US2013170942A1PendingUtilityA1

Multiple Fan Blade Angles in a Single Crossflow Fan

36
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Dec 28, 2011Filed: Dec 28, 2011Published: Jul 4, 2013
Est. expiryDec 28, 2031(~5.4 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Bryan S. Claerhout
A01F 12/444F04D 29/283F04D 29/666
36
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A fan may be provided. The fan may comprise a first plurality of vanes and a second plurality of vanes. The first plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to an axis of rotation and positioned along a first arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the first plurality of vanes may be being positioned at a first angle relative to the first arc. The second plurality of vanes may be arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a second arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation. Vanes in the second plurality of vanes may be positioned at a second angle relative to the second arc. The first angle may be different than the second angle.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to an axis of rotation and positioned along a first arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation, the vanes in the first plurality of vanes being positioned at a first angle relative to the first arc; and   a second plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a second arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation, the vanes in the second plurality of vanes being positioned at a second angle relative to the second arc, the first angle being different than the second angle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first arc and the second arc form part of a same circle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes have different positions along a length of the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting member substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes operably coupled to the mounting member. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a duct having a wall, the wall defining a passage;   an inlet in fluid communication with the passage; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the passage, wherein the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes are arranged to propel a fluid into the inlet.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a housing having an inter surface, the interior surface defining a cavity and an exhaust, the exhaust in fluid communication with the inlet, the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes are arranged substantially inside the cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a third plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a third arc substantially centered on the axis of rotation, the vanes in the third plurality of vanes being positioned at a third angle relative to the third arc, the third angle being different than the first angle and the second angle. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle relative to the first arc is configured to be adjustable and the second angle relative to the second arc is configured to be adjustable. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle relative to the first arc and the second angle relative to the second arc are configured to cause an airflow pattern to pulsate. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a combine having a sieve; and   a fan arranged to direct a gas at least partially toward the sieve, the fan comprising:
 a first plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to an axis of rotation, the vanes in the first plurality of vanes positioned a first radius from the center of the axis of rotation, the vanes in the first plurality of vanes being positioned at a first angle of attack; and 
 a second plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation the vanes in the second plurality of vanes positioned a second radius from the center of the axis of rotation, the vanes in the second plurality of vanes being positioned at a second angle of attack, the first angle of attack being different than the second angle of attack. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first radius is substantially equal to the second radius. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus  claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes have different positions along a length of the axis of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a mounting member substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes operably coupled to the mounting member. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a duct having a wall, the wall defining a passage;   an inlet in fluid communication with the passage; and   an outlet in fluid communication with the passage, wherein the fan arranged to direct the gas at least partially toward the sieve comprises the fan arranged to direct the gas into the inlet, through the passage, and out the outlet, the outlet arranged to direct the gas at least partially toward the sieve.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a housing having an inter surface, the interior surface defining a cavity and an exhaust, the exhaust in fluid communication with the inlet, the fan located substantially inside the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a third plurality of vanes arranged substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and positioned along a third radius from the center of the axis of rotation, the vanes in the third plurality of vanes being positioned at a third angle of attack, the third angle of attack being different than the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the first angle of attack and the second angle of attack are configured to cause an airflow pattern to pulsate. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 rotating a first plurality of vanes about an axis of rotation, the first plurality of vanes arranged at a first angle relative to the axis of rotation;   rotating a second plurality of vanes about the axis of rotation, the second plurality of vanes arranged at a second angle relative to the axis of rotation, the second angle relative to the axis of rotation being different than the first angle relative to the axis of rotation; and   creating a desired airflow pattern in response to rotating the first plurality of vanes and the second plurality of vanes about the axis or rotation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein creating the desired airflow pattern comprises creating a pulsating airflow pattern. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein creating the desired airflow pattern comprises creating a uniform airflow pattern.

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