US20060073044A1

US20060073044A1 - Car window circulator fan driven by solar generator

Info

Publication number: US20060073044A1
Application number: US10/949,756
Authority: US
Inventors: Wing Lui
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-24
Filing date: 2004-09-24
Publication date: 2006-04-06

Abstract

A solar circulator and converter which is driven by a solar generator; the fan or impeller is mounted in an impeller housing. On the surface opposite the impeller housing is a solar panel with mounting elements which can be affixed or mounted on such things as car windows. The impeller or fan blows and circulates air inside the car whether the car is stationery or in motion. The circulator also converts part of the solar radiation into forms of energy other than heat and thereby reduces temperature.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to circulation fans used in vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to solar powered circulating fans which are mounted within an interior of a vehicle such as a car.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle compartments such as those found in automobiles often require air circulation to make the compartment comfortable for an occupant. For example, during the summer months, in many areas of the world, solar radiation heats the interior of the car to a high temperature and may preferentially heat some areas of the car to temperatures greater than that found in other areas of the car. For example, steering wheels and dashboards, heated by this solar radiation, may reach a temperature that is extremely uncomfortable for a user of the vehicle to contact.
As is well known in the physical science arts, solar radiation is composed primarily of short wave radiation. This short wave radiation readily passes through such materials as glass wherein it strikes objects behind the glass which are then heated and produce a long wave radiation. Since glass is generally substantially opaque to long wave radiation, the temperature within a space enclosed by glass increases as exposure to solar radiation continues.
Conventionally, this heating problem is addressed by attempts to remove heated air from the vehicle compartment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,645 discusses a solar powered fan mounted to the side window of a car. The fan operates to ventilate the compartment by extracting air from inside the vehicle compartment. However, this device has an inherent flaw in that it cannot be used in a tightly closed compartment, but requires that a gap in the window be present. This presents a serious problem to the owner of the vehicle since, among other things, the gap provides an opening through which unauthorized access to the vehicle can be made possible. In addition, the solar panel is positioned on the side windows of a vehicle. These side windows are significantly vertical in their orientation creating an inefficient use of solar energy since the solar panel is not fully illuminated during the hottest times of the day when the sun is directly above the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the present invention in a preferred form includes a housing having a motor mounted on one side of the housing and a solar panel mounted on an opposing side of the housing. The housing has at least one mounting element attached to the solar panel side of the housing. The mounting element allows mounting of the air circulator to a vehicle's window or other surface associated with the vehicle. For example, the invention can be mounted on the interior side of the rear, front, or side windows with a suction cup. Preferably, the invention is mounted to the rear or front windows since these windows are usually inclined or sloped at a considerable angle and provide an advantageous capture of solar energy throughout the day.
An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle compartment air circulating device which is powered by solar energy and which efficiently and effectively circulates air within the compartment of the vehicle while being exposed to the sun.
Another object of the invention is to limit a vehicle interior's exposure to solar radiation by providing a surface area which interferes with or occludes the entrance of solar radiation into the vehicle compartment and to convert part of the interfered or occluded solar radiation to an electrical energy.
Another object of the invention is to reduce the temperature and to provide an even distribution of heat energy within the compartment and among objects in the compartment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles which does not create security risks, and is easy to install within the vehicle's compartment.
Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
A further object of the invention is to provide a new, simplified, and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles, which is of a durable and reliable construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly as shown in FIG. 2 from a 90° turned position consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view from above and to the side of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view from below and to the side of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view from above of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly attached to a glass window consistent with the present invention;
FIG. 8 shows a circulator fan assembly, consistent with the present invention, mounted to a rear window of a vehicle;
FIG. 9 shows a cut away view of a closed vehicle compartment having a circulator fan assembly, consistent with the present invention, mounted to an interior surface of the closed compartment; and
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like components throughout the figures, FIG. 1 shows an air circulator assembly 10 having a housing 12 with a first side 24 which includes a solar panel 13. The housing first side 24 may also include a mounting element, such as a suction cup 14, by which, for example, the assembly 10 can be fixed to such surfaces as automotive windows. With reference to FIG. 10, the housing also includes fan unit 100 attached to a second side 26 of the housing 12. The fan unit 100 includes a motor 20 in operative connection with a fan having a central hub 16. The motor 20 is contained in a motor housing 25. The motor housing 25 is associated with a pedestal 23. A plurality of fan blades 15 are fixed to the hub 16, as shown in FIG. 6.
In one embodiment of the invention, the hub 16 with associated blades 15, is attached to the motor 20, by an intermediate spindle 22. The fan blades 15 and central hub 16 may be formed of a variety of materials well known in the fan arts. For example, the fan blades 15 and central hub 16 may be made of plastic and/or metal. The number, size, and shape of fan blades 15 and the configuration of the hub 16 may be varied in order to influence air circulation efficiency of the fan unit 100.
In one embodiment of the invention, the motor housing 25 and pedestal 23 provides a standoff distance between the hub 16 and the second side 26 of the housing. This may, among other things, increase the efficiency of air circulation since the efficiency of the fan blades 15 is not significantly affected by the surface to which the assembly 10 is attached. For example, the standoff distance may provide a sufficient distance between the glass, as shown in FIG. 7 and the fan blades 15 such that air may efficiently flow to the intake side of the fan.
The housing 12, in one embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 4, can have a generally elongate configuration and may be constructed of plastic, metal, and/or similar materials. For example, the housing may be constructed of high impact and/or temperature resistant plastic.
The solar panel 13, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 may include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous elements well known in the solar power generation arts. The solar panel 13, in one embodiment of the invention is rectangular and is fitted to the housing 12 such that the solar panel occupies an unobstructed area of the housing's first side 24. The solar panel 13 is operatively connected to the electric motor 20 via, for example, wiring, to power the electric motor 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the electric motor 20 is electrically connected to the solar panel 13 by a pair of wires 42. The solar panel may be fixed to the housing 12 by a retaining bracket 40. The retaining bracket 40 is fastened to the housing 12 and retains and supports the solar panel 13 in a fixed position.
In one embodiment of the invention, the housing 12 and solar panel 13 provide a surface area that blocks solar radiation from entering the vehicle's compartment. For example, the base 12 and solar panel 13 may block a significant amount of solar energy such that because the solar radiation is blocked, the temperature within the vehicle compartment does not rise as high as it would have if the base 12 and solar panel 13 were not present. A portion of the blocked solar radiation is converted to electrical energy by the solar panel 13.
In one embodiment of the invention, the air circulator unit 10 may be used with a car 46 having a closed compartment 48 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, the air circulator unit 10 may be attached to a rear window such that when exposed to solar radiation it will circulate air within the vehicle compartment 48. It should be noted, that other locations in the closed vehicle compartment 48 can be used to mount the air circulator unit 10. For example, the air circulator unit can be designed into the configuration of a shade visor. In addition several air circulator units 10 may be used.
The motor 20, in one embodiment of the invention, is a DC motor, which is connected to the solar panel by wires, for example, a positive and negative wire well known in the solar power generation and electrical motor arts.
The mounting element, for example, suction cups 14 are advantageously positioned on the housing 12, as shown in FIG. 5, such that the suction cups 14 do not interfere with solar radiation flowing to the solar panel 13. It should be noted that the mounting element can also include such things as adhesive and/or magnetic materials. The suction cups 14, when present, are of a generally concave configuration and may be made of a flexible material such as rubber, plastic, and/or silicone. In operation, the fan circulator assembly 10 with attached suction cups 14 is pressed against a smooth surface such as glass 200, as shown in FIG. 7. This creates suction between the suction cup 14 and the smooth surface. This suction force keeps the suction cup fixed to the smooth surface. The suction cups 14 also make the air circulation assembly 10 easily transferable between, for example, windows or surfaces within the closed vehicle compartment 48. The suction cup 14 is fixed to the housing 12 with, for example, an adhesive or other fastening assembly, for example, screws, rivets and pins.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in one embodiment of the invention, a pair suction cups 14 are mounted such that each suction cup is on an opposing end of the housing 12. The solar panel 13 may be intermediate the suction cups 14.
The fan hub 16 and associated fan blades 15 are configured such that the pitch of the fan blades 15 relative to a horizontal plane, shown in FIG. 3 as x, creates air movement as the fan rotates about axis y. This circulating air creates various air currents and pathways within a compartment of the vehicle such that the temperature within the vehicle is substantially equilibrated. In addition, surfaces of the vehicle such as windows provide a locus for the transfer of heat energy between an interior of the car and an exterior of the car, thus, air of a higher temperature within the car, when circulated by the air circulation assembly 10, is allowed to more efficiently equilibrate with air of a lower temperature found exterior to the car. For example, the glass 200, as shown in FIG. 7, will allow conduction of heat across its thickness, thus, a higher temperature zone within a vehicle can equilibrate with a lower temperature zone exterior to the vehicle.
While the preferred embodiments of the foregoing invention have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the foregoing description should not bee deemed a limitation of the invention. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air circulation fan assembly comprising:

a housing having a first side and a second side;

a solar panel mounted to the first side;

a first mounting element fixed to the first side;

an electrical motor mounted to the second side, said electrical motor electrically connected with the solar panel; and

a fan having a central hub operatively connected to the electrical motor, said central hub having a plurality of fan blades.

2. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing forms an elongate structure having the first mounting element fixed at a first end and a second mounting element fixed to a second end, said solar panel is mounted intermediate the first mounting element and the second mounting element.

3. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is mounted such that it covers a central portion of the first side of the housing, and wherein the motor is mounted such that it covers a central portion of the second side of the housing.

4. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting element is fixed to a glass window.

5. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical motor is a DC motor.

6. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is selected from solar panels constructed of a monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous material.

7. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the base and solar panel blocks a significant amount of solar radiation and converts a portion of the solar radiation into electrical energy.

8. The air circulation fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first mounting element is a suction cup.

9. A vehicle compartment air circulator fan and vehicle window assembly comprising:

a vehicle having a closed compartment which includes a window

an air circulator housing mounted inside the closed compartment, said air circulator housing having a first side and a second side;

a solar panel, having a power output, mounted to the first side of the air circulator housing; and

an electrical motor in mechanical connection with a fan having a central hub, said central hub having a plurality of fan blades, said electrical motor electrically connected to the power output.

10. The vehicle compartment air circulation fan and vehicle window assembly of claim 9, wherein the electrical motor is mounted within a motor housing protruding from the second side of the air circulator housing.

11. The vehicle compartment air circulation fan and vehicle window assembly of claim 9, wherein the solar panel is mounted to the first side of the air circulator housing by a retaining bracket.

12. The vehicle compartment air circulation fan and vehicle window assembly of claim 9, wherein the solar panel operatively occludes a portion of the window.