IP Library Granted Patent US 6,884,034
Granted Patent B1
US 6,884,034 · App. 10/121,388 · Granted Apr 26, 2005

Enhancements to high efficiency ceiling fan

Assignee: University of Central Florida
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,884,034
App. No.
10/121,388
Granted
Apr 26, 2005
Kind
B1
Abstract

Twisted ceiling fan blades for low, medium and high speed operation of less than approximately 250 rpm. The novel blades twisted blades can be configured for 60″ and 64″ diameter fans, and have less blades (3 for example) than conventional flat type bladed fans having 4, 5 blades and have greater air flow and less power draw results than the conventional flat 54 inch fans. Any of the novel twisted blades of 54″, 60″ and 64″ can be run at reduced speeds, drawing less Watts than conventional fans and still perform better with more air flow and less problems than conventional flat type conventional blades.

Claims (72)

1. A method of increasing air flow coverage under a ceiling fan, comprising the steps of:

providing at least two twisted ceiling fan blades attached to a ceiling fan motor, each of the fan blades being substantially planar having a twist running from a root end to a tip end, with the root end having a substantially greater width span than the tip end; and

running the blades to cover an area of greater than approximately 2290 square inches under the ceiling fan to increase air flow coverage under the ceiling fan to be at least approximately 23% greater as compared to using approximately 52 inch diameter blades.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes the step of:

providing at least two blades being at least approximately 60 inches in diameter.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of running includes the step of: covering an area up to approximately 2,827 square inches.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step includes the step of:

providing at least two blades being at least approximately 64 inches in diameter.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of running includes the step of:

covering an area up to approximately 3,217 square inches.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further includes:

providing at least three twisted blades.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of providing each of the blades with the root end having a width span of approximately 6.7 inches running to the tip end having a width span of approximately 3.5 inches.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with a bottom concave curved surface and a top convex curved surface.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with a continuously rounded leading edge.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with the root end having a degree of twist substantially greater from a horizontal plane that is parallel to the ceiling, and a degree of twist of the tip end.

11. A method of enhancing air flow in ceiling fans, comprising the steps of:

rotating fan blades attached to a ceiling at a speed of up to approximately 75 rpm; and

drawing power supply of up to approximately 17 Watts, wherein the method generates downward air flows greater than similar flat bladed fans.

12. The method of claim 11 , further including the step of:

providing at least two twisted blades.

13. The method of claim 11 , further including the step of:

providing at least three twisted blades.

14. The method of claim 11 , further including the step of:

providing at least four twisted blades.

15. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of:

providing at least five twisted blades.

16. A method of operating an overhead ceiling fan, comprising the steps of:

rotating fan blades attached to a ceiling fan motor at a speed of up to approximately 86 rpm; and

drawing a power supply from the motor of up to approximately 14.5 Watts; and

generating a downward flow of up to approximately 2500 CFM beneath the blades.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing blades having twisted configurations.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing approximately 60 inch diameter blades.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing approximately 64 inch diameter blades.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing three blades.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing four blades.

22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of:

providing five blades.

23. A method of operating an overhead ceiling fan, comprising the steps of:

rotating fan blades attached to a ceiling fan motor at a speed of up to approximately 242 rpm; and

drawing a power supply from the motor of up to approximately 102 Watts; and

generating a downward flow of up to approximately 5700 CFM beneath the blades.

24. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing blades having twisted configurations.

25. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing approximately 60 inch diameter blades.

26. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing approximately 64 inch diameter blades.

27. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing three blades.

28. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing four blades.

29. The method of claim 23 , further comprising the step of:

providing five blades.

30. A method of increasing air flow coverage under a ceiling fan, comprising the steps of: providing at least two twisted ceiling fan blades attached to a ceiling fan motor, each of the blades having a substantially planar configuration between a root end and a tip end, with the root end having a greater degree of twist than the tip end, and a substantially greater span width than the span width of the tip end; and running the blades to cover an area of greater than approximately 2290 square inches under the ceiling fan to increase air flow coverage to be at least approximately 40% greater than as compared to using approximately 52 inch diameter blades.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the providing step includes the step of: providing at least two blades being at least approximately 64 inches in diameter.

32. The method of claim 30 , wherein the step of running includes the step of: covering an area up to approximately 2,827 square inches.

33. The method of claim 30 , wherein the step of running includes the step of: covering an area up to approximately 3,217 square inches.

34. The method of claim 30 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with the root end having a twist of approximately 32 degrees from a horizontal plane that is parallel to the ceiling, and the tip end having a twist of approximately 5 degrees from the horizontal plane that is parallel to the ceiling.

35. The method of claim 30 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with a bottom concave curved surface, and a top convex curved surface.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the providing step further includes the step of:

providing each of the blades with a continuously rounded leading edge.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2005
From: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
To: RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 016228/0548 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 12, 2002
From: PARKER, DANNY S.; SU, GUAN HUA; HIBBS, BART D.
To: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Reel/Frame 012794/0425 →
Continuity (7)
Continuation In Part 0997651500 · Oct 12, 2001
Continuation In Part 0971159900 · Nov 13, 2000
Division 0941588300 · Oct 8, 1999
Division 0906723600 · Apr 27, 1998
Continuation In Part 0905642800 · Apr 7, 1998
Provisional Application 6034256400 · Dec 26, 2001
Provisional Application 6026524100 · Jan 31, 2001