Abstract:
A modular fan housing unit designed to create a focused column or columns of downwardly moving air such that there is little deflection when the column or columns of downwardly moving air arrives at the ground level. The modular fan housing includes an elongated body element having a fluid impelling device to create the downwardly moving air. At least one plate disposed within the elongated body element directs the downwardly moving air into columns. The modular fan housing unit may be coupled to another modular fan housing unit to provide additional columns of downwardly moving air. The modular fan housing units may be coupled in various configurations, depending on the type of application. Furthermore, the modular fan housing unit or multiple modular fan housing units may be coupled to an elevated structure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fan housing units are used in various industries to distribute, circulate, or divert fluids, such as air, propelled by a fluid impelling device. One example where fan housings are used is in the heating and cooling industry. Fan housings typically direct or circulate the flow of hot or cold air into particular rooms or areas within a building or structure. Fan housings may be coupled to a duct or a fluid impelling device. The duct may carry the air from a heating or cooling unit to an opening of the fan housing. The shape and design of the fan housing unit may either disperse the air current over a wide area or redirect the air current to another duct or fan housing unit. 
     One purpose of current fan housing units is to circulate air or heat or cool an area quickly and efficiently. As a result, the shape and design of current fan housing units typically do not direct the air to a centralized or focused location. To direct the air to a localized area, instead of dispersing the air over a wide area, will result the room or area to have a substantial temperature gradient. Moreover, more air and energy would be required before the room temperature is substantially uniform. To overcome some temperature gradient situations, ceiling fans may be employed, generally without any housing unit, to further disperse and mix the air over a wide area within a room. The term “ceiling fan” is used in this document in the conventional sense to refer to a fan unconnected with the ducting of any central HVAC system and adapted to be situated to move air substantially vertically within an area. 
     In a commercial setting, such as a department store or warehouse, the requirements may be different. For example, a commercial or industrial structure may have higher ceilings than a residential unit. Moreover, commercial settings may also include aisles or display units comprising products or goods with rows therebetween. In such a setting, dispersing the air over a wide area may not effectively circulate, heat, or cool the areas between the display units. Accordingly, one problem with conventional ceiling fans is that they do not direct the air to a focused location within a room, but rather tend to disperse the air over a wide area. Conventional ceiling fans are not designed to produce a sufficient column of air that will remain focused on a localized area as the air approaches the ground level. 
     Accordingly, there is a need to provide a fan with a housing unit that is capable of providing a column of air in localized areas. Additionally, there is further a need for a fan housing unit that, when coupled to a structure substantially above the ground level, is capable of providing a column of air that remains substantially localized as the column approaches the ground level. Additionally, there is further a need for a fan housing unit that is modular so that, when coupled to similar modular fan housing units, can deliver an enhanced column of air that remains substantially localized as the column approaches the ground level. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a housing unit for displacing fluid substantially along a single direction includes an elongated body element having a first end and a second end defining an aperture therethrough along a vertical axis. A flange is disposed within the elongated body element and is perpendicular to the vertical axis. A mounting bracket is disposed adjacent to the first end of the body element, and is operative to couple with a fluid impelling device. Also disposed within the elongated body element is at least one plate that is substantially perpendicular to the flange and creates a column of downwardly moving fluid below the second end of the elongated body element. 
     In another embodiment, a housing unit includes a fluid impelling device and an elongated body element having a first end and a second end defining an aperture therethrough along a vertical axis. A mounting bracket is disposed adjacent to the first end of the body element, where the mounting bracket is operatively coupled to the fluid impelling device. A flange is disposed within the elongated body element and is perpendicular to the vertical axis. The flange further defines an opening that permits the fluid impelling device to displace fluid towards the second end of the elongated body element. At least one plate is disposed within the elongated body element and is substantially perpendicular to the flange, which creates a column of downwardly moving fluid below the second end of the body element. 
     The various embodiments provide significant advantages over other modular fan housing units. For example, and without limitation, the ability of the modular fan housing unit to provide a column of air to localized areas at ground level is one significant advantage over other modular fan housing units. Furthermore, the modular fan housing unit is capable of providing this localized column of air when coupled to a structure substantially above ground level. The modular fan housing units are also capable of being coupled to similar modular fan housing units, and will provide an enhanced column of air that remains substantially localized as the column approaches the ground level. 
     The foregoing paragraphs have been provided by way of a general introduction, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. The various embodiments, together with further advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a modular fan housing unit. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the modular fan housing unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the modular fan housing unit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of multiple fan housing units coupled together in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of multiple fan housing units coupled together in another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to a modular fan housing unit  10  that is capable of creating a column of air that is very focused in direction and is capable of maintaining a focused column of air to the ground level, even if the modular fan housing unit  10  is coupled to a structure substantially above the ground level. As used herein, the term “coupled” means directly connected to or indirectly connected through one or more intermediate components, including but not limited to the structure of the modular fan housing unit  10 . 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  illustrate a modular fan housing unit  10 , according to one embodiment, comprising an elongated body element  12  having a first end  14  and a second end  16  defining an aperture  18  therethrough. The housing unit  10  is defined by a vertical axis  20  that extends from the first end  14  through the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12 . It can be appreciated that the elongated body element  12  may have a circular shape, oblong shape, rectangular shape, pyramidal shape, or a combination thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , elongated body element  12  has a substantially square shape when viewed along the vertical axis. Disposed between the first  14  and second  16  ends of the elongated body element  12  is a fluid impelling device  26 . The fluid impelling device  26  may consist of one or more blades  36  and may be motorized or manually actuated. Alternatively, the fluid impelling device  26  may consist of a jet-like turbine having blades  36  internally disposed within the housing of the fluid impelling device  26 . It can be appreciated that the modular fan housing unit  10  may be coupled with a duct, vent, or a structure capable of transporting air. Coupled to the fluid impelling device  26  is a mounting bracket  24 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the mounting bracket  24  is coupled with the elongated body element  12  and is disposed between the fluid impelling device  26  and the first end  14  of the elongated body element  12 . Alternatively, the mounting bracket  24  may be located below the fluid impelling device  26 . Disposed between the first  14  and second  16  ends of the elongated body element  12  is a flange  22  having an opening  30  that is designed to allow the column of air produced by the fluid impelling device  26  to pass therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 1 , flange  22  consists essentially of a thin sheet. The flange  22  is substantially perpendicular to the vertical axis  20  and, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the opening  30  of the flange  22  is circular in shape. However, it can be appreciated that the opening  30  may take the form of other shapes, such as, but not limited to, elliptical, oval, or rectangular. The opening  30  of the flange  22  may be sufficient to allow the blades  36  of the fluid impelling device  26  to at least partially pass therethrough, as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, the flange  22  may be adjustable with respect to the elongated body element  12  and therefore the flange  22  may be moved relative to the fluid impelling device  26 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , flange  22  is positioned with respect to fluid impelling device  26  so that blades  36  are longitudinally positioned within opening  30 . To allow the flange  22  to be adjusted with respect to the fluid impelling device  26 , the flange may be slidably engaged to a slot (not shown) or a series of slots (not shown) along the elongated body element  12 . 
     Disposed between the flange  22  and the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12  is at least one plate  28 . The plate  28  is substantially perpendicular to the flange  22 . In one preferred embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the modular fan housing unit  10  has two plates  28  that intersect each other along the vertical axis  20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , plates  28  extends from proximate blades  36  (and flange  22 ) to proximate second end  16  within elongated body element  12 . The plates  28  may be completely disposed within the elongated body element  12  and may be coupled to the elongated body element  12  along its corners, as shown in  FIG. 2 , or anywhere therebetween. It can be appreciated that more than two plates  28  may be disposed within the elongated body element  12 . Moreover, the plates  28  need not intersect each other along the vertical axis  20 . The plates  28  may, for example, intersect each other at an axis parallel to the vertical axis  20 , or not intersect at all. Furthermore, the plates  28  may be of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses and may not extend to the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , plates  28  subdivide the cross sectional area of elongated body element  12  into four elongated ducts  38 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , coupled to the first end  14  of the elongated body element  12  is a fastener  32 . The fastener  32  is designed to couple the elongated body element  12  to an elevated structure  34 , such as a ceiling truss or I-beam, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . More than one fastener  32  may be coupled to either side of the housing unit  10 , depending on the size and weight of the housing unit  10  and configuration of the elevated structure  34 . The fastener  32  may be comprised of an eye-hook, latch mechanism, snap locks, brackets, nut and bolt configuration, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, it can be appreciated that the elongated body element  12  may be coupled to the elevated structure  34  by simply looping a chain or a cord through an aperture (not shown) on each side of the first end  14  of the elongated body element  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the housing units  10  are modular so that more than one housing unit  10  may be coupled together on multiple sides. The fasteners  32  used to couple the housing units  10  may comprise of an eye-hook, latch mechanism, snap locks, brackets, nut and bolt configuration, or a combination thereof. An alternative configuration is shown in  FIG. 5 , where the housing units  10  are coupled in a stacked configuration. It can be appreciated that the housing units  10  may be coupled together in a variety of configurations and may be application dependent. 
     In operation, the fluid impelling device  26  of the housing unit  10  creates a column of air moving towards the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12 . The column of air is confined to the dimensions of the aperture  18  defined by the elongated body element  12  and is prevented from traveling towards the first end  14  of the elongated body element  12  by the flange  22 . The column of air is directed between the plates  28  that are disposed within the elongated body element  12 , thereby creating a more focused column of air with a width substantially equal to the opening of the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12 . Once the column or columns of air move beyond the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12 , the focused column or columns of air travel towards the ground level of the structure without major deflection. For example, if the housing unit  10  is coupled to an elevated structure  34  in a 25 to 40 foot ceiling arrangement, the column of air will only spread approximately two to four times the width of the second end  16  of the elongated body element  12  once the column of air reaches the ground level. As previously discussed, the housing units  10  may be coupled together to create a larger column of moving air without major deflection at the ground level. Alternatively, the column or columns of air produced by the housing units  10  may also be directed to areas other than the ground level. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only exemplary embodiments have been shown and described and do not limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The illustrative embodiments are not exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of the illustrative embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the invention as herein set forth can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.