# US 11,306,740 B2 · Ceiling fan bearing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,740 B2 - Document ID: US11306740B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/202,974 - Filed: 2021-03-16 - Published: 2021-07-01 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-14 - Assignees: Hunter Fan Company - Applicants: Hunter Fan Company - Inventors: Phillip Santolucito; Agustin Chacon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306740B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/646: {Mounting or removal of fans} - F04D 25/06: the pump being electrically driven (F04D25/08 takes precedence) - F04D 25/0613: {the electric motor being of the inside-out type, i.e. the rotor is arranged radially outside a central stator} - F04D 25/062: {Details of the bearings} - F04D 25/0633: {Details of the magnetic circuit} - F04D 25/064: {Details of the rotor} - F04D 25/0646: {Details of the stator} - F04D 25/088: {Ceiling fans} - F04D 29/329: {Details of the hub} - F04D 29/34: Blade mountings {(for axial flow compressors F04D29/322)} - F04D 29/36: adjustable {(flexible blades F04D29/382)} - F04D 29/384: {characterised by form} - F04D 29/388: {characterised by construction} - F04D 29/601: {specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps} - F04D 25/0693: {Details or arrangements of the wiring} - F05D 2240/301: Cross-sectional characteristics - F05D 2260/30: Retaining components in desired mutual position - 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 ceiling fan assembly including a non-rotating motor shaft with an upper and lower bearing stop, a stator mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft, a rotor surrounding the stator, a motor housing having an upper bearing seat spaced above the upper bearing stop and a lower bearing seat spaced below the lower bearing stop, an upper bearing seated within the upper bearing seat, a lower bearing seated within the lower bearing seat, and a downrod coupling provided on the non-rotating shaft. When the ceiling fan assembly is suspended from a structure with the downrod coupling, the weight of the rotor presses the upper bearing against the upper bearing stop such that the weight of the rotor is transferred through the upper bearing to the non-rotating shaft. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ceiling fan assembly comprising: a non-rotating motor shaft with an upper and lower bearing stop and a stator stop positioned between the upper and lower bearing stop; a stator mounted to the non-rotating motor shaft, positioned between the upper bearing and the stator stop, and carried by the stator stop; a rotor surrounding the stator; a motor housing having an upper bearing seat spaced above the upper bearing stop and a lower bearing seat spaced below the lower bearing stop; an upper bearing seated within the upper bearing seat; a lower bearing seated within the lower bearing seat; a spacer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side and positioned between the upper bearing and the stator such that the upper bearing is positioned directly adjacent the first side and the stator is positioned directly adjacent the second side, and a downrod coupling provided on the non-rotating shaft; wherein when the ceiling fan assembly is suspended from a structure with the downrod coupling, the weight of the rotor presses the upper bearing against the upper bearing stop such that the weight of the rotor is transferred through the upper bearing to the non-rotating shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring located within the lower bearing seat and biasing the lower bearing against the lower bearing stop. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-rotating motor shaft is hollow and further comprises a retaining rod passing through the hollow motor shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 3, wherein a lower end of the retaining rod has a cap that abuts a retention plate adjacent to a lower portion of the non-rotating shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 4, wherein an upper end of the retaining rod is located above an upper end of the non-rotating shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper end of the retaining rod terminates in a clevis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises upper and lower housings, which are secured together, with the upper housing having the upper bearing seat and the lower housing having the lower bearing seat. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the upper and lower housings define a magnet seat as an annular surface for supporting a plurality of magnets for the rotor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the magnet seat comprises confronting channels formed in each of the upper and lower housings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 7, wherein the upper and lower housings are secured together by mechanical fasteners. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 7, further comprising multiple blade mounts provided on one of the upper and lower housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the blade mounts comprise at least one split sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 12, wherein the blade mounts comprise at least two axially aligned split sleeves. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 11, wherein the blade mounts further comprise a blade rotation stop. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the stator stop and the lower bearing seat are formed by one or more collars on the non-rotating shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 15, wherein the stator rests on the stator stop and fixes the position of the stator relative to the motor shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the non-rotating motor shaft includes a weep hole. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 17, wherein the non-rotating shaft further comprises a wiring opening positioned above the weep hole. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The ceiling fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the stator abuts the stator stop.