US3016003A - Offset belted roof ventilator - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 9, 1962 L. .1. JENN ETAL OFFSET BELTED ROOF VENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Shea?I 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1959 |J| .1 mm| Jan. 9, 1962 Filed Nov. 23, 1959 L. J. JENN ETAL OFFSET BELTED ROOF YENTILATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NHIIIIII 52 7k INVENToRs.

United States Patent O 3,016,003 OFFSET BELTED ROOF VENTILATOR Louisl. Jenn and William E. Morrison, Indianapolis, Ind.,

asslgnors to Jenn Air Products Company, Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,969 6 Claims. (Cl. 98-43) I 'I'his invention relates generally to roof ventilator or air discharge assemblies and in particular to a ventilator assembly in which the drive means is offset and removed from the main hood or cover.

In assemblies of the type referred to it is desirable to locate the drive motor out of the air stream. 'In the past this has been accomplished by forming the main hood or cover so as to provide a recess out of the air stream which accommodates the drive motor. With the motor located inside the hood which must be weather-tight, whenever the motor or other components of the drive assembly must be serviced, access to the motor can be had only by disassembling this weatherproof enclosure. The arrangement of the present invention provides a location for the motor which is exterior of the weather-tight hood and is easily accessible for service or replacement.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a Ventilator assembly in which the dn've motor is supported exteriorly' of the fan hood and laterally adjacent to the impeller thereby providing easy access to the drive component and a relatively low over-all height for the complete assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of the type referred to in which the complete assembly may be hingedly mounted to a roof curb structure with the drive motor being disposed outwardly` of the axis of the hinged mounting whereby it acts as a counterweight when the assembly is tilted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drive motor mounting which does not require the usual belt tighteningV adjustment after the initial run-in period.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an assembly of the type referred to in which the driven shaft and drive motor lare separated to provide a relatively long center distance thereby substantially increasing belt life.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

PIG. l is a perspective view of the ventilator assembly holvving the motor and transmission means cover tilted FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the assembly.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the drive motor and its mounting means.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a modified form of the assembly adapted to incorporate an `axial ilow fan rather than a centrifugal-type impeller.

FlG. 5 is a side sectional view of the assembly of `FIG. 2 but modified to incorporate an impeller'bearing which differs from that of FIG. 2.

Referring initially to FIG. l, the assembly includes a generally rectangular frame member which is formed to provide an air inlet aperture 11. A concave-convex hood 12, which may be formed of spun aluminum, is disposed in spaced, overlying relation to the inlet aperture 11 with its concave side facing the aperture. EX- tending vertically within the hood and coaxially therewith is a shaft 13, the upper end of which extends exteriorly of the hood and carries a multiple V-belt pulley 14. Spaced, L-shaped members 16 are disposed exteriorly of the hood and have their radiallyextending legs secured to the hood adjacent its center and have their Patented Jan. 9, 1962 rice vertical legs rigidly attached to the hood adjacent its peripheral margin. Bolts 17 and 18, shown in FIG. 2, may be utilized as attaching means for the members 16. Supported by the vertical legs of the members 16 is a drive motor 19 whose shaft carries a pulley 21. Rotary motion of the motor shaft is transferred between the pulleys 21 and 14 by means of a multiple V-belt 22. A cover 23 for the motor and transmission means is pivotally supported at the lower marginal area of the hood 12. The cover 23 is shown in FIG. l positioned so as to expose the motor. yIn operating position, it will be understood the cover will be rotated counterclockwise from its position of FIG. l so as to enclose the motor, belt and pulleys.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the frame member 10 is shown as being supported on a curb structure 15 which extends vertically from a roof or other horizontal surface and borders the outlet end of a discharge duct. 'I'he curb structure 15 may be encased within a ashing 24. To install the assembly of the present invention, the ashing may be cut away as indicated at 26 and two spaced, L-shaped brackets 27 may be secured to the curb structure 15 by such means as lag bolts 23. The frame member 10 is somewhat longer than the corresponding dimension of the curb structure so that it overlies and encloses the members 27. The curb structure is apertured adjacent the brackets 27 to receive pintles or hinge pins 29 which yalso extend through registering apertures in the adjacent brackets 27. It will be understood that the mounting for the frame member thus provided permits the frame and the remaining portion of the assembly supported thereon to be pivoted clockwise about the pintles Z9, permitting access to the discharge end of the duct and to the louvers (not shown) which are conventionally disposed at the discharge end ofthe duct. n

The frame member is formed to provide a generally vertically extending portion 31 and a horizontally extending portion 32 terminating in an upwardly directed lip 33. The lip portion 33 defines the air inlet aperture to the assembly and directs air smoothly into the centrifugal-type impeller indicated generally at 34. The impeller is of conventional type and is locked for rotation to the shaftr13 by means of the hub 36.

The shaft 13 is supported at its lower end by means.

of the bearing assembly 37 which includes a support plate 38 mounted by means of bolts '39 upon tabs 41. The tabs 41 extend sidewardly from spaced, radially extending support members 42, the outer ends of the support members being attached by means of bolts 43 to the portions 31 of the frame member 10. Also supported by the bolts 43 is a tubular, vertically-extending element 44 whoseupper end is formed to provide an outwardlly hanged-lip '46; This tubular element 44 extends adjacent the lower end of the impeller and provides an Yincreased air handling eciency for the assembly.

The upper end of the shaft 13 extends through an aperture in the upper end of the hood and is supported for rotation by means of an upper bearing assembly 47. The bearingassernbly 47 is supported by means of bolts 48 which extend through the hood andrthrough a stiffening plate 49 secured to the upper end of the hood by means of bolts or screws 51. y

vA wire grill 52 Lof substantial rigidity extends from the frame member 10, being secured thereto by means of bolts 43. The outer margin of the grill is formed so as to permit attachment thereof to the hoodv by means of the lower series of bolts 18. The grill 52 thus serves to support the hood 12 and functions as a guard which prevents the entry of birds into the assembly. The righthand portion (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the hood is reinforced by means of tw-o brace members 53 which extend from the frame member 10 and are secured to the hood by means of the upper series of bolts 18. This reinforced portion of the hood has attached thereto the lower ends of the vertical legs of the members 16. A hinge mounting means, indicated generally at 54 in FIG. 2, serves to support in vertical position the motor 19. The marginal edge of the hood adjacent the motor has rigidly secured thereto a pair of brackets S6 having outwardly extending ears 57 and the adjacent sides of the cover 23A are provided with registering apertures which accommodate a pintle Vor pivot pin S. As previously mentioned, the cover 23 Yis thus supported so that it may be moved into and out of `its motorV and transmission means enclosing position. Y

Y Referring now to FlG. 3, the mounting means 54 for the motor 19 will be described in detail. This mounting 'means includes a'hinge plate 61 which is weldwith horizontally kelongated slots 64 through which the motor mounting bolts extend, the slots permitting limited adjustability of the position of the motor in a horizontal Y plane. `Extending yfrom one 'face of the plate 63 is a pin 66. TheV pin 66 extends freely through any elongated slot 67 in the plate 61 and has a headV 66a which defines the maximum separation ofthe plates 61 and 63. A compression spring 68 extends between the plates 63 and 61 and axially accommodates the pin 66. From the foregoing it will be evident that the spring 68 serves to urge the motor 19 clockwise about the pivot 62 and` serves to maintain tension on the belt 22. rThis arrangement eliminates the necessity for adjustment of belt tension subsequent to the run-in.

In operation, with the motor 19 energized, the impeller 34 will draw air through the apertureV deined by the lip 33 and will direct this air downwardly through the space separating theV hood v12 and the frame member 10. yShould access be required to the motor or motion transmission means, the cover 23 may be moved to its position of FIG. l. Should access be required to the discharge end of the duct, the entire assembly may be pivoted clockwise around the pivot 29.- Such move- Vment of the assembly is facilitated by the arrangement whereby the motor 19 is supported outboard of the pivot 29. The substantial weight of the motor thus acts as a counterweight, aiding the clockwise pivotal movement of the entire assembly.

The motor in the assembly of the present invention is supported substantially in the same plane as the impeller to reduce the overall height and the motor is mounted exteriorly of the hood 12 whereby the -motor compartment is not indented intothe air discharge space. The

motor mounting means is such that, forV ease in handlingV of Ithe assembly prior to installation and Afor preventing damage to the unit in shipment, the motor 19, together with plate 63, can be removed after inspection and test by merely pulling the hinge pin y62 and vremoving the pin 66. The motor and attached plate may then be securely fastened t-o the shipping crate. The assembly further lends itself to easy hoisting into mounting position with the off-center hoisting motor weight removed. The components of the drive system are mounted on the hood 12 which is supported on the base frame by the welded wire grill 52. The naturalV or resonant vibrational frequency of the 'substantial weight supported on the wire grill is low enough to be below the koperating 4speeds of the unit.

The guard grill is, however, exible enough to dampen the frequencies generated by operation of the drive unit and prevents them from reaching the base frame and thus prevents them from being transmitted to the interior of the building. The bearing arrangement provides a relatively large distance between the limpeller bearings, thus keeping vibration of the driven memberV and Ibearing wear to a minimum. The relatively long center distance between the shaft provides a prolonged belt life. The hinge cover for the motor and transmission means provides a weather-proof shield for these element-s and yet permits easy access thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5, a modified form of the assembly will be described. ln FIG. 5, parts which are identical to those of FlG. 2 are given the same reference numerals. In the modified form of FIGS Vthe bearings for the impeller shaft 13 are supported or suspended entirely from the hood 12.

The bearino structure comprises Alocking collars 81 and 82 Vrigidly secured to the shaft 13. A tubular element 83, carrying at its ends the members 8'4 and 86, has a hanged upper end 87 which is secured by means of screws 88 to an annular plate 89. The plate 89 is rigidly secured by means of screws 51 yto ythe upper, central face of the hood 12. The shaft 13 extends beyond the end of the bearing assembly and has keyed thereto a hub 91 which carries the centrifugal impeller 34. n The construction of FIG. 5 thus eliminates the lower bearing assembly 37 of FIG. 2 and utilizes a shorter shaft 13. Yln the FIG. 5 construction the upper and lower bearings are rigidly supported by a unitary Velement 83 thereby reducing or eliminating any tendency for the shaft 13 to whip or oscillate ofi the vertical.

Referring now to FIG. 4, -a modified form of the assembly will now be described. 1n FIG. 4, parts which are similar to those shown in FiG. 2 are given the same reference numerals but with the ,suixfb In this for-m the lowerV portion of the assembly is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, however, the air moving means takes the form of an axial discharge type fan which includes blades 71 supported on a spider 72 carried by a hub 73. VThe hub 73 is rlocked to la central, vertical shaft 74. The lower end of the yshaft is journaled in a bearing assembly 76 carried by the horizontal portion 77 of a frusto-conical -mem- -ber 78. The upper end of the shaft 74 is journaled in a bearing assembly 79supported on the upper end of the hood 12b.. The member 78 is -supported at its base by and depends from the hood 12b, being attached thereto by means of bolts 81. 'Ihe portions of the guard grill 52b which extend radially outward are provided with eyelets 82 to which are rigidly secured an annular, arcuate directional vane 83. The vane 83 serves to split the air discharge of the fan blades between the member '44b and the hood 12b. The motor 19b, pulleys 2lb and 14b, together with belt 22h form the motor drive tand transmission means whic'h are shielded bythe pivotally movable cover 23b. Y

The structure shown in FIG. 4 incorporates the advantages mentioned with reference to the structure of FIG. 2. ln the -form ofthe structure shown .in FIG. 4, the lower :bearing 76 journaling the fan shaft 74 is supported by the conical member 78, the entire support for the shaftV thereby depending from the upper end of the hood 12b.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they Iare to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad'scope of 4the invention, reference being had to the appended, claims. Y,

The invention claimed is:

l. A roof ventilator air discharge assembly adapted to be mounted on a preconstruoted, vertically-extending curb structure, said assembly including a tubular, rectangular frame member supported by said curb ystructure and pivotally Secured thereto along a pivotal support axis parallel to one of 'its sides, the upper portion of said frame mem-ber being formed to provide ya. circular air inlet aperture disposed above said curb structure, a concavo-convex hood disposed -in spaced, overlying relation to said inlety aperture with its concave side facing said aperture, means extending between said frame member and the marginal area of said hood for supporting said hood, a vertically positioned shaft mounted for rotation within said hood and having a portion extending beyond the convex outer face thereof, an air-moving impeller mounted within said hood and driven Iby said shaft, said impeller being positioned coaxially with said inlet aperture for drawing air through said aperture and discharging it through the space bounded by said hood, spaced L- shaped members having their ends attached respectively to the `outer face of said hood adjacent its central axis and adjacent its peripheral margin whereby one set of legs of said L-shaped members extend substantially vertically and the other set horizontally, motor support means carried by the vertically extending legs of said L-shaped members, a motor carried by said support means and disposed so that its shaft extends vertically, power transmission means extending from said motor radially across the upper surface of said hood to said extending shaft portion for driving said shaft, and a cover for said motor and transmission means removably supported 0n said hood, said motor being disposed outboard of the pivotal support axis of said frame member whereby as said frame member is tilted about said pivotal support axis said motor acts as a counterweight.

2. A. roof ventilator assembly as claimed claim l wherein said motor support means includes two plates hingedly joined to each other, one of said plates being rigidly supported on said L-shaped members and the other being rigidly attached to said motor, and resilient means extending between said plates urging them apart, whereby said motor is urged away from said hood. y

3. A roof ventilator air discharge assembly adapted to be mounted on a preconstructed, vertically-extending curb structure, said assembly including a tubular, rectangular frame member supported by said curb structure and removable therefrom, the upper portion of said frame member being formed to provide a circular inlet aperture disposed above said curb structure, a concavo-convex hood disposed in spaced, overlying relation to said inlet aperture with its concave side facing said aperture and supported by said frame member, a vertically positioned shaft mounted for rotation within said hood and having a portion extending beyond the convex outer face thereof, an air-moving impeller mounted for rotation within said hood and driven by said shaft, said impeller being positioned coaxially with said inlet aperture for drawing air through said aperture and discharging it through the space bounded by said hood, an L-shaped support member having its ends attached respectively to the outer surface of said hood adjacent its central axis and adjacent its peripheral margin whereby one leg of said support member extends substantially vertically and the other leg horizontally, motor support means carried by the vertically extending leg of said support member, a motor carried by said motor support means and disposed so that its shaft extends vertically, power transmission means extending from said motor radially across the exterior upper surface of said hood to said extending shaft portion for driving said shaft, and a cover for said motor and transmission means removably supported on said hood, said motor being disposed outboard of the line or" juncture of said frame member and said curb structure whereby said frame member may be tilted about the frame and curb line of juncture closest to said motor, such tilting being facilitated by the weight of the motor acting as a counter weight.

LVA roof ventilator assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said motor support means includes two plates hingedly joined to each other, one of said plates being igidly supported on said support member and the other being rigidly attached to said motor, and resilient means extending between said plates urging them apart, whereby said motor is urged away from said hood.

5. A roof ventilator discharge assembly adapted to be mounted on a preconstructed, vertically extending curb structure, said assembly including a frame member whose upper portion is formed to provide an air inlet aperture, a concave-convex hood disposed in spaced overlying relation to said inlet aperture with its concave side facing said aperture, a shaft and a supporting bearing structure for the shaft extending through the apex of said hood and suspended therefrom, an air moving impeller carried by the shaft and disposed within said hood, a drive motor supported exteriorly of said hood and substantially below the hood apex, and motion transmission means extending between said shaft and said motor exteriorly of said hood.

6. A roof ventilator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said impeller shaft and bearing assembly are detachable with relation to the hood from the exterior thereof, thereby permitting said shaft and bearing assembly to be withdrawn from the hood after said impeller is loosened on said shaft.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,868 Sawyer Dec. 11, 1928 2,483,377 Young Sept. 27, 1949 2,582,902 Gohl Ian. 15, 1952 2,735,611 McLean Feb. 2l, 1956 2,875,678 Shepherd Mar. 3, 1959

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