U.S. patent application number 12/130909 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for columnar air moving devices, systems and methods.
Invention is credited to Raymond B. Avedon.
Application Number | 20080227381 12/130909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35056671 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080227381 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Avedon; Raymond B. |
September 18, 2008 |
COLUMNAR AIR MOVING DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Abstract
Air moving device includes a housing, an impeller in the housing
for generating a downward air flow, and vanes in the housing in
close proximity to and a selected distance below the impeller to
straighten the air flow. The device produces an air flow that
substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance. The
method includes producing an air flow that substantially remains in
a column over a substantial distance and directing the air flow
from the ceiling towards the floor to provide temperature
destratification of the air in an enclosed space. The method also
includes directing warm air from the ceiling to the floor and
storing heat in the floor, apparatus on the floor and ground under
the floor. The stored heat is released when the ceiling is cooler
than the floor.
Inventors: |
Avedon; Raymond B.;
(Boulder, CO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET, FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
35056671 |
Appl. No.: |
12/130909 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11027039 |
Dec 30, 2004 |
7381129 |
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12130909 |
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60553720 |
Mar 15, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
454/230 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/601 20130101;
F24F 7/007 20130101; F04D 25/088 20130101; F04D 25/12 20130101;
F04D 29/547 20130101; F24F 7/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/230 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/007 20060101
F24F007/007 |
Claims
1. An air moving device comprising: a housing having an air inlet
at a first end and an air outlet at a second end spaced from said
first end with an air flow passage between said first and second
ends, a rotary fan mounted in said housing near said air inlet and
having an impeller with a plurality of blades that produce an air
flow with rotary and axial air flow components, and a plurality of
spaced, axially extending air guide vanes in said housing between
said impeller and said air outlet for converting said rotary
component of said air flow into combined laminar and axial air flow
in said housing, said vanes being spaced from said impeller with a
gap of having a selected size, said gap size being selected to be
no greater than a selected maximum dimension to avoid generation of
turbulence and reduce static back pressure in said air flow,
whereby said air flow exits said air outlet in an axial stream
extending beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal
lateral dispersion.
2. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gap is selected
to be no less than a selected minimum dimension to avoid noise.
3. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said impeller has a
diameter and said size of said gap is less than one half said
diameter of said impeller.
4. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air flow passage
has a cross sectional area that decreases from said air inlet to
said air outlet to increase air flow velocity.
5. The device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cross sectional
area decreases by about 10% to 35%.
6. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said blades
incline at a selected angle to an axis of rotation for said
impeller, each said blade extending axially and radially outwardly
toward said second end to produce said air flow in said housing,
each said vane having a curved vane portion inclined at an angle
opposite said incline of each blade that extends axially and
radially inwardly toward said second end to assist in converting
said rotary component of said air flow into said laminar and axial
air flow.
7. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vanes are
straight.
8. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a stator in and
separable from said housing, and wherein said vanes include an
upstream portion in said stator and a downstream portion affixed to
the inside of said housing downstream of said stator, said
downstream portion operating in conjunction with said upstream
portion to direct said air flow through said housing.
9. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a cowling having an
outer end surface with a smooth radius at said first end that
directs air flow at said air inlet to flow into said housing along
a curve to minimize turbulence and noise.
10. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing has an
inside surface that is substantially smooth and uninterrupted to
minimize turbulence and energy loss, an inner housing hub in said
housing having a downstream housing hub portion inward of and
spaced from said vanes to reduce turbulence in said air flow along
said vanes, said housing hub being torpedo shaped converging toward
said second end to direct air flow to avoid turbulence.
11. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a hanger pivotally
connected to said housing to mount said housing in a depending
manner from a support, said hanger enabling said housing to move to
selected angles, said hanger being lockable at said selected angle
to direct air flow at said selected angle.
12. The device as set forth in claim 1 including means to fasten
said housing to a can light recessed in a ceiling to suspend said
housing from said can light, said means to fasten including an
electric connector having an externally threaded male end
connecting to a light bulb socket in the back of said light can, a
mounting plate at said first end, a tube attached to the top of the
mounting plate, said means to fasten including a compression spring
in said tube, a shaft telescoping in said tube and axially slidable
therein, and co-operating interfitting key and slot portions on the
tube and shaft to prevent relative rotation between said tube and
shaft, said male end being carried on the end of said shaft
opposite said spring, said spring urging said male end into said
socket.
13. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a electric
connector having an externally threaded male end mounted to the top
of the housing for connecting to a light bulb socket, a grill on
said housing for permitting air to enter said inlet and an electric
light bulb socket mounted inside said housing to illuminate the
room in which the housing is mounted.
14. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a grill and
support assembly mounted to a ceiling and said housing and said
assembly having a spherical convexly curved exterior first bearing
surface extending radially inwardly having a spherical concavely
curved exterior second bearing surface mating with and frictionally
engaging said first bearing surface to support said housing from
said ceiling and enable said housing to be vertical and to tilt at
selected angles to the vertical and be frictionally held at a
selected position.
15. The device as set forth in claim 14 including a concavely
curved grill having spaced grill fins and air openings extending
between an outer ring fastened to said ceiling and an inner ring
connected to said grill fins for providing said first bearing
surface to enable air to flow upwardly through said grill along
said housing into said inlet.
16. The device as set forth in claim 15 including a can having a
bottom flange and an open bottom extending around said housing
connected to said ceiling to enclose the upper portion of said
housing and at least one fin in a channel in an upper portion of
said can to prevent swirling of the air before entering said
inlet.
17. The device as set forth in claim 15 including a clamping member
having a main body portion and a flange portion at one end of said
main body portion, said flange portion being disposed in an opening
in said can at said open bottom, a fastener extending through a
bottom flange in said can, said ceiling connecting to said main
body portion to clamp said can to said ceiling.
18. The device as set forth in claim 17 wherein there is a
plurality of said clamping members at circumferentially spaced
positions on said can.
19. The device as set forth in claim 1 including a water line in
said housing with a nozzle at one end to form a mist in the air
discharging from said second end to reduce air temperature.
20. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the number of said
blades is different from the number of said vanes to minimize
noise.
21. The device as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are three said
blades and four said vanes.
22. An air moving device comprising: a housing having an a first
section, a second section downstream of said first section with a
smaller diameter than said first section, and an inner shelf
extending radially inwardly from said first section to said second
section, a stator nested in said first section and resting on said
shelf, a rotary fan mounted in said housing near said air inlet
upstream of said housing hub having an impeller with an impeller
hub having an outer surface and a plurality of blades extending
radially out from said impeller hub, said inner and outer surfaces
defining an air flow passage through said housing between said
first and second ends, said blades produce an air flow through said
air flow passage with a rotary and axial air flow component, and
nesting in said housing upstream of said stator and having an
impeller with a plurality of blades that produce an air flow with a
rotary and axial air flow components, and a cowling mounted on said
housing upstream of said fan and extending radially inwardly into
said housing along a curve to minimize turbulence, and a plurality
of spaced, axially extending air guide vanes in said housing
between said impeller and said air outlet for converting said
rotary component of said air flow into combined laminar and axial
air flow in said housing, said vanes including an upstream portion
in said stator and a downstream portion affixed to the inside of
said housing, said vanes being spaced from said impeller with a gap
of having a selected size, said gap size being selected to be no
greater than a selected maximum dimension to avoid generation of
turbulence and reduce static back pressure in said air flow,
whereby said air flow exits said air outlet in an axial stream
extending beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal
lateral dispersion.
23. An air moving system comprising: an air moving upper device
having an air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at a second
end opposite said first end, said device producing an air flow that
exits said air outlet in an axial stream extending substantially
beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral
dispersion, an air moving lower device having an air inlet at a
first end and an air outlet at a second end opposite said first
end, said device producing an air flow that exits said air outlet
in an axial stream extending substantially beyond said air outlet
in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion, and a tube
coupled between said air outlet of said upper device and said inlet
of said lower device to convey air flow from said upper device to
said lower device, said lower device being connected to said upper
device via said tube.
24. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said tube is
flexible and fire resistant.
25. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said upper device
has a higher flow rate than said lower device.
26. The system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said upper device
has a flow rate of about 800 cfm and said lower device has a flow
rate of about 550 cfm.
27. A method of moving air comprising the steps of: producing an
air flow through an elongated housing from an air inlet at a first
end to an air outlet at a second end, spaced from said first end,
and directing said air flow through said housing in a laminar and
axial flow and out said air outlet so as to produce an axial stream
extending beyond said air outlet in a columnar pattern with minimal
lateral dispersion.
28. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said air flow is
directed horizontally and at selected angles to the horizontal to
penetrate an air space and cause air flow circulation in said air
space.
29. The method as set forth in claim 27 wherein said air flow is
directed vertically and at selected angles to the vertical to
penetrate the air space, cause destratification of the air space
and air flow circulation.
30. A method of reducing heating requirements for a room having
side walls, a ceiling and a floor, comprising the steps of:
providing a ductless air moving device that produces an air flow
with an axial stream extending beyond said device in a columnar
pattern with minimal lateral dispersion, mounting said device at
said ceiling, and directing warm air from near said ceiling to said
floor with said device, whereby heat from said warm air is
transferred into said floor and stored in said floor, and moves
along the inside of said side walls and back up to said ceiling and
back to said device to be re-circulated in said room.
31. The method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said heat stored in
said floor is released when said ceiling is cooler than said floor
to heat the inside of said room.
32. A method as set forth in claim 30 wherein said room is a tent
having a top and downwardly diverging side walls with openings
between the sides walls and a floor and said device is below said
top.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation from U.S. application
Ser. No. 11/027,039 filed Dec. 30, 2004, incorporated in its
entirety by reference herein, which claims the benefit under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/553,720 filed Mar. 15, 2004, which is incorporated in its
entirety by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to heating, ventilating and
air conditioning air spaces, and more particularly to systems,
devices and methods for moving air in a columnar pattern with
minimal lateral dispersion that are particularly suitable for
penetrating air spaces and air temperature de-stratification.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The rise of warmer air and the sinking of colder air creates
significant variation in air temperatures between the ceiling and
floor of buildings with conventional heating, ventilation and air
conditioning systems. Such air temperature stratification is
particularly problematic in large spaces with high ceilings such as
warehouses, gymnasiums, offices, auditoriums, hangers, commercial
buildings, and even residences with cathedral ceilings, and can
significantly decrease heating and air conditioning costs. Further,
both low and high ceiling rooms can have stagnant or dead air. For
standard ceiling heights with duct outlets in the ceiling there is
a sharp rise in ceiling temperatures when the heat comes on.
[0006] One proposed solution to air temperature stratification is a
ceiling fan. Ceiling fans are relatively large rotary fans, with a
plurality of blades, mounted near the ceiling. The blades of a
ceiling fan have a flat or airfoil shape. The blades have a lift
component that pushes air upwards or downwards, depending on the
direction of rotation, and a drag component that pushes the air
tangentially. The drag component causes tangential or centrifugal
flow so that the air being pushed diverges or spreads out.
Conventional ceiling fans are generally ineffective as an air
de-stratification device in relatively high ceiling rooms because
the air pushed by conventional ceiling fans is not maintained in a
columnar pattern from the ceiling to the floor, and often disperses
or diffuses well above the floor.
[0007] Another proposed solution to air temperature stratification
is a fan connected to a vertical tube that extends substantially
from the ceiling to the floor. The fan may be mounted near the
ceiling, near the floor or in between. This type of device may push
cooler air up from the floor to the ceiling or warmer air down from
the ceiling to the floor. Such devices, when located away from the
walls in an open space in a building, interfere with floorspace use
and are not aesthetically pleasing. When confined to locations only
along the walls of an open space, such devices may not effectively
circulate air near the center of the open space. Examples of fans
connected to vertical tubes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
3,827,342 to Hughes, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,479 to Whiteley.
[0008] A device that provides a column of air that has little or no
diffusion from the ceiling the floor, without a vertical tube, can
effectively provide air de-stratification. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,473,000
and 4,662,912 to Perkins disclose a device having a housing, with a
rotating impeller having blades in the top of the housing and a
plurality of interspersed small and large, vertically extending,
radial stationary vanes spaced below the impeller in the housing.
The device disclosed by Perkins is intended to direct the air in a
more clearly defined pattern and reduce dispersion. Perkins,
however, does not disclose the importance of a specific, relatively
small gap between the impeller blades and the stationary vanes, and
the device illustrated creates a vortex and turbulence due to a
large gap and centrifugal air flow bouncing off the inner walls of
the housing between the blades and vanes. Perkins also discloses a
tapering vane section. The tapering vane section increases velocity
of the exiting air stream.
[0009] A device with a rotary fan that minimizes the rotary
component of the air flow while maximizing the axial air flow
quantity and velocity can provide a column of air that flows from a
high ceiling to a floor in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral
dispersion that does not require a physical transporting tube. Such
a device should reduce the energy loss by minimizing the rotary
component of the air flow, and therefore minimizes turbulence. Such
a device should minimize back pressure, since a pressure drop at
the outlet of the device will cause expansion, velocity loss and
lateral dispersion. The device should have minimum noise and low
electric power requirements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An air moving device which has a housing with an air inlet
and an air outlet spaced from the inlet. A rotary impeller with a
plurality of blades is mounted in the housing at the air inlet end
and produces air flow with an axial component and a rotary
component. A plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending, radial
air guide vanes in the housing downstream of the impeller are in
close proximity to the impeller blades to minimize the rotary
component and change the air flow to a laminar and axial flow in
the housing that exits the outlet end in a columnar pattern with
minimal lateral dispersion. A method of moving air includes
producing an air flow through a housing, and directing the air flow
through the housing in a laminar and axial flow and exits an outlet
so as to produce a columnar pattern with minimal lateral
dispersion. The method also includes directing warm air from near
the ceiling toward the floor, allowing the heat from the warm air
to be stored in the floor, articles on the floor and the earth
under the floor. The method includes directing air in a generally
horizontal direction to allow penetration of an air space in a
container, trailer truck or a room to promote flushing of that air
space and circulation thereof. The device and method are
particularly suitable for high efficiency, low power usage, air
temperature de-stratification, and to improve air quality and
circulation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Details of this invention are described in connection with
the accompanying drawings that bear similar reference numerals in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an air moving device
embodying features of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device 5 of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
2.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.
2.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2,
with straight upstream portions of the vanes.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1
showing angular direction of the device.
[0020] FIG. 9 is an enlarged, partial exploded view of the hangar
attachment of the device of FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a side view of a room with the device of FIG. 1
showing an air flow pattern with dashed lines and arrows.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view, partially cut away,
showing the device of FIG. 1 modified for attachment to a light
can.
[0023] FIG. 11A is a sectional view taken along line 11A-11A of
FIG. 11.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1
with an intake grill.
[0025] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2
of the device of FIG. 1 with a misting nozzle.
[0026] FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG. 1 in
combination with a tube and second air moving device.
[0027] FIG. 15 is a bottom perspective view, partially cut away,
showing the device of FIG. 1 mounted in a drop ceiling.
[0028] FIG. 15A is a top perspective view of FIG. 15.
[0029] FIG. 15B is a top perspective view of the fastening member
shown in FIG. 15A
[0030] FIG. 15C is a sectional view taken along FIG. 15C-15C of
FIG. 15A.
[0031] FIG. 15D is a sectional view along line 15D-15D of FIG.
15A.
[0032] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 15.
[0033] FIG. 17 is a side elevation view, partially cut away,
showing the device of FIG. 1 modified for attachment to a light
socket and having a light bulb at the lower end.
[0034] FIG. 18 is a schematic view of an open sided tent with an
air moving device in the top.
[0035] FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a shipping container with an
air moving device at one lower end.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 9, there is shown an air moving
device 12 having an elongated outer housing 13, an electric rotary
fan 14 in the housing for producing air flow in the housing and a
plurality of longitudinally extending, outer radial vanes 15 and an
inner housing hub 16 opposite the vanes in the housing downstream
of the fan for directing air flow in the housing.
[0037] The housing 13 has a circular cross section, and an open
first end 17 and an open second end 18 spaced from the first end
17. In the illustrated embodiment, a detachable, axially outwardly
convex cowling 19 forms the first end 17 and provides an air inlet
21 with a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the
cowling 19.
[0038] The housing 13 has a first section 25 extending from the
cowling 19 to an interior shelf 26. A generally C shaped hanger 23
mounts at opposite ends 24 to opposite sides of the housing 13 at
the upper end of the first section 25, for mounting the air moving
device 12 to a support. The first section 25, when viewed from the
side, has a curved, slightly radially outwardly convex shape that
conforms to the curvature of the cowling 19. The shelf 26 extends
radially inwardly to join with the upstream end of a second section
27. The second section 27 tapers inwardly and extends axially from
the shelf 26 to the second end 18 along a smooth curve that goes
from radially outwardly convex near the shelf 26 to radially
outwardly concave near the second end 18. The second end 18 forms
an air outlet 28 that has a smaller diameter than the air inlet 21.
A plurality of circumferentially spaced external fins 29 extend
from the shelf 26 to the second section 27 to provide the
appearance of a smooth curve from the air inlet 21 to the air
outlet 28 when the housing 13 is viewed from the side.
[0039] The fan 14 includes an impeller 31 having a cylindrical,
inner impeller hub 32, with an electric motor 34 therein, and a
plurality of rigidly mounted, circumferentially spaced blades 33
extending radially from the impeller hub 32. In the illustrated
embodiment the impeller 31 has three equally spaced blades 33 and
rotates about an axis in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed
from above. Each blade 33, in side view, extends from an upstream
edge 35, downwardly and leftwardly to a downstream edge 36 with
each blade 33 being slightly concave, in an airfoil or wing shape,
downwardly to propel air rightwardly as shown by the arrow. Each
blade 33 then inclines at a selected angle to the axis of rotation
of the impeller. Each blade 33 shown extends axially and radially
toward the outlet or second end 18 to direct air axially with a
rotary component. If the motor 34 runs in the opposite direction,
the incline of the blades 33 would be reversed. The fan 14 includes
a stationary cylindrical mounting ring 38 that extends around the
blades 33, with the impeller hub 32 being rotably mounted relative
to the mounting ring 38. The mounting ring 38 has spaced,
protruding upstream and downstream rims 40 and 41. The fan 14
mounts in the housing 13 between the cowling 19 and the shelf
26.
[0040] Each of the vanes 15 is identical and includes upstream
portion 43 and a downstream portion 44. The upstream portion 43 is
carried in a stator 46. The stator 46 has a cylindrical stator hub
47 with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the
impeller hub 32.
[0041] The upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 are mounted in a
circumferentially spaced arrangement around the stator hub 47, and
extend longitudinally along and radially from the stator hub 47.
Each upstream portion 43 has an upstream end 48 and a downstream
end 49. A support body 50 includes a cylindrical stator ring 52
that extends around the upstream portions 43 and connects to the
outer ends of the upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 near the
upstream ends 48. The support body 50 also includes a protruding
stator rim 53 that is substantially planar with the upstream ends
48 of the upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15, and that connects
to the stator ring 52 and extends radially outwardly therefrom.
[0042] The housing 13 has, an inner surface and the inner housing
hub 16 has an outer surface concentric with a spaced from the
housing inner surface to define an air flow passage through the
housing. The inner housing hub 16 includes the fan hub 32, stator
hub portion 47 and downstream hub portion 57, each having an outer
surface and arranged end to end along the center of the housing and
opposite and spaced from the housing inner surface to define the
air flow passage. In particular, these outer surfaces shown are
cylindrical and substantially the same diameter for a substantial
portion of the passage and as the housing 13 converges the
downstream hub portion 57 converges to generally follow the
curvature of the inside surface of the housing.
[0043] The stator 46 nests in and is separable from the housing 13
with the stator rim 53 between the shelf 26 of the housing 13 and
the downstream rim 41 of the mounting ring 38 of the fan 14, and
with a gap 55 having a selected size between the downstream edge 36
of the blades 33 of the impeller 31 and the upstream ends 49 of the
upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15. If the gap 55 is too large,
turbulence will be generated in the air flow between the impeller
31 and the vanes 15, reducing the velocity of the air flow. If the
gap 55 is too small, fluid shear stress will generate noise. The
size of the gap 55 is generally selected as no greater than a
maximum selected dimension to avoid turbulence and no less than a
selected minimum dimension to avoid noise, and more particularly
selected as small as possible without generating noise.
[0044] The selected size of the gap 55 is generally proportional to
the diameter of the impeller 31 and may further be affected by the
speed of the impeller 31. The following are examples: For an
impeller 31 with a diameter of 6.00'', at 1800 rpm, the maximum
size of the gap 55 should be 1.25'' and the minimum gap should be
0.2''. For an impeller 31 with a diameter of 8.5'', at 1400 rpm,
the maximum size of the gap 55 should be 1.25'', and the minimum
gap should be 0.2'' but could be 0.020 for lower rpm's as the size
of the gap is rpm dependent. Generally, the maximum size of the gap
55 should be less than one half the diameter of the impeller
31.
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, eight equally spaced upstream
portions 43 of the vanes 15 are provided, and when viewed from the
side, the upstream portions 43 of the vanes 15 extend straight
upwardly from the downstream ends 49 and then curve leftwardly near
the upstream ends 48. The upstream portion 43 of each curved vane
portion is inclined at an angle opposite the incline of the blade
33 that extends axially and radially inward toward the outlet or
second end 28 to assist in converting the rotary component of the
air flow into laminar and axial flow in the housing.
[0046] Straight upstream portions 43A of the vanes 15 may also be
used, as shown in FIG. 7, and other numbers of vanes 15 may be
used. Further, if the motor 34 runs in the opposite direction, the
incline of the curvature near the upstream ends 48 would be
reversed.
[0047] The downstream portions 44 of the vanes 15 attach at an
inner end to a downstream inner housing hub portion 57, are
circumferentially spaced and extend radially outwardly from the
housing hub portion 57 to the housing 13. The housing hub portion
57 and the downstream portions 44 of the vanes 15 extend axially
from the stator 46 to or near the air outlet 28. The housing hub
portion 57 has a circular cross section, has a diameter
substantially equal to the diameter of the stator housing hub
portion 47 at the upstream end adjacent to the stator housing hub
portion 47, and tapers downstream to a point 58 near the air outlet
28.
[0048] This hub portion may be characterized as torpedo shaped. In
the illustrated embodiment there are four downstream portions 44 of
the vanes 15 circumferentially spaced at 90 degrees, with each
downstream portion 44 being aligned with an upstream portion 43 of
a vane 15. Other numbers of downstream portions 44 of the vanes 15
can be used.
[0049] The number of the blades 33 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
The number of the vanes 15 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. The number
of vanes 15 should be different from the number of blades 33. If
the number of vanes 15 and blades 33 are the same, added noise is
generated due to harmonics.
[0050] The air moving device 12 discharges air at a high velocity
in a generally axial flow having a columnar pattern with minimal
lateral dispersion after exiting the air outlet 28. The cowling 19
extends along a curve toward the inside to reduce turbulence and
noise for air flow entering the air inlet 21. The impeller hub 32,
the stator hub 47 and the housing hub 57 form the inner housing hub
16. The taper of the housing hub 57 generally follows the taper of
the housing 13 So that the cross sectional area for air flow
decreases about 10% to 35% through the air moving device 12 to
avoid back pressure and at the same time increase air flow
velocity. In the embodiment shown the air flow decreases about
22%.
[0051] The vanes 15 convert the rotary component of the air flow
from the impeller 31 into laminar and axial air flow in the
housing. The leftward curve of the upstream ends 48 of the upstream
portions 43 of the vanes 15, in the illustrated embodiment, reduces
the energy loss in the conversion of the rotary component of the
air flow from the impeller 31 into laminar and axial air flow in
the housing. The small gap 55 between the impeller 31 and vanes 15
prevents the generation of turbulence in the air flow in the gap
55. The taper of the housing 13 in combination with the taper of
the housing hub 57 to the point 58 allows the air flow to exit the
air outlet 28 in a continuous, uninterrupted columnar pattern with
minimal dispersion, with no center hole or gap at a linear speed
greater than would be imparted by a fan alone. The inside surface
of the housing 13 is a substantially smooth uninterrupted surface
to minimize turbulence and energy loss.
[0052] The hanger 23 is mounted to rotate and lock relative to the
housing 13, so that when the hanger 23 is attached to an overhead
support such as ceiling, the air flow from the air moving device 12
may be directed vertically or aimed at any selected angle from the
vertical as shown in FIG. 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the first
section 25 of the housing 13 includes mounting tabs 91 on opposite
sides on the upper edge of the first section 25. Each mounting tab
91 includes a round, outwardly directed mounting face 92, and a
housing aperture 93 that extends inwardly through the center of the
mounting tab 91. A pair of outwardly projecting housing ridges 94
extend radially on the mounting face 92 on opposite sides of the
housing aperture 93.
[0053] Each end 24 of the hanger 23 has a round, inwardly facing
hanger end face 96, similar in size to the mounting face 92 on the
housing 13. A hanger end aperture 97 extends through the center of
the hanger end face 96. A plurality of spaced, radially extending
grooves 98, sized to receive the housing ridges 94, are provided on
each hanger end face 96. Bolt 100 extends through the hanger end
aperture 97 and threads into an internally threaded cylindrical
insert 101, rigidly affixed in housing aperture 93. The angle of
the housing 13 is chosen by selecting a pair of opposed grooves 97
on each hanger end 24 to receive the housing ridges 94. The pivotal
arrangement enables the housing to move to a selected angle and is
lockable at the selected angle to direct air flow at the selected
angle.
[0054] FIG. 10 shows an air moving device 12 mounted to the 13
ceiling 62 of a room 63 shown as being closed sided with opposed
side walls. Warm air near the ceiling 62 is pulled into the air
moving device 12. The warm air exits the air moving device 12 in a
column 64 that extends to the floor 65. When the column 64 reaches
the floor 65, the warm air from the ceiling pushes the colder air
at the floor 65 outward towards the opposed side walls 66 and
upward towards the ceiling 62. When the column 64 reaches the floor
65, the warm air from the ceiling will also transfer heat into the
floor 65, so that heat is stored in the floor 65. The stored heat
is released when the ceiling is cooler than the floor. The heat may
also be stored in articles on the floor and earth under the floor.
The air moving device 12 destratifies the air in a room 63 without
requiring the imperforate physical tube of many prior known
devices. The air moving device 12 destratifies the air in a room 63
with the warmer air from the ceiling 62 minimally dispersing before
reaching the floor 65, unlike many other prior known devices. The
air moving device 12 will also remove dead air anywhere in the
room. It is understood that the air moving device 12 may also be
mounted horizontally in a container, trailer truck or room as is
describe hereafter.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 11, an air moving device 12 is fitted with
an inlet grill 68 and an electric connector 69 for attachment to a
light can 70 with a light bulb socket 71 at the upper end. The
inlet grill 68 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced
grill fins 72 that attach to the first end 17 of the housing 13.
The grill fins 72 are separated by air intake slots 73, and extend
axially outwardly from the first end 17 and curve radially inwardly
and are integral with a flat circular mounting plate 74 that is
substantially parallel with the first end 17. The electrical
connector 69 has a tube 76 that is integral at one end with the
center of the mounting plate 74 and extends axially therefrom, and
a light bulb type, right hand thread externally threaded male end
77 attached to the other end of the shaft 78. Grill 68, plate 74
and tube 76 are shown as made of a one piece construction. Plate 74
has holes that received screws 83 or like fasteners to fasten plate
74 to ceiling 62.
[0056] The shaft 78 telescopes in the tube 76. The tube 76 has a
pair of opposed keyways 76A that receive keys 78A on the shaft 78
which allow axial sliding movement of the shaft 78 in the tube 76.
A compression spring 75 fits in the tube and bears against the
bottom of shaft 78 and top of plate 74. Preferably the shaft 78 has
a selected length relative to the length of the can 70 such that
when the air moving device 12 is mounted in a can 70 in a ceiling
62, the threaded male end 77 engages the socket 71 before the
mounting plate 74 contacts the ceiling 62 and when the threaded
male end 77 is screwed into the socket 71, the mounting plate 74
bears against the ceiling 62. The spring 75 is compressed between
plate 74 and shaft 78. Screws 83 fasten the plate to the ceiling
62. Since the light can 70 may be open to air above the ceiling 62,
the mounting plate 74 is preferably sized to cover the open lower
end of the can 70, so that only air from below the ceiling 62 is
drawn into the air moving device 12. The air moving device 12
fitted with the inlet grill 68 and the electrical connector 69 can
also be used with a ceiling light socket.
[0057] The air moving device 12 may include an intake grill 79 for
preventing objects from entering the impeller 31, as shown in FIG.
12. The intake grill 79 shown has a substantially hemispherical
shape, and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced grill
fins 80 separated by intake slots 81. The grill fins 80 extend
axially outwardly and curve radially inwardly from the first end 17
of the housing 13 to a central point 82 spaced from the first end
17. Other shapes of intake grills are suitable for the present
invention.
[0058] FIG. 13 shows an air moving device 12 with a misting nozzle
84. The nozzle 84 extends through the point 58 of the housing hub
57 to spray water into the column of air exiting the air outlet 28
to cool the air through evaporation. The media exiting the nozzle
84 and being supplied through tube 85 can have other purposes such
as a disinfectant or a fragrance or a blocking agent for
distinctive needs. The nozzle 84 connects to a water line 85, in
the housing hub 59 that connects to a water source (not shown).
[0059] FIG. 14 shows an air moving system 86 for use in buildings
with very high ceilings, including an air moving device 12, an
upwardly extending, tube 87 (shown cut away) connected at a lower
end to the air inlet 21 of the air moving device 12, and a
truncated upper air moving device 88 having an air outlet 89
connected to the upper end of the tube 87. The housing of device 88
is called truncated because it may be shortened or cut off below
the fins 29. A conventional air moving device 12 may be used for
device 88. The tube 87 may be flexible and is preferably fire
resistant. The air moving system 86 is mounted to a ceiling or like
support with the air outlet 28 of the air moving device 12 spaced
above the floor, preferably about 10 to 50 feet. The tube may be
for example from 30 to 100 feet long.
[0060] The upper air moving device 88 at the top of the system 86
has a higher air moving flow capacity than the air moving device 12
at the bottom of the cascading system 86. By way of example, and
not as a limitation, the upper air moving device 88 may have a
capacity of 800 cfm and the air moving device 12 may have a
capacity of 550 cfm.
[0061] FIGS. 15, 15A, 15B, 15C, 15D and 16 show the air moving
device 12 mounted in an opening 103 in a ceiling 104. A generally
cylindrical can 105 mounts on and extends above the ceiling 104,
and has an open can bottom 106, and a closed can top 107. The can
top 107 includes a semi-circular, downward opening,
circumferentially extending channel 108. A semi-circular fin 111
extends radially across the channel 108 to prevent swirling of the
air before entering the air inlet 21. Additional fins may be used.
A grill and support assembly 125 mounts to the ceiling and extends
and connects to the exterior of the housing of device 12. A grill
including spaced openings 110 between fins 109 to allow air to flow
up from the room along the housing and past the cowling 19 into the
inlet 21. The grill and support assembly 125 includes an outer ring
120 fastened to the underside of the ceiling including the convexly
curved grill fins 109 with air openings 110 between connected outer
ring 120 and an inner ring 121. Ring 121 has a spherical concave
inner bearing surface 122.
[0062] A ring 123 has a spherical convexly curved exterior bearing
surface 124 is mounted on and affixed to the housing with bearing
surfaces 122 and 124 mating in a frictional fit to support the
housing to be at a vertical position or tilted at an angle to the
vertical axis and be held by friction at the vertical axis or a
selected angle relative to the vertical axis to direct air flow as
required.
[0063] The can 105 has an outwardly extending bottom flange 140
that fits against the underside of the ceiling 104. The can 105
preferably has four circumferentially spaced bottom openings 141 at
90 degree intervals that are rectangular in shape and extend up the
can wall a short distance from the bottom flange 140. A clamping
member 142 preferably made as a molded plastic body has a main body
portion 143 above the ceiling 104 outside the can wall and an end
flange portion 144 that fits inside the can opening 142. The main
body portion 143 has a U-shaped outer wall portion 145 and an inner
hub portion 146 having an aperture 147. The clamping member 142
inserts into the opening 141 via the open end of the can. A bolt
fastener 151 extends through a hole in the flange, through a hole
in the ceiling and threads into the aperture 147 in the main body
portion to clamp the can 105 to the ceiling 104.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 15D the grill and support assembly 125 is
mounted to the ceiling 104 and can 105 by a bolt fastener 149
extending through an aperture in ring 120, through the ceiling 104
and into a nut 150 in flange 140 in the can. Preferably there are
four bolt fasteners 149 at 90 degree intervals midway between
fasteners 151 above described. The ceiling 104 typically would be a
plasterboard ceiling in which a suitable hole is cut. A variation
of FIG. 15 would be to extend or form the peripheral of outer ring
120 into a flat panel having a dimension of 2 ft. by 2 ft. that
would fit in and be held by a grid that holds a conventional
ceiling panel.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 17, an air moving device is fitted with an
inlet grill 113, a light bulb style threaded male end 114 for
threading into a light bulb socket, and a light bulb socket 115.
The inlet grill 113 includes a plurality of circumferentially
spaced grill fins 116 that attach to the first end of the housing
13. The grill fins 116 are separated by air intake slots 117, and
extend axially outwardly from the first end 17 and curve radially
inwardly to a flat circular mounting plate 118 that is
substantially parallel with and spaced axially from the first end
17. Threaded male end 114 is mounted on and extends upwardly from
the mounting plate 118. The socket 115 is mounted inside the
housing 13 in a downwardly opening fashion so that light from a
bulb 119 threaded into the socket 115 is directed downwards.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 18, there is shown a tent having an
inclined top 132 extending down from an apex and connected at the
lower end to a vertical side wall 131 and terminating above a floor
133 to provide a side opening 134 so that the tent is an open sided
room. The air moving device 12 is mounted below the top apex and
directs the air in the room downwardly in a columnar pattern to the
floor and along the floor and then back with some air passing in
and out the side openings 134 along the floor 133. For wide tents,
the air will pass up before it reaches the side walls.
[0067] The air moving device and system herein described has
relatively low electrical power requirement. A typical fan motor is
35 watts at 1600 rpm for an impeller of 8.5'' that will effectively
move the air from the ceiling to the floor in a room having a
ceiling height of 30 ft. Another example is 75 watts with an
impeller diameter 8.5'' at 2300 rpm in a room having a ceiling
height of 70 ft.
[0068] Referring now to FIG. 19, there is shown a shipping
container 161 having an air moving device 12 disposed horizontally
in the lower left end. The device 12 directs the air horizontally
along the bottom wall or floor, up the opposite side wall and
across the top wall to exit an outlet duct 162 above and spaced
from the device 12 of the air moving device. The device 12 will
penetrate the air and promote flushing and circulation of the air
space. The device 12 may be mounted to direct the air generally
horizontally or up or down at an angle to the true horizontal. This
arrangement may be provided in other air spaces such as a trailer
truck, room or the like.
[0069] It is understood that the stator 46 and housing 13 could be
made as a single unit. It is also understood that the housing 13
may be made in two sections as for example a tubular section of a
selected length may be added to the end of a truncated devices as
shown in FIG. 14.
[0070] Although the present invention has been described with a
certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in
details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit
thereof.
* * * * *