US1938380A

US1938380A - Electric fan

Info

Publication number: US1938380A
Application number: US509984A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred C Gilbert
Original assignee: AC Gilbert Co
Current assignee: AC Gilbert Co
Priority date: 1931-01-20
Filing date: 1931-01-20
Publication date: 1933-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 1950-12-05

Description

A. c. GILBERT 1,938,380

ELECTRIC FAN Filed Jan. 20, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 4 Qwventoa 68 67 say; {M 9% Meow: S

Dec. 5, 1933. A. c, GILBERT 1,938,380

' ELECTRIC FAN Filed Jan. 20. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 67 68 72 30 I5 30 '29 23 T q 23 27 W 2 s 71 Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FAN Application January 20, 1931. Serial No. 509,984

6 Claims. (01. 230-264) This invention relates to electric fans and more especially to electric fans of the portable oscillating type. Fans of this type are generally used in homes and ofiices and it is, therefore, desirable that they be light in weight, of sturdy structure, substantially quiet in operation, economical to manufacture and efiicient in use.

One object of this invention is to provide an electric fan wherein the above desirable features are present.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved supporting frame by which parts of the motor and other parts constituting the fan are supported and secured together to form a sturdy structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of oscillating mechanism, which is adapted to be supported by the improved supporting frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means for supporting the fan upon a base member, and which cooperates with the improved supporting frame to form a sturdy structure.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an electric fan embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of part of the fan shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 44 of Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-'? of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view showing the lower part of the motor parts and a part for connecting the same to a base, and

Fig. 9 is a detailed end view of the connecting part.

The fan illustrated in the drawings generally comprises a base 10, motor 11, fan 12, fan guard 13 and an oscillating mechanism 14. Motor 11, in this instance, is one of the type known as induction motors and comprises a field core 15 and a 5 rotor 16 having a shaft 17. The fan 12 is secured to one end of shaft'l'l, the other end 18 of which has worm teeth 19 formed thereon. The rotor 16 is rotatably mounted within an opening formed by the poles of the field core 15, shaft 17 being journaled in bearing bushings 20 and 21.

The bearing bushings 20 and 21 are mounted in

plates

22 and 23 respectively,

hollow bosses

24 and 25 being formed in

plates

22 and 23 respectively to receive the same.

Tie rods 26, in this instance four, are disposed between the

plates

22 and 23 to retain them in spaced apart relation. Each tie rod 26 passes through an opening provided in the field core 15 to receive the same, and has threaded

extensions

27 and 28 formed thereon, one on either end 5 thereof. The

extensions

27 and 28 are smaller in diameter than the rods 26 and pass through openings provided therefor in

plates

22 and 23 respectively. Nuts 29 threadingly associated with the

end extensions

27 and 28 clampingly secure the

plates

22 and 23 to the ends of the tie rods. Sleeves 30 are mounted upon the tie rods 26 between the ends of field core 15 and the

adjacent plate

22 or 23, to retain the core 15 in transverse alignment with the rotor 16, which in turn is retained in operative position by sleeves 31 disposed one on either side of said rotor upon shaft 17, between the ends of the rotor and bearing bushings 20 and 21. Washers 32 may also be mounted upon shaft 17 to fill up any remaining space between bushings 20 and 21 to limit end play of the rotor 16 during operation. Variation in the length of sleeves 30 permits accurate positioning of field core 15 with respect to rotor 16 for efiicient motor operation.

When the above parts are assembled as described, a complete and operable motor unit is formed which can be operated for testing or like purposes. This motor unit is provided with base connecting means comprising a part 33 that extends from plate 22 to plate 23. Part 33 is provided with

end members

34 and 35 that are bent upwardly substantially at right angles to part 33 and are provided with openings adapted to receive end extensions 27' and 28 respectively and be secured thereto by nuts 29. Substantially midway between the

end members

34 and 35 downwardly extending ears 36 and 3'7 are provided on part 33 which straddle a base part 38. The base part 38 in this instance, is pivotally mounted upon another base part 39 to permit lateral swinging or oscillating movement of the motor by means of a vertically disposed pin 40. The pin 40 is secured to part 38 by a bolt 41 that passes through the

ears

36 and 37,

part

38 and 5 pin 40.- The pin 40 is retained in part 39 by a screw 42 which rides in the groove 40 of pin 46. The base part 39 is pivotally secured in a more or less usual manner to a base part 43 to permit vertical swinging movement of the motor for adjustment purposes, in this instance a thumb screw being provided, which, when tightened, clamps the

parts

39 and 43 together to retain the motor fan in adjusted position.

A gear housing 44 isprovided and comprises a cylindrical portion 45 which is axially disposed in respect to shaft 1'7. The end 18 of shaft 17 extends into an opening 46 formed in portion 45. Portion 45 and opening 46 are enlarged at the ends thereof adjacent the hollow boss 25 so as to enclose the same therein, and an annular flange 47 is formed on portion 45 adjacent the enlarged end thereof. The flange 47 is secured to plate 23 by screws 48. The gear housing is thus rigidly retained in place upon the rotor and field core supporting frame previously described. The gear housing is provided with another cylindrical portion 49 which is disposed below and directed substantially at right angles to portion 45. An opening 50 is formed in portion 49, one end of which is open and the other closed by a wall 51. The open end of opening 50 is closed by a disk 52 which is held in place by a threaded shaft member 53 that extends axially through this opening and threads into the end wall 51 thereof. Rotatably mounted upon the shaft member 53 is a spiral gear 54 and worm 55. Spiral gear 54 and worm 55 are integral, in this instance. The teeth of spiral gear 54 mesh with the worm teeth 19 formed on shaft 17 and are driven thereby.

Another cylindrical portion 56 forming part of housing 44, is disposed adjacent portion 49 and extends vertically and downwardly therefrom. An opening 57 is provided in portion 56, in which a shaft 58 is disposed and journaled, being held in place by a collar 59 formed thereon. An upwardly directed extension 60 is formed on shaft 58 and a spiral gear 61 is rotatably mounted upon this extension with an end face thereof resting upon collar 59. The teeth of gear 61 mesh with the teeth of worm 55 whereby it is driven. The upper end of extension 60 is threaded to receive a thumb nut 62 that is operable when turned upon the extension 60 to engage the gear 61 and force it against collar 59 whereby the shaft 58 will be drivingly connected thereto.

One end of a lever 63 is secured to the lower end of shaft 58 by means of threads on the shaft end engaging within a threaded opening in lever 63. The other end of lever 63 is pivotally secured to one end of a link 64 by a screw 65. The

other end of link 64 is pivotally secured to base part 39 by a screw 66. Rotation of shaft 58 through the instrumentality of lever 63 and link 64 will cause oscillation of motor 11 and fan 12 about their pivot formed by pin 40.

A casing composed of two cup-shaped

parts

67 and 68 one of which telescopes within a portion of the other at the edge 69 of the open end thereof, which edge is increased in diameter for this purpose, is provided to. enclose the motor parts. Suitable ventilating openings 70 are provided in each casing part and the

tie rod extensions

27 and 28 protrude through openings provided in each casing part for this purpose. Nuts 71 threadingly engage the

extensions

27 and 28 to retain the respective casing part thereon, the nut 71 adjacent casing part 6'7 being also used to secure supporting wires 72 of the fan guard 13 to the motor supporting frame. By this arrangement, the casing parts may readily be removed without disturbing the operating parts of the fan to permit inspection and repair thereof when such is desired.

An electric fan of the above described construction is light in weight, sturdy, comparatively quiet in operation, and economical to manufacture. The combination of the improved frame structure with other of the parts constituting the fan and motor that are secured together and supported in operable positions thereby, provides an especially sturdy and efiicient structure. The improved gear housing wherein the gears and worms constituting the drive for the oscillating mechanism are readily inserted and removed, provides a gear reduction unit that is both economical to manufacture and efficient in use. The use of member 33 to connect the motor supporting frame to the base part 38 insures that the motor and fan will be firmly supported and retained upon the base parts. By slotting the openings in one of the

end members

34 and 35, for instance 35, as shown at 35 in Fig. 9, the member 33 may be adjustably secured to the motor supporting frame to position the motor in vertical alignment with the pivot pin 40. These slots also facilitate the assembly of the member 33 on the motor since the member 33 may be slipped on to the extensions 27 and then swung to bring the end member 35 between the nuts 29 and plate 23, the slots 100 35 permitting the entrance of the ends 28 therein.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to the details shown but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an electric fan of the type described, an electric motor shaft bearing plates at each end of said motor, connecting means for and between said plates, a casing part about each of said plates, and an oscillating mechanism for said fan drivingly connected to said motor, a housing 115 for said mechanism having a part extending through an end of one of said casing parts and being detachably secured .to one of said plates.

2. In an oscillating fan, a base, a rotor shaft having a bladed fan thereon, a shaft bearing sup- 120 porting plate, a gear housing secured to said plate and having an axially directed opening to receive an end of said shaft, said shaft having worm teeth formed upon the end thereof within said housing, saidhousing having a horizontally dis- 125 posed opening therein disposed substantially at right angles to the first opening, an integrally formed gear and worm disposed in the last named opening, said gear and worm being insertable through an end of the opening, a cover for said 130 end of the last named opening, means to retain said cover in place and to form a shaft for said gear and worm, said gear being drivingly connected to the worm teeth on said rotor shaft, said housing having a vertically disposed opening 185 therein, a shaft in the vertically disposed opening, a gear rotatably mounted on one end of said shaft and being drivingly connected to said worm, a member on said shaft rotatable to drivingly connect said gear to said shaft, a lever connected to the other end of said shaft, and a link connected to said lever and to said base.

3. In an oscillating fan, a base, a'rotor shaft having a bladed fan thereon, oscillating mechanism comprising a housing having a portion provided with an opening to axially receive said shaft, a portion disposed at right angles to said first portion and provided with an opening closed at one end and open at the other, a gear and a worm integral with each other disposed in the 150 opening in said second portion, said gear being drivingly connected to said rotor shaft, a cover for the open end of the opening in said second portion, a member to secure said cover to said portion and extending through said gear and worm to act as a shaft therefor, a third portion extending at right angles to said second portion and provided with an opening therethrough having a shaft joumaled therein, each end of said shaft extending outwardly beyond said portion, a lever on one end of said shaft, a link connecting said lever and said base a gear drivingly connected to said worm and rotatably mounted upon said shaft, a collar on said shaft upon which said gear may ride, and means rotatable on the other end of said shaft and operable to clamp said gear against said collar to drivingly connect the same to said shaft.

4. In an electric fan of the type described, a base, an electric motor having a casing, a field core and an armature, said armature being mounted upon a shaft, said shaft extending axially outward from both ends of said armature, a bladed fan secured to one end of said shaft, the other end of said shaft having worm gear teeth formed thereon, an oscillating mechanism for said electric fan, and common supporting means for the aforesaid parts. comprising a pair of end plates within the casing and disposed one adjacent each end of said armature, a bearing in each plate for said shaft, rods extending between said plates and supporting said field core, a housing about said oscillating mechanism and into which the worm gear toothed end of said shaft extends, said housing having a part extending into the casing and removably secured to one of said plates, a member extending between said plates and secured to each, said member being pivotally mounted upon said base, said oscillating mechanism being operatively connected to said armature shaft and said base to oscillate said parts relatively to said base.

5. In an electric fan, a base, an electric motor, said motor including in its structure a casing, a field core, a rotor having a shaft, spaced apart plates within the casing in which said shaft is journaled, and a casing about the aforesaid motor parts, a fan on said shaft, a guard about said fan, oscillating mechanism for said fan, said mechanism having a part extending within the casing and removably secured to one of said plates and supported thereby, common means to connect and support said field core, said plates, said casing and said fan guard together and in operative position in respect to each other, and means to pivotally connect said common means to said base.

6. In an oscillating fan, a base, a rotor shaft having a bladed fan thereon, oscillating mechanism comprising a housing having a portion provided with an opening to axially receive said rotor shaft, a portion disposed at right angles to said first portion and provided with an opening closed at one end and open at the other, a gear and a worm integral with each other disposed in the opening in said second portion and insertable through an end thereof, said gear being drivingly connected to said rotor shaft, a cover for said end of the opening in said second portion, a member to secure said cover to said portion and extending through said integral gear and worm to act as a shaft therefor, a third portion having a vertically disposed shaft therein, a lever on the lower end of said shaft, and a link connecting said lever with said base, and means to drivingly connect said shaft to said last mentioned worm.

ALFRED C. GILBERT.