Abstract:
A solar circulator and converter which is driven by a solar generator; the fan or impeller is mounted in an impeller housing. On the surface opposite the impeller housing is a solar panel with mounting elements which can be affixed or mounted on such things as car windows. The impeller or fan blows and circulates air inside the car whether the car is stationery or in motion. The circulator also converts part of the solar radiation into forms of energy other than heat and thereby reduces temperature.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to circulation fans used in vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to solar powered circulating fans which are mounted within an interior of a vehicle such as a car.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Vehicle compartments such as those found in automobiles often require air circulation to make the compartment comfortable for an occupant. For example, during the summer months, in many areas of the world, solar radiation heats the interior of the car to a high temperature and may preferentially heat some areas of the car to temperatures greater than that found in other areas of the car. For example, steering wheels and dashboards, heated by this solar radiation, may reach a temperature that is extremely uncomfortable for a user of the vehicle to contact.  
         [0003]     As is well known in the physical science arts, solar radiation is composed primarily of short wave radiation. This short wave radiation readily passes through such materials as glass wherein it strikes objects behind the glass which are then heated and produce a long wave radiation. Since glass is generally substantially opaque to long wave radiation, the temperature within a space enclosed by glass increases as exposure to solar radiation continues.  
         [0004]     Conventionally, this heating problem is addressed by attempts to remove heated air from the vehicle compartment. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,645 discusses a solar powered fan mounted to the side window of a car. The fan operates to ventilate the compartment by extracting air from inside the vehicle compartment. However, this device has an inherent flaw in that it cannot be used in a tightly closed compartment, but requires that a gap in the window be present. This presents a serious problem to the owner of the vehicle since, among other things, the gap provides an opening through which unauthorized access to the vehicle can be made possible. In addition, the solar panel is positioned on the side windows of a vehicle. These side windows are significantly vertical in their orientation creating an inefficient use of solar energy since the solar panel is not fully illuminated during the hottest times of the day when the sun is directly above the vehicle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     Briefly stated, the present invention in a preferred form includes a housing having a motor mounted on one side of the housing and a solar panel mounted on an opposing side of the housing. The housing has at least one mounting element attached to the solar panel side of the housing. The mounting element allows mounting of the air circulator to a vehicle&#39;s window or other surface associated with the vehicle. For example, the invention can be mounted on the interior side of the rear, front, or side windows with a suction cup. Preferably, the invention is mounted to the rear or front windows since these windows are usually inclined or sloped at a considerable angle and provide an advantageous capture of solar energy throughout the day.  
         [0006]     An object of the invention is to provide a vehicle compartment air circulating device which is powered by solar energy and which efficiently and effectively circulates air within the compartment of the vehicle while being exposed to the sun.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to limit a vehicle interior&#39;s exposure to solar radiation by providing a surface area which interferes with or occludes the entrance of solar radiation into the vehicle compartment and to convert part of the interfered or occluded solar radiation to an electrical energy.  
         [0008]     Another object of the invention is to reduce the temperature and to provide an even distribution of heat energy within the compartment and among objects in the compartment.  
         [0009]     Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles which does not create security risks, and is easy to install within the vehicle&#39;s compartment.  
         [0010]     Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
         [0011]     A further object of the invention is to provide a new, simplified, and improved solar powered circulating system for vehicles, which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly as shown in  FIG. 2  from a 90° turned position consistent with the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view from above and to the side of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view from below and to the side of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view from above of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of a circulator fan assembly attached to a glass window consistent with the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows a circulator fan assembly, consistent with the present invention, mounted to a rear window of a vehicle;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a cut away view of a closed vehicle compartment having a circulator fan assembly, consistent with the present invention, mounted to an interior surface of the closed compartment; and  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of a circulator fan assembly consistent with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0023]     With reference to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like components throughout the figures,  FIG. 1  shows an air circulator assembly  10  having a housing  12  with a first side  24  which includes a solar panel  13 . The housing first side  24  may also include a mounting element, such as a suction cup  14 , by which, for example, the assembly  10  can be fixed to such surfaces as automotive windows. With reference to  FIG. 10 , the housing also includes fan unit  100  attached to a second side  26  of the housing  12 . The fan unit  100  includes a motor  20  in operative connection with a fan having a central hub  16 . The motor  20  is contained in a motor housing  25 . The motor housing  25  is associated with a pedestal  23 . A plurality of fan blades  15  are fixed to the hub  16 , as shown in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0024]     In one embodiment of the invention, the hub  16  with associated blades  15 , is attached to the motor  20 , by an intermediate spindle  22 . The fan blades  15  and central hub  16  may be formed of a variety of materials well known in the fan arts. For example, the fan blades  15  and central hub  16  may be made of plastic and/or metal. The number, size, and shape of fan blades  15  and the configuration of the hub  16  may be varied in order to influence air circulation efficiency of the fan unit  100 .  
         [0025]     In one embodiment of the invention, the motor housing  25  and pedestal  23  provides a standoff distance between the hub  16  and the second side  26  of the housing. This may, among other things, increase the efficiency of air circulation since the efficiency of the fan blades  15  is not significantly affected by the surface to which the assembly  10  is attached. For example, the standoff distance may provide a sufficient distance between the glass, as shown in  FIG. 7  and the fan blades  15  such that air may efficiently flow to the intake side of the fan.  
         [0026]     The housing  12 , in one embodiment of the invention as shown in  FIG. 4 , can have a generally elongate configuration and may be constructed of plastic, metal, and/or similar materials. For example, the housing may be constructed of high impact and/or temperature resistant plastic.  
         [0027]     The solar panel  13 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  may include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or amorphous elements well known in the solar power generation arts. The solar panel  13 , in one embodiment of the invention is rectangular and is fitted to the housing  12  such that the solar panel occupies an unobstructed area of the housing&#39;s first side  24 . The solar panel  13  is operatively connected to the electric motor  20  via, for example, wiring, to power the electric motor  20 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the electric motor  20  is electrically connected to the solar panel  13  by a pair of wires  42 . The solar panel may be fixed to the housing  12  by a retaining bracket  40 . The retaining bracket  40  is fastened to the housing  12  and retains and supports the solar panel  13  in a fixed position.  
         [0028]     In one embodiment of the invention, the housing  12  and solar panel  13  provide a surface area that blocks solar radiation from entering the vehicle&#39;s compartment. For example, the base  12  and solar panel  13  may block a significant amount of solar energy such that because the solar radiation is blocked, the temperature within the vehicle compartment does not rise as high as it would have if the base  12  and solar panel  13  were not present. A portion of the blocked solar radiation is converted to electrical energy by the solar panel  13 .  
         [0029]     In one embodiment of the invention, the air circulator unit  10  may be used with a car  46  having a closed compartment  48  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . For example, the air circulator unit  10  may be attached to a rear window such that when exposed to solar radiation it will circulate air within the vehicle compartment  48 . It should be noted, that other locations in the closed vehicle compartment  48  can be used to mount the air circulator unit  10 . For example, the air circulator unit can be designed into the configuration of a shade visor. In addition several air circulator units  10  may be used.  
         [0030]     The motor  20 , in one embodiment of the invention, is a DC motor, which is connected to the solar panel by wires, for example, a positive and negative wire well known in the solar power generation and electrical motor arts.  
         [0031]     The mounting element, for example, suction cups  14  are advantageously positioned on the housing  12 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , such that the suction cups  14  do not interfere with solar radiation flowing to the solar panel  13 . It should be noted that the mounting element can also include such things as adhesive and/or magnetic materials. The suction cups  14 , when present, are of a generally concave configuration and may be made of a flexible material such as rubber, plastic, and/or silicone. In operation, the fan circulator assembly  10  with attached suction cups  14  is pressed against a smooth surface such as glass  200 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . This creates suction between the suction cup  14  and the smooth surface. This suction force keeps the suction cup fixed to the smooth surface. The suction cups  14  also make the air circulation assembly  10  easily transferable between, for example, windows or surfaces within the closed vehicle compartment  48 . The suction cup  14  is fixed to the housing  12  with, for example, an adhesive or other fastening assembly, for example, screws, rivets and pins.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in one embodiment of the invention, a pair suction cups  14  are mounted such that each suction cup is on an opposing end of the housing  12 . The solar panel  13  may be intermediate the suction cups  14 .  
         [0033]     The fan hub  16  and associated fan blades  15  are configured such that the pitch of the fan blades  15  relative to a horizontal plane, shown in  FIG. 3  as x, creates air movement as the fan rotates about axis y. This circulating air creates various air currents and pathways within a compartment of the vehicle such that the temperature within the vehicle is substantially equilibrated. In addition, surfaces of the vehicle such as windows provide a locus for the transfer of heat energy between an interior of the car and an exterior of the car, thus, air of a higher temperature within the car, when circulated by the air circulation assembly  10 , is allowed to more efficiently equilibrate with air of a lower temperature found exterior to the car. For example, the glass  200 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , will allow conduction of heat across its thickness, thus, a higher temperature zone within a vehicle can equilibrate with a lower temperature zone exterior to the vehicle.  
         [0034]     While the preferred embodiments of the foregoing invention have been set forth for the purpose of illustration, the foregoing description should not bee deemed a limitation of the invention. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.