Fan Motor Vibration Isolation Using Elastomeric Spacers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional external rotor ceiling fans experience significant vibrations during operation, leading to noise and potential damage, as these vibrations are not effectively isolated by existing rubber pads or screw connections between the motor and fan blades.
Innovation Solution
A hub assembly with resilient members, such as elastomeric spacers, is interposed between the motor housing and the hub, and fasteners, which are designed to reduce vibration transmission by elastic deformation, thereby isolating the motor from the fan blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rubber pad is provided between the rotor and fan blades to reduce vibrations, then vibration reduction is achieved, but the vibration isolation is minimal because the pad is directly connected to both fan blade holders and motor, and screws transfer vibrations through direct connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces resilient members as intermediary elements between the motor housing and hub, and between the hub and fan blades. These resilient members act as mediators that decouple the direct rigid connections, allowing vibration isolation while maintaining structural integrity and component positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The vibration isolation system is segmented into multiple independent resilient members positioned at different locations (between motor housing and hub, and between hub and fan blades). This segmentation allows each resilient member to independently dampen vibrations, providing comprehensive vibration isolation throughout the assembly.
2Strength
If screws are used to connect motor housing to hub and hub to fan blades for structural integrity, then mechanical strength is maintained, but vibrations are transferred directly between motor and fan blades through the screw connections
Solution Approach 1:
Resilient members are introduced as intermediary elements between the screw connections and the components they join. These resilient members maintain the mechanical connection while dampening vibration transmission, effectively decoupling the strength function from the vibration transfer path.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines rigid screw connections for structural integrity with flexible resilient members for vibration damping. This composite approach integrates materials with different mechanical properties to simultaneously achieve strength and vibration isolation.
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 vibration isolation system significantly reduces the transfer of vibrations between the motor and fan blades, minimizing noise and potential damage, while allowing for efficient airflow and motor rotation.
Implementation Method 1
resilient members, such as elastomeric spacers, is interposed between the motor housing and the hub, and fasteners, which are designed to reduce vibration transmission by elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A hub assembly for a fan reduces transmission of vibrations between the fan motor and the fan blades. The hub assembly comprises a motor assembly, a hub, and a plurality of resilient members. The motor assembly includes a motor and a motor housing surrounding the motor, and the motor is configured to rotate the motor housing during operation. The hub is supported on the motor housing by a plurality of fasteners. The resilient members are at least partially interposed between the hub and the motor housing, and each resilient member of the plurality of resilient members surrounds a portion of a corresponding fastener of the plurality of fasteners.