Columnar air moving devices, systems and methods

Abstract

Air moving device includes a housing, an impeller in the housing for generating a downward air flow, and vanes in the housing in close proximity to and a selected distance below the impeller to straighten the air flow. The device produces an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance. The method includes producing an air flow that substantially remains in a column over a substantial distance and directing the air flow from the ceiling towards the floor to provide temperature destratification of the air in an enclosed space. The method also includes directing warm air from the ceiling to the floor and storing heat in the floor, apparatus on the floor and ground under the floor. The stored heat is released when the ceiling is cooler than the floor.

1 . A cascading apparatus for moving air comprising:
 a first air moving device and a second air moving device, both the first air moving device and second air moving device each comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at a second end spaced from said first end with an air flow passage between said first and second ends, 
 a rotary fan mounted in said housing near said air inlet and having an impeller with a plurality of blades that produce an air flow with rotary and axial air flow components, and 
 a plurality of spaced, axially extending air guide vanes in said housing between said impeller and said air outlet for converting said rotary component of said air flow into combined laminar and axial air flow in said housing, whereby said air flow exits said second end in an axial stream in a columnar pattern with minimal lateral dispersion; 
   wherein the air flows of the first and second air moving devices create a cascading effect.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for moving air comprising:
 a first air moving device and a second air moving device, both the first air moving device and second air moving device each comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet at a first end and an air outlet at a second end spaced from said first end with an air flow passage between said first and second ends, 
 a rotary fan mounted in said housing near said air inlet and having an impeller with a plurality of blades that produce an air flow with rotary and axial air flow components, and 
 a plurality of spaced, axially extending air guide vanes in said housing between said impeller and said air outlet for converting said rotary component of said air flow into combined laminar and axial air flow in said housing, whereby said air flow exits said second end in an axial stream in a columnar pattern with limited lateral dispersion; 
   wherein the air flow exiting said first air moving device has a first velocity and is directed to second air moving device and has a second velocity of at least 10% of said first velocity before being accelerated by said second air moving device to a third velocity higher than the second velocity.