U.S. patent application number 17/147133 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-16 for ceiling fan with germicidal capabilities.
The applicant listed for this patent is DELTA T, LLC. Invention is credited to Daniel Dalton, Eric Evans, Andrew Koukis, Richard Lenser, Marc McKinzie, Lennie Rhoades.
Application Number | 20210388841 17/147133 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005402934 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210388841 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rhoades; Lennie ; et
al. |
December 16, 2021 |
CEILING FAN WITH GERMICIDAL CAPABILITIES
Abstract
A fan for generating germicidal light is disclosed, which may be
adapted to mount to a ceiling. The fan includes a hub connected to
a plurality of fan blades. A motor is adapted to rotate the hub. A
support is adapted to support the hub and motor from the ceiling. A
lighting module may include a tray adapted to receive the support,
the tray including one or more lights for providing ultraviolet
germicidal light. The light may be provided by LEDs on a circuit
board adapted for positioning around the support without
dismounting the support from the ceiling, such as one comprised of
wedge-shaped segments. The modular circuit board may form part of
an uplight module supported by a housing for the motor.
Inventors: |
Rhoades; Lennie;
(Nicholasville, KY) ; Evans; Eric; (Lexington,
KY) ; McKinzie; Marc; (Lexington, KY) ;
Lenser; Richard; (Lexington, KY) ; Koukis;
Andrew; (Danville, KY) ; Dalton; Daniel;
(Lexington, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DELTA T, LLC |
Lexington |
KY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005402934 |
Appl. No.: |
17/147133 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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63123595 |
Dec 10, 2020 |
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63054871 |
Jul 22, 2020 |
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63040274 |
Jun 17, 2020 |
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63039788 |
Jun 16, 2020 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V 33/0096 20130101;
F04D 25/088 20130101; A61L 9/20 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04D 25/08 20060101
F04D025/08; F21V 33/00 20060101 F21V033/00; A61L 9/20 20060101
A61L009/20 |
Claims
1. A fan adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising: a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades; a motor adapted to rotate
the hub; a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray
including one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal
light on a circuit board comprising an annular structure including
a plurality of interconnected segments.
2. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is
fastened to an upper surface of the tray.
3. (canceled)
4. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the tray is adapted to
support one or more lights or the circuit board at an angle
relative to a horizontal plane.
5. The fan according to claim 1, further including a
light-transmissive lens for overlying the one or more lights, the
tray forming an opaque base to which the circuit board is
fastened.
6.-7. (canceled)
8. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board
comprises at least two semi-annular portions connected by a
connector.
9. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes
one or more lights adapted for generating non-ultraviolet
light.
10. The fan according to claim 1, further including a controller
for controlling a wavelength of light produced by the one or more
lights.
11. The fan according to claim 1, further including a circuit for
generating a signal indicative of a need to service the one or more
lights based on a time of operation of the motor.
12. (canceled)
13. The fan according to claim 1, further including a vane for
guiding air generated by the plurality of fan blades toward the one
or more lights.
14. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes a
plurality of fins connected to a surface to which the circuit board
is fastened for promoting heat exchange.
15. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes a
stanchion adapted to engage the support, and further including a
fastener for fastening the stanchion to the support.
16.-30. (canceled)
31. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the one or more lights
are positioned above the tray and adapted to project light directed
upwardly toward the ceiling to which the fan is mounted.
32. The fan according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of
interconnected segments is wedge-shaped.
33. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the tray comprises an
open receptacle having a flat upper surface for supporting the one
or more lights.
34. A fan adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising: a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades; a motor adapted to rotate
the hub; a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray
including one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal
light, the one or more lights being provided on a C-shaped circuit
board.
35. The fan according to claim 34, wherein the circuit board is
fastened to an upper surface of the tray.
36. The fan according to claim 34, further including a
light-transmissive lens for overlying the one or more lights, the
tray forming an opaque base to which the circuit board is
fastened.
37. The fan according to claim 34, wherein the one or more lights
are positioned above the tray and adapted to project light directed
upwardly toward the ceiling to which the fan is mounted.
38. The fan according to claim 34, wherein the tray comprises an
open receptacle having a planar upper surface for supporting the
one or more lights.
39. The fan according to claim 34, wherein the C-shaped circuit
board includes a slot adapted for receiving the support in a
direction transverse to an axis of rotation of the fan.
40. The fan according to claim 34, further including a circuit for
generating a signal indicative of a need to service the one or more
lights based on a time of operation of the motor.
41. A fan adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising: a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades; a motor adapted to rotate
the hub; a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray
including a circuit board including one or more lights for
providing ultraviolet germicidal light, wherein the circuit board
comprises at least two semi-annular portions connected by a
connector.
42. The fan according to claim 41, wherein the circuit board is
fastened to an upper surface of the tray.
43. The fan according to claim 41, wherein the tray is opaque.
44. The fan according to claim 41, wherein the circuit board
includes one or more lights adapted for generating non-ultraviolet
light.
45. The fan according to claim 41, further including a controller
for controlling a wavelength of light produced by the one or more
lights.
46. The fan according to claim 41, further including a circuit for
generating a signal indicative of a need to service the one or more
lights based on a time of operation of the motor.
47. The fan according to claim 41, further including a vane for
guiding air generated by the plurality of fan blades toward the one
or more lights.
48. A fan adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising: a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades; a motor adapted to rotate
the hub; a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray
including one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal
light; and a circuit for generating a signal indicative of a need
to service the one or more lights based on a time of operation of
the motor.
49. The fan according to claim 48, further including a circuit
board having the one or more lights, the circuit board comprising
an annular structure including a plurality of interconnected
segments.
50. The fan according to claim 49, wherein the circuit board is
C-shaped.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. Nos. 63/054,871, 63/040,274, 63/039,788,
and 63/123,595, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This document relates generally to ceiling fans and, more
particularly, to a ceiling fan with germicidal capabilities.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A variety of fan systems have been made and used over the
years in a variety of contexts. For instance, various ceiling fans
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,960, entitled "Fan Blades,"
issued Oct. 23, 2007; U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,821, entitled "Low Speed
Cooling Fan," issued Jun. 12, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,108,
entitled "Cooling Fan with Reinforced Blade," issued Sep. 6, 2005;
and U.S. Pat. No. D607,988, entitled "Ceiling Fan," issued Jan. 12,
2010. The disclosures of each of those U.S. patents are
incorporated by reference herein. Additional exemplary fans are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,823, entitled "Fan Blades," issued
Dec. 20, 2011; U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0208333, entitled "Ceiling
Fan System with Brushless Motor," published Aug. 20, 2009; and U.S.
Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0278637, entitled "Ceiling Fan with Variable
Blade Pitch and Variable Speed Control," published Nov. 4, 2010,
the disclosures of which are also incorporated by reference herein.
It should be understood that teachings herein may be incorporated
into any of the fans described in any of the above-referenced
patents, publications, or patent applications.
[0004] A fan blade or airfoil may include one or more upper air
fences and/or one or more lower air fences at any suitable
position(s) along the length of the fan blade or airfoil. Merely
exemplary air fences are described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No.
2011/0081246, entitled "Air Fence for Fan Blade," published Apr. 7,
2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Alternatively, any other suitable type of component or feature may
be positioned along the length of a fan blade or airfoil; or such
components or features may simply be omitted.
[0005] The outer tip of a fan blade or airfoil may be finished by
the addition of an aerodynamic tip or winglet. Merely exemplary
winglets are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,478, entitled "Fan
Blade Modifications," issued Aug. 7, 2007, the disclosure of which
is incorporated by reference herein. Additional winglets are
described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,934,907, entitled "Cuffed Fan Blade
Modifications," issued May 3, 2011, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein. Still other exemplary winglets
are described in U.S. Pat. No. D587,799, entitled "Winglet for a
Fan Blade," issued Mar. 3, 2009, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein. In some settings, such winglets
may interrupt the outward flow of air at the tip of a fan blade,
redirecting the flow to cause the air to pass over the fan blade in
a perpendicular direction, and also ensuring that the entire air
stream exits over the trailing edge of the fan blade and reducing
tip vortex formation. In some settings, this may result in
increased efficiency in operation in the region of the tip of the
fan blade. In other variations, an angled extension may be added to
a fan blade or airfoil, such as the angled airfoil extensions
described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0213097, entitled "Angled
Airfoil Extension for Fan Blade," published Sep. 4, 2008, and
issued Apr. 24, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,162,613, the disclosure of
which is incorporated by reference herein. Other suitable
structures that may be associated with an outer tip of an airfoil
or fan blade will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art. Alternatively, the outer tip of an airfoil or fan blade may be
simply closed (e.g., with a cap or otherwise, etc.), or may lack
any similar structure at all.
[0006] The interface of a fan blade and a fan hub may also be
provided in a variety of ways. For instance, various interfaces are
described in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0081045, entitled "Aerodynamic
Interface Component for Fan Blade," published Mar. 26, 2009 and
issued Apr. 3, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,204; and U.S.
Provisional Patent App. No. 61/590,469, entitled "Fan with
Resilient Hub," filed Jan. 25, 2012, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein. In addition, or in the
alternative, the fan blade may include a retention system that
couples the tip of a fan blade to an attachment point on the fan
hub via a cable running through the fan blade, such as that
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0262278, entitled "Fan Blade
Retention System," published Oct. 27, 2011. Alternatively, the
interface of a fan blade and a fan hub may include any other
component or components, or may lack any similar structure at
all.
[0007] It should also be understood that a fan may include sensors
or other features that are used to control, at least in part,
operation of a fan system. For instance, such fan systems are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0097975, entitled "Ceiling Fan
with Concentric Stationary Tube and Power-Down Features," published
Apr. 16, 2009, and issued Apr. 3, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,147,182,
the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S.
Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0162197, entitled "Automatic Control System and
Method to Minimize Oscillation in Ceiling Fans," published Jun. 25,
2009, and issued Feb. 28, 2012 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,123,479, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein; U.S. Pat.
Pub. No. 2010/0291858, entitled "Automatic Control System for
Ceiling Fan Based on Temperature Differentials," published Nov. 18,
2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein;
and U.S. Provisional Patent App. No. 61/165,582, entitled "Fan with
Impact Avoidance System Using Infrared," filed Apr. 1, 2009, the
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Alternatively, any other suitable control systems/features may be
used in conjunction with embodiments described herein.
[0008] In some environments, it is desirable to sterilize the air
and/or remove airborne diseases and disease vectors from the air.
Existing methods for reducing airborne disease transmission between
room occupants include fresh air ventilation, filtration, and
direct deactivation/destruction methods such as irradiation or
oxidation of the pathogens themselves. For instance, this can be
achieved through the use of ultraviolet radiation (in the form of
light having a particular range of short wavelengths, such as
between about 200 nm and 300 nm, and is often referred to as
ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)). UVGI is a disinfection
method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light at sufficiently short
wavelength to kill pathogens. It is used in a variety of
applications, such as food, air and water purification. UVGI
utilizes short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (UV-C) that is
harmful to microorganisms. It is effective in destroying the
nucleic acids in these organisms so that their DNA is disrupted by
the UV radiation, leaving them unable to perform vital cellular
functions. In this regard, the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.
8,481,985 is incorporated herein by reference.
[0009] As can be appreciated, any germicidal fixture positioned in
a space at a fixed location may be somewhat effective, but
obviously limited in efficacy given its stationary nature (and the
use of multiple stationary devices may be considered costly and
inefficient in most applications) and its location away from a
source of air movement, such as a fan. In many applications, such
stationary devices do not receive enough airflow as a result of
circulation because a typical fan is designed to force air toward
the floor, and not necessarily near or toward any generator(s) of
germicidal energy (which would typically be mounted on the ceiling
or walls). Furthermore, many of past approaches are not implemented
successfully due to lack of operator training, maintenance issues,
sub-par user interfaces and experiences, cost, and are not
well-adapted for retrofitting to existing fans.
[0010] Accordingly, a need is identified for an improved manner of
providing a fan with a germicidal capability. In particular, the
fan would be adapted to have an interchangeable lighting module in
the nature of an uplight for providing sterilizing or germicidal
radiation (e.g., UVGI and UC-C in particular). In some embodiments,
the lighting module would be replaceable without dismounting the
fan from the ceiling, and would also be adapted to provide an
indication of the need for replacement and also provide certain
other advantages or benefits not known in the art.
SUMMARY
[0011] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a fan is
adapted to be mounted to a ceiling and for generating germicidal
light. The fan comprises a hub connected to a plurality of fan
blades, a motor adapted to rotate the hub, and a support adapted to
support the hub and motor from the ceiling. The fan further
includes a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray including
one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal light
(e.g., UVGI and UV-C in particular).
[0012] In one embodiment, the one or more lights are provided on a
circuit board adapted to fit into the tray. The circuit board may
comprise an annular structure including a plurality of
interconnected substrates, each of the plurality of substrates
including at least one light emitting diode for generating
ultraviolet germicidal light. The tray is adapted to support the
circuit board at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, and a
lens may be provided for overlying the circuit board in the tray.
The circuit board may be flexible, C-shaped, or formed of a
plurality of semi-annular portions connected by a connector.
[0013] The circuit board may be adapted to generate visible light.
The fan may also include a controller for controlling a wavelength
of light produced by the one or more lights. A circuit may be for
generating a signal indicative of a need to service the one or more
lights based on a time of operation of the motor, such as by
causing the lights to flash periodically. The fan may also
optionally include a shield for shielding the one or more lights,
and an optional vane for guiding air toward the one or more
lights.
[0014] The tray may also include a plurality of fins for promoting
heat exchange. The tray may include a stanchion adapted to engage
the support. A fastener may also be provided for connecting the
stanchion to the support.
[0015] According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a fan
adapted to be mounted to a ceiling is provided. The fan includes a
hub connected to a plurality of fan blades, a motor adapted to
rotate the hub, and a support adapted to support the hub and motor
from the ceiling. A modular circuit board is adapted for
positioning around the support without dismounting the support (or
the fan) from the ceiling.
[0016] In one embodiment, the modular circuit board includes one or
more lights adapted to provide ultraviolet germicidal light toward
the ceiling. The modular circuit board may comprise a plurality of
semi-annular segments adapted to connect together to form an
annular structure surrounding the support. A tray may be provided
for supporting the modular circuit board at an angle relative to a
horizontal plane.
[0017] Still a further aspect of this disclosure pertains to a fan
adapted to be mounted to a ceiling. The fan includes a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades, a motor adapted to rotate
the hub, and a housing for housing the motor. A support is adapted
to support the hub and motor from the ceiling. An uplight module is
supported by the housing for directing light at an angle relative
to a horizontal plane.
[0018] In one embodiment, the uplight module comprises a tray
adapted to receive the support. The tray may be adapted to support
a circuit board at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. The
uplight module made further include one or more lights, such as
LEDs on a circuit board, for generating ultraviolet germicidal
radiation. The fan may further include a circuit for generating a
signal indicative of a need to service the one or more lights based
on a time of operation of the motor.
[0019] Still a further aspect of the disclosure relates to a fan
adapted to be mounted to a ceiling. The fan includes a hub
connected to a plurality of fan blades, a motor adapted to rotate
the hub, one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal
light, and a controller for controlling activation of the lights
based on either (i) fan speed; or (ii) a motion sensor.
[0020] In one embodiment, the controller controls activation of the
lights based on an indication that a fan speed is above a
pre-determined amount. In other embodiments, the controller
controls activation of the lights based on an indication by the
motion sensor that motion is not present. The fan may also include
a circuit for generating a signal indicative of a need to service
the one or more lights based on a time of operation of the
motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0021] While the specification concludes with claims which
particularly point out and distinctly claim the invention, it is
believed the aspects of the disclosure will be better understood
from the following description of certain examples taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
numerals identify the same elements and in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a bottom perspective view of an exemplary
fan;
[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a top perspective view of an exemplary
fan;
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of an exemplary fan;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a top view of an exemplary fan;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a support;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a support;
[0028] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are side views of a support;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a top view of a support;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a support;
[0031] FIGS. 13A and 13 B are circuit diagrams;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a circuit board;
[0033] FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 are exploded views of an uplight
module;
[0034] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a modular circuit
board;
[0035] FIG. 19 is a side view of an alternative version of the
fan;
[0036] FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26 are views of another
alternative version of the fan;
[0037] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view;
[0038] FIGS. 28 and 29 are schematic views; and
[0039] FIG. 30 is a graph illustrating the germicidal capabilities
of an exemplary fan.
[0040] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is
shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the embodiments and like numerals represent like details in the
various figures. Also, it is to be understood that other
embodiments may be utilized, and that process or other changes may
be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The
following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting
sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which depicts an exemplary
fan 10 having a housing 20 containing a motor, a hub assembly 30
coupled to motor, and a plurality of fan blades 40 coupled to hub
assembly 30. In the present example, fan 10 (including hub assembly
30 and fan blades 40)) has a diameter of approximately 5 feet. In
some versions, fan 10 has a diameter of approximately 7 feet. In
other variations, fan 10 has a diameter between approximately 6
feet, inclusive, and approximately 24 feet, inclusive. Further
still, fan 10 may have any other suitable dimensions, such as 3
feet, inclusive, to 30 feet, inclusive. Except as otherwise
described herein, fan 10 may be constructed and operable in
accordance with at least some of the teachings of any of the
references that are cited herein; and/or in any other suitable
fashion. By way of example only, motor may be constructed in
accordance with at least some of the teachings of U.S. Pat. Pub.
No. 2009/0208333, entitled "Ceiling Fan System with Brushless
Motor," published Aug. 20, 2009, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference herein. Furthermore, fan 10 may include
control electronics that are configured in accordance with at least
some of the teachings of U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2010/0278637, entitled
"Ceiling Fan with Variable Blade Pitch and Variable Speed Control,"
published Nov. 4, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference herein. Alternatively, motor may have any other suitable
components, configurations, functionalities, and operability, as
will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of
the teachings herein.
[0042] In the present example, fan 10 includes a support 12 adapted
to couple the fan to a ceiling or other support structure. By way
of example only, support 12 may include features of or be
constructed in accordance with at least some of the teachings of
U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2009/0072108, entitled "Ceiling Fan with Angled
Mounting," published Mar. 19, 2009, and issued Apr. 10, 2012 as
U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,453, the disclosure of which is incorporated by
reference herein, and/or in any other suitable configuration. In
some versions, motor may be remote from hub assembly 30 and may be
coupled via an axle or other component that is operable to transmit
rotational movement from motor to hub assembly 30, which may also
include an optional downlight 50, which may be concentric with the
hub assembly. Still other configurations will be apparent to one of
ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein.
[0043] FIGS. 2-3 illustrate a manner in which the fan 10 may be
provided with a lighting module 60 for providing uplight. This
module 60 may be annular in nature, and adapted to overlie the
motor housing 20. Specifically, the module 60 may surround the
support 12, and be located between an optional frusto-conical
decorative covering 62 and the motor housing 20. The module 60 may
have a diameter that is less than the diameter of the housing 20,
as illustrated.
[0044] With reference to FIGS. 4-13A and 13B, a specific example of
the lighting module 60 is described. An upwardly projecting portion
of the module 60 may comprise a stanchion 64 having an annular
opening 64a for receiving the support 12, and depending supports
64b for underlying the covering 62. The stanchion 64 may be
connected to an annular base 66 forming a recess in the nature of
an annular tray 68 for receiving one or more lights, such as for
example LED(s) for emitting light of a selected wavelength, either
for providing general lighting, providing germicidal capability, or
both depending on a selected mode of operation. The stanchion 64
may also be provided with a fastener F for connecting it with the
support 12 (see FIGS. 7 and 9).
[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the LED(s) for providing
uplight are arranged on a circuit board (which may be an insulated
board on which conductive pathways are constructed and components
are mounted), such as a printed circuit board assembly 70 (PCBA,
see FIG. 14). The PCBA 70 may be annular in nature, but not
necessarily circular. The PCBA 70 may be adapted to connect to a
power supply, such as that associated with the fan 10, as indicated
in the circuit diagram of FIGS. 13A and 13B. The connection may be
by way of a releasable plug or connector to promote
interchangeability, as outlined further in the following
description.
[0046] Overlying the tray 68 and the PCBA 70 when present is an
optional lens 72. The lens 72 may comprise an annular transparent
or translucent material that overlies the PCBA 70 and allows light
to pass therefrom in a direction opposite the base 66, which may be
opaque. The lens 72 may include one or more releasable connectors
74 for connecting with the base 66, such as along a radially inward
portion for engaging corresponding portions of the stanchion 64.
These connectors 74 allow for the lens 72 to be disconnected and
then raised or lowered relative to the base 66, such as long the
support 12 with which it is generally concentric.
[0047] The module 60 may be positioned over the support 12 of the
fan 10 prior to installation, or even in a retrofit situation by
removing the fan 10 from the ceiling temporarily and positioning
the module thereupon. When connected to the power supply, the
lighting provided by LEDs 70a associated with the PCBA 70 thus
provides the fan 10 with uplight capability (that is, light
directed upwardly toward the ceiling to which the fan is mounted),
which may be turned on or off as the user desires (such as by way
of a remote control). In the case where the LEDs 70a provide UVGI,
the uplighting provided thus gives the fan 10 germicidal
capabilities (which may be indicated by providing the LEDs with a
particular color of light, such as for example blue, to indicate to
the remote user that the germicidal capabilities are enabled).
[0048] As can be appreciated, the lighting capabilities may be made
interchangeable by simply changing out the PCBA 70. Specifically,
if it is desired for a fan 10 to provide general lighting, a PCBA
70 with "regular" or visible wavelength LEDs may be used. If
germicidal capability is desired, a PCBA 70 with LEDs providing
UVGI light may be provided instead, such as by simply removing the
lens 72 if present and exchanging the PCBAs. Thus, the disclosure
may be considered to propose a kit comprising the fan 10 or module
60 with two different forms of uplighting (e.g., PCBAs with
different types of LEDs, such as one for providing "regular"
uplighting and one for providing UVGI uplighting). As indicated in
the circuit diagram in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the LEDs 70a may produce
light having two different wavelengths in the lower UV band, such
as 265 nm and 275 nm (six of each in this example, but any desired
number could be used). A single PCBA could also have LEDs for
producing both UVGI and regular light, and a remote control could
be used to toggle between the two versions.
[0049] To facilitate exchange, and with reference to the exploded
view of FIGS. 15-16, it can be understood that the PCBA 70 may
simply be removed from the base 66 by disassembling the module 60
and replaced, as desired. Specifically, the lens 72 if present may
be simply disconnected and raised along the support (not shown),
and the PCBA 70 installed in the tray 68. The lens 72, if present,
may then be replaced and connected with module 60. As can be
appreciated, this allows for the end user to easily replace the
PCBA 70 in case the LED(s) fail, or if it is desired to substitute
regular lighting for UVGI, or vice-versa.
[0050] In an alternative version, as shown in FIG. 17, the PCBA 70
may be provided with a notch or cutout 70b sized and shaped to
receive the support 12. Using this type of arrangement allows for
the PCBA 70 to be installed or exchanged on a ceiling-mounted fan
10 without the need to dismount the same. In other words, the
support 12 and the fan 10 may remain connected to the ceiling,
while the PCBA 70 is disconnected, removed, and replaced, either
with an identical replacement or a different version for providing
uplight of a different type.
[0051] A single PCBA could also have LEDs for producing both UVGI
and regular light. A remote control (including possibly a handheld
computer or mobile phone) could be used to toggle between the two,
such as by including one or more buttons. Such a remote control
could also have an indicator, such as a light, to indicate when the
UV is activated. In another example, a motion sensor (such as for
example, an infrared detector) may also be used to turn the LEDs on
and off (including in the "on" condition when motion is not
detected, such as for a pre-determined amount of time). Likewise,
the on/off condition of the LEDs may be controlled based on fan
speed (e.g., the LEDs are automatically turned on when the fan
motor is operational, or the speed is above a certain
pre-determined threshold to ensure that germicidal capability is
maximized).
[0052] Turning to FIG. 18, the PCBA 70 could also be made flexible.
This may be achieved by having a notch 70b and a flexible connector
70c connecting portions 70d, 70e. The flexible connector 70c may
comprise a substrate of a flexible material (e.g., Kapton) and
internal or embedded electrical conductors, such as copper wires,
for interconnecting the segments. One or more of the portions 70d,
70e may include one or more light generators, such as an LED for
generating UVGI. The portions may comprise a plurality of
semi-annular structures (that is, having a shape resembling part of
a ring or incomplete circular band), and thus form an annular ring
when connected, but may take other shapes as well. In this way, the
two or more portions may be flexed relative to each other for
removal from over the support without the need to dismount the fan
from the ceiling.
[0053] FIG. 19 illustrates that a shield 80 may be provided
adjacent to (above) the module for shielding the light generated.
The shield 80 may comprise a metal or other opaque structure. As
indicated in FIG. 20, a portion 80a of the shield 80 may also be
provided with vanes 80b or like airflow guides to help guide
external air into contact with the light generated by the module
60.
[0054] FIGS. 21-26 illustrate another embodiment of a fan 100
including an uplight module 102. The module 102 includes a flexible
or modular PCBA 104. The PCBA 104 may comprise a plurality of
segments 104a . . . 104n that, when assembled together, form an
annular structure surrounding the downtube 106 for supporting the
fan 100. For example, the segments 104a . . . 104n may be
semi-annular, such as in the shape of wedges.
[0055] The segments 104a . . . 104n may be interconnected by a
connector, such that power is transferred to each substrate from a
single power connection. Each of the segments 104a . . . 104n of
the PCBA 104 may include one or more light generators, such as an
LED for generating UVGI. This advantageously allows for the PCBA
104 to be placed over an existing support, such as a ceiling fan
downtube 106, by removing and reconnecting one or more of the
segments. As can be appreciated, this also allows for one or more
of the segments 104a . . . 104n to be removed or replaced, as
necessary or desired, without the need to dismount the fan 100.
Wire harnesses (not shown) may be used to connect the individual
boards.
[0056] Support for the segments 104a . . . 104n may be provided by
a support, which may take the form of a tray 108. As shown in FIGS.
25 and 26, the tray 108 may comprise two semi-annular halves, each
with a central cutout 108a for receiving the downtube 106. The tray
108 may be provided with recessed portions 110, each for receiving
one of the segments 104a . . . 104n. These portions 110 may be
sloped or angled relative to a horizontal plane, such that light
created by the associated segment 104a . . . 104n is directly
generally upwardly and at an angle relative to a vertical axis
(that is, radially outwardly relative to a central axis of the fan
100). The angle of the slope may be acute (greater than zero to
less than 90 degrees) relative to a horizontal plane, and
specifically may be in the range of 10-45 degrees, or more
specifically, 15-20 degrees. In any case, the light generated by
the associated segments 104a . . . 104n is directed outwardly into
the airflow generated by the fan 100, rather than just primarily in
a vertical direction, which enhances the germicidal activity by
increasing the exposure of the air to the radiation being
generated. The same approach to providing support to the lights at
an angle may optionally be used in connection with tray 68.
[0057] The tray 108 may also contact the PCBA 104, and thus may
serve to effect heat transfer therefrom. To improve conductivity,
the tray 108 may comprise a conductor, such as metal, and may be a
solid piece of material. As indicated in FIG. 26, the tray 108 may
also include heat dissipating structures, such as spaced, radially
extending fins 108b that project from the underside thereof and
which may be spaced above the hub to maximize airflow thereon as a
result of the operation of the associated fan blades. The segments
104a . . . 104b may lie directly on the tray 108 and be in
continuous contact so as to maximize the heat transfer capabilities
afforded.
[0058] FIG. 27 further illustrates that the tray 108 may be adapted
to support the lights and, in particular the segments 104a . . .
104b at an angle .alpha.. In the illustrated embodiment, this is
achieved by providing an angled surface 108c of the tray 108, which
may be recessed (and thus may correspond to recessed portion 110
noted above, but need not be recessed). The angle .alpha. at which
each segment 104a . . . 104b is maintained is approximately 20
degrees relative to a horizontal plane. This maintains the LED 70a
on each circuit board resting on the angled surface 108c of the
tray 108 at an angle .beta. relative to a vertical axis of
approximately 18 degrees. In other words, each LED 70a is
maintained at an angle relative to either a horizontal and vertical
plane. In any case, the arrangement is such that the light
projected by the LEDs of the tray 108 is not directed vertically,
but rather at an angle to the vertical axis, and thus toward the
path of airflow generated by the radially outward rotating blades
of the associated fan 100 (or fan 10, if used therein).
[0059] In any version, the fan 10, 100 may also be adapted to
provide an indication as to when the germicidal LEDS are
approaching the end of their useful life in terms of providing
effective germicidal capability. With reference to FIG. 28, a
control 200, such as a wall controller, may provide a speed
reference to the fan to indicate the desired fan speed to a fan
motor controller 201, which may be user-defined. This speed
reference signal may be monitored by a light control board 202
associated with the fan, with the assumption that if the fan is
running, the light board 204 is energized and the LEDs are turned
on.
[0060] When the light board 204 is energized, a time counting
circuit 206 in the light control board 202 tracks the amount of
time the LEDs are turned on. This is an accumulated time from when
the unit was built in the factory to the present. Once the
accumulated time reaches a defined threshold (such as corresponding
to 5% of the remaining rated life of the LEDs), the light control
board 202 may signal to a user that it is time to replace the
lights. For example, the board 202 may cycle the light board 204
and consequently the LEDs on/off for a defined period of time
(e.g., 5 seconds on, 5 seconds off), which indicates to the user
the need for service or replacement of the LEDs. Alternatively, the
signal may be provided via the control 200.
[0061] According to a further aspect of the disclosure, and with
reference to FIG. 29, it may be desirable to adjust the intensity
of the germicidal light due to various situational factors (e.g.,
room size, ceiling height, type of space, number of occupants,
etc). To regulate the light, a circuit provided on the light
control board 300 connected to the light board 304 may provide a
means for light intensity adjustment 302. This adjustment can be in
the form of a manual adjustment (i.e., screwdriver), a wired
adjustment (i.e., wall control), or a wireless adjustment (i.e.,
remote). In one example, a set of switches on the control board 300
may be placed among different settings (four, for example), to
increase or decrease the intensity of the UV light output from
among pre-selected values (e.g., 250 mA, 300 mA, 350 mA, 400 mA).
The light intensity is directly proportional to the drive current
(e.g., a 13% reduction in drive current is a 13% reduction in light
intensity). This adjustment may be done during initial
installation, and may be based upon one or more factors, including
the size of room, number of occupants, desired efficacy, etc.
Example
[0062] To test the efficacy of a fan including the UV uplight, a
metal and glass sealed containment room (20'W.times.8'H.times.8'D)
with sealed seams was used as a directed aerosol testing chamber. A
single exhaust and intake vent was covered with bleach-soaked HEPA
filters at one end of the room to allow outside oxygen to enter the
room. Airflow into the room was minimal and was not registered on
the vane anemometer. The air temperature fluctuated slightly
through the test and ranged from 74.2 F to 76.28 F. During control
testing and the viral load tests, the temperature fluctuation was
consistent. The ambient humidity inside the test chamber was
53.7%.
[0063] Two fans according to FIG. 1 were installed inside the
containment room with a 58'' extension pole to allow them to hang
down. Each fan was placed at approximately the center line of the
room 5' from the exterior walls and wired up to a constant power
supply. During the test, the fans were turned to the fastest blade
speed setting, and from two feet away, airflow was measured using a
vane anemometer. Fans were run for 3 minutes prior to measuring
airflow to allow them to reach proper revolutions and air speed was
averaging between 330-380 FT/min. During the test, the room
remained closed and sealed with staff staying inside the room until
test completion. Prior to starting the tests, the fans were turned
on and operational for 3 minutes to reach normal speeds. Viral
media was aerosolized using a DeVilbiss.TM. Nebulizer at the center
point of the chamber.
[0064] At specified time points, air samples were taken through the
center of the room using a Biotest RCS Handheld Microbial Air
sampler with an agar media strip. Sample sizes were set to 5 liters
of air per sample draw. After each sample was taken, it was sealed
in a plastic sterile container and only opened prior to sample
storage. Each of the 8 samples collected were subject to the same
TCID50 assay protocol to determine viral concentration. Each
collected swab was vortexed for 1 full minute in 1 ml viral
preservation media prior to serial dilution. The results are as
shown in FIG. 30, illustrating that a 99.9% reduction in airborne
virus was achieved in less than 20 minutes of fan operation.
[0065] Summarizing, the disclosure may relate to the following
items:
1. A fan adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising:
[0066] a hub connected to a plurality of fan blades;
[0067] a motor adapted to rotate the hub;
[0068] a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and
[0069] a tray adapted to receive the support, the tray including
one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal light.
2. The fan according to item 1, wherein the one or more lights,
preferably LEDs, are provided on a circuit board. 3. The fan
according to item 2, wherein the circuit board comprises an annular
structure including a plurality of interconnected substrates, each
of the plurality of substrates including at least one light
emitting diode for generating ultraviolet germicidal light (e.g.,
UV-C). 4. The fan according to item 2 or item 3 wherein the tray is
adapted to support one or more lights or the circuit board at an
angle relative to a horizontal plane. 5. The fan according to any
of items 2-4, further including a lens for overlying the circuit
board. 6. The fan according to any of items 2-5, wherein the
circuit board is flexible. 7. The fan according to any of items
2-6, wherein the circuit board is C-shaped. 8. The fan according to
any of items 2-7, wherein the circuit board comprises at least two
semi-annular portions connected by a connector. 9. The fan
according to any of items 2-8, wherein the circuit board includes
one or more lights adapted for generating non-ultraviolet light.
10. The fan according to any of items 2-9, further including a
controller for controlling a wavelength of light produced by the
one or more lights. 11. The fan according to any of items 2-10,
further including a circuit for generating a signal indicative of a
need to service the one or more lights based on a time of operation
of the motor. 12. The fan according to any of items 2-11, further
including a shield for shielding the one or more lights. 13. The
fan according to any of items 2-12, further including a vane for
guiding air toward the one or more lights. 14. The fan according to
any of items 2-13, wherein the tray includes a plurality of fins
for promoting heat exchange. 15. The fan according to any of items
2-14, wherein the tray includes a stanchion adapted to engage the
support, and further including a fastener for fastening the
stanchion to the support. 16. A fan adapted to be mounted to a
ceiling, comprising:
[0070] a hub connected to a plurality of fan blades;
[0071] a motor adapted to rotate the hub;
[0072] a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and
[0073] a modular circuit board adapted for positioning around the
support without dismounting the support from the ceiling.
17. The fan according to item 16, wherein the modular circuit board
includes one or more lights adapted to provide ultraviolet
germicidal light (e.g., UV-C) toward the ceiling. 18. The fan
according to item 16 or item 17, further including a circuit for
generating a signal indicative of a need to service the one or more
lights based on a time of operation of the motor. 19. The fan
according to any of items 16-18, wherein the modular circuit board
comprises a plurality of semi-annular segments adapted to connect
together to form an annular structure surrounding the support. 20.
The fan according to any of items 16-19, wherein the tray is
adapted to support the circuit board, or one or more lights for
generating ultraviolet energy, at an angle relative to a horizontal
plane. 21. The fan according to claim 16, wherein the circuit board
includes one or more LEDs for generating UV-C radiation. 22. A fan
adapted to be mounted to a ceiling, comprising:
[0074] a hub connected to a plurality of fan blades;
[0075] a motor adapted to rotate the hub;
[0076] a housing for housing the motor;
[0077] a support adapted to support the hub and motor from the
ceiling; and
[0078] an uplight module connected to the support, the uplight
module including one or more LEDs directed at an angle relative to
a horizontal plane.
23. The fan according to item 22, wherein the uplight module
comprises a tray adapted to receive the support. 24. The fan
according to item 23, wherein the tray is adapted to support one or
more LEDs at an angle relative to a horizontal plane. 25. The fan
according to item 24, wherein the one or more LEDs are adapted to
generate ultraviolet germicidal radiation. 26. The fan according to
any of items 24-25, further including a circuit for generating a
signal indicative of a need to service the one or more LEDs based
on a time of operation of the motor. 27. A fan adapted to be
mounted to a ceiling, comprising:
[0079] a hub connected to a plurality of fan blades;
[0080] a motor adapted to rotate the hub;
[0081] one or more lights for providing ultraviolet germicidal
light; and
[0082] a controller for controlling activation of the lights based
on either (i) fan speed; or (ii) a motion sensor.
28. The fan according to item 27, wherein the controller controls
activation of the one or more lights based on an indication that a
fan speed is above a pre-determined amount. 29. The fan according
to item 27, wherein the controller controls activation of the one
or more lights based on an indication by the motion sensor that
motion is not present. 30. The fan according to item 27, further
including a circuit for generating a signal indicative of a need to
service the one or more lights based on a time of operation of the
motor.
[0083] Any patent, publication, or other disclosure material, in
whole or in part, that is said to be incorporated by reference
herein is incorporated herein only to the extent that the
incorporated material does not conflict with existing definitions,
statements, or other disclosure material set forth in this
disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as
explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material
incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof,
that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which
conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other
disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to
the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated
material and the existing disclosure material.
[0084] Each of the following terms written in singular grammatical
form: "a", "an", and "the", as used herein, means "at least one",
or "one or more". Use of the phrase "one or more" herein does not
alter this intended meaning of "a", "an", or "the". Accordingly,
the terms "a", "an", and "the", as used herein, may also refer to,
and encompass, a plurality of the stated entity or object, unless
otherwise specifically defined or stated herein, or the context
clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the phrases: "a unit", "a
device", "an assembly", "a mechanism", "a component," "an element",
and "a step or procedure", as used herein, may also refer to, and
encompass, a plurality of units, a plurality of devices, a
plurality of assemblies, a plurality of mechanisms, a plurality of
components, a plurality of elements, and a plurality of steps or
procedures, respectively.
[0085] Each of the following terms: "includes", "including", "has",
"having", "comprises", and "comprising", and, their
linguistic/grammatical variants, derivatives, or/and conjugates, as
used herein, means "including, but not limited to", and is to be
taken as specifying the stated components), feature(s),
characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), or step(s), and does
not preclude addition of one or more additional component(s),
feature(s), characteristic(s), parameter(s), integer(s), step(s),
or groups thereof. Each of these terms is considered equivalent in
meaning to the phrase "consisting essentially of." Each of the
phrases "consisting of" and "consists of, as used herein, means
"including and limited to". The phrase "consisting essentially of"
means that the stated entity or item (system, system unit, system
sub-unit device, assembly, sub-assembly, mechanism, structure,
component element or, peripheral equipment utility, accessory, or
material, method or process, step or procedure, sub-step or
sub-procedure), which is an entirety or part of an exemplary
embodiment of the disclosed invention, or/and which is used for
implementing an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed invention,
may include at least one additional feature or characteristic"
being a system unit system sub-unit device, assembly, sub-assembly,
mechanism, structure, component or element or, peripheral equipment
utility, accessory, or material, step or procedure, sub-step or
sub-procedure), but only if each such additional feature or
characteristic" does not materially alter the basic novel and
inventive characteristics or special technical features, of the
claimed item.
[0086] The term "method", as used herein, refers to steps,
procedures, manners, means, or/and techniques, for accomplishing a
given task including, but not limited to, those steps, procedures,
manners, means, or/and techniques, either known to, or readily
developed from known steps, procedures, manners, means, or/and
techniques, by practitioners in the relevant field(s) of the
disclosed invention.
[0087] Terms of approximation, such as the terms about,
substantially, approximately, generally, etc., as used herein,
refer to .+-.10% of the stated numerical value or as close as
possible to a stated condition.
[0088] It is to be fully understood that certain aspects,
characteristics, and features, of the invention, which are, for
clarity, illustratively described and presented in the context or
format of a plurality of separate embodiments, may also be
illustratively described and presented in any suitable combination
or sub-combination in the context or format of a single embodiment.
Conversely, various aspects, characteristics, and features, of the
invention which are illustratively described and presented in
combination or sub-combination in the context or format of a single
embodiment may also be illustratively described and presented in
the context or format of a plurality of separate embodiments.
[0089] Having shown and described various embodiments, further
adaptations of the inventive aspects described herein may be
accomplished by appropriate modifications by one of ordinary skill
in the art without departing from the scope of the present
invention. Several of such potential modifications have been
mentioned, and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
For instance, the examples, embodiments, geometrics, materials,
dimensions, ratios, steps, and the like discussed above are
illustrative and are not necessarily required. Accordingly, the
scope of the present invention should be considered in terms of the
claims and is understood not to be limited to the details of
structure and operation shown and described in the specification
and drawings.
* * * * *