Folding Ceiling Fan-Light Gear Synchronization for Compact Balance
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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 unbalanced operation and dust accumulation issues.
Innovation Solution
A combined ceiling fan and light fitting with folding blades that utilize a gear mechanism for synchronized rotation, where resilient elements bias the blades into folded positions, and centrifugal force extends them when the motor operates, with a synchronizing mechanism that includes a sun gear and planet gears to ensure balanced operation and concealment of gears.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If links extend from each blade to a rotatable synchronizing ring, then blade synchronization is achieved, but the parts count increases and assembly becomes labour-intensive requiring skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the blade support structure with the synchronizing mechanism by integrating the blade support arms directly into the rotating support structure. This eliminates the separate synchronizing ring and links, reducing parts count while maintaining synchronization through the shared rotational movement of the integrated support structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade support structure serves dual functions: it provides mechanical support for the blades and simultaneously acts as the synchronizing mechanism. The support arms are designed to rotate with the motor while maintaining fixed angular relationships between blades, combining structural support and synchronization control in a single component system.
2Reliability
If the synchronizing mechanism including the synchronizing ring is positioned substantially above the fan motor, then blade synchronization is achieved, but achieving a compact design becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the synchronizing function from a vertical arrangement (above the motor) to a radial arrangement within the motor housing plane. The blade support arms extend radially from the motor shaft, allowing synchronization to occur in the horizontal dimension rather than requiring vertical space above the motor, thus achieving a compact overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronizing mechanism is nested within the motor housing structure. The blade support arms are contained within the motor casing, with the synchronizing function integrated into the motor's rotational assembly. This nesting eliminates the need for additional external space and achieves a compact integrated design.
3Ease of manufacture
If clearances exist between the links and the holes accommodating them in the blades and synchronizing ring, then assembly is simplified, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates leading to significant unbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clearance tolerance issue by eliminating the link-and-hole connection system entirely. Instead of using separate links that require precise hole alignment, the design uses rigidly attached blade support arms that are integral to the rotating support structure, removing the source of clearance-induced synchronization errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade support arms are merged with the rotating support structure as integral components rather than separate parts requiring assembly through holes and links. This integration eliminates clearances between separate components while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular assembly of the integrated units.
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 simplifies assembly, reduces parts count, achieves better synchronization, and conceals gears from dust, resulting in a balanced, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing air-moving performance.
Implementation Method 1
resilient elements arranged to bias the fan blades into their folded positions
Implementation Method 2
the fan blades being arranged to be rotated about their blade pivot axes by centrifugal force when the electric motor is operative
Implementation Method 3
each blade having a first gear mechanism arranged to rotate with each blade about its blade pivot axis; a second gear mechanism on the ring so as to be rotatable therewith wherein each first gear mechanism is arranged to mesh with the second gear mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A combined ceiling fan and light fitting (fan/light) having folding fan blades is provided. The fan light has a blade support arranged to be rotated by an electric motor, with blades being secured to the blade support, a root end of each blade being pivotable between folded and operative positions about a blade pivot axis fixed in the blade support. In one aspect of the invention, an improved mechanism is provided for synchronizing movement of the blades. This uses a sun gear mounted to the blade support and arranged to mesh with planet gears that rotate about the blade pivot axes. In addition improvements are provided to blades and blade mounting arrangements that balance compact folding of the blades and good air moving effectiveness.