Movable fan assembly mounting arrangement

A fan assembly comprises a fan and a movable fan support. The fan has a motor and a fan blade drivable by the motor to move air in an airflow direction through an opening. The movable fan support is configured to movably support at least the fan. The fan support is mountable adjacent the opening on a first side and comprises extension members extendable from an operating position on the first side of the opening to an access position on a second side of the opening opposite the first side. In the access position, the extension members extend through the opening from the first side to the second side to support the motor and fan blade on the second of the opening for access.

BACKGROUND

Large air movers, e.g., fans, used in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, require routine maintenance. In some settings, such as in commercial buildings, such fans are mounted directly over openings in the building side walls or roof through which the fans exhaust or intake air.

Conventionally, access to such fans is designed to take place on the side of the building on which the part(s) of the fan (usually the motor and/or fan blade) are located. Thus, if the fan motor is positioned mostly on the inside of the building, then the motor is designed to be serviced from the inside of the building. Conversely, for a fan that is mounted to the outside of the building, then the fan is designed to be serviced from outside the building. Servicing the fan can require moving it axially from away from the opening and/or pivoting it away from the opening. In any case, substantial additional space is required for this service or access position of the fan, in addition to the space it occupies in its normal operating position.

In some applications, it is not convenient or possible to provide such additional space. In other applications, providing access to the fan in its access position poses risks to maintenance personnel (e.g., if personnel must work at great heights within the inside of the building). It would be helpful to provide alternative solutions to accessing fans for maintenance and other purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described below is a fan mounting arrangement or fan assembly in which a fan having a motor and a fan blade is mounted on a movable fan support. The fan support is mounted adjacent an opening through which the fan moves air on a first side of the opening and has extension members extendable from a fan operating position on the first side of the opening to a fan access position on a second side of the opening. In the access position, the extension members extend through the opening from the first side to the second side so the motor and fan blade can be accessed from the second side. In some applications, the opening is fitted with one or more doors having louvers, and the door(s) can be opened to allow the fan to be moved to the access position.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, an implementation of a fan mounting arrangement or fan assembly100is shown. As shown somewhat schematically inFIG. 1, a fan102(or other type of air mover) has a motor and a fan blade104, and is supported on a fan support108. The fan102is typically arranged as shown, in-line with an opening O, such as an opening in a wall or roof of a building, through which the fan exhausts air or intakes air. In other implementations, the opening O may be arranged in an intermediate surface, such as in the wall of a housing, as one example. In one specific implementation, the fan102is mounted to a vertical wall of an inverted exhaust plenum having an exterior access position accessible from a walkable surface on a roof of a building, such as is disclosed in commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/308,114 entitled Inverted Exhaust Plenum Module, which was filed on Jun. 18, 2014.

The fan102is shown positioned on a first side110in its normal operating position. The fan102can be moved through the opening O to its access position (shown in dashed lines) on a second side112, e.g., to access the fan motor, fan blade and/or other component. In the illustrated implementation, the fan102is configured as an exhaust fan that defines an airflow direction A as shown extending from the first side110to the second side112. As examples only, the fan's belt or drive may require replacement or adjustment, the fan blade or the fan blade pitch may need to be changed and/or various electrical components may need to be replaced or serviced. As best seen inFIG. 3, the fan support108can enable the fan to translate between positions, e.g., by a combination of sliding and/or rolling motion. For example, the fan support108can have extension members114that can extend from the first side110, through the opening O and to the second side112. For example, the support108and the extension members114can comprise a conventional drawer slide type mechanism132,134positioned in a spaced apart relation relative to each other. Such conventional drawer slide mechanisms are available for industrial applications with weight carrying capacities of 500 pounds, 1000 pounds or even more. In one representative application that has a 20 hp fan motor, the estimated weight to be supported by the drawer slides may be in the range from 700-1000 pounds. As one example, heavy duty slides sold by Barnes Engineering Company of Colorado Springs, Colo. (www.slim-track.com) have the weight carrying capacity and dimensions suitable for typical applications.

In some implementations, there is at least one door120provided to cover the opening O, typically from the second side112. The door120may be hinged or otherwise movable (such as, e.g., by sliding) or removable to expose the opening O so that the fan102can be moved through the opening O to the second side112and into the access position. In the illustrated implementation, there is a pair of hinged doors122,124in a bi-fold configuration that are arranged to cover the opening as shown inFIG. 2, and to expose the opening as shown inFIG. 1. The doors122,124are omitted fromFIG. 3for clarity. The doors122,124may be held in the open position by respective door retainers144,146.

The door or doors120,122,124may have louvers126or other form of openings through which air can be conveyed while the doors are closed and the fan is in operation. The louvers, which are sometimes referred to as a grille, are sized and shaped to provide adequate airflow yet prevent entry of water, debris, animals and trespassers. In some implementations, the louvers126are movable, either manually or with a mechanism (not shown) to adjust the amount of airflow through the doors.

Referring toFIG. 3, the fan support108may be positioned to support the fan102in a cantilevered arrangement as shown with the support108coupled at one of its ends, such as to a wall as shown. Alternatively, the fan102may be supported by one or more additional members, such as the member136shown inFIG. 3, at least when the fan102is in the operating position. The member136can be provided to support the end of the support108that is spaced from the wall when the fan102is in the operating position.

As also shown inFIG. 3, there may be an optional assistance device139, such as an actuator or a spring, as just two examples, to assist a user in moving the weight of the fan102and its associated structure. The assistance device139is particularly useful in applications where the fan102is moved vertically upward against the action of gravity, such as in applications where the opening O is in a horizontal roof surface. One exemplary source for an actuator suitable for the assistance device139is Parker Hannefin Corp.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the opening O can be fitted with head flashing140and/or sill flashing142as appropriate for the operating environment and conditions.

In one implementation, the fan support108has a width of about 9 feet. Thus, each of the doors122,124has a width of about 4 feet 6 inches. The depth of the fan support, and the corresponding amount of extension provided to permit the fan102to be moved from the operating position to the access position, can be between about 3 feet and about 5 feet. Of course, these dimensions can be adapted for specific implementations as would be understood by those with ordinary skill in the art.