Fan blade mounting system

Abstract

A ceiling fan is disclosed having a blade iron mounting system ( 14 ) coupled to the bottom mounting plate ( 15 ) of an motor ( 13 ). The blade iron mounting system includes an annular mounting plate ( 24 ), an annular array of blade iron anti-rotation blocks ( 25 ), and an annular array of blade irons ( 26 ) having a blade ( 27 ) coupled thereto. The mounting plate also includes an annular array of inner five pulley mounts and an annular array of outer five pulley mounts ( 29 ). The blade iron is allowed to move radially relative to the mounting plate. A blade iron five pulley mount ( 49 ) is coupled to blade iron mounting hole ( 45 ). Lastly, a series of five cables ( 50 ), equal in number to the number of blade irons, is interwoven between a number of inner pulley mounts ( 28 ), outer pulley mounts ( 29 ) and blade iron pulley mounts ( 49 ).

1 . A fan comprising,
 an electric motor;   an annular array of blade irons, each said blade iron being coupled to said motor for radial movement between said motor and said blade iron;   a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron of said annular array of blade irons, and   a cable system interconnecting said blade irons to each other wherein the radial movement of one blade iron consequently moves all blade irons towards an equilibrium position,   whereby the radial movement of a blade iron causes the cable system to move at least one other blade iron towards an equilibrium position.   
   
   
       2 . The fan of  claim 1  wherein said cable system includes a select number of sub-cable systems coupled to each said blade iron equal in number to the number of blade irons of said annular array of blade irons, each sub-cable system being adapted to move all other blade irons towards an equilibrium position in response to the radial movement of a primary blade iron. 
   
   
       3 . The fan of  claim 2  wherein each sub-cable system is designed to force blade irons adjacent said primary blade iron in a radial direction opposite to the radial movement of said primary blade iron, whereby the outward movement of said primary blade iron causes the inward movement of said adjacent blade irons and the inward movement of said primary blade iron causes the outward movement of said adjacent blade irons. 
   
   
       4 . The fan of  claim 3  wherein each sub-cable system is also designed to force other blade irons in a radial direction the same as the radial movement of said primary blade iron, whereby the outward movement of said primary blade iron causes the outward movement of said other blade irons and the inward movement of said primary blade iron causes the inward movement of said other blade irons. 
   
   
       5 . The fan of  claim 2  wherein said fan has a select number of blade irons, a pulley mounted to each said blade iron, an annular array of inner pulleys equal in number to said select number of blade irons, an annular array of outer pulleys equal in number to said select number of blade irons, and a select number of cables equal in number to said select number of blade irons and coupled to said select number of blade iron pulleys, said inner pulleys, and said outer pulleys. 
   
   
       6 . The fan of  claim 5  wherein said fan has five blade irons, a pulley coupled to each said blade iron, an annular array of five inner pulleys, and annular array of five outer pulleys, and five cables coupled to said five blade iron pulleys, said inner pulleys, and said outer pulleys. 
   
   
       7 . A fan comprising,
 an electric motor;   a select number of blade irons, each said blade iron being coupled to said motor for radial movement between said motor and said blade iron;   a ceiling fan blade associated with each said blade iron, and   a sub-cable system associated with each said blade iron, each said sub-cable system causing the radial movement of at least one blade iron towards an equilibrium position upon the radial movement of a primary blade iron.   
   
   
       8 . The fan of  claim 7  wherein said sub-cable system is adapted to move all other blade irons towards an equilibrium position in response to the radial movement of a primary blade iron. 
   
   
       9 . The fan of  claim 8  wherein each sub-cable system is designed to force blade irons adjacent said primary blade iron in a radial direction opposite to the radial movement of said primary blade iron, whereby the outward movement of said primary blade iron causes the inward movement of said adjacent blade irons and the inward movement of said primary blade iron causes the outward movement of said adjacent blade irons. 
   
   
       10 . The fan of  claim 9  wherein each sub-cable system is also designed to force other blade irons in a radial direction the same as the radial movement of said primary blade iron, whereby the outward movement of said primary blade iron causes the outward movement of said other blade irons and the inward movement of said primary blade iron causes the inward movement of said other blade irons. 
   
   
       11 . The fan of  claim 7  wherein each said sub-cable system includes a pulley mounted to each said blade iron, an annular array of inner pulleys, an annular array of outer pulleys, and a cable coupled to said blade iron pulleys, said inner pulleys, and said outer pulleys. 
   
   
       12 . The fan of  claim 11  wherein said fan has five blade irons, a pulley coupled to each said blade iron, an annular array of five inner pulleys, and annular array of five outer pulleys, and five cables coupled to said five blade iron pulleys, said inner pulleys, and said outer pulleys.