CN1490530A - High-efficiency ceiling fans - Google Patents

Abstract

Ceiling fan energy consumption efficiency is enhanced with fan blades that have an angle attack that decreases from root end to tip end at higher rates of decrease nearer their tip ends than at their root ends. Air flow distribution is enhanced with at least a portion of the blades having a dihedral that continuously increases. Efficiency on downdraft is also achieved with the blades having concave top and bottom surfaces.

Description

High efficiency ceiling fan

The related application reference

Originally being illustrated as sequence number is No.10/209,044, the part of the application submitted on July 30th, 2002 continues, this application is No.10/194 for sequence number then, 699, in July in 2002 submit applications on the 11st part continue.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to ceiling fan, in particular to power-actuated ceiling fan and efficient thereof.

Background technique

For many years, the ceiling fan by electrical motor driven is used to circulating air.In typical case, they have the motor that is installed in the casing, and casing is installed in one can make one group of flabellum on the following plumbing bar of plumbing bar axle rotation down.Under the conventional situation, their flabellum is flat and direction is an inclination or pitch (pitch), so that make the air mass of their rotations form the angle of attack (angle ofattack).Air can be driven downwards like this.

When one usually when running shaft is the flabellum rotation of radial extension, the path of its cardinal extremity process is longer than in the path of its end process in any given time.Therefore, its end (tip end) is more faster than its cardinal extremity (root end) travelling speed.Keep balance for the load that makes the resistance of air that occurs along flabellum with by the air-flow that moving of they taken place, flabellum is designed to have the angle of attack that a terminad reduces gradually always.This DESIGNED FEATURE also is used for the design of other rotation blade usually, for example, and marine propeller and aircraft propellers.

1997, a commercial ceiling fan Study on Efficiency of relevant several moneys was carried out at solar energy center, Florida.This test obtains record in No. 541 at U. S. Patent 6,039.The patentee finds energy efficiency, be every energy consumption (watt) air-flow (CFM) that produces, can improve by a kind of flabellum design, this flabellum has a kind of twist at its cardinal extremity, and this twist is tapered equably to be reduced to a less twist or the angle of attack up to end.For instance, this design can be applicable to a kind of 20 inches long flabellums (string with taper), and it has 26.7 ° twist at cardinal extremity, has 6.9 ° twist endways.

The another one long-term existence problem relevant with ceiling fan is the problem that air-flow distributes.Most of ceiling fans make their flabellum in the rotation of the plane of a level, even if they point to an angle of attack.This can force air to move downward, and helping provides air-flow for the space of fan below.Yet the air-flow of surrounding space is very weak, because air-flow does not directly flow out from fan.If flabellum is (dihedral) on the upper counterangle, this problem has just obtained alleviation.But this effect is substantial weakening to occur with the air-flow under the fan to be achieved.

Summary of the invention

Find that at present for ceiling fan, having that the angle of attack of even ratio or torsion angle reduce gradually is not full blast.A kind of 2 feet flabellum or the end of propeller cavitation in rotation once through the length of a circumference or 2 π (2).Therefore, the mid point beyond the one foot in rotation once through the distance of 2 π (1) or half of the distance that rotates a circle.This linear relationship is effectively to an aircraft propellers, because the orbital path that it is advanced is usually on the plane vertical with its flight path.But ceiling fan is to rotate being parallel to and being in the such orbital path in the below of airflow limitation (being ceiling board itself).Therefore its flabellum can't be attacked air mass equably as aircraft.This is because " replacing (replacement) " air compares in its easier utilization in terminal inboard at the end of ceiling fan flabellum.The air of contiguous flabellum running shaft must arrive at the cardinal extremity of flabellum from surrounding environment through the confined space between ceiling plane and the electric fan plane.

According to this understanding, found that ceiling fan efficient can improve by the flabellum that forms the band angle of attack at present, this angle of attack increases to end unevenly gradually from the cardinal extremity of flabellum.More particularly, having been found that should be greater than more near the cardinal extremity place in the change rate of the angle of attack of more close flabellum tail end or pitch.This obviously helps to force replacement air on the electric fan inwardly to flow under the ceiling board restriction, so more air can be easier and effectively near the flabellum cardinal extremity.But whether no matter should theory correct, the result who improves efficient have obtained proof.The angle of attack change rate by making the flabellum end of having been found that is greater than the angle of attack change rate of flabellum cardinal extremity, and fan efficiency can obtain substantial raising.

Now, air-flow distributes also and can have the ceiling fan that is bent upwards the flabellum that forms and improve by a kind of, and this bending can provide a kind of step by step dihedral continuously.Preferred approach is that this bending is continuous from its cardinal extremity to end.In addition, also can be and realize this point in conjunction with the sort of non-homogeneous angle of attack of just having described that reduces or twist.The result just can provide a kind of efficient height and the ceiling fan of the air that can better distribute.

Find also that simultaneously when air-flow was worked, efficient also can increase downwards, at this moment the middle body of flabellum is thinner than its two side portions.When the end face of flabellum and bottom surface all were concave surface, so, flabellum was thinner 25% than two side portions along its core from the cardinal extremity to the end, can obtain the efficiency improvement between 3% and 4% like this.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the side view of the ceiling fan in the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is the hypothesis diagrammatic view of a kind of plane form of showing for purpose of illustration, is used for the flabellum of displayed map 1.

Fig. 3 is the diagrammatic view of Fig. 2 flabellum, illustrates the flabellum twist along the flabellum diverse location.

Fig. 4 is air-flow test parameter figure.

Fig. 5 is the side view of one of electric fan shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 6 is the end face view of one of electric fan shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 7 is the tail view of one of electric fan shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 8 A and 8B are other side views of one of electric fan shown in Figure 1, are shown as cross sectional view herein; And Fig. 8 C is the flabellum section of drawing along plane 8-8.

Embodiment

The electric fan technology is at the U.S. (U.S.) patent No.6, obtained announcement in 039, No. 541, and what it was followed is assumed to, and enters all air-flows within the electric fan all from a kind of direction vertical with the flabellum plane of rotation.In addition, its supposition air-flow has a kind of speed that remains unchanged to end from the cardinal extremity of flabellum, as the theoretical used flabellum of aircraft propellers.Use this supposition, flabellum is designed to have a kind of constant rate of reversing from the cardinal extremity to the end.Reversing of flabellum is in order to attempt to optimize the relative angle of attack with respect to the airflow direction on flabellum surface.Do like this is in order to determine that flabellum all has the best angle of attack when moving from the cardinal extremity to the end.This angle changes, so that adapt to such fact, promptly the end of flabellum moves quicker than the cardinal extremity of flabellum diameter.The increase of this speed can change on the flabellum apparent wind to.

Explanation finds that now this supposition is invalid to ceiling fan again.Ceiling fan is an air circulation means again, and it is not to move in air as aircraft propellers.From the cardinal extremity of flabellum to end, air not with identical vector or even speed move.

Fig. 1 illustrates a kind ofly has conventional construction but the ceiling fan of flabellum shape exception.Being seen fan is installed under the ceiling board by following plumbing bar, and this time plumbing bar extends to the casing that holds electric motor and switch box from ceiling board.Here, being seen fan also has a light box in its bottom.Use is passed down plumbing bar and is connected the electrical lead of power supply or municipal power electricity, electric power is provided to the motor that drives flabellum.

Being seen electric fan reverses, and non-planar surface, and has a kind of upper counterangle of classification.The air-flow that enters and leave electric fan is shown by the compound lines that have arrow.Visually the perception electric fan is how not resemble to meet with air mass the properller from these places.On the contrary, the confined space above the flabellum has changed the air-flow vector that enters within the fan, and this point is opposite with the situation of aircraft.

Shown in the diagram of Fig. 2, each electric fan is all according to its width or string and tapered gradually diminishing.Each flabellum is all from base or cardinal extremity to terminal and tapered gradually diminishing, so that make end become narrow.In addition, preferred approach is, as shown in Figure 1, each flabellum all has a kind of upper counterangle, and doing for implementing advantage of the present invention although it is so is not to be necessary.It is to disperse distribution in order to carry out widely air in the space under the fan that the upper counterangle is provided.

Continuation referring to figs. 2 and 3, visible flabellum is divided into three sections, though flabellum has only a kind of structure certainly.Here, 24 inches long flabellums have three sections of equal in length, just each 8 should cun.All sections all reverse, as shown in Figure 1.Yet the rate of reversing from the cardinal extremity to the end is uneven.Reverse or the angle of attack is reduced into terminal 10 ° from cardinal extremity.Yet, this in Fig. 1 also dwindling and have three kinds of different minifications clearly.In adjoining first 8 inches sections of cardinal extremity, the variation of reversing rate is 0.4 ° of per inch.For central section, variation is 0.7 ° of per inch.For adjoining the 3rd terminal section, variance ratio is 1.0 ° of per inch.Certainly, very little, a negligible transition are arranged between each section.Therefore, in Fig. 3, to its other end, the angle of attack has 8 ° difference (1 ° per inch * 8 inch) from an end of outer lateral section.Middle body has 6 ° difference approximately, the difference that inside part is about 3 °.

Fig. 5-7 has more specifically shown one of electric fan 10 of Fig. 1.As seen the cardinal extremity 11 of flabellum is installed to fan motor rotor hub 12, and its end 13 is positioned at the axle far away place of wheel hub.Wheel hub is around the following plumbing bar axle rotation of stretching out from ceiling board, and as shown in Figure 1, this substantially is vertical.Flabellum center line 15 indicates that clearly flabellum has individual 0 ° the upper counterangle at its cardinal extremity 11, and at its end 13 one 10 ° upper counterangle dt is arranged.Here, it is arc or curved that electric fan constantly is from the cardinal extremity to the end, so that its upper counterangle is constantly changed from the cardinal extremity to the end.Shown in air-flow distribution dotted line among Fig. 1, this not only helps the fan air-distribution of below straight, also helps to be enclosed in the distribution of this space ambient air.On the contrary, fan of the prior art mainly makes air move downward the fan below, and it is indirect and faint that the air-flow of surrounding space then becomes.Those fans have the flabellum that all tilts with the fixing upper counterangle in its length everywhere, although they can address this problem, this be with reduce fan straight the air-flow of below be cost.

The flabellum upper counterangle may constantly increase from the cardinal extremity to the end.Yet near its cardinal extremity and/or its end the time, it may be constant, is arc or curved along its remainder.Really, this most effective design that is called as gull shape design (gull design) to the upper counterangle that has 0 ° apart from terminal midpoint, has a upper counterangle that increases gradually to its end from its cardinal extremity then, forms one 10 ° the upper counterangle endways.Demonstrate in preferred embodiment, the flabellum cardinal extremity has one 0 ° the upper counterangle, and its end has one 10 ° the upper counterangle.Yet, its cardinal extremity upper counterangle may less than or greater than 0 °, its terminal upper counterangle may less than or greater than 10 °.The yardstick of fan, power, height and application all are the factors that may should be taken into account when selecting the specific upper counterangle.

Under conventional situation, ceiling fan can contrary operation.Shown in Fig. 8 A, flabellum is seen from the below and may be turned clockwise.On this direction and because its angle of attack, flabellum forces upward motion of air, as shown by arrows.In typical case, in colder air conditions, do like this, so that force the warm air of fan top to move downward.Shown in Fig. 8 B, flabellum also may be rotated counterclockwise under the condition of warm air, and the air flows that makes the people top is so that allow them feel nice and cool.Have been found that when making flabellum, to make it have uneven thickness, can raise the efficiency like this.Fig. 8 C has shown this point in the best way, and visible here flabellum is from diminishing to another side is tapered gradually on one side.Some is recessed a little for the end face of flabellum 10, and its bottom surface is like this equally, so as they cardinal extremity and end between form the slack that extends.If flabellum is thinner approximately 25% than the thickness on discrete limit, middle body both sides along the thickness of these middle bodies, then can produce best efficiency gain.Preferred approach is that identical layout is used in the appearance of end face and bottom surface.Still not being appreciated that what is done like this is better than a smooth surface, and plat surface can reduce angle of attack twist, and can change the upper counterangle.Note that to illustrating and explaining clearly needs, and Fig. 8 C only shows the electric fan part along plane 8-8.

Have been found that, when making flabellum, change flabellum thickness between its both sides and can increase efficient between 3% to 4%, when this point occurs in flabellum be rotated and produce a downdraught shown in Fig. 8 B, if but flabellum then can be ignored the change of efficient according to the direction rotation that Fig. 8 A shows.Still not exclusively understand this situation and why take place, promptly can produce less improved efficiency since especially only make a surface take place to be recessed into, why so this situation also can take place.

This fan is used to examine and determine the test of Energy Star compliance through Hunter Fan Company laboratory that obtains Environmental Protection Administration's qualification certification.The test of this fan detects demand according to Energy Star, except following content: on the top and near the electric fan place air velocity sensor has been installed also.Do like this and can allow to measure the air velocity of adjoining the electric fan place.At test period, can determine, on the electric fan from the cardinal extremity to the end air velocity of various diverse locations be different.Fig. 4 has shown test parameter.Actual test result appears in the table 1.

Table 1

Sensor	Mean velocity FPM	Air velocity FPS	Spinner velocity FPS	Speed as a result	Angle as a result	The Dcg/ inch
							????0	????283	????4.7	????22.7	????23.2	????11.7
????1	????303	????5.1	????24.4	????24.9	????11.7	????0.07
							????2	????320	????5.3	????26.2	????26.7	????11.5	????0.16
????3	????325	????5.4	????27.9	????28.4	????11.0	????0.54
							????4	????320	????5.3	????29.7	????30.1	????10.2	????0.79
????5	????313	????5.2	????31.4	????31.8	????9.4	????0.76
							????6	????308	????5.1	????33.1	????33.5	????8.8	????0.63
????7	????305	????5.1	????34.9	????35.3	????8.3	????0.51

????8	????290	????4.8	????36.6	????37.0	????7.5	????0.77
							????9	????275	????4.6	????38.4	????38.7	????6.8	????0.71
????10	????262	????4.4	????40.1	????40.4	????6.2	????0.60
							????11	????235	????3.9	????41.9	????42.0	????5.3	????0.87
????12	????174	????2.9	????43.6	????43.7	????3.8	????1.54
							????13	????132	????2.2	????45.4	????45.5	????2.8	????1.03

The compare test result appears in the table 2, wherein flabellum 1 is a kind of new flabellum of just having described, it has one 10 ° the fixedly upper counterangle, flabellum 2 is according to patent No.6,039,541 and Hampton Bei Yigaosuomo wind/(Hampton Bay GossomerWind/Windward) flabellum that facings the wind of design, and flabellum 3 is a kind of one 15 ° fixedly flat flabellums of the angle of attack that have.Improvement result shown in the form belongs to previous defined energy efficiency aspect.

Table 2

Flabellum	Motor	Have reservoir	Improvement than her product of Hampton shellfish	Improvement than standardized product	Do not have reservoir	Improvement than her product of Hampton shellfish	Improvement outside 4 feet
								1	172×18 AM	12,878	21％	29％	37,327	24％	27％
2	188×15	10,639	NA	6％	30,034	NA	NA
								3	172×18A M	10,018	-6％	NA	28,000	-7％	-7％

Therefore, as seen can provide a kind of now has the more ceiling fan of high-energy source efficient than prior art in fact, and it has higher air-flow distributivity.Certainly, this fan also can be used for other positions, for example table top.Though this invention obtains showing and describing with its preferred versions, should be appreciated that, can carry out other correction, interpolation or deletion in addition, and can not deviate from the given the spirit and scope of the present invention of following claim.

Claims (15)

1. ceiling fan with a plurality of electric fans, it is characterized in that: the described flabellum of installation is used for being rotated around the upright fan axle of flabellum rotation, and each electric fan has two prolongation limit parts of crossing over the middle body that prolongs, and the middle body of wherein said each electric fan is thinner than two limit part.

2. ceiling fan according to claim 1 is characterized in that: each flabellum along the thickness of its center line approximately than the maximum ga(u)ge thin 25% of described limit part.

3. ceiling fan according to claim 1 is characterized in that: described two the limit parts and the described middle body of each flabellum extend to its end from the cardinal extremity of each flabellum basically.

4. ceiling fan according to claim 1 is characterized in that: each flabellum all has a recessed end face and a recessed bottom surface.

5. ceiling fan according to claim 1 is characterized in that: each described electric fan is being bent upwards near the tail end to have a continuous upper counterangle step by step.

6. ceiling fan according to claim 5 is characterized in that: each flabellum all has an about upper counterangle of 0 ° at its cardinal extremity, at its end an about upper counterangle of 10 ° is arranged.

7. ceiling fan according to claim 1 is characterized in that: each flabellum locates that than the axle far away of described fan shaft a bigger angle of attack is arranged at the paraxial place of described fan shaft, and the angle of attack variation rate between this two place is uneven.

8. ceiling fan according to claim 7 is characterized in that: each flabellum all has an about upper counterangle of 10 ° at its end, and at its end an about angle of attack of 10 ° is arranged.

9. ceiling fan according to claim 5 is characterized in that: each flabellum locates that than the axle far away of described fan shaft a bigger angle of attack is arranged at the paraxial place of described fan shaft, and the angle of attack variation rate between this two place is uneven.

10. ceiling fan according to claim 9 is characterized in that: each flabellum all has an about upper counterangle of 0 ° at its end, and at its end an about upper counterangle of 10 ° is arranged.

11. the ceiling fan with a plurality of electric fans is characterized in that: these flabellums have recessed upper surface and lower surface, and the installation of described flabellum is used for it and rotates upright fan shaft and carry out two-way rotation around flabellum.

12. ceiling fan according to claim 11 is characterized in that: described upward flabellum surface and lower fan leaf surface have essentially identical layout.

13. ceiling fan according to claim 12 is characterized in that: each described flabellum all is being bent upwards near its tail end, so that have a continuous upper counterangle step by step.

14. ceiling fan according to claim 12 is characterized in that: each flabellum locates that than the axle far away of described fan shaft a bigger angle of attack is arranged at the paraxial place of described fan shaft, and the angle of attack variation rate between this two place is uneven.

15. ceiling fan according to claim 13 is characterized in that: each flabellum locates that than the axle far away of described fan shaft a bigger angle of attack is arranged at the paraxial place of described fan shaft, and the angle of attack variation rate between this two place is uneven.

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