Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A Fan Assembly
The present invention relates to a fan assembly. In a preferred embodiment,
the present
invention relates to a domestic fan, such as a pedestal fan, for creating an
air current in a
room, office or other domestic environment.
A conventional domestic fan typically includes a set of blades or vanes
mounted for
rotation about an axis, and drive apparatus for rotating the set of blades to
generate an
air flow. The movement and circulation of the air flow creates a 'wind chill'
or breeze
and, as a result, the user experiences a cooling effect as heat is dissipated
through
convection and evaporation.
Such fans are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. For example, a
ceiling fan can
be at least 1 m in diameter, and is usually mounted in a suspended manner from
the
ceiling to provide a downward flow of air to cool a room. On the other hand,
desk fans
are often around 30 cm in diameter, and are usually free standing and
portable. Floor-
standing pedestal fans generally comprise a height adjustable pedestal
supporting the
drive apparatus and the set of blades for generating an air flow, usually in
the range
from 300 to 500 Us.
A disadvantage of this type of arrangement is that the air flow produced by
the rotating
blades of the fan is generally not uniform. This is due to variations across
the blade
surface or across the outward facing surface of the fan. The extent of these
variations
can vary from product to product and even from one individual fan machine to
another.
These variations result in the generation of an uneven or 'choppy' air flow
which can be
felt as a series of pulses of air and which can be uncomfortable for a user.
In a domestic environment it is undesirable for parts of the appliance to
project
outwardly, or for a user to be able to touch any moving parts, such as the
blades.
Pedestal fans tend to have a cage surrounding the blades to prevent injury
from contact
with the rotating blades, but such caged parts can be difficult to clean.
Furthermore,
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due to the mounting of the drive apparatus and the rotary blades on the top of
the
pedestal, the centre of gravity of a pedestal fan is usually located towards
the top of the
pedestal. This can render the pedestal fan prone to falling if accidentally
knocked
unless the pedestal is provided with a relatively wide or heavy base, which
may be
undesirable for a user.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bladeless
fan
assembly comprising a nozzle and means for creating an air flow through the
nozzle, the
nozzle comprising an interior passage, a mouth for receiving the air flow from
the
interior passage, and a surface located adjacent the mouth and over which the
mouth is
arranged to direct the air flow, wherein the nozzle is mounted on a height
adjustable
pedestal.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
bladeless fan
assembly comprising a nozzle defining an opening and means for creating an air
flow
through the nozzle, the nozzle comprising an interior passage, a mouth for
receiving the
air flow from the interior passage, and a surface located adjacent the mouth
and over
which the mouth is arranged to direct the air flow, wherein the nozzle is
mounted on a
height adjustable pedestal, wherein the pedestal houses said means for
creating an air
flow, and wherein the pedestal comprises a duct for supporting the nozzle and
for
conveying the air flow to the nozzle.
Through use of a bladeless fan assembly an air current can be generated
without the use
of a bladed fan. In comparison to a bladed fan assembly, the bladeless fan
assembly
leads to a reduction in both moving parts and complexity. Furthermore, without
the use
of a bladed fan to project the air current from the fan assembly, a relatively
uniform air
current can be generated and guided into a room or towards a user. The air
current can
travel efficiently out from the nozzle, losing little energy and velocity to
turbulence.
The term 'bladeless' is used to describe a fan assembly in which air flow is
emitted or
projected forward from the fan assembly without the use of moving blades.
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Consequently, a bladeless fan assembly can be considered to have an output
area, or
emission zone, absent moving blades from which the air flow is directed
towards a user
or into a room. The output area of the bladeless fan assembly may be supplied
with a
primary air flow generated by one of a variety of different sources, such as
pumps,
generators, motors or other fluid transfer devices, and which may include a
rotating
device such as a motor rotor and/or a bladed impeller for generating the air
flow. The
generated primary air flow can pass from the room space or other environment
outside
the fan assembly through the telescopic duct to the nozzle, and then back out
to the
room space through the mouth of the nozzle.
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Hence, the description of a fan assembly as bladeless is not intended to
extend to the
description of the power source and components such as motors that are
required for
secondary fan functions. Examples of secondary fan functions can include
lighting,
adjustment and oscillation of the fan assembly.
The shape of the nozzle of a fan assembly is not constrained by the
requirement to
include space for a bladed fan. Preferably, the nozzle surrounds the opening.
The
nozzle may be an annular nozzle which preferably has a height in the range
from 200 to
600 mm, more preferably in the range from 250 to 500 mm.
Preferably, the mouth of the nozzle extends about the opening, and is
preferably
annular. The nozzle preferably comprises an inner casing section and an outer
casing
section which define the mouth of the nozzle. Each section is preferably
formed from a
respective annular member, but each section may be provided by a plurality of
members
connected together or otherwise assembled to form that section. The outer
casing
section is preferably shaped so as to partially overlap the inner casing
section. This can
enable an outlet of the mouth to be defined between overlapping portions of
the external
surface of the inner casing section and the internal surface of the outer
casing section of
the nozzle. The outlet is preferably in the form of a slot, preferably having
a width in
the range from 0.5 to 5 mm. The nozzle may comprise a plurality of spacers for
urging
apart the overlapping portions of the inner casing section and the outer
casing section of
the nozzle. This can assist in maintaining a substantially uniform outlet
width about the
opening. The spacers are preferably evenly spaced along the outlet.
The interior passage is preferably continuous, more preferably annular, and is
preferably
shaped to divide the air flow into two air streams which flow in opposite
directions
around the opening. The interior passage is preferably also defined by the
inner casing
section and the outer casing section of the nozzle.
The fan assembly preferably comprises means for oscillating the nozzle so that
the air
current is swept over an arc, preferably in the range from 60 to 120 . For
example, a
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base of the pedestal may comprise means for oscillating an upper part of the
base, to
which the nozzle is connected, relative to a lower part of the base.
As mentioned above, the nozzle comprises a surface located adjacent the mouth
and
over which the mouth is arranged to direct the air flow emitted therefrom.
This surface
is preferably a Coanda surface, and the external surface of the inner casing
section of
the nozzle is preferably shaped to define the Coanda surface. The Coanda
surface
preferably extends about the opening. A Coanda surface is a type of surface
over which
fluid flow exiting an output orifice close to the surface exhibits the Coanda
effect. The
fluid tends to flow over the surface closely, almost 'clinging to' or
'hugging' the surface.
The Coanda effect is already a proven, well documented method of entrainment
in
which a primary air flow is directed over a Coanda surface. A description of
the
features of a Coanda surface, and the effect of fluid flow over a Coanda
surface, can be
found in articles such as Reba, Scientific American, Volume 214, June 1966
pages 84 to
92. Through use of a Coanda surface, an increased amount of air from outside
the fan
assembly is drawn through the opening by the air emitted from the mouth.
In the present invention an air flow created by the fan assembly enters the
nozzle. In the
following description this air flow will be referred to as primary air flow.
The primary
air flow is emitted from the mouth of the nozzle and passes over the Coanda
surface.
The primary air flow entrains air surrounding the mouth of the nozzle, which
acts as an
air amplifier to supply both the primary air flow and the entrained air to the
user. The
entrained air will be referred to here as a secondary air flow. The secondary
air flow is
drawn from the room space, region or external environment surrounding the
mouth of
the nozzle and, by displacement, from other regions around the fan assembly,
and
passes predominantly through the opening defined by the nozzle. The primary
air flow
directed over the Coanda surface combined with the entrained secondary air
flow
equates to a total air flow emitted or projected forward from the opening
defined by the
nozzle. Preferably, the entrainment of air surrounding the mouth of the nozzle
is such
that the primary air flow is amplified by at least five times, more preferably
by at least
ten times, while a smooth overall output is maintained. The maximum air flow
of the
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air current generated by the fan assembly is preferably in the range from 300
to
800 litres per second, more preferably in the range from 400 to 700 litres per
second.
Preferably, the nozzle comprises a diffuser surface located downstream of the
Coanda
5 surface. The external surface of the inner casing section of the nozzle
is preferably
shaped to define the diffuser surface.
The nozzle is mounted on an adjustable pedestal. Preferably, the pedestal
houses said
means for creating an air flow so that the fan assembly has a compact
appearance. The
pedestal may comprise a duct for conveying the air flow to the nozzle. Thus,
the
pedestal may serve both to support the nozzle through which an air flow
created by the
fan assembly is emitted and to convey the created air flow to the nozzle. The
means for
creating an air flow through the nozzle may be located towards the bottom of
the
pedestal, thereby lowering the centre of gravity of the fan assembly in
comparison to
prior art pedestal fans where a bladed fan and drive apparatus for the bladed
fan are
connected to the top of the pedestal and rendering the fan assembly less prone
to falling
over if knocked. For example, in a preferred embodiment the pedestal comprises
a base
housing said means for creating an air flow, with the duct extending between
the base
and the nozzle. Alternatively, the means for creating an air flow may be
located within
the duct.
Preferably the means for creating an air flow through the nozzle comprises an
impeller,
a motor for rotating the impeller, and a diffuser located downstream from the
impeller.
The impeller is preferably a mixed flow impeller. The motor is preferably a DC
brushless motor to avoid frictional losses and carbon debris from the brushes
used in a
traditional brushed motor. Reducing carbon debris and emissions is
advantageous in a
clean or pollutant sensitive environment such as a hospital or around those
with
allergies. While induction motors, which are generally used in pedestal fans,
also have
no brushes, a DC brushless motor can provide a much wider range of operating
speeds
than an induction motor.
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The diffuser may comprise a plurality of spiral vanes, resulting in the
emission of a
spiraling air flow from the diffuser. As the air flow through the duct will
generally be
in an axial or longitudinal direction, the fan assembly preferably comprises
means for
guiding the air flow emitted from the diffuser into the duct. This can reduce
conductance losses within the fan assembly. The air flow guiding means
preferably
comprises a plurality of vanes each for guiding a respective portion of the
air flow
emitted from the diffuser towards the duct. These vanes may be located on the
internal
surface of an air guiding member mounted over the diffuser, and are preferably
substantially evenly spaced. The air flow guiding means may also comprise a
plurality
of radial vanes located at least partially within the duct, with each of the
radial vanes
adjoining a respective one of the plurality of vanes. These radial vanes may
define a
plurality of axial or longitudinal channels within the duct which each receive
a
respective portion of the air flow from channels defined by the plurality of
vanes. These
portions of the air flow preferably merge together within the duct.
The duct may comprise a base mounted on the base of the pedestal, and a
plurality of
tubular members connected to the base of the duct. The curved vanes may be
located at
least partially within the base of the duct. The axial vanes may be located at
least
partially within means for connecting one of the tubular members to the base
of the
duct. The connecting means may comprise an air pipe or other tubular member
for
receiving one of the tubular members.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of
example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fan assembly, in which a telescopic duct
of the fan
assembly is in a fully extended configuration;
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the fan assembly of Figure 1, in which
the
telescopic duct of the fan assembly is in a refracted position;
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Figure 3 is a sectional view of the base of the pedestal of the fan assembly
of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the telescopic duct of the fan assembly of
Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a side view of the duct of Figure 4 in a fully extended
configuration;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the duct taken along line A-A in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a sectional view of the duct taken along line B-B in Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the duct of Figure 4 in a fully extended
configuration,
with part of the lower tubular member cut away;
Figure 9 is an enlarged view of part of Figure 8, with various parts of the
duct removed;
Figure 10 is a side view of the duct of Figure 4 in a refracted configuration;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of the duct taken along line C-C in Figure 10;
Figure 12 is an exploded view of the nozzle of the fan assembly of Figure 1;
Figure 13 is a front view of the nozzle of Figure 12;
Figure 14 is a sectional view of the nozzle, taken along line P-P in Figure
13; and
Figure 15 is an enlarged view of area R indicated in Figure 14.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate perspective views of an embodiment of a fan
assembly 10. In
this embodiment, the fan assembly 10 is a bladeless fan assembly, and is in
the form of
a domestic pedestal fan comprising a height adjustable pedestal 12 and a
nozzle 14
mounted on the pedestal 12 for emitting air from the fan assembly 10. The
pedestal 12
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comprises a floor-standing base 16 and a height-adjustable stand in the form
of a
telescopic duct 18 extending upwardly from the base 16 for conveying a primary
air
flow from the base 16 to the nozzle 14.
The base 16 of the pedestal 12 comprises a substantially cylindrical motor
casing
portion 20 mounted on a substantially cylindrical lower casing portion 22. The
motor
casing portion 20 and the lower casing portion 22 preferably have
substantially the same
external diameter so that the external surface of the motor casing portion 20
is
substantially flush with the external surface of the lower casing portion 22.
The lower
casing portion 22 is mounted optionally on a floor-standing, disc-shaped base
plate 24,
and comprises a plurality of user-operable buttons 26 and a user-operable dial
28 for
controlling the operation of the fan assembly 10. The base 16 further
comprises a
plurality of air inlets 30, which in this embodiment are in the form of
apertures formed
in the motor casing portion 20 and through which a primary air flow is drawn
into the
base 16 from the external environment. In this embodiment the base 16 of the
pedestal
12 has a height in the range from 200 to 300 mm, and the motor casing portion
20 has a
diameter in the range from 100 to 200 mm. The base plate 24 preferably has a
diameter
in the range from 200 to 300 mm.
The telescopic duct 18 of the pedestal 12 is moveable between a fully extended
configuration, as illustrated in Figure 1, and a refracted configuration, as
illustrated in
Figure 2. The duct 18 comprises a substantially cylindrical base 32 mounted on
the
base 12 of the fan assembly 10, an outer tubular member 34 which is connected
to, and
extends upwardly from, the base 32, and an inner tubular member 36 which is
located
partially within the outer tubular member 34. A connector 37 connects the
nozzle 14 to
the open upper end of the inner tubular member 36 of the duct 18. The inner
tubular
member 36 is slidable relative to, and within, the outer tubular member 34
between a
fully extended position, as illustrated in Figure 1, and a retracted position,
as illustrated
in Figure 2. When the inner tubular member 36 is in the fully extended
position, the fan
assembly 10 preferably has a height in the range from 1200 to 1600 mm, whereas
when
the inner tubular member 36 is in the refracted position, the fan assembly 10
preferably
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has a height in the range from 900 to 1300 mm. To adjust the height of the fan
assembly 10, the user may grasp an exposed portion of the inner tubular member
36 and
slide the inner tubular member 36 in either an upward or a downward direction
as
desired so that nozzle 14 is at the desired vertical position. When the inner
tubular
member 36 is in its retracted position, the user may grasp the connector 37 to
pull the
inner tubular member 36 upwards.
The nozzle 14 has an annular shape, extending about a central axis X to define
an
opening 38. The nozzle 14 comprises a mouth 40 located towards the rear of the
nozzle
14 for emitting the primary air flow from the fan assembly 10 and through the
opening
38. The mouth 40 extends about the opening 38, and is preferably also annular.
The
inner periphery of the nozzle 14 comprises a Coanda surface 42 located
adjacent the
mouth 40 and over which the mouth 40 directs the air emitted from the fan
assembly 10,
a diffuser surface 44 located downstream of the Coanda surface 42 and a guide
surface
46 located downstream of the diffuser surface 44. The diffuser surface 44 is
arranged to
taper away from the central axis X of the opening 38 in such a way so as to
assist the
flow of air emitted from the fan assembly 10. The angle subtended between the
diffuser
surface 44 and the central axis X of the opening 38 is in the range from 5 to
25 , and in
this example is around 7 . The guide surface 46 is arranged at an angle to the
diffuser
surface 44 to further assist the efficient delivery of a cooling air flow from
the fan
assembly 10. The guide surface 46 is preferably arranged substantially
parallel to the
central axis X of the opening 38 to present a substantially flat and
substantially smooth
face to the air flow emitted from the mouth 40. A visually appealing tapered
surface 48
is located downstream from the guide surface 46, terminating at a tip surface
50 lying
substantially perpendicular to the central axis X of the opening 38. The angle
subtended
between the tapered surface 48 and the central axis X of the opening 38 is
preferably
around 45 . In this embodiment, the nozzle 14 has a height in the range from
400 to
600 mm.
Figure 3 illustrates a sectional view through the base 16 of the pedestal 12.
The lower
casing portion 22 of the base 16 houses a controller, indicated generally at
52, for
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controlling the operation of the fan assembly 10 in response to depression of
the user
operable buttons 26 shown in Figures 1 and 2, and/or manipulation of the user
operable
dial 28. The lower casing portion 22 may optionally comprise a sensor 54 for
receiving
control signals from a remote control (not shown), and for conveying these
control
5 signals to the controller 52. These control signals are preferably
infrared signals. The
sensor 54 is located behind a window 55 through which the control signals
enter the
lower casing portion 22 of the base 16. A light emitting diode (not shown) may
be
provided for indicating whether the fan assembly 10 is in a stand-by mode. The
lower
casing portion 22 also houses a mechanism, indicated generally at 56, for
oscillating the
10 motor casing portion 20 of the base 16 relative to the lower casing
portion 22 of the
base 16. The oscillating mechanism 56 comprises a rotatable shaft 56a which
extends
from the lower casing portion 22 into the motor casing portion 20. The shaft
56a is
supported within a sleeve 56b connected to the lower casing portion 22 by
bearings to
allow the shaft 56a to rotate relative to the sleeve 56b. One end of the shaft
56a is
connected to the central portion of an annular connecting plate 56c, whereas
the outer
portion of the connecting plate 56c is connected to the base of the motor
casing portion
20. This allows the motor casing portion 20 to be rotated relative to the
lower casing
portion 22. The oscillating mechanism 56 also comprises a motor (not shown)
located
within the lower casing portion 22 which operates a crank arm mechanism,
indicated
generally at 56d, which oscillates the base of the motor casing portion 20
relative to an
upper portion of the lower casing portion 22. Crack arm mechanisms for
oscillating one
part relative to another are generally well known, and so will not be
described here. The
range of each oscillation cycle of the motor casing portion 20 relative to the
lower
casing portion 22 is preferably between 60 and 120 , and in this embodiment
is around
90 . In this embodiment, the oscillating mechanism 56 is arranged to perform
around 3
to 5 oscillation cycles per minute. A mains power cable 58 extends through an
aperture
formed in the lower casing portion 22 for supplying electrical power to the
fan assembly
10.
The motor casing portion 20 comprises a cylindrical grille 60 in which an
array of
apertures 62 is formed to provide the air inlets 30 of the base 16 of the
pedestal 12. The
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motor casing portion 20 houses an impeller 64 for drawing the primary air flow
through
the apertures 62 and into the base 16. Preferably, the impeller 64 is in the
form of a
mixed flow impeller. The impeller 64 is connected to a rotary shaft 66
extending
outwardly from a motor 68. In this embodiment, the motor 68 is a DC brushless
motor
having a speed which is variable by the controller 52 in response to user
manipulation
of the dial 28 and/or a signal received from the remote control. The maximum
speed of
the motor 68 is preferably in the range from 5,000 to 10,000 rpm. The motor 68
is
housed within a motor bucket comprising an upper portion 70 connected to a
lower
portion 72. The upper portion 70 of the motor bucket comprises a diffuser 74
in the
form of a stationary disc having spiral blades. The motor bucket is located
within, and
mounted on, a generally frusto-conical impeller housing 76 connected to the
motor
casing portion 20. The impeller 64 and the impeller housing 76 are shaped so
that the
impeller 64 is in close proximity to, but does not contact, the inner surface
of the
impeller housing 76. A substantially annular inlet member 78 is connected to
the
bottom of the impeller housing 76 for guiding the primary air flow into the
impeller
housing 76.
Preferably, the base 16 of the pedestal 12 further comprises silencing foam
for reducing
noise emissions from the base 16. In this embodiment, the motor casing portion
20 of
the base 16 comprises a first annular foam member 80 located beneath the
grille 60, and
a second annular foam member 82 located between the impeller housing 76 and
the
inlet member 78.
The telescopic duct 18 of the pedestal 12 will now be described in more detail
with
reference to Figures 4 to 11. The base 32 of the duct 18 comprises a
substantially
cylindrical side wall 102 and an annular upper surface 104 which is
substantially
orthogonal to, and preferably integral with, the side wall 102. The side wall
102
preferably has substantially the same external diameter as the motor casing
portion 20
of the base 16, and is shaped so that the external surface of the side wall
102 is
substantially flush with the external surface of the motor casing portion 20
of the base
16 when the duct 18 is connected to the base 16. The base 32 further comprises
a
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relatively short air pipe 106 extending upwardly from the upper surface 104
for
conveying the primary air flow into the outer tubular member 34 of the duct
18. The air
pipe 106 is preferably substantially co-axial with the side wall 102, and has
an external
diameter which is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the outer
tubular
member 34 of the duct 18 to enable the air pipe 106 to be fully inserted into
the outer
tubular member 34 of the duct 18. A plurality of axially-extending ribs 108
may be
located on the outer surface of the air pipe 106 for forming an interference
fit with the
outer tubular member 34 of the duct 18 and thereby secure the outer tubular
member 34
to the base 32. An annular sealing member 110 is located over the upper end of
the air
pipe 106 to form an air-tight seal between the outer tubular member 34 and the
air pipe
106.
The duct 18 comprises a domed air guiding member 114 for guiding the primary
air
flow emitted from the diffuser 74 into the air pipe 106. The air guiding
member 114
has an open lower end 116 for receiving the primary air flow from the base 16,
and an
open upper end 118 for conveying the primary air flow into the air pipe 106.
The air
guiding member 114 is housed within the base 32 of the duct 18. The air
guiding
member 114 is connected to the base 32 by means of co-operating snap-fit
connectors
120 located on the base 32 and the air guiding member 114. A second annular
sealing
member 121 is located about the open upper end 118 for forming an air-tight
sealing
between the base 32 and the air guiding member 114. As illustrated in Figure
3, the air
guiding member 114 is connected to the open upper end of the motor casing
portion 20
of the base 16, for example by means of co-operating snap-fit connectors 123
or screw-
threaded connectors located on the air guiding member 114 and the motor casing
portion 20 of the base 16. Thus, the air guiding member 114 serves to connect
the duct
18 to the base 16 of the pedestal 12.
A plurality of air guiding vanes 122 are located on the inner surface of the
air guiding
member 114 for guiding the spiraling air flow emitted from the diffuser 74
into the air
pipe 106. In this example, the air guiding member 114 comprises seven air
guiding
vanes 122 which are evenly spaced about the inner surface of the air guiding
member
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114. The air guiding vanes 122 meet at the centre of the open upper end 118 of
the air
guiding member 114, and thus define a plurality of air channels 124 within the
air
guiding member 114 each for guiding a respective portion of the primary air
flow into
the air pipe 106. With particular reference to Figure 4, seven radial air
guiding vanes
126 are located within the air pipe 106. Each of these radial air guiding
vanes 126
extends along substantially the entire length of the air pipe 126, and adjoins
a respective
one of the air guiding vanes 122 when the air guiding member 114 is connected
to the
base 32. The radial air guiding vanes 126 thus define a plurality of axially-
extending air
channels 128 within the air pipe 106 which each receive a respective portion
of the
primary air flow from a respective one of the air channels 124 within the air
guiding
member 114, and which convey that portion of the primary flow axially through
the air
pipe 106 and into the outer tubular member 34 of the duct 18. Thus, the base
32 and the
air guiding member 114 of the duct 18 serve to convert the spiraling air flow
emitted
from the diffuser 74 into an axial air flow which passes through the outer
tubular
member 34 and the inner tubular member 36 to the nozzle 14. A third annular
sealing
member 129 may be provided for forming an air-tight seal between the air
guiding
member 114 and the base 32 of the duct 18.
A cylindrical upper sleeve 130 is connected, for example using an adhesive or
through
an interference fit, to the inner surface of the upper portion of the outer
tubular member
34 so that the upper end 132 of the upper sleeve 130 is level with the upper
end 134 of
the outer tubular member 34. The upper sleeve 130 has an internal diameter
which is
slightly greater than the external diameter of the inner tubular member 36 to
allow the
inner tubular member 36 to pass through the upper sleeve 130. A third annular
sealing
member 136 is located on the upper sleeve 130 for forming an air-tight seal
with the
inner tubular member 36. The third annular sealing member 136 comprises an
annular
lip 138 which engages the upper end 132 of the outer tubular member 34 to form
an air-
tight seal between the upper sleeve 130 and the outer tubular member 34.
A cylindrical lower sleeve 140 is connected, for example using an adhesive or
through
an interference fit, to the outer surface of the lower portion of the inner
tubular member
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36 so that the lower end 142 of the inner tubular member 36 is located between
the
upper end 144 and the lower end 146 of the lower sleeve 140. The upper end 144
of the
lower sleeve 140 has substantially the same external diameter as the lower end
148 of
the upper sleeve 130. Thus, in the fully extended position of the inner
tubular member
36 the upper end 144 of the lower sleeve 140 abuts the lower end 148 of the
upper
sleeve 130, thereby preventing the inner tubular member 36 from being
withdrawn fully
from the outer tubular member 34. In the retracted position of the inner
tubular member
36, the lower end 146 of the lower sleeve 140 abuts the upper end of the air
pipe 106.
A mainspring 150 is coiled around an axle 152 which is rotatably supported
between
inwardly extending arms 154 of the lower sleeve 140 of the duct 18, as
illustrated in
Figure 7. With reference to Figure 8, the mainspring 150 comprises a steel
strip which
has a free end 156 fixedly located between the external surface of the upper
sleeve 130
and the internal surface of the outer tubular member 34. Consequently, the
mainspring
150 is unwound from the axle 152 as the inner tubular member 36 is lowered
from the
fully extended position, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, to the retracted
position, as
illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. The elastic energy stored within the
mainspring 150
acts as a counter-weight for maintaining a user-selected position of the inner
tubular
member 36 relative to the outer tubular member 34.
Additional resistance to the movement of the inner tubular member 36 relative
to the
outer tubular member 34 is provided by a spring-loaded, arcuate band 158,
preferably
formed from plastics material, located within an annular groove 160 extending
circumferentially about the lower sleeve 140. With reference to Figures 7 and
9, the
band 158 does not extend fully about the lower sleeve 140, and so comprises
two
opposing ends 161. Each end 161 of the band 158 comprises a radially inner
portion
161a which is received within an aperture 162 formed in the lower sleeve 140.
A
compression spring 164 is located between the radially inner portions 161a of
the ends
161 of the band 158 to urge the external surface of the band 158 against the
internal
surface of the outer tubular member 34, thereby increasing the frictional
forces which
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resist movement of the inner tubular member 36 relative to the outer tubular
member
34.
The band 158 further comprises a grooved portion 166, which in this embodiment
is
5 located opposite to the compression spring 164, which defines an axially
extending
groove 167 on the external surface of the band 158. The groove 167 of the band
158 is
located over a raised rib 168 which extends axially along the length of its
internal
surface of the outer tubular member 34. The groove 167 has substantially the
same
angular width and radial depth as the raised rib 168 to inhibit relative
rotation between
10 the inner tubular member 36 and the outer tubular member 34.
The nozzle 14 of the fan assembly 10 will now be described with reference to
Figures
12 to 15. The nozzle 14 comprises an annular outer casing section 200
connected to and
extending about an annular inner casing section 202. Each of these sections
may be
15 formed from a plurality of connected parts, but in this embodiment each
of the outer
casing section 200 and the inner casing section 202 is formed from a
respective, single
moulded part. The inner casing section 202 defines the central opening 38 of
the nozzle
14, and has an external peripheral surface 203 which is shaped to define the
Coanda
surface 42, diffuser surface 44, guide surface 46 and tapered surface 48.
The outer casing section 200 and the inner casing section 202 together define
an annular
interior passage 204 of the nozzle 14. Thus, the interior passage 204 extends
about the
opening 38. The interior passage 204 is bounded by the internal peripheral
surface 206
of the outer casing section 200 and the internal peripheral surface 208 of the
inner
casing section 202. The base of the outer casing section 200 comprises an
aperture 210.
The connector 37 which connects the nozzle 14 to the open upper end 170 of the
inner
tubular member 36 of the duct 18 comprises a tilting mechanism for tilting the
nozzle
12 relative to the pedestal 14. The tilting mechanism comprises an upper
member
which is in the form of a plate 300 which is fixedly located within the
aperture 210.
Optionally, the plate 300 may be integral with the outer casing section 200.
The plate
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16
300 comprises a circular aperture 302 through which the primary air flow
enters the
interior passage 204 from the telescopic duct 18. The connector 37 further
comprises a
lower member in the form of an air pipe 304 which is at least partially
inserted through
the open upper end 170 of the inner tubular member 36. This air pipe 304 has
substantially the same internal diameter as the circular aperture 302 formed
in the upper
plate 300 of the connector 37. If required, an annular sealing member may be
provided
for forming an air-tight seal between the inner surface of the inner tubular
member 36
and the outer surface of the air pipe 304, and inhibits the withdrawal of the
air pipe 304
from the inner tubular member 36. The plate 300 is pivotably connected to the
air pipe
304 using a series of connectors indicated generally at 306 in Figure 12 and
which are
covered by end caps 308. A flexible hose 310 extends between the air pipe 304
and the
plate 300 for conveying air therebetween. The flexible hose 310 may be in the
form of
an annular bellows sealing element. A first annular sealing member 312 forms
an air-
tight seal between the hose 310 and the air pipe 304, and a second annular
sealing
member 314 forms an air-tight seal between the hose 310 and the plate 300. To
tilt the
nozzle 12 relative to the pedestal 14, the user simply pulls or pushes the
nozzle 12 to
cause the hose 310 to bend to allow the plate 300 to move relative to the air
pipe 304.
The force required to move the nozzle 12 depends on the tightness of the
connection
between the plate 300 and the air pipe 304, and is preferably in the range
from 2 to 4 N.
The nozzle 12 is preferably moveable within a range of 10 from an untilted
position,
in which the axis X is substantially horizontal, to a fully tilted position.
As the nozzle
12 is tilted relative to the pedestal 14, the axis X is swept along a
substantially vertical
plane.
The mouth 40 of the nozzle 14 is located towards the rear of the nozzle 10.
The mouth
40 is defined by overlapping, or facing, portions 212, 214 of the internal
peripheral
surface 206 of the outer casing section 200 and the external peripheral
surface 203 of
the inner casing section 202, respectively. In this example, the mouth 40 is
substantially
annular and, as illustrated in Figure 15, has a substantially U-shaped cross-
section when
sectioned along a line passing diametrically through the nozzle 14. In this
example, the
overlapping portions 212, 214 of the internal peripheral surface 206 of the
outer casing
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17
section 200 and the external peripheral surface 203 of the inner casing
section 202 are
shaped so that the mouth 40 tapers towards an outlet 216 arranged to direct
the primary
flow over the Coanda surface 42. The outlet 216 is in the form of an annular
slot,
preferably having a relatively constant width in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm.
In this
example the outlet 216 has a width in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. Spacers
may be
spaced about the mouth 40 for urging apart the overlapping portions 212, 214
of the
internal peripheral surface 206 of the outer casing section 200 and the
external
peripheral surface 203 of the inner casing section 202 to maintain the width
of the outlet
216 at the desired level. These spacers may be integral with either the
internal
peripheral surface 206 of the outer casing section 200 or the external
peripheral surface
203 of the inner casing section 202.
To operate the fan assembly 10, the user depresses an appropriate one of the
buttons 26
on the base 16 of the pedestal 12, in response to which the controller 52
activates the
motor 68 to rotate the impeller 64. The rotation of the impeller 64 causes a
primary air
flow to be drawn into the base 16 of the pedestal 12 through the apertures 62
of the
grille 60. Depending on the speed of the motor 68, the primary air flow may be
between 20 and 40 litres per second. The primary air flow passes sequentially
through
the impeller housing 76 and the diffuser 74. The spiral form of the blades of
the
diffuser 74 causes the primary air flow to be exhausted from the diffuser 74
in the form
of spiraling air flow. The primary air flow enters the air guiding member 114,
wherein
the curved air guiding vanes 122 divide the primary air flow into a plurality
of portions,
and guide each portion of the primary air flow into a respective one of the
axially-
extending air channels 128 within the air pipe 106 of the base 32 of the
telescopic duct
18. The portions of the primary air flow merge into an axial air flow as they
are emitted
from the air pipe 106. The primary air flow passes upwards through the outer
tubular
member 34 and the inner tubular member 36 of the duct 18, and through the
connector
37 to enter the interior passage 86 of the nozzle 14.
Within the nozzle 14, the primary air flow is divided into two air streams
which pass in
opposite directions around the central opening 38 of the nozzle 14. As the air
streams
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18
pass through the interior passage 204, air enters the mouth 40 of the nozzle
14. The air
flow into the mouth 40 is preferably substantially even about the opening 38
of the
nozzle 14. Within the mouth 40, the flow direction of the air stream is
substantially
reversed. The air stream is constricted by the tapering section of the mouth
40 and
emitted through the outlet 216.
The primary air flow emitted from the mouth 40 is directed over the Coanda
surface 42
of the nozzle 14, causing a secondary air flow to be generated by the
entrainment of air
from the external environment, specifically from the region around the outlet
216 of the
mouth 40 and from around the rear of the nozzle 14. This secondary air flow
passes
through the central opening 38 of the nozzle 14, where it combines with the
primary air
flow to produce a total air flow, or air current, projected forward from the
nozzle 14.
Depending on the speed of the motor 68, the mass flow rate of the air current
projected
forward from the fan assembly 10 may be up to 400 litres per second,
preferably up to
600 litres per second, and more preferably up to 800 litres per second, and
the
maximum speed of the air current may be in the range from 2.5 to 4.5 m/s.
The even distribution of the primary air flow along the mouth 40 of the nozzle
14
ensures that the air flow passes evenly over the diffuser surface 44. The
diffuser surface
44 causes the mean speed of the air flow to be reduced by moving the air flow
through a
region of controlled expansion. The relatively shallow angle of the diffuser
surface 44
to the central axis X of the opening 38 allows the expansion of the air flow
to occur
gradually. A harsh or rapid divergence would otherwise cause the air flow to
become
disrupted, generating vortices in the expansion region. Such vortices can lead
to an
increase in turbulence and associated noise in the air flow which can be
undesirable,
particularly in a domestic product such as a fan. The air flow projected
forwards
beyond the diffuser surface 44 can tend to continue to diverge. The presence
of the
guide surface 46 extending substantially parallel to the central axis X of the
opening 38
further converges the air flow. As a result, the air flow can travel
efficiently out from
the nozzle 14, enabling the air flow can be experienced rapidly at a distance
of several
metres from the fan assembly 10.
