Patent Publication Number: US-8529226-B2

Title: Bladeless air fan

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bladeless air fan and particularly to a bladeless air fan that has an improved air discharge structure to realize a greater air discharge rotational angle and improve air delivery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An air fan relies on spinning blades to pressurize air to generate airflow. A conventional air fan has exposed blades driven by a motor to get spinning and a mesh type frame to surround the blades to avoid hurting people. But the frame still has gaps and small children could poke fingers inadvertently through the gaps of the frame and be injured by the high speed spinning blades. The frame also cannot prevent small articles from piercing through, hence small children could also insert incidentally playing articles into the frame to damage the articles or the blades. Moreover, the frame cannot prevent dust from accumulating on the blades. Unless the fan is washed and cleaned frequently the spinning blades could throw a great amount of dust outside to cause allergic implications on respiratory organs and skin of people after a prolonged period of time, or even inflict ailments. 
     Hence improvements of air fan have been constantly made. Now bladeless air fans with hidden blades have been developed and introduced on the market. For instance, R.O.C. Pat. No. M398032 entitled “Bladeless air fan” includes a base and a holder fastened to the base to house a motor, and a set of blades hinged on the motor. The holder has a latch portion on the top connecting to an air discharging portion which is a circular frame and has a slit air outlet behind the inner rim. The motor drives the blades spinning. Airflow generated by the blades blows upwards and is discharged through an annular air outlet at the air discharging portion. The blades are hidden in the holder without the risk of injuring children during spinning, and dust accumulating on the blades also can be reduced, and spreading of the dust can also be further reduced through the air discharging portion. However, its air outlet is located at the inner rear side of the air discharging portion and formed in a tortuous manner, airflow resistance passing through the air outlet increases and results in decrease of airflow power. As a result, the airflow power generated by the bladeless air fan is significantly smaller than the general air fan. The bladeless air fan is more expensive but does not provide desirable performance, hence is not well accepted on the market. 
     R.O.C. Pat. No. M394383 entitled “Bladeless air fan” provides another type of bladeless air fan that includes a frame and an airflow guiding means. The frame has an airflow passage and at least one airflow orifice set. The airflow guiding means is connected to the frame and has a hollow airflow guiding frame and an airflow guiding set. The airflow guiding frame has an airflow guiding passage communicating with the airflow passage. The airflow guiding set is located at a selected position in the airflow guiding passage to direct airflow direction and airflow speed of the air in the airflow guiding passage. Its airflow passage further is divided into an air intake passage and an air discharge passage. It also has a number of air inlets and air outlets formed alternately and annularly on the inner rim of the frame. It also has the drawback of inadequate airflow amount like the previous reference. In the reference of M398032 the annular air outlet surrounding the entire air discharging portion still cannot provide a greater amount of airflow. In the reference of M394383, with the air inlets and outlets located on the inner rim of the frame, the problem of inadequate airflow power also is unavoidable. 
     U.S. Pub. No. 2009/0060710 discloses another type of air fan to provide improved airflow discharge. It is a bladeless air fan including a nozzle, a device for creating an airflow through the nozzle and a mouth to channel the airflow in the nozzle. The mouth is located behind the inner rim of the nozzle. The mouth has a Coanda surface on the circumference. Through the Coanda effect of fluid kinetics the airflow tends to adhere to the Coanda surface and change the flow direction so that the airflow shifts to exit via the mouth at the rear side of the inner rim. While it has the advantage of balanced airflow because of the Coanda effect, the shifted airflow also generates resistance to the airflow and results in lower airflow exit speed. 
     In short, the aforesaid conventional techniques have the airflow generator located below the frame and result in constraint of frame swiveling. The conventional air discharge design also does not produce sufficient airflow power. There is still room for improvement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the conventional bladeless air fans still have technical deficiency the primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved bladeless air fan to overcome that technical deficiency. 
     The present invention provides a bladeless air fan. The bladeless air fan includes a host and an airflow guiding frame. The host includes a housing section and a pivoting section. The housing section holds an airflow generator. The pivoting section includes two first pivoting portions. The airflow generator is connected to an airflow guiding manifold extended from the housing section to the pivoting section and communicating with the first pivoting portions. The airflow guiding frame has an air discharging portion, two second pivoting portions and an airflow guiding passage located in the air discharging portion. The two second pivoting portions are annular to form two air intake ports communicating with the airflow guiding passage. The air discharging portion encircles an airflow passage to allow air to pass through axially. The second pivoting portions are rotatably coupled with the first pivoting portions such that the airflow guiding passage communicates with the airflow guiding manifold. The airflow passage is formed at an inner diameter allowing the housing section to pass through to enlarge the range of the second pivoting portions rotating against the first pivoting portions. 
     By means of the features set forth above, the air discharging portion can be rotated beyond the housing space of the host without being hindered, thus increasing the range of the rotation of the air discharging portion. 
     Moreover, the air discharging portion includes an airflow gathering wall, and an inner ring compression wall and an outer ring compression wall extended forwards from two ends of the airflow gathering wall. From the junctions of the airflow gathering wall and inner ring compression wall and outer ring compression wall, the inner ring compression wall and outer ring compression wall are spaced from each other at a gradually decreasing distance between them, and the inner ring compression wall and outer ring compression wall also have distal ends by a gap to form a front air outlet to discharge airflow forwards. Such a design can increase airflow speed and enhance airflow convergence. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the bladeless air fan of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bladeless air fan of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the bladeless air fan of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the bladeless air fan of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmental view of a portion of the bladeless fan of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional detail of the air discharging portion. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the invention showing the air discharging portion rotating against the host. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the present invention aims to provide a bladeless air fan. The bladeless air fan includes a host  1  and an airflow guiding frame  2 .  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment in which the host  1  includes an upper case  100 , a lower case  101  and a rear case  102 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is merely a preferable structural embodiment of the host  1  and not the limitation thereof. Modifications of the cases and profiles can be made easily by those skilled in the art and shall be included in the scope of this invention. The host  1  is divided into a housing section  10  and a pivoting section  11  extending from the housing section to hold an airflow guiding manifold  40 . The housing section  10  holds an airflow generator  4  connecting to the airflow guiding manifold  40 . The airflow guiding manifold  40  is extended from the housing section  10  to the pivoting section  11 . The rear case  102  has a plurality of air inlets  13  formed at one side of the airflow generator  4  opposite to the airflow guiding manifold  40  to smooth the airflow path entering the airflow generator  4  to increase airflow volume. It is to be noted that the location of the air inlets  13  is not limited on the rear case  102 , any other alterations thereof can be known by those skilled in the art and shall also be included in the scope of this invention. The pivoting section  11  has two first pivoting portions  12  communicating with the airflow guiding manifold  40  and a plurality of control portions  110  to control operation of the bladeless air fan. The airflow guiding frame  2  includes an air discharging portion  21  and a second pivoting portion  22 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show that the air discharging portion  21  encircles an airflow passage  20  to allow air to pass through axially. The second pivoting portion  22  and the air discharging portion  21  form an airflow guiding passage  215  inside (also referring to  FIG. 3 ). The second pivoting portion  22  is annular to form two air intake ports  216  communicating with the airflow guiding passage  215 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the airflow guiding frame  2  includes a first frame  23  and a second frame  24 , however this is not the limitation of the composing elements or assembly of the airflow guiding frame  2 . Alterations thereof can be made easily by those skilled in the art and shall also be included in the scope of this invention. The second pivotal portion  22  is rotatably coupled with the first pivoting portion  12 . As the first pivoting portion  12  communicates with the airflow guiding manifold  40 , pivotal coupling of the first and second pivoting portions  12  and  22  also allows the airflow guiding manifold  40  to communicate with the airflow guiding passage  215  so that airflow generated by the airflow generator  4  can enter the airflow guiding passage  215  and be discharged through the air discharging portion  21 . Moreover, due to the first and second pivoting portions  12  and  22  are rotatable relative to each other, and the air discharging portion  21  can rotate about the first and second pivoting portions  12  and  22 . In addition, the inner rim of the air discharging portion  21 , i.e. the airflow passage  20  being formed at an inner diameter allowing the housing section  10  to pass through, the air discharging portion  21  can continuously rotate beyond the housing section  10  without being hindered, thus the second pivoting portion  22  having a greater range of rotating against the first pivoting portion  12  (referring to  FIG. 7 ). Preferably, the first and second pivoting portions  12  and  22  are allowed to rotatae relative to each other for 360 degrees. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in this embodiment the first pivoting portion  12  includes two openings  120  surrounded by the upper case  100  and lower case  101  and a plurality of retaining elastic reeds  121  held in the openings  120 . The second pivoting portion  22  is rotatable and retained in the openings  120 . The second pivoting portion  22  also includes a gear  221  located in the openings  120 . Operation of the gear  221  and retaining elastic reeds  121  will be discussed later. The air discharging portion  21  includes an airflow gathering wall  210 , an inner ring compression wall  211  and an outer ring compression wall  212 . The inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compression wall  212  have respectively a distal end spaced from each other by a gap to form a front air outlet  213  which is divided by at least one spacer  214  inside. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3  for the sectional view of the airflow guiding frame  2  and pivoting section  11 . The second pivoting portion  22  is rotatable and retained in the openings  120  of the first pivoting portions  12 . The gear  221  of the second pivoting portion  22  butts the retaining elastic reed  121 . The second pivoting portion  22  is inserted into the openings  120  so that the airflow guiding passage  215  communicates with the airflow guiding manifold  40  having two passages to direct the airflow delivered from the airflow generator  4  into the airflow guiding passage  215 . Also refer to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for the sectional views of the pivoting section  11 , with the second pivoting portion  22  inserted into the openings  120  to butt the retaining elastic reeds  121 . Each retaining elastic reed  121  has an elastic flange  122  to engage with the gear  221  to position the airflow guiding frame  2  on the host  1  at a selected angle. The retaining elastic reed  121  also has elasticity to allow the elastic flange  122  to be moved and bounce back. Hence when the airflow guiding frame  2  rotates against the host  1  by forces, the gear  221  is turned to push the elastic flange  122  to retreat or return so that the airflow guiding frame  2  can be rotated against the host  1 , and positioned at a selected angle through the engagement of the elastic flange  122  and gear  221 . 
     Also referring to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the airflow gathering wall  210  is bent in a U shape to form a greater space inside to allow the airflow provided by the airflow generator  4  to rapidly enter the air discharging portion  21 . The airflow gathering wall  210  has two ends extended respectively forwards to form the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compression wall  212 . From the junctions of the airflow gathering wall  210  and the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compression wall  212  the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compression wall  212  are spaced from each other at a gradually shrinking distance between them. The inner ring compression wall  211  further has a first extension  201  and a first compression section  202  which has a first compression convex rim  203  on the inner side extended to the front air outlet  213 . The first compression convex rim  203  and first extension  201  form a first included angle  31  between 130 and 160 degrees, preferably 145 degrees. Similarly, the outer ring compression wall  212  further has a second extension  204  and a second compression section  205  which has a second compression convex rim  206  on the inner side with the surface extended to the front air outlet  213 . The second compression convex rim  206  and second extension  204  also form a second included angle  32  between 140 and 175 degrees, preferably 175 degrees. More specifically, the outer ring compression wall  212  is extended flatly from the airflow gathering wall  210 , and the inner ring compression wall  211  is inclined towards the outer ring compression wall  212  at an angle so that a third included angle  33  is formed between the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compression wall  212 . The third included angle  33  is between 10 and 15 degrees, preferably 11 degrees. The second compression section  205  further is extended to form a guiding section  207  beyond the front air outlet  213  that has a guiding surface  208  to direct airflow discharged from the front air outlet  213  so that a portion of the airflow can be guided along the guiding surface  208  to form converged airflow blowing forwards without spreading outward.  FIGS. 4 and 6  illustrate an embodiment of the guiding surface  208  in an arched surface, but the guiding surface  208  can also be a flat surface. By means of the design of the air discharging portion  21  previously discussed the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compressing wall  212  form a shrinking gap between them towards the front air outlet  213  so that a greater space is provided inside the airflow gathering wall  210  to allow the airflow generated by the airflow generator  4  to rapidly enter the air discharging portion  21 . The shrinking interval between the inner ring compression wall  211  and outer ring compressing wall  212  also accelerates airflow speed. Moreover, according fluid mechanics, the first included angle  31  between the first compression convex rim  203  and first extension  201  can produce a first stage compression on the airflow passing through, and the second included angle  32  between the second compression convex rim  206  and second extension  204  can produce a second stage compression on the airflow passing through. After this two-stage compression, a high speed airflow at a greater volume is discharged through the front air outlet  213 . 
     In addition, the air discharging portion  21  can rotate against the host  1  about the first and second pivoting portions  12  and  22  at a greater angle to provide a wider air discharge range. 
     As a conclusion, the present invention provides many advantages, notably: 
     1. Airflow in the airflow guiding frame  2  does not turn at a great angle, hence airflow resistance is smaller, and airflow discharge speed is faster. 
     2. Due to smaller airflow resistance the airflow generator  4  of a given power can provide a greater amount of airflow than the conventional techniques. 
     3. With increased airflow speed and amount, electric power consumption is smaller for a given performance requirement, hence environmental-friendly and energy-saving effect can also be accomplished 
     4. Since the airflow guiding frame  2  can rotate against the host  1  at a greater angular range, a greater range of airflow discharge can be provided. 
     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims. 
     In summation of the above description, the present invention provides a significant improvement over the conventional techniques and complies with the patent application requirements, and is submitted for review and granting of the commensurate patent rights.