Stacked and cross-connected recirculating fans in a semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for moving a gas comprising:
- a) a first fan and a second fan;
b) a first fan chamber housing the first fan and a second fan chamber housing the second fan, the fan chambers being stacked vertically;
c) an intake and an outlet connected to the first fan chamber and an intake and an outlet connected to the second fan chamber;
d) means for preventing the backflow of the gas back through the first and second fan outlets; and
e) means for controlling the flow of gas between the first and second fan outlets such that the gas moving apparatus can be set to any of the three following conditions as desired;
1) the gas flows from the first fan outlet to the second fan outlet, thereby allowing the first fan to supply the gas to both the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet;
2) the gas flows from the second fan outlet to the first fan outlet, thereby allowing the second fan to supply the gas to both the second fan outlet and the first fan outlet;
3) gas flow between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet is prevented.wherein the apparatus, when in an operation in which one fan is supplying the gas normally supplied by the other fan, has means for allowing the fan supplying the gas normally supplied by the other fan to output a total quantity of gas approximately equal to that which would be output when the gas moving apparatus is in an operational mode in which both fans are supplying gas.
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Abstract
A pair of recirculating fans for semiconductor cleanroom use are stacked to allow each fan to service a smaller zone in the cleanroom than if the fans were placed side by side. Each fan controls the temperature, humidity, and particulate count for its own zone of the cleanroom, thereby allowing strict control of these parameters. The ductwork of the two fans are cross connected so that either fan can be maintained or repaired while the other fan services its own zone and the zone normally serviced by the off-line fan.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for moving a gas comprising:
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a) a first fan and a second fan; b) a first fan chamber housing the first fan and a second fan chamber housing the second fan, the fan chambers being stacked vertically; c) an intake and an outlet connected to the first fan chamber and an intake and an outlet connected to the second fan chamber; d) means for preventing the backflow of the gas back through the first and second fan outlets; and e) means for controlling the flow of gas between the first and second fan outlets such that the gas moving apparatus can be set to any of the three following conditions as desired;
1) the gas flows from the first fan outlet to the second fan outlet, thereby allowing the first fan to supply the gas to both the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet;
2) the gas flows from the second fan outlet to the first fan outlet, thereby allowing the second fan to supply the gas to both the second fan outlet and the first fan outlet;
3) gas flow between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet is prevented.wherein the apparatus, when in an operation in which one fan is supplying the gas normally supplied by the other fan, has means for allowing the fan supplying the gas normally supplied by the other fan to output a total quantity of gas approximately equal to that which would be output when the gas moving apparatus is in an operational mode in which both fans are supplying gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Air handler for supplying air to an environment in which positive exchange on a substantially continuous basis is required, and in which plural air supply fan are provided for supplying air to plural areas within the environment, wherein the air handler includes:
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a) a first fan and a second fan; b) a first fan chamber housing the first fan and a second fan chamber housing the second fan, the fan chambers being stacked vertically; c) an intake and an outlet connected to the first fan chamber and an intake and an outlet connected to the second fan chamber; d) means for preventing the backflow of the air back through the first and second fan outlets; and e) means for controlling the flow of air between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet such that the air handler can be set to any of the three following conditions as desired;
1) the air flows from the first fan outlet to the second fan outlet, thereby allowing the first fan to supply the air to both the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet;
2) the air flows from the second fan outlet to the first fan outlet, thereby allowing the second fan to supply the air to both the second fan outlet and the first fan outlet;
3) air flow between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet is prevented,wherein the apparatus, when in an operation in which one fan is supplying the air normally supplied by the other fan, has means for allowing the fan supplying the air normally supplied by the other fan to output a total quantity of air approximately equal to that which would be output when the air moving apparatus is in an operational mode in which both fans are supplying air. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Classroom air handler for supplying air on a substantially continuous basis is required, wherein the air handler includes:
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a) a first fan and a second fan; b) a first fan chamber housing the first fan and a second fan chamber housing the second fan, the fan chambers being stacked vertically; c) an intake and an outlet connected to the first fan chamber and an intake and an outlet connected to the second fan chamber; d) means for preventing the backflow of the air back through the first fan outlet, and means for preventing the backflow of the air back through the second fan outlet; and e) means for controlling the flow of air between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet such that the air handler can be set to any of the three following conditions as desired;
1) the air flows from the first fan outlet to the second fan outlet, thereby allowing the first fan to supply the air to both the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet;
2) the air flows from the second fan outlet to the first fan outlet, thereby allowing the second fan to supply the air to both the second fan outlet and the first fan outlet;
3) air flow between the first fan outlet and the second fan outlet is prevented.wherein the apparatus, when in an operation in which one fan is supplying the air normally supplied by the other fan, has means for allowing the fan supplying the air normally supplied by the other fan to output a total quantity of air approximately equal to that which would be output when the air moving apparatus is in an operational mode in which both fans are supplying air. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification