Sweeping Type Patents (Class 454/285)
  • Patent number: 11519616
    Abstract: An air circulator with a vane control system to direct and adjust airflow patterns. According to an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides adjustable, vertical vanes that are attached to the outlet of a tower fan. According to a preferred embodiment, the vanes are pivotally mounted in such a way that by turning a knob, the vanes can either be directed into a focused air-flow pattern or adjusted to a divergent air-flow pattern, or at any setting in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Vornado Air, LLC
    Inventors: Glen W. Ediger, Gary Israel, Brian M. Cartwright, Gregory Pease, Timothy Holub
  • Patent number: 11448417
    Abstract: A control system for an air outlet of an air conditioner in a vehicle includes a motor, a first clutch configured to control a horizontal vane of the air outlet, a second clutch configured to control a longitudinal vane of the air outlet, a third clutch configured to control an opening degree of a ventilation door of the air outlet, and an engaging element of the motor being connected to the motor, for engaging the clutches. The motor adjusts the horizontal vane of the air outlet when the engaging element is engaged with the first clutch, the motor adjusts the longitudinal vane of the air outlet when the engaging element is engaged with the second clutch, and the motor adjusts the opening degree of the ventilation door of the air outlet when the engaging element of the motor is engaged with the third clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: FAURECIA (CHINA) HOLDING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chenghao Wan, Zheng Ren, Ning Xu
  • Patent number: 11207479
    Abstract: A fan unit produces an airflow. A pressure difference generating member causes a pressure difference in the airflow. A sensor detects a pressure difference between the air pressure on the upstream side of the pressure difference generating member and the air pressure on the downstream side thereof. A straightening plate is provided between the fan unit and the pressure difference generating member, and straightens the airflow produced by the fan unit. A straightening plate comprises a first fin and a second fin which are arranged along the airflow, and a lattice-like third fin which is arranged on the downstream side of the first fin and the second fin, and through which the airflow through the first fin and the second fin passes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Nakada, Takatoshi Inoguchi, Yasuhiro Tobinai, Hiroki Matsushita
  • Patent number: 10989208
    Abstract: An air circulation device includes a support frame, a fan, a wind guiding plate disposed below the fan, and a housing. The support frame is provided for being fixed on a ceiling, and a fan motor is fixed on the support frame. The fan is connected to the fan motor. The wind guiding plate has a guiding surface facing the fan. The housing encloses the fan and the wind guiding plate. A bottom portion of the housing has a skirt portion extending and expanding to a periphery of the wind guiding plate. A guiding space and a wind outlet are formed between the skirt portion and the guiding surface. An area and a direction of the wind outlet are changeable by moving the housing relative to the wind guiding plate, so that a wind output and a wind direction of the air circulation device are adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SMB TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mao Sheng Chen
  • Patent number: 10940894
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-supporting carrier structure for an instrument panel in a vehicle, comprising a network of a plurality of hollow support elements and solid support elements arranged according to the results of a load path analysis, wherein the hollow support elements form at least one manifold used as an air duct comprising at least one air inlet for introducing air into the hollow support elements and at least one air outlet for guiding the air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention is directed to an instrument panel comprising such a carrier structure and is directed to a vehicle equipped with such an instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignees: MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED, VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jan Dormanns, Torsten Weingärtner, Yann Buchet, Uwe Lüsebrink, Romeo Wieczorek, Simone Wilsdorf, Miodrag Conic
  • Patent number: 10724759
    Abstract: An indoor unit for an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a casing, which is to be attached to a wall in a room at a back surface side of the casing; an air inlet and an air outlet, which are formed in the casing; an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, which are arranged in an air passage continuous from the air inlet to the air outlet; an up-and-down airflow direction plate, which is provided in the air outlet so as to be turnable, forms an air outlet passage for blowing air to be blown out through the air outlet in a region located below the air outlet, and is configured to change a direction of the blowing air; and an up-and-down airflow direction assist plate, forms the air outlet passage and is configured to change the direction of the blowing air between the up and down directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Shirota, Yuya Yamashita
  • Patent number: 10184492
    Abstract: A fan includes a motor, an impeller fixed to the motor, and a housing including a cylindrical inner circumferential surface. The impeller includes a plurality of blades extending radially outward. The housing is arranged to surround outer peripheries of the motor and the impeller. The housing includes an intake port which is an upper opening of the housing, an upper edge which surrounds the intake port, an exhaust port which is a lower opening of the housing, a lower edge which surrounds the exhaust port. An axial distance from an upper end of each of the blades to an upper edge is ½ times or more of an axial distance from the upper end of each of the blades to a lower end thereof. This makes it possible to restrain an air flow having a swirling component from passing through the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Yamagata, Tsukasa Takaoka, Ryota Hayashida
  • Patent number: 10012242
    Abstract: A fan includes a motor part, an impeller fixed to the motor part, and a housing including a cylindrical inner circumferential surface. The impeller includes a plurality of blades extending radially outward. The housing is arranged to surround outer peripheries of the motor part and the impeller. The housing includes an intake port which is an upper opening of the housing, an upper edge which surrounds the intake port, an exhaust port which is a lower opening of the housing, a lower edge which surrounds the exhaust port. An axial distance from an upper end of each of the blades to an upper edge is ½ times or more of an axial distance from the upper end of each of the blades to a lower end thereof. This makes it possible to restrain an air flow having a swirling component from passing through the intake port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryota Yamagata, Tsukasa Takaoka, Ryota Hayashida
  • Patent number: 9759445
    Abstract: An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include a case, first and second discharge ports disposed on opposite sides of the case to discharge air, at least one discharge vane rotatably disposed at each of the first and second discharge ports, and an operation panel disposed between the first and second discharge ports. The operation panel is movable to selectively vary a discharge area of each of the first and second discharge ports. The discharge are selectively rotatable when not covered by the operation panel to vary an air flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunjung Kim, Jongsun Jeon, Jaeseung Choi, Moonsung Kim, Hayoung Kim
  • Patent number: 9533564
    Abstract: A grille apparatus for a vehicle includes a first cover arranged at an opening portion of a front grille, a second cover arranged at the opening portion of the front grille, and a drive mechanism changing a relative position of the first cover and the second cover in response to a driving force of a drive source, in which the drive mechanism changes an opening amount of the front grille by performing an opening operation moving the second cover to a rear of the first cover, and by performing a closing operation returning the second cover to a fully-closed position, the fully-closed position before moving the second cover to the rear of the first cover while maintaining the first cover and the second cover within the opening portion of the front grille.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshimasa Asano, Hideki Kawabata, Yasuaki Nishio, Shuhei Uchida
  • Publication number: 20100053894
    Abstract: A system (50) for cooling a target element (56) includes a structure (52) having an opening (62) extending through the layer (52), a pumping device (32) positioned behind the structure (52), and a target element (56) positioned in front of the structure (52). Transducers (58, 60) are positioned at opposing ends (74, 76) of the opening (62) between the structure (52) and the target element (56). The pumping device (32) drives a jet (70) of coolant through the opening (62) toward the target element (56). The transducers (58, 60) produce output signals (84, 86) that perturb the jet (70) to control oscillation of the jet (70) in order to stabilize the jet (70) for impingement with a predetermined location (96) on the target element (56). The jet (70) uniformly spreads from the location (96) to provide cooling over a surface (100) of the target element (56).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor A. Chiriac
  • Publication number: 20090298412
    Abstract: An air duct outlet includes a housing having spaced-apart top and bottom walls, and spaced-apart first and second side walls extending between the top and bottom walls to define an air passageway having an inlet and outlet. The side walls diverge from the inlet to the outlet such that an air stream flowing through the air passageway oscillates in a sweeping motion as the air stream exits from the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas F.J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Jeffrey A. McKerrall, Douglas Lim Hester
  • Patent number: 7294052
    Abstract: In an air handling unit for discharging a flow of air into the surrounding ambient, having a series of horizontal louvers and a series of vertical louvers mounted in the discharge flow. A first multi-phase stepper motor is arranged to step the horizontal louvers to deflect the air flow in a vertical direction and a second multi-phase stepper motor is arranged to step vertical louvers to deflect the flow in a transverse direction. A controller is programmed to alternately apply power from a single power source to each of the motors during each phase to step each motor in equal increments during each phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Dolan, Douglas C. Lynn
  • Publication number: 20070218829
    Abstract: A cable protection and guide device includes an engagement mechanism for securing connecting plates in a bridged arrangement over flexional inner and outer circumferential sides of side plates of the device. The connecting plates are not inadvertently disengaged because the engagement mechanism includes several features for securing the connecting plates to the side plates. The connecting plate engagement mechanism has a louver body and a louver type connecting plate which pivots about a pair of right and left supporting shafts which are formed at both ends of the louver type connecting plate. The louver type connecting plate is attachably fitted onto the pair of right and left side plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Akihiko Utaki, Shoichiro Komiya
  • Patent number: 7244179
    Abstract: A suspension type oscillation mechanism including a frame set having an upper frame with a frame hole, a casing secured to the frame set, a crank set, an axial barrel and a fastening rod. The crank set has cranks rotationally joining to each other and an end of the initial one of the cranks is connected to an output shaft of a motor eccentrically. The axial barrel is inserted into the frame hole and the casing hole. A bearing seat having an inner bearing pressed by an end of the axial barrel. The fastening rod set has a screw rod passing through a suspended article and the axial barrel. An upper end of the screw rod is connected to the crank set and the lower end is connected to the suspended article by a rod seat and a collar located on a top of the suspended article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: Hung-Chi Chien
  • Patent number: 7052389
    Abstract: An air shower for removing a particle from an object by blowing air to the object which includes at least one first outlet for discharging the air from the at least one first outlet toward at least a portion of the object so that a flow axis of the air flowing out of the at least one first outlet is swung frequently and alternately in a first swingable direction, and at least one second outlet for discharging the air from the at least one second outlet so that a flow axis of the air flowing out of the at least one second outlet is swung frequently and alternately in a second swingable direction which is different from the first swingable direction. The first swingable direction and the second swingable direction extend so as to be non-parallel to one another and to intersect one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Honda, Yoko Shimizu, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hiroshi Mukai
  • Patent number: 7048626
    Abstract: An air shower for removing a particle from an object by blowing an air to the object. The air shower includes an outlet for discharging the air from the outlet toward the object so that a flow axis of the air flowing out of the outlet is swung frequently and alternately, and an inner wall which extends from an outer periphery of the outlet in a radial direction of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Honda, Yoko Shimizu, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hiroshi Mukai
  • Patent number: 6960128
    Abstract: In an air shower apparatus, an inlet duct guides the air so that the air is directed along a first flow axis of the air, and a variable condition area communicates fluidly with the air flowing out from the inlet duct at at least one side in a direction perpendicular to the first flow axis, to generate a fluctuation at the variable condition area in at least one of a pressure to be applied to the air flowing out from the inlet duct at the variable condition area and a mass flow rate of a supplemental air to be applied from the variable condition area onto the air flowing out of the inlet duct in a fluctuating direction oblique to the first flow axis so that a second flow axis of the air passing the variable condition area is frequently deflected from the first flow axis by the fluctuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Honda, Yoko Shimizu, Hiroshi Matsuda, Hiroshi Mukai
  • Patent number: 6895772
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an evaporative cooling device including a stand-alone housing that is not connected to any structure. The housing is multi-sided and evaporative pads are placed inside the opening of each of the multi-sides. An electric centrifugal blower is placed inside the housing to draw air through all of the evaporative pads and the to discharge the same in a vertical direction through an opening in a top cover. The top cover has a directional spout placed over the opening to direct air in multi-adjusted directions. The cooling device is intended to be used in wide open playing or open fields or in open sided warehouses or work stations. A smaller size is intended to be used in semi-confined areas such as verandas, patios, lanais, porches etc. A flexible air duct can be attached to the spout so a to temporarily deliver cooled air to a confined spaces such as attics in a house.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Edwin Johnson, Janice Ann Johnson
  • Patent number: 6840852
    Abstract: Air duct outlets provide automatic oscillation of air flow and also allow users to manually redirect air streams. An air duct outlet includes a housing having an air passageway that terminates at an air outlet. A drive source is operably connected to a reciprocating member and transmits reciprocating motion to the reciprocating member. An air-directing vane is pivotally attached within the air passageway and is movable within a range of positions to direct an air stream flowing through the air passageway and exiting from the outlet. An actuator extends from the housing and is movable between first, second and third positions. A user can manually pivot the air-directing vane via movement of the actuator between the first and second positions. When the actuator is moved to a third position, the reciprocating member operably engages the drive arm and causes the air-directing vane to oscillate automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Collins & Aikman Products Co.
    Inventors: Thomas F. J. Gehring, Ireneusz Jankowski, Dejan Havidic, Douglas Lim Hester, Peter Dominic Lewis
  • Patent number: 6712690
    Abstract: The portable ventilating system of the invention includes a base adapted for being towed behind a prime mover, ground engaging apparatus for supporting the base frame in a manner permitting movement of the base over the ground, a fan assembly mounted on the base and having an impeller for creating an air flow, and power transfer apparatus for rotating the impeller of the fan assembly. The power transfer apparatus is connectable to and drivable by a power take off apparatus of the prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Inventor: Sam J. Wipf
  • Publication number: 20040023615
    Abstract: A wind hole base of a ventilator for an air conditioner includes a wind hole base provided with at least one wind outlet. At least one swing member is pivotally fitted inside the wind outlet to be driven by a drive device to swing automatically, and a wind pipe is connected with the wind outlet. Thus, the drive device drives the swing member to swing to and fro so as to adjust the angle and the direction of wind blowing, able to enlarge a blowing area of cold air and having effect of cooling a room all over.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Kuo
  • Publication number: 20030228841
    Abstract: An airflow balancer for mounting on a ventilation outlet includes an air guider including a supporter having a bottom surface for rotatably supporting on the ventilation outlet and an airflow baffle coaxially mounted to the supporter such that the airflow baffle is suspendedly supported on the ventilation outlet. The airflow baffle has a plurality of ventilating slots for allowing an airflow passing therethrough and a rotor coaxially mounted on the air guider. The rotor is shaped and sized such that, in response to the airflow passing through the rotor, the rotor is driven to rotate, so as to drive the air guider to rotate, wherein a rotational movement of the air guider is adapted for evenly diffusing the airflow through the ventilating slots toward the ventilation outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Juni Pong
  • Patent number: 6648751
    Abstract: An airflow balancer for mounting on a ventilation outlet includes an air guider including a supporter having a bottom surface for rotatably supporting on the ventilation outlet and an airflow baffle coaxially mounted to the supporter such that the airflow baffle is suspendedly supported on the ventilation outlet. The airflow baffle has a plurality of ventilating slots for allowing an airflow passing therethrough and a rotor coaxially mounted on the air guider. The rotor is shaped and sized such that, in response to the airflow passing through the rotor, the rotor is driven to rotate, so as to drive the air guider to rotate, wherein a rotational movement of the air guider is adapted for evenly diffusing the airflow through the ventilating slots toward the ventilation outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Juni Pong
  • Patent number: 6447389
    Abstract: A wind-hole base of a blower for an air conditioner includes a faceplate, an inlet cover plate, two outlet bases, and two outlet case plates and two fix plates. The faceplate has two outlets and an inlet, a filter net is provided in the inlet, and a connector is each provided at two sides of the inlet. The inlet cover plate closes on the inlet. The outlet case plates are deposited on the outlet bases, which are respectively combined on the outlets. The fix plates are mounted on a steel frame fixed on a ceiling, screwed with the connector of the faceplate. The wind outlet cases are fixed on the two outlets and have a wind hole connected with a windpipe. Thus the wind-hole base has two functions of sending wind out and sucking wind in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Kuo
  • Patent number: 6443833
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method to redirect airflow and enhance heat transfer using an oscillating baffle. This apparatus and method allows for the improved efficiency of a heat transfer tunnel, while reducing the size of the tunnel. Several embodiments of the oscillating baffle have a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom which allows it to oscillate under the power of the airflow. The method employs the oscillating baffle to redirect and mix the airflow in order to enhance heat transfer in a heat transfer tunnel. The oscillating baffle is used for cooling, for heating, for enhancing the mixing of a multi-component air flow or redirecting an air flow. Other applications could include use in dusty environments to provide high speed gas streams sweeping a wall to prevent the build-up of dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Charles W. Knisely
  • Patent number: 6418016
    Abstract: A system and method for cooling are disclosed. The system for cooling includes an opening out of which a jet of coolant can flow, a target element, and a forcing device which causes the jet of coolant to flow out of the opening. The target element is positioned in front of the opening so that the jet of coolant, when flowing out of the opening, is directed toward the target element. The jet of coolant oscillates so that the jet of coolant sweeps across the target element and cools a variety of different locations along the target element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor A. Chiriac, Tien-Yu Tom Lee
  • Patent number: 6386967
    Abstract: An air ventilator for ventilating cold or heated air into the interior of an automobile from a duct is provided. The air ventilator includes a pair of wing units having a plurality of wings fixed in various angles, a housing for receiving the wing units, and a gear mounted between the wing units and engaged to be driven by a motor to rotate the wing units simultaneously to automatically change the direction of ventilated air. The pair of wing units preferably have their wings twisted to direct air flow in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyo Keun Kim
  • Patent number: 6196914
    Abstract: A ceiling grille for an air conditioner of a recreational vehicle having a blade capable of being automatically pivoted. The ceiling grille comprises: a cam rotated by a motor for providing upward and downward moving forces, the cam having a camming surface formed at one end thereof; a link pivotally fastened to a bracket mounted to the ceiling grille, the link having one end on which a first projection is formed and the other end on which a second projection is formed, the first projection being brought into contact with the camming surface of the cam; an arm having one end secured to a center shaft of the blade to be integrally rotated therewith and the other end brought into contact with the second projection of the link; and a torsion spring wound around the center shaft for biasing the blade in one direction, whereby the blade is pivoted together with the center shaft as the cam is rotated by the motor. The blade has a hook member, and the ceiling grille has a locking clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventor: Jeong-Un Lyu
  • Patent number: 6179708
    Abstract: In a casing 11, a rear guide 23 is formed above a cylindrical impeller 13 and a stabilizer 24 is formed below the impeller. A minimum gap dimension between the cylindrical impeller 13 and the stabilizer 24 on the outlet port 17 side has a value of 14% to 24% of the outer diameter of the cylindrical impeller 13. An angle between a straight line connecting the center of rotation of the cylindrical impeller 13 and a minimum gap position on the outlet port 17 side of the stabilizer 24 and the horizontal plane has a value of 38° to 43°. A minimum gap dimension between the cylindrical impeller 13 and the stabilizer 24 on the inlet port 16 side has a value of not smaller than 7% of the outer diameter of the cylindrical impeller 13. An angle between a straight line connecting the center of rotation of the cylindrical impeller 13 and a minimum gap position on the inlet port 16 side of the stabilizer 24 and the vertical plane has a value of 11° to 15°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Japan Climate Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Yamamoto, Toshiki Hakata, Satoshi Otani
  • Patent number: 6066043
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method to redirect airflow and enhance heat transfer using an oscillating baffle. This apparatus and method allows for the improved efficiency of a heat transfer tunnel, while reducing the size of the tunnel. Several embodiments of the oscillating baffle have a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom which allows it to oscillate under the power of the airflow. The method employs the oscillating baffle to redirect and mix the airflow in order to enhance heat transfer in a heat transfer tunnel. The oscillating baffle is used for cooling, for heating, for enhancing the mixing of a multi-component air flow or redirecting an air flow. Other applications could include use in dusty environments to provide high speed gas streams sweeping a wall to prevent the build-up of dust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Charles W. Knisely
  • Patent number: 5971846
    Abstract: An air conditioner includes a manual control panel for enabling a user to select from among a number of operating modes, including respective areas of a room to receive discharged air from the air conditioner. In accordance with the selected mode, there occurs an automatic adjustment of the orientation of air-directing vanes and the speed of an air discharge fan. The vanes can be adjusted to stationary positions, or can be oscillated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Seok Cho, Yong-Woong Bang
  • Patent number: 5954579
    Abstract: A female screw portion is formed around an axis of a rotor of a step motor to penetrate through the rotor in an axial direction of the rotor. A male screw portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of a screw shaft so that the screw shaft is screwed into the female screw portion. The screw shaft is inserted in a ring rod, and a connection clip portion is connected to the ring rod. When the rotor rotates, the ring rod reciprocates linearly in the axial direction of the rotor, and vertical fins rock in the axial direction of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignees: Denso Corporation of Kariya, Tokai Riki Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihide Masui, Toshio Tsuboko, Yoshinaka Nakamura, Hiroaki Kodama, Fumihisa Ichioka, Takumi Miyaki, Ikuma Harada
  • Patent number: 5921861
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a discharge outlet for discharging air, and a plurality of adjustable blades arranged across the outlet for controlling the direction of air discharged through the outlet. The blades are rotatable about parallel axes and are arranged in groups of blades. Each group is connected to a reciprocable connecting rod, whereby the blades rotate when their respective connecting rod is reciprocated. The connecting rods are interconnected in end-to-end relationship by slip joints. A motor connected to one of the connecting rods can reciprocate all of the connecting rods together for simultaneously adjusting all blades. When the motor is off, the blade groups can be manually rotated relative to one another, as permitted by slippage in the slip joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeon-Seob Yoon
  • Patent number: 5873780
    Abstract: In an air conditioner provided with at least one longitudinal louver rotating in a vertical direction with an almost horizontal rotation axis as the center and with a number of lateral louvers rotating in a lateral direction with a rotation axis line almost perpendicular to the rotation axis line of the above-described longitudinal louver, a cover plate is provided at an upper wall portion of the above-described air outlet so that a specified space is formed between the cover plate and the upper wall portion, and each of the lateral louvers is attached at the cover plate by the medium of a bush with an arm and a connecting plate for connecting the lateral louvers formed at the bush to prevent the reduction of air blowing efficiency, generation of a noise, and condensation in an air outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Mori, Yoshimi Kawai
  • Patent number: 5833531
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the discharge flow in an air conditioner, and a method therefor. The discharged air flow rate is adjusted in many ways, and at the same time, the air flow rate is increased or decreased in accordance with the air discharge direction so as to form a helical wind, thereby maintaining the room temperature at a constant level. An operation manipulating means inputs key signals to make the discharged air form a helical flow. A control means controls the blow direction of the blow direction vanes and the flow rate of the indoor fan to make the discharged air form a helical blow in accordance with the key signals. A blow direction adjusting means adjusts the blow direction of the discharged air by shifting the blow direction angle of the blow direction vanes under the control of the control means. A flow rate adjusting means adjusts the flow rate of the discharged air by varying the flow rate of the indoor fan under the control of the control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwang-Soo Choi
  • Patent number: 5833530
    Abstract: An electricity-free rotary wind blowing apparatus including a wind guiding device, a spreading device and a supporting device. The supporting device has a central seat portion disposed with an inner bearing. The spreading device is rotatable secured to the bearing. The wind guiding device has a central shaft seat and a peripheral rim. Multiple radial inclined wind guiding vanes are disposed between the shaft seat and the peripheral rim. The air flow blows from the wind exit of a wind pipe of an air-conditioning system onto the vanes and is guided thereby so as to exert a rotating force onto the spreading device, whereby the spreading device itself is rotatably driven by the air flow without using electricity to evenly spread the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: Jin-Yu Kuo
  • Patent number: 5775989
    Abstract: A room air conditioner includes a body having an air inlet, an air outlet, a heat exchanger, and a fan. The fan draws-in air from the room and directs the air through the heat exchanger (to be selectively heated or cooled therein) before returning the air to the room. At the air outlet a louver is provided for directing the flow of air being returned to the room. A motor is connected to the louver for vertically oscillating the louver so that the air can be returned sequentially to upper and lower portions of the room. The speed of movement of the louver is constantly varied, the pattern of variance being dependent upon whether heated or cooled air is being discharged, in order to achieve a more uniform room temperature, by taking advantage of the fact that hot air in a room tends to rise. If cooled air is being discharged, the louver travels faster at its lower range of movement so that more cooled air is discharged into an upper portion of the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kwi-Ju Choi
  • Patent number: 5769707
    Abstract: A room air conditioner includes a housing forming an air inlet and an air outlet, a blower for circulating air through the housing, and a heat exchanger for changing the air temperature as the air flows through the housing. An upper portion of the housing which possesses the air outlet is oscillatable about a vertical axis relative to a lower portion of the housing which possesses the air inlet. A drive mechanism oscillates the upper portion in response to the manual inputting of an oscillation signal to a controller. When the air conditioner is shut off, the upper portion is rotated by 180 degrees to expose a more attractive side of the upper portion to viewers in the room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Seog Jang, Gab-Youl Lee
  • Patent number: 5766069
    Abstract: This invention provides an air blowing direction adjusting apparatus for an air conditioner providing any desired blowing directions for a heat-exchanged air to be discharged indoor, the apparatus including a dynamic force generating unit mounted upon one side of a main body of the air conditioner and having a shaft, cams coupled to the shaft and rotated in a forward or reverse direction with the drive of the dynamic force generating unit, moving units disposed to bring into contact with the cams for conversion of rotary motions of the cams into linear motions of the moving units, whereby the air blowing direction adjusting unit is rotated, and elasticity units coupled to one side of the moving means to resiliently operate on the moving units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 5738580
    Abstract: An air blowing direction adjusting apparatus for an air conditioner is provided in which for various discharging directions of the air and a guaranteed transmission of driving force for an accurate phase control is accomplished. There is provided an air blowing direction adjusting apparatus for an air conditioner having a discharge outlet, and a plurality of blades installed in the discharge outlet for changing the discharging direction of the air, the apparatus comprising guide pins installed in a first cam and a second cam, respectively, wherein each cam receives driving force generated from single driving unit to be driven, and first and second groups of blades divided into two groups for changing rotational positions of the blades independently for said each group or simultaneously for said two groups, in response to the actions of the guide pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 5688167
    Abstract: An automatic louver system for a vehicle having a plurality of wind screens, includes a mechanism for generating a reciprocation movement, a mechanism which rotatably moves according to the reciprocation movement, and a mechanism for moving the plurality of wind screens disposed in a louver body so as to effectively and continuously change the direction of the wind flowing through the wind screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Suk Kim
  • Patent number: 5660588
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5660586
    Abstract: A portable electric fan including a housing having inlet and outlet openings and adapted for mounting in an open window, a movable blade mechanism retained in the housing and operable to supply air through the open window between the inlet and outlet openings and a blade drive operatively coupled to the blade mechanism. Also included is a movable air director mechanism for directing in variable horizontal and vertical directions air supplied by the blower mechanism and an air director drive operatively coupled to the air director mechanism and operable to automatically vary the discharge directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, John Longan
  • Patent number: 5586935
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the flow of air from an air-conditioning unit includes a row of guide vanes which are pivotally held by an outlet nozzle. The guide vanes are located at the lower end of an air course which has been formed within a body of the air-conditioning unit. The guide vanes control the flow of air in both left and right directions. This new design is characterized in that the angle of inclination of each guide vane progressively changes toward the end of the row. The air flow is controlled accurately in both the left and right directions so that the air flow reaches the desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoru Kotoh, Kiyoshi Sakuma, Takayuki Yoshida, Hiromi Sano, Katuyuki Aoki, Shin'ichi Suzuki, Hideaki Koizumi, Kaoru Yamamoto, Kunio Matsushita, Kenichi Unno, Tomoko Oguma
  • Patent number: 5433661
    Abstract: An air conditioner has a flow directing vent comprised of slanted vanes. The vent is driven by a drive mechanism which oscillates the vent about an axis. The drive mechanism includes a motor driven shaft which rotates continuously in one direction, and a mechanism for converting such continuous rotation into oscillation of the vent. The drive connection between the vent and drive mechanism can be manually disconnected by axial displacement of the vent, to enable the rotational position of the vent to be adjusted relative to the drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wan S. Kim
  • Patent number: 5425247
    Abstract: A wind direction alteration device for use in an integral type air conditioning apparatus in which the diameter of a connecting shaft of a blade extending through an opening formed in a connecting rod is greater than that of the shaft above and below the opening. The opening of the connecting rod is elongated and constricted in the center thereof. Three or more projections are extending into the opening through which the connecting shaft penetrates. A portion, holding the connecting rod, formed on a shaft of a wind direction alteration motor is disposed beyond a vertical movable range of the connecting rod. A portion, of the connecting rod, which is in contact with the portion of the shaft holding the connecting rod is inclined. A rib is formed on the inner surface of the elongated opening, of the connecting rod, through which the shaft of the wind direction alteration motor penetrates such that the rib is parallel with the direction in which the elongated opening is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Hatano
  • Patent number: 5385503
    Abstract: Control of temperature of air efflux from an air outlet is by control of the oscillation of a fluidic oscillator. Directionality of efflux is by control of nibs at the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Bowles Fluidics Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald D. Stouffer, Ernest W. Chesnutis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5354235
    Abstract: A shaft extends across an air discharge opening and is rotatably mounted therein. A drive means is operatively connected to the shaft for rotating the shaft on its axis. A plurality of planar discs, are eccentrically mounted on the shaft. A pair of adjacent louver blades extending across the air discharge opening are pivotally mounted at their one edge in the air discharge opening. A spring is connected to the louver blades for biasing then into an engaging relationship with the discs such that, as the discs rotate, the louver blades are caused to rotate on their axes to cause a change in the direction of airflow emanating from the discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: Jon D. Rittle, Richard D. Dennis
  • Patent number: 5338251
    Abstract: A wind direction controlling apparatus capable of reducing variations in the level of noise which can be caused when vertical fins are at reversal points of their swinging. A rod (17) for swinging vertical fins has a portion for friction-clutch engagement, the portion having a rounded configuration (17b) satisfying the relationship of P<Q between thicknesses. Thus, the frictional force of the friction clutch is reduced in such a manner that the force is at the minimum when the clutch is at the position corresponding to normal swinging. In this way, the load acting on a geared motor (8) at the time of reversal of the vertical fins is reduced, thereby reducing variations in the noise level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tohru Matsumoto