COLUMNAR AIR MOVING DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20160186765A1
• Filed: 03/04/2016
• Published: 06/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airius Ip Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Airius Ip Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Avedon, Raymond B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,631,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/00 Machines for simply fitting together or separating metal parts or objects, or metal and non-metal parts, whether or not involving some deformation connecting metal parts or objects by metal-working procedures B21J, B23K; Tools or devices therefor so far as not provided for in other classes hand tools in general B25
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/0613 Special connection between the rotor compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/002 Axial flow fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/088 Ceiling fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/12 the unit being adapted for mounting in apertures
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/325 for axial flow fans blade mountings F04D29/34, blades F04D29/38
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/329 Details of the hub
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/522 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/542 Bladed diffusers fixing blades to stators F01D9/042
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/547 having a special shape in order to influence fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/02 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/14 mounted on the ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06

Abstract

Air moving device includes a housing, an impeller in the housing for generating a downward air flow, and vanes in the housing in close proximity to and a selected distance below the impeller to straighten the air flow. The device produces an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance. The method includes producing an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance and directing the air flow from the ceiling towards the floor to provide temperature destratification of the air in an enclosed space. The method also includes directing warm air from the ceiling to the floor and storing heat in the floor, apparatus on the floor and ground under the floor. The stored heat is released when the ceiling is cooler than the floor.

Claims

1. An air moving device comprising:

an outer housing having;

an inlet;

an outlet;

an outer housing axis extending between the inlet and the outlet;

a cross-section between the inlet and the outlet; and

an outer housing wall extending between the inlet and the outlet;

an impeller positioned within the outer housing, the impeller having;

an impeller hub positioned along the outer housing axis and configured to rotate about the outer housing axis, the impeller hub having a first impeller end facing said inlet and a second impeller end facing said outlet, said impeller hub defining an impeller hub diameter at said second impeller end;

an impeller motor having a diameter such that the impeller motor is positionable within the impeller hub; and

a plurality of impeller blades extending radially outward from the impeller hub; and

a stator assembly positioned within the outer housing between the impeller and the outlet of the outer housing, the stator assembly having;

an annular stator hub positioned along the outer housing axis, the annular stator hub having a first stator hub end facing said impeller and a second stator hub end facing said outlet, said stator hub defining a stator diameter approximately at said first end equal to the impeller hub diameter; and

a plurality of stator blades extending radially outward from the stator hub.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the stator hub has a circular cross-section.

3. The device of claim 1, comprising a light element positioned within the outer housing downstream of the impeller hub.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller is connected to both the stator assembly and the outer housing.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the stator assembly as measured perpendicular to the outer housing axis is greater at the first end of the first stator hub end than at the second stator hub end.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the impeller motor has a height such that the impeller motor is containable within the impeller hub, and wherein the impeller motor is contained within the impeller hub.

7. An air moving device comprising:

an outer housing having;

an inlet;

an outlet;

an outer housing axis extending between the inlet and the outlet;

a rounded cross-section between the inlet and the outlet; and

an outer housing wall extending between the inlet and the outlet;

an impeller positioned within the outer housing, the impeller having;

a first impeller end facing said inlet;

a second impeller end facing said outlet;

an impeller hub positioned along the outer housing axis and configured to rotate about the outer housing axis;

an impeller motor; and

a plurality of impeller blades extending radially outward from the impeller hub;

a stator assembly positioned within the outer housing between the impeller and the outlet of the outer housing, the stator assembly having;

a first stator end facing said impeller;

a second stator end facing said outlet; and

a plurality of curved stator blades;

a stator ring connected to a radially-outward end of one or more of the plurality of curved stator blades; and

a light element positioned within the outer housing between the impeller and the outlet;

wherein the first stator end and the second stator end are positioned within the outer housing and wherein the stator assembly is removable from the outer housing.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the stator assembly is configured to be inserted through the inlet of the outer housing during assembly of the air moving device.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the stator blades are curved near the second end of the stator assembly and straight near the first end of the stator assembly.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein each of the stator blades are curved near the second end of the stator assembly in a direction opposite a direction of rotation of the impeller blades.

11. A method of manufacturing the device of claim 7, comprising inserting the stator assembly entirely into the outer housing.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising inserting the stator assembly through the inlet of the outer housing.

13. An air moving device comprising:

a housing having an inlet, an outlet, a housing axis extending between the inlet and the outlet, and an annular housing wall extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a housing interior;

an impeller assembly positioned at least partially within the housing interior, the impeller assembly comprising;

an impeller hub having a cross-section measured perpendicular to the housing axis;

a plurality of impeller blades extending radially outward from the impeller hub with respect to the housing axis; and

a motor configured to rotate the impeller hub and impeller blades;

a stator assembly positioned at least partially within the housing interior, the stator assembly comprising;

an annular stator hub positioned adjacent the impeller hub and having a cross-section substantially identical to the cross-section of the impeller hub as measured perpendicular to the housing axis; and

a plurality of stator vanes extending radially outward from the annular stator hub;

wherein a space between the annular stator hub, the annular housing wall, and the plurality of stator vanes defines a stator flow path through which the stator assembly is configured to direct air from the impeller assembly during operation of the air moving device.

14. The device of claim 13, comprising a downstream hub portion having a first end and a second end, the first end positioned between the second end of the downstream hub portion and the annular stator hub, the first end of the downstream hub portion being adjacent the annular stator hub and having a cross-section substantially identical to the cross-section of the annular stator hub, the second end of the downstream hub portion having a cross-section smaller than the cross-section of the first end of the downstream hub portion.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the downstream hub portion defines an inner wall of the stator flow path downstream of the annular stator hub.

17. The device of claim 14, comprising a stator ring extending around upstream portions of the stator vanes.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the stator ring defines a radially-outward wall of the stator flow path at an upstream end of the stator flow path.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the outer housing converges to the outlet to form a nozzle, and wherein the first end of the downstream hub portion converges to generally follow a curvature of an inside surface of the housing.

20. The device of claim 14, wherein all air entering the inlet of the outer housing is directed through an air passage defined entirely on a radially-inward side by the impeller hub, the annular stator hub, and the downstream hub portion.

21. The device of claim 14, comprising a light element positioned within the housing downstream of the impeller assembly.

16. (canceled)