U.S. patent application number 11/423384 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-14 for fan motor assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIDEC CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shinsuke MIZUKAMI, Takaya OTSUKI, Tomotsugu SUGIYAMA, Yuji YABUUCHI.
Application Number | 20060280632 11/423384 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37509654 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060280632 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SUGIYAMA; Tomotsugu ; et
al. |
December 14, 2006 |
FAN MOTOR ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A fan motor assembly includes two or more fans adjoining each
other and arranged in line. Each fan includes a motor having an
impeller, a frame supporting the motor, a housing defining a
passage of air flow, at least one rib supporting and fixing the
frame to the housing, a lead wire connecting an external power
source and the motor, and a lead wire guide portion from which the
lead wire is led out of the fan motor assembly. The fan motor
assembly includes a primary fan and at least one additional fan.
The lead wire of the additional fan is arranged at a surface of an
air inlet side or air outlet side of the primary fan, and the lead
wire of the additional fan extends out of the primary fan.
Inventors: |
SUGIYAMA; Tomotsugu;
(Minami-ku, Kyoto, JP) ; OTSUKI; Takaya;
(Minami-ku, Kyoto, JP) ; YABUUCHI; Yuji;
(Minami-ku, Kyoto, JP) ; MIZUKAMI; Shinsuke;
(Minami-ku, Kyoto, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIDEC CORPORATION;c/o KEATING & BENNETT, LLP
8180 GREENSBORO DRIVE
SUITE 850
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
NIDEC CORPORATION
338 Tonoshiro-cho, Kuze
Minami-ku, Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
37509654 |
Appl. No.: |
11/423384 |
Filed: |
June 9, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/423.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/0613 20130101;
F04D 25/0693 20130101; F04D 25/166 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/423.5 |
International
Class: |
F04B 17/00 20060101
F04B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 10, 2005 |
JP |
2005-170243 |
Claims
1. A fan motor assembly comprising: a primary fan and at least one
additional fan, each of the primary fan and the at least one
additional fan including: a motor having an impeller; a frame
supporting the motor; a housing defining a passage of air flow
generated by the impeller; at least one rib supporting and fixing
the frame to the housing; a lead wire arranged to connect the motor
to an external power source; and a lead wire guide portion from
which the lead wire is led out of the fan; wherein the primary fan
and the at least one additional fan are arranged side by side; and
the lead wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged on a
surface of an air inlet side or an air outlet side of the primary
fan, and the lead wire of the at least one additional fan is led to
the exterior of the fan motor assembly.
2. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
housing includes a flange portion arranged outside of the passage
of air flow; the flange portion is located at an end portion, an
air inlet side, or an air outlet side of the housing; and the lead
wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged to be latched
by the flange portion.
3. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lead
wire of the at least one additional fan is latched by the flange
portion of the primary fan and the flange portion of the at least
one additional fan, the flange portion of the primary fan and the
flange portion of the at least one additional fan adjoining each
other.
4. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the lead
wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged along an end
surface of the housing at the air inlet side or the air outlet side
of the primary fan.
5. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein a
portion of the end surface of the housing on which the lead wire is
arranged is recessed relative to the other portions of the end
surface of the housing.
6. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein the
housing of the primary fan is integral with the housing of the at
least one additional fan.
7. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a lead wire guide groove arranged on the at least one
rib of each of the primary fan and the at least one additional fan,
wherein the lead wire of the at least one additional fan extends
from the at least one additional fan to the frame of the primary
fan through the lead wire guide groove arranged on the at least one
rib of the at least one additional fan, extends past the frame of
the primary fan, and is led out of the fan motor assembly through
the lead wire guide groove formed on the at least one rib of the
primary fan.
8. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
housing includes a flange portion arranged outside of the passage
of air flow; the flange portion is located at an end portion, an
air inlet side, or an air outlet side of the housing; and the
flange portion further includes a lead wire groove through which
the lead wire extends from the fan motor assembly.
9. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lead
wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged along an end
surface of the air inlet side or the air outlet side of the primary
fan, and extends from the fan motor assembly via the lead wire
guide portion of the primary fan.
10. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein a
portion of the end surface of the housing on which the lead wire is
arranged is recessed relative to the other portions of the end
surface of the housing.
11. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
lead wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged to cross
the passage of air flow at an air inlet side or at an air outlet
side of the primary fan.
12. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the
lead wire of the at least one additional fan extends past the frame
of the primary fan.
13. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
lead wire of the at least one additional fan is arranged along an
end surface at an air inlet side or an air outlet side of the
primary fan, is bundled together with the lead wire of the primary
fan at the air inlet side or the air outlet side of the primary
fan, and the lead wires of the primary fan and the at least one
additional fan extend out of the fan motor assembly from the lead
wire guide portion arranged on the housing of the primary fan.
14. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
housing further includes an additional lead wire guide portion
which latches and holds the lead wires.
15. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
housing includes a flange portion arranged outside of the passage
of air flow; the flange portion is arranged at an end portion, an
air inlet side, or an air outlet side of the housing; and the
flange portion further includes an additional lead wire guide
portion which latches and holds the lead wires.
16. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, further
including a binding member arranged to bind the lead wires of the
primary fan and the at least one additional fan together outside of
the primary fan.
17. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein the
binding member is a binding band or a heat shrinkable tube.
18. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
housing of the primary fan is integral with the housing of the at
least one additional fan.
19. A fan motor assembly including a primary fan and an additional
fan, comprising: a housing of the primary fan and a housing of the
additional fan arranged laterally adjacent to each other, each of
the housings of the primary fan and the additional fan including a
circular inside wall defining a cylindrical bore, axes of
cylindrical bores of the housings being parallel to each other; a
lead wire of the primary fan and a lead wire of an additional fan,
first ends of leads wires of the primary fan and the additional fan
being connected to the primary fan and the additional fan
respectively; and a motor of the primary fan and a motor of the
additional fan, motors of the primary fan and the additional fan
being accommodated in the cylindrical bores of the primary fan and
the additional fan respectively; wherein the lead wires of the
primary fan and the additional fan are arranged between imaginary
tangential planes which are tangential to both of the first
cylindrical bore and the second cylindrical bore and sandwich both
of the cylindrical bores therebetween; and the lead wires of the
primary fan and the additional fan are bound together at a position
which is between the two imaginary tangential planes radially
outside of the cylindrical bore of the primary fan and is not
placed between an imaginary first sectional plane which connects
two tangential points of the cylindrical bore of the primary fan
and an imaginary second sectional plane which connects two
tangential points of the cylindrical bore of the additional
fan.
20. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein the
lead wire of the additional fan is arranged at least partially
along a periphery of the cylindrical bore of the housing of the
primary fan.
21. The fan motor assembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein the
primary fan and the additional fan further include a plurality of
ribs extending from the motor to the housing; the lead wire of the
additional fan is arranged along at least one of the ribs of the
primary fan.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a fan motor
assembly, and more particularly relates to a fan motor assembly
including two or more fans arranged adjacent to each other.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Recently, high-end electrical circuits are installed in
electrical devices, and such electrical devices generate
considerable heat. The electrical devices are generally equipped
with a plurality of fans to actively dissipate the heat.
[0005] Also recently, it is preferable that the electrical devices
have reduced dimensions, such that the electrical devices are
likely to be designed to minimize their dimensions. As a result,
the space to house a fan motor assembly is limited as well.
[0006] The fan includes a lead wire for supplying electricity
thereto. When a plurality of fans are provided in the casing of the
electrical device, a lead wire of the fan arranged farther from the
power source is wired at the outer periphery of the fan arranged
nearer the power source. However, in view of the efficient layout
of other components within the electrical device casing, the size
of a fan housing has to be reduced in order to secure the space for
the lead wire. Generally, upon reducing the size of a housing
dimension of the fan, a dimension of the wind channel is reduced as
well. Consequently, a size of an impeller of the fan is reduced,
which results in degrading the airflow and cooling characteristics
of the fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In order to overcome the problems described above, preferred
embodiments of the present invention provide a fan motor assembly
including a primary fan and at least one additional fan. A lead
wire connecting the at least one additional fan and an external
power source is wired on a surface of an air inlet side or an air
outlet side of the primary fan, and then, is led out of the primary
fan.
[0008] According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, each fan includes a flange portion at a position outside
of a passage of air flow and is either on an air outlet side or an
air inlet side of the fan.
[0009] According to another preferred embodiment of the present
invention, a lead wire connecting the primary fan and the external
power source is led out of the primary fan while being bundled
together with the lead wire of the additional fan.
[0010] By virtue of the unique configuration described above, it is
not necessary to secure a space for wiring the lead wire around the
fan motor assembly. Therefore, it is not necessary to reduce the
inner dimension of the housing or the outer dimension of the
impeller. As a result, the fan motor assembly may be installed in a
limited space while maintaining appropriate airflow and cooling
characteristics.
[0011] In the description of the preferred embodiments of the
present invention, words such as upper, lower, left, right, upward,
downward, top, and bottom for explaining positional relationships
between respective members and directions merely indicate
positional relationships and directions in the drawings. Such words
do not indicate positional relationships and directions of the
members mounted in an actual device.
[0012] Other features, elements, processes, steps, characteristics
and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of
the present invention with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fan motor assembly
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an alternative
embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another alternative
embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a side view of the alternative
embodiment described in FIG. 3.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fan motor assembly
according to a second preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a fan motor assembly according
to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an alternative
embodiment of the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 8A is a drawing showing a wire binding member of a fan
motor assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 8B is a drawing showing a wire binding member of a fan
motor assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 8C is a drawing showing a wire binding member of a fan
motor assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 8D is a drawing showing a wire binding member of a fan
motor assembly according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a fan motor assembly according to another
preferred embodiment of the present invention with imaginary
planes.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
First Preferred Embodiment
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fan motor assembly
according to the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] A fan motor assembly 3 includes a primary fan 1 and at least
one additional fan 2 which are adjacent to each other and arranged
in line within a casing of an electrical device. A configuration of
the primary fan 1 is described below, which is similar to that of
the at least one additional fan 2. Therefore, a detailed
explanation of the at least one additional fan 2 will be omitted in
terms of the configuration which is similar to the primary fan
1.
[0027] The primary fan 1 preferably includes a motor portion 4
rotatably driven by an external power supply. The motor portion 4
includes a fixing portion which is fixed to a frame portion 6. In
addition, a rotor portion of the motor portion 4 includes an
impeller 5 having a plurality of blades. The primary fan 1 also
includes a housing 7 having a circular inside wall defining a
substantially cylindrical bore wherein a passage of airflow is
generated by rotation of the impeller. The impeller is arranged
within the cylindrical bore such that the impeller is surrounded by
the circular inside wall of the housing. The frame portion 6 is
supported and fixed to the housing 7 by a plurality of ribs 8. In
addition, the primary fan 1 includes a lead wire 9 electrically
connected to the motor portion 4 to supply electricity thereto.
[0028] The at least one additional fan 2 includes a motor portion
4a, an impeller 5a, housing 7a, a lead wire guide portion 10a
provided on the housing 7a, frame portion 6a, and a plurality of
ribs 8a. In addition, the primary fan 1 and the at least one
additional fan 2 include flange portions 71, 71a, 72, and 72a
provided at upper corners of the housings 7 and 7a. A lead wire
guide groove 81a is provided on one of the ribs 8a which connects
the frame 6a and the lead wire guide portion 10a, and the lead wire
9a of the at least one additional fan 2 is led from the lead wire
guide portion 10a to the exterior of the at least one additional
fan 2 via the lead wire guide groove 81a.
[0029] Subsequently, the lead wire 9a is wired along the bottom
side of the flange portion 71a nearest to the lead wire guide
portion 10a, as shown in FIG. 4, and along the bottom side of
flange portion 72 adjoining the flange portion 71a. Then, the lead
wire 9a is wired along the end surface of a wind tunnel portion at
an air outlet side of the housing 7. The bottom surfaces of flange
portions 71a and 72 are arranged lower than the end surface of the
air outlet side of the housing 7 and the lead wire guide groove
81a, such that the lead wire 9a is retained by wiring the lead wire
9a along the bottom surfaces of flange portions 71a and 72 while
applying the appropriate tension to the lead wire 9a. In other
words, the lead wire 9a is latched and held by the flange portions
71a and 72. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the lead wire is retained by the flange portions 71a and 72, but
the lead wire may be retained by another member. For example, the
lead wires 9 and 9a may be retained by a convex portion which is
formed on the housing of the fan. The end surface of the air outlet
side of the housing 7 to which the lead wire 9a is wired may be
arranged lower than the other end surface of the housing 7 such
that the lead wire 9a does not protrude upwardly from the end
surface of the housing 7.
[0030] The lead wire 9 of the primary fan 1 is led to a lead wire
guide portion 10 provided on the housing 7 through a lead wire
guide groove 81 provided on one of the ribs 8 connecting the lead
wire guide portion 10 and the frame portion 6. The lead wire 9 is
bundled together with the lead wire 9a near the lead wire guide
portion 10, and then is led to the exterior of the fan 1. The lead
wires 9 and 9a led out of the fan 1 are bound together by a binding
member 12 at the exterior of the housing 7, as shown in FIG. 8A,
such that the lead wires 9 and 9a are fixed without being
retractable into the housing 7. The binding member binding the lead
wires 9 and 9a together is not limited to the binding band as shown
in FIG. 1. Any suitable binding member, such as a heat shrinkable
tube 12' as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, may be used depending on the
configuration of the fan motor assembly 3.
[0031] Upon wiring the lead wire 9a of the at least one additional
fan 2 to the end surface of the housing 7 of the primary fan 1 at
the air outlet side, the lead wire 9a is arranged at the outer
peripheral portion of the passage of airflow of the fan 1. This,
however, does not substantially affect the static pressure and the
air specifications of the fan. Therefore, predetermined air
specifications and static pressure of the fan may be maintained. By
using a lead wire which is slim and thin, it is possible to
minimize the peripheral portion of the air passage where the lead
wire is arranged, if this is desirable. The position where the lead
wires 9 and 9a are led out of the fan motor assembly may be varied
depending on the design of the electrical device.
[0032] In other words, lead wire 9 and 9a are arranged between
imaginary tangential planes 100 and 101 (see FIG. 9) which are
tangential to both of the cylindrical bores of the primary fan and
the additional fan and sandwich both of the cylindrical bores
therebetween. The lead wires of the primary fan and the additional
fan may be bound together at a position which is between the two
imaginary tangential planes radially outside of the cylindrical
bore of the primary fan and is not placed between an imaginary
first sectional plane 102 which connects two tangential points 104a
and 104b of the cylindrical bore of the primary fan and an
imaginary second sectional plane 103 which connects two tangential
points 104c and 104d of the cylindrical bore of the additional
fan.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an alternative
embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention,
lead wire grooves 82 and 82a along the wind tunnel of the
corresponding fans are arranged on the air outlet sides of the
flange portions 71 and 71a provided on the housings 7 and 7a,
respectively. The lead wire 9a of the at least one additional fan 2
is wired along the outer peripheral portion of the air outlet side
of the primary fan 1, and then, the lead wire 9a is bundled
together with the lead wire 9 near the lead wire guide portion 10.
The lead wires 9 and 9a bundled together are wired along the lead
wire groove 82 and are led from the additional lead wire guide
portion 101, including a holding hook 11, provided on the outer
side surface of the housing 7 to the exterior of the fan motor
assembly. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention,
the lead wires 9 and 9a may be bound together by a heat shrinkable
tube 12' as shown in FIG. 8C, or the binding band 12 as shown in
FIG. 8D.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows another alternative embodiment of the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the housing 7 of the primary
fan 1 is formed integrally with the housing 7a of the at least one
additional fan 2 to define a single, unitary housing 7. By virtue
of this configuration, installation of the fan motor assembly into
the electrical device may be simplified.
[0035] In the aforementioned preferred embodiments of the present
invention, two fans are adjacent to each other and arranged in
line. However, the number of the fans may be other than two. For
example, three or four fans may be arranged in line and their lead
wires may be wired in accordance with the preferred embodiments of
the present invention.
[0036] Only the reference numerals necessary for explanatory
purposes are shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. The configurations and
functions of other members are preferably substantially the same as
those already described in the first preferred embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1, such that detailed descriptions
of those members are omitted.
Second Preferred Embodiment
[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fan motor assembly
according to the second preferred embodiment of the present
invention. In FIG. 5, each member having substantially the same
function as the counterpart of the first preferred embodiment shown
in FIG. 1 is identified by the same reference numeral.
[0038] A fan motor assembly 3 includes a primary fan 1 and at least
one additional fan 2 which are adjacent to each other and arranged
in line within a casing of an electrical device. A configuration of
the primary fan 1 is described below, some of which is similar to
that of the at least one additional fan 2. Therefore, detailed
explanation of the at least one additional fan 2 will be omitted in
terms of the configuration which is similar to the primary fan
1.
[0039] The primary fan 1 includes a motor portion 4 rotatably
driven by the external power supply. The motor portion 4 includes a
fixing portion which is fixed to a frame portion 6. In addition, a
rotor portion of the motor portion 4 includes an impeller 5 having
a plurality of blades. The primary fan 1 also includes a housing 7
having a circular inside wall defining a substantially cylindrical
bore wherein a passage of airflow is generated by rotation of the
impeller. The impeller is arranged within the cylindrical bore such
that the impeller is surrounded by the circular inside wall of the
housing. The frame portion 6 is supported and fixed to the housing
7 by a plurality of ribs 8. In addition, the primary fan 1 includes
a lead wire 9 electrically connected to the motor portion 4 to
supply electricity thereto.
[0040] The lead wire 9a is led out to the exterior of the frame 6a
of the at least one additional fan 2 in a crosswise direction so
that the lead wire 9a is led to the primary fan 1 adjoining the at
least one additional fan 2 while passing the shortest path from the
at least one additional fan 2 to the primary fan 1. The lead wire
9a across the passage of airflow of the at least one additional fan
2 is latched and held to a holding hook 11, defined by a portion of
the housing 7 of the primary fan 1 and a portion of the housing 7a
of the at least one additional fan 2, and provided at abounding
portion thereof. Subsequently, the lead wire 9a crosses the passage
of airflow of the primary fan 1 and is led to the frame 6 of the
primary fan 1. Within the frame 6, the lead wire 9a is bundled
together with the lead wire 9 of the primary fan 1 and led from the
lead wire guide portion 10 to the exterior of the primary fan 1
through lead wire guide groove 81 of the primary fan 1.
[0041] Alternatively, the lead wires 9 and 9a bundled together in
the frame 6 may cross the passage of airflow of the primary fan 1,
and may be led from an additional lead wire guide portion 111
latching and holding the lead wires 9 and 9a to the exterior of the
primary fan 1. The second lead wire guide portion 111 is provided
on a side surface of the primary fan 1, opposed to an adjoining
side with the at least one additional fan 2. The position where the
lead wires 9 and 9a are led to the exterior of the fan motor
assembly may be varied depending on the design of the electrical
device. The lead wires 9 and 9a led out of the primary fan 1 are
bound together by a binding member 12 as previously described in
the first preferred embodiment, such that the lead wires 9 and 9a
are not retractable into the housing 7.
Third Preferred Embodiment
[0042] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a fan motor assembly according
to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
6, each member having substantially the same function as the
counterpart of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is
identified by the same reference numeral. Accordingly,
identification and detailed explanation of those members will be
omitted for simplicity.
[0043] A fan motor assembly 3 includes a primary fan 1 and at least
one additional fan 2 which are adjacent to each other and arranged
in line within a casing of an electrical device. A configuration of
the primary fan 1 is described below, some of which is similar to
that of the at least one additional fan 2. Therefore, detailed
explanation of the at least one additional fan 2 will be omitted in
terms of the configuration which is similar to the primary fan
1.
[0044] The primary fan 1 includes a motor portion 4 rotatably
driven by the external power supply. The motor portion 4 includes a
fixing portion which is fixed to a frame portion 6. In addition, a
rotor portion of the motor portion 4 includes an impeller 5 having
a plurality of blades. The primary fan 1 also includes a housing 7
having a circular inside wall defining a substantially cylindrical
bore wherein a passage of airflow is generated by rotation of the
impeller. The impeller is arranged within the cylindrical bore such
that the impeller is surrounded by the circular inside wall of the
housing. The frame portion 6 is supported and fixed to the housing
7 by a plurality of ribs 8. In addition, the primary fan 1 includes
a lead wire 9 electrically connected to the motor portion 4 to
supply electricity thereto.
[0045] In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
primary fan 1 and the at least one additional fan 2 are adjacent to
each other and arranged in line as previously described. The ribs 8
and 8a are arranged so as to be perpendicular to side surfaces of
the housings 7 and 7a, respectively. In addition, the lead wire
groove 81 is provided on one of the ribs 8 extending toward a
bounding portion of the housing 7 and the housing 7a. Similarly,
the lead wire groove 81a is provided on one of the ribs 8a
extending toward the bounding portion.
[0046] The lead wire 9a of the at least one additional fan 2 is led
out of the frame 6a of the housing 7a to the lead wire guide groove
81a, and then extends to the primary fan 1 without being led
outside of the at least one additional fan 2. At the bounding
portion of the primary fan 1 and the at least one additional fan 2,
the lead wire 9a is latched and firmly held by the holding hook 11.
Then, the lead wire 9a is led to the inside of the frame 6 of the
primary fan 1 through the lead wire guide groove 81 of the primary
fan 1 and is bundled together with the lead wire 9 of the primary
fan 1. Then, the lead wires 9 and 9a are led to the exterior of the
primary fan 1 through the lead wire guide groove 81 extending to
the opposite side from the bounding portion. The lead wires 9 and
9a bundled together and led out of the primary fan 1 are bound
together by a binding member 12 at the exterior of the primary fan
1. As a result, the lead wires 9 and 9a are fixed without being
retractable into the housing 7.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an alternative
embodiment of the third preferred embodiment of the present
invention. Each member having substantially the same function as
the counterpart of the first preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1
is identified by the same reference numeral.
[0048] In this alternative embodiment of the present invention, the
lead wire 9a of the at least one additional fan 2 is led to the
frame 6 of the primary fan 1 adjoining the at least one additional
fan 2, and the lead wire 9a is bundled together with the lead wire
9 of the primary fan 1. Then the lead wires 9 and 9a are led out of
the primary fan 1 as shown in FIG. 6. However, the housing shapes
of the primary fan 1 and the at least one additional fan 2 are
preferably different from those described in FIG. 6. In this
preferred embodiment, the housing 7 of the primary fan 1 includes a
plurality of ribs 8 (preferably four) extending radially, and the
housing 7a of the at least one additional fan 2 includes a
plurality of ribs 8a (preferably four) extending radially as well.
The lead wire guide grooves 81 and 83 are provided on two of the
ribs 8 of the primary fan 1 next to each other. Similar to the
primary fan 1, the lead wire guide grooves 81a and 83a are provided
on two of the ribs 8a of the at least one additional fan 2 next to
each other. In addition, the lead wire groove 82 along the wind
tunnel portion of the fan is provided on the flange portion 71
closest to the lead wire guide groove 81 of the primary fan 1.
Similarly, the lead wire groove 82a is provided on the flange
portion 71a closest to the lead wire guide groove 81a of the at
least one additional fan 2.
[0049] The lead wire 9a of the at least one additional fan 2 is led
from the frame 6 of the housing 7a to the lead wire guide groove
81a. Through the lead wire guide groove 81a, the lead wire 9a is
led to the lead wire guide groove 82a arranged on an inner
circumferential portion of the flange portion and reaches to the
primary fan 1 without being led out of the at least one additional
fan 2. Subsequently, the lead wire 9a is led to the frame 6 through
the lead wire guide groove 83. The lead wire 9a is bundled together
with the lead wire 9 within the frame 6, and the lead wires 9 and
9a are led out of the frame 6 through the lead wire guide groove
81. The lead wires 9 and 9a are wired along the wind tunnel through
lead wire groove 82 and are led out of the primary fan 1 from the
lead wire guide portion 111.
[0050] It should be understood that the angles between ribs and
housings are not limited to those shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Any
suitable angle may be applied to the preferred embodiments of the
present invention.
[0051] The lead wires 9 and 9a may be wired in a manner other than
those shown in the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
The lead wires 9 and 9a may be wired by a method combining those
shown in the preferred embodiments of the present invention. In
addition, modifications may be made to the method of wiring the
lead wires 9 and 9a depending on, such as, the design of the
electrical device, required air specifications, and characteristics
of the fan motor assembly.
[0052] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described in the foregoing, the present invention is not
limited to the preferred embodiments detailed above, in that
various modifications are possible. Only selected preferred
embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention.
To those skilled in the art, however, it will be apparent from the
foregoing disclosure that various changes and modifications can be
made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing
description of the preferred embodiments according to the present
invention is provided for illustration only, and not for limiting
the invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *