Fan assembly

Abstract

There is provided a fan assembly including a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an airflow generator arranged to generate an airflow, and an air outlet arranged to emit at least a portion of the airflow from the fan assembly, the air outlet arranged to oscillate relative to the base, the fan assembly further comprising a controller arranged to control the oscillation of the air outlet relative to the base, the controller arranged to vary the velocity of oscillation of the air outlet with each oscillation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fan assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional household fans used for thermal comfort and / or environmental or temperature control purposes typically generate a relatively stable air flow. However, studies on thermal comfort have shown that natural winds and gentle breezes can provide a greater sense of coolness than these stable artificial air flows. In particular, both field studies and control experiments have suggested that natural gentle breezes can produce a greater thermal response or sense of warmth in humans when compared to a constant air flow.

[0003] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a fan assembly that can generate an air flow that reproduces the flow characteristics of natural wind and thus can be considered to provide a more comfortable sense of coolness than that provided by a stable artificial air flow. However, taking into account the seemingly chaotic or irregular nature of the wind and the scale of its fluid mechanics, reproducing natural outdoor air flows in an indoor environment is a difficult task.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a fan assembly that can generate an air flow that reproduces the flow characteristics of natural wind and can thus be considered to provide improved thermal comfort to the user. Accordingly, the inventors have used the turbulent flow statistical method to develop a wind profile at a typical human height and have identified some of the characteristics representing natural wind at such height. Next, the inventors determined that it is difficult to generate an air flow having characteristics corresponding to those determined for natural wind using conventional vibration methodologies. However, the inventors then found that the air flow can be vibrated aperiodically in a way that can realistically simulate the identified characteristics of natural wind over a frequency range relevant to humans. In particular, the inventors found that the identified characteristics of natural wind can be reproduced by a fan assembly that can vibrate the air outlet at a vibration speed that changes for each vibration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to a first aspect, there is provided a fan assembly including a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow, and an air outlet arranged to discharge at least a part of the air flow from the fan assembly, the air outlet being arranged to vibrate with respect to the base. The fan assembly further includes a controller arranged to control the vibration of the air outlet with respect to the base, the controller being arranged to change the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration.

[0006] The controller can be arranged to randomly change the vibration speed. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the vibration speed used for each vibration. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the vibration speed used for each vibration from within the range of vibration speeds. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the vibration speed from between the upper limit speed and the lower limit speed. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the vibration speed used for each vibration from a plurality of vibration speeds evenly distributed from the lower limit speed to the upper limit speed.

[0007] The controller can further be arranged to change the magnitude of the vibration of the air outlet for each vibration. The controller can be arranged to randomly change the magnitude of the vibration. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the magnitude of the vibration used for each vibration. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the magnitude of the vibration used for each vibration from within the range of vibrations. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the magnitude of the vibration from between the upper limit of the vibration and the lower limit of the vibration. The controller can be arranged to randomly select the magnitude of the vibration used for each vibration from a plurality of magnitudes of vibrations evenly distributed from the upper limit of the vibration to the lower limit of the vibration.

[0008] The controller can be configured with a plurality of vibration modes. In that case, when the controller is in at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, it can be arranged to change the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration. When the controller is in another mode of at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, it can be arranged to change both the vibration speed and the magnitude of the vibration of the air outlet for each vibration. When the controller is in another mode of at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, it can be arranged to maintain the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration (i.e., use a single constant vibration speed for each vibration). When the controller is in another mode of at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, it can be arranged to maintain the air outlet in a stationary state.

[0009] The controller can be configured with a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode. The first vibration mode is different from the second vibration mode. In that case, when the controller is in the first vibration mode, it can be arranged to change the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration. Next, when the controller is in the second vibration, it can be arranged to maintain the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration (i.e., use a single constant vibration speed for each vibration). The controller can be configured with a third vibration mode. In that case, when the controller is in the third vibration mode, it can be arranged to maintain the air outlet in a stationary state. The controller can be configured with a fourth vibration mode. In that case, it can be arranged to change both the vibration speed and the magnitude of the vibration of the air outlet for each vibration.

[0010] The fan assembly may include a nozzle, and the air outlet is provided on the nozzle. The fan body can accommodate an air flow generator, and includes an air inlet for drawing air flow into the body by the air flow generator and an air outlet downstream of the air flow generator for discharging the air flow from the body. Next, the nozzle can be attached onto the air outlet of the body. Next, the nozzle can be arranged to receive the air flow discharged from the air outlet of the body.

[0011] The nozzle can include a nozzle body fixed to the base, and then the air outlet can be arranged to vibrate with respect to the nozzle body. The fan assembly can include a fan body, in which case the nozzle is attached to the fan body. Next, the nozzle can be arranged to vibrate with respect to the base such that the air outlet vibrates with respect to the base. The fan body may be fixedly attached to the base, in which case the nozzle can be arranged to vibrate with respect to the fan body such that the air outlet vibrates with respect to the base. Alternatively, the fan body may include the base, in which case the nozzle can be arranged to vibrate with respect to the fan body such that the air outlet vibrates with respect to the base. The nozzle can be fixed to the fan body, in which case the fan body can be arranged to vibrate with respect to the base such that the air outlet vibrates with respect to the base.

[0012] The fan assembly may include two or more air outlets, in which case the two or more air outlets can be arranged to vibrate independently with respect to the base. The controller can be configured to independently vary the vibration speed of each of the two or more air outlets for each vibration. The controller may be configured to ensure that for each vibration, the vibration speed of each of the two or more air outlets is different from the vibration speed of the other of the two or more air outlets.

[0013] The fan assembly can include a further air outlet arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly, this further air outlet being arranged to vibrate with respect to the base, and the controller being arranged to control the vibration of the further air outlet with respect to the base. The controller can be arranged to independently vary the vibration speed of both the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration. The controller can be arranged to ensure that for each vibration, the vibration speed of the air outlet is different from the vibration speed of the further air outlet.

[0014] A fan assembly is also provided that includes a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow, and one or more air outlets each arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly, and the one or more air outlets are arranged to vibrate relative to the base. The fan assembly further comprises a controller arranged to control the vibration of the one or more air outlets relative to the base, and the controller is arranged to vary the vibration speed of the one or more air outlets for each vibration. The fan assembly can include two or more air outlets arranged to vibrate independently of the base, in which case the controller can be arranged to independently vary the vibration speed of the two or more air outlets for each vibration.

[0015] A fan assembly is also provided that includes a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow, and two or more air outlets each arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly, and the two or more air outlets are arranged to vibrate independently of the base. The fan assembly further comprises a controller arranged to control the respective vibrations of the two or more air outlets relative to the base, and the controller is arranged to independently vary the respective vibration speeds of the two or more air outlets for each vibration.

[0016] A fan assembly is also provided that includes a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow, and a first air outlet and a second air outlet each arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly, and the first and second air outlets are arranged to vibrate independently of the base. The fan assembly further comprises a controller arranged to control the respective vibrations of the first and second air outlets relative to the base, and the controller is arranged to independently vary the respective vibration speeds of the first and second air outlets for each vibration.

[0017] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of mere example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

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Figure 10

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Next, a fan assembly including a nozzle will be described that can generate an air flow that reproduces the flow characteristics of natural wind and can thus be considered to provide improved thermal comfort to the user. As used herein, the term "fan assembly" refers to a fan assembly configured to generate and deliver an air flow for the purpose of thermal comfort and / or environmental or temperature control. Such a fan assembly can generate one or more of a dehumidified air flow, a humidified air flow, a purified air flow, a filtered air flow, a cooled air flow, and a heated air flow.

[0020] The fan assembly includes a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface, an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow, and an air outlet arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly, and this air outlet is arranged to vibrate relative to the base. The fan assembly further includes a controller arranged to control the vibration of the air outlet relative to the base, and the controller is arranged to vary the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration.

[0021] As used herein, the term "vibration" refers to a motion that repeatedly switches between a motion in a first direction and a motion in a second direction opposite to the first direction. In particular, vibration can include back-and-forth motion between two fixed endpoints and / or around a fixed center point, but the term "vibration" as used herein is not intended to be limited to such a pattern of motion, and includes back-and-forth motion between variable endpoints and / or the motion has no fixed center point. Thus, the terms "vibration" and "single vibration" as used herein refer to a complete motion in a particular direction. For example, vibration includes the motion in a particular direction that occurs between the most recent direction change and the next direction change.

[0022] As used herein, the term "vibration speed" refers to the speed or rate of vibration (i.e., the speed of motion during vibration). For example, in the case of a fan assembly, the vibration of the air outlet typically involves rotation of the air outlet about an axis of rotation such that the speed at which the air outlet vibrates includes a rotational speed or angular velocity in radians or degrees per second. In that case, the term "amplitude of vibration" as used herein refers to the size or extent of the vibration. For example, in the case of a fan assembly where the vibration of the air outlet involves rotation of the air outlet about an axis of rotation, the amplitude of vibration will include the angle of vibration / rotation, i.e., the angle by which the air outlet rotates during vibration. The term "vibration frequency" as used herein refers to the number of individual vibrations that occur within a period of time and can be provided in hertz (Hz). Thus, the vibration frequency is defined by the combination of the vibration speed and the amplitude of vibration of each vibration.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is arranged to randomly vary the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration. In particular, the controller is preferably arranged to randomly select the vibration speed to be used for each vibration from within a predetermined range of vibration speeds. For example, this predetermined range of vibration speeds can be defined by an upper limit of the vibration speed and a lower limit of the vibration speed, whereby the controller is arranged to randomly select a vibration speed that is between the upper limit of the vibration speed and the lower limit of the vibration speed. As a further example, the controller may be arranged to use a random number generator to select one of a range of values that all have an equal probability of being selected, and then perform a look-up to identify the vibration speed corresponding to the randomly selected value. When using this approach, it is preferable for the controller to store or be configured to access a look-up table that includes the vibration speeds for each available value, and these vibration speeds are separated at equal intervals from the lower limit of the vibration speed to the upper limit of the vibration speed.

[0024] In any embodiment, the controller is arranged to vary both the vibration speed and the magnitude of the vibration for each vibration of the air outlet. In that case, the controller can be arranged to randomly vary the magnitude of the vibration of the air outlet for each vibration. In particular, the controller can be arranged to randomly select the magnitude of the vibration to be used for each vibration from within a predetermined range of magnitudes of the vibration. For example, this predetermined range of magnitudes of the vibration can be defined by an upper limit of the magnitude of the vibration and a lower limit of the magnitude of the vibration, whereby the controller can be arranged to randomly select a magnitude of the vibration that is between the upper limit of the magnitude of the vibration and the lower limit of the magnitude of the vibration.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the controller is configured to select, for each vibration, parameters (such as vibration speed and vibration magnitude) from a predetermined range that substantially corresponds to a vibration frequency of 0.15 Hz to 2 Hz, preferably 0.2 Hz to 1.5 Hz. In this regard, the frequency range of human perception is usually 0.15 Hz to 2 Hz, while most perceptions are found to be included in 0.2 Hz to 1.5 Hz.

[0026] FIGS. 1 and 2 are external views of an embodiment of the fan assembly 1000 according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of the fan assembly 1000, and FIG. 2 shows a front view of the fan assembly 1000. Next, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the fan assembly 1000.

[0027] The fan assembly 1000 includes a main body or stand 1100 having an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow through the fan assembly 1000, and a nozzle 1200 attached to the fan main body 1100 arranged to discharge the air flow from the fan assembly 1000. The fan main body 1100 includes an air inlet 1101 through which the air flow is drawn into the fan main body 1100 by the air flow generator, and an air outlet / vent 1102 downstream of the air flow generator for discharging the air flow from the fan main body 1100 to the nozzle 1200. Next, the nozzle 1200 includes a first air outlet 1201 and a second air outlet 1202 each arranged to discharge at least a part of the air flow from the fan assembly 1000.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the fan body 1100 includes a cylindrical housing / casing 1103 having side walls, a closed lower end, and an open upper end. Next, the air inlet 1101 of the fan body 1100 is provided in the side wall of the casing 1103. In the illustrated embodiment, the air inlet 1101 to the body 1100 of the fan assembly 1000 comprises a row of openings formed in the side wall of the outer casing 1103. However, the air inlet 1101 can alternatively include one or more grills or meshes mounted within a window formed in the side wall. Next, the closed lower end of the outer casing 1103 provides a base 1104 (i.e., a bottom surface) on which the fan assembly 1000 is placed / supported, while the open upper end provides an air outlet / vent 1102 from which an air stream is discharged from the fan body 1100 into the nozzle 1200.

[0029] The air flow generator is disposed within the fan body 1100. In the illustrated embodiment, the air flow generator is provided by an electric impeller housed within an impeller housing 1105 supported towards the upper end inside the fan body 1100. In particular, the air flow generator includes an impeller 1106 connected to a rotating shaft 1107 extending outwardly from a motor 1108. In the illustrated embodiment, the impeller 1106 is in the form of a mixed flow impeller and the motor 1108 is a DC brushless motor.

[0030] Also disposed within the fan body 1100 are various electronic components of the fan assembly 1000, including a controller 1109 configured to control the various functions of the fan assembly 1000. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 1109 comprises electronic components mounted on a circuit board having an electronic interface with both a vibration motor 1110 and an air flow generator. For example, the electronic components of the controller 1109 can include a processor, such as a central processing unit or a microprocessor, and a memory. In that case, the memory can be composed of both a primary storage device, such as a random access memory (RAM) directly accessible by the processor, and a secondary storage device for any data, such as any computer program / software application implemented by the processor.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the interior of the casing 1103 is separated into a lower portion and an upper portion by a platform 1111 disposed within the casing 1103 at the lower end of the casing 1103. Thereby, the raised surface of the platform 1111 divides the interior of the outer casing 1103 into an upper and a lower portion, the lower portion including the portion of the interior of the casing 1103 that is below the surface, and the upper portion including the portion that is above the surface. Thereby, the lower portion provides a compartment 1112 within which are housed the various electronic components of the fan assembly 1000, including the controller 1109, while the platform 1111 is placed on the electronic device and forms a cover separating the electronic device from the remainder of the fan assembly 1000, and the upper portion provides a separate compartment 1113 within which is disposed an air flow generator, and into which air enters through the air inlet of the fan body 1100.

[0032] Next, the nozzle 1200 is attached onto the fan body 1100 above the air outlet 1102 and is arranged to receive the air flow discharged from the air outlet 1102 of the fan body 1100. The nozzle 1200 includes a nozzle body 1203, an air inlet 1204 arranged to receive the air flow from the body 1100 of the fan assembly 1000, and a pair of air outlets 1201, 1202 arranged to discharge the air flow from the fan assembly 1000. Next, the fan assembly 100 further includes a vibration mechanism for vibrating the nozzle body 1203 with respect to the fan body 1100. The nozzle vibration mechanism includes a vibration motor 1110 arranged to drive a driving member, and a driven member arranged to be driven by the driving member and rotate around a rotation axis. The driven member is provided on the nozzle body 1203, and both the vibration motor 1110 and the driving member are provided on the body 1100 of the fan assembly 1000. Therefore, FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a specific embodiment of the nozzle vibration mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, the driving member includes a pinion 1114, in which case the driven member includes an arcuate rack or ring gear 1205, and the rack 1205 includes a set of teeth that mesh with the teeth provided on the pinion 1114. Specifically, the driving member includes a spur gear or straight-cut gear having straight teeth protruding radially and aligned parallel to the rotation axis, and the driven member includes a spur rack or straight-cut rack having a plurality of straight teeth protruding radially and aligned parallel to the rotation axis.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle body 1203 has the general shape of a truncated sphere, with a first cut forming the circular face of the nozzle 1200 and a second cut forming the circular base of the nozzle 1200. The air inlet 1204 of the nozzle 1200 is then provided in the base of the nozzle 1200, while the first air outlet 1201 and the second air outlet 1202 are diametrically opposed on the face of the nozzle 1200. Next, the nozzle 1200 further includes an internal air passage 1206 that extends within the nozzle body 1203 between the air inlet 1204 and both the first and second air outlets 1201, 1202. Accordingly, the first outflow air stream discharged from the first air outlet 1201 and the second outflow air stream discharged from the second air outlet 1202 each include at least a portion of the inflow air stream that enters the nozzle 1200 through the air inlet 1204.

[0034] As described above, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the fan body 1100 includes a base 1104, and the nozzle 1200 is arranged to vibrate with respect to the fan body 1100 such that the air outlets 1201, 1202 vibrate with respect to the base 1204. Therefore, the controller 1209 is configured to control the vibration of the air outlets 1201, 1202 with respect to the base 1104 by controlling the nozzle vibration mechanism. In particular, the controller 1109 is configured to control a vibration motor 1110 arranged to drive a pinion 1114 that provides a driving member to the body 1100 of the fan assembly 1000. When controlling the nozzle vibration mechanism, the controller 1109 is configured to implement any one of four different vibration modes, and in response to an instruction received from a user of the fan assembly 1000 via a user interface, the controller 1109 operates in one of these four modes. Specifically, the four vibration modes include a stationary mode in which no vibration occurs, a conventional vibration mode in which the vibration speed is constant for all vibrations, a first wind synthesis mode in which the vibration speed changes between consecutive vibrations but the magnitude of the vibration is constant, and a second wind synthesis mode in which both the vibration speed and the magnitude of the vibration change between consecutive vibrations. In particular, in both the first and second wind synthesis modes, the controller 1109 is configured to randomly change the vibration speed for each vibration by randomly selecting the vibration speed used for each vibration from within a predetermined range of vibration speeds.

[0035] FIGS. 5 and 6 are external views of a further embodiment of the fan assembly 2000 according to the present invention. FIG. 5 shows an isometric view of the fan assembly 2000, and FIG. 6 shows a front view of the fan assembly 2000. Next, FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional side view of the fan assembly 2000.

[0036] The fan assembly 2000 includes a main body or stand 2100 that contains an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow through the fan assembly, and a nozzle 2200 attached to the fan main body 2100 and arranged to discharge the air flow from the fan assembly 2000. Next, the fan main body 2100 includes an air inlet 2101 through which the air flow is drawn into the main body 2100 by the air flow generator, and an air outlet / vent 2102 downstream of the air flow generator for discharging the air flow from the fan main body 2100 into the nozzle 2200. Next, the nozzle 2200 includes a first air outlet 2201 and a second air outlet 2202, which are each arranged to discharge at least a portion of the air flow from the fan assembly 2000.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the main body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000 includes a substantially cylindrical upper main body portion 2103 attached to a substantially cylindrical lower main body portion 2104. The upper main body portion 2103 of the fan assembly 2000 includes a cylindrical housing / casing 2105 having side walls. Next, the air inlet 2101 to the main body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000 includes a row of openings formed in the side walls of the casing 2105. In the illustrated embodiment, the air inlet 2101 to the main body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000 includes a row of openings formed in the side walls of the casing 2105. However, the air inlet 2101 can alternatively include one or more grills or meshes attached within a window formed in the side walls. Next, the upper end of the upper main body portion 2103 provides an air outlet / vent 2102 through which the air flow is discharged from the main body 2100 into the nozzle 2200, while the lower end of the lower main body portion 2104 provides a base 2106 on which the fan assembly 2000 is placed.

[0038] The air flow generator is disposed within the fan main body 2100. In the illustrated embodiment, the air flow generator is provided by an electric impeller housed within an impeller housing 2107 supported towards the upper end inside the fan main body 2100. In particular, the air flow generator includes an impeller 2108 connected to a rotating shaft 2109 extending outward from a motor 2110. In particular, the impeller 2108 is in the form of a mixed flow impeller, and the motor 2110 is a DC brushless motor. The upper body portion 2103 of the fan assembly 2000 is also arranged to support a removable filter assembly 2300 upstream of the air inlet 2101, whereby the air flow drawn through the air inlet 2101 by the electric impeller is filtered before entering the main body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000. Next, the upper body portion 2103 also includes a mechanism 2111 for holding and releasing the filter assembly 2300 from the main body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000.

[0039] Next, the nozzle 2200 is attached onto the fan body 2100 over the air outlet 2102 and is arranged to receive the air flow discharged from the air outlet 2102 of the fan body 2100. The nozzle 2200 includes a nozzle body 2203, an air inlet 2204 arranged to receive the air flow from the body 2100 of the fan assembly 2000, and a pair of air outlets 2201, 2202 arranged to discharge the air flow from the fan assembly 2000. In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle 2200 further includes a neck / base 2205 extending between the nozzle body 2203 and the upper end of the fan body 2100, and the outer surface of the base 2205 of the nozzle 2200 is substantially coplanar with the outer edge of the upper body portion 2103. Thus, the base 2205 of the nozzle 2200 provides a housing that covers / surrounds any components of the fan assembly 2000 provided on the upper surface of the fan body 2100. In particular, various electronic components of the fan assembly 2000, including a controller 2112 configured to control various functions of the fan assembly 20, are arranged within the base 2205 of the nozzle 2000. In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 2112 includes electronic components mounted on a circuit board having an electronic interface with the air flow generator and each of the vibration motors 2206, 2207. For example, the electronic components of the controller 2112 can include a processor such as a central processing unit or a microprocessor and a memory. In that case, the memory can include both a primary storage device such as a random access memory (RAM) directly accessible by the processor and a secondary storage device for any data such as any computer program / software application implemented by the processor.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the fan body 2100 includes the base 2106 of the fan assembly 2000, and the nozzle body 2203 is fixed to the fan body 2100. Next, the first air outlet 2201 and the second air outlet 2202 of the nozzle 2200 are arranged to vibrate with respect to the nozzle body 2203 such that the air outlets 2201, 2202 vibrate with respect to the base 2106. In particular, the first air outlet 2201 and the second air outlet 2202 are arranged to rotate independently with respect to the nozzle body 2203, whereby the direction of the portion of the air flow discharged by each of the air outlets 2201, 2202 can be changed without rotating the nozzle body 2203 with respect to the fan body 2100. Accordingly, the controller 2112 is arranged to control the vibration of the air outlets 2201, 2202 with respect to the base 2106 of the fan assembly 2000 by independently controlling the first air outlet vibration mechanism and the second air outlet vibration mechanism. In particular, the controller 2112 is configured to independently control the first vibration motor 2206 arranged to rotate the first air outlet 2201 and the second vibration motor 2207 arranged to rotate the second air outlet 2202.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle body 2203 often has an elongated annular shape called a stadium or disco rectangle shape, defining a bore 2208 and a central axis (X) of a corresponding shape having a height (measured in the direction extending from the upper end of the nozzle 2200 to the lower end of the nozzle 2200) greater than its width (measured in the direction extending between the side walls of the nozzle 2200). Accordingly, the nozzle body 2203 includes two parallel linear sides 2209, 2210 each adjacent to an elongated side surface of the bore 2208, an upper curved portion 2211 connecting the upper ends of the linear portions 2209, 2210, and a lower curved portion 2212 connecting the lower ends of the linear portions 2209, 2210.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiment, the nozzle body 2203 includes an elongated annular casing 2213 that extends around the central bore 2208 of the nozzle 2200. The nozzle casing 2213 defines an internal passage 2214 that is arranged to convey air from the air inlet 2204 of the nozzle 2200 to the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202. The internal passage 2214 defined by the casing 2213 can be considered to include first and second portions that extend in opposite directions around the internal bore 2208, such that air entering the nozzle 2200 via the air inlet 2204 enters the lower curved portion 2212 of the nozzle body 2203 and is split into two air streams, each flowing into the respective straight portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203.

[0043] Next, the parallel sides 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203 each form a separate elongated nozzle outlet portion that extends along substantially the entire length of the sides 2209, 2210. Each outlet portion then includes operable / controllable air outlets 2201, 2202 that are arranged to discharge a portion of the air flow from the nozzle 2200, and each air outlet 2201, 2202 is arranged to rotate independently of the nozzle casing 2213. Thus, the nozzle 2200 can change the direction of the portions of the air flow discharged by each of the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 without rotating the nozzle body 2203 relative to any part of the fan body 2100.

[0044] FIG. 8 is a top cross-sectional view of the nozzle 2200 of FIG. 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 each include an elongated, forward-facing opening defined by a corresponding outlet / sides of the nozzle body 2203, and generally cylindrical, elongated exhaust / outlet bodies 2215, 2216 disposed within the opening and arranged to rotate within the opening about the longitudinal axis (Y) of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216. Next, each of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 is provided with air outlet slots or channels 2217, 2218 that penetrate the width of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216, and thus air can flow out of the nozzle 2200 through the outlet bodies 2215, 2216. Thus, by rotating each of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 within the corresponding opening, the orientation of the corresponding air outlet channels 2217, 2218 relative to the nozzle body 2203 is changed, and thereby the direction of the air flow discharged from the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 is similarly changed. Thus, the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 of the nozzle are each elongated and operable, and are disposed on respective elongated sides of the central bore 2208 at the front of the nozzle 2200.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 each include outlet bodies 2215, 2216 that are generally cylindrical and thus have a circular cross-section, in which the air outlet channels 2217, 2218 are linear and extend radially through the outlet bodies 2215, 2216. Next, these operable air outlets 2201, 2202 are arranged such that a curved outer surface portion of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 projects outwardly through corresponding openings in the side portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203, and the inlet ends of the air outlet channels 2217, 2218 are provided in portions of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 disposed inside the corresponding side portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203, and the outlet ends of the air outlet channels 2217, 2218 are provided in portions of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 that are exposed through the corresponding openings in the side portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203. Next, bell mouths are provided at the inlet ends of the air outlet channels 2217, 2218 to assist in guiding the air flowing in the internal passage 2214 of the nozzle 2200 into the air outlet channels 2217, 2218. Accordingly, the operable first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 are each arranged to have a vibration range (θR) (i.e., the magnitude of the maximum vibration), and over this vibration range (θR), the air flow discharged from the nozzle 2200 through the corresponding outlet bodies 2215, 2216 can be varied.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a particular embodiment of an outlet body and an outlet oscillation mechanism suitable for use with both the first and second air outlets 2201, 2202 of the fan assembly 2000 shown in FIGS. 4-7, while FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the outlet body and the outlet oscillation mechanism of FIG. 9. In the illustrated embodiment, one end of the elongated outlet bodies 2215, 2216 is attached to the shafts of the oscillation motors 2206, 2207 such that the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 rotate within corresponding elongated openings in the side portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203 by the operation of the oscillation motors 2206, 2207. Next, the opposing ends of the outlet bodies 2215, 2216 are disposed within bearings 2219. Accordingly, the direction of the air flow discharged from each of the operable air outlets 2201, 2202 can be changed by controlling the corresponding oscillation motors 2206, 2207 to adjust the angular direction of the air outlet channels 2217, 2218. Next, the controller 2112 is configured to independently control a first oscillation motor 2206 arranged to rotate the outlet body 2215 of the first air outlet 2201 and a second oscillation motor 2207 arranged to rotate the outlet body 2216 of the second air outlet 2202.

[0047] When controlling the first and second air outlet oscillation mechanisms, the controller 2112 is configured to implement any one of four different oscillation modes, and the controller 2112 operates in one of these four modes in response to an instruction received from a user of the fan assembly 2000 via a user interface. Specifically, the four oscillation modes include a stationary mode in which no oscillation occurs, a conventional oscillation mode in which the oscillation speed is constant for all oscillations, a first wind synthesis mode in which the oscillation speed changes between consecutive oscillations but the magnitude of the oscillation is constant, and a second wind synthesis mode in which both the oscillation speed and the magnitude of the oscillation change between consecutive oscillations. In particular, in both the first and second wind synthesis modes, the controller 2112 is configured to randomly change the oscillation speed for each oscillation by randomly selecting the oscillation speed to be used for each oscillation from within a predetermined range of oscillation speeds.

[0048] To operate the fan assembly 2000, the user presses a button on the user interface. The user interface can be provided on the fan assembly 2000 itself, on a related remote control (not shown), and / or on a wireless computing device such as a tablet or smartphone (not shown) that communicates wirelessly with the fan assembly. This action by the user is transmitted to the controller 2112, and in response, the controller 2112 activates the fan motor 2110 to rotate the impeller 2108. The rotation of the impeller 2108 draws an air flow into the fan body 2100 through the air inlet 2101 via the filter assembly 2300. The user can control the speed of the fan motor 2110, and thus the speed at which air is drawn into the body through the air inlet 2101, by operating the user interface. The air flow sequentially passes through the filter assembly 2300, the air inlet 2101, the impeller housing 2107, and the vent 2102 at the open upper end of the body 2100 of the fan assembly 12000, and enters the internal passage 2214 of the nozzle 2200 through the air inlet 2204 disposed at the base 2205 of the nozzle 2200. Inside the internal passage 2214, the air flow is split into two air flows, which pass around the bore 2208 of the nozzle 2200 in opposite angular directions within the respective straight portions 2209, 2210 of the nozzle body 2203. When the air flow passes through the internal passage 2214, the air is discharged through both the first air outlet 2201 and the second air outlet 2202.

[0049] It will be understood that the individual items described above can be used alone or in combination with other items shown in the drawings or described in the specification, and that there is no need to combine items described in the same section or in the same drawing with each other. Further, the expression "means" can be replaced by an actuator or a system or a device as required. In addition, the references to "comprising" or "consisting of" are not intended to limit in any sense, and the reader should interpret the present specification and the claims appropriately.

[0050] Furthermore, although the present invention has been described with respect to the preferred embodiments as above, it should be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary. Those skilled in the art can create modifications and alternative forms in consideration of the present disclosure, and they are considered to be included in the appended claims. For example, those skilled in the art will understand that the above invention may be equally applicable not only to a freestanding fan assembly but also to other types of environmental control fan assemblies. By way of example, such a fan assembly may be any of a freestanding fan assembly, a ceiling-mounted or wall-mounted fan assembly, and an in-vehicle fan assembly.

[0051] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the fan assembly includes a nozzle attached to the main body of the fan assembly, but this is not essential. In particular, in an alternative embodiment, one or more air outlets of the fan assembly may be provided in the main body of the fan assembly so as not to require a nozzle. Next, the fan main body will be arranged to vibrate with respect to the base such that the air outlet vibrates with respect to the base. Similarly, in the above embodiment, the fan main body includes the base of the fan assembly such that the fan main body is fixed to the base, but in an alternative embodiment, the fan main body can be attached to the base. Next, the fan main body may be fixedly attached to the base, and any vibration of the air outlet requires either vibration of the air outlet itself or vibration of the nozzle including the air outlet. Alternatively, the fan main body may be arranged to vibrate with respect to the base such that any air outlet provided in the fan main body or a separate nozzle also vibrates with respect to the base.

[0052] Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the fan assembly includes a nozzle having two air outlets. However, in an alternative embodiment, the fan assembly can include only a single air outlet or more than two air outlets.

Claims

1. A fan assembly, comprising: a base arranged to support the fan assembly on a surface; an air flow generator arranged to generate an air flow; an air outlet arranged to discharge at least a part of the air flow from the fan assembly, the air outlet being arranged to vibrate with respect to the base; a controller arranged to control the vibration of the air outlet with respect to the base, the controller being arranged to change the vibration speed of the air outlet for each vibration; a further air outlet arranged to discharge at least a part of the air flow from the fan assembly; a nozzle provided with the air outlet and the further air outlet; and the further air outlet is configured to vibrate with respect to the base; the controller is arranged to control the vibration of the further air outlet with respect to the base; the controller is arranged to independently change the vibration speeds of both the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration; the air outlet and the further air outlet are further arranged to vibrate independently with respect to the nozzle; the air outlet and the further air outlet each comprise an elongated exhaust / outlet body having a longitudinal axis and arranged to vibrate about the longitudinal axis; the exhaust / outlet body is provided with an air outlet slot or channel.

2. The fan assembly according to claim 1, wherein the controller is arranged to randomly change the vibration speed.

3. The fan assembly according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the controller is arranged to randomly select the vibration speed used for each vibration.

4. The controller is arranged to randomly select the vibration speed used for each vibration from within the range of the vibration speed, the fan assembly according to claim 3.

5. The controller is arranged to randomly select the vibration speed from between the upper limit speed and the lower limit speed, the fan assembly according to any one of claims 3 or 4.

6. The controller is further arranged to change the magnitude of the vibration of the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration, the fan assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The controller is composed of a plurality of vibration modes for each of the air outlet and the further air outlet, and when in at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, the controller is arranged to change the vibration speed of each of the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration, the fan assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. When in the at least one of the plurality of vibration modes, the controller is arranged to change the vibration speed and the magnitude of the vibration of each of the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration, the fan assembly according to claim 7.

9. The plurality of vibration modes include a mode in which the controller maintains the vibration speed of each of the air outlet and the further air outlet for each vibration, the fan assembly according to any one of claims 7 or 8.

10. The plurality of vibration modes include a stationary mode in which the controller maintains each of the air outlet and the further air outlet in a stationary state, the fan assembly according to any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. The fan assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the controller is arranged to ensure that the vibration speed of the air outlet is different from the vibration speed of the further air outlet for each vibration.

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