Fan with shut-off valve and method of operating

Abstract

A fan with a housing defining an interior and a flow path therein and a valve assembly including a valve element disposed in the flow path and configured to rotate between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the valve element closes the flow path and a linkage assembly and a method of operating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan, comprising:
 a housing defining an interior and a flow path therein;   an impeller assembly including a set of blades, the impeller assembly slidably located within the interior and wherein the impeller assembly is rotatable about an axis of rotation; and   a valve assembly, comprising:
 a valve element disposed in the flow path and operably coupled to the impeller assembly and configured to rotate between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the valve element closes the flow path; and 
 a linkage assembly physically coupling the impeller assembly and the valve element; 
   wherein the valve element is configured to rotate between the open and closed positions based on slidable movement of the impeller assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller assembly further comprises a motor slidably located within the interior and having an output shaft drivingly coupled to the set of blades. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a rail along which the motor is slidably mounted. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 3 , wherein the rail comprises a cylindrical tube within which at least a portion of the motor is located. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a bar operably coupled to the impeller assembly and the valve element. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein the valve element is a butterfly valve element comprising a plate and a shaft, wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 6 , further comprising a biasing element operably coupled to the butterfly valve element and configured to bias the butterfly valve element towards the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing element is a torsion spring operably coupled to the shaft of the butterfly valve element. 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 8 , wherein the biasing element is located exterior to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 6 , wherein the axis of rotation of the plate is offset from the axis of rotation of the impeller assembly. 
     
     
         11 . A valve assembly having a housing defining a flow path, comprising:
 a fan disposed in the flow path and linearly movable within the housing;   a valve element rotatably mounted to the housing and disposed in the flow path and operably coupled to the fan and configured to rotate between an opened position and a closed position, wherein the valve element closes the flow path; and   a linkage assembly physically coupling the fan and the valve element;   wherein the linkage assembly is configured to translate linear driving force provided by the fan into rotational motion of the valve element such that the valve element rotates between the opened position and closed position based on the linear driving force.   
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the valve element is a butterfly valve element comprising a plate and a shaft, wherein the shaft is rotatably mounted to the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises a bar configured to translate the linear driving force into rotational movement of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a biasing element operably coupled to the butterfly valve element and configured to bias the butterfly valve element towards the closed position. 
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing element is a torsion spring operably coupled to the shaft of the butterfly valve element. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the biasing element is located exterior to the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The valve assembly of  claim 12 , wherein an axis of rotation of the plate is offset relative to a centerline or the housing. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a fan assembly, the method comprising:
 operating an impeller to generate a thrust force that linearly moves the fan assembly; and   translating linear movement of the fan assembly into rotational movement of a plate portion of a valve to rotate the plate portion from a closed position to an opened position.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising ceasing operation of the impeller to remove the thrust force from the at least a portion of the fan assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising utilizing a spring force to return the plate portion to the closed position.