U.S. patent application number 12/055998 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for fan blade iron isolation.
Invention is credited to Anthony Todd Richardson.
Application Number | 20090246028 12/055998 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41117534 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090246028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richardson; Anthony Todd |
October 1, 2009 |
FAN BLADE IRON ISOLATION
Abstract
A ceiling fan is disclosed having an electric motor (13) with a
bottom mounting plate (14) to which an annular array of blade irons
(16) are coupled, each having a blade (17) mounted thereto. Each
blade iron has a motor mounting flange (21) with a recess (23), an
end tongue section (26), and an end groove section (27) configured
to receive the end tongue section. The end groove section includes
an alignment pin (28) and a threaded mounting hole (29). The end
tongue section includes an alignment hole (30) configured to
receive the groove section alignment pin, and a countersunk hole
(31) which is aligned with a mounting hole in the blade iron groove
section. A threaded mounting screw (32) is passed through
countersunk hole (31) and into mounting hole (29). Each mounting
flange is coupled to its two adjacent mounting flanges to provide
limited movement therebetween.
Inventors: |
Richardson; Anthony Todd;
(Prattville, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER, DONELSON, BEARMAN, CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ;Intellectual Property
Department
Monarch Plaza, Suite 1600, 3414 Peachtree Rd.
ATLANTA
GA
30326
US
|
Family ID: |
41117534 |
Appl. No.: |
12/055998 |
Filed: |
March 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
416/210R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/34 20130101;
F04D 25/088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
416/210.R |
International
Class: |
F01D 5/30 20060101
F01D005/30 |
Claims
1. A fan comprising, an electric motor; an annular array of blade
irons, each blade iron having at least one mounting hole therein
and an elastomeric grommet positioned within said mounting hole,
each blade iron of said array of blade irons being coupled to two
oppositely disposed other blade irons of said array of blade irons;
and a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron of
said annular array of blade irons.
2. The fan of claim 1 wherein each said blade iron includes a
mounting flange having a first end and a second end opposite said
first end configured to mate with said first end of another said
blade iron of said array of blade irons, whereby said first end of
one blade iron is coupled to the second end of an adjacent blade
iron.
3. The fan of claim 2 wherein said first end is coupled to said
second end of another blade iron through a mounting screw.
4. The fan of claim 3 wherein said first end includes an alignment
pin and said second end includes an alignment hole configured to
receive said alignment pin of another blade iron of said array of
blade irons.
5. A fan comprising, an electric motor; an annular array of blade
irons, each blade iron having at least one mounting hole therein
and an elastomeric grommet positioned within said mounting hole,
each blade iron of said array of blade irons having a mounting
flange, each blade iron mounting flange of said array of blade iron
being coupled to a pair of adjacent mounting flange so as to form a
ring; and a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron
of said annular array of blade irons.
6. The fan of claim 5 wherein each said blade iron mounting flange
includes a first end and a second end opposite said first end
configured to mate with said first end of another said blade iron
of said array of blade irons, whereby said first end of one blade
iron is coupled to the second end of an adjacent blade iron.
7. The fan of claim 6 wherein said first end is coupled to said
second end of another blade iron through a mounting screw.
8. The fan of claim 7 wherein said first end includes an alignment
pin and said second end includes an alignment hole configured to
receive said alignment pin of another blade iron of said array of
blade irons.
9. A fan comprising, an electric motor; a plurality of blade irons,
each said blade iron having a mounting flange having a first end
and a second end, said first end of one said blade iron being
coupled to said second end of another said blade iron of said
plurality of blade irons, and a elastomeric member positioned
between said mounting flanges of said plurality of blade irons and
said electric motor; and a ceiling fan blade associated with each
said blade iron of said annular array of blade irons.
10. The fan of claim 9 wherein said first end is coupled to said
second end of another blade iron through a mounting screw.
11. The fan of claim 10 wherein said first end includes an
alignment pin and said second end includes an alignment hole
configured to receive said alignment pin of another blade iron of
said array of blade irons.
12. The fan of claim 9 wherein said mounting flange includes at
least one mounting hole therein and wherein said elastomeric member
is an elastomeric grommet positioned within said mounting hole
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a fan system for mounting blade
irons and blades, and specifically to systems for isolation of the
blades of a ceiling fan from vibrations of the drive motor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many different types of fans exist today, such as ceiling
fans, table fans, pedestal fans, and fans used in conjunction with
mechanical equipment. Most of these fans include a blade and a
blade mount or blade iron which couples the blade to the motor.
[0003] Electrically powered ceiling fans typically have a motor
mounted within a stationary housing that is suspended from a
ceiling. In operation, the motor rotates an annular array of
individual extensions in the form of blade mounts or blade irons.
Each blade iron is associated with a blade mounted thereto.
[0004] The blades of ceiling fans are usually coupled to the blade
irons by passing mounting screws through holes in the blade and
into threaded holes in the blade iron. The blade irons are then
mounted to the motor.
[0005] Ceiling fans are particularly susceptible to the
transmission of motor-induced noises since by reason of their large
area and length, the blades tend to act as resonating or sound
transmitting devices, and thus tend to impart into the air, as
noise, vibrations or the like which the blades receive from the
drive motor. The drive motors themselves, while relatively quiet by
themselves, nevertheless when used to drive ceiling fan blades can
impart objectionable noises to the surrounding atmosphere through
the blades. Thus, a noisy stator caused for example by slightly
loose stator laminations, which would produce an otherwise
relatively unobjectionable and unnoticeable stator hum, may at
times be transmitted through the motor structure through the
blade-mounting cage or rotor to the blades themselves and produce
an objectionably loud noise. Similarly, rotor vibrations or noises
and bearing noises may be amplified by the blades and become
objectionable.
[0006] Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a ceiling
fan system that can restrict the transmission of noise to the
rotating blades. It is to the provision of such therefore that the
present invention is primarily directed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In a preferred form of the invention a fan comprises an
electric motor, an annular array of blade irons, and a ceiling fan
blade associated with each blade iron of the annular array of blade
irons. Each blade iron has at least one mounting hole therein and
an elastomeric grommet positioned within the mounting hole. Each
blade iron of the array of blade irons is coupled to two oppositely
disposed other blade irons of the array of blade irons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ceiling fan embodying
principles of the invention in a preferred form.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the ceiling fan
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a
ceiling fan 10 having an electric motor 13 connected to a source of
electric power by unshown wires. The motor 13 includes a bottom
mounting plate 14 coupled to the rotor so that it rotates during
operation of the motor. The motor bottom mounting plate 14 has an
annular array of threaded mounting holes 19. The ceiling fan 10
also includes an annular array of blade irons 16 coupled to the
mounting plate 14, each having a blade 17 mounted thereto in
conventional fashion.
[0011] Each blade iron 16 has a motor mounting flange 21 configured
to be coupled with the bottom mounting plate 14 of the electric
motor 13. Each mounting flange 21 has a depression or recess 23
extending from the bottom surface 24 and inward surface 25, an end
tongue section 26, and an end groove section 27 configured to
receive the end tongue section 26. The end groove section 27
includes an alignment pin 28 and a threaded mounting hole 29. The
end tongue section 26 includes an alignment hole 30 configured to
receive the groove section alignment pin 28, and a countersunk hole
31 which is aligned with mounting hole 29. A threaded mounting
screw 32 is passed through tongue section countersunk hole 31 and
threaded into groove section mounting hole 29. As such, each
mounting flange 21 is coupled to its two oppositely disposed and
adjacent mounting flanges 21 with the tongue and groove sections
providing limited movement therebetween. The recess 23 extends from
the bottom surface 24 less than the full thickness of the mounting
flange and thus leaves a relatively thin section 35 of the flange.
The recess 23 also includes a semi-circular inwardly opening
aperture or slot 38, which interrupts the inward surface 25 at a
relatively narrow throat 39. The slot 38 is generally aligned with
the threaded mounting hole 19 of the bottom mounting plate 14.
[0012] An elastomeric isolation means, in the form of a rubber
grommet 40, is configured to be received substantially within the
recess 23 and particularly supported on the thin sections 35 within
the slot 38. The grommets 40 have a generally cubic shape and are
provided with an internal clearance opening 42 which extends
axially therethrough. The side walls of the grommet 40 are provided
with opposed outwardly opening grooves 44, which grooves are
proportioned to receive the sections 35 of the mounting flange, at
the slots 38, when the grommet is pressed into place and seated in
the recess 23. When the grommet is thus seated, a portion of the
grommet extends below the section 35 into the recess 23, but the
axial thickness of the grommet 40 is such that the portion which
extends into the recess is fully contained within the recess.
Another portion of the grommet 40 extends above the upper surface
of the mounting flange when the grommet is inserted. The narrow
throat 39 tends to retain the grommet in place.
[0013] The opening 42 in the grommet is adapted to receive drive
means in the form of a threaded headed stud 50. The stud 50 is only
partially threaded at its outer end 52. The threads are intended to
be received in one of the mounting holes 19 of the mounting plate
14. The stud 50 extends into the mounting plate only to a
predetermined depth defined by the depth of the threads 52, and
when the same are inserted through the grommet openings 42, the
mounting flanges 21 are suspended below the mounting plate on the
enlarged heads 51 of the studs 50. The grommets 40 preferably are
not drawn into direct contact with the mounting plate 14.
[0014] The grommets 40 provides means together with the stud 50 for
suspending the blade irons 16 from the motor mounting plate 14,
thereby eliminating a metal-to-metal contact. The entire weight of
the fan blade 17 and blade irons 16 is carried on the studs 50
through the resilient coupling defined by the grommets 40. The
enlarged head 51 of the stud is received adjacent the outer surface
of the grommet 40, and thus the weight of the blade irons and
blades normally is transmitted to the heads fo the studs through
the grommets 40. The connected blade irons with the captured
grommets 40 is free to slide slightly up and down on the threaded
studs. The purpose of the slight axial freedom of movement is to
provide full isolation of the blade irons from the mounting plate
14.
[0015] It should be understood that the invention provides an
elastomeric attachment, free of any direct metal-to-metal contact,
between the blade irons 16 and the motor mounting plate 14. Any
vibrations in the motor will tend to be absorbed in the grommets
40, thereby effectively isolating the blades 17 from the effects of
such direct transmission of vibration.
[0016] It should be understood that the current invention is not
intended to be limited to ceiling fans and may apply equally to all
types of fans. It should also be understood that the current
invention is not limited to a certain number of blades or blade
irons.
[0017] It thus is seen that a ceiling fan is now provided which
isolates motor noises and vibrations in a fan. While this invention
has been described in detail with particular references to the
preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many
modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those
expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following
claims.
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