WO2004087982A2

WO2004087982A2 - Fan blade protector

Info

Publication number: WO2004087982A2
Application number: PCT/IN2004/000040
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sankarnarayanan Balasubramanian
Original assignee: Balasubramanian Sankarnarayana
Priority date: 2003-04-01
Filing date: 2004-02-12
Publication date: 2004-10-14
Also published as: WO2004087982A3

Abstract

An art, method and process of protecting fan/propeller blades, mainly the leading edge, from pitting as a result of corrosion and foreign object damage including dust particles. An art, method and manner of preventing humidity-led pitting of fan/propeller blades that operates on high velocity domestic fans, centrifugal fans, and rotarials and ensures safe operation. A protective composition that yields to a plastic based shields that slide into the sharp edge of fans, mainly the leading edge and partly surrounds it and obstructs humidity access to it.

Description

FAN BLADE PROTECTOR

Technical Field

This invention relates to the art, method and process of protecting fan blades and propeller blades from pitting as a result of corrosion. The invention is innovative and multi-utilitarian as it encompasses an innovative and cost effective solution to the chronic problem of pitting of fan/propeller blades that operate on high velocity centrifugal and rotarials.

Background Art

Pitting is the most commonly associated problem in the sphere of centrifugal sciences and rotarials. The captioned invention comprises of a protective_shield that slides itself securely over the leading edge of the fan blade and prevents access of ambient humidity thereto. The shield has been conceived so as to enable it to be positioned in two different ways. They are:

A) By a polymer based plastic material that effectively locks itself over and engages onto the lateral portion of the blade. The protector may be locked into by a special kind of molding that lock into the fan blade and firmly juxtaposes over the lateral portion of the blade.

B) By a polymer based compound mounted on an adhesive base that can be peeled off. The fan blade protector is then easily affixed over the leading edge portion of the fan blade so as to be tightly fastened onto the surface.

C) Hitherto fans could never be protected from pitting and this resulted in low performance and short life span for domestic fans.

Disclosure of Invention

This invention relates to a unique and innovative fan-blade^" protector and is directed in particular, but not exclusively, to a protector for protecting the leading edge of fan blades used in household fans.

The edges of the domestic and household fan blades, mainly the leading edge, gets jagged and sharp in use due to pitting. These pitted and unprotected fan blades over a period of time pose a serious safety hazard as it eventually leads to disintegration of the blade and eventual dislodgment from the coaxial motor. When a fan blade is in motion it is subjected to high velocity centrifugal forces that affect its structural strength adversely. Thus pitting of fans can be a hazardous.

Accordingly, this invention provides a blade protector comprising of a protective shield to prevent humidity access to the fan blade. The shield faces the front side of the fan blade in use. The protector obstructs access to the aft side of the fan blade and includes longitudinal guide means for engaging in use a complementarily shaped part of the fan drive shaft housing to allow the protector to be slid forwardly to at least partly surround the fan.

The shield portion surrounds the sharp edge of the fan blades. The shield preferably made of a tough plastic material such as for example polypropylene or natural or synthetic rubber material preferably coloured as a fluorescent warning.

Whilst the invention has been described above it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying photographs in which:

PIC. 1 shows the pitted fan blade;

PIC. 2 shows a fan blade protector fitted blade slid onto the blade PIC.3 Shows a peel and paste kind of fan blade protector. The present invention obviates the disadvantages of pitting of fan blades

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The FAN BLADE PROTECTOR is a value-engineered accessory designed in a user-friendly manner and can be affixed easily due to its lightweight and its economical design and configuration. The protector is manufactured and fabricated with specially created durable plastic and polymer based compounds. The accessory is componential and easily disassembled and serviced through affordable replacement during wear and tear. Due to its unique method of delivery, the shield can be directly sold and also sold separately. The protector is warranted for its quality and fitness up to a period of five years

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention is the art, method and process for preventing pitting of the leading edge of fan blades. The accessory can be deployed in two ways that are easy to implement. The contraption also can be installed manually.

CHARACTERISTICS

A. The blade protector can be installed manually

B. The affixture of the protector causes no harm to the fan blades or denude the utility of the fan in anyway.

C. The blade protector does not hinder continuous operation of the fan.

D. The protector has been manufactured using durable polymer based compounds and plastics that give it long endurance

E. Any person can perform the installation single-handedly.

F. Warranty for 5 years can be given for satisfactory operation.

G. The operation is simple and user friendly and no specific experience or practice is required for the same.

H. The individual parts of the fan protector can be separated easily and therefore maintenance is simple.

Claims

1. An innovative anti-corrosive accessory made of a unique anti-corrosive compound that can be slid onto directly or peeled and pasted over the leading edge of household and industrial fans to prevent pitting of the leading edge of fan propeller blades.

2. A user-friendly accessory that can effectively prevent pitting of all kinds of fan blades and prolong the life of fan blades and propellers.

3. An innovative concept to prevent pitting of all kinds of propellers and fan blades with the aid of an add- on/accessory.

4. A value engineered and post-manufacture, instali-it-yourself accessory that can be customized/adaptable to any kind of fan blade/propellers in varied industrial and household utilities.

5. An easy to insert/apply device that is designed in a user-friendly manner and can be positioned on the leading edge of fan blades. The device that is lightweight and designed economically to be affixed on the leading edge of a fan blade without affecting the utility of the fan blade whatsoever.

6. A unique polymer based compound that is customized to blend with fan blades subject to prolonged and high velocity centrifugal pressure and withstand its basic property, utility, quality and fitness up to a period of 3 years.