Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
method of cooling air circulated by a fan and a cooling
fan
NAME ( S ) OF INVENTOR ( S )
Kelly Duchesne
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of cooling air
circulated by a fan and a cooling fan
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
During the summer months, there are days of extremely high
temperature when it is desirable to cool the air within
residential and commercial buildings. In order to do so fans
or air conditioners are used. Fans assist by circulating the
air to create a breeze. The relief provided by the breeze is
limited, as the air being circulated remains warm. Air
conditioners have fans which circulate air through
refrigerating units. The output of the air conditioning units
is thermostatically controlled and can, therefore, be adjusted
to whatever cooling temperature is desirable. Unfortunately,
not everyone can afford an air conditioner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a method of cooling air circulated by
a fan.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method of cooling air circulated by a fan. A first
step involves providing a fan having blades and a drive motor
which rotates the blades. A protective cage encapsulates the
blades, thereby preventing persons or objects from accidentally
contacting the blades when they are rotating. A second step
involves securing to the protective cage at least one package
of frozen matter. Air circulated by the blades of the fan is
cooled as said air passes by the at least one package of frozen
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matter.
4dith the method, as described above, the package of frozen
matter can be taken from the freezer and mounted onto the
protective cage. The air circulated by the fan will be cooled
by the frozen matter. There are currently commercially
available packages of frozen gel. These packages of frozen gel
are used in food coolers and picnic baskets to keep food cool.
The packages of frozen gel can be refrozen and reused.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the method, as described above, this application
requires that there be air circulation. Care must be taken to
ensure that the size of the package of frozen matter does not
block the air flow from the fan. Even more beneficial results
may, therefore, be obtained when the at least one package has
at least one air flow passage extending therethrough. This
ensures there is never a blockage of air flow from the fan and
brings the circulating air into more intimate contact with the
frozen matter.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the method, as described above, after experimenting with
different shapes it had been determined that it is preferred
that the at least one package is annular with a central air
flow passage. This "donut" shape appears to be both effective
and relatively easy to manufacture. Fans and, consequently,
the protective cages of fans come in a number of sizes and
shapes. A number of small donuts can fit onto a protective cage
regardless of its size and shape.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the method, as described above, of the various forms of
frozen matter that can be used, gel appears to be most
serviceable as evidenced by its use in food cooler and picnic
basket applications.
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According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a cooling fan that includes a fan in combination
with one or more packages of frozen matter. The fan has blades
and a drive motor which rotates the blades. A protective cage
encapsulates the blades, thereby preventing persons or objects
from accidentally contacting the blades when they are rotating.
At least one package of frozen matter is secured to the
protective cage. Air circulated by the blades of the fan is
cooled as said air passes by the at least one package of frozen
matter.
As described in relation to the method, there are
enhancements that can be provided to improve the performance
of the combination described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cooling fan
combination in accordance with the teachings of the preferred
method.
FIGURE 2 is top plan view of a package of frozen matter
forming part of the cooling fan combination illustrated in
FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is top plan view, in section, of the package of
frozen matter illustrated in FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the package of frozen
matter forming part of the cooling fan combination illustrated
in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is side elevation view, in section, of the
package of frozen matter illustrated in FIGURE 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A cooling fan combination, generally identified by
reference numeral 10, will now be described with reference to
FIGURES 1 through 5.
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Referring to FIGURE 1, a cooling fan 10 comprises in
combination a fan 12 having blades 14, a drive motor, enclosed
within a housing 16, a protective cage 18 encapsulating the
blades 14, and several annular packages 20. Drive motor,
enclosed within housing 16, rotates the blades 14 at a rate
selected from among the settings available and controlled at
control panel 21. Protective cage 18 encapsulates blades 14,
thereby preventing persons or objects from accidentally
contacting blades 14 when they are rotating. Annular packages
20 have a central air flow passage 22 and an outer perimeter
24. Referring to FIGURE 4, Annular packages 20 can be
detachably secured to protective cage 18 by various means, in
the illustrated embodiment a hook 26 is illustrated.
Referring to FIGURES 2 through 5, annular packages 20 and
the means by which they may be attached to fan 12 will now be
further described. Annular packages 20 have an outer skin 28
and an inner compartment 29 within which is contained a frozen
gel 30. Outer skin 28 is manufactured from a material that is
unaffected by repeated freeze-thaw cycles such as a polymer
plastic. Frozen gel 30 is manufactured from a material or
combination of materials which can be repeatedly frozen and
thawed without deterioration, such as a frozen gel of the type
utilized in packages of said frozen gel used to keep cool the
contents of beverage containers, food packages and picnic
hampers.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, outer perimeter 24 of
annular package 20 is preferably round, however said outer
perimeter 24 can be of any geometric or decorative design
without adversely affecting the performance of said annular
package 20. Central air passage 22 of annular package 20 is
preferably round, however said central air passage 22 can be
of any geometric or decorative design without adversely
affecting the performance of said annular package 20.
Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, annular package 20 has a
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cross section shape that is substantially ~~D" shaped. A rear
face 32 of annular package 20 is substantially planar thereby
allowing said annular package 20 to lie in a substantially
coplanar position on protective cage 18. A front face 34 of
5 annular package 20 is curved to allow air to pass over
substantially all of said front face 34 and thereby be cooled
in a most effective manner.
Referring to FIGURE 4, hook 26 is secured to rear face 32
close to outer periphery 24. Optionally annular package 20 may
be detachably secured to protective cage 18 and more rigidly
positioned thereon by use of a plurality of hooks 26 attached
to rear face 32 of said annular package 20.
The dimensions of annular package 20 can be varied over
a range of values. An effectiveness in cooling air passing by
annular packages 20, and a length of time for which said
annular packages 20 are effective for cooling said air, both
depend upon the flow rate of said air and the heat capacity of
said annular packages 20, which is in turn dependent upon the
mass of frozen gel 30 in said annular packages 20. It has been
found that, for satisfactory effectiveness in cooling air and
length of time of said effectiveness, a first diameter of outer
periphery 24 can be varied from a maximum value equal to a
second diameter of protective cage 18 to a value approximately
one fifth of said second diameter of protective cage 18. It
has been found by experimentation that securing three or four
of annular packages 20 of first diameter, shown as a first line
40 in FIGURE 2, approximately one third of second diameter of
protective cage 18 to said protective cage 18 is more effective
in cooling air than is securing a single annular package 20 of
first diameter approximately equal to second diameter of
protective cage 18. When three or four such annular packages
20 are to be secured to a fan of which protective cage 18 is
approximately 300 millimetres (approximately 12 inches) the
dimensions of each of said annular packages 20 are preferably
as will now be described. The diameter 40 of outer periphery
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24 is approximately 100 millimetres. A width of the "D" cross
section of annular package 20, shown as a first double arrow
42 in FIGURE 2, is approximately 38 millimetres. A diameter
of central air flow passage 22, shown as a second double arrow
44 in FIGURE 2, is approximately 25 millimetres. A depth of
the "D" cross section of annular package 20, shown as a second
line 46 in FIGURE 4, is approximately 32 millimetres. It has
been found by experimentation that a thickness of approximately
2 millimetres for outer skin 28 can be used for a durable and
effective product of the above dimensions. The depth of hook
26, shown as a third line 48 in FIGURE 4, is approximately 8
millimetres.
The use of cooling fan combination 10 will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 through 5 having regard
to the preferred method. A fan 12 is provided, as described
above. One or a plurality of annular packages 20 of frozen gel
30 are secured to protective cage 18 by one or a plurality of
hooks 26. As air is circulated by blades 14 of fan 12, the air
is cooled as said air passes through the central air flow
passage 22 and by the outer perimeter 24 of each annular
package 20 of frozen gel 30.
As air passing through central air flow passage 22 and by
outer periphery 24 of annular package 20 is cooled the heat
which is given up by said air is transferred to frozen gel 30.
When frozen gel 30 is melted and warmed, annular package 20 is
spent and is no longer effective for cooling air. Spent
annular package 20 must be re-frozen or replaced with a
replacement frozen annular package 20 to permit continued use
of cooling fan 10 for cooling air. Annular package 20 is
detached from protective cage 18 and placed in a freezer to be
re-frozen. The re-frozen or replacement frozen annular package
20 is detachably secured to protective cage 18 to continue the
use of cooling fan 10 for cooling air.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
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modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
hereinafter defined in the Claims.
