Columnar Air Moving Device with Anti-Drip Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air de-stratification devices, such as ceiling fans and fans connected to vertical tubes, are ineffective in high-ceiling rooms and aesthetically unpleasing, while also being susceptible to damage from water or debris during cleaning in agricultural buildings.
Innovation Solution
A columnar air moving device with an enclosed housing, anti-drip structures, and a baffle member to prevent water ingress, featuring a rotary fan assembly and nozzle for directed air flow from ceiling to floor with minimal lateral dispersion, designed to withstand cleaning processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a ceiling fan is used for air de-stratification, then air circulation is improved, but the air flow disperses above the floor and fails to reach the floor effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple sections (first housing section, second housing section, third housing section) with each section containing specific components. The blades are segmented into multiple individual blades rather than a continuous structure, allowing for optimized air flow control at different stages of the air moving process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional ceiling fan blade operation to three-dimensional columnar air flow. The air moving device creates a vertical column of air that maintains coherence from ceiling to floor, adding the dimension of vertical coherence to the horizontal air movement.
2Productivity
If a fan connected to a vertical tube is used, then air de-stratification is achieved, but the device interferes with floor space and is aesthetically unpleasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the vertical tube component from the air moving device. The fan housing itself is designed to direct air flow vertically without requiring an external tube, thereby removing the space-consuming element while maintaining the air de-stratification function.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is merged with the air directing function. The first, second, and third housing sections are combined to form an integrated structure that both protects internal components and directs air flow, eliminating the need for separate tubes or ducts.
3Productivity
If a hanging air moving device is used in agricultural buildings, then air de-stratification is improved, but the device is susceptible to damage from water and debris during cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealed housing structure that encloses all internal components, creating a protective barrier against water and debris. The housing acts as a flexible shell that can be cleaned without exposing internal components to damaging elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes vulnerable internal components (motor, blades, bearings) from the cleaning environment by enclosing them within the sealed housing. This extraction of sensitive components from the harsh cleaning environment protects them from water and debris damage.
4Productivity
If conventional ceiling fans are used, then air movement is achieved, but lateral dispersion of air flow occurs and columnar pattern is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple sections with specific functions: the first housing section directs air upward, the second housing section contains the fan assembly, and the third housing section directs air downward. This segmentation allows precise control of air flow at different stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds vertical dimensionality to air flow control by creating distinct upward and downward air flow paths through different housing sections. This transforms conventional horizontal air movement into a controlled vertical columnar flow pattern.
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
Effectively de-stratifies air in high-ceiling spaces without interference from water or debris, maintaining operational integrity during cleaning and providing efficient air circulation with minimal lateral air dispersion.
Implementation Method 1
maximizing axial or columnar air flow quantity and velocity, thereby providing a column of air that flows from the high ceiling to the floor in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion
Implementation Method 2
the lip member flared outwardly away from the housing member so as to form a drip edge along the housing member
Implementation Method 3
a baffle member disposed at least partially within the interior space of the air moving device, the baffle member attached to the housing member and configured to redirect the volume air within the interior space
Data Source
AI summary
An air moving device includes a housing member, a rotary fan assembly, and a nozzle, the housing including a plurality of air vents. The air moving device further includes at least one anti-drip structure in the form of a peripheral lip member for inhibiting water from entering the air moving device. The air moving device further includes a baffle member that acts to redirect a volume of air that enters through the plurality of air vents.