US 7,726,945 B2 · Industrial ceiling fan

Abstract

A large industrial ceiling fan includes exceptionally long fan blades with blade tips that can be tilted upward to more broadly distribute the air. Such broad distribution might be particularly beneficial in cases where the fan is installed relatively low to avoid obstacles such as hanging lights, sprinkler heads and rafters. A low mounting position is possible, because the fan is suspended from a hanger of adjustable length. The fan includes several joints that are redundantly bolted and welded for safety. A continuous retaining ring provides additional safety. A resilient bushing enhances the flexibility of the fan blades and reduces strain where the fan blades connect to a central mounting hub. To more broadly distribute the airflow underneath the fan, each fan blade has a twisted geometry to provide an angle of attack that decreases from the root to the tip of the blade.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A ceiling fan mountable to an overhead structure, the ceiling fan comprising:

a hanger mountable to the overhead structure;
a motor with a drive shaft that points generally downward;
a hub connected to the drive shaft such that the hub is below the motor;
a plurality of fan blades coupled to the hub;
a bracket assembly that couples the motor to the hanger;
a lower plate extending from the bracket assembly such that the lower plate is above the hub;
a retaining ring supported by the hub and disposed above the lower plate such that the lower plate and the retaining ring limit relative vertical movement between the hub and the bracket assembly if the hub were to descend relative to the drive shaft of the motor, and
a plurality of brackets that couple the hub to the retaining ring.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Industrial ceiling fan

Life of this patent

Industrial ceiling fan

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15