Medallion fan

Abstract

This invention relates to a ceiling mounted air circulating apparatus comprising, in combination: a motor; an essentially centrally located radial or axial air impeller; air guiding means; optional airflow enhancement by means of air amplification means; optional centrally located wiring path from an electrical power source to a wiring enclosure suitable for hanging a lighting fixture or chandelier; and decorative embellishments, ail of which are arranged to blend with the architectural style of a space in a manner similar to a decorative ceiling medallion, the plariform of which, when viewed from below may be circular, rectangular, or polygonal. Optionally, the apparatus of the present invention may embody any of the following; heating, cooling, filtration means, positive ion generation means, and / or air sterilization means.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
 a ceiling plate with a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling;   an impeller with a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling, the impeller configured to draw air in through an air inlet;   a plenum chamber configured to receive air from the impeller, the plenum chamber comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;   wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section;   a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, the flow guide defining an airflow channel, the airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;   wherein said air impeller pressurizes air within the plenum chamber, from which air is subsequently discharged to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to said cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel.   
     
     
       2. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the air circulating device has an appearance of a ceiling medallion. 
     
     
       3. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising peripherally mounted air deflection means which may be adapted to direct discharged air downward for summer cooling or parallel to the ceiling to improve heat distribution during the heating season. 
     
     
       4. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , wherein filtration means are mounted at the air inlet such that air drawn into the air inlet must pass through said filtration means before entering the location of said air impeller. 
     
     
       5. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising a wiring box for the optional mounting and electrical connection of a lighting fixture or chandelier. 
     
     
       6. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising air heating or cooling means. 
     
     
       7. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising, when viewed from the bottom, a rectangular, square, or polygonal outline, and wherein air discharged by the impeller is directed to a plurality of plenum chambers, from which the air is subsequently directed to be discharged through a plurality of air diverting devices which cause said discharged air to be better distributed about a room. 
     
     
       8. A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
 a ceiling plate with a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling and defining a ceiling plate outer periphery;   an impeller with a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling and fluidly coupled to an air inlet; and   a plenum chamber, fluidly coupled to the impeller, and comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;   wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section; and   a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, and the flow guide defining an airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;   wherein air discharged by the impeller to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to the cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel.   
     
     
       9. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 8 further comprising an impeller shroud defining a shroud outer periphery and having a shroud inlet located interiorly of the shroud outer periphery, with the impeller shroud underlying and spaced from the ceiling plate. 
     
     
       10. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein the ceiling plate abuts the motor. 
     
     
       11. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein the at least a portion of the repositionable peripheral diverter circumscribes the peripheral outlet. 
     
     
       12. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 further comprising a positioning device operably coupled to the repositionable peripheral diverter. 
     
     
       13. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 12 wherein the positioning device comprises an over center device. 
     
     
       14. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein the first position comprises a lower position and the second position comprises an upper position. 
     
     
       15. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein an outer periphery of the impeller shroud is located within an outer periphery of the ceiling plate. 
     
     
       16. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein the peripheral outlet is radially oriented relative to an axis of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
       17. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 16 wherein the inlet is axially oriented relative to the axis of rotation of the impeller. 
     
     
       18. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 wherein the outer periphery of the impeller shroud is located within the outer periphery of the ceiling plate. 
     
     
       19. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 9 further comprising a motor provided between the ceiling plate and the impeller shroud to define an annular space between the ceiling plate, impeller shroud, and motor, and the annular space, wherein the impeller is located within the annular space. 
     
     
       20. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 19 wherein the impeller is mounted to the motor. 
     
     
       21. The ceiling mounted air circulation device of claim 19 wherein the ceiling plate abuts the motor. 
     
     
       22. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of claim 8, wherein the air circulating device has an appearance of a ceiling medallion. 
     
     
       23. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of claim 8, further comprising a peripherally mounted air deflector adapted to direct discharged air downward from the ceiling or parallel to the ceiling. 
     
     
       24. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of claim 8, further comprising a filter fluidly coupled to the air inlet. 
     
     
       25. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of claim 8, further comprising a wiring box for optional mounting and electrical connection of a lighting fixture or chandelier. 
     
     
       26. The ceiling mounted air circulating device of claim 25, further comprising an air heater or air cooler. 
     
     
       27. A ceiling mounted air circulating device comprising:
 a ceiling plate, motor, and impeller shroud in a vertically stacked arrangement defining an annular space encircling the motor and vertically bounded by the ceiling plate and the impeller shroud, and the ceiling plate having a top surface intended to be mounted coplanar to a ceiling;   an inlet provided in the impeller shroud and fluidly coupled to the annular space;   a peripheral outlet between an outer periphery of the ceiling plate and an outer periphery of the impeller shroud, and fluidly coupled to an annular space;   an impeller located within the annular space and rotatably driven by the motor to draw air in through the inlet, pass the air through the annular space, and expel the air through the peripheral outlet; and the impeller having a central axis extending downward perpendicular to the ceiling;   a plenum chamber, fluidly coupled to the outlet, and comprising first and second fixed sections and a repositionable section;   wherein the repositionable section is configured to move from a first position adjacent to the first fixed section, to a second position adjacent to the second fixed section;   a flow guide located at a periphery of the air circulating device relative to the plenum chamber, and the flow guide defining an airflow channel comprising a first opening and a second opening;   wherein air discharged by the impeller through the outlet to the airflow channel, as a primary airflow, tangent to a cambered surface, establishing a wall jet which is fluidly attached to the cambered surface and causes ambient air to be entrained in the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the first position, the cambered surface is formed from the first fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the first opening of the airflow channel;   wherein, when the repositionable section is in the second position, the cambered surface is formed from the second fixed section and the repositionable section, and ambient air is entrained from the second opening of the airflow channel;   wherein the movement of the repositionable section between the first and second positions defines a vertical range of motion that lies within a vertical extent of the vertically stacked arrangement.