Stowable Ceiling Fan Blades Magnetic Hinge Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional ceiling fans are impractical for shipping due to bulky packaging, require disassembly and reassembly, which can lead to imbalance and increased costs, and are exposed to elements when installed outdoors.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling fan design featuring stowable blades that can be magnetically coupled to a rotating hub, using hinges to transition between deployed and stowed configurations, allowing for compact shipping and protection from the elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ceiling fan blades are fixed in radial orientation, then the fan can be shipped fully assembled, but the packaging becomes bulky and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the fan blades movable rather than fixed. The blades are designed to rotate between a horizontal operational position and a vertical stowed position using gravity and magnetic coupling mechanisms. This dynamic configuration allows the fan to be shipped fully assembled in a compact vertical orientation, eliminating the need for bulky packaging while maintaining ease of shipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dimensionality change by transitioning the blades from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane. When stowed, the blades extend vertically along the motor housing rather than radiating horizontally, effectively utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal footprint and packaging volume required for shipping.
2Volume of moving object
If ceiling fan is shipped disassembled, then packaging volume is reduced, but assembly complexity and worker cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic blade design allows the fan to be shipped fully assembled in a compact vertical configuration. The blades are pre-attached to the motor housing but can be easily rotated to vertical position for shipping. This eliminates the need for disassembly while maintaining compact packaging, as the same mechanical structure serves both shipping and operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade mounting mechanism serves multiple functions: it allows the blades to be securely attached for operation, easily rotated to vertical position for compact shipping, and简单地 repositioned for installation. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate shipping and operational configurations, reducing both packaging volume and assembly complexity.
3Productivity
If ceiling fan blades remain deployed, then the fan can operate, but it is exposed to elements like wind and rain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the dynamics principle to enable the blades to change position between operational and protective states. During operation, the blades are in horizontal position for air circulation. During off-season or adverse weather, the blades rotate to vertical position, allowing a cover to be placed over the motor housing, thus protecting the fan from environmental elements while maintaining operational capability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ability to stow blades vertically creates a preliminary protective configuration before adverse weather occurs. The cover can be placed over the motor housing when blades are vertical, preventing water and debris accumulation that would otherwise occur during extended non-use periods in outdoor installations.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If ceiling fan is covered during off-season, then protection from elements is achieved, but blade deployment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic blade design with gravity-assisted rotation and magnetic coupling makes deployment easy. When the cover is removed, the blades can be simply rotated to horizontal position by applying minimal force to overcome magnetic coupling, then gravity and motor operation maintain the operational position. This is much easier than trying to deploy fixed blades that would require removing and reattaching components.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade mounting mechanism provides universal functionality for both protection and operation. The same mechanical connection that secures blades for operation also allows easy repositioning to vertical for covering. The magnetic coupling provides secure attachment during operation while allowing easy release for positioning changes, eliminating the need for complex deployment mechanisms.
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
Enables efficient, cost-effective shipping and installation of fully assembled fans, reduces noise and vibration, and provides protection from environmental exposure by allowing blades to be easily stowed and covered.
Implementation Method 1
At least one magnet is provided for coupling the at least one fan blade to the hub, such as by forming a magnetic coupling (with another magnet or magnetically attractive part)
Data Source
AI summary
A ceiling fan includes a hub adapted to be rotated, such as by an onboard motor in a low-profile motor housing. One or more fan blades are adapted to extend radially from the hub. At least one magnet is provided for coupling at least one fan blade to the hub. A hinge may connect the at least one fan blade to the hub, and may be located radially outwardly of overlapping portions of the fan blade and hub. In this manner, the blade may be adapted to extend radially from the hub when deployed and generally vertically when stowed, but in a deployed configuration, the radial extension overlies and contacts at least a portion of the fan blade along an overlapping region, but does not contact the portion of the at least one stowable fan blade when stowed. Related methods are also described.