NZ233812A - Two integrated fans for air extraction or circulation - Google Patents

Description

233812 l-j.Z. PATENT OFFICE -9 MAY 1991 «A RCCE1VEB Patents Form No 5 THE PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional Number: 233812 Dated: 25 May 1990 AN AIR FLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY I, JOHN MATTHEW FARRELLY, a British subject of 66 Pinehaven Road, Silverstream, Wellington, New Zealand, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: m 2338!2 AN AIR FLOW CONTROL ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a fan assembly suitable for removing fouled air from within a confined area. The invention also provides an assembly for the purpose of more generally dispersing perfumed or purified air. 5 Prior to this invention, motorized fans have long been used to control the flow of air or other gaseous substances, both effectively and conveniently.

Motorized fans are commonly used for a number of purposes including the extraction of air from a 10 given area, or alternatively the recirculation of air within a confined area. The direction of air flow is generally determined by the type of motor assembly employed, or more particularly the arrangement of blades thereof.

A system for the extraction and subsequent re circulation of air typically involves two separate fan assemblies, one for extraction and one for recirculation. The disadvantages of such a system being the need for two fan assemblies and the resultant loss 20 of free space, or otherwise intruding in the decor of the area, particularly in small rooms or closets.

Alternative systems have been developed wherein a single reversible fan is employed to achieve both extraction and recirculation of air. The employment 25 of only one fan rotor presents a disadvantage to the system in that it is not possible to use the optimal rotor assembly preferred for respective extraction or recirculation. 2338 One object of the present invention, is to provide a convenient fan assembly for the extraction of fouled air and subsequent recirculation of air in an enclosed area, while overcoming the disadvantages inherent to the previously mentioned alternative systems.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fan assembly for purifying or aromatizing air while in circulation.

Other more particular objects and advantages of the invention, hereinafter referred to as an air flow control assembly will become apparent from the ensuing description.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly comprising housing means and power drive means, said power drive means being coupled to and arranged to operate a first exhaust fan or impeller for drawing air through said housing from an area for discharge outside said area, a second fan or impeller coupled to said power drive means and arranged to enable circulation of air within said area, perfuming and/or purifying means mounted in proximity with said second circulatory fan or impeller for perfuming and/or purifying air ciculatea thereby, and control means arranged to provide for operation of the exhaust and circulatory fans or impellers with cessation of operation of one during operation of the other.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an assembly according to the previous paragraph wherein the exhaust fan or impeller comprises a tubular first driving spindle coupled to the power drive means, said first driving spindle having an exhaust rotor assembly fixed thereto, the second fan or impeller comprising a second driving spindle also coupled to the power drive means and extending logitudinally and rotatably within the first driving spindle, said second driving spindle being attached to an air circulatory rotor assembly at a position beyond the full extent of the first mentioned driving spindle and exhaust rotor assembly.

In a third aspect of the invention, the assembly according to either of the two preceding paragraphs is modified to provide for separate and destinct power units, each coupled with one of the said driving spindles, as opposed to a single power unit accommodating both driving spindles.

In another aspect of the invention, an air permeable member containing a scented substance is positioned adjacent the air circulatory fan or impeller rotor assembly of any of the preceding paragraphs, the permeable member being constructed or constituted to readily allow a flow of air generated by the circulatory fan or impeller therethrough.

Some preferred aspects of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, diagramatic elevational views form of the invention, arranged with two distinct power units in asssociation with respective driving spindles and rotor assembly.

In the first form of the invention (Fig.1), the air flow control assembly is arranged for ceiling mounting and consists of an exhaust fan electric motor 1 coupled to and arranged to drive an elongate tubular exhaust fan spindle 2. The exhaust fan spindle 2 is vertically disposed and mounts at its lower end an exhaust type rotor assembly 3 typically consisting of a series of blades 3a arranged in a radial fashion, proceeding from the central axis of the said tubular spindle 2 thus providing an axial flow exhaust fan or impeller assembly. The exhaust fan motor 1 and rotor assembly 3 are designed to provide an effective flow of air when activated for rapid extraction of fouled air from a room or closet, and dispelling the extracted air via a conveniently situated vent or window.

A second smaller power unit or circulatory fan motor 4, is positioned above the previously mentioned exhaust electric fan motor 1 and co-axially therewith; and such circulatory fan motor is coupled to and arranged to drive a second elongate and vertically disposed driving spindle 5 which is of lesser cross sectional dimensions than the exhaust fan spindle 2 and is arranged and positioned to extend along through and be rotat-able within the tubular exhaust fan spindle 2. The second driving spindle 5 extends to a suitable position beyond and below the previously mentioned exhaust fan rotor assembly 3, and a dispersing or circulatory fan rotor assembly 6 is securely fixed to the lower end of the second driving spindle 5. In this case, the circulatory fan rotor assembly 6 can be a centrifugal fan assembly consisting of a series of blades 6a arranged in a radial fashion about the central axis of the spindle 5 and being arranged to draw air upwardly and centrally for lateral dispersal. The second power unit or dispersing fan motor 4 and the associated rotor assembly 6 are typically designed to provide an efficient flow of air when activated to effect the circulation of air within a room or closet.

The assembly further includes electric timer and switching means (not shown) to provide for alternate switching and timed operation so that when the air circulation and extraction system is in operation, the exhaust fan motor 1 and circulatory dispersing fan motor 4 are activated alternately for preset periods of time, or cycles.

The exhaust fan motor 1 operates for a set time period to cause the exhaust fan or impeller 3 to withdraw fouled air from an enclosed room or closet. At the end of the set period the exhaust fan motor is automatically deactivated to mark the end of the exhaust cycle, and the dispersing fan motor 4 is automatically activated so that the dispersing fan rotor is therefore c r> driven to circulate air within a room or closet for a preset period of time before also being automatically deactivated, to mark the end of the circulation cycle. The entire process is then repeated if so desired, or 5 alternatively either cycle may be maintained indefinitely.

A perfumed pad or perfumed substance and/or a sanitizing/disinfecting pad or substance) is provided in an open work frame or container 8 mounted in a suitable position, and in close proximity, directly below 10 the dispersing fan rotor 6; so that when in operation the circulatory dispersing fan rotor 6 draws a flow of air towards itself in the direction of arrows A and through the container 8 and the perfumed and/or sanitizing pad or substance 7, and air passing through 15 the substance thus becoming perfumed and/or sanitized before being dispersed laterally (as indicated by arrows B) and circulated throughout the room or closet. This has the effect of causing a favourable aroma and/or *2) sanitizing of the air throughout the said room or closet.

The air circulation and extraction assembly is typically fixed to a ceiling or similar structural unit, and is discretely arranged so as to conceal at ^ least the two previously described motor units, and the exhaust rotor assembly; but it will be appreciated 25 that the assembly can alternatively be located in a wall or window with the spindles 2 and 5 horizontally disposed. 2338 7 2 Referring now to figure 2 of the drawings, in an alternative arrangement the exhaust fan 1 ' and fan rotor 3a' can be inverted with the fan rotor 3a' (of similar construction to the first described rotor 3) 5 mounted above the motor 1 1 within the cylindrical duct part 3b of the assembly 3 and on a short upwardly extending drive spindle 2' thereof- The circulatory fan motor 4' is mounted co-axially immediately below the exhaust fan motor 1 (eg on a common open frame 10 mounting 3c of the assembly 3); and the dispersing or circulatory fan rotor 6a' is mounted on the lower end part of a depending short drive shaft or spindle 5' of the circulatory fan motor 4' for lateral dispersing and circulation of perfumed and/or sanitized/disin-15 fected air drawn through a perfumed and/or sanitizing /disinfecting pad or substance 7' mounted therebelow, as in the first described manner with reference to the arrows A and B.

In this second form of the invention, it will be seen 20 that the drive spindles 2' and 5' are separate and not required to be in the sleeved form of figure 1 . Figure 2 also illustrates a variation in the assembly housing with an integral (moulded) shaped lower grill part 3d for exhaust air and circulated air, and defining 25 the support container 8' for the perfumed or sanitizing /disinfecting pad or substance 7'. As before, the assembly includes electric timer and control means (not shown) for alternate switching and timed operation of the exhaust fan motor 1' and dispersing circulatory / fan motor 4 .

In still further aspects of the invention the perfumed pad or perfumed substance may be replaced by a suitable filter for sanitizing air as it is drawn therethrough, and such filters will be known to those skilled in the art.

Whilst some preferred aspects of the invention have been described by way of example, it will of course be appreciated that other variations of and modifications to the invention can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (13)

d «"> CO WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly comprising housing means and power drive means, said power drive means being coupled to and arranged to operate a first exhaust fan or impeller for drawing air through said housing from an area for discharge outside said area, a second fan or impeller coupled to said power drive means and arranged to enable circulation of air within said area, perfuming and/or purifying means mounted in proximity with said second circulatory fan or impeller for perfuming and/or purifying air circulated thereby, and control means arranged to provide for operation of the exhaust and circulatory fans or impellers with cessation of operation of one during operation of the other.

2. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust fan or impeller comprises a tubular first driving spindle coupled to the power drive means, said first driving spindle having an exhaust rotor assembly fixed thereto, the second fan or impeller comprising a second driving spindle also coupled to the power drive means and extending longitudinally and rotatably within the first driving spindle, said second driving spindle being attached to an air circulatory rotor assembly at a position beyond the full extent of the first mentioned driving spindle and exhaust rotor assembly. 233

3. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to claim 2, wherein the power drive means comprises two distinct power units, one of said power units being coupled to the first driving spindle and the second power unit being coupled to the second driving spindle.

4. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an air permeable member is positioned adjacent the second fan or impeller.

5. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein an air permeable member is positioned beyond the full extent of the second driving spindle and air circulatory rotor assembly.

6. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the air permeable member is an absorbant pad.

7. An integrated air extraction ana air circulation assembly according to any one of claims 4,5 or 6, wherein the air permeable member is a perfumed pad.

8. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of claims 4,5,6 or 7, wherein the air permeable member is an air sanitising member. -11-

9. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of claims 4,5,6,7 or 8, wherein the air permeable member is a filter.

10. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control means comprises timing and switching means to provide for independant operation of the exhaust and circulatory fans or impellers for prescribed time periods with cessation of operation of one during operation of the other.

11. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of the preceding claims having ceiling mounting means.

12. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, having mounting means adapted for mounting the assembly on a substantially upright surface.

13. An integrated air extraction and air circulation assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. JOHN MATTHEW FARRELLY By His Authorised Attorneys JOHN A REMMINGTON & ASSOCIATES