Abstract:
In accordance with certain presently disclosed embodiments, a multidirectional fan is provided. In certain embodiments, the multidirectional fan comprises a back plate having an interior surface and a central opening; a hub located around the central opening and projecting from the interior surface of the back plate; a plurality of flexible fan blades extending radially from the hub, wherein each flexible fan blade comprises a base and a blade, and wherein the base of each flexible fan blade is attached to the hub and the interior surface of the back plate; and a plurality of fasteners located at least partially on the interior surface of the back plate, wherein each fastener secures the blade of at least one flexible fan blade to the interior surface of the back plate at a predetermined position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to multidirectional fans, more particularly, systems, methods, and multidirectional fans used for cooling devices such as electric motors. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When operating a fan, such as a centrifugal fan, it is desirable to maintain airflow in a particular direction despite the direction of rotation of the fan. Fans with bidirectional motors may have blades that are oriented in the radial direction to allow for use when the fan in rotated in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Radial blades, however, are not as efficient as inclined blades and may cause excess noise. Thus, it is common to affix the blades in an inclined orientation. However, in order to maintain airflow in the same direction when the direction of the motor rotation is changed, the blades must be manually adjusted to a different incline or the entire fan must be swapped with a fan having blades at a different incline. Manual adjustment of the blades often requires removing the fan from the motor shaft and/or the use of tools. Both manually adjusting the blades and swapping out the fan may cause time and/or manpower to be wasted. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    In accordance with the above, presently disclosed embodiments are directed to apparatuses and systems comprising a multidirectional fan and methods for using the multidirectional fan. 
         [0004]    In certain embodiments, the multidirectional fan may comprise a back plate, a hub projecting from the back plate, a plurality of flexible fan blades extending radially from the hub and at least partially attached to back plate, and plurality of fasteners located on the back plate, with each fastener in the plurality being associated with at least one of the flexible fan blades. In certain embodiments, each flexible fan blade may comprise a base and a blade. In some embodiments, the base may be attached to the hub and the back plate, and the blade may be secured to the back plate with a fastener. In certain embodiments, each fastener may comprise one or more mounts such that the blade is capable of being secured to the back plate in a plurality of positions. In such embodiments, each mount may correspond to a different position of the blade. 
         [0005]    In certain embodiments, the multidirectional fan may be mounted on a shaft of a device, such as a motor. In certain embodiments, the shaft may be rotated in one direction while the blades are oriented in a first position. In such embodiments, the blades may be repositioned to a second position and the shaft may be rotated in the same or opposite direction. In certain embodiments, the blades may be repositioned by moving each blade from a first mount of the fastener to a second mount of the fastener. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein allow the multidirectional fan of the present disclosure to operate as a radial bidirectional fan, a clockwise unidirectional fan, and/or a counterclockwise unidirectional fan depending on the positioning of the blades. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its features and advantages, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an illustrative front perspective view of a multidirectional fan having flexible fan blades in a radial bidirectional position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an illustrative front perspective view of a multidirectional fan having flexible fan blades in a clockwise unidirectional position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an illustrative front perspective view of a multidirectional fan having flexible fan blades in a counterclockwise unidirectional position in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0011]    While embodiments of this disclosure have been depicted, such embodiments do not imply a limitation on the disclosure, and no such limitation should be inferred. The subject matter disclosed is capable of considerable modification, alteration, and equivalents in form and function, as will occur to those skilled in the pertinent art and having the benefit of this disclosure. The depicted and described embodiments of this disclosure are examples only, and not exhaustive of the scope of the disclosure. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail herein. In the interest of clarity, not all features of the actual implementation are described in this specification. It will of course be appreciated that in the development of any such embodiment, numerous implementation specific decisions must be made to achieve developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system related and business related constraints, which will vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. Furthermore, in no way should the following examples be read to limit or define the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0013]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is an illustrative perspective view of a multidirectional fan  100  according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. Multidirectional fan  100  comprises a back plate  102 , a hub  108 , a plurality of flexible fan blades  110 , and a plurality of fasteners  116 . In certain embodiments, back plate  102  may comprise an interior surface  104  and a central opening  106 . In certain embodiments, hub  108  may be located around central opening  106  and project outwardly from interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments, flexible fan blades  110  may be secured to hub  108  and may extend in a substantially radial direction from hub  108 . In some embodiments, flexible fan blades  110  may be permanently attached to and/or formed integrally with hub  108 . In other embodiments, flexible fan blades  110  may be removably attached to hub  108 . In certain embodiments, each flexible fan blade  110  may comprise a base  112  and a blade  114 . In such embodiments, base  112  may be permanently or removably attached to hub  108 . 
         [0015]    In certain embodiments, each flexible fan blade  110  may be at least partially attached to interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . In some embodiments, only base  112  of flexible fan blade  110  may be attached to interior surface  104  of back plate  102  while blade  114  remains unattached. This arrangement provides that ability to adjust the position of blade  114  as further discussed herein. In such embodiments, base  112  may be permanently or removably attached to interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure, the portion of the flexible fan blade  110  that comprises the base  112  as compared to the blade may vary  114 . In other words, the length of the flexible fan blade  110  that is secured to interior surface  104  may vary. 
         [0016]    In certain embodiments, the fasteners  116  may be located at least partially on interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . In certain embodiments, fasteners  116  may secure blades  114  of flexible fan blades  110  to interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . In certain embodiments, each fastener  116  may comprise one or more mounts. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , each fastener  116  comprises three mounts  116   a ,  116   b , and  116   c . Mounts  116   a ,  116   b , and  116   c  may be used to secure blades  114  in multiple positions, with each mount corresponding to a different position. 
         [0017]    For example,  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate the same multidirectional fan  100  having blades  114  in different positions.  FIG. 1  illustrates blades  114  in a radial bidirectional position.  FIG. 2  illustrates blades  114  in a clockwise unidirectional position.  FIG. 3  illustrates blades  114  in a counterclockwise unidirectional position. The ability to configure blades  114  in multiple different positions allows multidirectional fan  100  to be operated as a radial bidirectional fan, a clockwise unidirectional fan, and/or a counterclockwise unidirectional fan. As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this disclosure, the desired operation of multidirectional fan  100  may depend on the particular application for which multidirectional fan  100  is being used and/or the direction of rotation of multidirectional fan  100 . 
         [0018]    One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate with the benefit of this disclosure that a variety of means for removably fastening blades  114  to interior surfaces  104  of back plate  102  may be used. For example, in certain embodiments, the one or more mounts may comprise a left detent, and a central, a right detent as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . In other embodiments, the one or more mounts may comprise one or more holes located on interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . In such embodiments, fastener  116  may further comprise a peg located on blade  114  of the flexible fan blade  110 , and the peg may be capable of being inserted into one of the holes to secure blade  114  to interior surface  104  of back plate  102 . 
         [0019]    As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure, the number of flexible fan blades  110  and/or the spacing between flexible fan blades  110  may vary. In certain embodiments, flexible fan blades  110 , or at least blades  114 , may comprise and/or be constructed from a flexible material that allows for the position of blades  114  to be adjusted between mounts  116   a ,  116   b ,  116   c . In some embodiments, flexible fan blades  110 , or at least blades  114 , may be constructed from metal. In other embodiments, flexible fan blades  110 , or at least blades  114 , may be constructed from plastic, including thermoplastics such as nylon. In certain embodiments, all or some of the components of multidirectional fan  100 , including back plate  102 , hub  108 , flexible fan blades  110 , and fasteners  116 , may be molded (e.g., cast) as a single unit. For example, an aluminum injection mold may be used to mold multidirectional fan  100 . In embodiments in which back plate  102  and flexible fan blades  110  are molded as a single unit, the portion of flexible fan blade  110  comprising blades  114  may be attached to back plate  102  with perforations when molded or cast to allow for blades  114  to be separated from interior surface  104  of back plate  102  so that the position of blades  114  can be adjusted. 
         [0020]    In certain embodiments, multidirectional fan  100  may be mounted on a device having a drive shaft. In such embodiments, multidirectional fan  100  may be mounted on the drive shaft using central opening  106  of back plate  102 . In certain embodiments, the device having the drive shaft may comprise a motor or other electrical device capable of rotating multidirectional fan  100 . The drive shaft may operate to rotate multidirectional fan  100 . 
         [0021]    Blades  114  may be positioned in a first position when multidirectional fan  100  is mounted on the drive shaft. In certain embodiments, blades  114  may be repositioned to a second position. In some embodiments, repositioning of blades  114  may comprise moving each blade  114  from a first mount, e.g.,  116   b , of the fastener  116  to a second mount, e.g.,  116   a , of the fastener  116 . For example,  FIG. 1  illustrates blades  114  positioned in a first position while  FIG. 2  illustrates blades  114  positioned in a second position. In certain embodiments, the drive shaft may be rotated while blades  114  are in the first position, and then blades  114  may be repositioned to the second position before the drive shaft is rotated again. As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of the present disclosure, the desired position of the blades  114  may depend on the direction in which the drive shaft rotates. 
         [0022]    In certain embodiments, the position of blades  114  may be adjusted or changed while multidirectional fan  100  is mounted on the drive shaft. Thus, in some embodiments, it is not necessary to remove multidirectional fan  100  from the drive shaft in order to adjust or change the position of blades  114 . In certain embodiments, no tools are required to adjust or change the position of blades  114 . Thus, in some embodiments, the position of blades  114  may be repositioned manually and without tools. The ability to manually adjust the position of blades  114  without tools and/or without having to remove multidirectional fan  100  from the drive shaft may save substantial amounts of time and manpower. Additionally, the capability of multidirectional fan  100  to operate as a bidirectional fan, a clockwise unidirectional fan, and/or a counterclockwise unidirectional fan may reduce the number of spare or replacement parts that must be kept in stock. For example, rather than swapping out a clockwise unidirectional fan for a counterclockwise unidirectional fan, which would require that both fans be in stock, multidirectional fan  100  is capable of operating as both clockwise unidirectional fan and counterclockwise unidirectional fan and thus only a single fan is necessary. 
         [0023]    Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the following claims.