Fan blade modifications
AssigneeDelta T, LLC
InventorRichard Michael Aynsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A winglet includes a vertical member and a mounting member. The mounting member is configured to facilitate the mounting of the winglet to the tip of a fan blade. The vertical member is configured to extend perpendicularly relative the tip of a fan blade. Adding winglets to fan blades may improve the aerodynamics of the fan blades, and thereby increase efficiencies of a fan.
Claims19
A winglet for a fan blade, comprising:
- (a) a vertical member;
- and
- (b) a mounting member, wherein at least a portion of the mounting member is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the vertical member, wherein the mounting member is configured to mount to a fan blade first end, wherein the fan blade is configured to be mounted to a fan hub at a second end of the fan blade, the second end being opposite the first end;
- wherein the vertical member has a rear edge, wherein the mounting member has a trailing edge, wherein, when mounted to the first end of the fan blade having a trailing edge, the distance from the mounting member trailing edge to a point on the rear edge of the vertical member is greater than the distance from the mounting member trailing edge to the fan blade trailing edge at the first end.
A modification kit for a fan blade, comprising:
- (a) a vertical member;
- (b) a mounting member, wherein the mounting member is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the vertical member, wherein the mounting member is configured to mount to a fan blade first end, wherein the fan blade is configured to be mounted to a fan hub at a second end of the fan blade, the second end being opposite the first end;
- and
- (c) at least one fastener, the at least one fastener being configured to secure the mounting member to the first end;
- wherein the vertical member has a rear edge, wherein the mounting member has a trailing edge, wherein, when mounted to the first end of the fan blade having a trailing edge, the distance from the mounting member trailing edge to a point on the rear edge of the vertical member is greater than the distance from the mounting member trailing edge to the fan blade trailing edge at the first end.
A fan, comprising:
- (a) a hub, the hub being operable to rotate;
- (b) a plurality of fan blades, each fan blade having a first end and a second end, wherein each fan blade is mounted to the hub at a respective first end;
- and
- (c) a winglet mounted to the second end of each fan blade, wherein each winglet comprises a vertical member and a mounting member, wherein the vertical member comprises a perimeter defined by a lower edge, an upper edge, and a rear edge, wherein each of the edges meets generally at a respective corner, wherein each of the corners is generally rounded.
A method of modifying a fan blade, comprising securing a winglet to a fan blade end, the winglet comprising a vertical member and a mounting member, wherein at least a portion of the mounting member is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the vertical member, wherein the mounting member is configured to couple with the fan blade end;
- wherein the vertical member has an upper edge, wherein the mounting member has a leading edge, wherein, when mounted to the first end of the fan blade having a leading edge, the distance from the mounting member leading edge to a point on the upper edge of the vertical member is greater than the distance from the mounting member leading edge to the fan blade leading edge at the first end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.