US6156090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air cleaner having vanes with a winglike cross-section between a shroud and baseplate for rotation within a housing
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1998-10-01
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Granted: 2000-12-05
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Expires: 2018-10-01
Abstract
Abstract An air cleaner includes a housing having an upper wall and side walls, an air filter mounted with respect to the housing, a fan including a vane-wheel having a plurality of vanes, a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls for supporting the fan. An air flow directional member directs an air flow output from the fan. The vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and the vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes. The vane-wheel has a base plate and a shroud. Each of the base plate and the shroud is formed to have a reinforcement portion on its circumference. A U-shaped balance weight is attached to a flattened portion formed on the curled portion. The air cleaner of the present invention can reduce noise and vibration and improve efficiency of the fan.
Inventors
- 👤 Tominori Ishikawa
- 👤 Yuji Toyama
- 👤 Makoto Yokoyama
- 👤 Yoshihiro Takada
- 👤 Keiichi Honma
- 👤 Osamu Kawasaki
- 👤 Masayosi Inoue
- 👤 Kazunari Sugai
- 👤 Jun Tazawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:56
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F8/00; F24F8/80; F04; F04D; F04D29/00; F04D29/26; F04D29/28; F04D29/281; F04D29/30; F04D29/66; F04D29/661; F04D29/662; F24F1/00; F24F1/0007; F24F1/0071; F24F7/00; F24F7/04; F24F7/06; F24F8/10; F24F8/108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; an air filter mounted with respect to said housing; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall, for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; an air filter mounted with respect to said housing; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall, for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcement portion has a curled portion, and said curled portion has a flattened portion where a U-shaped balance weight is attached.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein said vane has a front end arranged obliquely with respect to a rear end of said vane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
118 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; an air filter mounted with respect to said housing; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at a circumference thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; an air filter mounted with respect to said housing; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at a circumference thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said reinforcement portion has a curled portion, and said curled portion has a flattened portion where a U-shaped balance weight is attached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
An air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein each of said vanes is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, and said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 16, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 16, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fan unit according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fan unit according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fan unit according to claim 16, wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 22, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 22, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fan unit according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fan unit according to claim 22, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes, each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
132 words
A fan unit adapted for use with an air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud and a plurality of vanes; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; and at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall directing an air flow output from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes, each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, and at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fan unit according to claim 27, wherein; said reinforcement portion has a curled portion, and said curled portion has a flattened portion where a U-shaped balance weight is attached.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 27, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
A fan unit according to claim 27, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
A fan unit according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fan unit according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
178 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud, a plurality of vanes and a motor for rotating said vane-wheel; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; and an air filter mounted with respect to said housing for purifying air supplied from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes, each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof, and power consumption of said motor is within a range of 36-44 W when an air flow volume output from said air filter is within a range of 11.7-14.3 cubic meter/min.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
178 words
An air cleaner, comprising; a housing having an upper wall and side walls; a fan including a vane-wheel having a base plate, a shroud, a plurality of vanes and a motor for rotating said vane-wheel; a supporting plate extending substantially between at least two side walls of said housing for supporting said fan; at least one air flow directional member extending between said supporting plate and said upper wall for directing an air flow output from said fan; and an air filter mounted with respect to said housing for purifying air supplied from said fan; wherein said vane is formed to have a winglike cross-section, said vane-wheel includes not more than four vanes, each of said base plate and said shroud is formed to have a circular circumference, at least either one of said base plate and said shroud has a reinforcement portion at the circumference thereof, and power consumption of said motor is within a range of 36-44 W when an air flow volume output from said air filter is within a range of 11.7-14.3 cubic meter/min.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 33, wherein said vane-wheel includes four vanes.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
13 words
An air cleaner according to claim 33, wherein said vane-wheel includes three vanes.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
An air cleaner according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of vanes are smooth-surfaced vanes.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air cleaner according to claim 33, wherein said plurality of vanes each have a continuous smooth surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-05 | 2004-06-05 | 2004-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-05 | 2008-06-05 | 2008-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-05 | 2012-06-05 | 2012-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |