Field of Invention
The present invention relates to an air diffusing system incorporating a light-emitting means.
Background of the Invention
In many domestic buildings and offices ceiling fans are used to circulate air to the occupants of a room. These ceiling fans are mounted on the ceiling approximately at the centre of the room for uniform distribution of breeze to the occupants. Due to this preferred location of the ceiling fan, light-emitting means such as tube lights, bulbs etc. are invariably mounted on the sidewalls. It is very well known that in order to obtain the best lighting for a room the light-emitting means should be mounted on the ceiling. But due to space constraints on the ceiling and the disturbance that the movement of the blades of the ceiling fan would cause to the emission of light from the light-emitting means it becomes impractical to locate these light-emitting means on the ceiling.
Thus, there exists a need to locate both the fan and the light-emitting means in the ceiling of a room without compromising on the efficiency of both the ceiling fan and the light-emitting means.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides a ceiling fan that uses Coanda effect to diffuse air. The design of this fan is approximately circular with a space at its centre. A light-emitting means can be positioned in this centre space. Thus, the light-emitting means is located inside the fan, which has sufficient space in its centre. This central position of the light-emitting means makes the room brighter and does not compromise on the functioning of the fan.
In a preferred embodiment, the fan is provided with fixtures at strategic positions to mount the light-emitting means in its centre. Alternately, the fan has hollow cylindrical slits, which enables the light-emitting means to be snap fitted into the fan. Other preferred variations for fitting the light-emitting means into the fan can be envisaged and would fall within the scope of this invention.
In a further preferred embodiment, most parts of the fan is embedded into the ceiling by the installer who prepares the ceiling and the air discharging ring of the fan is alone visible on the ceiling. Such an embedded fan is thin in construction. In another variation, the entire fan and its components are fixed externally onto the ceiling. Thus, the invention provides options for prefixing the fan onto the ceiling or to retrofit the fan onto an existing ceiling.
The shape of the fan can be approximately circular or approximately square shaped according to the aesthetic requirement of the user. Further, the shape of the fan may also depend on the type of the light-emitting means that is desired to be used. The change in shape of the fan may require adjustment in the slit to optimize air stream.
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) or Fluorescent Lights (FL) may be fixed to luminaries. In the case of using LED light source, the luminary and the light source are combined.
In an optional embodiment, the fan may include a battery, which would come to use during a power cut situation. Further, optionally, the fan may be connected to a PV or wind generator to use renewable energy.
In an optional embodiment, the fan may include a heater, such that it is capable of blowing hot air during cold seasons.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows the conventional positioning of the ceiling fan and the light-emitting means in a room;
Figure 2a shows the embedded fan and light-emitting means combination according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2b shows the fan and light-emitting means combination attached externally to the ceiling according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3a shows the fan having fixtures to locate the light-emitting means according to a preferred variation of the invention;
Figure 3 a shows the mounting of the light-emitting means onto the fixtures in the ceiling fan;
Figure 4 shows the schematic representation of the fan and light emitting device combination according to this invention;
Figure 5 shows the circuit schematic used in the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows the circuit schematic including the back-up power supply according to an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 1 shows the conventional arrangement of the ceiling fan (F) and the light-emitting means (L) mounted on the sidewall (S) of a room in a typical
accommodation such as a house or office. The conventional ceiling fan makes it impractical to mount the light-emitting means on the ceiling (C) due to space constraints and disturbance that would be caused by the ceiling fan (F). Due to this arrangement of the light-emitting means (L) most parts of the accommodation remains dark or dimly lit.
Figure 2a & 2b provides a solution to mount both a fan (1) and the light-emitting means (2) on the ceiling (C) without compromising the efficiency of both. The fan (1) works under the principle of Coanda effect, which is elaborately disclosed in JP 56-167897, the specification of which is incorporated herein as reference. The fan (1) working on Coanda effect has an air-discharging ring (2) in its circumference thereby forming a usable space at its centre. A light-emitting means (3) is safely and securely mounted in this central space of the fan (1), thereby emitting light to all parts of the accommodation to make the accommodation brighter.
Figure 2a shows the fan being embedded into the ceiling (C) with only the air-discharging ring (2) being visible outside. In this case it is preferable that the ceiling (C) be a false ceiling. The fan (1) is then embedded to the false ceiling and the light emitting means (3) is mounted in the central space of the fan (1). Figure 2b shows the fan (1) being externally attached to the ceiling (C). In this case, the mounting is similar to a conventional ceiling fan where fasteners are used for mounting purposes. Thus, the present invention of the combined ceiling mountable fan and light-emitting means can be prefixed with the ceiling (C) at the time of preparing the ceiling (C) of the accommodation, or, it can be retrofitted to an existing ceiling (C) of the accommodation.
Figure 3a illustrates the fan (1) working under Coanda effect principle having fixtures (4) protruding from strategic locations on the inner circumference (5) of
the fan (1). The ends of the light-emitting means (3) can be readily attached onto these fixtures (4) thereby making the installation easier and quicker. The light-emitting means (3) installed on the fan (1) is shown in figure 3b. The light emitting means (3) may be fluorescent lights and preferably compact fluorescent lights (CFL) or LED type of lighting. In the case of CFL it is positioned centrally to the fan. After the CFL is fixed it will be covered by acrylic cover, which enables spreading the light uniformly in all directions.
As illustrated in figure 4, the schematic of the air diffusing system incorporating the light emitting means according to this invention is arranged in a housing (7). The housing (7) includes the fan (1) driven by a motor and the light emitting means (3) connected to suitable lighting fixtures as explained with reference to figure 3a and 3b. An electric circuit (8) that operates the fan(l) and the light emitting means is also included inside the housing (7).
The upper portion of the housing is provided with a plurality of air entry slits (9) and the lower portion of the housing has a plurality of air discharge slits (11). The air enters into the system through the air entry slits (9). The fan mechanism (1) connected to the motor inside the housing (7) generates an output airstream based on the mechanism of Coanda effect and the output airstream exits through the air discharge slits (11).
The fan with motor is preferably driven by an AC power supply. As illustrated in figure 5, the electric circuit that controls the operation of the system comprises an electric driver (10). Both the fan and the light emitting means can share a common electric driver (10). Alternately, separate electric drivers (10) can be provided to individually operate the fan mechanism (1) and the light emitting means (3). The electric driver (10) is controlled by switches and dimmers on a user operable board. A light switch (12a) is connected to a light dimmer switch (12b) to control
the intensity of the light being emitted by the light emitting means (3) by controlling the input voltage in the electric driver (10). Similarly, a fan switch (14a) is connected to a fan regulating switch (14b). The fan regulating switch (14b) controls the input voltage in the electric driver (10), which then controls the rotation speed of the motor that operates the fan (1) and thus enabling controlled output of the air stream according to the comfort of the user in the accommodation.
In arid places prone to frequent power interruptions and/or failures, it is desirable to have a power back up system to run the fan and/or light emitting means continually. As illustrated in figure 6, a back up power supply means (15) is preferably provided in each of the fan (1) and the light emitting means (3). The back up power supply means (15) is connected to a converter (16) which is in turn connected to the electric driver (10). Alternately, a common back up power supply means (15) is provided which is designed to be shared by both the fan (1) and the light emitting means (3). In an exemplary embodiment, the back up power supply means (15) may be a battery.
The invention as described above has several advantages over the convention arrangement of the fan and light emitting means.
The invention provides sufficient space for lighting. Only a fan operated by Coanda effect can make space for ceiling light. Lights mounted on ceilings makes the accommodation to be brighter. Convention ceiling fan occupies the space on the centre of the ceiling thereby forcing the light emitting means to be mounted on the side walls thereby decreasing the brightness of the light being emitted.
The invention provides an elegant design. The combination of Coanda effect fan and ceiling light makes it possible to have a flat ceiling. The flat ceiling is
considered to be an elegant design. It reduces the feeling of oppression in a conventional fan arrangement on the ceiling and light arrangement on the wall.
The invention increases free space in the ceiling and side walls. One can use the free space that is formed in the ceiling to hang chandeliers or other fancy goods. The free space in the side walls can be used to put up shelves or other decorative items.
The invention enables easy installation. Both the fan and the light emitting means can be installed at once. Thus installation time and operation costs can be reduced. Only one hole is needed to be provided in one part of the ceiling. Therefore, the cost of installation can also be reduced.
In one embodiment of the invention, since both the fan and the light emitting means shares the same electric circuit, the cost of preparing and installing additional circuits can be reduced.
In one embodiment of the invention a shared back up power supply system is used. This back up power supply can be charged during operation under normal power. In a power cut situation, this back up power supply system can supply power both for the fan and the light emitting means. This is a benefit of such a combined system. Otherwise, one has to prepare separate back up power supply means for each of the fan and the light emitting means.
The invention provides reduced noise and increased safety. Conventional ceiling fan is unstable and there is a possibility of the ceiling fan to come lose from its fasteners and collapse thereby causing injury. Also, conventional ceiling fan causes a lot of noise. Comparing to conventional fan, the fan running under Coanda effect does not librate, is stable and can reduce the noise during operation.
Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention may come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.

WE CLAIM
1. A device for diffusing air and emitting light comprising:
a fan operable by a mechanism of Coanda effect fixed to a ceiling of an accommodation, the fan having an air-discharging ring at its circumference thereby forming a usable space at its centre; and
a light emitting means mounted within the space.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electric circuit having a common electric driver is provided to operate both the fan and the light emitting means.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is embedded into the ceiling with only the air-discharging ring being visible.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is capable of being externally retrofitted to an existing ceiling.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan includes fixtures in its inner circumference for mounting the light-emitting means within the space.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan is powered by a motor.
7. The device as claimed in the preceding claims, wherein the device is accommodated in a housing.
8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein an upper portion of the housing is provided with a plurality of air entry slits and a lower portion of the housing includes a plurality of air discharge slits.

9. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electric circuit is connected to a light dimmer switch to control intensity of the light being emitted by the light emitting means.
10. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electric circuit is connected to a fan regulation switch to control output of air stream being discharged by the fan.
11. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a back up power supply means is provided in each of the fan and the light emitting means.
12. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a common back up power supply means is provided to be shared by both the fan and the light emitting means.