Title of Invention

A FAN REGULATOR

Abstract

Disclosed An improved fan regulator for ceiling fans comprising a two pole five position rotary switch, capacitors along with series wire wound resistors and parallel carbon film resistors, characterized in that: (a) the capacitors provided are metalised polypropylene film capacitor; (b) series wire wound resistors being connected to the capacitors to limit surge currents through the capacitors during speed change; (C)Parallel carbon film resistors being connected to discharge the capacitors when the regulator is switched off; and (d) a two-pole five position switch with Copper-Beryllium contacts is used to provide OFF plus four different speed positions, said two-pole five position switch enables the changes in the number of capacitors connected in series with Fan to control the speed of the fan.

Full Text

This invention relates to an improved fan regulator for ceiling fans. Ceiling fans are extensively used in homes to provide air circulation. Especially in tropical countries, the use of ceiling fans are very vide and it is necessary that the fens are provided with proper regulators/switches to optimize energy consumption. The preferred types of speed are 'Low', Medium'. 'High' or 'Maximum'. Conventional regulators use series resistors and a rotary switch or series chokes and a rotary switch. Resistors in such regulators dissipate energy when the fan runs at lower than nonnal speed as the difference between the supply voltage and the voltage required to run the fan at required speed has to be absorbed by the series resistors. Chokes used in conventional regulators also dissipate substantial amount of energy and moreover reduce the power factor that is not desirable from the point of view of efficient use of electricity. Electronic type regulators currently available in the market use either a Triac (an electronic switch) that changes the voltage applied to the fan or series capacitors. The Triac based regulators generate audible noise in the fan, when the fan is run at lower speeds. The currently available series capacitor based regulators although are energy efficient and noise-less, they suffer from short life time because of the type of switch and type of capacitors used and surge currents flowing through the capacitors whenever the fan speed is changed and when ever voltage surges occur in the supply network. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved fan regulator, which has longer life, reduced sparking and also lower energy consumption. This invention thus provides an improved fan regulator for ceiling fans comprising a two pole five position rotary switch, capacitors along with series wire wound resistors and parallel carbon film resistors, characterized in that: (a) the capacitors provided are metalised polypropylene film capacitor; (b) series wire wound resistors being connected to the capacitors to limit surge currents through the capacitors during speed change; (c) parallel carbon film resistors being connected to discharge the capacitors when the regulator is switched off; and (d) a two-pole five position switch with Copper-Beryllium contacts is used to provide OFF plus Four different speed positions, said two-pole five position switch enables the changes in the number of Capacitors connected in series with Fan to control the speed of the fan. This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 shows the fi"ont plate of the step fan regulator; Fig. 2 shows the base plate of the step fan regulator; Fig. 3 shows the knob of the step fan regulator; Fig. 4 shows the complete assembly of the top fan regulator; and Fig. 5 shows the circuit diagram of the step fan regulator; The Step Fan Regulator has two banks of Capacitors mounted on a printed circuit board: Capacitor Bank 1 comprising of series Wire-wound Resistor RS and parallel combioation of Capacitor C4 and Carbon Film Resistor R4; Capacitor bank 2 comprising of series Wire-wound Resistor Rl and parallel combination of Capacitors CI, C2, C3 and carbon Film Resistors R2 & R3. A two-pole five-position switch Ql (OFF + Positions 1 to 4) is also mounted on the printed circuit board. The first pole of the switch comprises of a common point and terminals 1 to 6. The second pole of the switch comprises of the common point and terminals 7 to 12. When the switch Ql is rotated with the help of the knob provided, the common point gets connected to terminals 1 & 7 in position 1 (OFF position), to terminals 2 & 8 in position 2 (Low Speed position), to terminals 3 & 9 in position 3 (Medium Speed position), to terminals 5 & 10 in position 4 (High Speed position) and to terminals 6 & 12 in position 5 (Maximum Speed position). The complete printed circuit board assembly 'a' with above mentioned components and the switch is housed inside a base 'b' (Ref. Fig.2) and covered with a front plate 'c' (Ref Fig,l). The front plate has a hole through which shaft of the switch protrudes. The front plate is also secured to the shaft of the switch with a nut. A knob 'd' (Ref Fig.3) is press fitted on to the shaft of the Switch. The front plate has speed positions marked on it. The two leads of the Step Fan Regulator terminated on to a two-way terminal block for ease of wiring. Refer to Fig 4 for assembly details and Fig 5 for circuit diagram. When the switch is in OFF position (corresponding to position of terminal 1), the supply line is disconnected from the Fan hence the Fan will not rotate. In position I, the switch connects supply line to the Fan through Capacitor bank 1. The Capacitor bank 1 absorbs around three- fourth of the supply voltage and hence the Fan will rotate at around one-fourth the normal speed. In position 2, the switch connects supply line to the Fan Uirough Capacitor bank 2. The Capacitor bank 2 absorbs around half of the supply voltage and hence the Fan will rotate at around half the normal speed. In position 3, the switch connects supply line to the Fan through parallel combination of Capacitor banks 1 & 2, which absorb around one-fourth of die supply voltage and hence die Fan will rotate at around three-fourth of the normal speed. In position 4, die switch connects the supply line directly to the Fan and hence the Fan will rotate at nonnal speed. The exact speed at which a Fan will run in various positions of the Switch will depend on the rating of the Fan's Motor, Sweep, size and design of the Fan blades. Supply Voltage, Supply Frequency and Cabling. However the Step Regulator provides a speed control that is convenient for domestic use along with benefits of energy savings, improved power factor, noise-less operation and reliable long-term service. The step fan regulator is basically of 6 Positions including OFF position , Figure 5 shows the circuit for the Fan regulator, which will work as detailed in Table 1. Further, the regulator is noted to have 3 capacitor banks. Fan regulator Position Switch contact position Capacitor Bank OFF 1&7 Nil 1 2&8 (2.2mfd) 2 3&9 (2.2mfd+1.0nifd) 3 4&10 (2.2nifd+1.0mfd) + (l.Omfd) 4 5&1I (2.2mfd) + {2.2mfd+I.0mfd) 5 6&12 NIL Direct connection to fan TABLE 1 - Regulator & Switch Positions The advantages of the present invention are: (a) use of metalised polypropylene film capacitors to have higher current bandling capability; (b) use of wire wound resistors to limit surge currents; (c) use of carbon film resistors to prevent any electrical shock hazard because of charge stored in the capacitors; and (d) use of ber>11ium-copper contacts of the switch to ensure longer life of the regulator. We Claim: 1. A fan regulator for ceiling fans comprising a two pole five position rotary switch, capacitors along with series wire wound resistors and parallel carbon film resistors, characterized in that: (a) the capacitors provided are metalised polypropylene film capacitor; (b) series wire wound resistors being connected to the capacitors; (c) parallel carbon film resistors being connected; and (d) a two-pole five position switch with Copper-Beryllium contacts is used to provide OFF plus Four different speed positions, a two-pole five position switch with oopper-berydlium contacts, the five positions being off and four different speed positions. 2. An improved fan regulator for ceiling fan substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Documents:

0587-che-2004 abstract-duplicate.pdf

0587-che-2004 abstract.pdf

0587-che-2004 claims-duplicate.pdf

0587-che-2004 claims.pdf

0587-che-2004 correspondence-others.pdf

0587-che-2004 correspondence-po.pdf

0587-che-2004 description (complete).pdf

0587-che-2004 drawings-duplicate.pdf

0587-che-2004 drawings.pdf

0587-che-2004 form-1.pdf

0587-che-2004 form-19.pdf

0587-che-2004 form-26.pdf

0587-che-2004 form-3.pdf