Fan assembly

Abstract

A nozzle for a fan assembly includes an air inlet, an air outlet, an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet, an annular inner wall, and an outer wall extending about the inner wall. The interior passage is located between the inner wall and the outer wall. The inner wall at least partially defines a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet. The air outlet is arranged to direct air over an external surface at least partially defining the bore. A flow control port is located downstream from that surface. A flow control chamber is provided for conveying air to the flow control port. A control mechanism selectively enables a flow of air through the flow control port to deflect an air flow emitted from the air outlet.

1 . A nozzle for a fan assembly, the nozzle comprising an air inlet; an air outlet; an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet; an annular inner wall; an outer wall extending about the inner wall, the interior passage being located between the inner wall and the outer wall, the inner wall at least partially defining a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet, the air outlet being arranged to direct air over an external surface of the nozzle; a flow control port located downstream from the air outlet and said surface; a flow control chamber for conveying air to the flow control port; and a control mechanism for selectively inhibiting a flow of air through the flow control port. 
     
     
         2 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein said surface at least partially defines the bore. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein said surface extends at least partially about the axis of the bore. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein said surface surrounds the axis of the bore. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein said surface comprises a Coanda surface located immediately downstream from the air outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein said surface comprises a diffuser surface which tapers outwardly relative to an axis of the bore. 
     
     
         7 . The nozzle of  claim 6 , comprising a guide surface located between the diffuser surface and the flow control port. 
     
     
         8 . The nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein said guide surface is shaped to taper inwardly relative to the diffuser surface. 
     
     
         9 . The nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein said guide surface is shaped to taper inwardly relative to the axis of the bore. 
     
     
         10 . The nozzle of  claim 7 , wherein the guide surface is defined by an external surface of an air flow guiding member of the nozzle. 
     
     
         11 . The nozzle of  claim 10 , wherein an internal surface of the air flow guiding member at least partially defines the flow control port. 
     
     
         12 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control port is arranged to direct an air flow over a second external surface of the nozzle. 
     
     
         13 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the second external surface at least partially defines the bore of the nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The nozzle of  claim 13 , wherein the second external surface defines at least part of a front section of the nozzle. 
     
     
         15 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the second external surface comprises a second Coanda surface located immediately downstream from the flow control port. 
     
     
         16 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the second external surface comprises a second diffuser surface which tapers outwardly relative to an axis of the bore. 
     
     
         17 . The nozzle of  claim 12 , wherein the second external surface comprises a second guide surface. 
     
     
         18 . A nozzle for a fan assembly, the nozzle comprising an air inlet; an air outlet; an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet; an annular inner wall; an outer wall extending about the inner wall, the interior passage being located between the inner wall and the outer wall, the inner wall at least partially defining a bore through which air from outside the nozzle is drawn by air emitted from the air outlet, a first guide surface located downstream from the air outlet; a flow control port located downstream from the first guide surface; a second guide surface located downstream from the flow control port, the second guide surface being angled relative to the first guide surface; a flow control chamber for conveying air to the flow control port; and a control mechanism for selectively inhibiting a flow of air through the flow control port. 
     
     
         19 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The fan assembly comprising an impeller, a motor for rotating the impeller to generate an air flow, the nozzle of  claim 1  for receiving the air flow, and a controller for controlling the motor and for changing the state of the control mechanism. 
     
     
         26 . The fan assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the control mechanism has a first state for inhibiting the passage of air through the flow control chamber, and a second state for permitting the passage of air through the flow control chamber, and the controller is arranged to adjust the speed of the motor as the state of the control mechanism is changed. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control chamber is located in front of the interior passage. 
     
     
         29 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the interior passage and the flow control chamber surrounds the bore of the nozzle. 
     
     
         30 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the air outlet and the flow control port is in the form of a slot. 
     
     
         31 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism has a first state for inhibiting the passage of air through the flow control chamber, and a second state for permitting the passage of air through the flow control chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises a valve body for occluding an air inlet of the flow control chamber, and an actuator for moving the valve body relative to the air inlet of the flow control chamber. 
     
     
         33 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , comprising a heater assembly located at least partially within the interior passage.