Method and apparatus for circulating air
AssigneeCTB, Inc.
InventorRay E. Swartzendruber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for circulating air. The apparatus includes a motor for rotating the blades of a fan. The apparatus also includes a housing for the fan having a wall which is disposed proximate to the blades in the fan in a spaced relationship thereto. In addition, the apparatus includes a motor mount which is operable to support the wall of the housing so as to substantially maintain the spaced relationship between the wall and the blades of the fan.
Claims49
An apparatus for circulating air using a fan having a plurality of blades, each of said blades including an end portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a motor for rotating said blades;
- a housing for said fan having a generally annular wall disposed proximate to said end portions of said blades in a space relationship thereto, said annular wall defining an opening for circulating air through said housing;
- and
- means for mounting said motor to said housing, said means for mounting said motor extending generally between said annular wall and said fan and being operable to provide support to said annular wall at substantially all locations on said annular wall so as to substantially maintain said spaced relationship between said annular wall and said blades.
An apparatus for circulating air using a fan having a plurality of blades, each of said blades including an end portion, said apparatus comprising:
- a motor for rotating said blades;
- a housing having a substantially circular portion for receiving the blades of said fan, said substantially circular portion of said housing defining an annular wall which is disposed in a spaced relationship with respect to said end portion of said blades of said fan and establishes an opening for circulating air;
- a substantially circular member engaging the interior of said annular wall of said housing and being operable to substantially maintain said spaced relationship between said annular wall and said blades of said fan;
- and
- a plurality of support members extending from said substantially circular member to a region proximate said motor, said plurality of support members being operable to provide support to said motor with respect to said housing.
A method for assembling an apparatus used for circulating air, said apparatus including a fan having a plurality of blades which are operable to be rotated by a motor, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a housing having an internal contour adjacent to the blades which define a surface feature;
- forming a motor mount which is operable to be fixedly secured to said housing by engagement with said surface feature of said housing;
- securing said motor to said motor mount;
- and
- disposing a portion of said motor mount within said surface feature to thereby fixedly secure said motor mount to said housing so that the fan is supported by the surface feature of the housing.
An apparatus for circulating air using a fan having a plurality of integrally formed blades, said apparatus comprising:
- a motor for rotating said plurality of blades;
- a housing for said fan having a wall disposed proximate to said plurality of blades in a spaced relationship thereto;
- a shaft being fixedly secured with respect to said housing;
- and
- a hub assembly for supporting said fan within said housing, said hub assembly being supported by said shaft and being operable to rotate with respect to said shaft,
- whereby said hub assembly is operable to support fans of different sizes.
A method for assembling an apparatus for circulating air, said apparatus including a fan having a plurality of blades disposed on a hub assembly which is operable to be driven by a motor, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a housing for said fan;
- securing said motor to a region proximate to said housing;
- securing a shaft at least partially within said housing, said shaft being operable to support said hub assembly;
- rotatably securing said hub assembly to said shaft;
- and
- forming a mechanical linkage between said fan and said motor;
- whereby said fan is able to rotate with respect to said shaft while said shaft remains stationary with respect to said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.