Improvements in Fans, Air Propellers, and the like, and Method of ☐ Operating the same by Means of an Electric Current, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: t.
Improvements in Fans, Air Propellers, and the like, and Method of
☐ Operating the same by Means of an Electric Current, and
Apparatus therefor..
I RICHARD RICHARDSON HUTCHINSON of 114 Edith Grove, Brompton, London, S.W.
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my Invention is the application of electric motors to fans for forced.
draught, blast furnaces, forge fires, furnaces, drying purposes and for ventilation..
generally said electric motors being attached to such fans in such a manner as to
economise space and weight, relatively to steam or water driven apparatus for the
same purpose or purposes.
In order that my Invention may be rendered in a clear and concise manner, I have
appended hereto the accompanying sheet of drawings; to which reference may be.
made as follows-Figure 1 represents an elevation of an ordinary pressure or blast
fan, driven by an electric motor, Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a vertical fan
also driven by an electric motor coupled to the spindle thereof and Figure 3 shows a
transverse sectional elevation of a pressure or blast fan with an electric motor fitted
internally Figure 4. is a longitudnal section of a compound, or turbine fan, or blower,
with electric motor enclosed, and Figure 5 shows an arrangement for operating.
punkahs or thermantidotes" by means of an interrupted electric current.
:
In carrying my invention into effect I may attach an electric motor of any suitable
type (preferably that described by me in the Specification of my Invention No. 13598
A.D. 1888) to the spindle of a fan as shewn by Figure 1, in which A represents the
case of said. fan, B the electric motor, and the outlet. I may attach the electric
motor to the case or frame of said fan by means of suitable brackets attached to or: .
cast upon said case or frame so that the whole may be compactly arranged and
mounted upon a single foundation when required to be used-As an alternative
arrangement, however, I may support the blades of the fan or air propellor by
means of winged frames or arms, from a single boss placed upon the spindle of
said fan at sufficient distance from the centre to allow of the electric motor being
placed within the fan case, as shewn by Figure 3. By reference to the drawing,
it will be seen that the blades or vanes D D are supported by winged arms F F.
- 1
:

page_text: from the boss H which is keyed or otherwise attached to the spindle E. The
electric motor is supported by suitable brackets inside the case, the open ring or
annulus C carrying the free end of the blades or vanes being clear of said motor
during rotation-In this case the fan spindle is either an extension of the spindle
of the electric motor, or the latter is coupled to the former allowing of the high
rate of speed of said electric motor actuating the fan aforesaid directly, without the
intervention of gearing and also economising space.
or
In cases where a horizontal air propeller is required such as for drying purposes,
ventilation, exhaustion of gases or vapor and like purposes, I provide a case
chamber A Figure 2, in which is fitted a suitable fan or propeller D with a vertical
spindle E. I fix the electric motor B to the lower part of the chamber A and attach
the spindle E of said propeller to the spindle of the motor, or make use of a single
shaft or spindle common to both motor and propeller-In this case the centrifugal
action of the curved blades of the propeller D creates a partial vacuum in the space I
and thereby causes a current of air or gas to be ejected from the nozzle C when the
propellor is rotated at a high rate of speed by the electric motor B-In order to
meet other requirements, I may arrange a propeller D Figure 4 with angular, curved
or helical blades, to revolve with or upon a spindle E rotating in suitable bearings
within a pipe or cylinder A. When employing either angular, curved or helical
blades on said propeller D, I place near thereto and parallel with said propeller a
perforated disc or discs, carrying fixed blades, of opposite angles, curves or belices to
the blades of said revolving propeller-I attach to the spindle of the propeller an
electric motor B, which may either be fixed within the pipe or cylinder A, or outside
of same, and a single shaft or spindle may be used to support both the armature of
the motor and the propeller, if required. The foregoing arrangement is also applicable
for use as a dryer, exhauster, felt feeder, winnowing machine, or for ventilating
purposes, and may be placed vertically or horizontally, as may be desired-The
orifices and G may act either as inlet or outlet according to the direction of rotation
of the electric motor by a suitable switch or the angularity of the blades of the
revolving propeller D and fixed disc E respectively.
"
punkah" or
In order to apply an electric current for giving motion to a
"thermantidote" which is used in hot climates for inducing a current of cool air in a
room, cabin, or apartment, I employ the arrangement shown by Figure 5, the action
of which is as follows:-
All appliances of the nature of those mentioned in the preceding paragraph are
operated by a reciprocal movement, which may be imparted by means of a cord D,
attached to the shorter member C of a weighted lever A, fulcrumed at E-A heavy
armature F of soft iron is attached to the lower extremity of the said lever and is
suitably curved or shaped as to clear the pole of the electric magnet G-When said
lever is set in motion by swinging, and the heavy armature Fapproaches the electro-
magnet G the latter becomes magnetic by reason of the electric circuit being
completed by the two contact springs c d being pressed together by the arm B
upon the lever A, the slight pull which is thus applied to the armature F, is, by the
momentary action of the electromagnet, sufficient to maintain the oscillation thereof,
so long as the electric current is allowed to flow, the weight of said armature
sufficing to withdraw the same from the magnetic field at each stroke or beat. I have
found in practice that the retarding action of the current acting on the electro-
magnet does not prevent continuous oscillation, but where necessary I may provide
a hinged catch upon the arm B so as to momentarily press the contact springs c d
together, and then release them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
First. In operating a pressure or blast fan, the attachment to the spindle thereof of
an electric motor, the same being fixed outside or inside the case of said fan
substantially as herein described and shewn..

page_text: Second. In operating air propellers, exhausters, or ventilating fans, the attachment
of an electric motor to the spindle thereof, the same being fixed or attached within the
case of said fan, substantially as described and set forth.
Third. In an air propeller, exhauster or ventilating fan, which is operated by an
electric motor, the employment of a revolving fan with angular, curved, or helical
blades or vanes, in combination with a fixed perforated disc or discs, having vanes or
blades oppositely curved, or with opposing angles or belices substantially as herein
described and shewn.
Fourth. In operating swinging fans, punkahs, or "thermantidotes" by means of
an electric current, the employment of a weighted lever, spring contacts, and electro
magnet, substantially as herein described and shewn.
Fifth. The combination of an horizontal or vertical fan, blower propeller or
exhauster with an electric motor substantially as herein described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
FREDK. WALKER & HYDE,
4, Little Moorfields, London, E.C.,
Agents for Applicant.