Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
l~Ul~O
Specification
The present invention relates generally to that
class of devices for generating a circulatory flow of
air within a room or closed area of a building struc-
ture and particularly to such a device having an up-
right air duct.
Warmer air naturally rises toward the ceiling
resulting in thermal stratification of room air with
higher air temperatures occurring in the upper area of
a room while the lower area, the habitable space of the
room, is several degrees cooler. The temperature differ-
ential depends on a variety of factors. Accordingly,
fuel consumption may be reduced if the warmer, upper
room air is circulated to mix with the colder, lower
room air. Additionally, undesired heat loss through the
ceiling or roof is directly proportional to the temper-
ature of upper room air.
According to the present invention there is pro-
vided an air circulator having a depending duct adapted
for suspension from a ceiling or roof structure of a
home or building.
The suspended d`udtis of a yieldable nature and
serves to discharge warm air downwardly into normally
the lowest temperature strata of a room i.e, that area
immediately above the floor. The colder dense air at
floor level is accordingly infused with warmer air from
the ceiling area with the volume and temperature of
"floor" air thereby increased resulting in an unstable
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condition and upward currents of slightly warmed air. Such
air circulation significantly reduces the temperature
gradients between floor and ceiling air layers and permits
the habitable area of a building to benefit from dormant,
higher temperature air normally subjacent the ceiling.
In accordance with the present invention there is
provided an air circulator for circulating heated convective
air for attachment to a roof or ceiling structure of a room,
said air circulator comprising, a duct suspended from its
upper end and discharging an airflow towards the floor area
of the room, a fan and motor assembly, a support structure
including a base to which said fan and motor assembly is
attached, hanger means suspending the support structure from
an overhead structure, said support additionally including
mounting means partially enclosed by said base and to which
the upper end of said duct is attached whereby the duct is
in axial relationship with the fan of the fan and motor
assembly, said base having a lowermost outer portion out-
wardly offset from said mounting means and the upper end of
said duct, and said base receiving a fan induced flow of
heated convective air from that area of the room subjacent
the roof or ceiling structure for subsequent downward flow
into the duct upper end and passage via said duct and
discharge into an area superjacent the floor of the room to
heat the latter area.
The invention will be further illustrated by way
of example with reference to the accompanying drawing
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1~9(~1~0
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the present
air circulator operatively disposed within a building
structure;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the
upper end of the air circulator with fragments broken
away for purposes of illustration;
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken generally
along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the lower end
of the air circulator duct; and
Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a segment of a
modified duct.
With continuing reference to the accompanying draw-
ing wherein applied reference numerals indicate parts
similarly identified with the following descriptions,
the reference numeral 1 indicates a building roof struc-
ture from which the present circulator may be suspended.
The term roof structure is, for present purposes, synon-
ymous with ceiling as both define generally the upper
limit of a room or building space.
The present air circulator is indicated generally
at 2 and includes a duct 3 which serves to direct an
airflow into that area of a room immediately above a
floor surface F. Duct 3 is preferably of a length so
as to have its upper and lower ends at 3A and 3B offset
approximately one foot from adjacent roof and floor
surfaces to assure optimum air circulation. Obviously
duct length may be readily altered to suit the specific
height of the room or building structure. In a preferred
embodiment, duct 3 is of heavy duty, tubular plastic film
of a suitable gauge collapsible upon momentary impact.
Disposed within the lower end 3B of the duct is a rigid
ring member 4 which provides desired mass to the duct
lower end as well serving to somewhat restrict duct air-
flow imparting an inflated circular shape to the duct.
In some installations, a rigid walled duct may be entire-
ly satisfactory.
Indicated generally at 5 is a support structure of
the air circulator including a base 6 which may be of
molded dome-like construction and, into the lower portion
of which, ceiling air is drawn. Hanger means at 7
enables convenient, horizontal suspension of base 6 from
a single roof or ceiling attachment point. Accordingly,
the entire air circulator may move in pendulum fashion
if accidentally contacted by a person or moving equipment.
Mounted on base 6 is a motor and fan assembly at 8 secured
by a pair of fastener assemblies, as at 9, extending
upwardly through said base. The support structure
includes mounting means in the form of a collar 10 with
spacers at 11 serving to locate the collar in coaxial
relationship with and about fan blade 12. Duct 3 is suit-
ably attached to collar 10 as by a strip of pressure sensi-
tive tape 17. Fasteners 13 serve to retain the spacers
and collar in place and additionally to attach the attach-
ment chains 7 to base 6. A powersupply cord is indicated
at 16.
For purposes of assuring an open cylindrical duct 3,
the ring member 4 restricts, to a slight degree, the duct
190
discharge thereby assuring a duct internal pressure
exceeding that air pressure acting on the duct exterior.
A modified duct at 14 includes an outer layer of
insulation at 15 which inhibits radiant heat loss from
the duct and is particularly desirable where radical
ceiling-floor temperature gradients exist.
The operation of the air circulator is believed
readily apparent from the foregoing description. The
duct length may be altered simply by cutting same to
provide the desired spacing from ceiling and floor
surfaces with ring 4 being reinstalled in the duct lower
end with an adhesive or tape as at 18.
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