Swirl flow ceiling fan

Abstract

The swirl flow ceiling fan has four major elements. They are: a cylindrical diffuser, an inducer, a stationary enclosure and a safety disc. As the fan rotates, the ambient air is drawn in at the centre. The air which was drawn in by the inducer further gets energised within an enclosed space. The air's velocity gets increased. The charged air is pushed into the numerous spiral compartments of the revolving cylindrical diffuser. Then, finally, the cylindrical diffuser delivers the energised air in to the space. All the features collectively provide a very efficient swirl flow of the air with lesser noise levels and better comfort. It is also found to be cost-effective in its working as well in its manufacturing.

Claims

1. A swirl flow ceiling fan, comprising: a cylindrical element having a central mounting disc, the central mounting disc having opposed upper surface and lower surface, the upper surface thereof being adapted for fixedly mounting the moving element of a motor, said cylindrical element further having a hyperbolically curved hub extended upwardly from the upper surface of the central mounting disc, the hyperbolically curved hub having an opposed upper surface and lower surface, the lower surface thereof having radially arrayed and outwardly projected plurality of involuted webs therefrom, said cylindrical element further having a plurality of spiral compartments extended radially outward around the hyperbolically curved hub thereof, the plurality of spiral compartments each spiral compartment having left spiral surface, right spiral surface, top surface and bottom surface, the plurality of spiral compartment wherein the spiral compartments are integrally stacked into a three-dimensional array in both of a radial direction and an axial direction, end-to-end, within the boundaries of two radially opposed outer cylindrical surface and inner cylindrical surface and two axially opposed upper surface and lower surface; an inducer having an outer surface and inner surface, the outer surface thereof having radially arrayed and outwardly projected plurality of helical vanes therefrom, the inner surface of said inducer being fixedly secured to the lower surface of said cylindrical element, said inducer extending therefrom, the plurality of helical vanes of said inducer and the plurality of involuted webs of said cylindrical element are evenly aligned whereby continuous flow path is formed to draw-in the air while integrally driven by the motor; a stationary enclosure having a substantially planar inlet disc, the inlet disc having opposed upper surface and lower surface, wherein a plurality of openings is formed therethrough whereby allowing the ambient air in, and the upper surface thereof being adapted for fixedly mounting the stationary element of said motor, said stationary enclosure further having a hemi-toroidal ring extended upwardly from the inlet disc, and a curved annular disc extended radially outward around the outer periphery of the hemi-toroidal ring thereof.

2. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional array of spiral compartments selected from the group consisting of a uniform array, radially out-of-phase array, axially-ascending array, axially-descending array, and any combinations thereof.

3. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical element is integrally made of single-piece construction.

4. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inducer is integrally made of single-piece construction.

5. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stationary enclosure is integrally made of single-piece construction.

6. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hemi-toroidal ring of said stationary enclosure, having opposed upper surface and lower surface, wherein a plurality of pockets is formed into said lower surface.

7. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of pockets is removably secured with a securing cap whereby creates an enclosed space.

8. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of pockets having an opposed upper surface and lower surface, wherein a plurality of openings is formed therethrough whereby it allows the high-velocity air to pass through.

9. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 7, wherein said securing cap is integrally made of single-piece construction.

10. The swirl flow ceiling fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stationary enclosure further comprises a safety disc removably adapted for concealing the hemi-toroidal ring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 illustrates the exploded view of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2A shows the pictorial view, as viewed from the bottom, of the cylindrical diffuser of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2B shows the pictorial view, as viewed from the top, of the cylindrical diffuser;

(4) FIG. 2C shows the partly sectioned pictorial view, as viewed from the bottom, of the cylindrical diffuser, indicating the spiral compartments;

(5) FIG. 2D shows the bottom view showing the involuted pathways at the middle of the cylindrical diffuser;

(6) FIG. 2E shows the cross-sectional view of the cylindrical diffuser;

(7) FIG. 3A shows the pictorial view of the spiral compartment;

(8) FIG. 3B shows the front view of the cylindrical diffuser;

(9) FIG. 3C shows the uniform array of the spiral compartment;

(10) FIG. 3D shows the radially out of phase array of the spiral compartment;

(11) FIG. 3E shows the axially ascending array of the spiral compartment;

(12) FIG. 3F shows the axially descending array of the spiral compartment;

(13) FIG. 4A shows the pictorial view of the inducer, as viewed from the bottom;

(14) FIG. 4B shows the pictorial view of the inducer, as viewed from the top;

(15) FIG. 5A shows the pictorial view of the stationary enclosure, as viewed from the bottom;

(16) FIG. 5B shows the pictorial view of the stationary enclosure, as viewed from the top;

(17) FIG. 5C shows the bottom view of the stationary enclosure;

(18) FIG. 5D shows the cross-sectional view of the stationary enclosure;

(19) FIG. 6A shows the bottom view of the present invention;

(20) FIG. 6B shows the cross-sectional view of the present invention;

(21) FIG. 7 shows the exploded view of the stationary enclosure and the safety disc;

(22) FIG. 8A shows the pictorial view of another embodiment of the stationary enclosure, as viewed from the bottom;

(23) FIG. 8B shows the yet another pictorial view of another embodiment of the stationary enclosure, as viewed from the top;

(24) FIG. 8C shows the pictorial view of the another embodiment of stationary enclosure; and

(25) FIG. 8D shows the detailed and exploded view of the stationary enclosure and the securing cap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(26) The present invention provides a novel approach to the construction of ceiling fans. It aids near uniform temperature distribution within the constrained space, better internal air quality, and better human comfort.

(27) Naturally, heavier, cold air will be at the bottom of any given space, and the hotter air will be at the top. Conventional fans always push the air from the top. It means that the hot air is forced against its nature.

(28) In the present invention, the swirl effect draws the air from the bottom towards the centre, in the axial direction, of the present invention; it gets energised within the present invention and delivered to the space in the radial direction. The principle of working will become apparent from the following description.

(29) Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, the inventive swirl flow ceiling fan is generally referred to by reference number 10. As seen in FIG. 1, it is an exploded view of the swirl flow ceiling fan (10).

(30) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2A-2F, 3A-3F, 4A-B, 5A-D, and 6A-B, the swirl flow ceiling fan (10), comprising a cylindrical diffuser (100) having a central mounting disc (120), the central mounting disc (120) having opposed upper surface (122) and lower surface (124), the upper surface (122) thereof being adapted for fixedly mounting the revolving element (52) of a motor (50), said cylindrical diffuser (100) further having a hyperbolically curved hub (140) extended upwardly from the upper surface (122) of the central mounting disc (120), the hyperbolically curved hub (140) having opposed upper surface (142) and lower surface (144), the lower surface (144) thereof having radially arrayed and outwardly projected plurality of involuted webs (148) therefrom, said cylindrical diffuser (100) further having a plurality of spiral compartments (170) extended radially outward around the hyperbolically curved hub (140) thereof, the plurality of spiral compartments each spiral compartment (170) having left spiral surface (176), right spiral surface (178), top surface (172) and bottom surface (174), the plurality of spiral compartment wherein the spiral compartments (170) integrally stacked into a three-dimensional array (180) in both radial direction (182) and axial direction (184), end-to-end, within the boundaries of two radially opposed outer cylindrical surface (192) and inner cylindrical surface (194) and two axially opposed upper surface (196) and lower (198) surface.

(31) The spiral or the substantially curved profile surfaces (176, 178) enhances the swirl and disrupts the usual laminar flow. The main objective of this plurality of spiral compartments (170) is to give a maximum amount of energy and swirl to the outgoing air such that the air gets stabilised within the constrained space (103) and achieve the uniform temperature at a shorter period of time.

(32) The three-dimensional array (180) of spiral compartments (170) selected from the group consisting of a uniform array (182), radially out-of-phase array (184), axially-ascending-array (186), axially-descending array (188), and any combinations thereof.

(33) The three-dimensional array (180) can be selectively deployed in accordance with the requirements. It is necessary to address the specific requirements of the space in which the present invention (10) is deployed.

(34) For example, if the space, in which the present invention (10) is deployed, has heating elements fixed on the ceiling surface then the axially descending array (188) can effectively be used.

(35) Similarly, the three-dimensional array (180) can be advantageously configured in accordance with the space in which the present invention (10) is deployed.

(36) The cylindrical diffuser (100) is integrally made of a single-piece construction through a near net-shape manufacturing process. Near net-shape manufacturing processes are moulding process, casting process, additive manufacturing process, 3d printing methods, and like processes wherein further post-processing of the produces are very minimal or negligible.

(37) The mounting means for fixedly securing said cylindrical diffuser (100) and the revolving element (52) of the motor (50) is selected from the group consisting of screws, bolts, welds, adhesives and combinations thereof.

(38) As shown in FIGS. 4A-B, the inducer (200) has outer surface (212) and inner surface (214). The outer surface (212) of the inducer (200) has radially arrayed and outwardly projected plurality of helical vanes (222) therefrom. The inner surface (214) of said inducer being fixedly secured to the lower surface (124) of said cylindrical diffuser in a manner that it gets extended downwardly from the cylindrical diffuser (100). The plurality of helical vanes (222) of the inducer (200) and the plurality of the involuted webs (148) of the cylindrical diffuser (100) are evenly aligned whereby continuous flow path is formed to draw-in the air while integrally driven by the motor. It means that the cylindrical diffuser (100) and the inducer (200) revolves as single unit.

(39) Alternatively, the cylindrical diffuser (100) and inducer (200) can be integrally made as a single element using any one of the near net-shape manufacturing processes.

(40) The objective of the plurality of helical vanes (222) is to act as a booster to increase the energy of the incoming air and to disrupt the general laminar flow which usually occur as seen in the prior art.

(41) As the cylindrical diffuser (100) and the inducer (200) rotates with high speed it continuously creates a vacuum by throwing the air outside. Thereby, it allows continuous suction of incoming air. The unique combination of the elements so explained herein above provides for the effective swirl flow.

(42) The securement of inducer (200) with the cylindrical diffuser (100) is selected from a group consisting of integral snap locks, screws, bolts, welds, adhesives and combinations thereof. The inducer (200) is integrally made of a single-piece construction through a near net-shape manufacturing process.

(43) As seen from the FIGS. 5A-D, the stationary enclosure (300) has a substantially planar inlet disc (310). The inlet disc has opposed upper surface (312) and lower surface (314). A plurality of openings (316) is formed therethrough for allowing the ambient air in. The stationary enclosure (300) further has a hemi-toroidal ring (320) and a curved annular disc (340). The hemi-toroidal ring (320) is extended upwardly from the inlet disc (310). The curved annular disc (340) is extended radially outward around the hemi toroidal ring (320). The stationary enclosure (300) is integrally made of a single-piece construction through a near net-shape manufacturing process. The stationary enclosure (300) is removably coupled with fixed element of the motor (54), thereby the stationary enclosure remains stationary. The securement of the stationary enclosure (300) with the fixed element of the motor (50) is selected from a group consisting of screws, bolts, welds, adhesives and combinations thereof.

(44) Referring to FIGS. 6A-B, the assembly of the elements the cylindrical diffuser (100), inducer (200) and the stationary enclosure (300) plays a vital role in achieving the objectives of the present invention (10).

(45) The stationary enclosure (300) is another unique feature of the present invention (10). When the stationary enclosure (300) and the cylindrical diffuser (100) are assembled, as shown in the FIGS. 6A-B, it forms a very constricted enclosed space (103). As the cylindrical diffuser (100)-inducer (200) assembly starts to revolve at an optimum speed the ambient air is drawn in. The incoming air gets trapped within the constricted enclosed space (103) for a brief pause.

(46) The air which was forcefully drawn-in by the inducer (300) and trapped within the constricted enclosed space (103) further gets energised. The combination of the hyperbolically curved lower surface (124), the plurality of involuted webs (148), and the curved toroidal upper surface (322) of the hemi-toroidal ring (320) serves the objective of agitating and mixing of the trapped air. The air's velocity gets increased. It further enhances the swirl energy.

(47) The energised air is pushed into the numerous spiral compartments (170) of the revolving cylindrical diffuser (100).

(48) Then, finally, the cylindrical diffuser (100) delivers the completely charged air in to the space in which the present invention (10) is deployed. All the features collectively provide a very efficient swirl flow of the air with lesser noise levels and better comfort. As seen from the FIG. 7, the stationary enclosure (300) further comprises an optional safety disc (500) adapted for concealing the hemi-toroidal ring (320), and a means for removably securing said safety disc to the stationary enclosure (300). The safety disc (500) is integrally made of a single-piece construction through a near-net-shape manufacturing process. The securement for removably securing said safety disc (500) to the stationary enclosure (300) is selected from the group consisting of integral snap locks, screws, bolts, welds, adhesives, and combinations thereof.

(49) The present invention has a lesser number of parts. It is seen that near-uniform room temperature is achievable within the enclosed space by deploying the present invention (10). It is also found to be cost-effective in its working as well in its manufacturing.

(50) The present invention (10) completely disrupts the normal air flow in a more advantageous way to achieve the objective of near uniform temperature at a shorter period of time in any place in which the present invention is deployed.

Another Preferred Embodiment

(51) In another preferred embodiment, as seen from the FIGS. 8A-D, the hemi-toroidal ring (320) of the stationary enclosure (300) has an opposed upper surface (322) and lower surface (324), wherein a plurality of pockets (330) is formed into said lower surface (324). The plurality of pockets (330) has opposed upper surface (332) and lower surface (334), wherein a plurality of openings (336) is formed therethrough to allow the high-velocity air to pass through. The pockets are removably covered with securing caps (400) for creating an enclosed space. The securement for removably securing said securing cap (400) to the cylindrical diffuser (100) is selected from the group consisting of integral snap locks, screws, bolts, welds, adhesives, and combinations thereof. The securing cap (400) is integrally made of a single-piece construction through a near-net-shape manufacturing process.

(52) The enclosed space created by the pocket is used to accommodate air fresheners and other desired diffusing media. While the fan is in working condition, due to the forced air circulation through the pockets, the air gets sanitized. Then, the sanitized air is guided through the spiral compartments (170) to the desired space.