GB2189119A - An improved fan with a novel heating device - Google Patents

Abstract

A fan heater includes a thermally conducting plate means (20), (first embodiment), or a plurality of thermally conductive plates (52), (second embodiment), with two inclined portions (240, 250), which are inclined with respect to each other and which form a summit portion, wherein a heating ring (100), (first embodiment), or (51), (second embodiment) is provided at the summit portion of said conducting plate means (20), (52), so that the whole heating means is easily connected to the fan housing (1). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved fan with a novel heating device The present invention related to an improved fan with a novel heating device, particularly concerning a fan with a novel grating holding an annular heating device disposed in front of a fan and a controlling switch device for controlling the heating ring so that the fan can be used as an ordinary cooling fan or a heating fan.

Generally, a typical heater utilizes a length of coil wound on an insulatorto heat up the surrounding element by radiating. However, such a direct radiating method heats slowly and cannot deliver hear very far.

Also, the cover housing of the heater is easily damaged so the life time ofthe heater is rather short.

The heating device which was first applied to thefan was a heating coil which winds around an insulator frame. Theframe is mounted behind or before the fan impeller, so that the heating energy generated from the heating coil can be transferred to the air as the fan delivers a large volume of air. However, such a heating device heats slowly and cannotwarm a large area. To increase the heat energy, the heating coil is commonly wound very tightly on the frame. In this case, when the indrawn air includes impurities, the impurities may be wedged in the gaps ofthe heating coil. If the impurities are combustible, they will burn easily and may cause other combustibles to burn. If the impurities are conductors, they may cause the heating coil to short circuit and then break due to the high temperature resulting from the short.In addition, since the heating coil which sound aroundtheframe may result in several different wind densities, and since the differentwind densities will induce different resistances, the heating coil is often broken due to high temperatures.

The othertype of heating device for a fan, which was developed to improve on the above-described disadvantages, includes afixed frame adapted to be mounted on the fan, a plurality of insulators including a plurality of groovesthereon; and a strip heating member adapted to be coupled to the electrical power source, wound on the insulators by being inserted into the grooves. The device is placed in front ofthe impeller of thefan. Such kind of strip eating member has a large radiating area, a swift and uniform radiating speed, and impurities will not easily rest on the strip heating member. However, it is difficult and complicated to assemble when it is produced as the strip heating member has to be retained andfixed firmly in each groove one by one.

With the above problems in mind, the main object of the invention is to provide an improved fan with a heating device which has a simple and easily assembled construction.

An object ofthe invention is to provide an fan heater with a grating to hold a heating element by which a space can be heated up even more efficiently.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fan having a heating ring with a plurality of plate members extending parallely and radially from the heating ring member and arranged so that their respective two flat surfaces are parallel to the direction in which the fan delivers air, sothatthe heated aircan blowfartherand impuritieswill not reston the heating member.

Afurtherobjectofthe invention isto provide an improved fan having a plurality of connecting members provided at the inner end of some of the plate members and at the outer end of some ofthe plate members so thatthe heating ring member can be fixed to the fan housing firmly and easily when the fan is assembled.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved fan having a special arrangement on the connecting members ofthe plate members such that the connecting member has a reduced heat-receiving area to reduce the heattransferred to the fan housing, so thatthe fan can be used for a long time.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide an improved fan having a thermal switch with a sensor which can control the heating ring of the fan to turn off electric power automatically for preventing the fan housing from being overheated when the driving motor is out of operation.

In order to achieve the aforesaid objects as well as other incidental objects and advantages, the invention includes a grilled housing, a motor mounted in the housing, a fan driven by the motor, an electric circuit forcontrollingthefan and improvementswherein a heating plate means is mounted in the housing and has two portions, the portions being inclined with respectto one another and forming a summit portion, and a heating ring being provided on the summit portion of the plate means to provide heat energy.

In afirst preferred em bodiment, the invention is characterized in that the heating plate means is a grating disposed in front of the fan in the housing. The grating includes an innermost ring member coaxial with the fan, first narrow plates extending parallely and radially from the ring member and inclining forward relative to the plane of the innermost ring member, an intermediate ring member connected to free ends ofthe first narrow plates and having an annular groove, second narrow plates extending parallely and radially from the intermediate ring member and inclining rearward relative to the plane of the intermediate ring member, and an outermost ring member connected to free ends ofthe second narrow plates. The heating ring member is received securely in the annular groove ofthe grating.

In a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the heating means is a heating ring member mounted in the housing provided in front of the fan having a pluralityofconducting plate members integrally provided on the heating ring member, extending parallely and radially from the heating ring member, wherein the plate members are separated at a fixed distance and arranged so that their respective two flat surfaces are parallel to the direction in which the fan delivers air.

A plurality of connecting lug members are provided at the inner end ofsome ofthe plate members and at the outer end of some ofthe plate members so that the whole heating device can be connected with the grilled housing and retained firmly in the housing, wherein each of the connecting lug members has an opening forming a gap for reducing the heat conduc tion from the plate members to the grilled housing of the fan. In addition, the plate members are in such a shapethattwo ends owe each plate members diverge forwardlyfrom the heating ring member so that the fan impellers are not easily harmed bythe heat energy ofthe plate members.

Athermal switch device with a sensor is provided at the heating means in the above-mentioned two preferred embodiments forturning offthe electric power to the heating means automatically based on a maximum limited temperature of the heating means for safety's sake when the fan driving motor is out of operation.

When in use, the improved fan can be used as an ordinary cooling fan by turning on the driving motor ofthefan only, and can be used as a heating fan by turning on the motor and the heating means simultaneously.

These and other advantages, objects and features of the invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. lisa perspective view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the grilled housing ofthefan is partially exploded for showing a grating heating means disposed atthe rear portion ofthefan; Fig. 2 shows the portion ofthe grating heating means of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe grating heating means of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the grating heating means of Fig. 2;; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the grilled housing ofthe fan is partially exploded for showing the inner arrangementofthe fan impellers and the heating means; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the heating means of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. stakes along the line A-A, showing howthe conducting plate members ofthe heating ring member connect with the fan housing through a plurality of connecting lug members; Fig. 8 is a side section view of Fig.Staken along the line B-B, showing the conducting plate members of the heating ring member, which radially and parallel extend from the heating ring member and are arranged so thattheir respective two flat surfaces are parallel to the direction in which the fan delivers air; Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial view of the heating ring and conducting plate member taken from the line C-C of Fig. 7; and Fig. 10 is a electric circuit diagram for the improved fan according to the present invention used forthetwo preferred embodiments.

The following is a detailed description ofthe best presently contemplated embodiment ofthe invention.

Thisdescription isnotto be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyforthe purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 in conjunction with Fig. 2-4, a first preferred embodiment ofthe invention includes a grilled housing 1, a motor 2 mounted in a motor retaining casing 12 ofthe grilled housing 1, afan 3with a plurality offan impellers 30 mounted on a shaft 22 of the motor 2 which is driven by the motor 2, and electric controlling circuit 4 having a controlling switch 41 for controlling the fan to function as a ordinary cooling fan or a heating fan and controlling the speed ofthe fan, provided on the outer portion ofthe grilled housing 1, and a heating means mounted in the housing 1 having two inclined portions inclined with respectto one another forming a summit portion.

The improvement ofthe heating means of the first preferred embodiment is that the heating means is a grating 20 preferably of a metal and has an innermost ring member210from which a plurality of narrow baffle plates 240 extend parallely and radially and incline forward relative to the plane ofthe ring member 210. The baffle plates 240 are spaced apart, providing spacesforair passage. Outer ends ofthe baffle plates 240 are connected to an intermediate ring member220 which has an annular groove 221 receiving securely an annular heating ring 100.

There are narrow baffle plates 250 extending parallely and radiallyfrom the intermediate ring member 220 and inclining rearward relative to the plane ofthe ring member 220 so that the heating means has two inclined portions 240,250 and the groove 221 is provided at the summit portion ofthe heating means. The baffle plates 250 are spaced apart, providing spacesforair passsage.The outer ends of the baffle plates 250 are connected to an outermost member 230 in which are provided screw holes 270.

The heating ring 100 is made conventionally and includes a circulartube enclosing a circular heating coil and an insulating element. Atthe ends ofthe heating ring 100 are provided terminals 110.

The grating heating means 20 is screwed to the rear portion ofthe housing 1 by means of screw holes 270 and attach screws (notshown).Theterminals 110 of the heating ring 100 are connected to two conductors 400 which will be connected to an electric source.

Figs. 5-9 show a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein the improvement is in the heating means, which includes a heating ring member 51 and a plurality of conducting plate members 52 integrally provided on the heating ring member 51, and extending parallely and radially therefrom, wherein the plate members 52 are separated at a fixed distance and are arranged so that their respective two flat surfaces are parallel to the direction in which the fan delivers air.

The grilled housing 1 is in a rectangular shape with a large annular passage infrontofthe housing 1.A fixed motor retaining casing 12 with a plurality of integrally and radially extending arms 13 is provided atthe center ofthe annular passage 11 for receiving and retaining the motor 2. The extending arms 13 of the annular retaining casing 12 are integrallycon- nected with the inner periphery of the circular passage 11 for reinforcing the extending arms 13 and the motor retaining casing 12. A plurality of projections 121 is integrally provided at the outer periphery of the annular retaining casing 12, each projection 121 being respectively provided between each two adjacent extending arms 13.

Afirst plurality of connecting lug members 53 is provided at the inner end of some plate members 52.

Each connecting lug 53 has a screw hole 10 and connects with the extending projection 121 ofthe motor retaining casing 12 through a screw la. The motor 2 can be retained in the motor retaining casing 12 and each of fixing lugs 21 ofthe motor 2 also can be connected with the extending projection 121 by the screw la sothatthe motor2can be firmly received in the motor retaining casing 12. A second plurality of connecting lug members 54 is provided at the outer end of some of the plate members 52 adjacent to the inner periphery ofthe annular passage 11, each connecting lug 54 being connected with the housing 1 by a screw 1 b so thatthe heating means can be firmly fixed in front of the fan 3 in the housing 1.

The plate members 52 are made of aluminium and are integrally provided on the heating ring 51 by molding so that the heat energy ofthe heating ring 51 can easily be conducted throughoutthe whole heating device. The plate members 52 are in such a shape that two ends of each plate member 52 diverges from the heating ring member51, towardsthefront of thefan.

In other words, each of the plate members 52 has two inclined portions inclined with respect to one another, forming a summit portion as shown in Figs. 6,8,9,so thatthe plastic fan impellers 30 are not easily harmed bythe heat energy of the plate members 52.

Each ofthefirst and second connecting lug members 53,54 has an opening 55 to form a gap for reducing the heat conduction from the plate members 52 to thefan grilled housing 1.An insulatorwasher can be provided at each connecting lug member 53, 54for reducing the heat energy conducted to the housing 1.

For both the first and second preferred embodiments,the fan further includes a rotating shaft 22 of the motor 2 extending out ofthe motor with a front end portion and a rear end portion. A reducing mechanism 7 and a rotatable grilled plate 8 which can changethedirection ofthedeliveredairfromthefan3 are provided at the front end portion ofthe motor shaft 2 and a plurality of A.B.S. plasticfan impellers 30 are provided atthe rear end portion ofthe motorshaft22.

A grilled cover 14 connected with the casing 1 covers the plastic impellers 30 ofthe fan 3.

When the motor 2 operates, the fan impellers 30 draw air in through the rear grilled cover 14, pass it overthe heating means and discharge warm air through the front rotatable grilled plate. Sincethe heating means is provided, cold air can be drawn in efficiently and heated up, and the heated air can be discharged to warm the space efficiently.

The operation of the fan of the two preferred embodiments can be clearly understood by referring to Fig. 10 which shows the electric circuit 4 and other controlling components. The electric circuit 4 includes a timer switch A', a selecting switch 40 for selecting the function of the fan as an ordinary cooling fan (to connect with end portion 401) or a heating fan (to connect with end portion 402). The controlling switch 41 includes a stop button switch B, and three control button switches C, D,E for strong, intermediate, and weak air-blowing, as a choke 42 can reduce the rotating speed ofthe motor 2. When the selecting switch 40 isturned on to connect with the bottom end portion 402, electric powercan be supplied tothe heating means to heat up the heating means.The fan speeds can be selected whether the fan is being operated in a heating function ora cooling function.

Athermal switch device 6 with a sensor is provided at the heating means connecting with the electric circuit 4forturning offthe electric power to the heating means automatically based on the maximum limited temperature ofthe heating means for safety's sake ifthe driving motor 2 is out of operation.

While the invention has been described with what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notto be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spiritand scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. An improved multiusefan including a grilled housing, a motor mounted in said housing, a fan driven by the motor, an electric circuit for controlling said motor, and the improvements wherein a radially extending heating meanswithtwo portions, which are inclined with respect to each other and which form a summit portion attheconnection of said two portion offorming said radially extending heating means, and a heating ring member provided on said summit portion of said radially extending heating means.

2. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said heating means includes a grating including an innermost ring member coaxial with said fan, one portion of said grating being first narrow plates extending parallelly and radially from said innermost ring memberand inclining forward relative to the plane ofthe innermost ring member, an intermediate ring member connected to ends ofthe first narrow plates and another portion of said grating being second narrow plates extending parallellyand radially from the intermediate ring member and inclining rearward relative to the plane of said intermediate ring member and an outermost ring connected to ends of the second narrow plates, wherein said summit portion is formed atthe connection of said first narrow plates and said second narrow plates, an annular groove is provided at said summit portion, and a first heating ring member is received in said groove.

3. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said heating means includes a second heating ring and a plurality of conducting plate members which extend parallelly an radially from said second heating ring and which are separated at a fixed distance and arranged so that two flat surfaces of each respective plate member are parallel to a direction in which said fan delivers air, wherein each of said conducting plate members has two portions which are inclined with respect to each other so that said two inclined portions and said summit of said heating means informed by said plurality of conducting plate members and said heating ring member is passed through said summit portion.

4. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a plurality of first connecting means is provided at an inner end of some of said plate members adjacent to said motor and a second plurality of connecting means is provided at an outer end of some of said plate members for retaining said second heating ring firmly in said housing.

5. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said first and second connecting means are lug members integrally connected with said plate members, each lug member having a screw hole for connecting said heating ring with said housing by a screwthrough said screw hole.

6. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said connecting lug members further include an opening to form a gap which can reduce heat conduction from said plate members of said heating ring to said housing.

7. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said second heating ring and said plurality of conducting plate members are provided in front ofthe impellers of said fan in a position thatthe ends of said plate members diverge towards a front position of said fan so that said fan is not easily harmed bythe heatenergyfrom said plate members.

8. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 7, wherein each of said plate members is made of aluminium and is integrally provided on said heating ring by molding.

9 An improved fan as claimed in Claim 1, in which said heating means and said motor are electrically connected in such a mannerthatthey can be energized simultaneouslyandthatsaid motor can also be operated alone.

10. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the improvements further includes a selector switch for controlling said motor and said fan.

11. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said fan has a rotary front grill atthefront side of said housing and a reargrilledcoveratthe rear side of said housing.

12. An improved fan as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said electric circuit includes a thermal switch device with a sensorforturning off the electric power to said heating means automatically based on a maximum limited temperature of said heating means for safety's sake if said driving motor is out of operation.

13. An improved fan with a novel heating device substantially as hereinbefore described with refer enceto, and as illustrated in, Figs. 1 to 4 and 10; or Figs. 5 to 10 ofthe accompanying drawings.