Fan impeller with flexible blades

A fan mechanism with a fan impeller having flexible blades is shown. The fan impeller is used on a rotatable shaft which includes at least one piece of flexible belting and a plurality of elongate members carried about the shaft parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft for clamping the flexible belting in the approximate mid-region thereof whereby each piece of belting forms two fan blades. A retaining element located at either end of the plurality of elongate members positions the members equiangularly about the circumference of the shaft. Since one piece of belting is clamped in the mid-region to form two blades, the full strength of the belting is utilized to withstand the centrifugal forces generated during operation of the fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention: 
The present invention relates to fans having fan impellers with flexible 
blades and, specifically, to fan impellers having blades constructed of 
flexible belting. 
2. Description of the Prior Art: 
Fans, turbines, blast wheels, and the like are known which feature 
impellers having flexible blades on a rotating shaft for moving fluids, 
such as air and other gases. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,824 to 
Boyd, issued Mar. 12, 1963, shows a fluid-moving device with a rotating 
hub to which are attached flexible vanes. U.S. Pat. No. 1,868,113 to 
Ljungstrom, issued July 19, 1932, shows a table fan with flexible 
loop-shaped blades connected at opposite ends to a rotating hub. 
Fan impellers using flexible belting for blades have several advantages. 
Since the belting is easily cut to a desired length, an infinite number of 
fan diameters can be provided on a hub assembly by simply cutting the 
belting blades to the length desired. This allows the fan to be adapted to 
utilize the motor horsepower efficiently, provides for changes in air 
volume or pressure requirements, and allows the fan to operate on 
different electrical power frequencies with the consequent changes in 
motor speeds which result. Fans with blades of flexible belting are also 
easier to insert and remove from within a fan housing through a relatively 
small opening, since the blades can be wrapped about the shaft or hub. 
This greatly simplifies the design of the fan housing as compared to the 
use of a rigid impeller. In spite of those disadvantages, the prior 
designs have all be deficient in some respect. One disadvantage of the 
prior flexible blade fan designs was that the flexible blades were 
typically attached to the rotating hub at one end only. For instance, each 
blade was typically made of a single piece of belting, with one end looped 
around a pin, or the like, and clamped to the hub of the impeller. 
Centrifugal force generated during operation of the fans acted at the 
point of attachment and tended to cause the flexible blade to tear or 
separate. In the case of a fan impeller such as those used in cotton 
ginning where the fan moves dirty air with abrasive particles, the 
flexible blades are typically used on a 60 to 70 horsepower motor having a 
blade diameter of 18 to 20 inches which operates in the neighborhood of 
2200 rpm. The centrifugal force generated by such fans is sufficient to 
cause early blade failure in prior fan designs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The fan impeller with flexible blades of the invention is adapted to be 
used on a rotatable shaft. At least one piece of flexible belting is 
secured by clamping means to the shaft. The clamping means used to attach 
the flexible belting clamps each piece of flexible belting in the 
approximate mid-region thereof wherein each piece of belting forms two fan 
blades. 
Each piece of flexible belting has a width, a length greater than the 
width, and oppositely disposed free ends. The belting is clamped midway 
between the free ends. Preferably the clamping means comprises a plurality 
of elongate members carried about the shaft parallel to the longitudinal 
axis thereof. The flexible belting is clamped between the elongate members 
and the shaft with the elongate members spanning the width of the belting 
and with the length of the belting arranged transversely to the axis of 
the shaft. A retaining ring located at either end of the plurality of 
elongate members positions the members equiangularly about the 
circumference of the shaft. A tensioning means associated with the 
elongate members varies the force exerted by the members in clamping the 
flexible belting to the shaft. 
Additional objects, features and advantages will be apparent in the written 
description which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a fan impeller of the invention designated generally as 11 
which is adapted to be used on a rotatable shaft such as a motor shaft or 
any other driven shaft, and which has a plurality of flexible blades 
comprised of flexible belting 13. As shown in FIG. 1, each piece of 
belting, such as piece 15, has a width "w", a length normally greater than 
the width, and oppositely disposed free ends 17, 19. A clamping means 21 
associated with the fan shaft 23 clamps the flexible belting 15 in the 
approximate mid-region (25 in FIG. 2) so that each piece of belting 15 
forms two fan blades. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the flexible belting 15 can be comprised of, for 
instance, canvas belting, cloth, duck, or any other suitable flexible 
material. Preferably, the flexible belting 15 is a heavy, reinforced 
canvas type material with an elastomer covering. The elastomer covering of 
the belting resists abrasive wear where abrasive dust is present in the 
air or gas being handled by the fan. The belting 15 is shown in its 
relaxed state in FIG. 1 and assumes a curled attitude as a result of being 
supplied from a roll of belting. As shown in FIG. 2 for an eight blade 
impeller, the clamping means 21 causes the blade halves 27, 29 to form an 
angle alpha of around 23.degree. with respect to the perpendicular axis 31 
in operation and the blade halves 27, 29 extend more directly outward from 
the shaft 23 due to the effects of centrifugal force. 
FIG. 4 shows the clamping means in greater detail. The clamping means 21 
includes a plurality of elongate members 33 which are carried about the 
fan shaft 23 parallel to the longitudinal axis 35 of the shaft. The 
flexible belting 15 is clamped between the elongate members 33 and the 
shaft 23 with the elongate members 33 spanning the width "w" of the 
belting 15 with the length of the belting arranged transversely to the 
axis 35 of the shaft 23. 
As shown in FIG. 3, each elongate member 33, in the embodiment shown 
includes a metal bar 37 of generally rectangular cross-sectional area 
having end recesses 39 formed between the bar end faces 41 and oppositely 
extending legs 43, 45. Each bar 37 is provided with threaded bores 47, 49 
for receiving tensioning means such as the set screws 51, 53. 
As best seen in FIG. 2, the elongate members also include channel members 
55 with generally U-shaped recesses 57 into which the bars 37 are 
received. The openings 59 of the channel members 55 face outwardly from 
the exterior surface 61 of the motor shaft in the assembled condition. As 
shown in FIG. 4, the fan shaft 23 has a plurality of milled flats 63 
parallel to the shaft axis 35 of the approximate width of the belting 15 
to prevent sliding movement of the belting along the shaft 23. Although in 
the embodiment shown, four clamping means and pieces of flexible belting 
are shown, it should be understood that greater or lesser numbers can be 
utilized. 
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 the clamping means also includes a retaining 
element such as the retaining rings 65, 67 located at either end of the 
plurality of elongate bars 37. As shown in FIG. 5, each retaining ring 65 
includes a central opening 69 for receiving the shaft 23 and a plurality 
of retaining recesses 71 for positioning the respective elongate bars and 
channel members 37, 55 equiangularly about the circumference of the shaft 
23. The recess walls 73 of the retaining recesses 71 are received within 
the end recesses 39 of the elongate bars 37. A resilient disk 75 is fitted 
on the shaft end 77 to cover the shaft end 77 and extend at least partly 
over the clamping means to shield the clamping means 21 from abrasive dust 
in the fluid where this is appropriate. 
The method of installing and operating the fan impeller with flexible 
blades of the invention will now be described. With reference to FIG. 4, 
the clamping means including the plurality of elongate members 33 will be 
positioned about the circumference of the shaft 23 parallel to the 
longitudinal axis 35 and with the retaining rings 65, 67 engaged within 
the end recesses 39 of the bars 37 and with set screws 51, 53 loosened 
outwardly from within their respective threaded bores. In this condition, 
a belt-receiving opening would be provided between the elongate members 33 
and the shaft milled surfaces 63. A piece of flexible belting 15 can thus 
be inserted through each of the belt receiving openings created by the 
elongate members 33 and the shaft exterior with the belting positioned so 
that a mid region (25 in FIG. 2) intermediate the free ends thereof would 
be beneath the channel members 55 of the clamping means. The flexible 
belting is then clamped in the mid region by tightening set screws 51, 53 
which serves to urge the elongate members in the direction of the shaft 23 
to decrease the size of the belt-receiving openings whereby each piece of 
belting forms two fan blades. The resilient disk 75 can then be positioned 
upon the shaft end 77 and held in place by a bolt 79. Worn belting can be 
replaced by simply loosening set screws 51, 53 and pulling out the old 
piece of belting. A new piece of belting could then be inserted within the 
belt receiving opening and the screws 51, 53 would be retightened. 
FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the clamping means of 
the invention. The impeller shown in these figures is a six-blade impeller 
using three pieces of belting 81. An impeller hub 83 has three 
longitudinal cylindrical depressions or grooves 82 into which the pieces 
of belting are clamped. The hub 83 is attached to the motor shaft 85 by 
set screws 87. The hub could also be keyed to the shaft. 
Each piece of belting 81 is pressed into its respective groove 82 by a 
cylindrical steel tube 89. Two socket set screws 91 bear against the inner 
surface of each tube 89, forcing the tubes and belting into the grooves 
82. The set screws 91, in turn, exert reactionary forces against the 
threaded bores 97 in hexagonal bars contained within steel tubes 89. 
The ends 101 of hexagonal bars 99 pass through hexagonal holes 103 in hub 
plates 105, 107 carried at either ends of the tubes 89. The fit of bars 99 
in the hexagonal holes 103 prevents the rotation of the hexagonal bars 99. 
Since the socket end 93 of each set screw 91 protrudes through a hole 95 
in the wall of the tube 89, the tube cannot rotate. Snap rings 109, 111 
retain the hub plates 105, 107 in position on the hub 83. 
As shown in FIG. 7, each of the hub plates 105, 107 has a center opening 
113 to position it upon the hub 83. Three scallops 115 allows free passage 
of air or gas into the impeller. 
An invention has been provided with several advantages. Since the fan 
diameter can be varied by simply cutting the flexible blades to the 
desired length, the fan impeller can be mounted directly on the motor 
shaft without the size, weight and expense disadvantages of a 
speed-changing drive. In even large diameter impellers, the flexible 
blades can be wrapped about the impeller hub or shaft for insertion into 
and removal from a fan housing opening of relatively small diameter. The 
flexible belting can be covered with an elastomer which helps withstand 
the abrasive dust present in air or gas handled by such fans and the 
blades can be replaced quickly and economically. With the new types of 
flexible belting now available, which are thinner, stronger and lighter, 
an impeller assembly of the present design can be made to run smoothly 
without the expense of balancing the blades. 
Since one piece of belting forms two blades, the full strength of the 
belting can be utilized to withstand the centrifugal force generated 
during the operation of the fan. This allows the use of larger diameter 
blades and higher rotational speeds. Since the assembled length of each 
fan blade is less dependent upon careful assembly method, a fan is 
provided with better balance and control over the impeller diameter. The 
clamping means shown can be inexpensively produced to provide an 
economical fan design. In the embodiment shown, the length of the impeller 
along the shaft is not much greater than the width of the belting blades. 
This is an important consideration in mounting the impeller directly on a 
motor shaft. 
While the invention has been shown in only two of its forms, it is not thus 
limited but is susceptible to various changes and modifications without 
departing from the spirit thereof.