# US 10,866,015 B2 · Turbine cooling fan

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- Number: US 10,866,015 B2
- Document ID: US10866015B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/887,978
- Filed: 2018-02-02
- Published: 2018-08-02
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-02
- Applicants: James Thomas Clements
- Inventors: James Thomas Clements
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10866015B2

## CPC

- F25B 9/04: using vortex effect
- F01D 25/12: Cooling
- F04D 19/002: {Axial flow fans}
- F04D 25/04: the pump being fluid-driven {(pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12)}
- F04D 25/08: the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation
- F04D 25/166: {using fans}
- F05D 2210/12: gaseous, i.e. compressible
- F05D 2260/209: using vortex tubes
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02)
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

Embodiments are provided for a cooling fan that has a vortex tube, an air turbine, and one or more fan blades. The vortex tube is capable of being supplied with compressed air and splitting the compressed air into a cold stream and a hot stream. The cold stream can spins said air turbine with attached fan blades, causing said fan blades to spin and blow cold air.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A fan comprising:
a vortex tube, said vortex tube exhausting, a hot air stream and a cold air stream;
an air turbine that is configured to be spun by said exhausted cold air stream;
a compressor configured to generate compressed air;
a heat exchanger configured to cool air;
at least one fan blade, wherein said at least one fan blade is connected to said air turbine, wherein compressed air is configured to flow from said compressor through said heat exchanger before flowing through said vortex tube, in the vortex tube the air is split into said hot and said cold air streams, said cold air stream is exhausted from said vortex tube and spins said air turbine, and said spinning air turbine spins said at least one fan blade.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a motor, wherein said motor powers said compressor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a noise suppressor located on an exhaust located on the vortex tube.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a separation panel, whereby said separation panel is capable of preventing said hot air stream and said cold air stream from mixing together.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The fan of claim 4 further comprising: bearings, said bearings capable of allowing said air turbine to spin while remaining attached to said separation panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a booster motor, wherein said booster motor is capable of assisting in the spinning of said air turbine.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a cabinet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The fan of claim 1 further comprising: a finger guard.

### Claim 9 (depends on 4)

The fan of claim 4, whereby said hot air stream is exhausted behind said separation panel, and said cold air stream is exhausted in front of said separation panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The fan of claim 6 wherein compressed air flows from said compressor, through said heat exchanger, through said vortex tube, wherein the air is split into said hot and said cold air streams, wherein the cold air stream spins said air turbine and is blown by said fan blades.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

A method for blowing cold air, the method comprising:
providing the fan of claim 6;
compressing air using the air compressor;
cooling said compressed air using the heat exchanger;
separating said cooled air into the hot and the cold air stream;
exhausting said cold air stream towards the air turbine having attached fan blades; and
spinning said air turbine having attached fan blades with said exhausted cold air stream; and
blowing said exhausted, cold air stream using said spinning fan blades.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising exhausting said hot air stream away from said air turbine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 further comprising powering said compressor with a motor.