US2502207A - Ventilator - Google Patents

Description

March 28, 1950 MQVB. cuRLEY ETAL VENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed July 12, 1940 .Y u QQ 0U 7C B w NW w .0 M m AND JAMES KILBOUBNE,

M. B. CURLEY ETAL March 28, 1950 VENTILATOR I 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Original Filed July 12, 1940 [NVE/VTOQS, MoreToN B. CUBLEY i AND JAMES KILBOUQNE,

Patented Niar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

VENTILATOR Original application July 12, 1940, Serial No. 345,186. Divided and this application July 24, 1942, Serial No. 452,152

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved ventilator or blower for use in underground mines to supply clean air at the working. faces that are usually dead ends.

One object of the invention is to provide in a device of this class a compact light weight unit that can be readily moved from place to place.

Another object ofwthe invention is to position the switch or control of the motor inside a stationary part of the inner frame where it is protected from damage and needs no individual protective casing.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appendedclaims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the ventilator or blower;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 looking into the inlet of the ventilator;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 4 -4, Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross section. of one of the air straightening vanes and one blade of the impeller; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the electric switch and associated parts.

This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 345,186, filed July 12, 1940, now U. S. Patent No. 2,323,456 of July 6, 1943 for an Improvement in ;a ventilator.

The ventilator or :blower herein disclosed and claimed may be utilized :in many places where a flow of air is to be produced but for the purpose of clarity it will be described as a blower to which a flexible tube or conduit is attached for the purpose of carrying air to a mine working place.

In the various systems of mining employed, there is a network of haulage ways, entries, air courses and rooms,- all portions of which should be well ventilated. Theactual working places are commonly rooms, driven 01f the entries, which advance leaving side walls or pillars for protection against the roof falling. It is dilficult to change the air in these dead end working places unless a blower or vetilator is placed in the entry, where the air is being constantly changed by a main ventilating fan, and extend a flexible air .duct or readily extensible tubing to a point in close proximity to the face. The blower takes clean air from the entry and blows it to the face which by way of displacement causes the foul airv at the .face to flow out through the room neck into the entry where it is diluted by mixing with the clean air.

A mine has many such Working places only a relatively few of which are in use at any one time. It would be costly to provide each with an individual ventilator; therefore any unit put to such use must be compact and of light weight so that it can be quickly and easily moved.

Referring to the drawings, the ventilator or blower comprises a housing A mounted upon a base B which may be picked up and carried or slid over the mine floor. Inside the housing A there is mounted a motor C to which is operatively connected the fan wheel or impeller D. A flexible tubing E may be laid to carry the flow of air produced by the ventilator to any desired location.

The base B comprises a plate It! substantially flat on the bottom with curved portions ll around the entire outer edge so that it may be moved by sliding. To the edges of the curved portions H is, fixed by welding, a rectangular shaped pipe frame [2 having a raised portion I3 for a handle.

The housing A comprises a substantially cylindrical body it with an outwardly flared inlet opening l5 and a slightly reduced outlet opening [6 to which may be attached the flexible tubing 11 by means of a clamping ring I 8. The rim 19 of the outlet Hi prevents slippage of the ring it and the tubing ll should the tubing be pulled or the ventilator be moved. The housing A is provided with a pair of cast feet 20 at the inlet end which rest upon the base plate I!) and fixed thereto by the bolts 2|. A saddle 22 having a top shaped to fit the outside of the housing as indicated at 23 is fixed to the opposite end of the base plate It] as by means of the bolts 24. The outlet end of the housing I4 rests in the curved portion 23 of the saddle 22 and is clamped in a fixed position by means of a circular bar 25 which encircles the housing and extends through apertures in the lu s 26, 2'! of the saddle 22. Nuts 28 are placed on the screw thread ends of the bar 25 to maintain this fixed relation.

The motor C comprises a main frame including a cvlindrical body portion or section having an end bell 29 which. as shown in Fig. '3, is cast integral with the circumferentially s aced radial vanes 30 which in turn are cast integral with the housing A. The housing A. vanes 30 and the motor main frame section having end bell 29 all integral with each other, are preferably made of an alloy comprising principally aluminum. The fixed and stationary supporting vanes are preferably airfoil shaped in cross-section as shown in Fig. 5.

While in Fig. i five of such vanes 3B are shown, the number may be varied. The vanes 30 should be sufficient in number, however, to support the motor and rotary elements including the impeller D and nevertheless leave sufi1' cient space therebetween to permit free flow of air through the portable unit shown in Fig. 3.

The field frame 3| of the main frame of motor C is made of magnetic material such as cast steel, in order to have requisite strength and to create the proper magnetic field. As here shown the field frame Si is generally cylindrical and has cast integral therewith another end cell 32 which may provide a complete enclosure of the rotating elements of the motor when said field frame 3| is attached to the end bell 29 which has been previously described as being cast integral with the vanes 36] and the housing I l. The field frame 3! may be secured rigidly to the end bell 29 by means of a plurality of ciroumferentially spaced screws one of which is shown at 3| in Fig. 3. The end. bell 32 may. however, be a separate casting of aluminum alloy in the form of an open frame, fixed to the field frame Si in the same manner as the end bell 29 is fixed thereto. It is thus seen that the motor main frame is formed of two separable sections each including a cylindrical portion and 'an end bell.

Attached tothe inside of the outer walls of the field frame Si is a series of field pole pieces 33. The rotor or armature B l is mounted upon an armature shaft 35 which is journaled in the ball bearings 36, 37, the ball bearing 36 being carried by the end bell 32 and the ball bearing 3! being carried by the end bell 29.

The impeller D comprises a hub 39, keyed to the portion of the armature shaft 35 that extends beyond the end bell 29, a circular flange 40 being connected to the hub 39 by a web 4!. On the outer periphery of the flange Ml are two relatively wide, short, impeller blades 42. In order to obtain substantially frictionless flow of air into the housing A there is provided a sheet metal blunt nose cowl 43 fitted to the outer periphery of the flange All of the impeller wheel and held in position by a relatively long screw 44 one end of which is adapted to fit a screw threaded aperture in the end of the armature shaft 55, a lock nut 45 preventing accidental displacement.

Rotation of the impeller 32 creates movement of the air in a spiral path and it must be changed to a straight line flow to develop a high efi'iciency. The airfoil shaped arms as being designed to straighten the flow of air with a minimum frictional loss, their size, shape and position'with respect to the impeller 82 are important. When "the impelle'rblade 42 rotates in the direction 'of the'arrow 68 in Fig. 5, the fixed and stationary blades 30 are engaged by the spirally propelled air to straighten the air flow to the direction indicated by the arrow 59.

The streamlined tail piece 16 is shaped to reduce friction loss. It covers the rear end of the motor C and houses the electrical switch M. A ring 48 of the tail piece 55 fits tightly over a complementary flange 58 of the field frame 3! and is held in fixed relation thereto by a bolt or screw 49 which engages a screw threaded aperture in the end bell 32. The construction of the end bell 32 may be closed so as to co-act with the end bell 29 to form a complete enclosure for the rotating elements of the motor, in which event the end bell 32 co-acts with the tail piece (ill to form a complete enclosure for the electric switch ti However, if the end bell 32 is provided with the series of circumferential openings till, the tail piece QB co-acts with the end bell 29 to form a complete enclosure for both the electric switch 47 and rotating parts of the motor. It will thus be seen that all arcing produced by operation of the motor and by operation of the switch is confined to the two separate enclosures or to the larger enclosure between the end bell 29 and tail. piece l6. Such enclosures are substantially complete notwithstanding the connections between the motor and the source of electric power and notwithstanding the presence of switch operating mechanism extending to an operating position outside of the housing M as shown in the accompanying drawings. The tail piece 38 by reason of its construction has a plurality of functions; it is part of the mechanism for securing it rigidly to the motor frame as shown in Fig. 3; it has an exterior tapering surface for streamlining the forced current of air into the flexible tubing ii; and it substantially encloses the electric switch 41 thereby confining arcing of the switch to an enclosed space and simplifies the power connection to the. electric motor armature and field windings. A

A rotary fan 3% is fixed to the armature shaft 35 inside the bell 29. The endbell 32 is provided with a'series of circumferentially spaced openings indicated .at til :which permit a flow of air produced by the rotary fan 38 to pass through the .motor C and over' the switch ll.

Constant circulation of the air within the motor housing prevents undue heating of the various electrical elements.

Power for operation of the motor C is sup plied through an electric cable 52 one end of which may be attached to any source of power and the other end brought through a cable clamp 53 on 'th'e'saddle 22 and into a tubing 5 which extends through the housing M and into the field frame 3i. An off and on switch 4'! housed within the tail piece dB is connected in the motor circuit and maybe operated by means of the lever 55 which extends through the housing I l and connects with the switch actuating devicelai' as indicated at 53. Pulling on the knob 51 throws the switch 41 to the on position to energize the motor, and movement in the opposite direction throws it off.

It will be noted that the push'and pull actuating device M for operating the switch M is slidably journaled in a bearing 62 cast integral with the tail piece 45. One end of the device El is necked down as indicated at 63 and engages 'a U-shaped yoke 64 of the switch. Movement 'words, it acts as a'screw jack for removal of the enclosing tail piece lii from the field frame 3!.

Removal of the cotter pin fil-separates the lever 55 from the switch actuating device 6! and permits removal of the device ti together with the tailpiece 46. Access may then be had to the motor brushes and switch 41; also to fuse it for renewal of same.

Since the ventilator or blower may be used in places where particles suificiently large to cause bending or breakage of parts may be pulled into the inlet opening there is provided a screen attached to the inlet end of the housing It by means of bolts 58.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications in the details and arrangement of parts without depart ing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended, and we therefore wish not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of our invention, what we desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having an armature, mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a complete enclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, means supporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall of said housing includin radially extending guide vanes formed integral with the ventilator housing at their radial outer ends and integral with the motor frame at their radial inner ends, an air impeller driven by said motor and adapted to force air through said housing and outside said motor 0 past said guide vanes, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor positioned adjacent said motor and within said enclosure, and actuating mechanism for said switch extending from outside said ventilator housing through the forced air path and connected to operate said controlling switch within said enclosure.

2. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having an armature, mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a complete enclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, means supporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall of said housing including radially extending guide vanes formed integral with the ventilator housing at their radial outer ends, an air impeller driven by said motor and adapted to force air through said housing and outside said motor past said guide vanes, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor positioned adjacent said motor and within said enclosure, and actuating mechanism for said switch extending from outside said ventilator housing through the forced air path and connected to operate said COIl'tlOllillg switch within said enclosure.

3. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned. within said housing and having an armature, mechanism cooperating with the frame of said motor to form a complete enclosure for the rotating parts thereof including the armature, means supporting the motor and said enclosing mechanism from the inner wall of said housing including guide vanes, an air impeller driven by said motor and adapted to force air through said housing and outside said motor past said guide vanes, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor positioned adjacent said motor and within said enclosure, and actuating mechanism for said switch extending from outside said ventilator housin through the forced air path and connected to operate said controlling switch within said enclosure.

i. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearlugs for the motor armature shaft, one end bell being closed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell, means supporting motor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing and outside said motor, means holding said motor field frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover together to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a start- ..g and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said motor enclosure and carried by said open end bell and outwardly thereof and adjacent said streamlined cover, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path and into the enclosure for said switch, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

5. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned "within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell closed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell, means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall of housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing outside said motor, means holding said motor field frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover together to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said motor enclosure, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path and into the enclosure for said switch, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

6. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell being closed and the other open, a streamlined cover for the open end bell, means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing and outside said motor, means holding said motor field frame, closed end bell and streamlined cover together to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said motor enclosure and carried by said open end bell, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path and into the enclosure for said switch, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

7. In a ventilator, the combination with a Ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned Within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell being open, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner Wall of said housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor field frame and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said enclosure and carried by said one end bell, a fan on said armature shaft inside said enclosure for circulating air within said enclosure and over said motor field and armature and said controlling switch, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path and into said enclosure, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

8. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell being open, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor field. frame and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said enclosure,

fan on said armature shaft inside said enclosure for circulating air within said enclosure and over said motor field and armature and said controlling switch, and mechanical switch actuating mechanism extending from outside said housing, through said air path and into said enclosure, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

9. In a ventilator, the combination with a ventilator housing, of an electric motor positioned within said housing and having a motor field frame and an armature on a shaft, end bells secured to the motor frame and supporting bearings for the motor armature shaft, one end bell being open, a streamlined cover for said one end bell, means supporting said motor within and spaced from the inner wall of said housing, an air impeller driven by said motor and positioned to force air through said housing and outside said motor, means cooperating with said motor field frame and streamlined cover to provide a total enclosure for the field and armature of said motor, a starting and stopping controlling switch for said motor within said enclosure, a fan on said armature shaft inside said enclosure for circulating air within said enclosure and over said motor field and armature and said controlling switch, and switch actuating mechanism, said actuating mechanism having means for operating it outside said housing thereby to control said switch.

MORTON B. CURLEY. JAMES KILBOURNE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,897 Burgess Aug. 27, 1929 1,864,277 Tucker et al. June 21, 1932 1,932,231 Schmidt Oct. 24, 1933 2,040,188 Smellie May 12, 1936 2,294,586 Troller Sept. 1, 1942 2,323,456 Curley et a1. July 6, 1943

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