Device for ventilation and/or air circulation

• US 6,966,830 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flettner Ventilator Limited
• Original Assignee: Flettner Ventilator Limited
• Inventors: Hurlstone, Chris, Di Cioccio, Mark Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US10/468,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20040072531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 454/251, 454/254, 454/234, 454/338, 417/328, 417/321, 417/363
• US Class Current: 454/251
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00471 The ventilator being of the radial type, i.e. with radial expulsion of the air
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/04 the pump being fluid-driven pumps driven by exhaust gases F02B37/00, F02B39/00; turbochargers F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/626 Mounting or removal of fans

Abstract

A device comprising a rotor and fan rotatably mounted on a shaft which is rigidly fixed relative to a vehicle surface. The device is fixable on a vehicle surface by means of two clamping portions which are moveable towards each other along the shaft to press against a surface between them.

Claims

1. A device for ventilation and/or air circulation comprising a fan, a rotor capable of being rotated by moving air for driving the fan and a fixing portion for fixing the device to a mounting surface, wherein the fixing portion comprises co-operating upper and lower clamping portions for respectively clamping above and below the mounting surface, the clamping portions being movable relative to each other to clamp or release a surface between them, and each comprising a hub portion connected by spoke elements to a peripheral clamping surface, and the fixing portion also comprising a clamping element passing through the respective hub portions for applying a clamping force to press the peripheral clamping surfaces about the mounting surface.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the clamping element is located substantially in the centre of the clamping portions.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the hubs of the respective clamping portions have co-operating or matching bores for receiving a common shaft or bolt and the clamping element moves or locks the clamping portions relative to each other along the common shaft or bolt.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the clamping element acts on or is movable along the lower end of the common shaft or bolt.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about an axis co-axial with the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions and the shaft is fixable relative to the fixing portion such that it does not rotate relative thereto.

7. A device according to claim 3 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about an axis co-axial with the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions and the shaft is fixable relative to the fixing portion such that it does not rotate relative thereto.

9. A device according to claim 1 wherein the hubs of the respective clamping portions have co-operating or matching bores for receiving a common shaft or bolt and the clamping element moves or locks the clamping portions relative to each other along the common shaft or bolt.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein the clamping element acts on or is movable along the lower end of the common shaft or bolt.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about an axis co-axial with the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions.

12. A device according to claim 11 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions and the shaft is fixable relative to the fixing portion such that it does not rotate relative thereto.

13. A device according to claim 9, wherein the fan and rotor rotate about an axis co-axial with the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the fan and rotor rotate about the shaft or bolt passing through the clamping portions and the shaft is fixable relative to the fixing portion such that it does not rotate relative thereto.

15. A ventilating device according to claim 1 wherein the fan is a centrifugal fan.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the fan and rotor are coupled by a gearing arrangement.

17. A device according to claim 15 wherein the fan and rotor are a single piece.

18. A ventilating device according to claim 1 wherein the fan and rotor are fixed relative to each other.

19. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fan and rotor are coupled by a gearing arrangement.

20. A device according to claim 1 wherein the rotor comprises a base plate, an air scoop extending upwardly from the base plate comprising two curved rotor blades in spaced overlapping relation with their concave or partly concave surfaces in opposition to define a passage between the rotor blades.

21. A device for ventilation and/or air circulation comprising a centrifugal fan, a rotor capable of being rotated by moving air for driving the fan and a fixing portion for fixing the device to a mounting surface, wherein the fixing portion comprises co-operating upper and lower clamping portions for respectively clamping above and below the mounting surface, the clamping portions being movable relative to each other to clamp or release a surface between them, and each comprising a hub portion connected by spoke elements to a peripheral clamping surface, and the fixing portion also comprising a clamping element passing through the respective hub portions for applying a clamping force to press the peripheral clamping surfaces about the mounting surface, wherein the fan and rotor are a single piece fixed relative to each other, and wherein the rotor comprises a base plate, an air scoop extending upwardly from the base plate comprising two curved rotor blades in spaced overlapping relation with their concave or partly concave surfaces in opposition to define a passage between the rotor blades.

22. A device for ventilation and/or air circulation comprising a fan, a rotor capable of being rotated by moving air for driving the fan and a fixing portion for fixing the device to a mounting surface, wherein the fixing portion comprises co-operating upper and lower clamping portions for respectively clamping above and below the mounting surface, the clamping portions being movable relative to each other to clamp or release a surface between them, and each comprising a hub portion connected by spoke elements to a peripheral clamping surface, and the fixing portion also comprising a clamping element passing through the respective hub portions for applying a clamping force to press the peripheral clamping surfaces about the mounting surface, wherein the fan and rotor are coupled by a gearing arrangement, and wherein the rotor comprises a base plate, an air scoop extending upwardly from the base plate comprising two curved rotor blades in spaced overlapping relation with their concave or partly concave surfaces in opposition to define a passage between the rotor blades.

23. A device for ventilation and/or air circulation comprising a fan, a rotor capable of being rotated by moving air for driving the fan and a fixing portion for fixing the device to a mounting surface, wherein the fixing portion comprises co-operating upper and lower clamping portions for respectively clamping above and below the mounting surface, the clamping portions being movable relative to each other to clamp or release a surface between them, and each comprising a hub portion connected by spoke elements to a peripheral clamping surface, and the fixing portion also comprising a clamping element passing through the respective hub portions for clamping a clamping force to press the peripheral clamping surfaces about the mounting surface, wherein the rotor comprises a base plate, an air scoop extending upwardly from the base plate comprising two curved rotor blades in spaced overlapping relation with their concave or partly concave surfaces in opposition to define a passage between the rotor blades.