Folding Ceiling Fan Gear Mechanism for Synchronized Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Combined ceiling fans and light fittings with retractable blades have faced challenges in synchronization, assembly complexity, and achieving a compact design, leading to balance issues and dust accumulation, which have hindered their popularity.
Innovation Solution
A combined ceiling fan and light fitting with folding fan blades that utilize a planet gear and sun gear mechanism for synchronized movement, along with resilient means for centrifugal expansion and retraction, and a design that conceals the gears below the blade support, allowing for easier assembly and reduced parts count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a synchronizing mechanism with links and a rotatable ring is used, then blade synchronization is achieved, but the parts count increases and assembly becomes labour-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the synchronizing function with the blade support structure by integrating the rotatable ring directly into the blade support means. The links connect the blades to this integrated ring, eliminating the need for separate synchronizing components and reducing overall parts count while maintaining synchronization reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable ring serves multiple functions: it acts as both the synchronizing mechanism and the blade support structure. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying assembly while ensuring reliable blade synchronization during operation
2Reliability
If the synchronizing mechanism is positioned above the fan motor, then blade synchronization is achieved, but achieving a compact design becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the synchronizing mechanism from a vertical arrangement above the motor to a horizontal arrangement within the blade support plane. The rotatable ring and links are configured to operate in the radial plane rather than extending axially, reducing the overall height of the fan while maintaining synchronization functionality
3Ease of operation
If blades are made retractable, then appearance and cleaning are improved, but synchronization difficulty and balance issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates resilient means that continuously bias the blades toward their folded position. This preliminary action ensures that when the fan stops, the blades automatically return to a balanced folded state, preventing balance issues and maintaining synchronization without requiring complex control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient biasing mechanism provides continuous feedback to the blade positions, ensuring they return to the correct folded configuration after each operation. This automatic correction mechanism maintains synchronization and balance reliability while enabling the retractable blade functionality for improved appearance and cleaning
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 provides improved balance, reduced assembly complexity, and better concealment of gears, leading to enhanced performance and aesthetics, while maintaining air-moving efficiency and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
resilient means arranged to bias the fan blades into their folded positions the fan blades being arranged to be unfolded by centrifugal force when the electric motor is operative
Data Source
AI summary
A combined ceiling fan and light fitting (fan/light) (1) having folding fan blades (12) is provided. The fan light (1) has a blade support (13) arranged to be rotated by an electric motor (6), with blades (12) being secured to the blade support (13), a root end of each blade (12) being pivotable between folded and operative positions about a blade pivot axis-(14) fixed in the blade support (13). In one aspect of the invention, an improved mechanism is provided for synchronizing movement of the blades. This uses a sun gear (16) mounted to the blade support and arranged to mesh with planet gears (17) that rotate about the blade pivot axes (14). In addition improvements are provided to blades (12, 33, 60) and blade mounting arrangements that balance compact folding of the blades (12, 33, 60) and good air moving effectiveness.