US2917227A - Fan construction - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1959 D. R. RUEGSEGGER mu CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 21, 1955 INVENTOR. 07147; Z Zz/ezsezge'r azwz/s,

Dec. 15, 1959 o. R. RUEGSEGGER 2,917,227

FAN CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Jan. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent FAN CONSTRUCTION Donald R. Ruegsegger, Detroit, Mich.

Application January 21, 1955, Serial No. 483,362

6 Claims. 01. 230-114 The present invention relates generally to a fan construction and more specifically to a ceiling fan construction' adapted to be mounted in a ceiling opening.

In prior exhaust fans, and particularly in ceiling exhaust fans, it has been conventional to equip the fan housing with a multi-bladed fan and a separate shutter to close the air inlet opening when the fan is not operating. In some of these fans, the shutter is manually operated while in other cases, the shutter is provided with an automatic device to open and close it in response to the starting. and stopping of the fan. When the shutter is manually operated, it frequently occurs that the fan is accidentally operated with the shutter closed or the shutter is not closed after use of the fan. When the shutter is automatic, the mechanism is complex, likely to go out of order, and the entire fan is unduly expensive to buy and install. In addition, many of the existing ceiling exhaust fans of both types are noisy and transmit considerable vibration to the surrounding building structure.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a fan construction embodying a combined fan and shutter which requires no shutter operating mechanism by virtue of the shutter and fan being combined, with the former being operated, at least in part, by the passage of air or other fluid through the fan.

Another object is to provide a fan construction embodying a simple soundand vibration-dampening mounting between the motor and fan, on the one hand, and the ceiling mounting plate, on the other hand.

Another object is to provide a combination fan and shutter employing hinged shutter blades in which both the passage of air and centrifugal force is utilized to open the shutter and gravity is employed to close it.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent, or will become apparent, in the more detailed description of the invention to follow when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the fan construction of this invention showing the shutter-operating weights (in solid outline), partially retracted for convenient illustration and showing in phantom outline A the weightin the shutter-closed position and in phantom outline B in the shutter-open position;

Fig. 2 is a side view in section of the fan of Fig. 1 showing the shutter closed, the section being taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is another side view in section similar to that of Fig. 2, the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view in section through one of the hollow motor mount frame members of the fan of Figs. 1 to 3, the section being taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional side view through the central fan plate showingthe upstanding fixed 'airmoving vanes and the hinged shutter vanes in'the closed Fig. 6 is another fragmentary sectional side view through the central fan plate, similar'to that of Fig. 5, but showing the hinged shutter vanes in the open position; and

Fig. 7 is an end view of the fan plate with the shutter closed and showing the manner of connecting the-centrifugal weight and the hinged shutter vane.

In accordance with the present invention, a fan consruction is provided which includes a combined fan and shutter comprising a central circular vane-mounting plate (or fan-shutter plate) to which are attached pairs of vanes each composed of a fixed air-moving vane and a hinged shutter vane, the two vanes of each pair being joined at their base to the'vane-mounting plate and the hinged shutter vanes being arranged to lie flat and close the openings between the fixed air moving vanes when the fan is not operating, and to be raised by combination'of the passage of air and centrifugal force to assume a position nearly parallel with the fixed air moving vane when the fan is operating. The fan construction of this inventionalso includes a novel lightweight fan and motor mounting frame comprising hollow, structural members and a number of intersecting plates, all of which are attached to a ceilingor wall-mounting plate by a novel sound and vibration-dampening mounting comprising a resilient memberhaving a body portion for insertion in each end of the hollow frame members and an integral head portion or cap which fits across the end of such member and a screw-type fastening device passed through the ceiling-mounting plate and through the resilient member to compress and, expand the body portion thereof inside the hollow structural member.

Referring nowto the drawings, the fan of this invention isseen to comprise a base plate or wallor ceiling-mounting plate 10 whichis designed for mounting in an opening in a wall or ceiling. Attached to the 'plate 10 are a pair of intersecting frame-members 11, 12 which are tubular or of other hollow structural shape. As shown best in Fig. 2, the member 11 is bent in on itself at right angles to form two legs 13 at right angles to the plate 10, and asubstantially straight-horizontal bar 14' connecting the legs. Member 12 also has two substantially straight legs 15 which intersect the plate" 10 at about right angles but its middle bar 16 is given a reverse bend so as to be spaced apart from the middle bar 14 of member 11. The members 11, 12' are braced against one another by a pair of intersecting plates 17, 18. Plate 17 is welded, brazed or soldered to one side of the middle bar 14' of member 11, while plate 18 is similarly attached to the depressed middle bar16 of member 12. Plate 18 is slotted to receive plate 17 and the two plates may be welded, spot welded or brazed along their intersections, if desired. Plate 17 is considerably longer than plate 18 so as to provide a mounting surface to which is attached a motor 19.

Secured to plate 17 above its point of intersection with plate 18 is an upper bearing 30. Likewise, secured to plate 18 below its intersection with plate 17 is a lower bearing 30 identical with the upper bearing. In the bearings '30 there is journalled a fan shaft 31 which carries on its upwardly-projecting end a V-belt pulley 32. The motor 19 carries a V-belt pulley 34 over which is placed a V-belt 33 for driving shaft 31.

The entire motor and fan shaft supporting frame just described is mounted on a noiseand vibration-dampening mounting, shown most clearly in Fig. 4, which comprises a unitary resilient member 40 of rubber or plastic having a body portion 41 shaped to be inserted in the tubular or other shaped hollow structural leg members 13, 15 and an enlarged head or cap 42 which fits over the end of member 13. Passed longitudinally through the plate 10, head 42 and body portion 41 is a bolt 43 having an internal washer 44 and a nut 45. When the bolt 43 and 'nut 45 are tightened down, the Washer 44- compresses the resilient body portion 41, causing it to expand into tight contact with the inner surface of the member 13. With this arrangement, there is no direct metal-to-metal contact between the leg 13 and the plate 10, the vibration induced by the motor 19 and shaft 31 being expended to a considerable extent by rocking on the resilient pad formed by the head 42 of the resilient member 40.

On the mounting just described, the combination fan and shutter is suspended in a circular air inlet opening 50 in the mounting plate 10. The combination fan and shutter includes a small central vane-mounting plate 51 (see Figs. 2 and 3) mounted substantially fiush with plate and attached to and supported from shaft 31 by means of a hub 52. The hub 52 is spot welded, brazed or soldered to the plate 51 and is secured to shaft 31 by means of a set screw 53. Attached radially around the circumference of plate 51 are pairs of vanes 54, 55, the former of which is fixed and raised with respect to plate 51 in the direction of air fiow and the latter is hinged and free to swing on its mounting. As appears most correct angle and attaching it to plate 51 by means of small rivets or bolts 56. A part of the lower edge of each of vanes 54 is cut and rolled backwardly on itself to form a plurality of hinge members 58. Likewise, the lower edges of the shutter vanes 55 are cut and rolled the opposite way to form a plurality of complementary hinge parts 59. The hinge parts 58 and 59 are fitted together and a small pin 60 passed therethrough to secure the vanes 55 to vanes 54. The pin 60 is upset on the outer end and welded, if desired, to plate 51. Thus provided, the shutter vanes can rotate about pin 60 to assume a position nearly parallel to the fixed, air-moving vanes. The outer edges of the hinged shutter vanes 55 are crimped upwardly to form a tab 61 which fits snugly against the lower edge of the next adjacent upstanding fixed vane 54 to effect a seal against the passageof dirt,

insects, cold or hot outer air, and the like, when the fan is not operating.

As appears most clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, each of the fixed vanes 54 is provided with a centrifugal weight 62 which is pivotally secured thereto by means of a rivet or bolt 64. As will be noted, the weight 62 is a segment of a circle and is attached to rivet 64 at about the center of the circle. Attached to an outer corner of weight 64 is a chain or other linkage 66 which is extended over the edge of vane 54 and fastened to the hinged vane 55 located therebelow. So mounted, the weights 62 will tend to swing outwardly under centrifugal force induced by rotation of plate 51 so that its center line can align itself to coincide with a projected radius of plate 51. The chain length, however, causes the weight to assume a position shown in phantom at B in Fig. 1. When this occurs, chain 66 will be pulled upwardly to raise the vane 55, thus opening the shutter. The air flow will also assist in swinging the shutter vanes 55, the two forces causing the hinged vanes 55 to approach parallelism with the the same time the centrifugal force exerted on the weights 62 will cause the latter to pivot outwardly exerting a pull on the linkages 66. As the flow of air through the fan increases, the air flow will further buoy the shutter blades causing them to approach parallelism with the fixed fan blades. The shutter at this point is open. When the motor 19 is shut off the air flow through the fan decreases and the centrifugal force on the weights also decreases allowing the shutter vanes to gradually pivot down until they contact the fixed air vanes. The disposition of the weights 62 then will approximate the phantom outline A of Fig. 2. Closing of the shutter is gradually, quietly and automatically accomplished according to the speed of the fan.

The use of counterweights to assist in opening the shutter vanes is not always required if the material of the vanes is light and the speed of rotation high enough.

However, since exhaust fans, and particularly ceiling fans, are less noisy when made in larger sizes and operated at lower speeds, it is preferred to counterweight the shutter vanes to make lower speeds of rotation more feasible.

With the fan construction of this invention, it is impossible to forget to open the shutter and there are no tion.

complicated or delicately balanced shutter opening and closing mechanisms to get out of order. The entire assembly is of light construction, requiring no extra bracing, framing or fastening devices for the usual installa- While the combination fan and shutter operates best as a ceiling fan, that is, with gravity operable at right angles to cause the hinged shutter blades to fall to the closed position, it is also within the scope of this invention to ut lize the fan as a wall fan wherein the hinged vanes are balanced, or counterweighted or mounted on an inclined axis in such a way that gravity will cause them to shut when the fan is stopped. The resilient mounting of the motor shaft and fan on the mounting plate greatly assists in making the fan quiet in operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fan construction, a rotatable central hub having a plurality of angularly spaced air moving radial vanes fixedly connected thereto and rotatable therewith, each of said vanes having a separately formed shutter member pivotally attached thereto and adapted to close the openings between said vanes when the fan is at rest, said shutter members being pivotable toward their associated vanes upon rotation of the fan, whereby the spaces between said vanes are opened for the movement of air therethrough.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said shutter members are pivotable upwardly against their associated vanes and lie flatly thereagainst during rotation of the fan. v

3. In a ceiling fan construction a rotatable central hub and a plurality of circumferentially spaced air moving radial vanes fixedly connected to said hub and rotatable therewith, said fixed vanes having leading edges disposed in a substantially common plane with said hub, each of said vanes having a separately formed shutter member pivotally secured to its leading edge, said shutters adapted to close the openings between said vanes, said hub, said shutter members and the leading edges of said vanesforrning a substantially fiat continuous surface when the fan is at rest, said shutter members being pivotable upwardly toward said fixed vanes upon rotation of the fan to free the openings between said vanes for the movement of air therethrough.

4. In a fan construction, a rotatable central hub having a plurality of angularly spaced air moving radial vanes fixedly connected thereto and rotatable therewith, each of said vanes having a separately formed shutter member pivotally attached thereto and adapted to close the openings between said vanes when the fan is at rest, centrifugally activated means coactive with said shutter members and operable to move the latter toward their respective fixed vanes whereby the spaces between said vanes are opened for the movement of air therethrough.

5. In a fan construction, a rotatable central hub, a plurality of circumferentially spaced air moving radial vanes fixedly connected to said hub and rotatable therewith, each of said fixed vanes having a hinged shutter member pivotally secured thereto and adapted to close the openings between said fixed vanes when the fan is at rest, and means for moving said shutter members out of said closure position toward said fixed vanes upon rotation of the fan, said means including weights pivotally mounted on said vanes swingable outwardly when the fan is rotated, and linkages connecting said weights and said shutter members.

6. In a fan construction, a rotatable central hub, a plurality of circumferentially spaced air moving radial vanes fixedly connected to said hub, said fixed vanes having a lower radial edge from which said vanes are raised laterally upwardly and each of said fixed vanes having a separately formed shutter member pivotally attached thereto adjacent its lower edge adapted to close the spaces between said fixed vanes when the fan is at a state of rest, means for pivotally raising each of said shutter members toward their associated fixed vanes upon rotation of said fan, said means including a weight pivotally mounted on each of said fixed vanes swingable outwardly by centrifugal force when the fan is rotated and a linkage between each of said shutter members and its adjacent weight operable to draw said shutter member toward said fixed air moving vane in response to the movement of said weight.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,418 Allen Feb. 20, 1940 2,383,001 Mader Aug. 21, 1945 2,383,002 Mader Aug. 21, 1945 2,383,004 Mader Aug. 21, 1945 2,558,541 Cotten June 26, 1951 2,626,743 Sanders Jan. 27, 1953 2,626,744 Sanders Jan. 27, 1953 2,656,971 Mader Oct. 27, 1953 2,673,681 Mader Mar. 30, 1954

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