Drying fan

• US 7,331,759 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therma-Stor LLC
• Original Assignee: Bou-Matic LLC
• Inventors: Tejeda, Marco A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Ninh H.
• Application Number:
  US11/068,366
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 415/220, 415/221, 415/222, 415/211.2, 416/189, 416/244.R, 416/63
• US Class Current: 415/221
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06

Abstract

A drying fan, including for water damage restoration, including for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, has a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air and having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired.

Claims

1. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, namely an inner perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, and an outer perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, wherein said inner perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said inner perimeter corner.

2. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, namely an inner perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, and an outer perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, wherein said outer perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said outer perimeter corner, said inner perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said inner perimeter corner, said first side of said inner perimeter extends generally parallel to said first side of said outer perimeter, and said second side of said inner perimeter extends generally parallel to said second side of said outer perimeter.

3. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, namely an inner perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, and an outer perimeter corner at said tapered ramp, wherein said inner and outer perimeters are radially spaced by a varying radial thickness therebetween, wherein said outer perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said outer perimeter corner, said inner perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said inner perimeter corner, said first side of said inner perimeter extends generally parallel to said first side of said outer perimeter, said second side of said inner perimeter extends generally parallel to said second side of said outer perimeter, and said varying radial thickness is at a minimum between said first sides of said inner and outer perimeters and said second sides of said inner and outer perimeters.

4. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face has first, second, third, and fourth inner perimeter segments, said first inner perimeter segment being at said tapered ramp, said third inner perimeter segment being diagonally opposite said first inner perimeter segment along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth inner perimeter segments being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said first diagonal line defining a first radius therealong from said rotational axis to said first inner perimeter segment, said second diagonal line defining a second radius therealong from said rotational axis to said second inner perimeter segment, said first diagonal line defining a third radius therealong from said rotational axis to said third inner perimeter segment, said second diagonal line defining a fourth radius therealong from said rotational axis to said fourth inner perimeter segment, said first radius being greater than each of said second, third and fourth radii.

5. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said intake cowling has an upstream end having an inlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said inlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said upstream end of said intake cowling, at least one of said perimeters having said noncircular shape of variable radius, wherein said inner and outer perimeters are radially spaced by a varying radial thickness therebetween, wherein said inlet face has first, second, third, and fourth corners, said first corner being axially aligned with said tapered ramp, said first and third corners being diagonally opposite each other along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said first and second corners having a first sidewall extending therebetween, said first and fourth corners having a second sidewall extending therebetween, wherein said varying radial thickness between said inner and outer perimeters of said inlet face is at a minimum at said first and second walls.

6. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, and comprising a set of one or more legs supporting said housing on a floor and tilting at least one of said housing and the rotational axis of said hub from horizontal to direct airflow from upstream to downstream along a downwardly tilted direction, and comprising a first set of one or more upstream legs supporting said housing on said floor, and a second set of one or more downstream legs supporting said housing on said floor, said first set of legs having a greater effective vertical height than said second set of legs.

7. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said housing has first, second, third, and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being axially aligned with said tapered ramp, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, and comprising a handle on said housing along an arc through said third outer corner between said second and fourth outer corners.

8. The drying fan according to claim 7 wherein said handle is on said housing along said first diagonal line and radially outboard of said third outer corner.

9. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being axially aligned with said tapered ramp, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said housing having a leg extending radially outwardly from said fourth outer corner along said second diagonal line and engagable with a floor to support said housing on said floor.

10. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being axially aligned with said tapered ramp, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said housing having a leg extending radially outwardly from said fourth corner along said second diagonal line and engageable with a wall.

11. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being axially aligned with said tapered ramp, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, one of said corners having a leg extending radially outwardly therefrom along one of said diagonal lines and having recessed axial ends providing an electrical cord wrap.

12. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, and comprising a plurality of stator vanes supporting a motor for rotation of said hub in said housing, said vanes extending radially between said motor and said housing and having an inner radial end at said motor and an outer radial end at said housing, said housing having an inner profile having a plurality of shoulder stand-offs engaging and supporting said outer radial ends of said vanes.

13. A drying fan comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp both a) expanding the airflow and b) directing the airflow where desired, wherein said fan is located adjacent a wall, and said housing is a plastic part having external surfaces having a draft towards a central parting line facilitating demolding of the plastic part and also facilitating proper alignment of the fan to the wall wherein the angle of the draft of the external surfaces of the housing enables an operator to line up the axis of rotation of the fan at an angle to the wall.

14. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said generally parallel extension of said rotational axis of said hub relative to said axial extension of said room corner is within 10°

thereof, namely within a cone angle of 10°

.

15. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said room corner, namely an inner perimeter corner at said room corner, and an outer perimeter corner at said room corner, wherein said inner perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said inner perimeter corner, said first side extending generally parallel to said wall, said second side extending generally parallel to said floor.

16. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said room corner, namely an inner perimeter corner at said room corner, and an outer perimeter corner at said room corner, wherein said outer perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said outer perimeter corner, said first side extending along said wall, said second side extending along said floor, said inner perimeter has first and second straight sides meeting at said inner perimeter corner, said first side of said inner perimeter extending generally parallel to said first side of said outer perimeter, said second side of said inner perimeter extending generally parallel to said second side of said outer perimeter.

17. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said downstream end of said exhaust cowling, each of said perimeters having a perimeter corner at said room corner, namely an inner perimeter corner at said room corner, and an outer perimeter corner at said room corner, wherein said inner and outer perimeters are radially spaced by a varying radial thickness therebetween, wherein said varying radial thickness is at a minimum at said wall and at said floor.

18. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said exhaust cowling has a downstream end having an outlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said outlet face has first, second, third and fourth inner perimeter segments, said first inner perimeter segment being at said room corner, said third inner perimeter segment being diagonally opposite said first inner perimeter segment along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth inner perimeter segments being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said first diagonal line defining a first radius therealong from said rotational axis to said first inner perimeter segment, said second diagonal line defining a second radius therealong from said rotational axis to said second inner perimeter segment, said first diagonal line defining a third radius therealong from said rotational axis to said third inner perimeter segment, said second diagonal line defining a fourth radius therealong from said rotational axis to said fourth inner perimeter segment, said first radius being greater than each of said second, third and fourth radii.

19. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said intake cowling has an upstream end having an inlet face of noncircular shape of variable radius from said rotational axis, wherein said inlet face is defined by an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter at said upstream end of said intake cowling, at least one of said perimeters having said noncircular shape of variable radius, wherein said inner and outer perimeters are radially spaced by a varying radial thickness therebetween, wherein said varying radial thickness is at a minimum at said wall and at said floor.

20. The drying fan according to claim 19 wherein said inlet face has first, second, third and fourth corners, said first corner of said inlet face being at said room corner, said first and third corners of said inlet face being diagonally opposite each other along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth corners of said inlet face being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said first and second corners of said inlet face having a first sidewall extending therebetween along said floor, said first and fourth corners of said inlet face having a second sidewall extending therebetween along said room wall, wherein said varying radial thickness between said inner and outer perimeters of said inlet face is at a minimum at said first and second sidewalls.

21. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, and comprising a set of one or more legs supporting said housing on said floor and tilting at least one of said housing and the rotational axis of said hub from horizontal to direct airflow from upstream to downstream toward at least one of said corner, said floor and said wall.

22. The drying fan according to claim 21 comprising a first set of one or more upstream legs supporting said housing on said floor, and a second set of one or more downstream legs supporting said housing on said floor, said first set of legs having a greater effective vertical height than said second set of legs.

23. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, and comprising a first set of one or more legs supporting said housing on said floor, and a second set of one or more legs for engaging said wall.

24. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being at said room corner, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, and comprising a handle on said housing along an arc through said third outer corner between said second and fourth outer corners.

25. The drying fan according to claim 24 wherein said handle is on said housing along said first diagonal line and radially outboard of said third outer corner.

26. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being at said room corner, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said housing having a leg extending radially outwardly from said fourth outer corner along said second diagonal line and engaging said floor to support said housing on said floor.

27. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, wherein said housing has first, second, third and fourth outer corners, said first outer corner being at said room corner, said third outer corner being diagonally opposite said first outer corner along a first diagonal line, said second and fourth outer corners being diagonally opposite each other along a second diagonal line perpendicular to said first diagonal line, said housing having a leg extending radially outwardly from said fourth outer corner along said second diagonal line and engaging said wall.

28. A drying fan for water damage restoration, particularly for drying a room corner extending axially along an interface between a wall and a floor, comprising a fan hub rotational about an axis generally parallel to said axial extension of said room corner and having a plurality of fan blades extending radially therefrom for moving air along an axial flow direction from upstream to downstream upon rotation of said hub, said hub being mounted in a shrouded housing having an axial flow path therethrough, said housing having an intake cowling receiving intake air, and an exhaust cowling discharging exhaust air, said exhaust cowling having a tapered ramp leading diagonally downwardly to said room corner, comprising a plurality of stator vanes supporting a motor for rotation of said hub in said housing, said vanes extending radially between said hub and said housing and having an inner radial end at said hub and an outer radial end at said housing, said housing having an inner profile having a plurality of shoulder stand-offs supporting said outer radial ends of said vanes.