Ceiling fan

Abstract

The ceiling fan of the present invention has at least one locking mechanism, i.e., rotor brake, that may be an integral subsystem of the ceiling fan, or an add on attachment kit, either of which holds the fan rotor stationary to prevent the fan blades from rotating during cleaning or other maintenance of the fan. The rotor brake may comprise an electrically actuated mechanical system that prevents rotation of the rotor. Alternatively, the rotor brake may comprise an electrically actuated electromagnetic field to prevent rotation of the rotor. In yet another embodiment, the rotor brake may comprise a retractable or pivotal yoke that attaches to the fan so that the yoke may extend or pivot to engage a stationary fan blade or blade iron to prevent the blades from rotating. The yoke may be operated by a switch, a pull chain, or manually.

1 . A ceiling fan, comprising: 
 motor; the motor comprising a stator having electromagnetic windings capable of providing a rotational electromagnetic force when the stator is electrically energized;    the motor further comprising a rotor that is proximate to and disposed concentric to the stator;    the rotor being rotation ally responsive to the rotational electromagnetic force provided by the stator;    a motor housing that surrounds the motor;    fan blades, the fan blades being connected to the rotor so that when the rotor is rotating, the fan blades rotate in a corresponding manner;    a rotor brake, the rotor brake being capable of being selectively applied to keep the fan blades in a stationary position when the rotational electromagnetic force is not present, thereby allowing a user to clean the fan blades without them free-wheeling during the cleaning process.    
     
     
         2 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor brake comprises an electrically actuated mechanical system to prevent rotation of the rotor.  
     
     
         3 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrically activated mechanical system comprises: at least one locking pin being non- rotation ally disposed and extending from a stationary non-rotatable portion of the ceiling fan at a predetermined radial distance from the center axis of rotation of the ceiling fan blades; at least one corresponding locking pin receiver being disposed in at least one ceiling fan blade, while being adapted to receive the locking pin; and, an electric actuator capable of extending the locking pin to engage the locking pin receiver so that the ceiling fan blade assembly is prevented from rotating.  
     
     
         4 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 3 , wherein the electric actuator is a solenoid.  
     
     
         5 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrically activated mechanical system comprises: at least one locking pin being non-rotation ally disposed and extending from a stationary non-rotatable section of the ceiling fan at a predetermined radial distance from the center axis of rotation of the ceiling fan blades; at least one corresponding locking pin receiver being disposed in a rotor extension, the rotor extension being connected to the rotor, the locking pin receiver in the rotor extension being adapted to receive the locking pin; and, an electric actuator capable of extending the locking pin to engage the locking pin receiver so that the ceiling fan blade assembly is prevented from rotating.  
     
     
         6 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 5 , wherein the electric actuator is a solenoid.  
     
     
         7 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrically activated mechanical system comprises: at least one locking pin being non-rotation ally disposed within a stationary non-rotatable portion of the ceiling fan at a predetermined radial distance from the centeraxis of rotation of the ceiling fan blades; at least one corresponding locking pin receiver being disposed in the rotor, the locking pin receiver being adapted to receive the locking pin; and, an electric actuator capable of extending the locking pin to engage the locking pin receiver so that the ceiling fan blade assembly is prevented from rotating.  
     
     
         8 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 2 , wherein the electric actuator is a solenoid.  
     
     
         9 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrically activated mechanical system comprises: at least one friction pin being non-rotation ally disposed within a stationary non-rotatable section of the ceiling fan at a predetermined radial distance from the center axis of rotation of the ceiling fan blades; a brake pad being attached to a free end of the friction pin; and, an electric actuator capable of extending the friction pin so that the brake pad frictionally engages a rotating component of the ceiling fan in order to prevent the blade assembly from rotating.  
     
     
         10 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotating component of the ceiling fan is the rotor.  
     
     
         11 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotating component of the ceiling fan is a central hub, the central hub being connected to the rotor and having a flat disc-like surface suitable for frictional engagement with the friction pin brake pad.  
     
     
         12 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 9 , wherein the electric actuator is a solenoid.  
     
     
         13 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor brake comprises a yoke that attaches to the fan so that the yoke may be disposed to engage a stationary, rotatable fan member attached to the rotor of the fan to prevent the blades from rotating when power is not applied to the fan motor.  
     
     
         14 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 13 , wherein the engagement of the yoke to the rotatable fan member is mechanically actuated.  
     
     
         15 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 13 , wherein the engagement of the yoke to the rotatable fan member is electrically actuated.  
     
     
         16 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable fan member is selected from one of the following: a fan blade iron, a fan blade.  
     
     
         17 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor brake comprises a selectively activated electromagnetic field generator that applies an electromagnetic field proximate to the rotor to prevent rotation of the rotor, thereby holding the blades stationary.  
     
     
         18 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic field is non-time varying in order to provide magnetic poles that have substantially constant direction and amplitude.  
     
     
         19 . The ceiling fan according to  claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic field generator is selected from one of the following: at least one of the stator windings of the motor, at least one stationary auxiliary brake winding, the at least one stationary auxiliary brake winding being attached to a stationary, non-rotational portion of the ceiling fan.  
     
     
         20 . A rotor brake kit for ceiling fans, comprising: 
 a base;    a yoke extending from the base; means for securing the base to a stationary, non-rotatable section of the ceiling fan, so that the yoke is capable of engaging one of the following: a fan blade, a fan blade iron, to prevent the fan blades from rotating.