AU2012378838B2

AU2012378838B2 - Fan

Info

Publication number: AU2012378838B2
Application number: AU2012378838A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Sung Woo Ha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-05-02
Filing date: 2012-09-19
Publication date: 2017-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 2032-09-19
Also published as: KR200472965Y1; WO2013165056A1; CN104321539B; AU2012378838A1; EP2846045A4; EP2846045A1; KR20130006502U; CA2872346C; US20150132160A1; CN104321539A; JP6141412B2; IL235451A0; JP2015516045A; CA2872346A1; RU2014146263A

Abstract

A fan of the present invention comprises: a case as a frame having an internal space, a first opening formed in the middle thereof, and inlet and outlet holes formed in the inner and outer surfaces of the periphery of the frame; a rotational part with blades mounted in the internal space, the blades being rotated by a power means to draw external air through the inlet holes into the internal space and to discharge it through the outlet holes; and a cover mounted on the front of the case and provided with a second opening communicating with the first opening so as to discharge the air from the inside of the second opening through the outlet holes towards the outside

Description

PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication

DESCRIPTION

ELECTRIC FAN

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to electric fans and, more particularly, to an electric fan configured in such a way that impellers are disposed in respective peripheral parts of a casing configured in a form of a polygon having segments so that a discharge flow rate of air per unit air inflow rate can be enhanced, whereby the strength of wind can be increased.

Background Art

Generally, electric fans for home use include a set of blades or vanes provided on a shaft and rotated around the shaft, and a drive unit rotating the blades to produce flow of air. The flow and circulation of air produces a breeze that cools for users as heat is dissipated from their skin by convection currents and evaporation.

Such electric fans can be configured in various sizes and shapes. For example, there may be ceiling electric fans that are 1 m or more in diameter. Typically, such a ceiling electric fan is suspended from a ceiling so as to produce downward air flow to cool a room. For desk electric fans, the 1 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017 diameter thereof is mainly about 30 cm. Most desk electric fans are generally free standing and portable. Floor standing tower fans include a vertical casing that is typically about 1 m in height and are generally provided with at least one set of impellers to produce air flow within a range from 300 1/s (liter/sec) to 500 1/s. Such floor standing tower fans may employ an oscillating mechanism so as to rotate the air discharge outlet and enable air flow to be supplied to a wide area of a room.

In the above-described typical electric fans or floor standing tower fans, a motor having a relatively high output is required because an air discharge rate is determined by the RPM of the impeller.

That is, the strength of air flow is determined by factors such as the size and RPM of an impeller of an electric fan. The output per unit input energy used by a motor is comparatively low. To overcome the above problems, a technique for increasing the strength of air flow per unit input is urgently needed.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not an acknowledgment or suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be understood, regarded as relevant, and/or combined with other pieces of prior art by a skilled person in the art. 2 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017

Disclosure

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric fan that can increase the flow rate of air discharged from the electric fan in such a way that air flow is produced by means of a difference of air pressure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric fan configured such that air pressure in the electric fan can be markedly increased whereby the strength of air flow produced from the electric fan can be increased.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an electric fan, including: a rotary unit including a drive unit, a shaft rotated by the drive unit, and an impeller rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft; a casing formed in a frame shape, having a first opening in a central portion of the casing, and having a space formed in the circumference of the first opening for accommodating the rotary unit therein; and a cover installed on a front part of the casing, and having a second opening communicating with the first opening. The casing comprises 3 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017 an outlet hole formed in a part of a space of the cover accommodating the rotary unit positioned in one direction based on the second opening, wherein when the impellers operate oppositely in the rotary direction, by putting the first opening between them, by disposing the shafts of the rotary unit side by side, to face each other oppositely based on the first opening, intake and discharge of air are performed through the inlet hole and the outlet hole, wherein the first opening hole is available for taking in the air from the outside by inflow of the air discharged from the outlet hole and simultaneously diffusing the air having passed through the first opening through the second opening having an inclined surface being increased in cross-sectional area.

An inner surface of the second opening may be inclined

3A PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication such that the second opening is increased in cross-sectional area from a rear end thereof to a front end.

The impeller of the rotary unit installed in the space may include a shaft and a plurality of blades radially 5 provided on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft, wherein the shaft is connected to the drive unit so that the shaft is electrically-driven.

The space may comprise two columns of spaces spaced apart from each other, and the impeller may comprise impellers 10 respectively placed upright in the spaces.

The space may comprise two columns and two rows of spaces continuously connected at ends thereof to each other, and the impeller may comprise impellers vertically or horizontally installed in the respective spaces. 15 The impeller may be installed in the space by a bracket.

The bracket may include: a connection part having a predetermined length; a fixed part bent from an upper end of the connection part, the fixed part having a connection hole through which the shaft is coupled to the fixed part; a 20 support part bent from a lower end of the connection part, the support part being coupled to a lower end of the drive unit; and connection brackets respectively connected to the fixed part and the support part, the connection brackets being integrally fastened to respective fixed brackets provided in 25 the space. 4 PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication

Advantageous Effects

In an electric fan according to the present invention, a casing having a frame shape and a cover are coupled to each other, and a rotary unit is installed in a space formed in the casing. The electric fan is operated such that external air is drawn into the space through an inlet hole, the pressure in the space is thus increased, and then air is discharged out of an outlet hole at a high flow rate by increased pressure in the space, whereby external air around the cover passes through the cover, thus generating air currents and increasing the flow rate of air by virtue of a difference in air pressure before air is discharged out of the electric fan. Therefore, the strength of air flow produced from the electric fan can be further increased.

Furthermore, in the electric fan according to the present invention, a rotating means is installed in the casing. The air pressure of the space in the casing can be further increased by the rotating means. Thereby, the discharge flow rate and speed of air can be further enhanced.

In addition, brackets are used to install impellers in respective spaces defined in the segments of the loop-shaped casing, thus facilitating the installation of the impellers, whereby the efficiency of manufacturing the electric fan can be enhanced. 5 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017

Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an electric fan according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the electric fan according to another embodiment of the present invention. <Description of the Reference Numerals in the Drawings> 100: electric fan 110: casing 111: space 113 ; outlet hole 115 : fixed bracket 121: second opening 132 : impeller 132 a : shaft 133 : drive unit 141: connection part 14 3 : connection hole 145 : connection bracket 112: inlet hole 114: first opening 120: cover 130: rotary unit 132b: blade 140: bracket 142: fixed part 144: support part 6 PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication

Best Mode

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Reference now should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. If in the specification, detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations would unnecessarily obfuscate the gist of the present invention, the detailed descriptions will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the electric fan according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an electric fan according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the electric fan according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, an electric fan 100 according to the present invention includes a casing 110, a cover 120 and a rotary unit 130.

The casing 110 has a polygonal frame shape. The casing 7 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017 110 has one or more segments forming a polygon

In the present invention, the casing 110 will be illustrated as having a streamlined shape having two segments or a square shape having four segments. The shape of the casing 110 is not limited to a special shape.

In detail, as shown in FIG. 4, the casing 110 that has a streamlined shape is configured to have a two-column structure such that spaces 111 are spaced apart from each other. An impeller 132 is placed upright in each space 111.

As shown in FIG. 4, the square-shaped casing 110 is configured in such a way that spaces 111 that form two rows and two columns of segments are continuously connected to each other. An impeller 132 is horizontally or vertically installed in each of the spaces 111 formed at upper, lower, left and right positions.

Overall, the casing 110 having such a polygonal shape forms a loop shape such that a first opening 114 is formed in a central portion of the casing 110.

Here, the body of the polygonal casing 110 is called a frame .

The segments of the polygonal frame define therein the respective spaces 111. Inlet holes 112 are formed in an outer surface of a periphery of the casing 110. The cover 120 is installed on a front part of the casing 110 in a direct contact manner, and outlet holes 113 are formed in an inner Surface of a periphery of the cover 120. The inlet holes 112 and the outlet holes 113 communicate 8 PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication with the spaces 111.

The rotary unit 130 includes the impellers 132 installed in the respective spaces 111 and is configured such that when the impellers 132 are rotated by drive units 133, external air 5 is drawn into the spaces 111 through the inlet holes 112 and then discharged to the outside through the outlet holes 113.

Each impeller 132 includes a shaft 132a having a predetermined length, and a plurality of blades 132b radially provided around the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 10 132a

The drive units 133 are installed on the respective impellers 132. A rotating shaft 132a of a motor of each drive unit 133 is connected to the shaft 132a of the corresponding impeller 132 so that the impeller 132 can be directly rotated 15 by force generated from the drive unit 133.

Furthermore, each impeller 132 is supported by a bracket 140 in the corresponding space 111.

The bracket 140 includes a connection part 141, a fixed part 142, a support part 144 and connection brackets 145. 20 The connection part 141 has a predetermined length corresponding to the length of the impeller 132.

Furthermore, the fixed part 142 is bent from an upper end of the connection part 141 and has a connection hole 143 through which the shaft 132a is coupled to the fixed part 142. 25 The support part 144 is bent from a lower end of the 9 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017 connection part 141 and coupled to a lower end of the drive unit 133.

The connection brackets 145 are respectively provided on the fixed part 142 and the support part 144 and are integrally coupled to corresponding fixed brackets 115 provided in the spaces 111.

As such, the brackets 140 are installed in the spaces 111 in such a way that the connection brackets 145 are coupled to the fixed brackets 115 provided in the spaces 111. Each impeller 132 provided with the drive unit 133 is installed between the connection part 141 and the fixed part 142 of the corresponding bracket 140.

In other words, the brackets 140 are used to install the impellers 132 in the respective spaces 111 defined in the segments of the loop-shaped casing 110, thus facilitating the installation of the impellers 132, whereby the efficiency of manufacturing the electric fan can be enhanced.

In the electric fan 100 having the above-mentioned construction, when the impellers 132 are rotated by the drive units 133, external air is drawn into the spaces 111 through the inlet holes 112 and then discharged to the outside through the outlet holes 113.

The cover 12 0 has therein a second opening 121 communicating with the first opening 114 so that air supplied from the Outlet holes 113 is discharged out of the second opening 121. 10 1001721982 2012378838 08 Feb 2017

Preferably, an inner surface of the second opening 121 is inclined in such a way that the second opening 121 is increased in cross-sectional area from the rear end thereof to the front end.

As described above, in the electric fan 100 according to the present invention, the casing 110 having a frame shape and the cover 120 are coupled to each other, and the rotary unit 130 is installed in the internal spaces 111. The electric fan 100 is operated in such a way that external air is drawn into the spaces 111 through the inlet holes 112, the pressure in 11 PCT/KR2012/007496

Translation of PCT Publication the spaces 111 is thus increased, and then air is discharged out of the outlet holes 113 at a high flow rate by increased pressure in the spaces 111, whereby external air around the cover 120 passes through the cover 120, thus generating air 5 currents, and increasing the flow rate of air by virtue of a difference in air pressure before air is discharged out of the electric fan. Therefore, the wind strength of the electric fan can be further increased.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present 10 invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims . 15 12

Claims

1. An electric fan, comprising: a rotary unit including a drive unit, a shaft rotated by the drive unit, and an impeller rotated in conjunction with the rotation of the shaft; a casing formed in a frame shape, having a first opening in a central portion of the casing, and having a space formed in the circumference of the first opening for accommodating the rotary unit therein; and a cover installed on a front part of the casing, and having a second opening communicating with the first opening. Wherein the casing comprises: an outlet hole formed in a part of a space of the cover accommodating the rotary unit positioned in one direction based on the second opening, wherein when the impellers operate oppositely in the rotary direction, by putting the first opening between them, by disposing the shafts of the rotary unit side by side, to face each other oppositely based on the first opening, intake and discharge of air are performed through the inlet hole and the outlet hole, wherein the first opening hole is available for taking in the air from the outside by inflow of the air discharged from the outlet hole and simultaneously diffusing the air having passed through the first opening through the second opening having an inclined surface being increased in cross-sectional area.

2. The electric fan of claim 1, wherein the inlet hole and the outlet hole are formed in the outside of the impeller.

3. The electric fan of claim 1, wherein the impeller passes by the inlet hole and the outlet hole whenever it is rotated.

4. The electric fan of claim 1, wherein the space comprises two columns of spaces spaced apart from each other, and the impeller comprises impellers respectively placed upright in the spaces.

5. The electric fan of claim 1, wherein the space comprises two columns and two rows of spaces continuously connected at ends thereof to each other, and the impeller comprises impellers vertically or horizontally installed in the respective spaces.

6. The electric fan of claim 1, wherein the impeller is installed in the space by a bracket, the bracket comprising: a connection part having a predetermined length; a fixed part bent from an upper end of the connection part, the fixed part having a connection hole through which the shaft is coupled to the fixed part; a support part bent from a lower end of the connection part, the support part being coupled to a lower end of the drive unit; and connection brackets respectively connected to the fixed part and the support part, the connection brackets being integrally fastened to respective fixed brackets provided in the space.

7, The electric fan of claim 6, wherein the connection brackets are coupled with fixed brackets formed in the spaces.

8. The electric fan of claim 6, wherein a connection hole is formed between the fixed part and the support part, through which the shaft is coupled to the fixed part and the support part.