mounted in a motor housing to automatically secure a fan blade when it is connected with a motor body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Minka Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Rolando Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 6935842
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceiling fan blade assembly, including: a mounting bracket has a positioning portion and a mounting portion, and an arm being disposed between the positioning portion and the mounting portion for connecting them together, the positioning portion is fixed to a ceiling fan's base body; plural fixing elements are secured on the mounting portion of the mounting bracket, one of the plural fixing elements located close to a position where the mounting portion and the arm are connected; an elastic plate has protrusive latch hooks which located in symmetric manner, the elastic plate is fixed by the fixing elements and located close to the position where the arm and the mounting portion are connected, and two wing portions of each elastic plate are located at both sides of the arm of the mounting bracket; a ceiling fan blade is provided at an end thereof with plural holes, the holes each have a gap, and the gap of the respective holes being directed in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventor: Chun Ya Tai
  • Patent number: 6931844
    Abstract: A fluid coupling comprising a pump having an annular pump shell with an annular core ring mounted on a pump hub and a plurality of impellers radially arranged in the pump shell, and a turbine arranged facing the pump and having an annular turbine shell with an annular core ring mounted on a turbine hub that can rotate relative to the pump hub and a plurality of runners radially arranged in the turbine shell, wherein the turbine shell is so constituted to slide on the turbine hub in the axial direction, and provision is made of a resilient urging means for pushing the turbine toward the side of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Iwao, Yasushi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6932576
    Abstract: A ceiling fan (10) is disclosed having a motor housing (11) with an electric motor to which is mounted an annular array of blade irons (14) each having a blade (15) mounted thereto. Each blade has two, catch mounting holes (17) and a fastener mounting hole (18) extending therethrough. Each blade iron (14) has a blade mounting portion (23) and a removable blade fastener (24). The blade mounting portion (23) has a top surface (26), two stationary mounting catches (27), and a fastener receiver (28) that is configured to receive fastener (24). Each catch has a generally vertical portion (31) and a top, horizontal portion (32) The horizontal portion (32) is spaced a select distance from the top surface (26) through the height of the vertical portion (31) so as to catch snugly the blade (15) therebetween. The fastener (24) extends through the fastener mounting hole 18 and into the fastener receiver (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Gregory Michael Bird
  • Patent number: 6916156
    Abstract: A connecting assembly of a ceiling fan for fixing blades includes a connecting device mounted to a motor of the ceiling fan and a seat having multiple grooves radially defined in a bottom of the seat. The grooves extend to an outer periphery of the seat. A channel is laterally defined in one side of each of the multiple grooves and laterally communicates with the groove. A buckle is movably received in a corresponding one of the channels. A bracket has a first end inserted into a corresponding one of the multiple grooves and a second end adapted to connected to a blade of the ceiling fan. Each bracket has an indentation laterally defined for selectively partially receiving the buckle to hold the bracket in place when the first end of the bracket is inserted into the corresponding one of the multiple grooves in the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Ming-Chi Tseng
  • Patent number: 6902374
    Abstract: A ceiling fan comprising an annular array of blade irons (14) adapted to be rotatably driven by a motor, said blade irons having opposite sides (15) formed with at least one notch (18), a plurality of fan blades (25) with each blade bearing a bracket (28) having opposite side walls (32), each formed with at least one indentation (33) sized and positioned to be passed through said blade iron side notches, whereby the blades may be mounted to the blade irons by passing the blade bracket indentations through the blade iron notches and then sliding the brackets to a position with the bracket indentations unaligned with the blade iron notches thereby interlocking the blade brackets with the blade irons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Pearce
  • Patent number: 6896481
    Abstract: A water pump includes a first enclosure having a center portion that is moveable from a normal condition to a deflected condition and a second enclosure adjacent to the first to form an internal cavity. An impeller is disposed within the internal cavity. A tubular shaft portion extends from the impeller through a bore in the second enclosure. The tubular shaft portion is press fit to a motor shaft which rotates the impeller within the internal cavity. As the motor shaft is inserted into the tubular portion of the impeller, a tool is used to press on and axially deflect the center portion of the first enclosure. Thus, the center portion of the first enclosure contacts the impeller and provides an opposing force on the impeller while the motor shaft is inserted into the tubular portion of the impeller. When the motor shaft is press-fit sufficiently into the tubular portion, the tool is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: John C. Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 6863499
    Abstract: A ceiling fan quick connect blade iron system (10) is disclosed which is coupled to a conventional ceiling fan electric motor (11) having a lower portion (12). The motor lower portion has an annular array of threaded mounting holes (13) therein. A post (16) having a stem (17) and a head (18) is mounted within each mounting hole (13) and extends through a S-shaped spring (19). The blade iron system also includes a blade iron (27) having a motor mounting flange (28) and a blade mounting portion (29). The motor mounting portion has a vertical portion (31) extending to a horizontal portion (32). The motor mounting portion has a pair of slots (34) which have an enlarged, peripheral portion (35) that extends through the vertical portion (31) to a narrow, inboard portion (36) that extends through the horizontal portion (32). The horizontal portion (32) also includes a recess (37) about each narrow portion (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hunter Fan Company
    Inventor: Richard A. Pearce
  • Publication number: 20040265131
    Abstract: A connecting assembly of a ceiling for fixing blades includes a connecting device mounted to a motor of the ceiling fan and a seat having multiple grooves radially defined in a bottom of the seat. The grooves extend to an outer periphery of the seat. A channel is laterally defined in one side of each of the multiple grooves and laterally communicates with the groove. A buckle is movably received in a corresponding one of the channels. A bracket has a first end inserted into a corresponding one of the multiple grooves and a second end adapted to connected to a blade of the ceiling fan. Each bracket has an indentation laterally defined for selectively partially receiving the buckle to hold the bracket in place when the first end of the bracket is inserted into the corresponding one of the multiple grooves in the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Chi Tseng
  • Patent number: 6821091
    Abstract: A securing device for securing a connecting arm to a ceiling fan blade. The blade includes a hole through which a male member of the arm is inserted. The securing device includes a plate having an aperture through which the engagement end subsequently extends with the neck staying within the aperture. The aperture includes a smaller part having a rim portion such that the plate is slidable in a first direction along the blade surface until the rim portion engages behind the engagement end. The rim portion is enlarged for receiving and engaging with the engagement end in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The plate includes a resilient finger deformable upon engaging the blade surface, resiliently maintaining the engagement of the enlarged rim portion with the engagement end in the second direction. The finger engages the blade surface by friction, thereby holding the plate against sliding relative to the blade in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Litex Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Kwing Wah Lee
  • Patent number: 6802694
    Abstract: Easy to attach and detach blades for overhead ceiling fans. A first version has a ceiling fan blade with keyhole slots that fit over flat topped fasteners on a mounting arm. Pulling the blade away from the arm locks the slots to the fasteners. A second version is similar to the first and has a decorative bottom cover having snappable tapered protrusions which attach through the keyholes and into mateable through-holes in the mounting arm connection. The third version has a protruding end portion of the blade that fits into a slot in the mounting arm where spring loaded pistons press into grooves in the protrusion end portion of the blade. Latching handles allow users to manually move the pistons. A fourth version has a slot in the blade which fits about a mateable housing in the mounting arm where opposing spring loaded pistons press into interior wall grooves in the slot of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: King of Fans, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Bucher, John C. Bucher
  • Publication number: 20040197192
    Abstract: A centrifugal fan and a rotor for a centrifugal fan comprising axial blades, straight blades, and a hub having a radius that increases as a function of distance from the fan inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Minebea Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Yousef Jarrah, Desmond Riedel
  • Patent number: 6767186
    Abstract: An airflow apparatus (e.g., a fan, a blower) is provided for impeding or facilitating airflow through a channel when the apparatus is inoperative. The apparatus comprises a set of blades or airfoils that, when operating, promote or force a flow of air through the channel. The apparatus includes a bias mechanism for biasing the blades of the apparatus toward failure positions blocking or opening the airflow when the apparatus is at rest or turned off. When the apparatus begins spinning, the bias mechanism is overcome and the blades take their normal operating positions. The bias mechanism may comprise a spring or elastic material that resists rotation, extension or other type of blade transition from the failure position to the operating position. Or, the bias mechanism may involve a blade design (e.g., edge weighting) that attempts to place a blade in its failure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Patent number: 6755609
    Abstract: A radial-flow pump (1), and especially a coolant pump for an internal combustion engine, comprising an impeller (2) provided with vanes (5) and a directing device (4) including at least one temperature- and/or speed-sensitive element for temperature-dependent control of the coolant flow, where at least one impeller vane (5) and/or the directing device (4) is configured as a speed-sensitive element. In order to increase efficiency, the proposal is put forward that the impeller vanes (5) should be elastically deformable by Coriolis forces of the coolant flow, the discharge angles (&agr;), which are preferably defined between impeller vanes (5) and impeller tangential planes (&egr;), decreasing with an increase in speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: TCG Unitech Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Preinfalk, Heinz Klaus, Fritz Atschreiter
  • Patent number: 6736601
    Abstract: An impeller (1) for an axial flow fan comprises a hub (2) supporting the blades (3). The hub (2) has bores (5) in its peripheral surface, whereby each bore (5) has a first radially inner section (10) with larger diameter than a second radially outer section (6). Each blade (3) has a substantially circular foot section (4) allowing adjustment of the blade pitch. Mach blade foot section (4) is mounted in a corresponding bore (5) by means of two connecting plates (8, 9) which in the first bore section (10) are spaced apart and face each other along substantially the entire diameter of the bore (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Howden Power A/S
    Inventors: Steffen Richter Nielsen, Bent Bergmann Hansen
  • Patent number: 6726453
    Abstract: A fan blade mounting structure is constructed to include a first coupling unit fixedly located on the rotor of a fan motor assembly, the first coupling unit having a spring-supported hook and a control rod adapted to move the hook between the locking position and the unlocking position, and a second coupling unit fixedly located on a fan blade and adapted to secure the fan blade to the first coupling unit, the second coupling unit having a receiving hole for receiving the first coupling unit, a hook hole for receiving the hook when the hook moved to the locking position, and a spring-supported slide adapted to force the first coupling unit out of the second coupling unit when the hook moved to the unlocking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Frank Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6719531
    Abstract: A ceiling fan blade with quick assembly comprises a connector disposed below a disc of the ceiling fan, and a blade holder coupled to the connector, in which the connector has an embedded hole at the end of its insert rod; a blocking groove on the vertical surface of the connector; a spring and a convex insert member are placed in advance, and a blade holder forming an accommodating groove at an end proximate to the connector for receiving the insert rod, and the accommodating groove has a blocking member corresponsive to the embedding hole of the insert rod. By means of pushing the insert rod of the connector into the accommodating groove of the blade holder, the protruded member of connector is exactly blocked by the transversal isolating plate and compresses the spring inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Chang Wu
  • Publication number: 20040037702
    Abstract: A ceiling fan blade with quick assembly of the present invention comprises a connector disposed below a disc of the ceiling fan, and a blade holder coupled to the connector, in which the connector has an embedded hole at the end of its insert rod; a blocking groove on the vertical surface of the connector; a spring and a convex insert member are placed in advance, and a blade holder forming an accommodating groove at an end proximate to the connector for receiving the insert rod, and the accommodating groove has an blocking member corresponsive to the embedding hole of the insert rod. By means of pushing the insert rod of the connector into the accommodating groove of the blade holder, the protruded member of connector is exactly blocked by the transversal isolating plate and compresses the spring inward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Wen-Chang Wu
  • Patent number: 6692233
    Abstract: A lockable quick-release blade assembly for ceiling fans is disclosed. The lockable blade assembly comprises a fan blade having one end for inserting into a blade receiving slot in a fan rotor. The blade inserting end is provided with a notch on the longitudinal side for lockably engaging with a blade locking member. A housing defining the blade receiving slot and comprises a blade locking member and a blade releasing member. The blade locking member has a spring biased locking bolt for locking into the notch of the inserted fan blade. The blade releasing member has a spring biased slide slice located atop the housing and abutting the spring biased locking bolt at a 45° angle so that upon a user pressing the releasing member the locked fan blade is released from the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Hoo Cheung Group Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai Liang
  • Publication number: 20040009067
    Abstract: An impeller (1) for an axial flow fan comprises a hub (2) supporting the blades (3). The hub (2) has bores (5) in its peripheral surface, whereby each bore (5) has a first radially inner section (10) with larger diameter than a second radially outer section (6). Each blade (3) has a substantially circular foot section (4) allowing adjustment of the blade pitch. Each blade foot section (4) is mounted in a corresponding bore (5) by means of two connecting plates (8, 9) which in the first bore section (10) are spaced apart and face each other along substantially the entire diameter of the bore (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Steffen Richter Nielsen, Bent Bergmann Hansen
  • Patent number: 6676376
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an easily installed ceiling fan. The fan includes a quick-connect device for physically mounting the fan blades to a ceiling fan hub. The fan blades may be re-positioned from an operating position to an assembly position. In the operating position, the fan blades are locked into position and retained relative to the fan hub by a locking means. In the assembly position the fan blades may be to hung from the drive hub in a collapsed, vertical orientation and then quickly snapped into the extended position during operation. The articulating fan blade assembly of the present invention includes a fan blade hub, a fan blade, and a locking mechanism. The hub includes at least one receiving slot. The fan blade includes a mounting portion extending from its end and includes a tab configured for being received in the receiving slot. The locking means retains the fan blade shaft within the receiving slot upon insertion of the shaft into the receiving slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Angelo Fan Brace Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jack Russell Kerr, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE39448
    Abstract: A connecting device includes a bottom member with a periphery for attaching on a rotor of a motor, a circumferential wall which extends upwardly from the periphery, and a mounting arm which has an anchored end adapted for mounting the fan blade thereon and an anchoring end for anchoring on the bottom member such that the mounting arm is oriented in a radial direction relative to the bottom member by guidance of a guiding member. A tightening member is disposed to tighten the anchoring end relative to the bottom member through a clamping force generated in a circumferential direction of the bottom member when the anchoring end is pulled away from the bottom member in the radial direction. A retaining member is disposed between the tightening member and the anchored end in the radial direction, and has an engaging spring member that abuts against the circumferential wall once the anchoring end is moved away from the bottom member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: King of Fans, Inc.
    Inventor: San-Chi Wu
  • Patent number: RE43629
    Abstract: A connecting device includes a bottom member with a periphery for attaching on a rotor of a motor, a circumferential wall which extends upwardly from the periphery, and a mounting arm which has an anchored end adapted for mounting the fan blade thereon and an anchoring end for anchoring on the bottom member such that the mounting arm is oriented in a radial direction relative to the bottom member by guidance of a guiding member. A tightening member is disposed to tighten the anchoring end relative to the bottom member through a clamping force generated in a circumferential direction of the bottom member when the anchoring end is pulled away from the bottom member in the radial direction. A retaining member is disposed between the tightening member and the anchored end in the radial direction, and has an engaging spring member that abuts against the circumferential wall once the anchoring end is moved away from the bottom member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Chien Luen Industries Co., Ltd., Inc.
    Inventor: San-Chi Wu