Modular Ceiling Fan Housing for Focused Air Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ceiling fans disperse air over a wide area, failing to direct a focused column of air to localized areas, especially in commercial settings with high ceilings and aisles, leading to inefficient heating and cooling.
Innovation Solution
A modular ceiling fan housing unit with an elongated body and a fluid impelling device, featuring a flange and plates that create a focused column of air, which remains localized as it approaches the ground level, and can be coupled with other units for enhanced performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional ceiling fans are used to circulate air, then air is dispersed over a wide area, but the air does not reach localized areas effectively, resulting in temperature gradients and inefficient heating or cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The housing unit is divided into multiple functional segments: an elongated body element for structural support, a flange for mounting, and one or more plates positioned within the body. These segmented components work together to channel and focus the air column, with each segment contributing a specific function to achieve localized air delivery while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from the conventional two-dimensional air dispersion pattern to a three-dimensional focused air column. The elongated body element and plates create a vertical air column that maintains its focus as it descends through multiple feet, adding the dimension of vertical focus to the air distribution pattern and enabling effective delivery to localized floor areas
2Temperature
If air is dispersed over a wide area to avoid temperature gradients, then uniform temperature is achieved, but more air and energy are required
Solution Approach 1:
The housing unit creates different air flow qualities at different locations: a focused, high-velocity air column in the center that travels vertically to the floor, while peripheral air is minimized. This local quality approach delivers concentrated cooling or heating to specific zones rather than attempting uniform distribution throughout the entire space, reducing the total air volume and energy required
3Length of stationary object
If a ceiling fan is installed above ground level in commercial settings, then air can be distributed from elevated positions, but the air column disperses before reaching the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The invention successfully maintains the air column in the vertical dimension while it descends from elevated installation positions. The elongated body element and plates create a confined channel that prevents radial dispersion, allowing the air column to travel several feet vertically while maintaining focus, thus enabling effective operation from high ceiling positions in commercial buildings
Solution Approach 2:
The plates positioned within the elongated body element act as intermediaries that guide and confine the air flow. These plates create a controlled path for the air column, preventing it from dispersing as it travels downward, and ensuring the air reaches the ground level in a focused manner even when installed at elevated positions
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 modular design effectively directs a focused column of air to the ground level, maintaining its concentration even when installed above ground level, improving heating and cooling efficiency in commercial settings by minimizing air dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid impelling device, where the mounting bracket is operatively coupled to the fluid impelling device
Implementation Method 2
at least one plate is disposed within the elongated body element and is substantially perpendicular to the flange, which creates a column of downwardly moving fluid below the second end of the body element
Data Source
AI summary
A modular ceiling fan housing unit designed to create a focused column or columns of downwardly moving air such that there is little deflection when the column or columns of downwardly moving air arrives at the ground level. The modular ceiling fan housing includes an elongated body element having a fluid impelling device to create the downwardly moving air. At least one plate disposed within the elongated body element directs the downwardly moving air into columns. The modular ceiling fan housing unit may be coupled to another modular ceiling fan housing unit to provide additional columns of downwardly moving air. The modular ceiling fan housing units may be coupled in various configurations, depending on the type of application. Furthermore, the modular ceiling fan housing unit or multiple modular fan housing units may be coupled to an elevated structure located either above or below the housing units.