Fan Support Assembly Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fan assemblies face challenges in reducing vibrational noise, motional wavering, and ease of assembly, particularly when mounted on conventional or sloped ceilings, while maintaining quiet operation.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly for fans featuring a hanging member with a central passage and elongate support member, incorporating resilient interface members with ribs and fastener apertures, which dampen vibrations and facilitate easy installation by compressing resilient materials to align and secure the fan assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional rigid support arrangements are used, then structural strength is maintained, but vibrational noise and motional wavering increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by incorporating resilient interface members (rubber or foam material) between the elongate support member and the hanging member before assembly. These cushioning elements are positioned in advance to absorb and dampen vibrations generated during fan operation, reducing vibrational noise and motional wavering while maintaining structural integrity through the combination of rigid and resilient components.
2Reliability
If complex assembly procedures are used, then secure mounting is achieved, but ease of assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service through the resilient interface members that automatically expand to fill and secure the central passage when the elongate support member is inserted into the hanging member. The resilient material's natural expansion force creates a self-locking mechanism that secures the mounting without requiring additional fasteners or complex assembly steps, allowing customers to easily assemble the fan while ensuring reliable mounting.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized mounting components are used, then adaptability to different ceiling types is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the hanging member with a central passage and resilient interface members that can accommodate various ceiling types (horizontal or sloped) using the same basic mounting components. The resilient material adapts to different geometries and angles, allowing the fan assembly to be mounted on conventional horizontal ceilings or vaulted/sloped ceilings without requiring specialized mounting hardware for each ceiling type, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining adaptability.
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 solution effectively reduces vibrational noise and motional wavering, enhancing the assembly process by using resilient materials to dampen vibrations and secure the fan assembly, making it quieter and easier to install on various ceiling types.
Implementation Method 1
a first resilient interface member interposed between the elongate support member and the inner circumferential surface of the hanging member
Implementation Method 2
resilient interface member... including a first plurality of outwardly extending ribs configured to engage the inner circumferential surface
Data Source
AI summary
A support assembly for a fan includes a hanging member, an elongate support member, a resilient interface member, and a fastener member. The hanging member has a support surface and an inner circumferential surface defining a central passage. The elongate support member includes a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion extending into the central passage and defining a first fastener aperture and a second fastener aperture. The resilient interface member is interposed between the elongate support member and the central passage, includes a first plurality of outwardly extending ribs configured to engage the inner circumferential surface in the central passage, and defines a third fastener aperture substantially aligned with the first fastener aperture and a fourth fastener aperture substantially aligned with the second fastener aperture. The fastener member extends through the fastener apertures and is supported by the support surface.