US3713346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oscillator mechanism for fan
Assignee: ROTOR ELECTRIC CO Ltd
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Filing: 1971-10-04
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-10-04
Abstract
Abstract An oscillating fan is disclosed in which a ratchet arm and a crank arm are joined by a connecting link, with the crank arm being driven by the fan motor through a reduction gear mechanism. The fan proper is attached to a vertical swivel shaft adapted to rotate in a bore in an oscillator member fixed to a stand. Normally the ratchet arm is fixed with respect to the oscillator member by registry means which can be forced out of registry. Detent means between the swivel shaft and the oscillator member limit the relative rotation of the former with respect to the latter to an arc the same as the arc through which the fan is adapted normally to turn.
Inventors
- 👤 J Chamberlain
- 👤 J Bradley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:56
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16H; F16H35/00; F16H35/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18184
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
A fan, comprising: a motor, fan blades adapted to be rotated by the motor, mounting means supporting said motor and said fan, a swivel shaft extending from said mounting means and fixed with respect thereto, an oscillator member having bore means for rotatably receiving said swivel shaft, support means for supporting the oscillator member and thus the swivel shaft and mounting means, a ratchet arm mounted about said swivel shaft in a plane normal thereto, and having registry means for maintaining the ratchet arm in a given position with respect to said oscillator member, said registry means being dislodgeable upon the application of sufficient torque, a crank arm adapted for rotation substantially in said plane about an axis fixed with respect to the mounting means and spaced from said swivel shaft, the crank arm being shorter than the ratchet arm, a connecting link joining a point on the crank arm remote from said axis to a point on the ratchet arm remote from said swivel shaft, reduction gear means through which the motor rotates said crank arm slowly about said axis, whereby said axis oscillates about said swivel shaft through a given arc, detent means between the swivel shaft and the oscillator member which limits the relative rotation of the swivel shaft with respect to the oscillator member to an arc substantially the same as said given arc, the detent means presenting no hindrance while the ratchet arm is in said given position with respect to the oscillator member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fan, comprising: a motor, fan blades adapted to be rotated by the motor, mounting means supporting said motor and said fan, a swivel shaft extending from said mounting means and fixed with respect thereto, an oscillator member having bore means for rotatably receiving said swivel shaft, support means for supporting the oscillator member and thus the swivel shaft and mounting means, a ratchet arm mounted about said swivel shaft in a plane normal thereto, and having registry means for maintaining the ratchet arm in a given position with respect to said oscillator member, said registry means being dislodgeable upon the application of sufficient torque, a crank arm adapted for rotation substantially in said plane about an axis fixed with respect to the mounting means and spaced from said swivel shaft, the crank arm being shorter than the ratchet arm, a connecting link joining a point on the crank arm remote from said axis to a point on the ratchet arm remote from said swivel shaft, reduction gear means through which the motor rotates said crank arm slowly about said axis, whereby said axis oscillates about said swivel shaft through a given arc, detent means between the swivel shaft and the oscillator member which limits the relative rotation of the swivel shaft with respect to the oscillator member to an arc substantially the same as said given arc, the detent means presenting no hindrance while the ratchet arm is in said given position with respect to the oscillator member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fan, comprising: a motor, fan blades adapted to be rotated by the motor, mounting means supporting said motor and said fan, a swivel shaft extending from said mounting means and fixed with respect thereto, an oscillator member having bore means for rotatably receiving said swivel shaft, support means for supporting the oscillator member and thus the swivel shaft and mounting means, a ratchet arm mounted about said swivel shaft in a plane normal thereto, and having registry means for maintaining the ratchet arm in a given position with respect to said oscillator member, said registry means being dislodgeable upon the application of sufficient torque, a crank arm adapted for rotation substantially in said plane about an axis fixed with respect to the mounting means and spaced from said swivel shaft, the crank arm being shorter than the ratchet arm, a connecting link joining a point on the crank arm remote from said axis to a point on the ratchet arm remote from said swivel shaft, reduction gear means through which the motor rotates said crank arm slowly about said axis, whereby said axis oscillates about said swivel shaft through a given arc, detent means between the swivel shaft and the oscillator member which limits the relative rotation of the swivel shaft with respect to the oscillator member to an arc substantially the same as said given arc, the detent means presenting no hindrance while the ratchet arm is in said given position with respect to the oscillator member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
249 words
A fan, comprising: a motor, fan blades adapted to be rotated by the motor, mounting means supporting said motor and said fan, a swivel shaft extending from said mounting means and fixed with respect thereto, an oscillator member having bore means for rotatably receiving said swivel shaft, support means for supporting the oscillator member and thus the swivel shaft and mounting means, a ratchet arm mounted about said swivel shaft in a plane normal thereto, and having registry means for maintaining the ratchet arm in a given position with respect to said oscillator member, said registry means being dislodgeable upon the application of sufficient torque, a crank arm adapted for rotation substantially in said plane about an axis fixed with respect to the mounting means and spaced from said swivel shaft, the crank arm being shorter than the ratchet arm, a connecting link joining a point on the crank arm remote from said axis to a point on the ratchet arm remote from said swivel shaft, reduction gear means through which the motor rotates said crank arm slowly about said axis, whereby said axis oscillates about said swivel shaft through a given arc, detent means between the swivel shaft and the oscillator member which limits the relative rotation of the swivel shaft with respect to the oscillator member to an arc substantially the same as said given arc, the detent means presenting no hindrance while the ratchet arm is in said given position with respect to the oscillator member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fan as claimed in claim 1, in which said detent means includes: a pin positioned diametrally of said swivel shaft and extending beyond the swivel shaft, at least two buttress faces on the oscillator member defining arc-end limits for the travel of said pin with respect to said oscillator member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fan as claimed in claim 2, in which the ratchet arm is located between the mounting means and said oscillator member, and in which said pin is located at the end of the oscillator member remote from said ratchet arm, the fan further including a compression spring between said pin and said oscillator member to urge the latter toward the mounting means, the registry means being activated by this urging.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fan as claimed in claim 3, in which the registry means includes: a flat surface on the oscillator member normal to the axis of the swivel shaft and having at least one depression, the ratchet arm having protuberance meanS adapted to lodge in said at least one depression.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fan as claimed in claim 4, in which the said flat surface has four depressions arranged equidistantly from said swivel shaft and at 90* from each other.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fan as claimed in claim 1, in which said given arc is less than 180* .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A fan as claimed in claim 1, in which said given arc is substantially 70* . 70*,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A fan as claimed in claim 2, in which the pin extends in both directions beyond the swivel shaft, there being a pair of buttress faces for each end of the pin, said given arc being substantially 70* , there being further a washer between the compression spring and the pin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |