초록 ▼

A circulatory device comprising a large diameter fan having reinforced fan blades with a tapered airfoil shape is disclosed. The fan blades may be formed using an extrusion method of fabrication, wherein each fan blade may comprise a reinforced trailing edge with a downwardly extending flange. The b

A circulatory device comprising a large diameter fan having reinforced fan blades with a tapered airfoil shape is disclosed. The fan blades may be formed using an extrusion method of fabrication, wherein each fan blade may comprise a reinforced trailing edge with a downwardly extending flange. The benefit of forming each fan blade with a reinforced trailing edge of the present invention results in improved structural characteristics such that the trailing edge of each fan blade may be fabricated longer so as to improve aerodynamic performance. Also, the reinforced trailing edge resists tearing that may occur during extrusion by adding the bent flanged region to at least one distal end of the trailing edge. For example, the bent portion of the trailing edge tends to rigidly orient the extruded material in a stabilized position more readily during formation. Also, the bent portion provides added strength by providing supporting forces in two dimensions that relatively parallel and perpendicular to its length so as to neutralize the adverse effects of pressure forces acting on the trailing edge of the fan blade during extrusion.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fan assembly for circulating air in an industrial building, the fan assembly comprising:a support adapted to allow the mounting of the fan assembly to the roof of the industrial building; a motor coupled to the support, the motor engaged with a rotatable shaft so as to induce rotation of the sh

1. A fan assembly for circulating air in an industrial building, the fan assembly comprising:a support adapted to allow the mounting of the fan assembly to the roof of the industrial building; a motor coupled to the support, the motor engaged with a rotatable shaft so as to induce rotation of the shaft; and a plurality of airfoil shaped fan blades attached to the rotatable shaft, wherein each fan blade is formed of an extruded metal such that a first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form a leading junction and a trailing junction, and wherein the trailing junction extends to form a third curved wall having a tapered trailing edge, each blade further comprising a bent flange that distally extends from the trailing edge in a continuous manner that reinforces the trailing edge. 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the flange downwardly extend from the lower surface of the third curved wall.3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form a hollow interior region.4. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form a solid interior region.5. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each fan blade comprises a cross-sectional width between approximately 5 inches and 8 inches.6. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each fan blade comprises of cross-sectional height between approximately 0.75 (¾) inches and 1.50 ( 3/2) inches.7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each fan blade comprises a length between approximately 4 feet and 14 feet.8. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second curved walls comprise a thickness between approximately 0.0625 ( 1/16) inches and 0.1875 ( 3/16) inches.9. A fan assembly for circulating air in an industrial building, the fan assembly comprising:a support adapted to allow the mounting of the fan assembly to the roof of the industrial building; a motor coupled to the support, the motor engaged with a rotatable shaft so as to induce rotation of the shaft; and a plurality of fan blades attached to the rotatable shaft, wherein each fan blade is formed of an extruded metal such that a first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form a leading junction and a trailing junction, and wherein the trailing junction extends to form a third curved wall having a tapered shape that decreases in thickness across its length from approximately 0.1875 ( 3/16) inches at the trailing junction to approximately 0.0625 ( 1/16) inches at a trailing edge, each blade further comprising a flange that distally extends from the trailing edge in a continuous manner such that the angular displacement of the flange from the trailing edge forms a bent region that reinforces the trailing edge. 10. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the flange comprises a length between approximately 0.125 (⅛) and 0.375 (⅜) inches.11. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fan blades are attached to a hub, which is connected to the rotatable shaft.12. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of fan blades includes at least ten fan blades.13. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades are fabricated using an extrusion technique.14. The fan assembly of claim 13, wherein the extruded metal comprises aluminum.15. A metal blade for a fan assembly used in an industrial building, the fan blade comprising an extruded cross-sectional profile wherein the extruded cross-sectional profile comprises a cross-sectional width of approximately 7 inches, the cross sectional profile further having a plurality of curved walls, wherein a first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form an airfoil shape having a trailing edge that includes a flange extending outward from the direction of the trailing edge, wherein the flanged portion of the trailing edge downwardly extends from the lower surface of the trailing edge such that the angular displacement of the flanged portion from the lower surface of the trailing edge forms a reinforced region that increases the structural rigidity of the trailing edge so that the flanged trailing edge resists damage, and wherein the flange increases the volume of airflow resulting from the operation of the fan assembly having the fan blade.16. A metal fan blade for a fan assembly used in an industrial building, the fan blade comprising an extruded cross-sectional profile wherein the cross sectional profile comprises a cross-sectional height of approximately 1 inch, the cross sectional profile further having a plurality of curved walls, wherein a first curved wall is joined to a second curved wall to form an airfoil shape having a trailing edge that includes a flange extending outward from the direction of the trailing edge, wherein the flanged portion of the trailing edge downwardly extends from the lower surface of the trailing edge such that the angular displacement of the flanged portion from the lower surface of the trailing edge forms a reinforced region that increases the structural rigidity of the trailing edge so that the flanged training edge resists damage, and wherein the flange increases the volume of airflow resulting from the operation of the fan assembly having the fan blade.17. The fan blade of claim 16, wherein the fan blade comprises a length of at least 4 feet.18. The fan blade of claim 16, wherein the fan blade comprises a length of at least less than 15 feet.19. A metal fan blade for a fan assembly used in an industrial building, the fan blade comprising an extruded cross-sectional profile having a plurality of curved walls, wherein a first curved wall comprising a thickness of approximately 0.15625 ( 5/32) inches is joined to a second curved wall comprising a thickness of approximately 0.15625 ( 5/32) inches to form an airfoil shape having a trailing edge that includes a flange extending outward from the direction of the trailing edge, wherein the flanged portion of the trailing edge downwardly extends from the lower surface of the trailing edge such that the angular displacement of the flanged portion from the lower surface of the trailing edge forms a reinforced region that increases the structural rigidity of the trailing edge so that the flanged training edge resists damage, and wherein the flange increases the volume of airflow resulting from the operation of the fan assembly having the fan blade.20. The fan blade of claim 19, wherein the trailing edge comprises a tapered shape that decreases in thickness across its length.21. The fan blade of claim 19, wherein the flange comprises a length between approximately 0.125 (⅛) and 0.375 (⅜) inches.22. The fan blade of claim 19, wherein the fan blade is fabricated using an extrusion die to form the extruded cross-sectional profile of the fan blade.23. The fan blade of claim 22, wherein the fan blade is formed using an aluminum extrusion technique.24. A fan assembly for cooling industrial buildings, the fan assembly comprising:a mounting assembly having a rotatable hub that attaches the fan assembly to the ceiling of the industrial building; a plurality of fan blades mounted to the rotatable hub, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades is a least 4 feet long and is formed of an extruded metal so as to have a first air foil section and a tapered trailing edge, wherein the tapered trailing edge is bent at a distal end to integrally form a flange so as to reinforce the tapered trailing edge and so as to provide increased downward thrust during rotation of the fan blades and including a first curved wall joined to a second curved wall to form the first air foil section having a hollow interior region wherein the first curved wall is extended to form the tapered trailing edge. 25. The fan assembly of claim 24, wherein the plurality of fan blades are formed using an extrusion fabrication process.26. The fan assembly of claim 25, wherein the flange reinforces the tapered trailing edge during the extrusion fabrication process so that the tapered trailing edge resists tearing while being formed.27. The fan assembly of claim 24, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades comprises aluminum.