FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to air flowing devices, such as fans or pumps or other such devices which can cause air to flow. In particular, however, not exclusively, the present invention concerns air flowing devices which can utilized to produce flow of air in more than one direction. Furthermore, the air flowing devices may be utilized, for example, in building ventilation systems.

BACKGROUND

In many known fans, the vanes or blades comprised in the rotatable assembly are typically optimized for generation of flow of air in one direction, if a fan which is optimized for one direction is still utilized to generate air flow in the opposite direction, the efficiency is very poor, and the noise caused by the air flow generation is high.

On the other hand, in fans which are designed for generation of flow or air in two directions, the rotatable assembly is neutral in the sense that it can generate, depending on the direction of rotation thereof, flow of air selectively in the two directions which are opposite to each other. However, in such fans, the generation of the air flow suffers from poor efficiency and loud noise since it hasn’t been optimized in any direction. It would, however, be desirable to have a fan which can be operated in efficient manner to generate flow of air in more than one direction.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide a multidirectional air flowing device and a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device. Another objective of the present invention is that the multidirectional air flowing device provides efficient way to generate flow of air in more than one direction without at least some of the drawbacks in the known attempts.

The objectives of the invention are reached by a multidirectional air flowing device and a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device as defined by the respective independent claims.

According to a first aspect, a multidirectional air flowing device is provided. The multidirectional air flowing device comprises a rotating air flow generation unit, such as a fan or a pump, comprising a first actuator and a rotatable assembly, for example, comprising vanes or blades. The rotatable assembly includes a first axis of rotation and is adapted to generate a flow of air in at least a primary direction, and wherein rotation around the first axis is provided by the first actuator and the first axis is parallel to the primary direction. The multidirectional air flowing device also comprises a frame around the rotatable assembly. Still further, the multidirectional air flowing device comprises a second actuator arranged to change the position of the first axis relative to the frame for changing a direction of the flow of air.

Preferably, the rotatable assembly may be arranged to be moved respect to the frame in the direction of rotation around the first axis and also in at least one other direction in order to change the position of the first axis relative to the frame.

The primary direction refers to a direction of the flow of air into which the rotatable assembly is designed, or even optimized, to generate the flow. Thus, other directions, namely the opposite direction relative to the primary direction, are less optimized with respect to the generation of flow of air even if flow of air could be produced into said other direction. For example, the rotatable assembly may have higher efficiency when generating flow of air into the primary direction than to other direction(s). The higher efficiency may relate to amount of energy produced relative to the volume of air being moved.

Furthermore, the second actuator may, preferably, be a rotating servo motor.

In addition, the second actuator may be arranged to change the position of the first axis by rotating the rotatable assembly or the rotating air flow generation unit around a second axis of rotation which is unparallel, or even perpendicular, relative to the first axis of rotation.

In various embodiments, the multidirectional air flowing device may comprise one or several sensors, such as optical sensor(s), utilized in regulating a movement of the second actuator when changing the position of the first axis between at least two positions. Furthermore, the two positions may be such that the direction of the flow of air is opposite in one of the two positions compared to the other one. The (optical) sensor(s) may be arranged to determine position of the second actuator. Furthermore, there may be two (optical) sensors arranged on opposite sides of the second actuator. In various embodiments, wherein a sweep area of the rotatable assembly is at least 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95, or even about 0.99, of a cross-sectional area of the frame around the rotatable assembly.

In some embodiments, a longitudinal direction of a channel defined by the tubular frame for the flow of air may correspond to the direction of the flow of air in the two positions.

Further still, a position of the second axis may, preferably, be arranged to be fixed relative to the frame.

In addition, the multidirectional air flowing device may comprise a control unit configured at least to control the second actuator so as to change the position of the first axis. The control unit may comprise a processing unit and a memory device, such as comprising non-transitory or volatile, and/or transitory or non-volatile memory storage medium.

According to a second aspect, a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device is provided. The method comprises obtaining or manufacturing a rotating air flow generation unit comprising a first actuator and a rotatable assembly, wherein the rotatable assembly includes a first axis of rotation and is adapted to generate a flow of air in at least a primary direction, wherein rotation around the first axis is provided by the first actuator and the first axis is parallel to the primary direction, and arranging a frame around the rotatable assembly. Furthermore, the method comprises arranging a second actuator to change a position of the first axis of rotation relative to the frame for changing a direction of a flow of air.

The present invention provides a multidirectional air flowing device and a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device. The present invention provides advantages over known solutions in that the flow of air in more than one direction can be generated more efficiently and less noisy.

Various other advantages will become clear to a skilled person based on the following detailed description.

The expression "a plurality of’ may refer to any positive integer starting from two (2), that is, at least two, two, at least three, three, etc.

The terms “first”, “second” and “third” are herein used to distinguish one element from other element, and not to specially prioritize or order them, if not otherwise explicitly stated. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention presented herein are not to be interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used herein as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a multidirectional air flowing device.

Figures 2A-2C illustrates schematically a change of position of a rotatable assembly of a multidirectional air flowing device.

Figures 3 A-3C illustrates schematically a change of position of a rotatable assembly of a multidirectional air flowing device.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically the second actuator of a multidirectional air flowing device.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate schematically the operation of the second actuator of a multidirectional air flowing device.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates schematically a multidirectional air flowing device 100. The multidirectional air flowing device 100 comprises a rotating air flow generation unit 110, such as a fan or a pump, comprising a first actuator 112, such as comprising an electric motor, and a rotatable assembly 114, such as comprising vanes or blades. The rotatable assembly 114 includes a first axis of rotation X and is adapted to generate a flow of air in at least a primary direction PD. Rotation around the first axis X is provided by the first actuator 112 and the first axis of rotation X is parallel to the primary direction PD, as visible. Furthermore, the device 100 comprises a frame 120, such as a tubular frame, around the rotatable assembly 114. Still further, the multidirectional air flowing device 100 comprises a second actuator 130 arranged to change the position of the first axis of rotation X relative to the frame 120 for changing a direction of the flow of air. Thus, the device 100 can made to always generate the flow of air into the primary direction PD which may be changed by the change of position of the first axis of rotation X.

The primary direction PD refers to a direction of the flow of air into which the rotatable assembly 114 is designed, or even optimized, to generate the flow of air. Thus, other directions, namely the opposite direction relative to the primary direction PD, are less optimized with respect to the generation of flow of air even if flow of air could be produced into said other direction. For example, the rotatable assembly 114 may have higher efficiency when generating flow of air into the primary direction PD than to other direction(s). The higher efficiency may relate to amount of energy produced relative to the volume of air being moved.

As can be seen, the second actuator 130, such as comprising an electric motor, e.g. a servo motor, may, preferably, be mechanically connected to the rotatable assembly 114, such as by an axis having a second axis of rotation Y. Furthermore, the second actuator 130 may, preferably, be or comprise a rotating servo motor.

Indeed, the second actuator 130 may be arranged to change the position of the first axis X by rotating the rotatable assembly 114 or the whole rotating air flow generation unit 110 around the second axis of rotation Y which is, preferably, unparallel, or even perpendicular, relative to the first axis of rotation X. In Fig. 1, the second axis Y is approximately perpendicular with respect to the first axis X. Furthermore, the second axis Y may extend through the frame 120, such as via a hole, as shown in Fig. 1.

Thus, in various embodiments, the rotatable assembly 114 may, preferably, be attached to the second axis Y directly or via a support member, such as a planar support member.

In various embodiments, there may also be a second frame around the rotatable assembly 114 (not shown) to which the rotatable assembly is fixedly attached to, thereby the second frame moves along the rotatable assembly 114 when its position is being changed.

The second frame may be such that the shape of its outer surface substantially corresponds to the shape, and preferably also the size, of the inner surface of the frame 120, such as being tubular in some embodiments. Thus, a substantially tight fit between said frames may be obtained in order to prevent air flow between the rotatable assembly 114 and the frame 120, for example, relative to the direction of the second axis Y in Fig. 1. Optionally, sealing member(s) (not shown) may be utilized therebetween.

Still further, the second frame (not shown) preferably comprises one or more openings in order to affect the flow of air generated by the rotatable assembly 114 as little as possible.

Preferably, the rotatable assembly 114 may be arranged to be moved, preferably rotated, respect to the frame 120 in the direction of rotation around the first axis X and also in at least one other direction, such as be perpendicular relative to the direction of the first axis X, in order to change the position of the first axis X relative to the frame 120. In various embodiments, the rotatable assembly 114 may thus be rotated around the first axis X in order to generate the flow of air but also may be separately rotated around the second axis Y in order to change the position of rotatable assembly 114 and, thus, the first axis X.

In various embodiments, wherein a sweep area of the rotatable assembly 114 may be at least 0.75, 0.80, 0.85, 0.90, or 0.95, or even about 0.99, of a cross-sectional area of the frame 120 around the rotatable assembly 114.

Further still, a position of the second axis Y may, preferably, be arranged to be fixed relative to the frame 120, such as in Fig. 1.

In various embodiments, the frame 120, such as tubular frame, may be of metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, of plastic material, of fiber material, such as including carbon fibers or para-aramid fibers.

Figures 2A-3C illustrates schematically a change of position of the rotatable assembly 114 of a multidirectional air flowing device 100. Figs. 2A-2C show the device 100 from a direction perpendicular relative to the second axis Y. Figs. 3A-3C, on the other hand, show the device 100 in a direction along the second axis Y, thus the second axis Y extends in Figs. 3A-3C away/towards the viewer.

In Figs. 2A and 3 A, the rotatable assembly 114 or the rotating air flow generation unit 110 is in a first position in which the flow of air is being generated into one of the directions defined by the frame 120. In Figs. 2C and 3C, the rotatable assembly 114 or the rotating air flow generation unit 110 is in a second position in which the flow of air is being generated into other one of the directions defined by the frame 120, such as being opposite to the direction in the first position. Figs. 2B and 3B shows an example of a possible intermediate position in which the rotatable assembly 114 or the rotating air flow generation unit 110 is between positions defined by thee frame 120. However, it should be noted that there may be, for example, third and fourth positions defined by the frame 120, such as when the device 100 is arranged to an intersection portion between two pipes defining air flowing channels.

In some embodiments, a longitudinal direction of a channel defined by the tubular frame for the flow of air may correspond to the direction of the flow of air in said two positions, namely the first and the second positions.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically the second actuator 130 of a multidirectional air flowing device 100. The multidirectional air flowing device 100 may comprise one or several sensors 152A, 152B, such as optical sensor(s), utilized in regulating a movement of the second actuator 130 when changing the position of the first axis X between at least two positions, for example, the first position and the second position as described hereinabove.

As can be seen, there may be a further frame portion 150, such being an integrated portion of the frame 120 or a separate frame, such as arranged in fixed manner relative to the frame 120, to which at least the sensor(s) 152A, 152B and the, optionally, the second actuator 130 has been arranged to. The second actuator 130 may extend through the further frame portion 150 via a hole therein.

As visible, there may be a target element 134 of the sensors(s) 152A, 152B, such as an extension portion or a flange, coupled, preferably in a fixed manner, to the second actuator 130. Alternatively, the target element 134 may be arranged attached to the second axis Y or basically anywhere where the target element 134 together with the sensor(s) 152 A, 152B may operate to determine or detect the position of the second actuator 130 or directly the first axis X. In some embodiments, the sensors 152A, 152B may be utilized as limits for the movement, such as rotation, of the second actuator 130.

In various embodiments, there may indeed be no target element 134 per se. The change of position of the first axis X could alternatively be implemented by a motor encoder in connection with the second actuator 130, having pre-stored positions for regulating the position of the first axis X. Thus, the two positions may be such that the direction of the flow of air is opposite in one of the two positions compared to the other one. The (optical) sensor(s) 152A, 152B may be arranged to determine position of the second actuator 130. Furthermore, there may be two (optical) sensors 152A, 152B arranged on opposite sides of the second actuator 130, such as shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 4 also shows wires or conductors, or cables, extending from the second actuator 130 and the sensors 152A, 152B. Thus, electrical power and/or data may be transmitted via the wires or conductors, or the cables.

In addition, the multidirectional air flowing device 100 may comprise a control unit (not shown) configured at least to control the second actuator 130 so as to change the position of the first axis X. The control unit may comprise a processing unit and a memory device, such as comprising non-transitory or volatile, and/or transitory or non-volatile memory storage medium.

In various embodiments, also measurement data from the sensor(s) 152A, 152B may be received by the control unit in order to utilize the data when changing the position of the first axis X.

Figures 5A and 5B illustrate schematically the operation of the second actuator 130 of a multidirectional air flowing device 100. In Fig. 5 A, the target element 134 is aligned with the second sensor 152B, such as an optical sensor, the position corresponding to the second position as described hereinabove, for instance. In Fig. 5B, the target element 134 is aligned with the first sensor 152A, such as an optical sensor, the position corresponding to the first position as described hereinabove, for instance. Thus, the second actuator 130 may be utilized to be rotated between said positions, simultaneously rotating the first axis X between said first and second positions. In Figs. 5A and 5B, the device 100 is shown from along the second axis Y, thus it extends away/towards the viewer in Figs. 5A and 5B. The frame 120 and the rotatable assembly 114 are not shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, however, they could be visible behind the elements shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, such as clear based on Figs. 1 and 4.

Figure 6 shows a flow diagram of a method of manufacture of a multidirectional air flowing device 100.

Item 600 refers to a start-up phase of the method. Suitable equipment and components are obtained, and (sub-)systems assembled and configured for operation. The “items” in connection with Fig. 6 may be method steps or features of the device 100 and or the control unit, for instance. For example, item 600 may include a method step relating to arranging of at least necessary systems and components.

Item 610 refers to obtaining or manufacturing a rotating air flow generation unit 110 comprising a first actuator 112 and a rotatable assembly 114, wherein the rotatable assembly 114 includes a first axis of rotation X and is adapted to generate a flow of air in at least a primary direction PD, wherein rotation around the first axis or rotation X is provided by the first actuator 112 and the first axis of rotation X is parallel to the primary direction PD. Item 620 refers to arranging a frame 120 around the rotatable assembly 114.

Item 630 refers to arranging a second actuator 130 to change a position of the first axis of rotation X relative to the frame 120 for changing a direction of a flow of air, such as by the control unit and, optionally, sensors 152 A, 152B.

The method execution may, depending on the embodiment, be ended at item 699.