Fan

Abstract

A fan assembly for creating an air current, the fan assembly having a base including a system for creating an air flow and a side wall that, at least partially encloses the system for creating the air flow and has a plurality of air inlets, wherein the plurality of air inlets allow air to enter the base, and a nozzle, mounted on the base, having an interior passage for receiving the air flow from the base, and a mouth through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly.

1 . A fan assembly for creating an air current, the fan assembly comprising:
 a base, comprising,
 a system for creating an air flow, and 
 a side wall, at least partially enclosing the system for creating the air 
 flow and comprising a plurality of air inlets, wherein the plurality of air 
 inlets allow air to enter the base; and 
   a nozzle, mounted on the base, the nozzle comprising,
 an interior passage for receiving the air flow from the base, and 
 a mouth through which the air flow is emitted from the fan assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle extends about a first axis, and the plurality of air inlets is arranged about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         3 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , comprising a flow path extending from each air inlet to an inlet to the system for creating the air flow, wherein the inlet to the system for creating the air flow is substantially orthogonal to each air inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle extends about a first axis, and wherein the base has a depth in the direction of the axis which is in the range from 100 to 200 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the base is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the system for creating the air flow further comprises an impeller driven by a motor. 
     
     
         7 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the impeller is a mixed flow impeller. 
     
     
         8 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a diffuser located downstream of the impeller. 
     
     
         9 . The fan assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the diffuser comprises a disc having spiral blades. 
     
     
         10 . The fan assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the motor is located within a motor housing. 
     
     
         11 . The fan assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the motor housing extends about the impeller. 
     
     
         12 . The fan assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of air inlets extends about the motor housing. 
     
     
         13 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fan assembly further comprises a stationary base portion, and wherein the fan assembly is rotatable about the stationary base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The fan assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mouth is annular. 
     
     
         15 . The fan assembly of  claim 14 , wherein a width of the base is less than 75% of the diameter of the mouth. 
     
     
         16 . A fan assembly, comprising:
 a base, having at least one side portion, the side portion comprising a plurality of air inlets through which air can enter the base;   an impeller, located internal to the base and configured to draw air into the base through the plurality of air inlets and to create an airflow; and   an annular outlet, to receive the airflow created by the impeller, and to discharge the airflow from the fan assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The fan assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the side portion of the base is substantially cylindrical, and the plurality of air inlets are positioned substantially orthogonal to an axis of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
         18 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a diameter of the base is less than 75% of a diameter of the annular outlet. 
     
     
         19 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the impeller is an asymmetrical impeller. 
     
     
         20 . The fan assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the base further comprises a bottom portion and an oscillation motor to rotate the fan assembly about the bottom portion.