Stepped-louvre heating, ventilating and air conditioning unit used in high volume, low speed fan

Abstract

A manifold including a stepped louvre to control airflow along a fan blade. A fan blade for use in a high volume, low-speed fan, wherein the fan blade includes a body portion, a leading edge portion and a trailing portion. The leading edge portion of the fan blade includes a series of steps extending along the length of the leading edge. The fan distributes airflow from the manifold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high volume, low-speed fan and HVAC manifold comprising:
 a ceiling mount;   an electromagnetic motor coupled to said ceiling mount;   a fan blade mount coupled to an electromagnetic motor;   a plurality of fan blades coupled to the fan blade mount having a length and width; and   each of the fan blades having a body portion, a top portion, a leading edge portion and a trailing portion; wherein the leading edge portion of the fan blade is configured to include a plurality of steps extending along the length of the leading edge portion of each fan blade;   a diffuser to accommodate airflow from an HVAC system, wherein the diffuser is positioned below electromagnetic motor and above the fan blades relative to the floor, said diffuser having an opening between the fan blades and the ceiling mount;   a plurality of louvres positioned within the opening of the diffuser, wherein the louvre is configured to include a plurality of steps extending along an edge portion of the louvre.   
     
     
         2 . An adjustment guide coupled to said louvre and adapted to adjust the angle of the louvre with respect to a plane formed by the opening in the diffuser. 
     
     
         3 . The high volume, low-speed fan of  claims 1 , wherein the adjustment guide further comprises a positioning member. 
     
     
         4 . The high volume, low-speed fan of  claim 2 , wherein the adjustment guide further comprising a fine adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The high volume, low-speed fan of  claim 3  wherein the louvres further comprising an adjustment guide aperture having a lock notch and the adjustment guide comprising a plurality of bushings wherein the bushings engage with the lock notch to establish a plurality of angular positions of the louvre relative to a plane defined by one of the openings of the diffuser. 
     
     
         6 . The high volume, low-speed fan of  claim 1  further including a plurality of diffusers wherein the diffuser is trapezoidal-shaped and each diffuser includes a plurality of openings to equally distribute air delivered by the HVAC system to a top portion of the fan blade such that the air delivered by the HVAC system is generally distributed by the fan blades in equal volume below the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The high volume, low-speed fan of  claim 1  further comprises a restrictor plate wherein the restrictor plate has a stepped edge. 
     
     
         8 . An air louvre comprising:
 a body portion;   a leading edge portion;   a trailing edge;   a leading edge portion, wherein the leading edge of the louvre is configured to include a plurality of steps extending along at least a portion of the leading edge of the louvre.   
     
     
         9 . The air louvre of  claim 8 , wherein the length of each louvre step is substantially proportional to a total length of the edge of the louvre. 
     
     
         10 . The air louvre of  claim 9 , wherein the width of the plurality of steps is substantially proportional to the overall width of the edge of the louvre. 
     
     
         11 . The air louvre of  claim 10 , wherein the louvre is configured to have a pitch of between 18° to 22°. 
     
     
         12 . The air louvre of  claim 10 , wherein the louvre is configured to have a pitch of 0°. 
     
     
         13 . The air louvre of  claim 8 , wherein the width of the plurality of steps is substantially proportional to the overall width of the leading edge of the louvre. 
     
     
         14 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein the steps of the louvre are configured to create turbulent airflow. 
     
     
         15 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein there are at least three steps on the louvre. 
     
     
         16 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein there are three steps, the ratio of length of the three steps along the edge of the louvre is approximately 3:2:1 and the ratio of the width along the edge of the louvre is approximately 3:2:1. 
     
     
         17 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein there are no more than seven steps along the edge portion of the louvre. 
     
     
         18 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein the body portion of the fan blade is constructed of aluminum and the leading edge portion is constructed of one of the group comprising graphite, fiberglass, thermoplastic, polypropylene, carbon fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , further comprising a diffuser having an aperture wherein said aid louvre is mounted to the diffuser within the aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The air louvre of  claim 13 , wherein the steps are Z-shaped.