Ceiling Fan Adapting Assembly With Semi-Spherical Rotary Shaft
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling fans with metal rotary shafts are bulky, heavy, and costly due to their weight and volume, leading to increased power consumption and reduced service life, as well as higher transportation costs.
Innovation Solution
The adapting assembly features a semi-circular seat with a semi-spherical guiding portion and a through recess in the rotary shaft, paired with a lower sealing ring having protrusions, which reduces the overall volume and weight by allowing coordinated rotation, thus reducing the load on the motor and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a metal rotary shaft is used in a conventional ceiling fan, then the structure is strong and stable, but the ceiling fan becomes bulky and heavy, increasing power consumption and transportation cost
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary shaft is divided into two separate components: a stationary seat and a rotatable guiding portion. The seat remains fixed while only the guiding portion rotates, significantly reducing the weight of the moving part while maintaining structural strength through the stationary seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable functional element (guiding portion) is extracted from the heavy metal rotary shaft and separated into a lightweight component that can be made from non-metallic materials, eliminating the need for the entire shaft to be heavy metal.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a metal rotary shaft with significant volume is used, then the structure is stable, but the ceiling fan becomes bulky and transportation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the rotary shaft into a stationary seat and a compact rotatable guiding portion, the overall volume is reduced. The guiding portion can be designed with minimal volume while maintaining rotational stability through its spherical geometry and guiding surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding portion is designed with a spherical shape that provides stable rotation with minimal volume. The spherical geometry naturally distributes stresses and maintains stability while occupying less space compared to traditional cylindrical metal shafts.
3Reliability
If elongated grooves are formed on the spherical portion of the rotary shaft, then the sealing structure is achieved, but it is hard to form the grooves on the solid metal spherical portion
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the rotary shaft into a seat and a guiding portion, the grooves can be formed on the guiding portion which is more accessible and easier to manufacture. The guiding portion can be produced using molding or other easier fabrication methods compared to machining grooves on a solid metal sphere.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding portion can be manufactured as a disposable or replaceable component using cost-effective methods. Instead of expensive and difficult metal machining, the guiding portion can be made from plastics or other materials that are easier and cheaper to form with required features.
4Strength
If a heavy metal rotary shaft is used, then the structure is robust, but the load on the rotating motor is increased, reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the stationary seat (providing structural robustness) from the rotatable guiding portion (minimizing moving mass), the motor only needs to rotate the lightweight guiding portion. This dramatically reduces the load on the motor, extending its service life while the stationary seat maintains overall structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary seat acts as a counterweight that provides structural support without adding to the rotating mass. By anchoring the heavy component stationary and only rotating the lightweight guiding portion, the system achieves both robustness and reduced motor load.
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling fan includes an adapting assembly having at least one rotary shaft and a lower sealing ring. Each rotary shaft has a seat being semi-circular and a guiding portion being semi-spherical and having a guiding surface. The lower sealing ring has at least one protrusion. The guiding portion is mounted through the lower sealing ring and the guiding surface abuts against the at least one protrusion. With the seat of the rotary shaft being semi-circular and the guiding portion being semi-spherical, when the rotary shaft is rotated, the guiding surface and the at least one protrusion coordinate with each other to rotate. The adapting assembly has reduced volume. Accordingly, the ceiling fan is lightweight, has reduced power consumption and manufacturing cost, and is easy for installation.