GB2237136A

GB2237136A - Wind powered rotating sign

Info

Publication number: GB2237136A
Application number: GB8922733A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Johnson
Original assignee: VENTURE PROJECTS
Current assignee: VENTURE PROJECTS
Priority date: 1989-10-10
Filing date: 1989-10-10
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Also published as: GB8922733D0

Abstract

A wind powered rotating sign incorporating two or more sign panels, aerofoil-shaped, to rotate in the same direction or shaped to rotate in opposite directions, mounted in a frame configurated as the installation site demands which may be wall or base mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

DescriPtion WIND POWERED ROTATING SIGN Wind powered rotating signs incorporating a single aerofoil shaped rotatable sign panel in a frame for wall or base mounting are well known.

Such siqns being generally used to advertise a product or service.

Rotation is induced by utilisina low friction bearings to support the aerofoil sign panel in the vertical axis.

One example of a suitable aerofoil shape is the top panel (1) in Fig. 1. In practise almost any shape of bend will act as an aerofoil and turn a panel in even light winds.

The panel (1) in Fig.l when viewed from above with sufficient wind would turn clockwise (2).

THIS INVENTION relates to a wind powered rotating sign comprising of Two or more panels mounted in a single frame (5) one example of which is illustrated in Fig.1.

where the frame is fabricated from sauare hollow section steel with all ioints.welded and with the ends suitably sealed with plastic moulded insertable caps (16) The sign panels (1. Typical) used experimentally were manufactured from 3mm thick Dlastic sheet formed into an aerofoil shape and retained with adhesive in a plastic moulded combined panel and bearing holder (7) used at both the top and bottom of the sign panel.

In Dractise ferrous or non ferrous metal could be used to fabricate the sign panel and bearing holder.

Advantaqeously dependina on the confiquration of the aerofoil section so will the direction of rotation of the panels be determined.

The lower panel in Fig.1 (3) has been configurated opposite to that of the upper panel (1) and will in suitable wind conditions turn counter clockwise (4) when viewed from above that is it will contra-rotate relative to the upper panel.

The confiquration of the frame (5) would depend on the site chosen which may require the sian to be mounted on a vertical wall (21) as at Fig.2 or as a free standina base mounted (22) sign as shown in Fig.3 which for purposes of example incorporates Three rotatina panels all of which mav if required turn the same direction or the panels may be configurated for contra-rotation as indicated bv the arrows on the sign panels that is the middle one(18) may turn in the opposite direction to the one above(19) and the sign panel below (20).

Sign panels contra-rotating in a common frame have been found by experiment to have greater visual impact.

Fig.S is an unscaled illustrative cross section (A-A) through the example incorporating 2 sign panels at Fig.1 but with the top panel removed for clarity.

Advantageously the Steel material forming the bottom shaft (6) Fig.5 of the upper sign panel (1) forms the upper shaft of the lower sign panel (3).

The lower bearing (17) is in the example a roller type bearing shrouded from the weather by the combined panel and bearing holder (7) which is the same as used at the top of the panel. The top bearing in the combined bearing and panel holder is shrouded by an inverted cup (11) welded to the frame (5).

To further protect the bearings and interior of the frame (5) from contamination the shafts each have a flexible sealing ring (9) put around them prior to insertion into their respective retaining holes in the frame (5) which prevents contaminators running down the shaft into the interior of the frame and bearing below.

The method of assemblina the sign is to first put the flexible sealing ring (9) around the shaft (108 of the bottom sign before inserting it in the retainina hole in the the bottom rung of the frame (5).

The bottom sign panel(3) with its bearings (12 & 17) inserted is then first pushed up into the shroud (11) which then allows clearance to enable the bottom bearing in its housing to be brought down into its operational position on to the lower shaft (10) Then the double ended intermediate shaft(6) with its flexible sealing ring (9) is put through the frame into the bottom panel top bearing(12).

Once this is done the Too Panel (1) with its bearings inserted is entered into the shroud (8) giving the clearance neccessary to enable the bottom bearing in its housing to be brought down on to the top of the double ended shaft (6) and put into its operating position in the same way as the bottom panel (3) bearing (17) was placed on its bottom single ended shaft (10) If there are more than two sign panels the process continues similarly for as many times as there are panels until the top panel is in position which is retained at the top by a single ended shaft (1t) which also has a flexible sealing rin (9) but unlike the other shafts has a threaded portion (14) with a head which in the case of the example is a hexagon head to assist screwing the shaft into the frame thus locking all of the shafts and bearings in their operating positions.

The system of mounting wind rotating signs on a common frame may also be used in conjunction with sign panels which rely for support on a bottom bearing & shaft (15) only as the example at Fig.4.

Claims

1. A wind powered rotating sign comDrising a supporting frame incorporating two or more aerofoil sign panels each free to rotate independentally in the vertical axis on a bearing or pair of bearings.

2. A wind powered rotating sign incorporating two aerofoil sign panels with each panel turning the opposite direction to the other.

3. A wind powered rotating sign incorporating three or more aerofoil sign panels with one panel or more turning the opposite direction to the remainder.

4. A wind powered rotating sign where the shafts of the sign panels first pass through a flexible sealing ring prior to beinq located in the supporting frame thus preventing contaminants going down the shaft into the bearing below.

5. A wind powered rotating sign where the upper bearings of the rotating panels are shrouded from the inaress of the elements by an inverted cup through which the shaft of the sign panel passes prior to entering the bearing.

6. A wind powered rotating sign with two or more rotating sign panels where all the shafts and bearings are locked into position when the top shaft of the top sign panel is fitted.

7. A wind powered rotating sign with two or more rotating sign panels mounted in a frame for wall mounting.

8. A wind powered roating sign with two or more rotating sign panels where mounted in a frame for base mounting.