Blade Iron Balancing via Segmented Ring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ceiling fans often experience wobble and vibration due to imbalanced blades, which leads to noise, reduced service life, and aesthetic issues, as existing systems lack an efficient method for automatic balancing.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling fan system featuring an electric motor, an annular array of blade irons with flexible balancing members that allow radial and pivotal movement, enabling automatic adjustment to achieve equilibrium and balance the blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If rigid blade iron mounting is used, then structural strength is improved, but blade imbalance and wobble increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade iron is transformed from a rigid fixed structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. The blade iron includes adjustment mechanisms that allow it to change its radial position and orientation during operation, enabling automatic balancing while maintaining structural strength through controlled flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system allows change in mounting parameters such as radial distance and angular position of blade irons. By adjusting these parameters, the system can compensate for manufacturing tolerances and achieve optimal blade balance without compromising the structural integrity of the blade iron itself.
2Ease of manufacture
If fixed blade mounting is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but automatic balancing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The blade iron mounting system is designed to automatically balance itself during operation without external intervention. The adjustment mechanisms respond to imbalance forces and self-correct the blade positions, eliminating the need for manual balancing procedures while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities that activate automatically during fan operation. The blade irons can move radially and pivot to achieve equilibrium positions based on operational conditions, providing automatic balancing while keeping the manufacturing process straightforward.
3Stability of the object's composition
If adjustable blade iron mounting is implemented, then blade balance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The blade iron is divided into functional segments: a mounting portion with adjustment mechanisms and a blade support portion. This segmentation allows the complex balancing function to be isolated to specific components while keeping the overall structure manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanisms are designed to provide automatic balancing through controlled movement rather than complex active control systems. The blade irons can adjust their positions passively in response to imbalance forces, reducing the need for additional sensors, actuators, and control electronics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively balances the blades by moving the blade irons to counteract imbalances, reducing wobble and vibration, thereby enhancing the operational stability and longevity of the ceiling fan.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible balancing member, and an annular array of blade irons coupled to the motor for radial movement relative to the motor. Each blade iron also has an end pivotally mounted to the flexible balancing member.
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling fan (50) is disclosed having a motor housing (51) which encases an electric motor (53). The motor includes a bottom mounting plate (54) that rotates and thereby drives an annular array of blade irons (56), each having a blade (57) mounted thereto in conventional fashion. Each blade iron is mounted for pivotal and radial movement relative to the bottom mounting plate. An annular segmented balancing ring (68) made of a plurality of links (69) causes pivotal and radial movement of other blade irons (76) in response to the radial movement of an off-balanced blade iron.