Patent Publication Number: US-2021180607-A1

Title: Fan

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a fan, and more particularly to a ceiling fan designed to allow the fan to be cleaned easily. 
     Ceiling fans have become standard fixtures in all types of buildings to help circulate air for cooling in the summer and heating in the winter. For example, ceiling fans are often installed in the bedrooms of homes to help circulate air while people sleep at night and the heating and ventilating system is only running intermittently. Likewise, fans are often installed in large buildings to help cool the buildings during the hot summer months. 
     One of the problems with ceiling fans is that they can often times be difficult to clean due to the height of the ceiling that the fan is mounted to. For example, in some homes fans may be mounted to ceilings with a height of twenty feet. For commercial buildings, the ceilings can be much higher. Thus, cleaning the fan often times results in the need for large ladders and/or extendable poles with cleaning attachments attached thereto. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a fan that allows a user to clean the fan without the need for ladders and poles. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This need is addressed by the present invention, which provides a fan capable of being lowered to a cleaning height and that allows a user to rotate the blades so that the user can adequately clean an upper side of the blade. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, a fan including a base mountable to a ceiling; a base motor contained in the base; a multi-section shaft operably connected to the base motor and moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position; and a fan assembly connected to the multi-section shaft and including a fan motor and at least one fan blade operably connected to the fan motor, wherein in response to a signal, the base motor raises or lowers the fan assembly by moving the multi-section shaft between the collapsed position and the extended position, the fan assembly further including a pitch change mechanism configured to change the pitch of the at least one fan blade, the pitch change mechanism including a first gear rotatable around the fan motor and a second gear meshed with the first gear and operably connected to the fan blade, the first gear driving the second gear such that movement of the second gear causes the at least one fan blade to rotate about a central axis of the at least one fan blade to change the at least one fan blade&#39;s pitch. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a fan includes a base mountable to a ceiling; a base motor contained in the base; a multi-section shaft moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position, the multi-section shaft being connected to the base motor such that actuation of the base motor causes the multi-section shaft to move between the collapsed position and the extended position; and a fan assembly connected to the multi-section shaft and including a fan motor, at least one fan blade operably connected to the fan motor for rotation, at least one blade mount connected to the at least one fan blade, the at least one blade mount having a fan mount portion for connecting to the at least one fan blade and a motor mount portion for operably connecting the at least one fan blade to the fan motor, the fan assembly further including a pitch change mechanism operably connected to the at least one fan blade to change a pitch of the at least one fan blade, wherein activation of the fan motor causes the at least one fan blade to rotate around a central axis of the multi-section shaft and activation of the pitch change mechanism causes the at least one fan blade to rotate about a central axis of the at least one fan blade to change its pitch. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a ceiling fan includes a base mountable to a ceiling; a base motor contained in the base; a multi-section shaft moveable between a collapsed position and an extended position, the multi-section shaft being connected to the base motor such that actuation of the base motor causes the multi-section shaft to move between the collapsed position and the extended position; and a fan assembly connected to the multi-section shaft and including a fan motor, a plurality of fan blades operably connected to the fan motor, and a pitch change mechanism operably connected to each of the plurality of fan blades to change a pitch of each of the plurality of fan blades, the pitch change mechanism including a first gear rotatable around the fan motor and a plurality of second gears meshed with the first gear, each of the plurality of second gears being operably connected to a respective fan blade, the first gear driving each of the plurality of second gears such that movement of each of the second gears causes each of the plurality of fan blades to rotate about a central axis of each of the plurality of fan blades to change each of the plurality of fan blade&#39;s pitch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a prior art fan; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic of a fan according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic of the fan of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a fan according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional schematic of the fan of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a pitch change mechanism of the fan of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art fan  10  having a base  12  to mount the fan to a ceiling, a fan motor  14 , a plurality of fan blades  16  connected to the motor  14  and configured for rotation, and a light  18 . The fan  10  may also include an extension rod  20  to space the fan blades  16  from the ceiling. It should be understood that the above description is the general description for most ceiling fans currently available and that the invention described below with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3  also includes many of the same pieces and/or parts. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , like fan  10 , fan  100  includes a base  112 , a fan motor  114 , fan blades  116 , and a light  118 . It should be appreciated that the light  118  is an optional feature and the fan  100  may be used without the light  118 . Unlike fan  10 , fan  100  includes an electric base motor  122  contained in the base  112 , an expandable or extendable multi-section shaft  124 , a pitch change mechanism  126 , a blade hub  128 , and a blade mount  130  for each fan blade  116 . 
     The electric motor  122  is mounted within the base  112  and includes a rotatable shaft  132  connected to the electric motor  122  for rotation and a pulley  134  connected to the shaft  132 . A cable  136  is connected to the pulley  134  at a first end  138  and to the multi-section shaft  124  at a second end  140 . The cable  136  extends along an interior of the multi-section shaft  124  and is used to raise and lower the motor  114  and fan blades  116 . The multi-section shaft  124  includes multiple sections  124 A,  124 B, and  124 C that allow the shaft  124  to extend and collapse. It should be understood that while only three sections are shown, any desired number of sections may be used to increase or shorten the length of travel. This configuration allows a user to lower the fan  100  to a cleaning position and then raise it back up to an operating position. 
     The pitch change mechanism  126  is positioned along the shaft  124  below the fan blades  116  and includes a solenoid  142  with an electromagnet and a plunger  144  connected thereto. At a first end of the plunger  144 , a bearing  146  is formed having an upper ring  148  and a lower ring  150  creating a slot  152  therebetween suitable for receiving a pin  154  of the blade mount  130  therein. 
     As illustrated, blade mount  130  is connected to a fan blade  116  and extends through an aperture  156  having a bearing surface  164  positioned in the blade hub  128 . The blade mount  130  includes fan mount portion  158 , a shaft portion  160 , and a cam  162  having the pin  154  connected thereto. As illustrated, the pin  154  extends into slot  152 . The blade hub  128  may be formed as a single part or as a multi-part hub and is operably connected to the fan motor  114  for rotation; thus, rotation of the blade hub  128  causes the fan blades  116  to rotate about a central axis “A” of the multi-section shaft  124 . 
     In operation, a user can activate electric motor  122  using a remote control or wall switch to lower the fan  100  when cleaning is desired. The remote control may be a user&#39;s cellphone via use of an application or a remote provided with the fan  100  and may use short range radio frequency such as Bluetooth, infrared, or any other suitable transmission protocol. Once the fan blades  116  are lowered, the user may clean the fan blades  116 . 
     Additionally, the user may activate the solenoid  142 , thereby causing the plunger  144  to move up or down along a length “L” of the multi-section shaft  124 . As the plunger  144  moves, the pin  154  moves within the slot  152  causing the cam  162  to rotate and cause the pitch angle of the fan blades  116  to change. In other words, each fan blade  116  rotates about a central axis “B” of the fan blade  116  to change the pitch angle. It should be understood that activation of the solenoid  142  may be accomplished in the same manner as activation of the electric motor  122 . Changing the pitch of the fan blades  116  may be done during the cleaning process to allow better cleaning of each fan blade  116  or may be done during operation of the fan  100  to change the amount of air being moved by the fan blades  116 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4-6 , like fan  100 , fan  200  includes a base  212 , a fan motor  214 , and fan blades  216 . Fan  200  may optionally incorporate a light like light  118 . Fan  200  includes an electric base motor  222  connected to a winch  234  (the motor  222  and winch  234  contained in the base  212 ), an expandable or extendable multi-section shaft  224 , a pitch change mechanism  226 , and a blade mount  230  for each fan blade  216 . The blade mount  230  including a fan mount portion  233  connected to a fan blade  216  and a motor mount portion  235  operably connected to the fan motor  214 . 
     The electric motor  222  operates the winch  234 . A cable  236  is connected to the winch  234  at a first end  238  and to the fan motor  214  at a second end  240 . The cable  236  extends along an interior of the multi-section shaft  224  and is used to raise and lower the motor  214  and fan blades  216 . The multi-section shaft  224  includes multiple sections  224 A,  224 B,  224 C, and  224 D that allow the shaft  224  to extend and collapse. It should be understood that while only four sections are shown, any desired number of sections may be used to increase or shorten the length of travel. This configuration allows a user to lower the fan  200  to a cleaning position and then raise it back up to an operating position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , section  224 A has a smaller cross-sectional dimension than section  224 D and when extended, section  224 A is positioned next to the base  212  and section  224 D is positioned next to the fan motor  214 . In other words, the shaft sections  224 A- 224 D increase in cross-sectional dimension from the base  212  to the fan motor  214 . Such a configuration allows the shaft sections  224 A- 224 D to help support each other. As shown, each of the shaft sections  224 A- 224 D include a lip  225  at each end of the shaft sections  224 A- 224 D. When assembled, the lip  225  of the upper shaft section engages the lip of the lower shaft section such that the upper shaft section supports the lower shaft section. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the pitch change mechanism  226  includes a ring gear  227  and a mating gear  229  such as a spur gear or other suitable gear. The ring gear  227  is positioned around the fan motor  214  and is designed to rotate  360  degrees thereabout. The ring gear  227  may be driven by any suitable mechanical and/or electrical means. For example, the ring gear  227  may be driven by the rotating fan motor  214 . The mating gear  229  is mounted for rotation and is secured to each fan blade mount  230  between the fan motor  214  and blade mount  230  of each fan blade  216 . The mating gear  229  is meshed with the ring gear  227  such that rotation of the ring gear  227  causes the mating gear  229  to rotate. A locking mechanism  231  may be installed through an aperture of the blade mount  230  to prevent the fan blades  216  from rotating. 
     In operation, a user can activate electric motor  222  using a remote control or wall switch to lower the fan  200  when cleaning is desired. The remote control may be a user&#39;s cellphone via use of an application or a remote provided with the fan  200  and may use short range radio frequency such as Bluetooth, infrared, or any other suitable transmission protocol. Once the fan blades  216  are lowered, the user may clean the fan blades  216 . 
     Additionally, the user may activate the ring gear  227 , causing the mating gear  229  to rotate. Rotation of the mating gear  229  causes the blade mounts  230  and fan blades  216  to rotate and change the pitch angle of the fan blades  216 . In other words, each fan blade  216  rotates about a central axis “B” of the fan blade  216  to change the pitch angle. It should be understood that activation of the ring gear  227  may be accomplished in the same manner as activation of the electric motor  222 . Changing the pitch of the fan blades  216  may be done during the cleaning process to allow better cleaning of each fan blade  216  or may be done during operation of the fan  200  to change the amount of air being moved by the fan blades  216 . 
     The foregoing has described a fan. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. 
     Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
     The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.