U.S. patent number 3,589,044 [Application Number 04/790,958] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-29 for tornado device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jenn-Air Corporation. Invention is credited to Carl T. Laybold, William E. Morrison.
United States Patent |
3,589,044 |
Morrison , et al. |
June 29, 1971 |
TORNADO DEVICE
Abstract
Air moving apparatus arranged and operated as disclosed herein
is capable of creating a visible tornadolike phenomenon for
display, observation and study.
Inventors: |
Morrison; William E.
(Indianapolis, IN), Laybold; Carl T. (Indianapolis, IN) |
Assignee: |
Jenn-Air Corporation
(Indianapolis, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
25152244 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/790,958 |
Filed: |
January 14, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/407; 428/13;
434/217 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F
19/10 (20130101); G09B 23/12 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G09F
19/10 (20060101); G09F 19/00 (20060101); G09B
23/00 (20060101); G09B 23/12 (20060101); G09f
013/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/126,106.21,106.22
;35/10,49 ;73/147 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
We claim:
1. Apparatus for creating a contained visible tornado
comprising:
a structure having walls means defining a chamber,
an opening in a top portion of said wall means facing generally
along an axis extending to an opposite wall of said chamber and
said opening communicating with power driven exhaust means for
drawing air therethrough from said chamber,
another opening in a side portion of said wall means for admitting
air into said chamber when air is removed through said
first-mentioned opening,
said another opening admitting air into said chamber in a direction
tangentially of said axis whereby air entering said chamber is
drawn into a tight spiral helix motion defining a vortex generally
about said axis and rising upwardly toward said exhaust
opening,
means for inducing in said chamber a substance visible in air at a
location remote from said first mentioned opening for visibly
marking said vortex.
2. The claims subject matter of claim 1 wherein said exhaust
opening is located on the top of said chamber and said inlet
opening is located on a side of said chamber.
3. The claimed subject matter of claim 2 wherein said axis is
generally vertically disposed.
4. The claimed subject matter of claim 3 wherein the inlet opening
may be varied.
5. Apparatus for creating a contained visible tornado
comprising:
a chamber defined by walls, ceiling and floor,
an exhaust opening in the ceiling communicating with a power air
exhaust system for removal of air from the chamber,
a vertical inlet opening in one of the walls for admitting air into
the chamber,
said exhaust opening facing into the chamber generally along a
vertical axis extending substantially to the floor,
said inlet opening facing horizontally for admitting air of the
vertical axis so that the air drawn into the chambers is in spiral
motion which terminates in a tight rising helical vortex column
resembling a tornado,
a substance visible in air introduced into said chamber adjacent
the floor for identifying said vortex.
6. Apparatus for creating a contained visible simulated tornado
comprising:
wall means enclosing the top, side and bottom of an empty
chamber,
an opening in the top wall facing downwardly along an axis
extending generally uninterrupted to the bottom wall and generally
centrally of the sidewalls,
power driven air exhaust means in communication with the opening in
the top wall for removing air therethrough from said chamber,
an opening in the side wall extending a substantial portion of the
height thereof and facing in a direction to one side of said axis
whereby air in being drawn therethrough to said chamber in response
to air being drawn from said chamber by said exhaust means is drawn
cyclonically into said chamber and into a helical-spiral vortex
about said axis and exhausted through the opening in the top
wall,
means for introducing a substance visible in air above the bottom
as an aid in identifying said vortex.
7. The claimed subject matter of claim 6 further defined by said
sidewall opening so located in the sidewall that a portion of the
sidewall defines a surface for guiding entering air into cyclonic
motion about said axis.
Description
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a "tornado" created according to
our discovery or invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the chamber only in which the
"tornado" is created.
FIG. 3 is a vertical section of an exhaust fan and the chamber
shown in FIG. 2, with the door indicated in phantom.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and
showing counterclockwise flow of air.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4 but
showing clockwise flow of air.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIGS. 4 and 5 except that
consistent and continuous airflow pattern are not established.
FIG. 7 shows an arrow representing airflow relative to a vertical
axis.
The term "tornado" as used herein means the phenomenon created by
applicants' arrangement of a spiral helix formation or vortex
column of rising air which is made visible to the human eye when a
substance visible in air is introduced into the airstream. The
tornado created hereby has use for academic scientific study of
similar phenomenon occurring in nature, of which knowledge is quite
limited. It has further use as an attractive and educational
demonstration.
FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the tornado showing a
visible vortex 10 or helical-spiral column rising from floor level
11 toward an opening 12 in ceiling or top wall 14. A source for
emitting a substance visible in air used herein is a shallow pan 16
containing hot water into which is placed dry ice 18. Obviously
other substance such as smoke could be introduced at or near floor
level with similar results.
Within a closed chamber as defined by floor 11, ceiling 14 and
walls 20, dry ice in a pan of warm water readily produces a layer
of clouds sinking to the floor level and stacking upwardly. When
air is exhausted through opening 12 by a power fan 21 (not shown in
FIG. 1) and air is admitted into the chamber at prescribed
openings, the phenomenon of FIG. 1 is visible.
FIG. 2 shows the chamber only in which a tornado may be created. It
is defined by walls 20, ceiling 14 and a bottom wall or floor 11.
The chamber used in applicants' discovery or invention is generally
cuboid of 8 to 10 feet on an edge. However exact dimension, shape
or relationship is not controlling to establish the phenomenon
herein. An air inlet such as the rectangular opening 22 may be
provided with a hinged or sliding door 23 to vary inlet
characteristics. As shown in cross-sectional FIG. 3, an exhaust fan
21 is positioned on top wall 14 over opening 12 for removing air
from the chamber. This fan is of any common type power driven roof
exhauster which is capable of handling a substantial volume of air
at relatively low static pressure. Air is permitted to enter the
chamber through opening 22 in one wall as shown so as to
continuously replenish the air drawn therefrom by the power
exhauster.
FIG. 3 is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 but additionally shows
an exhaust fan 21 in position and vortex 10 created thereby.
Shallow pan 16 is located on floor 11 beneath exhaust port 12 and
generally in line with normally vertical axis 24. Vortex 10, made
visible by a substance such as smoke, is created by air entering
the chamber through opening 22 and tangentially of axis 24. Air is
drawn into spiral motion and terminates in a helical-spiral column
of air rising generally along axis 24. This vortex revolves at
50--300 r.p.m. and rises vertically at 100--500 feet per minute. By
the apparatus disclosed, a vortex in the range of 6 to 8 inches in
diameter is created. An eye (not shown in drawings) in the range of
11/2 to 3 inches in diameter is visible along the center of the
column or vortex.
FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views of FIG. 3 taken along
line 4-4, but showing different air inlet arrangements. Walls 20
define an enclosure having an opening 22 tangentially directed with
respect to axis 24. The size of opening 22 in one of the walls is
variable as for example by a sliding or hinged door 23. As shown in
FIG. 4, air enters the chamber tangentially generally along one
wall and is drawn into counterclockwise rotation and into a tight
swirling vortex 10 moving upwardly out through opening 12 by power
exhaust fan 21. As shown in FIG. 4, entering air flows
counterclockwise. Door 23' is shown completely closing opening
22'.
FIG. 5 shows the chamber of FIG. 4 but with door 23 closing opening
or port 22, and with door 23' exposing opening 22'. Air entering in
FIG. 5 is drawn into clockwise rotation as shown by the arrows. As
before a vortex 10 is created but in a different rotational
direction.
In FIG. 6, door 23 closed port 22. Door 23' is shifted so as to
expose opening 22' directed generally toward axis 24 (not
tangentially thereof as in FIGS. 4 and 5). When the entrance to the
chamber is other than tangential, a directional pattern of airflow
is not easily established, airflow this is indicated by the arrows
shown in FIG. 6.
Airflow in the chamber is clockwise or counterclockwise depending
upon established tangential entrance. This can be controlled by the
physical arrangement. The direction of rotation of the impeller in
exhaust fan 21 is not controlling on clockwise or counterclockwise
rotation of vortex 10. It is anticipated that means other than a
power exhaust fan may be used to create a low pressure through
exhaust port 12.
FIG. 7 indicates airflow with respect to axis 24. In all of the
arrangements wherein clockwise or counterclockwise airflow is
established and terminates in a vortex, tangential entry or the
equivalent is established. Airflow into a chamber is indicated by
symbols 26 in FIG. 7 to be away from the viewer and into the paper.
The air currents as indicated by symbolic arrow 28 are drawn into
movements about axis 24 and finally into a tight upwardly moving
spiral-helix or vortex 10. By an airflow passing in the general
direction 26 with respect to axis 24, a tangential relationship is
established.
The entire column or vortex 10 may drift somewhat over pan 16 but
returns and remains within the general area. The vortex has an eye,
and this drifts with the column. The vortex may partially fade for
an instance at its base or along its height, but will reform just
as quickly.
Obviously it is within the limits of our invention or discovery to
define the chamber in shapes varying from what we have disclosed.
For example, the chamber could be cylindrical or round, or of any
number of shapes all of which would establish tangential entry of
air. Likewise, the exhaust means may be varied without departing
from the principle disclosed. The intake and exhaust port may be
varied in size and location somewhat and remain within the spirit
of our disclosure.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms
without departing from the spirit of our invention. We wish the
breadth of the invention to be measured only by the claims
herein:
* * * * *