JPS63167097A - Attachment for generating turbulence - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to ceiling-mounted fans used to create airflow within a room or other area, and more particularly to the main blades of conventional ceiling fans. That is, it relates to an auxiliary blade or blade attachment that is selectively attached to the primary blade. The blade attachment is continuously curved along its length to create a turbulent flow of air in radially outwardly spaced zones relative to the vertical downdraft formed by the fan. mounted on. Although the blade attachment may be integrally formed with the fan's primary blade, preferred embodiments of the present invention accommodate existing ceiling fan blades by using a clamping member that can accommodate multiple blade sizes and shapes. It can be removably attached to the end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional ceiling fans are used to create air turbulence or movement within an enclosed area, thereby providing a more comfortable environment. Not only does the air turbulence created by such a fan circulate the air within a given enclosure or area and help disperse smoke, odors, and the like, but such air movement also A cooling effect is produced by increasing the rate of convective heat exchange with respect to the person present.

Because of the above advantages, and because ceiling fans are quiet and inexpensive to operate, there has been a recent increase in demand for such products as a replacement for, or as an adjunct to, high-cost cooling air conditioners.

Ceiling fans typically have fairly large blades attached to a motor so that they are rotated in a horizontal plane at relatively low revolutions per minute. As the fan blades rotate, they create a downdraft that moves the air above the blades downward toward the floor of the room or enclosure. The fan creates a flow or air movement pattern that can be thought of as being somewhat donut-like in shape, ie circular in cross-section. Such a flow thus creates or leaves a region of air free from air turbulence. Such air regions, or pockets free of air turbulence, are generally located within a space oriented radially outward relative to the air column or downdraft formed by the rotation of the fan. Additionally, the pitch of the fan blades can be changed, but such changes are not entirely satisfactory in increasing air dispersion and also increase air turbulence, which is applicable to current fan structures. It's not a solution.

In the past, there have been numerous attachments designed to be used with electric fan blades and ceiling fan blades. US Pat. No. 871.729 to Matsu Cord Jr. suggests one type of attachment for auxiliary ceiling fan blades that is adjustably attached to the ends of the ceiling fan blades. However, because this auxiliary blade is relatively large and rectangular in shape, it creates a large air resistance surface that not only places an undesirable load on the fan's motor, but also generates noise when the auxiliary blade rotates. Furthermore, the auxiliary blades are attached to the main blades by large adjustable ramps, and this clamp ensures equal and complete adjustment of each auxiliary blade relative to the fan blades so as not to adversely affect the rotational balance of the fan. I need. Such a structure can therefore be placed in a region angularly offset from the downdraft space without providing a balanced load on the fan and without creating an unacceptably large resistance to rotation of the fan and without further increasing loading and vibrational stresses. Does not guarantee that air turbulence will form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an auxiliary blade or blade attachment that is selectively attached to the blades of a conventional ceiling fan and generates various air turbulences from the blades. The blade attachment includes a relatively short auxiliary blade element that is continuously curved along its length with a decreasing radius of curvature from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The underside of the auxiliary blade element is somewhat concave from one side to the other. A mounting post or flange extends from the blade to a mounting clamp supported adjacent the outer end of the blade. The mounting clamp is adjustable and includes a pair of locking bands that can selectively engage opposite sides of a conventional ceiling fan blade. Fan blade alignment pins extend from mounting posts adjacent to the blade elements and serve as abutment surfaces or guides to ensure that the auxiliary blade elements are properly positioned adjacent the outer ends or tips of the fan blades. do. When positioned on the fan blade, the leading edge or forward end of the blade element extends forwardly from the tip of the blade and is generally aligned with the arc formed by the tip of the blade as the blade is rotated. The trailing edge or trailing end of the auxiliary blade extends outward at an angle with respect to the tip of the blade, so that air turbulence swirls from the auxiliary blade as it passes through the air. This turbulent vortex generates a vortex of approximately 30＠~606° with respect to the rotation axis of the ceiling fan.
The blade extends outward at a predetermined angle relative to the tip of the blade.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a more diverse air flow from the fan blades, particularly within air regions spaced outwardly at an angle to the vertical downdraft generated by conventional ceiling fans. To provide a blade attachment that can be easily attached to the tip of a conventional ceiling fan blade to form a more powerful air turbulence.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an attachment for a ceiling fan that creates greater air turbulence when the fan is rotating, without significantly increasing the noise level when the fan is operating.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a blade attachment device for a ceiling-mounted fan designed to create uniform turbulence from the fan in order to maintain a balanced rotational motion of the fan.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ceiling that can be selectively attached to numerous sizes and styles of conventional fan blades utilizing an adjustable ramp member that is more tightly secured by centrifugal force as the blades are rotated. It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary blade for a mounted fan.

Another object of the present invention is to be used to increase the area of air turbulence generated by conventional ceiling fans and to ensure that each blade attachment is mounted in the correct relationship to the ceiling fan blades. An object of the present invention is to provide a blade attachment including a clamping member and an alignment member.

Another object of the invention is an aerodynamic design for the outer blade elements of a ceiling fan blade to generate an airflow that is angled outward relative to the vertical downdraft formed by the main part of the fan blade. The outer blade element may be integrally formed with the main portion of the fan blade or may be removably attached.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continued reference to the accompanying drawings, a fan blade attachment 10 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1 as attached to the blades 11 of a conventional ceiling fan 12. FIG. Typically, a ceiling fan is suspended from a ceiling or other overhead structure (not shown) by a support shaft 13 extending upwardly from a motor housing 14. The blades 11 of the electric fan are rotated in a horizontal plane and are shown in the drawings as being able to move in a clockwise direction.

Each blade 11 of the electric fan has an upper surface 15 and a lower surface 16,
It has a side edge 17, an outermost edge 18 and a tip portion 19. Although the fan blades are shown as being relatively flat in shape, in some cases the blades may be angled or slightly curved to create different airflow patterns.

The fan blade attachment 10 is made of plastic or metal material and has a forward end or tip 2.
It has a curved blade element 20 extending from 1 to a rear end or trailing edge 22.

° The upper surface 23 of the blade element is somewhat convex in shape,
The lower surface 24 is somewhat concave in shape.

The blade elements are shaped to pass through or move through the air in a manner that minimizes resistance to movement of the fan blades. These blade elements have an outer arcuate edge 25 extending from a leading edge 21 to a trailing edge 22. The inner edge 26, which also extends from the tip to the trailing edge of the blade element, is shown as having a more or less straight shape. When the blade element is installed in position on the fan blade, the outer edge 25 is positioned outwardly from and higher than the lower edge 26.

As previously mentioned, the underside or underside 24 of the blade element
is concave and the radius forming the concave surface at each of the inner and outer edges 26 and 25 decreases between the forward, or leading edge portion 27 of the blade and the rearward, or trailing edge portion 28 of the blade. ing. Therefore, the leading edge portion 2 of the blade element
The region adjacent to 7 has a narrower cross section and is configured to have a first radius of curvature. The trailing edge portion 28 of the blade element is somewhat wider and consists of a cross section having a radius of curvature that is smaller than the first radius of curvature that constitutes the cross section of the leading edge portion of the blade element. This shape of the blade elements not only reduces the drag force created by the fan blades, but also allows the blades to move quietly through the air. Additionally, the curved shape of the blade elements contributes to the vortices in the airflow that are created when these blade elements are rotated by the ceiling fan blades. This movement of air is somewhat illustrated by the arrows in FIG.

The blade element 20 is shown attached to the tip portion 19 of the fan blade 11 with a flange or strut member 30 extending outwardly from a portion adjacent the inner edge 26 of the blade element. Mounting flange 3
0 is formed with a generally U-shaped outer member 31 which forms part of a clamp assembly used to lock the blade element 20 to the blades 11 of the electric fan.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, clamp assembly 32 includes a generally U-shaped portion 31 of mounting flange 30 and a pair of outwardly extending arm members 33 and 34. As shown in FIGS. These arm members are relatively adjustable in an overlapping relationship with each other, each arm including an outer hooked end 35 that is engageable over one of the edges 17 of the fan blades. As shown in the figure, the arm member 33 is formed integrally with the U-shaped member 31 of the mounting flange 30;
Such elements may also be formed as separate elements. The U-shaped portion 31 of the mounting flange 30 connects to the L-shaped guide member 37.
and 38. These guide members are made somewhat beveled or flexible for purposes that will be explained in more detail below. The length of the upper surface 39 of the arm member 33 is the same as that of the L-shaped guide member, and the upper surface includes a plurality of spaced apart ratchet teeth 40.
is formed.

The lower surface 41 of the second arm member 34 has a portion configured to provide a series of spaced apart ratchet teeth 42 interlockable with the ratchet teeth 40 of the arm member 33.

The open channel 36 includes interlocking ratchet portions of arm members 33 and 34 with relative movement between the arms being restricted by flexible dogleg guide members 37 and 38.
It is of a size that allows it to be contained within it. Thus, when the other locking arm 34 is pressed against the locking arm 33, the guides 37 and 38 flex or bend slightly to allow the ratchet teeth to slide relative to each other in the closing direction. Thereafter, the shape of the ratchet teeth prevents the locking arm from coming out of interlocking engagement.

The blade-engaging hooked ends 35 of the clamp arms 33 and 34 include rounded or chamfered engagement contacts 45 and 46, which contact the blades!
! This ensures that the edges 17 of the fan blades 11 are tightly wedged regardless of any differences that may exist at 17. Additionally, the rounded retaining contacts tighten the clamp member more tightly against the fan blades due to centrifugal force as the fan blades rotate.

The clamp assembly 32 is properly aligned with the fan blade end portion 19 with an integrally molded bin or knob 47 extending downwardly from the mounting flange 30 to adjacent the inner edge 26 of the blade element 20. knob 47
is positioned to engage the outermost edge 18 of the end portion 19 of the fan blade 11, so that the blade element 2
0 and clamp assembly 22 relative to the fan blades.

The positioning knob and clamp assembly ensures proper alignment of the blade elements 20 with the fan blades to create a vertical downdraft or turbulence directed outwardly and upwardly with respect to the airflow relative to the fan blades 11. Designed. Preferably, the blade element 20
The forward end or tip 21 of the fan is generally closely aligned with the arc or circle formed by the movement of the end portions of the fan blades. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the blade element is shaped somewhat into an imaginary circle formed by the direction of travel of the fan blade, and extends in front of the side edge 17 of the fan blade in the direction of rotation of the fan blade. . The trailing edge 22 of the blade element extends outward from the circle formed by the rotation of the fan blade at an acute angle to the fan blade. The angle shown is about 25@, and this angle can be varied, but should not exceed about 35-40'. Furthermore, the blade elements have a weight and size suitable for current ceiling fans so as not to create loads or air resistance that are detrimental to the safe operation of the fan. Generally, the blade elements are about 1.5 to 3 times the width of the fan blade 11 at its widest point, when measured between the forward or trailing edge 21 and the trailing edge 22, as measured between the side edges 17. must be of equal length. Blade element edge 2
The width between 5 and 26 varies according to the maximum width adjacent the trailing edge, as described above for the variation of the radius of curvature of the blade element between the forward and trailing edges of the blade element. Preferably, such maximum width should be about 1/3 to 2/3 of the length of the blade element. When the blade element is attached to the fan blade, the outer edge 25 of the blade element extends upwardly from the vertical at an angle between approximately 20 and 45'.

Although not specifically shown in the drawings, the blade element 20 of the present invention may be secured to the fan blade by any other clamping or locking mechanism, and may be permanently molded onto the fan blade. Or you can install it.

In use, the blade attachment 10 of the present invention attaches to at least two diametrically opposed blades 1 of a ceiling fan.
1. If the ceiling fan does not have two diametrically opposed blades, a blade attachment should be provided for each blade to ensure proper balance of the ceiling fan during operation. The blade element 20 is properly aligned with the fan blade 11 by pressing the locating knob 47 on the outermost end of the fan blade. Thereafter, the overlapping clamp member arms 34 are pushed towards the opposing clamp member arms 33 until the hooked ends 35 of these arms tightly engage the edges 17 of the fan blades. The guide elements 37 and 38 of the attachment members bend as the ratchet teeth of both arm members pass over the other, and then continue to press the members into engagement.

After fixing the blade attachment in place, when the fan blades are rotated, the blade elements form a rotating vortex of airflow from their trailing edges. The airflow from the blade elements directs air turbulence into areas spaced outwardly relative to the axis of rotation of the fan, thus creating a wider air distribution than would be possible without the blade elements. bring about

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the fan blade attachment of the present invention selectively attached to a current conventional ceiling fan, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the attachment relationship of the attachment to the ceiling fan blades. FIG. 3 is a front view of the blade attachment of the electric fan shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the blade attachment of the electric fan shown in FIG. 2; The figure is a partial plan view showing the clamp of the blade attachment of the electric fan of the present invention, and FIG.
7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5. FIG. 10...Fan blade attachment, 11...
-Fan blade, 12...Ceiling fan, 13...Support shaft, 14...Motor housing, 20...Blade element, 23...Top surface, 24...Bottom surface, 25... Outer edge, 26... Inner edge, 30... Mounting flange, 32... Clamp assembly, 33.34... Arm member 42... Ratchet teeth, 47... Positioning knob.

Claims (20)

[Claims] (1) In a turbulence generating attachment for use with a conventional ceiling fan blade that includes a tip portion having a side edge and an outermost edge that constitute the width of the blade and is mounted to rotate about an axis, the rotation of the ceiling fan a curved blade element for directing airflow outwardly at an angle to the axis, the curved blade element having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side edge portion, a front end and a rear end; and the lower surface of the blade element is generally concave and has a first radius of curvature adjacent the forward end of the blade element and a first radius of curvature adjacent the rear end of the blade element. 2, the second radius of curvature being less than the first radius of curvature, and the apparatus further comprises: the blade element extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fan blade; and a mounting means for fixing the blade element to the tip portion of the fan blade so as to extend outwardly and upwardly with respect to the outermost edge of the fan blade. (2) one of the side edge portions of the blade element is positioned adjacent to a tip portion of the fan blade; the other side edge portion is spaced outwardly relative to the fan blade; The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 1, wherein the other portion of the edge portion is vertically spaced at a higher position than the one portion of the side edge portion. . (3) Turbulence generation according to claim (2), wherein the other side edge portion extends upwardly and outwardly from the front end at an angle of about 20° to 40° with respect to a vertical plane. Attachment for. (4) The blade element is approximately 1.5 mm wide of the fan blade.
The turbulence generating attachment according to claim (2), which has a length of 5 to 3.0 times. (5) the front end of the blade element extends forward from one of the side edges of the fan blade and is arranged to substantially coincide with a circle formed by the rotation of the outermost edge of the fan blade; The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 1, wherein the rear end extends outward to form a predetermined angle with respect to a circle formed by the rotation of the outermost edge of the fan blade. (6) The attachment means includes a clamp member for engaging a side portion of the blade of the electric fan, and the clamp member is provided with a flange member extending outwardly from one of the side edge portions of the blade element. The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 1, wherein the turbulence generating attachment is connected directly. (7) The side edge portion of the blade element remote from the flange is located at a higher position than the one of the side edge portions of the blade element. Attachment for generating turbulence as described in ). (8) the clamp member includes a pair of outwardly extending arm portions in sliding relationship with each other having a generally U-shaped fan blade engagement member at its outermost end;
The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 7, further comprising locking means for fixing the arm portions in adjusted positions relative to each other. (9) said locking means comprises a plurality of ratchet means carried by each of said arm parts, said ratchet means enabling sliding movement of said arm parts in a direction towards each other; The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 8, characterized in that the attachments engage to prevent separation. (10) one of the arm portions includes a pair of elongate flange means extending spaced apart from and above the ratchet means; The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 9, wherein the attachment is spaced apart from the ratchet means so that the other arm portion can pass through. (11) The turbulence generating attachment according to claim (10), wherein the one of the arm portions is formed integrally with the flange member. (12) Turbulence generation according to claim (8), characterized in that the outer U-shaped blade engaging member includes a contact member for wedging the edge of the blade of the electric fan therein. Attachment for. (13) The attachment means includes an abutment member that hangs down from adjacent to the blade element so as to align the blade element with the blade of the electric fan, and the abutment member is such that the attachment means engages with the blade of the electric fan. The turbulence generating attachment according to claim 1, wherein the attachment engages with the outermost edge of the blade of the electric fan when the attachment is engaged with the outermost edge of the blade of the electric fan. (14) The attachment means includes a flange member extending outwardly from one of the side edge portions of the blade element, and a clamping means carried on the flange member for engagement with a blade of the electric fan. An attachment for generating turbulence according to claim (13). (15) having a motor that rotates a plurality of blades of the fan about an axis of rotation to create a nearly vertical airflow, each blade extending outwardly on either side of its longitudinal axis and extending the width of the fan; a ceiling fan having constituting side edges and a tip portion having an outwardly directed edge, the ceiling fan having at least two curved blade elements for directing airflow outwardly at an angle to an axis of rotation of the ceiling fan; the curved blade element has an upper surface and a lower surface, inner and outer edges, a front end and a rear end, the blade element being carried by tip portions of at least two of the blades of the electric fan; extending outwardly from the blades of the fan, the inner and outer edges of the blade elements being transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fan blades, with the inner edges adjacent to the line end portions of the blades. Extendingly, the upper surface of the blade element is slightly convex in shape, the lower surface is slightly concave in shape, and the blade element extends between the side edges adjacent to the rearward end of the blade element. flares outward along the length of this blade element between the front and rear ends of this element to make it wider, so that the air passing below the blade element has a swirling motion from the ceiling fan. A ceiling fan characterized by being oriented outward in a circular motion. (16) the outer edge of the blade element is vertically elevated relative to the inner edge of the blade element, and the rear end of the blade element is oriented outwardly with respect to the fan blades; A ceiling fan according to claim (15), characterized in that: (17) Claim (16) characterized in that the length between the front end and the rear end of the blade element is about 1.5 to 3 times the maximum width of the fan blade. Ceiling fan as described. (18) A turbulence generating attachment for use with a conventional ceiling fan blade that includes a tip portion having a side edge and an outermost edge constituting the width of the fan blade and is mounted to rotate around an axis, a curved blade element for directing airflow outwardly at an angle to the axis of rotation of the curved blade element, the curved blade element having upper and lower surfaces, an inner edge portion and an outer edge portion, a front end and the upper surface of the blade element is slightly convex in shape; the lower surface of the blade is slightly concave in shape; flaring outwardly along the length of the element, the inner and outer edge portions of the blade element converging toward each other toward the forward end of the blade element; the portion is at a higher elevation perpendicularly to the inner edge portion of the blade element along at least a portion of the length of the blade element, and the apparatus further provides that the blade element is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fan blade. A turbulence generating attachment comprising attachment means for fixing said blade element to a tip portion of a blade of an electric fan so as to extend generally laterally thereto. (19) positioning means extending from the attachment means adjacent to the blade element to engage an outer edge portion of the fan blade when the blade element is properly aligned with the fan blade; An attachment for generating turbulence according to claim (18). (20) Claim (18) characterized in that the length between the front end and the lower end of the blade element is about 1.5 to 3 times the width of the fan blade. Attachment for generating turbulence as described