Stacking arrangement for air movers

• US 5,403,152 A
• Filed: 09/16/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Karcher North America Incorporated (Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Professional Chemicals Corporation
• Inventors: Trautloff, Gary L., Bisson, Montgomery A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LARSON, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US08/122,245
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 415/206, 416/63, 417/234, 417/423.14, 206/499, 15/344, 15/405, 15/410, 15/412, 15/422.2
• US Class Current: 415/206
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/4226 Fan casings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps

Abstract

An air mover which allows for both side-by-side and coaxial stacking. An air mover is essentially composed of substantially a cylindrical fan or motor housing with an air exhaust nozzle extending tangentially therefrom. The side-by-side stacking arrangement includes the interlocking of the stacking register of the handle of the air mover with the underside of the accessory flange at the distal end of the nozzle. The handle snugly nests within the space formed by the nozzle as it extends tangentially from the motor housing. The coaxial stacking involves the interlocking of a tab on the nozzle and a circular projection on one planar surface of the air mover with a slot and circular depression on the opposite planar of another air mover. The diameter of the circular depression being greater than the diameter of the circular projection and the slot being sized to receive the tab. Alone or in combination, the interlocking systems provide for compact storage and transportation.

Claims

1. An air mover comprising:

a substantially cylindrical fan housing having an axis, an air exhaust nozzle extending tangentially from said fan housing and having a first side nearer said axis and a second side farther from said axis, a handle having a first edge attached to said cylindrical fan housing and a second edge;

said air mover defining a first point at which said first side of said air exhaust nozzle meets said cylindrical housing, a second point between said first and said second edge of said handle and a third point midway between said first and second points such that a surface of said air mover between said first and said third point is complementary to a surface of said air mover between said second and said third points.

2. The air mover as recited in claim 1 wherein the surface between said third point and said second point has a concave profile, and where the surface between said third point and said first point has a convex profile.

3. The air mover as recited in claim 1 wherein said first edge of said handle is closer to said axis of said air mover than said second edge of said handle.

4. The air mover as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle comprises:

a grip forming said second edge;

a first handle support extending between said cylindrical fan housing and said grip forming said first edge; and

a second handle support extending between said cylindrical fan housing and said grip.

5. The air mover as recited in claim 4 wherein said first handle support forms a portion of said surface between said third point and said second point.

6. The air mover as recited in claim 4 wherein said grip is parallel to said second side of said air nozzle.

7. The air mover as recited in claim 5 further comprising a flange at an end of said air exhaust nozzle defining a flange underside perpendicular to said first side of said air exhaust nozzle having a first edge adjacent said first side of said air exhaust nozzle and a second edge;

a surface from said second edge of said flange underside to said third point being complementary to a surface from said third point to a length of attachment adjacent said second handle support whereby one said air mover may be complementary interlocked with another said air mover.

8. The air mover as recited in claim 7 wherein both said flange underside and said second handle support extend substantially the axial length of said cylindrical fan housing.

9. The air mover as recited in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical fan housing has a first plane having a first planar inlet and has a second plane having a second planar inlet parallel to said first planar inlet;

said air mover having a circular projection from said first planar inlet having an outwardly disposed diameter, said second planar inlet having an inwardly disposed diameter having a magnitude greater than said outwardly disposed diameter of said circular projection.

10. The air mover as recited in claim 9 wherein said air exhaust nozzle extends substantially the axial length of said substantially cylindrical fan housing approaching said first plane of said first planar inlet and said second plane of said second planar inlet, a first side edge of said air exhaust nozzle having a tab extending beyond said first plane and an opposite second side edge having a slot within said second plane and complementary to said tab.

11. A coaxially stackable air mover comprising a substantially cylindrical fan housing having a first planar inlet defining a first plane and a second planar inlet defining a second plane and parallel to said first planar inlet, said first planar inlet having a circular projection from said planar inlet having an outwardly disposed diameter, said second planar inlet having a circular depression having an inwardly disposed diameter greater than said outwardly disposed diameter of said circular projection whereby the first planar inlet of one said coaxially stackable air mover may interfit and stack with said second planar inlet of another said coaxially stackable air mover;

and an air exhaust nozzle extending tangentially from said fan housing.

12. The coaxially stackable air mover as recited in claim 11 further comprising means, attached to said second planar inlet, for supporting a motor and allowing air to pass through said second planar inlet.

13. The coaxially stackable air mover as recited in claim 11 wherein said air exhaust nozzle extending substantially the axial length of said substantially cylindrical fan housing approaching said first plane of said first planar inlet and said second plane of said second planar inlet, a first side edge of said air exhaust nozzle having a tab extending beyond said first plane and an opposite second side edge having a slot within said second plane and complementary to said tab.

14. The process of interlocking air movers comprising the steps of:

providing at least two air movers each having a substantially cylindrical fan housing having an axis, an air exhaust nozzle extending tangentially from said fan housing and having a first side nearer said axis and a second side farther from said axis, a first handle support extending from said cylindrical fan housing and defining a first edge, and a second handle support having a grip and extending between said cylindrical fan housing and said first handle support and defining a second edge;

a flange at an end of said air exhaust nozzle defining a flange underside perpendicular to said first side of said air exhaust nozzle having a first edge adjacent said first side of said air exhaust nozzle and a second edge;

such that the surface from said second edge of said flange underside to a path midpoint is complementary to a surface from said path midpoint to a length of attachment between said grip and said second handle support;

placing one of said at least two air movers in relation to another one of said at least two air movers such that said complementary surface of said one of said plurality of air movers opposes said complementary surface of said other air mover.

15. The process of interlocking air movers as recited in claim 14, and further comprising the process of stacking comprising the steps of:

providing at least a third said air mover each of said air movers further having on said substantially cylindrical fan housing a first planar inlet and second planar inlet parallel to said first planar inlet, a circular projection extending from said first planar inlet having an outwardly disposed diameter, and said second planar inlet having a circular depression having an inwardly disposed diameter of a magnitude greater than the outwardly disposed diameter of said circular projection; and

placing said at least a third air mover coaxially on one of said circular projections of said at least two air movers to interfit said circular depression of said at least a third air mover.

16. The process of interlocking and stacking air movers as recited in claim 15 and further wherein said air exhaust nozzle extends substantially the axial length of said substantially cylindrical fan housing and approaches said first plane of said first planar inlet and said second plane of said second planar inlet;

providing a first side edge of said air exhaust nozzle having a tab extending beyond said first plane and an opposite second side edge having a slot within said second plane and complementary to said tab; and

placing said slot of said at least a third air mover onto one said tab of said one or said other air movers.

17. The process of interlocking and stacking air movers as recited in claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

providing at least a fourth air mover structurally identical to said first, second, and third air movers;

placing said at least a fourth air mover coaxially on the other one of said at least two air movers such that the said circular projection of the other, of said one and said other air mover, interfits said circular depression of said at least a fourth air mover; and

such that said slot of said at least a fourth air mover interfits into the tab of another, of one said one and said other, air mover; and

such that said at least a fourth air mover is in relation to said at least a third air mover such that said complementary surface of said at least a fourth air mover opposes said complementary surface of said at least a third air mover.