U.S. patent application number 12/807091 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for air blowing device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zhongshan Longde Electric Industries Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Eric Junkel, Zhixiang Kuang.
Application Number | 20120051884 12/807091 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45697512 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120051884 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Junkel; Eric ; et
al. |
March 1, 2012 |
Air blowing device
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved air blowing device
formed by a base housing and a motor driving an impeller to create
an air flow. A hollow housing is mounted on the base at a
connection point. The housing assumes a substantially triangular
configuration with the apex of the triangle forming the connection
with the base and the forming the top of the housing. The housing
is provided with an air discharge slot opening formed by an outer
extended flat side wall and an inner shortened flat side wall. The
air flow created by the motor impeller enters the hollow housing
and exits through the air discharge slot opening thereby creating a
collimated beam of air forward of the air blowing device.
Inventors: |
Junkel; Eric; (Mount
Prospect, IL) ; Kuang; Zhixiang; (Zhongshan,
CN) |
Assignee: |
Zhongshan Longde Electric
Industries Co., Ltd.
GLJ, LLC
|
Family ID: |
45697512 |
Appl. No.: |
12/807091 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/08 20130101;
F04F 5/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/90 |
International
Class: |
F04D 17/00 20060101
F04D017/00 |
Claims
1. An air blowing device for generating and directing a beam of
collimated air flow from said device comprising; a base formed by a
top wall, bottom wall, surrounding side walls and an interior
chamber, air inlets formed in said surrounding side walls to allow
air to enter said interior chamber, a motor mounted in said
interior chamber, said motor including blower means for creating an
air stream within said interior chamber, a housing having a top end
and a bottom end and mounted on said base at its bottom end at a
connection point, said housing defining a central opening and
having a hollow interior chamber and having a front side and rear
side, and said central opening having a central axis, a slot formed
in said housing extending along the periphery thereof adjacent the
front side thereof, said slot forming an air discharge opening,
said slot defined by an outer extended flat surface and an inner
shortened flat surface, said housing having an opening at said
connection point being in fluid communication with said base
interior chamber such that the air stream created by said blower
means is directed from said base interior chamber into said opening
and into said interior air chamber of said housing and exits
through said slot air discharge opening, whereby the air stream
created by said blower means exits said device through said slot
discharge opening and expands inwardly toward said housing central
opening to create a beam of collimated air flow paralleling the
axis of said housing opening.
2. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 1 above wherein,
the angle between said housing opening and said base interior
chamber is less than 70.degree..
3. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 2 above, wherein
said angle is approximately 45.degree..
4. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein
said housing is formed as a continuous structure having a top end
and a bottom end, said housing being mounted to said base at the
bottom end thereof at a connection point, such that the air stream
created by said blower means will flow throughout said hollow
interior chamber thereof and exit through said slot air discharge
opening.
5. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 4 above, wherein
said housing assumes a substantially triangular configuration with
the apex thereof forming the bottom end which is mounted to said
base at the connection point therebetween.
6. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 4 above, wherein
said housing assumes a substantially diamond shaped configuration
with narrowed top and bottom ends, and said narrow bottom end being
mounted to said base at said connection point therebetween.
7. The air blowing a device as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein
an outer chamber is provided, said outer chamber being mounted to
said base's side walls and formed by surrounding side walls with
air openings formed therein, said outer chamber forming at least
one inlet duct thereby to optimize air flow into said base interior
chamber.
8. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 7 above wherein
said outer chamber extends around said base and forms an extension
of said base.
9. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 7 above, wherein
the interior of said base surrounding side walls are provided with
porous filter material mounted thereon thereby to form a noise
deadening barrier between said base interior chamber and said outer
chamber.
10. The air blowing device set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said
slot's air discharge opening has a defined width between said outer
extended flat surface and said inner shortened flat surface.
11. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 10 above wherein
said width of said slot air discharge opening is narrower adjacent
said connection point and widens to its greatest width at the top
end of said housing thereby to make the air flow more uniform at
all points around the periphery of said housing.
12. An air blowing device for generating and directing a collimated
air flow from said device comprising, a base formed by a top wall,
bottom wall, surrounding side walls and an interior chamber, air
inlets formed in said surrounding side walls to allow air to enter
said interior chamber, a motor mounted in said interior chamber,
said motor including blower means for creating an air stream within
said interior chamber, at least one housing having a top end and a
bottom end and mounted on said base at its bottom end at a
connection point, said housing having an interior chamber and
defined by a front side, a rear side, an extended outer side wall
and a shortened inner side wall, a slot formed in said housing
extending along the periphery thereof adjacent the front side
thereof, said slot forming an air discharge opening, said slot
formed between said extended outer side wall and said shortened
inner side wall, said housing having an opening at said connection
point being in fluid communication with said base interior chamber
such that the air stream created by said blower means is directed
from said base interior chamber into said opening and into said
housing interior chamber and exits through said slot air discharge
opening, whereby the air stream created by said blower means exits
said device through said slot air discharge opening and creates a
beam of collimated air flow.
13. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 12 above, wherein
said device includes at least one pair of opposed housing
structures mounted on said base in horizontally opposed relation
defining a central space therebetween, whereby the air stream
created by said blower means enters said interior chamber of each
housing structure and exits through each of said slot air discharge
openings, and the air stream created by opposed housings creates a
beam of collimated air flow therebetween.
14. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 12 above, wherein
said housing comprises a continuous housing structure defined by a
top end, a bottom end and mounted on said base at its bottom end at
a connection point, said housing defining a central opening and
having an interior chamber extending throughout said housing
structure, and having a front side and a rear side and said central
opening having a central axis, whereby the air stream created by
said blower means flows into said housing interior chamber and
exits through said slot air discharge opening to create a beam of
collimated air flow toward the central axis of said housing central
opening.
15. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein
said device further includes a secondary housing mounted internally
of said housing by a series of braces interconnecting said
secondary housing to said housing, said secondary housing defining
a central opening and having a hollow interior chamber and having a
front side and rear side, and said central opening having a central
axis, each of said braces having a hollow interior and being in
fluid communication with said hollow interior chamber of said
housing and said secondary housing, a secondary slot formed in said
secondary housing extending along the periphery thereof adjacent
the front side thereof, said slot forming a secondary air discharge
opening, and said secondary slot formed by an outer extended flat
surface and an inner shortened flat surface.
16. The air blowing device as set forth in claim 15 above, wherein
said secondary housing assures the same geometric configuration as
said housing, and is sized to fit within the confines of said
housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement in an air
blowing device. Typically such a device incorporates a bladed fan
wherein the blades are mounted on a shaft which is fitted into a
motor for rotational purposes. The rotation of the shaft rotates
the blades in order to create an air flow forward of the blades
which rotate, to accelerate the air in front of the blades forward
of the blade fan, while suction draws air from behind. Typically,
such devices will be provided with grilles or grates surrounding
the fan blades to avoid injury to the user. Such grilles or grates
will also be provided with vanes or louvers which will direct the
air stream from the radial and/or tangential components of the air
flow toward the axial flow. It is also well known that the blades
may be manufactured from metal, in which case, clearly a grille or
grate of some type must be used to surround the blades to protect
the user from any type of injury. The prior art similarly shows
bladed fans wherein the fan blades are formed of a foam or plastic
material, which minimizes injury to the user, and in the case of
foam blades, permits the fan to be used without the need of a
protective grille. However, all of such prior art devices require
that the fan blades be mounted on a shaft which is in turn carried
or mounted in a motor of some type, which operates to rotate the
shaft, and it turn, the blades to create the air flow. Hence, all
of the mechanisms necessary to create the air flow are exposed to
the user, in one form or another.
[0002] Another form of prior art air blowing devices demonstrated
in the prior art is especially shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,467.
The device as demonstrated in the foresaid patent is a motor driven
fan and eliminates fan blades. In this instance, the fan consists
of a base in which the motor is contained, the motor driving an
impeller to create the air flow, the base extends upwardly via a
neck portion, which has three distinct nozzles mounted to the upper
portion of the neck, and each of which includes a hollow interior
chamber, into which the air flow created by the motor's impeller
will flow. Each of the nozzles are provided with a slot formed
along the outer forward edge thereof, and which functions as an
exit port for the air flow generated by the impeller of the motor.
As indicated in the aforesaid patent, the device is intended to
produce a uniform flow of air which may be regulated without
changing the speed of the motor and which moves the moving elements
including the motor and the impeller into an enclosed base,
providing a safety feature for the user. Further note that the
impeller here would spin much faster than the blades of a typical
motor driven fan for ventilation. This gives the air flow a greater
velocity even if the total flow rate were the same.
[0003] The prior art has advanced to a further improvement over the
bladeless motor driven fan as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,467, as
demonstrated by US patent application publication US 2009/0060710.
This device makes use of the concept of a nozzle or housing which
incorporates a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface adjacent to the slot
opening of the housing or nozzle. As described in the aforesaid
publication, the device includes a base which contains the motor
and impeller device which creates the air flow, and exits the base
into a circular housing or nozzle which has a hollow interior, and
exits the housing interior toward the central axis via a slot
formed along the periphery of the rear portion of the housing. As
described in the aforesaid publication, the air discharge slot is
formed adjacent to a curved or Coand{hacek over (a)} surface which
is formed along the wall on the downstream side of the slot
throughout. As indicated by the specification therein, the
Coand{hacek over (a)} surface is intended to draw air from outside
the fan assembly through the opening formed by the housing, by
bending in a forward direction the air flow directed over the
Coand{hacek over (a)} surface. As indicated therein, air exiting
from the slot hugs the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface, expands
downstream of the slot and this air stream will cause air from
outside of the fan device to draw air through the central opening
therein to produce an enhanced air flow forward of the air device.
Again, as indicated therein, the primary air flow directed over the
Coand{hacek over (a)} surface combined with the secondary air flow
entrained by primary air flow acts as an air amplifier and gives a
total air flow emitted or projected forward to a user from the
opening defined by the nozzle. Hence, the total air flow is
sufficient for the fan assembly to create an air current suitable
for cooling.
[0004] A companion publication describes the relationship between
the fan nozzle and the base as described in publication US
2009/0060711. It is stated therein that the base is no more than
twice the depth of the nozzle and width of the base is no more than
75% the width of the nozzle. These relationships appear to permit
the device to be made as small and as compact as possible due to
space restrictions in domestic environments.
[0005] The present invention relates to a further improvement to
the design of an air blowing device or ventilating device and acts
like a conventional axial bladed fan without exposure to rotating
blades in the same manner as the prior art referenced hereinabove.
The present invention takes advantage of the principals of
induction or entrainment wherein a jet of air directed into a
volume of stationary air accelerates adjacent volumes of stationary
air to increase or magnify the volume of moving air. However, the
present invention avoids having to resort to Coand{hacek over (a)}
effect flow to achieve this magnification, rather, using simpler
methods of collimating and redirecting air flows to shape the
velocity distribution of the discharged air stream. As demonstrated
in the -710 and -711 prior art devices, the device employs a
Coand{hacek over (a)} surface. The Coand{hacek over (a)} effect in
fluid flow describes the tendency of a jet of air to appear to be
attracted to convex solid surface as the jet passes near. This
results in a pressure drop in the region between the jet and the
surface drawing the jet toward the surface. The effect is used to
bend the discharge of the jet from a nozzle toward an adjacent
curved surface and has the effect of directing the stream of air
forward. This stream induces the volume of still air within the
annulus or open space of the nozzle to move forward by induction,
giving the multiplier effect as claimed therein. It will be noted,
however, that the single ring disclosed therein includes a slot or
opening located toward the rear of the ring and designed with the
Coand{hacek over (a)} surface so that the jet emerges almost
parallel to the inside surface of the ring. This construction will
cause the still air behind the annulus or opening of the nozzle to
be induced to move forward once the air flow emanates from the slot
of the nozzle.
[0006] In the previously mentioned prior art device of the -467
patent, it will be observed that the slot of each of the rings is
located at the forward edge of each of the rings. The air jets out
through the orifices or slots into an annular pattern of air stream
through concentric streams as demonstrated in the aforesaid patent.
The air streams will therefore diffuse radially outward and inward
and merge forming a more typical bell shape distribution pattern of
air flow that varies with radial distance from the center axis of
the diffuser. The air flow exiting the nozzle will tend to separate
out and not be collimated into a beam of air. The result of this
construction is that the user of the fan will not feel a beam of
cool air when utilizing the device.
[0007] The problem which exists with respect to the prior art
devices is that the air flow may not be strong because there is too
much of a transverse or radial flow of air relative to the central
axis of the air flow stream. This results in weak air flow and
inefficient operation. As far as the device shown in the -467
patent is concerned, the outer diffuser ring or nozzle will spray a
good portion of its air stream outward and not forward as it lacks
any kind of nozzle, guide or louvers downstream of the nozzles. The
more the air stream expands laterally, the less force is felt by
the user at a distance in front of the fan. As far as the device
shown in the -710 and -711 prior art devices, the use of a Coanda
effect surface means that the friction losses of the jet flowing
along the surface of the air foil shaped diffuser reduces
efficiency and the ultimate flow rate of air from the fan. Further,
the Coand{hacek over (a)} effect cannot be scaled up to higher air
flows without increasing the size of the diffuser.
[0008] Further with respect to the prior art devices mentioned
hereinabove, the air flow generated by the impeller must make a
sudden almost 90.degree. turn when exiting from the base into the
diffuser ring or nozzle and therefore suffers a head loss due to
the air having to bend almost 90.degree. to enter into the hollow
chamber of each of the nozzles or diffuser rings. If one attempts
to put a larger motor in order to move more air, the extra speed
and size adds noise so that the motor driving the impeller must be
slowed down in order to get into the range of noise accepted by the
consumer and hence, a loss of performance in addition to a loss in
efficiency.
[0009] The present invention is intended to provide an air blowing
device which employs a ring or diffuser nozzle, which shall be
termed herein as a housing, which is constructed to avoid the
problems noted above. The device of the present invention avoids
the need for having a Coand{hacek over (a)} surface, by moving the
slot to the forward portion of the housing, and is constructed with
a pair of inner and outer walls which are flat, but are constructed
in a manner which has the net effect of collimating the air flow
emitting therefrom into a beam of air thereby improving the cooling
effect observed by the user thereof.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0010] It is therefore the object of the present invention to
provide an air blowing device the type generally described, which
is formed by a base which incorporates a motor therein, driving an
impeller to create an air flow. A housing is mounted on the top of
the base, which incorporates a hollow chamber therein, so that air
flow created by the motor and impeller can exit the chamber of the
base and enter into the interior chamber of the housing. The
housing is designed to be mounted on the base with angled branches
so that the air flow emanating from the impeller as it enters the
interior housing chamber is bent less than 70.degree., and
preferably approximately 45.degree., in order to reduce the loss of
the air pressure or air flow as the air enters into the housing
chamber.
[0011] A further object of the present invention is to design the
slot forming the air discharge opening adjacent the forward edge of
the housing, the slot being formed by an outer extended side wall,
and an inner shortened side wall, both of which are flat
surfaces.
[0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
device of the type described, wherein the base is formed as a
chamber which contains a motor therein with an impeller to create
the air flow, and wherein the base is surrounded by an outer
chamber which has air ducts formed therein for feeding outside air
into the base interior chamber. The outer chamber is provided with
air inlet openings, to permit outside air to be drawn into the
device when the impeller is activated. The outer chamber further
serves the purpose of reducing the noise which emanates from the
motor when in operation.
[0013] In conjunction with the foregoing object, a further object
of the invention is to provide an air blowing device of the type
described wherein the interior chamber of the base may further be
provided with a noise reducing filter material mounted to the
interior side walls of the chamber, so that the combination of the
outer chamber and the noise reduction filter material, will greatly
reduce the noise which emanates from the operation of the
motor.
[0014] A further object of the invention is to provide an air
blowing device of the type described wherein the housing mounted to
the base takes the form of an inverted triangle having the apex of
the triangle forming the two branches mounted to the base, and the
base of the triangle forming the top portion of the subject
device.
[0015] In conjunction of the foregoing object, a further object of
the invention is to provide a device as the type described wherein
the housing may take the form of a diamond shaped device. It is
considered that any geometric configuration may be used so long as
the branches when mounted to the base, will bend the air flow
entering the housing to bend less than 90.degree., and preferably
more on the order of only 45.degree. when entering the interior
chamber of the housing.
[0016] Further objects and advantages will best be understood by
reference to the accompanying drawings taken in conjunction with
the following specifications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] In summary, the present invention is intended as an
improvement over prior art air blowing devices which improves the
air flow emanating from the device by collimating the air flow
emanating from the device into a beam of air to enhance the cooling
effect felt by the user. This is accomplished by providing a device
which consists of a base which has an interior chamber housing a
motor which drives an impeller to create an air flow, and the base
having suitable air inlet openings to take in outside air for the
impeller to create an air flow. A housing structure is mounted to
the top of the base, the housing structure being mounted at a
connecting point. The housing has an internal chamber which is in
fluid communication with the chamber of the base through the
connection point. The housing is provided with a slot air discharge
opening adjacent the forward edge of the housing, the slot being
formed by an outer extended flat surface, and an inner shortened
flat surface. Further, the housing will take the form of a triangle
or other geometric shape wherein the branches of the housing being
mounted to the base of the connection point, will form an angle
with the base such that the air flow emanating from the impeller of
the motor blowing up through the connection point into the housing
will bend no more than and preferably around 45.degree.. Hence, the
housing will ideally take the shape of triangular structure the
apex of the triangle forming the connection to the base at a
connection point, and the base of the triangle forming top portion
of the air blowing device. Alternatively, the housing may take the
shape of a diamond shaped structure. It is to be considered within
the scope of the present invention to employ any geometric shape
which avoids air having to bend almost 90.degree. when entering the
housing or nozzle of the base.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWI NGS
[0018] The invention as illustrated in the following drawings
wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view in partial cross section,
showing the prior art device described above, formed by a base, a
neck extending up from the base, and three concentric nozzles in
fluid communication with the air chamber of the base;
[0020] FIG. 2 represents a cross sectional view taken along the
line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the construction of the three
concentric nozzles including the air discharge slot formed
therein;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the construction of the nozzle
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the air flow pattern created
thereby;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view and partial cross
section, showing a further prior art device including a ring nozzle
mounted on a base, of the type described hereandabove;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view in cross section, showing the
construction of the housing or nozzle of the prior art device as
illustrated in FIG. 4;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the air blowing device
of the present invention, showing the base, a neck portion
extending upwardly from the base, and having a housing formed as a
triangular construction mounted to the top of the neck;
[0025] FIG. 7a is a cross sectional schematic view of a slot air
discharge opening in accordance of the present invention, the slot
being formed by an outer flat extended surface and a lower
shortened flat surface, the slot air discharge opening formed
adjacent the forward end of the housing;
[0026] FIG. 7b is comparison schematic view in cross section,
showing a construction of the slot as shown of the device in FIG. 1
of the drawings and a comparison of the air flow emanating from the
slot air discharge opening therefrom;
[0027] FIG. 7c is a further embodiment of an slot air discharge
opening in cross section, of a possible alternative embodiment of
the present invention wherein the outer flat surface wall of the
slot is further extended, and the inner shortened flat surface is
set further back from the forward edge of the housing;
[0028] FIG. 8 represents a further alternative embodiment of the
present invention, wherein the housing includes a pair of
concentric housings mounted to the base via neck portion but
incorporating the slot air discharge opening as described with
respect to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view in cross section, showing
the details of construction of the base of the unit having a motor
mounted therein, and the construction of an outer chamber
surrounding a base chamber which functions as a means for
controlling the air flow into the base and into the housing via the
opening between the base and the housing and further shows the
noise reduction the capacity by the inclusion of filter material
mounted to the inside walls of the interior chamber;
[0030] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view illustrating a further
embodiment of the present invention which takes the form of a tower
fan blowing device, and functions by the use of a pair of opposed
housing members mounted to the base, and creates a beam of
collimated air flow there between;
[0031] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view taken in the direction of
the arrows 11-11 of FIG. 10, showing the construction of the two
housing members including the slot air discharge opening associated
with each of said housing;
[0032] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view, partly in cross section,
showing the construction of the housing of the air blowing device
shown is FIG. 6;
[0033] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the housing as shown in
FIG. 12 of the drawings; and
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0034] With specific reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, a
prior art device is illustrated therein. As was mentioned in the
description of the prior art, FIG. 1 represents the device as
illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,467. It will be observed that
the device is formed by a base 10, which has an air chamber 11
formed therein. The base incorporates a motor 12 which drives an
impeller 13 in order to create the air flow. An air chamber 11
extends upwardly through the neck 14, and enters into each of three
rings, 15, 16 and 17 respectively, and noted as "nozzles" in the
subject patent. Each of the rings 15, 16 and 17 respectively
terminate in annular slot or air discharge opening denoted by the
numeral 18. It will therefore be appreciated that the air flow
created by the impeller 13 blows upwardly through the neck 14 and
into each of the rings 15, 16 and 17 respectively, and exits the
device through each of the air discharge openings 18. Hence, an air
flow is created forward of the device toward the user thereof.
[0035] FIGS. 2 and 3 denote the construction of each of the rings,
15, 16 and 17 respectively, and the discharge air opening 18. FIG.
3 illustrates the construction of the air discharge opening 18 and
illustrates in schematic form, the air flow created therefrom. When
the device is operational, air jets out through the air discharge
openings, into an angular pattern of air stream, that is, three
concentric streams in this case. Far from the unit, the air streams
diffuse radially outward and inward and merge forming a typical
bell shaped distribution pattern of air flow that varies with
radial distance from the center axis of the diffuser. It is obvious
from the views of FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, that the air flow
exiting the air discharge opening will tend to spread out and not
be collimated into a beam of air. The air flow pattern mentioned
herein is generally illustrated by the arrows 19 of FIG. 3.
[0036] FIG. 4 illustrates still another prior art device of the
type previously mentioned hereinabove, and as depicted in patent
publication -710 and -711. This device is formed by base 20 which
has an interior air chamber 21 and wherein the base 20 houses a
motor 22, which drives an impeller 23. A housing 24 is mounted to
the base 20 and takes the form of a ring and has a hollow interior
25, which is in fluid communication with the air chamber 21 of the
base 20. The ring 24 is provided with a slot or air discharge
opening 26 which has the construction as shown in FIG. 5 of the
drawings. As illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawings, the air
discharge opening is constructed with a Coand{hacek over (a)}
surface 28 formed immediately adjacent the opening 26. As was
previously mentioned, the Coand{hacek over (a)} surface provides a
Coand{hacek over (a)} effect fluid flow which describes the
tendency of a jet of air fluid to appear to be attracted to convex
solid surfaces as the jet of air passes thereover. This results in
a pressure drop in the region between the jet and the surface
drawing the air jet toward the surface. The effect is used to bend
the discharge of a jet from the nozzle or air discharge opening
toward an adjacent curved surface. According to the aforesaid prior
art description, air from the opening formed in the ring is induced
to flow forward. The air stream will draw outside air through the
fan acting as an air multiplier. A further problem is caused by the
air flow which must make a sudden almost 90.degree. turn as
illustrated by arrows 27 in FIG. 4, as the air flows from the base
air chamber 21 into the housing air chamber 25. This, in effect,
can cause a greater loss of air flow pressure than the pattern
wherein the air makes a shallower bending angle from the base
chamber into the housing chamber. In order to overcome that
obstruction, the impeller has to work harder to move air through
the closed system than a conventional axial flow fan and hence, the
impeller has to be made larger or spin faster to move an equivalent
amount of air. The extra speed and size will add noise so that the
motor driving the impeller must be slowed to get back into the
noise range that would be acceptable by a consumer. Hence, the
additional problem that will be presented is the fact that the
device would become overly large and cumbersome thereby defeating
the purpose as set forth in the aforesaid prior art
publication.
[0037] FIG. 6 represents the preferred embodiment of the present
invention. The present invention provides an air blowing device 30
which is formed by a base 31, which has an upper neck portion 32
associated therewith, and is completed by a housing 34 mounted to
the neck portion 32 of base 31 at a connection point 35. It will be
observed that the housing 34 takes the shape of an inverted
triangle having opposed branches 36 and 37 respectively, with the
apex of the triangle formed by the two branches 36 and 37 being the
mounting point at the connection point 35. The base of the
triangular housing 34 is denoted by the numeral 38 and forms the
top of the air blowing device 30. For purposes of the present
discussion, the front side of the device 30 is considered to be the
side from which the air flow emanates, and the top is referred by
the numeral 38, and the bottom consists of the two branches 36 and
37 respectively, mounted to the base neck portion 32 and the
connection point 35. The housing 34 forms an open central portion
39, through which air is induced to flow. A slot air discharge
opening 40 is formed adjacent the front side of the air blowing
device 30 and assumes the shape and configuration as depicted in
FIGS. 7a and 7c of the drawings. With specific reference to FIGS.
7a and 7c, it will be observed that the air slot discharge opening
40 is formed by an outer extended flat surface 41, and inner short
flat surface 42. The arrows immediately forward of the air
discharge opening 40 demonstrate the magnitude of the air velocity
vectors across the aperture which are created when the device is
operational and the air is being discharged through the opening 40.
The lower arrows 43 shows how the air flow is collimated to form a
beam of air to the interior side of the device, causing the air
stream to be concentrated and draws air from the rear side of the
air blowing device 30 forwardly therefrom. The upper arrows 44
illustrate the fact that air from externally of the device will be
inducted into the air flow, but not to the same extent that the
interior air flow is collimated into a beam of air to impact the
user thereof.
[0038] FIG. 7b illustrates the flow pattern of the slot formed in
the rings 15, 16 and 17 of the prior art device illustrated in
FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. The arrows 19 illustrate that the air
flow pattern is not collimated, but rather spread out to the upper
and lower sides of the upper and lower portions of the air
discharge opening 18.
[0039] FIG. 7c illustrates a further embodiment of the present
invention, wherein the outer extended flat surface 41 is further
extended than the inner shortened flat surface 42, which has the
effect of having even more of the air flow to the interior side of
the housing 34.
[0040] FIG. 7b represents the construction of the nozzle or housing
of the air blowing device of the FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. As was
indicated, the nozzle or ring 15 has an air discharge opening 18
through which the air is discharged during use. The discharged air
has a flow pattern as demonstrated by the arrows 19. It will be
observed that the air pattern is not collimated but rather, will
radiate outwardly.
[0041] Again with a view in FIG. 6, an advantage of the present
invention is derived from the triangular configuration of the
housing 34. As previously indicated, the housing 34 takes the shape
of a triangular configuration, with the triangle base 38 forming
the top of the device 30, and the branches 36 and 37 forming the
connection to the neck portion 32 of the base 31 at the connection
point 35. With respect to FIG. 6, the arrows 46 show the air flow
that emanates from the base interior chamber into the housing
chamber assuming an angle of less than 70.degree..
[0042] The construction of the base interior and the related upper
housing is more clearly shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. The base
31 includes an interior chamber 51, and accommodates the mounting
of a motor 52 therein which drives an impeller 53. In the
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the base 31 is provided with an
outer chamber 54 which surrounds the base 31. The outer chamber 54
includes an outer wall 55 which is provided with air inlet openings
56 to allow outside air into the device. The outer chamber 54 is
constructed with at least one or more air ducts 57 which will
direct the air flow into the interior chamber 51 of the base and
provide a source of air for the motor 52 and impeller 53. The air
flow is illustrated by the arrows 59, and is created by the air
flow emanating by the impeller 53. The air flow enters into the
housing 34 via the opening 61 which exists between the base
interior chamber 51, and the housing interior chamber 48.
[0043] It will be appreciated that the outer chamber 54 not only
directs the air flow into the interior chamber 51 of the base, but
also serves the purpose of deadening the noise created by the motor
52. A further feature that helps in the noise deadening capacity of
the device is the provision of the filter material mounted along
the walls of the base interior chamber 51. The filter material 63
is porous in nature, and hence, may be mounted over the air duct 57
and affords the device to have the opportunity to still have an
inflow of air to feed air to the impeller 53 when it is
operational.
[0044] From the above description it will be appreciated that the
air blowing device 30 of the present invention operates in much the
same manner as prior art devices, but improves upon the same by the
construction of the housing, which takes the form of either a
triangular configuration, or another geometric shape such as a
diamond shape configuration. As will be appreciated from FIGS. 6
and 9 of the drawings, the efficiency of the air blowing device is
maximized by using a geometric shape for the housing 34 which
minimizes the angle of the bend of air as it flows from the base
chamber into the housing chamber. Hence, an angle of 45.degree. or
even less results in an efficient air flow.
[0045] FIG. 8 represents a further alternate construction of the
present invention. In this embodiment, the air blowing device 90 is
formed by a base 91 which houses the motor driven impeller(not
shown) and is connected to the housing by a neck 92. The housing
takes the form of a pair of triangular shaped outer housing 93 and
inner housing 94. The inner housing 94 is connected to the outer
housing 93 by a series of three braces 95. The construction of the
outer and inner housings 93 and 94 respectively is the same as
described with respect to the device of FIGS. 6 and 9. Each of the
braces 95 has a hollow interior thereby to provide an air flow path
from the base chamber via the outer housing chamber to the inner
housing chamber. Further, each housing is provided with an air
discharge opening 96 and 97 respectively, constructed in accordance
with FIG. 7a. Hence, it is contemplated that an air blowing device
having multiple concentric housings falls within the scope of the
present invention.
[0046] FIGS. 10-11 represents still a further embodiment of the
present invention. The present invention may take the form of what
is commonly referred to as a tower fan. A tower fan is generally an
elongated structure, which is typically rectangular in
configuration. As shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, the tower air
blowing device 75 is again formed with a base 76 and includes a
pair of opposed housings 78 and 79 respectively mounted thereon. As
shown in FIG. 11, each of the housings 78 and 79 are formed with a
housing interior chamber 81 and a slot air discharge opening 83.
The air discharge opening 83 is again formed in the same manner as
illustrated previously with respect to FIGS. 7a and 7c of the
drawings, and as clearly shown in FIG. 11, will create an air flow
pattern which collimates the air to form an air beam represented by
the arrows 85. It will further be clear that the air flow emanating
from the air discharge opening 83 will induce air from the rear
side of the tower air blowing device 75 to flow through the central
space 87 forward part of the device, and create the beam of
collimated air as illustrated in FIG. 11. It is contemplated that
while FIG. 10 shows two separate housings 78 and 79 mounted to the
base 76 the housing may take the form of a single housing connected
at the top by a loop in the nature horseshoe shaped housing.
[0047] FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate the details of construction of
the housing 78 mounted on the base 76 at a connection point 80.
Once again, it will be observed that the slot air discharge opening
83 is formed by an outer extended flat surface 82 and an inner
shortened flat surface 84. The air which discharges through the
slot 83 is collimated to form a beam of air to the interior side of
the device 75, as was described relative to FIG. 7A. Hence, the
user will feel a stream of air when positioned in front of the
device 75.
[0048] It will be appreciated from the above description that the
present invention further improves upon the construction of an air
blowing device which eliminates fan blades from the external
portion of the device, and relies upon an internally housed motor
with an impeller, to create an air flow and is formed with an air
discharge opening formed near the portion of the fan device so that
a beam of collimated air is formed to increase the effect of
cooling upon the user.
[0049] While there has been described what is at present considered
to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, further variations
may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the
invention and the claims appended hereto.
TABLE-US-00001 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 base 11 air chamber 12 motor 13
impeller 14 neck 15 ring 16 ring 17 ring 18 air discharge opening
19 arrows of FIG. 3 20 base 21 air chamber 22 motor 23 impeller 24
ring 25 air chamber of 24 26 air chamber opening 27 air flow arrow
28 conanda surface 29 30 air blowing device 31 base 32 upper neck
of base 33 34 housing 35 connective point 36 leg 37 leg 38 base 39
40 slot air discharge opening 41 upper extended flat surface 42
lower shortened flat surface 43 lower arrows 44 upper arrows 45 46
arrows 47 48 housing interior chamber 49 50 51 base interior
chamber 52 motor 53 impeller 54 outer chamber 55 outer wall 56 57
air duct 58 59 air flow arrows 60 61 opening at connective point 62
63 filter material 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 tower air
blowing device 76 base 77 78 housing 79 housing 80 connection point
81 housing interior chamber 82 outer extended flat surface 83 slot
air discharge opening 84 inner shortened flat surface 85 arrows of
air flow 86 87 88 89 90 air blowing device 91 base 92 neck 93 outer
housing 94 inner housing 95 brace
* * * * *