US20070166167A1

US20070166167A1 - Multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure

Info

Publication number: US20070166167A1
Application number: US11/333,148
Authority: US
Inventors: Robin Fan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-17
Filing date: 2006-01-17
Publication date: 2007-07-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure comprising a base body, a mounting seat, a differential mechanism, an oscillating link system, and a down rod. When the differential mechanism rotates the oscillating system, the base body of the multi-fan assembly and the mounting seat will be caused to oscillate limitedly, so that the airflow rate can be effectively controlled through the self-rotation and the revolutionary oscillation of the member fans.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multi-fan assembly, and more particularly to a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure that can enable the member fans to oscillate around the central spindle while rotating around their own axles.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
To avoid confusion during the course of this presentation, here are definitions for some words used in following descriptions as below:
Rotation: the spinning of fan blades of the member fan rounds its own axis or the circular movement of a rotatable member moving round a central shaft.
Revolution: the circular movement of two or more member fans revolving about a common central spindle.
A conventional multi-fan assembly generally comprises a base body and two member fans, the base body is attached to a ceiling by a main shaft, on a main shaft is rotatably disposed a rotary assembly that is contained in the base body and is provided a conductive unit, and then the member fans are fixed at the outside of the rotary assembly by a crossbar assembly. The conductive unit provides power for the member fans so as to make them rotate. When the member fans rotate in the same direction, it will produce a torque on the rotary assembly, thus bringing on a revolution of the member fans. For prevention of an overly large torque produced at high-speed rotation of the member fans since it will result in an overly high revolution speed of the member fans, a brake gear set is provided on the rotary assembly and is engaged with a brake gear on the main shaft, thus creating a revolution load for controlling the revolution speed. However, there are still some disadvantages that need to be improved:
Since the friction resistance between the brake gears is fixed and doesn't change with the rotation speed of the member fans, when the rotation speed increases, the torque produced will also be increased. Once the torque goes beyond the set value, the revolution speed of the member fans will increase constantly, and at this moment, the member fans will keep revolving for a certain even if the power is turned off. When this happens, the user might mistakenly think that it may be due to the poor design or the quality is not good.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure that can enable the member fans to oscillate around the central spindle while rotating around their own axles, so that the airflow rate can be effectively controlled through the self-rotation and the revolutionary oscillation of the member fans.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a part of a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 3 is an assembly view of the multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a part of a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 5 shows the multi-fan assembly in accordance with the present invention before oscillation;
FIG. 6 shows the multi-fan assembly in accordance with the present invention after oscillation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure in accordance with the present invention is shown and comprises a base body 20, a mounting seat 30, a differential mechanism 40, an oscillating link system 50, and a down rod 60.
The base body 20 is provided on its periphery with three oscillating member fans 21.
The mounting seat 30 is locked with the base body 20, and on the mounting seat 30 are defined a plurality of bearing holes 31, 32.
The differential mechanism 40 is of multi-spindle type for example, which is received in the mounting seat 30 and includes a positioning disc 41, a positioning seat 42, a gear set 43 and a motor 44. The gear set 43 is disposed between the positioning seat 42 and the positioning disc 41. The positioning seat 42 is locked in the mounting seat 30. A gear 431 of the gear set 43 includes a pivoted axle 432 inserted in one of the bearing holes 32 of the mounting seat 30. The motor 44 includes a central spindle 441 inserted in the bearing hole 31 of the mounting seat 30. Besides, a gear 433 is fixed on the motor 44 and then mounted on the central spindle 441.
The oscillating link system 50 is pivotally disposed on the mounting seat 30 and controlled by the pivoted axle 432 of the differential mechanism 40. The oscillating link system 50 comprises a positioning arm 51, a crank 52 and a rotary arm 53 that are pivotally connected together through a bearing 54. The positioning arm 51 is pivotally mounted on the central spindle 441, and the rotary arm 53 is locked to the pivoted axle 432 of the differential mechanism 40.
The down rod 60, an end of which is fixed to the ceiling while another end of the same is fixed to the central spindle 441 of the differential mechanism 40.
For a better understanding of the present invention, its operation and function, references should be made to FIGS. 4-6. When the motor 44 rotates (the central spindle 441 doesn't rotate), the gear 433 fixed on the motor 44 will drive the gear set 43 to rotate, meanwhile, the pivoted axle 432 of the gear 431 will be caused to rotate, consequently, the rotary arm 53 will rotate synchronously as a result of the rotation of the pivoted axle 432.
Due to the rotary arm 53, the crank 52 and the positioning arm 51 are pivotally connected with one another, plus the positioning arm 51 is pivotally mounted on the central spindle 441 and the rotary arm 53 is positioned on pivoted axle 432, so that when the pivoted axle 432 rotates the rotary arm 53, the crank arm 52 and the positioning arm 51 will be caused to oscillate limitedly around the central spindle 441. During the oscillation of the crank arm 52 and the positioning arm 51, the pivoted axle 432 will drive the mounting seat 30 to oscillate. Since the mounting seat 30 is locked with the base body 20, the base body 20 will be caused to oscillate limitedly as a result of the oscillation of the mounting seat 30 (this is the revolutionary oscillation of the multi-fan assembly). Therefore, airflow rate can be effectively controlled through the self-rotation and the revolutionary oscillation of the member fans.
It is to be noted that the differential mechanism in this embodiment is not limited to the multi-spindle type, it also can be of other types, including double-spindle type or planetary type.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure comprising:

a base body provided on its periphery with a plurality of oscillating member fans;

a mounting seat assembled on the base body, and a plurality of bearing holes defined on the mounting seat;

a differential mechanism disposed in the mounting seat and including a pivoted axle inserted in one of the bearing holes of the mounting seat and a central spindle inserted another one of the bearing holes;

an oscillating link system pivotally disposed on the mounting seat and controlled by the pivoted axle of the differential mechanism; and

a down rod having an end fixed to a ceiling and another end fixed to the central spindle of the differential mechanism.

2. The multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential mechanism includes a positioning disc, a positioning seat, a gear set and a motor, the gear set is disposed between the positioning seat and the positioning disc, and the positioning is locked in the mounting seat.

3. The multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential mechanism is of multi-spindle type.

4. The multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential mechanism is of double-spindle type.

5. The multi-fan assembly with an oscillating structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the differential mechanism is of planetary type.