US3315587A

US3315587A - Window-mounted ventilating apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3315587A
Application number: US467272A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Horan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-06-28
Filing date: 1965-06-28
Publication date: 1967-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 1984-04-25

Description

A ril 25, 1967 J. J. HORAN 3,315,587

WI NDOW-MOUNTED VENT ILAT ING APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 4 INVEN OR. 4 JOHN J. HORANT April 25, 1967 J. J. HORAN WINDOW-MOUNTED VENTILATING APPARATUS Filed June 28, 1965 V 2 Sheets$heet 2 IN VEN TOR.

JOHN J. HORAN United States Patent 3,315,587 WINDOW-MOUNTED VENTILATING APPARATUS John J. Horan, 420 Quigley Ave.,

Willow Grove, Pa. 19090 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,272 9 Claims. (Cl. 98-94) This invention relates to portable fan appartaus having one or more contained centrifugal fans or blowers and suitable for either permanent or temporary installation as a window-mounted ventilator.

The usual window ventilator houses an exhaust fan of the impeller type. These function quite well when properly fitted. However, it is not easy to adapt stock sizes of these fans to fit a wide range of windows; and the in-' stallation and removal of these fans is usually troublesome for the householder, who usually needs an assortment of tools and some skills, particularly for the initial installation. Such fans, once custom-fitted to a particular window, are generally thereafter limited to use in that window.

The operations of closing the window with the coming of rain and opening it again afterwards are fraught with much bother if the usual fan has to be removed, assuming, of course, that the householder is at home to remove it when the rain begins. Since windows equipped with conventional fans are not conveniently lockable with the fan in place, burglars can spot handy places of entry before even approaching the house. Moreover, nothing so detracts from the charm of a well decorated room as does the silhouette of one or more large fans blocking out most of the window-pane area.

Other configurations of ventilating apparatus have been tried but have found relatively little acceptance.

It is an object of this invention to provide windowventilating apparatus that is readily adjustable over a reasonably wide range of sizeswith a minimum of skill, effort, time consumption, tools, or parts kits.

It is an object of this invention to provide a windowventilating apparatus that can be quickly removed and reinstalled or transferred to another window.

Another object is to provide ventilating apparatus that will render it unnecessary to close the windows during storms and will readily lock in place as a protection against burglars.

. An important object of this invention is to provide suflicient power-handling and air-moving capacity in a compact ventilating apparatus of low height which can be rested unobtrusively on the window sill without blocking the view or cutting off the access of daylight to the room.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for varying the amount of air moved without raising the pitch of the sound produced.

It is an object of my invention to secure these advantages without the usual penalty of sacrifice of capacity.

Other objects and novel features will be brought out in the specification, in the claims, and in the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly cut away side elevation of one of the individual fan assemblies in accordance with my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of this fan assembly from above;

FIG. is a view of the same fan assembly from behind;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a casing that combines and transforms one or two fan assemblies into a windowventilating apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the casing of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view from behind (indoors) of the casing of FIG. 4 fitted with two fan assemblies;

3,315,587 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 FIG. 7 is a view of the hook used in other figures;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of an alternative baflie arrange ment;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of a casing capable of admitting either two or three fan assemblies.

FIG. 10 is an oblique view of another alternative embodiment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, there is shown a sheet-metal enclosure 21, which contains a centrifugal blower-type fan 22,'driVen by an electric motor 23, shown dotted in FIG. 1. Although the fan 22 may be carried by a structure extending from either end or both ends of the motor, it is preferably balanced and secured to the motor 23 at the upper end only. Such structure is well adapted to the so-called inside out motors which have a rotating outer element instead of a rotating shaft; but several different arrangements for top mounting of fans are also possible, even for motors having rotating shafts. The wheel is preferably suspended at the top to avoid, as an extra safeguard, having blades or blower spokes spinning past the air-entry port 25 below the interior zone of the centrifugal fan. If such relationship is not objected to, or if a screen or grill across the port 25 is considered adequate protection, any mounting structure will do. Instead of the squirrel-cage or blower type of fan shown for example in FIG. 1, a paddle-wheel type of centrifugal fan may be used.

The motor and support structure projects upward and is secured within projection 24 of enclosure 21. The four dotted outlines in FIG. 2 indicate the hidden outline of motor 23, intake port 25 below the interior zone of the fan, and the outlines of a squirrel-cage fan 22. The gap seen between the wallof enclosure2l and fan 22 is the air gap leading to discharge opening 36, which usually faces outdoors, since exhaust-fan service is generally preferred. Screws 26 permit a grille to be fastened across entry port 25. Part of the wall of port 25 is extended downward 27 and bent over into a lip 28, to which a nut 29 is projection-welded. Clamping screw 30 will engage a window sill from below if desired.

Nut 32 is free to slide along the length of'slot 31 in an extension of fairing 35, which squares off to the left and to the rear the curvature -of enclosure 21. .Use of a fairing is not vital to the apparatus, but it makes it assemble better and look better. The unit shown is a left-hand assembly because its squared-off fairing is at left. Discharge opening 36may be to the left or right, depending on motor-rotation and symmetry considerations.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, casing means 39 has, as its principal member 40, a wide, generally J- shaped sheet-metal or plastic form, which is partly closed on the outdoor side or face and on the bottom midway between the ends by a relatively narrow J-shaped strap 45. Casing. 39 admits fan assembly 42, described under FIGS. 1 to 3, at its left end and a fan assembly 41 at its right end, the latter preferably having a right-hand fairing. Both

assemblies

42, 41, are shown in FIG. 6, projecting from opposite ends of casing 39.

The projection 24 of fan assembly 42 is free to move within slideway 43, which, together with other abutting surfaces in casing 39, serves as guidance surface for fan assembly 42. A similar projection on fan assembly 41 can be moved along the right end of the same slideway 43. Fan assemblies 41 and 42 may be slid the proper distance apart within casing 39 to that their outer flanks lie against the stops on the jambs of the window opening where the ventilator is to be installed. Sliding nut 32 and the corresponding nut on fan assembly 41 can each be positioned opposite an appropriate one of the

holes

48, 48 on the indoor face of the casing 39; and the-thumbblies, strap .45 will be entry ports below the ting 39 from opposite sides.

. wide window,

zlone of the centrifugal fan.

. ing. The hooks 44 may then be engaged through a screw- 'eye 46 driven into the windowsash, or a screweye 54 driven into the jamb, or both, as seen in, FIG. '6, thus locking both 'the window and the ventilator. The entire assembly or apparatus may be further secured, if desired, by means of thumbscrews 30 which bear against the underside of the sill, and where shownin FIGS. 1 and 3.

'When only a single fan 'assembly42 is to be installed in casing 39, a closure plate 38, shown dotted in FIG. 4, may close ofithe right end of casing'39.. In

such case fingers

11, 12, which may be part of 'plate baffle 38, will fit between the parting stop and the sash stops of the window jamb to prevent mischievous dislodgement of the apparatus from outdoors. Plate 38 may, optionally, be 7 7 formed integrally with either member 40 or strap 45, seen V in FIG. 5. Similarly, fingers 13, 14, projecting from en- *elosure 21 as in FIG. 2, afford an alternative positioning V means for the left end of the apparatus.

It will be noted from FIG. 6 that the range of adjustment permitted by the employment of casing 39 to position the two

fan assemblies

42, 41 amounts to more than 0 the'width of an individual fan assembly. Fan diameters foot or even. more may be employed without undue sill overhang into the room; so the adjustability and air-delivery capacity of the apparatus can be surprisingly large, even when the casing is very shallow. The shallow casing may serve as a window shelf for plants, knick.

knacks, etc., so its aesthetic acceptability further distinguishes it from the prior art.

When the casing is configured for accepting two assemjust wide enoughto avoid blocking interior zones of the '

fan assemblies

42,41 when these are telescoped completely into the eas- Str-ap 45 will not be wide enough to keep short-circuiting air from blowing back 'into the room via

blies

42, 41 when they, have beenadjusted for fitting a r i as in FIG. 6, unless supplemental bafile means is available, such as baflle 33. Sliding this bafile 33 under strap 45, as seen inFIG. 4, partly with the aid of dashed lines, permits its engagement, 'via its' central 5o 7 hole,with pan-head screw 52 of strap 45. Bafile 33 may beof thin metal, bre'akably scoredat marks 34, or of individual thin plates linked at marks 34 by'adhesively bonded vinyl plastic hinges, or it maybe telescopic or of 7 other appropriate structure;

' propr iate mark 34 wheneveroneor more of its segments It may be folded at an ap- 55 begins to interfere with the positioning of a fan assembly .21 or lies in wayof upward access of air into the interior V Switches 51,51, control the

individual fan assemblies

42, 41. f i v Alternatively, the exposed ends of bathe 33 may be integral with strap and project in the same manner th'ere-. from. Again, alternatively, a'siniilar bathe structure may branch off each of the fan assemblies as seen in FIGS. 2

V and 3. .Score marks or folds 49 would permit length ad- 5 justment there also. Supplementary bafiles and adjustable features can be dispensed with when the range of window 7 openings is kept small.

Asshown in FIG. 8, a single flexible type of supple ment-ary bafile'SS may augment the ant-i-counterfiow fune- '70 tion performed by the sheet-metal'portions of the fan assemblies and the b'afiie-casing means, this terminology being interchangeable herein with casing whenever the latter word appears herein. Bafile is of flexible plastic or heavy fabric, wit-l1 the ends thereof connecting the two 75 placement therein of fan the spacebetween the two fanasse'm- 5.

FIG. 9 is much like assembly 62 admitted via either end and a third fan asi sembly wholly inside the longbaflie casing means be- V Rigid guidance, which allows greater overhang of fan assemblies beyond theendstween the other fan assemblies.

of bathe casing means 60, derives fromthe forming of

lips

63, 64 on the bafile casing means, into

which'tabs

65, 66 on the fan assemblies 61, 62 fit snugly. Between the" end fan assemblies 61, 62 and the middle fan assembly (where used), or between the fan assemblies and the under parts of bathe casing means, other supplementary baffle means, suchas those seen previously (33, 34 or 48, 49 or i 55) are again provided. Switch plate 67 has an individual switch for each of the three fan assemblies.

Thumb screws 47, hooks 44, holes for hooks 50,.etc.,

may be like similarly numbered parts seen'pre viously. However, as numbered at the left ofFIG. 9, and seenat both ends, optional or supplemental means of locking the i apparatus to a window opening .is seen. It consists of. alignment fork 68, with 2 rows of holes, any opposite; pair.

of which may be secured with screws 69 to casing 60.

More guidance and apparatus stiffness is obtained when Y stud 71 on fan assembly 61'rides between prongs 70,

at the right of FIG. 9 is similar.

Referring now to FIG. 10, in this similarly functioning ventilating apparatus, some of the functions of prior bathe 7 casing means 39 and 60 are, performed by sleeve-'typecas} ing means 80, which is seen attached at multiple points g X to left-hand fan assembly 81.; Attachment may be permanent by spot-weldingor it may be, by means of screws fitting into tapped holes in 7 81. 'Several parallelrowsl of clearance holes for screws wise to shell'84, which the bathe casing means directly.

, of fork 68. Prongs 70 may fit between the parting stop and the two window stops of the jamb. The arrangement the skin of fan assembly. Z

in sleeve will permit limited adjustment of depth of i assembly 81. Rightehand fan assembly 82 is optionally secured by screws 83, 83iend slides within sleeve-type baflie; fc'asingmeans 80 to give'an apparatus of .adjustable'over- =all width for adaptability to a range of windowlsi zesfi' For augmenting the range to include e'ven'narrower windows, shell 84 may be omitte'ch fan 'assembly 82 'thenienterin'g v 'blies'81; 82, provide means for'locating andflockingto parting stops and window stops. Alternatively, ofcourse, 'f 'hooks, screws, etc., as seen in priorfigu'res, maybe used,

or they may supplement the means presently shown;

Itwill be obvious. that various combinations.of fanf f assemblies .and bathe-casing structure can'befrnade by' H anyone after this disclosure andithat such devices will;bef within its scope. Likewise, various combinations'of strucold art without departing from the scope of this invention.

It is, accordingly,"intendedimthe appende'd'claims to cover such equivalents as may fall'within of my invention and without the priorlart. I wish it to be shown or described or specifically covered by claims. I Therefore, I claim:

- ture shown hereinmay in turn be combined wit-h various: y

the' true scope 1. A ventilating apparatus adapted for adjustably fitted 7 installation in window openings withina predictable range, i

of widths, v

said apparatus having a relatively flat upper surface porwindow may rest,

tion upon which a bottom edge of a vertically sliding said apparatus comprising at least one centrifugal fan assembly and a baflle casing, said fan assembly containing:

an electric motor having a vertical axis;

a centrifugal fan driven by said motor and rotating in a horizontal plane;

and an enclosure including a discharge opening the-rein,

a bulkhead portion of said enclosure and the peripheral portion of said fan having a clearance gap therebetween,

said bulkhead portion constricting said gap adjacent one boundary of said discharge opening,

whereby substantial movement of air from said discharge opening into said gap is prevented,

said bulkhead portion continuing around said fan in the direction of rotation thereof and terminating at a coacting boundary of said discharge opening,

said enclosure being open below the interior zone of said centrifugal fan,

' whereby air may be sucked up from below into the said interior zone and expelled from said fan through said discharge opening via said gap,

said fan assembly and baflle casing being arrayed sideby-side for placement across such openings,

the proximate sides of said bafl'le casing and said fan assembly being mutually joined,

said apparatus further comprising adjustment means for selectively varying the effective width of said baffle casing relative to said fan assembly,

whereby said bafile casing constitutes an adjacent housing adjustably supplementing the width of said fan assembly to fit window openings within said range.

2. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

said baflle casing means having an opening at the opposite end thereof,

said end opening being proportioned to admit at least a portion of a second fan assembly at said opposite end,

said apparatus including a second fan assembly adapted to fit said end opening.

3. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

having also fastening means adapted to secure said fan assembly to said baflle casing means against relative motion thereof,

whereby the said apparatus may be fixed in adjustment to the width of a window opening.

4. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein at least one of said fan assembly and said 'bafile casing means has a short projection extending outwardly endwise therefrom,

said projection being of a size and location suitable for fitment between sash-guiding stops of an abutting window jamb.

5. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

having fastening means for securing a vertically movable Window down against said upper surface portion.

6. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

having also' supplementary baffle means adapted for augmenting the elfective area of said baflie casing means against counterflow of air therethrough.

7. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 6,

said supplementary baflle means being variable in projected area thereof in Way of such counterflow.

8. A ventilating apparatus as in claim 1,

having a second fan assembly as described,

said second fan assembly being positioned at the far side of said baflle casing and also joined thereto.

9. A ventilatin apparatus as in claim 1,

said baflle casing including internal guiding surface means for receiving and aligning said fan assembly partly therewithin,

said apparatus also including fastening means cooperative between said baifie casing and said fan assembly for preventing relative motion therebetweenafter installation thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,849,115 3/1932 Siers 98-99.6 2,577,845 12/1951 Delf et al. 9894 2,746,674 5/1956 Aldritt et al. 9894 X 3,081,690 3/1963 Gesmar 98-94 3,212,425 10/1965 Hazen et a1. 981l6 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner. MEYER PERLIN, Examiner.

M. A. ANTONAKAS, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A VENTILATING APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTABLY FITTED INSTALLATION IN WINDOW OPENINGS WITHIN A PREDICTABLE RANGE OF WIDTHS, SAID APPARATUS HAVING A RELATIVELY FLAT UPPER SURFACE PORTION UPON WHICH A BOTTOM EDGE OF A VERTICALLY SLIDING WINDOW MAY REST, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE CENTRIFUGAL FAN ASSEMBLY AND A BAFFLE CASING, SAID FAN ASSEMBLY CONTAINING: AN ELECTRIC MOTOR HAVING A VERTICAL AXIS; A CENTRIFUGAL FAN DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR AND ROTATING IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE; AND AN ENCLOSURE INCLUDING A DISCHARGE OPENING THEREIN, A BULKHEAD PORTION OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND THE PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID FAN HAVING A CLEARANCE GAP THEREBETWEEN, SAID BULKHEAD PORTION CONSTRICTING SAID GAP ADJACENT ONE BOUNDARY OF SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, WHEREBY SUBSTANTIAL MOVEMENT OF AIR FROM SAID DISCHARGE OPENING INTO SAID GAP IS PREVENTED, SAID BULKHEAD PORTION CONTINUING AROUND SAID FAN IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION THEREOF AND TERMINATING AT A COACTING BOUNDARY OF SAID DISCHARGE OPENING, SAID ENCLOSURE BEING OPEN BELOW THE INTERIOR ZONE OF SAID CENTRIFUGAL FAN, WHEREBY AIR MAY BE SUCKED UP FROM BELOW INTO THE SAID INTERIOR ZONE AND EXPELLED FROM SAID FAN THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE OPENING VIA SAID GAP, SAID FAN ASSEMBLY AND BAFFLE CASING AND SAID FAN BY-SIDE FOR PLACEMENT ACROSS SUCH OPENINGS, THE PROXIMATE SIDES OF SAID BAFFLE CASING AND SAID FAN ASSEMBLY BEING MUTUALLY JOINED, SAID APPARATUS FURTHER COMPRISING ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY VARYING THE EFFECTIVE WIDTH OF SAID BAFFLE CASING RELATIVE TO SAID FAN ASSEMBLY, WHEREBY SAID BAFFLE CASING CONSTITUTES AND ADJACENT HOUSING ADJUSTABLY SUPPLEMENTING THE WIDTH OF SAID FAN ASSEMBLY TO FIT WINDOW OPENINGS WITHIN SAID RANGE.