U.S. patent application number 11/651465 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for centrifugal fan and fan frame thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.. Invention is credited to Yung-Yu Chiu, Wen-Shi Huang, Chung-Yuan Tsang.
Application Number | 20070160462 11/651465 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38232888 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070160462 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tsang; Chung-Yuan ; et
al. |
July 12, 2007 |
Centrifugal fan and fan frame thereof
Abstract
A fan frame includes a first housing and a second housing. The
first housing has at least one first inlet, and the second housing
has at least one second inlet. The combination of the first housing
and the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at
least one first outlet and at least one second outlet. A
centrifugal fan including the fan frame is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Tsang; Chung-Yuan; (Taoyuan
Hsien, TW) ; Huang; Wen-Shi; (Taoyuan Hsien, TW)
; Chiu; Yung-Yu; (Taoyuan Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
38232888 |
Appl. No.: |
11/651465 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/143 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/4246
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/143 |
International
Class: |
F04D 13/12 20060101
F04D013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2006 |
TW |
095101001 |
Claims
1. A fan, comprising: a fan frame having a first housing and a
second housing, wherein the first housing has at least one first
inlet, the second housing has at least one second inlet, and the
combination of the first housing and the second housing forms two
independent airflow passages, at least one first outlet and at
least one second outlet; and an impeller disposed in the fan frame
and comprising at least one hub, at least one first blade and at
least one second blade, wherein the first blade and the second
blade respectively correspond to the two independent airflow
passages.
2. The fan according to claim 1, further comprising a separation
part disposed between the first housing and the second housing to
form the independent airflow passages, the first outlet and the
second outlet.
3. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part and
the first housing or the separation part and the second housing are
integrally formed as a single piece.
4. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part, the
first housing and the second housing are independently formed.
5. The fan according to claim 2, wherein the separation part is an
enclosing board or a board with an enclosing wall.
6. The fan according to claim 2, further comprising a motor
connecting and driving the impeller, wherein the motor is disposed
on the first housing, the second housing or the separation
part.
7. The fan according to claim 1, further comprising a motor
connecting and driving the impeller, wherein the motor is disposed
on the first housing or the second housing.
8. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the second housing has a
base with the second inlet, a bushing and at least one connecting
part connected with the base and the bushing.
9. The fan according to claim 8, wherein the connecting part is a
rib, an air-guiding plate or a stationary blade.
10. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the airflow directions or
rates of the independent airflow passages are the same or
different.
11. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the hub, the first blade
and the second blade are independently formed or integrally formed
as a single piece.
12. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the impeller further
comprises at least one separation board connected to the hub, the
first blade and the second blade, and disposed between the two
independent airflow passages.
13. The fan according to claim 12, wherein the separation board,
the hub, the first blade and the second blade are independently
formed or integrally formed as a single piece.
14. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the impeller further
comprises a first separation board and a second separation board,
wherein the first separation board connects to the hub and the
first blade, the second separation board connects to the hub and
the second blade, and the first separation board and the second
separation board are disposed between the two independent airflow
passages.
15. The fan according to claim 14, wherein the first separation
board, the second separation board, the hub, the first blade and
the second blade are independently formed or integrally formed as a
single piece.
16. The fan according to claim 14, wherein a gap exists between the
first separation board and the second separation board.
17. The fan according to claim 14, further comprising a separation
part disposed between the first separation board and the second
separation board, wherein the separation part is connected to the
first housing and the second housing.
18. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the shape, quantity,
pitch or tilt angle of the first blade and the second blade are the
same or different.
19. The fan according to claim 1, wherein the airflow directions of
the independent airflow passages are perpendicular, parallel,
anti-parallel to each other or subtend an angle.
20. A fan frame of a fan, comprising: a first housing having at
least one first inlet; and a second housing having at least one
second inlet, wherein the combination of the first housing and the
second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one
first outlet and at least one second outlet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a centrifugal fan, and more
particularly to a centrifugal fan with multiple outlets.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] As electronic products increase in performance, operating
frequencies, speed and compactness, their working temperature also
increases to reduce their reliability. This is why most of the
existing electronic devices use fans to dissipate heat.
[0005] As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional centrifugal fan 1
includes a fan frame 11, an impeller 12 and a motor (not shown).
The fan frame 11 has a single inlet 111 and a single outlet 112.
The impeller 12 is disposed in the fan frame 11 and has a hub 121
and a plurality of blades 122. The motor is disposed in and
connected to the hub 121 for driving the impeller 12 to rotate. As
the impeller 12 rotates, airflow enters via the inlet 111, gets
pushed by the blades 122, and leaves via the outlet 112.
[0006] Since the conventional centrifugal fan functions by
utilizing the centrifugal force, it has a larger air pressure and
smaller airflow in comparison with the axial-flow fan. To increase
heat dissipation efficiency, it has been recommended to have two
inlets in the prior art to enlarge the air supplying cross section
and thus increase the airflow. However, the air: supplying
conditions on both sides are different in practicality, and there
is only a single outlet. So that the airflows entering from the
inlets interfere with each other, and the heat dissipation effect
of the fan is affected. For example, if the environmental
temperature of one inlet is 30.degree. C. and that of the other
inlet is 40.degree. C., the airflows in the passage are mixed with
each other. When the airflow leaves via the outlet 112, the
temperature of the airflow will be higher than 35.degree. C.
(between 30.degree. C. and 40.degree. C.) for reducing the heat
dissipation effect of the fan.
[0007] It is thus imperative to provide a centrifugal fan and a fan
frame thereof to increase the incoming airflow rates and enhance
the fan effect.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a
centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof to increase the incoming
airflow rates and outgoing airflow directions, thereby enhancing
the efficiency and applicable flexibility of the fan.
[0009] To achieve the above, a fan frame according to the present
invention includes a first housing and a second housing. The first
housing has at least one first inlet, and the second housing has at
least one second inlet. The combination of the first housing and
the second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least
one first outlet and at least one second outlet.
[0010] To achieve the above, a centrifugal fan according to the
present invention includes a fan frame and an impeller. The fan
frame has a first housing and a second housing. The first housing
has at least one first inlet, and the second housing has at least
one second inlet. The combination of the first housing and the
second housing forms two independent airflow passages, at least one
first outlet and at least one second outlet. The impeller is
disposed in the fan frame and comprises at least one hub, at least
one first blade and at least one second blade. The first blade and
the second blade respectively correspond to the two independent
airflow passages.
[0011] As mentioned above, a centrifugal fan and a fan frame
thereof according to the present invention have two independent
airflow passages. Therefore, the airflows can be increased to
enhance the efficiency of the fan. In addition, the two independent
airflow passages can be adjusted to have applicable flexibility for
example different airflow rates and directions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and
thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a conventional
centrifugal fan;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a centrifugal fan according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram of the centrifugal fan
in FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded diagram of another centrifugal fan
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0017] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional diagram of the centrifugal fan
in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0018] The present invention will be apparent from the following
detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the
accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the
same elements.
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a centrifugal fan 2 according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a fan
frame 21, at least one impeller 22 and a motor 23. The fan frame 21
includes two housings 211, 212 and a separation part 213. The motor
23 is disposed on the housings 211, 212 or the separation part 213.
In this embodiment, the motor 23 for example but not limited to be
is disposed on the housing 212.
[0020] The housing 211 has an inlet 2111, and the housing 212 has
an inlet 2124. The separation part 213 is disposed between the
housing 211 and the housing 212, and respectively connected to the
housings 211, 212 to form two independent airflow passages and two
outlets 2112, 2125. The separation part 213 and the housings 211,
212 can be independently formed. The separation part 213 can also
be integrally formed with the housing 211 or the housing 212 as a
single piece. The separation part 213 for example is an enclosing
board or a board with an enclosing wall.
[0021] The housing 212 further has a base 2121 and a bushing 2122.
The base 2121 is connected to the bushing 2122 via at least one
connecting part 2123 to form the inlet 2124. The connecting part
2123 can be a rib, an air-guiding plate or a stationary blade. In
addition, the bushing 2122 can be formed on the separation part 213
if necessary. In this case, the base 2121 is formed with the inlet
2124 only.
[0022] The impeller 22 is disposed in the fan frame 21 and includes
a hub 221, at least one separation board 222 and at least one blade
223, 224. The blades 223, 224 are disposed along different axial
directions, and respectively correspond to the two independent
airflow passages. The separation board 222 is connected with the
hub 221 and disposed between the two independent airflow passages.
The blades 223, 224 are disposed around two opposite surfaces of
the separation board 222. The blades 223, 224, the separation board
222 and the hub 221 can be independently formed or integrally
formed as a single piece. The sides of the blades 223, 224 that are
farther away from the hub 221 can recede from, protrude from or be
substantially flush with the outer rim of the separation board 222.
The separation board 222 is corresponding to the separation part
213 of the fan frame 21 so that the separation part 213 is located
between the blades 223, 224. The blades 223, 224 are respectively
used for different airflow passages. The blades 223, 224 can be
front-tilt blades, back-tilt blades, flat blades or their
combinations. The blades 223, 224 can be disposed in symmetric or
asymmetric. For example, the shape, quantity, pitch or tilt angle
of the blades 223, 224 can be the same or different.
[0023] The motor 23 is connected to the bushing 2122, and connects
and drives the impeller 22 to rotate. The blades 223, 224, the
inlets 2111, 2124 and the outlets 2112, 2125 respectively belong to
different airflow passages. When the motor 23 drives the impeller
22 to rotate, the airflow entering the inlet 2111 is driven by the
blade 223 and leaves via the outlet 2112, and the airflow entering
the inlet 2124 is driven by the blade 224 and leaves via the outlet
2125. Since the two airflows travel in different passages, they do
not interfere with each other.
[0024] In addition, the outgoing airflow directions of the outlets
2112, 2125 can be the same (as shown in FIG. 5) or different by
adjusting the assembling positions or shapes of the housings 211,
212 and the separation part 213. For example, they can be
perpendicular, parallel, anti-parallel to each other (as shown in
FIG. 3) or subtend an angle in between. Therefore, the centrifugal
fan 2 can dissipate heat generated from various objects according
to practical needs.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, another centrifugal fan 3
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
includes a fan frame 31, an impeller 32 and a motor 23. The fan
frame 31 includes two housings 311, 312 and a separation part 313.
The housing 311 has an inlet 3111 and an outlet 3112. The housing
312 is connected to the housing 311 and has an outlet 3125, a base
3121 and a bushing 3122. The base 3121 is connected to the bushing
3122 via a plurality of connecting parts 3123, and has at least one
inlet 3124. The connecting parts 3123 can be ribs, air-guiding
plates or stationary blades.
[0026] The impeller 32 is disposed between the two housings 311,
312, and includes a hub 321, two separation boards 322, 323 and a
plurality of blades 324, 325. The separation boards 322, 323 are
connected to the hub 321 with a gap in between. The blades 324, 325
are respectively disposed on the two surfaces, which are far from
each other, of the separation boards 322, 323. The blades 324, 325,
the separation boards 322, 323 and the hub 321 can be independently
or integrally formed as a single piece. In addition, the blades
324, 325 can be disposed along different axial directions or the
same axial direction.
[0027] The separation part 313 is disposed between the separation
boards 322, 323, and connected to the housing 311 and/or the
housing 312. The motor 23 is connected to the bushing 3122, and
connects and drives the impeller 32 to rotate. Therefore, two
independent airflow passages are formed without any interference
between them when the motor 23 operates.
[0028] The outgoing airflow directions of the outlets 3112, 3125
can be the same or different by adjusting the assembling positions
or shapes of the housings 311, 312 and the separation part 313. For
example, the outgoing airflow directions can be perpendicular,
parallel, anti-parallel to each other or subtend an angle in
between. In this embodiment, the bushing 3122 can also be formed on
the separation part 313 to increase the incoming airflow and thus
enhance heat dissipation effect of the fan 3.
[0029] In summary, a centrifugal fan and a fan frame thereof
according to the present invention have two independent airflow
passages. Therefore, the airflows can be increased to enhance the
efficiency of the fan. In addition, the two independent airflow
passages can be adjusted to have applicable flexibility for example
different airflow rates and directions.
[0030] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to
be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the
disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be
apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore,
contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications
that fall within the true scope of the present invention.
* * * * *