Orientable Tower Crossflow Fan Layout for Low Vibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tower fans are difficult to balance, causing unwanted vibrations and noise, and are limited to a vertical orientation only.
Innovation Solution
A tower fan design with a double shafted motor and two shorter crossflow blowers, centrally mounted, allowing for stable operation in both vertical and horizontal positions, using modular supports for reconfiguration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single long crossflow blower is used in vertical orientation, then the fan can operate as a traditional tower fan, but the fan becomes difficult to balance and produces unwanted vibrations and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single long blower into two separate shorter blowers (first crossflow blower and second crossflow blower) positioned above and below the motor. This segmentation allows each blower to be independently balanced and reduces the overall length, thereby minimizing vibrations and noise while maintaining vertical tower fan operation.
2Device complexity
If the motor is mounted at the bottom of the unit, then the crossflow blower can be concentrically mounted above the motor, but the fan cannot be oriented in horizontal position and electrical wiring becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the fan with a centrally mounted motor and symmetric arrangement of two shorter blowers that enables the fan to operate in both vertical (tower fan) and horizontal (fan bar) orientations. The motor is positioned in the center of the fan body with blowers above and below, creating a universal design that supports multiple operational modes without requiring separate mechanisms for each orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-axis vertical motor-blower arrangement to a two-dimensional configuration where the motor is centrally positioned with blowers arranged above and below. This dimensional change in the motor-blower spatial relationship enables the fan to be oriented in both vertical and horizontal directions, providing orientation flexibility.
3Device complexity
If vertical tower fans use long blowers, then the fan structure is simplified, but the fans are difficult to balance and cause unwanted vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the long blower into two shorter blowers positioned above and below the motor. This segmentation improves balance stability by reducing the length of each individual blower, making them easier to balance while maintaining the overall fan structure's simplicity through the symmetric arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A tower fan is provided that includes a fan body having a double cross fan blower centered in the body of the fan with a motor positioned between the fan blowers. The tower fan is capable of being oriented in both the horizontal and vertical directions. The fan body may further include first and second ends and at least two supports. At least a first support is coupled to the first end of the fan body and a second support is removably coupled to the least second end of the fan body. The first and second ends of the fan body each have a groove for each receiving at least one of the two support members where each groove extends around the fan body. The supports may be removably coupled to the fan body or one of the at least two supports may be permanently coupled to the fan body.