Fan Reverse Engineering

Vivian Leida, Ryan Loeber, Adam Muzzarelli, & Kelsey McIvor

Identify the Purpose
● Learn more about…
○ Parts’ interconnected relationships
○ Function
○ Motor
● How to improve a simple machine
Develop a Hypothesis
● Starts with the battery power
○ Uses chemical potential energy to keep a constant flow of electrons to one
terminal = electric potential (voltage) between the terminals
● Creates the potential movement of the electrons from the battery to circuit
● A button on the fan is required to complete the circuit
○ Includes a brushed electromagnetic motor = creates a magnetic field that
induces circular motion
● Turns the blades of the fan
Teardown
● The outside shell is made of plastic
● Inside is battery terminals, a motor, and a button
○ Battery terminal connected to wires
○ One wire goes to button, other goes to motor
○ Another wire from button to motor
○ Motor powers fan
Analyze the Elements: Functional Analysis
● 4 main functions
○ Battery
○ Circuit
○ Motor
○ Blades
Battery
● Anode and cathode in electrolyte
● Electrons produced through oxidation
● Electrons gained through reduction
Circuit
● Battery, switch, motor
○ Battery provides voltage and current
○ Switch breaks or completes circuit
○ Motor acts as resistor
Motor
● Works on principles of electromagnetism
● Current travelling through a wire induces a magnetic field
● Induced field interacts with static field to create rotational motion
Fan
● Blades spin
● Angled blades cause a difference in pressure
○ Propels air
Analyze the Elements: Structural Analysis
● Battery: turn on or off the power of electricity flowing through
wires (essential to the overall function of the fan)
○ Support for internal parts
● Connecting Wire: connected from the positive terminal of battery
to the positive side of the electric motor and the negative side of
the motor can be connected to the negative terminal of the battery
to complete a circuit
○ Transportation of current (copper)
Analyze the Elements: Structural Analysis
● Switch: can interrupt the flow of the electric current when turned
on or off
○ Protection of circuit & easy accessibility
● Motor: converts electrical energy into mechanical energy
○ Distributes current & constantly rotates
● Fan: rotates constantly
○ Completes circuit
● Plastic Cover: Provides shape & structure for the machine and all
its components
○ Holds & protects all internal parts
Analyze the Elements: Material Analysis
● Battery moves electrical current through two
wires
○ One to the motor and one to the button
● Another wire comes off the button and creates
a reaction that goes to the motor
○ The wire also moves the electrical current to the
motor
● The motor transforms the electrical energy
into mechanical to power the fan
Analyze the Elements: Manufacturing Analysis
● Basic plastic shell to encase motor and batteries
● Breakdown of brushed DC motor
○ Stator: generates a stationary magnetic field that surrounds the rotor
○ Rotor: produces a magnetic field that causes rotation
○ Brushes: switches the electrical polarity of the rotor windings creating an
attraction to different poles thus keeping the rotor spinning.
● Wiring is soldered to motor and battery terminals completing the circuit
Reconstruction
For our redesign on the fan we decided we
wanted to add a water component, aka a
spray bottle. Ideally we would have liked to
redesign the shell of the fan to accommodate
the spray bottle but in reality we would’ve
had to use some sort of adhesive or support
system to keep the bottle in position. Our
idea was that we would have the nozzle of
the spray bottle near the fan so when the
water is sprayed the fan would disperse it
into a mist.