Air circulator with releasable air grille

Abstract

A recirculating fan, for installation in an upper region of a building space, and having, a housing, a fan, an air vent ring defining an intake path and a discharge path, an air grille for the intake and discharge paths, the air grille being releasably attached to the housing and being moveable relative to the housing, and releasable fastening devices for releasably fastening the air grille to the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recirculating fan, for installation in a building, and comprising;
 a housing;   a fan on the housing;   a vent ring wall defining an intake path and a discharge path of said housing;   an air grille registering with the discharge paths, the air grille defining a hinged side and an opening side;   hinges along said hinged side; and   releasable fastening devices on said opening side for releasably fastening the air grille to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the support frame is hinged to the housing along one side, and is swingable relative to the housing, for access to the interior of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 1 , and  2  wherein said vent ring wall defines an intake path and the discharge path, open to the air grille, whereby when said support frame is moved away from said housing, access may be had to both intake path and discharge path within the housing for servicing. 
     
     
         4 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 1 , and  2  wherein the frame has two hinge flanges, secured along one side, and in which the fan housing has two hinge slots formed along one side, in which the hinge flanges can be inserted into and removed from the hinge slots, so that the entire grille frame, and air grille can be removed from the fan for servicing. 
     
     
         5 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the hinge flanges are rightangular, and define tongue portions fitting into the slots, and hooks extending sideways from the tongue portions for security. 
     
     
         6 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the fastenings for the frame are sheet metal segments secured by pivots to the edges of the frame along its side opposite to the hinge flanges, and can swing up and down between locking and releasing positions, and including fastening slots in the housing for receiving the fastenings, and tongue portions on the fastenings by which they can be operated. 
     
     
         7 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the fastenings further define hook portions for engaging the housing adjacent to the slots, and tabs for manually operating the segments, to swing upwardly and downwardly. 
     
     
         8 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 6  and  7  in which the recirculating fan is mounted directly on a motor, and in which the motor is secured within the housing thereby permitting access to the fan when the support frame is opened. 
     
     
         9 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 6  including spring tongues extending between the frame and the air grille when the air grille is closed. 
     
     
         10 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the housing is formed with an upwardly extending ring defining an air intake opening, and acting as said guide. 
     
     
         11 . A recirculating fan, for installation in a building, and comprising;
 a housing;   a fan on the housing;   a vent ring wall defining an intake path and a discharge path of said housing;   an air grille registering with the intake and discharge paths, the air grille defining a hinged side and an opening side;   hinges along said hinged side; and   releasable fastening devices on said opening side for releasably fastening the air grille to the housing.   
     
     
         12 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the frame has two hinge flanges, secured along one side, and in which the fan housing has two hinge slots formed along one side, in which the hinge flanges can be inserted into and removed from the hinge slots, so that the entire grille frame, and air grille can be removed from the fan for servicing. 
     
     
         13 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the hinge flanges are rightangular, and define tongue portions fitting into the slots, and hooks extending sideways from the tongue portions for security. 
     
     
         14 . A recirculating fan as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the fastenings further define hook portions for engaging the housing adjacent to the slots, and tabs for manually operating the segments, to swing upwardly and downwardly.