Electric Fan Manufacturers
There are a lot of different companies who have made electric fans over the years. Some are well known and long established while others were short lived.
Diehl began production of their fans in 1914 but their profit for that year was zero dollars and they instituted a policy of strict economy which meant everyone had a 10% pay cut for a few months.
History
In the early 1900’s Ercole Mareli of Italy revolutionized the big bulky electric fans with his smaller lighter graceful models that were far more attractive than those from America. He also designed the first overlapping blades to operate more quietly and used aluminum as opposed to steel in his fan blades.
During World War I all fan makers were pressed into service by the government and many stopped producing fans or went to part time production. Some even started making motors for airplane propellers or ammunition shells. By the end of the war a few companies, including Diehl, had started up again and were manufacturing fans.
It appears that Diehl had bit off more than they could chew as they were unable to keep up with demand. By 1914 they were out of room in their factory and their tools were worn out. They built a new factory and moved only their fan division and small motor division into it. They also instituted a strict economy policy that resulted in everyone having their pay cut for a few months.
By the mid-1970’s Wing Tat was one of the largest fans manufacturers in HK producing over 6 million fans per year. Its high quality fans were electric fan manufacturer sold in Hong Kong and in over 52 other markets worldwide. Its headquarters was in an 8 story factory building on 7 Sheung Hei Street in San Po Kong.
Technology
The electric fan is powered by an AC or DC motor which drives a rotating shaft. Fans come in many sizes, and as engineers have improved the motor and blade design they’ve also been able to reduce their size. This allows for smaller and lighter fans, as well as greater performance.
The rotor is typically constructed from copper wire coils that rotate when electricity flows through the motor. The motor is enclosed in a cage or housing to protect it from damage and to prevent the motor from contacting any part of the fan’s blades. The cage or housing also keeps the blades in place, and on some fans it provides a convenient location to mount a light kit.
Most electric fans are equipped with a variable speed control. This is usually a pull-chain and can have different settings, including high (full power), variable speed, and “Vari-Lo” (lower than high). Some fans are designed to be controlled by a wall mounted switch.
Some fans are equipped with a motor brushless DC (BLDC). This type of motor uses a permanent magnet to turn the rotor, and the brushes are eliminated, which makes them more energy efficient than traditional brushed motor fans. BLDC motors also tend to have better longevity and quiet operation. They’re commonly used in computer towers and laptop computers, as well as in ceiling fans.
Design
The main component of the electric fan is a motor that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy/movement. The fan blades are attached to this motor and, when the motor is turned on, it causes the blades to rotate and move air. In addition, the motor has a cage or housing that holds the blades in place and protects people from accidentally touching the blades.
The cages were made of heavy metals such as cast iron or steel, often with a filigree or ornate design. The fan was mounted on a pedestal or stand that could be raised or lowered to change the height of the fan. The motor was located at the back of the fan. Some fans were equipped with a gearbox on the back of the motor, which was designed to make the fan oscillate.
In the 1920s, Ercole Mareli introduced lighter and more graceful fan designs. These were a big improvement over the large, bulky fans that had been in use until then. These fans were also able to distribute warm air downward from the ceiling, which can help keep rooms more uniform in temperature.
The fan was a hit with Americans and the production of electric fans increased rapidly. By the 1940s, electric electric fan factory fans were common household items. However, during the 1940’s we were a Nation at war and most electric fan makers were using their production capacities to help with the war effort. This is why few, if any changes in fan designs were made after the war.
Production
As the name suggests, industrial fans are used in industrial applications. They are powered by petrol,diesel,natural gas,CNG,LPG,propane or electricity engines that drive motors to produce the desired airflow. The process of producing an industrial fan includes metal forming, tube bending and piercing, assembly and testing. Industrial fans are designed for a variety of uses including climate control and personal thermal comfort (e.g. an electric table or floor fan), vehicle engine cooling systems, machinery cooling systems, ventilation, fume extraction, winnowing (separating chaff of cereal grains) and drying.
Around 1910, manufacturers began producing fans for residential use. These fans had six wings and ran at a lower speed for quietness. They were often marketed as “bedroom fans”. The gear oscillator design was improved upon by Eck, who was able to stamp steel housings on small motors by 1912. This allowed them to reduce the size of their brass cages and move production away from Elizabeth to nearby Finderne.
During the 1920s, Robbins & Myers was one of the most important industrial fan manufacturers in the US. They produced a wide variety of fans including the workhorse Direct-Aire model, which was mounted on a frame and could be pivoted about 180 degrees in a vertical arc. The frame was about chest height, and the fan motor and housing were both extremely strong.
