Ceiling Fan Blade Fall Prevention via Offset Through Hole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling fans do not effectively alert users to blade breakage during operation or at a standstill, as the amount of downward inclination of a broken blade root portion is small and difficult to notice.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling fan design incorporating a fall preventing member with a loop portion formed by a wire rod, which engages with the blade and support portion, holding the blade in place even if the attachment part is broken, allowing users to clearly recognize breakage through unstable posture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blade fall preventing portion is provided with an engaging portion and engaging hole structure, then blade safety is improved by preventing blade separation even if the root portion is broken, but the blade breakage detection capability deteriorates because the amount of downward inclination is small and hard for users to notice
Solution Approach 1:
The invention positions the through hole at an offset location from the center of the root portion, creating an asymmetric configuration. When the blade attachment breaks, the blade cannot maintain its original balanced position and exhibits noticeable downward inclination or unstable posture. This dimensional change in hole positioning transforms the invisible breakage into a visible positional deviation, solving the detection problem while maintaining the safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The through hole is deliberately positioned asymmetrically (at an offset location) rather than at the center of the root portion. This asymmetric design ensures that when the attachment fails, the blade's center of gravity shifts, creating observable instability or downward inclination. The asymmetry converts an internally hidden failure mode into an externally visible condition, enabling users to detect breakage easily.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the through hole is positioned at the center of the root portion, then the blade maintains stable attachment posture, but blade breakage becomes difficult to detect due to minimal downward inclination
Solution Approach 1:
The through hole is positioned at an offset location rather than at the center, creating an asymmetric configuration. This asymmetry ensures that when the attachment breaks, the blade's balance is disrupted and it exhibits noticeable downward inclination or unstable posture. The asymmetric design transforms hidden failure into visible detection while the blade remains securely attached during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the positional dimension of the through hole from center to offset location, the invention creates a lever arm effect. When attachment fails, this positional change causes the blade to tilt or incline noticeably, providing visual feedback. The dimensional change in hole positioning enables breakage detection without compromising attachment stability during normal use.
Data Source
AI summary
In a ceiling fan in which root portions of blades are attached to a support portion to be rotary driven, a fall preventing member having a loop portion formed by a wire rod is provided, a through hole of which the loop portion of the fall preventing member penetrates is provided on the root portions of the blades, the support portion is provided with an engaging portion which is engageable with the loop portion of the fall preventing member, the loop portion of the fall preventing member is disposed to be engageable with the engaging portion of the support portion, the loop portion is engaged with the engaging portion of the support portion when an attachment part of the support portion and the blades is broken, and the blades are supported on the support portion through the loop portion of the fall preventing member in a state in which inner edges of the root portions of the blades are positioned on an outside of an outer edge of the support portion.