By Glen Moyer
The first step in selecting a fan is to realize that not all fans are alike. You may not notice it, but there are differences in fans. For example, each may sit at a different angle and height off the ground. The sturdiness of the frames can vary according to the weight of the pipe or tubing used, and the placement of wheels and controls may be different.
How critical can these differences be? Well, if the fan sits too low it can pick-up dry grass or leaves and spit them into the envelope. One blast with the burner and you could have a small fire. The size and positioning of wheels can determine how easily the fan will roll, very important in a situation where the fan must be moved quickly or wheeled a long distance back to the chase truck. Easy to reach and use controls could be critical if shut down is necessary in an emergency situation.
Despite these differences, the basic components of the fan remain the same. They are: the frame, the motor, the propeller and the guard. Balloon Life spoke with Cliff Jones to get some tips. Cliff, and son Steve, manufactured inflator fans at Cen-Tex Balloons for nine years before the low market volume and high cost of product liability insurance forced them to sell the business. Hundreds of their fans are in use today. To begin an inspection of a fan, new or used, start from the ground up:
The Frame: "Look for good, strong wheels of reasonable size with ease of movement. Examine the frame to see how it was put together, to make sure that nothing is going to come apart. Surprising as it may seem, inflator fans, moving at the speed they do, create a lot of vibration and that can cause weak welds to pop or bolts to loosen," says Jones
The Motor: Especially critical in buying a used fan says Jones. "Pull it through to make sure it has good compression and ease of cranking. Check to see that it's been oiled and maintained well. Of course you should also check the hub where the propeller mounts and make sure there is no damage there. And check the control levers for ease of movement and to see if any of them may have been broken."
The Propeller: If buying a used fan, Jones advises you check the edges of the prop for notches, pits or other dings that could splinter, thus leading to even larger problems. Also watch for any unusual or extreme vibration when the fan is running. This could be a sign of a prop that is out of balance.
The Guard: Built in two pieces, Jones says check first to see that the joints are all strong and solid, whether they be welds or nuts and bolts. Then check the mounting points where the guard is fastened to the frame. Again you're looking for a solid mounting. No vibration, shaking or other evidence of looseness. And be sure the guard is of such construction that the spacing is large enough to allow free movement of air and yet small enough to keep out foreign objects, like fingers, ropes, scarves and other debris and clothing. The same holds true for ducted fans like Tempest.
Today there are about half a dozen different fan manufacturers.