Fan with reciprocating air volumes

Abstract

A fan including a fan blade having a pivoting end and a free end. The fan includes a spring having a first end attached to the pivoting end of the fan blade and a second end attached to a fan frame. The fan blade configured to oscillate so that free end experiences the largest displacement of the blade. The fan also includes a baffle having a window configured to frame the motion of the fan blade thereby creating a clearance between edges of the window and the swept area of the free end of fan blade. At least one compression chamber is provided on one side of the fan blade and is partially bounded by the fan blade, baffle and a boundary wall. A motor having a stator attached to the fan frame and an armature attached to the fan blade drives the motion of the fan blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan comprising:
 a first fan blade having a pivot end and a free end;   a first spring having a first end attached to the first blade pivot end and a second end attached to a fan frame;   the first fan blade being free to oscillate by pivoting on the first spring wherein the free end experiences the largest displacement of the blade;   a baffle having a first window with dimensions sized to create a clearance between the first window edges and the swept area of the first blade free end, wherein the baffle increases the fan's delivered pressure by minimizing air back flow;   a motor having a stator attached to the fan frame and an armature attached to the first fan blade, wherein the stator applies time-varying magnetic forces to the armature thereby causing the first fan blade to oscillate.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first compression chamber located on one side of the first blade and being partially bounded by the first blade, baffle and a first boundary wall; 
 whereby air is free to flow into the first compression chamber from the low-pressure side of the fan and flow out of the first compression chamber through the first window and into the high-pressure side of the fan; and 
 whereby the motion of the first fan blade creates a time-varying change in the first compression chamber volume which increases the pressure of air delivered by the fan to levels higher those that can be achieved without a compression chamber. 
 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a second compression chamber located on the opposite side of the first blade from the first compression chamber and being partially bounded by the first fan blade, baffle and a second boundary wall; 
 whereby air is free to flow into the second compression chamber from the low-pressure side of the fan and flow out of the second compression chamber through the first window and into the high-pressure side of the fan; and 
 whereby the motion of the first fan blade creates a time-varying change in the second compression chamber volume which increases the pressure of air delivered by the fan to levels higher than those than can be achieved with only a single compression chamber. 
 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a first compression chamber end cap that seals one end of the first and second compression chambers; and 
 a second compression chamber end cap that seals the opposite end of the first and second compression chambers. 
 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second fan blade having a pivot end and a free end; 
 a second spring having a first end attached to the second fan blade pivot end and a second end attached to the fan frame; 
 the second fan blade being free to oscillate by pivoting on the second spring whereby the free end experiences the largest displacement of the second fan blade; 
 the baffle having a second window with dimensions sized to create a small clearance between the second window edges and the swept area of the second fan blade free end, whereby the baffle increases the fan's delivered pressure by minimizing air back flow; 
 a first compression chamber partially bounded by the first fan blade, the second fan blade and the baffle; 
 a second armature attached to the second fan blade, whereby the stator applies time-varying magnetic forces to the second armature which causes the second blade to oscillate; 
 whereby the compression volume between the blade and second blade results in a delivered pressure being greater than the pressure achieved without a compression volume. 
 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a second compression chamber located on an opposite side of the first fan blade from the first compression chamber and being partially bounded by the first fan blade, the baffle and a first boundary wall; 
 a third compression chamber located on an opposite side of the second fan blade from the first compression chamber and being partially bounded by the second fan blade, the baffle, and a second boundary; 
 whereby air is free to flow into the second compression chamber from the low-pressure side of the fan and flow out of the second compression chamber through the first window and into the high-pressure side of the fan; 
 whereby air is free to flow into the third compression chamber from the low-pressure side of the fan and flow out of the third compression chamber through the second window and into the high-pressure side of the fan; 
 whereby the motion of the first and second fan blades create a time-varying change in the second and third compression chamber volumes which increases the pressure of air delivered by the fan to levels higher those that can be achieved without the second and third compression chambers. 
 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 6  further comprising:
 a first compression chamber end cap that seals one end of the first, second and third compression chambers; and 
 a second compression chamber end cap that seals the opposite end of the first, second and third compression chambers. 
 
     
     
         8 . The fan of  claim 1  further comprising:
 the first spring comprising a steel spring wire. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 5  further comprising:
 the second spring comprising a steel spring wire. 
 
     
     
         10 . A fan comprising:
 a fan blade having a pivoting end and a free end;   a spring having a first end attached to the pivoting end of the fan blade and a second end attached to a fan frame;   the fan blade configured to oscillate so that free end experiences the largest displacement of the blade;   a baffle having a window configured to frame the motion of the fan blade thereby creating a clearance between edges of the window and the swept area of the free end of fan blade;   at least one compression chamber located on one side of the fan blade and being partially bounded by the fan blade, baffle and a boundary wall; and   a motor having a stator attached to the fan frame and an armature attached to the fan blade is configured to cause the fan blade to oscillate by pivoting on the spring.