# US 11,027,038 B1 · Fan for improving air quality > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,038 B1 - Document ID: US11027038B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/147,086 - Filed: 2021-01-12 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-22 - Assignees: Delta T, LLC - Applicants: Delta T, LLC - Inventors: Lennie Rhoades; Eric J. Evans; Jay Fizer; Marc McKinzie; Pete Maley; Mike Smith; Jayme Webb - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027038B1 ## CPC - A61L 9/22: Ionisation - F04D 29/005: {Decorative aspects, i.e. features which have no effect on the functioning of the pump} - F04D 13/06: the pump being electrically driven - F04D 25/088: {Ceiling fans} - F04D 29/325: {for axial flow fans (blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38)} - F04D 29/38: Blades {(for axial flow compressors F04D29/324)} - F04D 29/703: {specially for fans, e.g. fan guards} - A61L 2209/134: Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles - F05D 2240/307: related to the tip of a rotor blade - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - 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 A fan is for improving air quality, such as in an indoor environment. The fan includes a motor and a rotatable hub coupled to the motor. At least one fan blade includes a first end portion coupled to the rotatable hub and a second end portion radially distant from the rotatable hub. At least one ion generator is carried by the second end portion of the at least one fan blade, such as by a winglet associated therewith. A stationary tube passes through the rotatable hub including a conduit for transmitting power. A rotary coupling is also provided for transmitting power from the conduit to the at least one ion generator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fan for improving air quality, comprising: (a) a motor; (b) a rotatable hub coupled to the motor; (c) at least one fan blade comprising: i, a first end coupled to the rotatable hub, ii, a second end radially distant from the rotatable hub, and iii, a winglet attached to the second end; and (d) at least one ion generator carried by the winglet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to an inner face of the winglet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to the winglet below a plane of the at least one fan blade. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, further including a rotary coupling for transmitting power to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fan of claim 4, further including a stationary tube passing through the hub for including a conduit for providing power to the at least one ion generator, the rotary coupling connected to the stationary tube. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein a conduit for supplying power for the at least one ion generator passes from the hub, along the at least one fan blade, and to the winglet to connect to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein the at least one fan blade includes a passage extending from the first end to the second end, the passage including wires for transmitting power to the at least one ion generator through the winglet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein the at last one fan blade comprises a plurality of fan blades coupled to the rotatable hub, each having a winglet including an ion generator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fan of claim 1, wherein the at least one fan blade has a length of greater than about six feet. ### Claim 10 A fan for improving air quality, comprising: (a) a motor; (b) a rotatable hub coupled to the motor; (c) at least one fan blade comprising: i, a first end portion coupled to the rotatable hub, ii, a second end portion radially distant from the rotatable hub, and iii, a winglet adjacent the second end portion; (d) at least one ion generator carried by the winglet; and (e) a rotary coupling for transmitting power to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein the winglet is at least partially inserted into the second end portion of the at least one fan blade and attached to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fan of claim 11, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to an inner face of the winglet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fan of claim 11, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to the winglet below a plane of the at least one fan blade. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein the at least one fan blade is hollow, and further including a wire passing from the rotary coupling through the at least one hollow fan blade to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fan of claim 14, further including a stationary tube passing through the hub for providing power to the at least one ion generator via a conduit, the rotary coupling connected to the stationary tube. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein a conduit for supplying power passes from the hub, along the at least one fan blade, and to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein the at least one fan blade includes a passage extending from the first end to the second end, the passage including wires for transmitting power to the at least one ion generator through the winglet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein the at last one fan blade comprises a plurality of fan blades coupled to the rotatable hub, each having a winglet and an ion generator. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The fan of claim 10, wherein the at least one fan blade has a length of greater than about six feet. ### Claim 20 A fan for improving air quality, comprising: (a) a motor; (b) a rotatable hub coupled to the motor; (c) at least one fan blade comprising: i, a first end coupled to the rotatable hub, ii, a second end radially distant from the rotatable hub, and iii, a winglet adjacent the second end; (d) at least one ion generator for generating germicidal energy carried by the winglet; and (e) a stationary tube passing through the rotatable hub including a conduit for transmitting power; and (f) a rotary coupling for transmitting power from the conduit to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to an inner fee portion of the winglet facing the hub. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the at least one ion generator is mounted to the winglet below a plane of the at least one fan blade. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The fan of claim 22, wherein the conduit passes through the stationary tube for providing power to the at least one ion generator, the rotary coupling connected to the stationary tube. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the conduit for supplying power for the at least one ion generator passes from the hub, along the at least one fan blade, and to the at least one ion generator. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the at least one fan blade includes a passage extending from the first end to the second end, the passage including wires for transmitting power to the at least one ion generator through a portion of the at least one fan blade. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the at last one fan blade comprises a plurality of fan blades coupled to the rotatable hub, each having a winglet including an ion generator. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The fan of claim 20, wherein the at least one fan blade has a length of greater than about six feet. ### Claim 28 A fan for improving air quality, comprising: (a) a motor; (b) a rotatable hub coupled to the motor; (c) at least one hollow fan blade comprising: i, a first end portion coupled to the rotatable hub, ii, a second end portion radially distant from the rotatable hub, and iii, a winglet; (d) at least one ion generator carried external to the at least one hollow fan blade and carried by the winglet; and (e) a wire extending to the at least one ion generator via the at least one hollow fan blade. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fan according to claim 28, wherein the at least one ion generator is located at the second end portion of the at least one hollow fan blade. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The fan according to claim 28, wherein the wire extends at least partially through a longitudinally extending passage within the at least one hollow fan blade.