Fan and impeller thereof

Abstract

An impeller includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and an annular structure. The blades are disposed around the hub. The annular structure is connected to the blades. The annular structure includes a plurality of apertures. A balance material is filled in the apertures to achieve rotational balance of the impeller. Furthermore, a fan with the described impeller is provided. The fan and the impeller improve rotational stability, reliability and product life.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a fan and an impeller thereof, and more particularly, to a fan and an impeller capable of stabilized rotational balance.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Fans are widely utilized. A pressure difference of airflow occurs when the impeller of the fan rotates. Thus, the stabile impeller rotation is a basic requirement for all fans.

[0005] A conventional fan includes an impeller and a motor for driving the impeller. As shown in FIG. 1, an impeller 10 includes a hub 11 and a plurality of blades 12 disposed around the hub 11. The hub 11 includes a plurality of grooves 13 for adjusting the impeller 10 during the rotating and shaking test. Thus, a suitable quantity of the balance material can be filled in the groove 13 for adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller 10.

[0006] Subsequent to assembly of the hub and motor of another conventional impeller, a remainder space is necessary to fill with balance materials in order to achieve the rotational balance of the impeller. As shown in FIG. 2, another conventional impeller 10A includes a hub 11 and a plurality of blades 12 disposed around the hub 11. The interior of the hub 11 includes a space 14 for accommodating the motor (not shown). A plurality of grooves 13A of the hub 11 are disposed around the space 14. The grooves 13A can be filled with balance materials for adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller 10A.

[0007] Balance materials can be high-viscosity material such as epoxy resin or clay. When balance material is filled in the groove by a tool, however, it is difficult to remove by the tool since of the high-viscosity characteristic of the balance materials. Thus, adjustment to achieve a rotational balance is time-consuming. Additionally, balance materials may overflow from the groove during rotation of the impeller, hindering form the rotational balance. Therefore, the impeller must be separated from the motor to adjust rotational balance.

[0008] Thus, an impeller, which is capable of easily adjusting rotational balance and reducing overflow of balance materials during rotation, is desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Impellers, improving the stability of the rotation and the reliability and lifespan of the fan, are provided.

[0010] To achieve the described purpose, an exemplary embodiment of an impeller includes a hub and a plurality of blades. The blades are disposed around the hub. An annular structure is connected to the blades. The annular structure and the hub are arranged concentrically. The annular structure has a plurality of apertures for filling in balance materials to achieve increasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller.

[0011] To achieve the described purpose, the annular structure further includes at least one tooth in each of the apertures, the tooth can be removed by a tool to achieve decreasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller without requiring balance materials to be filled in the apertures.

[0012] Furthermore, to achieve the described purpose, a partition between the apertures is removed by a tool to achieve decreasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller.

[0013] Furthermore, to achieve the described purpose, the aperture has a cross-section obliquely shaped along the centrifugal direction of the hub, and thus, the balance materials do not overflow the apertures during rotation.

[0014] In summary, the annular structure of the impeller includes a plurality of apertures and a plurality of teeth therein. The teeth can be removed from the apertures. Thus, by filling balance materials to achieve increasing balance or removing the convex teeth to achieve decreasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller is more convenient than the conventional impeller.

[0015] Thus, rotational stability, reliability, and life span of the impeller of the fan are increased.

[0016] A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018] FIG. 1 is schematic view of a conventional impeller;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of another conventional impeller;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an impeller;

[0021] FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of X part of the impeller shown in FIG. 3;

[0022] FIGS. 4B-4D show the variations of FIG. 4A;

[0023] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional schematic view of an embodiment of the impeller; and

[0024] FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of Y part of the impeller shown in FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

[0026] An impeller is described with reference to the related drawings, wherein the same elements share the same references.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an impeller. The impeller 20 includes a hub 21 and a plurality of blades 22. The blades 21 are disposed around the hub 21. Each blade 22 is connected with an annular structure 26. The annular structure 26 and the hub 21 are arranged concentrically.

[0028] FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of X part of the impeller shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 4A, an end surface of the annular structure 26 includes a plurality of the apertures 23A. Balance materials can be filled in the apertures 23A to achieve increasing balance when adjusting of the rotating balance of the impeller 20.

[0029] The position of the annular structure 26 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3, and can instead be disposed at a periphery of blades, at the free ends of the blades, or close to the hub. That is, the annular structure can be at any position of the blades. The only limitation is that the annular structure 26 and the hub 21 are arranged concentrically.

[0030] The balance materials filled in the apertures 23A can be high-viscosity matter such as epoxy resin or clay.

[0031] FIGS. 4B-4D show the variations of FIG. 4A. The following description of the same elements is omitted.

[0032] In FIG. 4B, a plurality of apertures 23B are disposed on the inner edge of an end surface of the annular structure 26 and the outer edge of the annular structure 26, wherein the shape of each pair of apertures 23B is two corresponding semi-circles. The apertures 23B have the same function as apertures 23A in FIG. 4A. Balance materials also can be filled into the apertures 23B to balance the impeller. The shape of each pair of apertures 23B is not limited to a pair of semi-circles, the shape can also be rectangular or other irregular shape. The position of the apertures 23B can also be disposed only on the inner edge of an end surface of the annular structure 26 or only on the outer edge of the annular structure 26. The apertures 23B can also be rectangular or other irregular shape. The apertures, which can only be filled with balance materials to adjust the rotational balance of impeller, are provided.

[0033] In FIG. 4C, the end surface of the annular structure 26 includes a plurality of apertures 23C. Each aperture 23C includes at least one tooth 24. Thus, adjustment of the impeller is not limited to increasing the amount of balance materials. The tooth 24 can also be removed by a tool such as tweezers to achieve decreasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller. The shape of the aperture, which is not limited to rectangular as shown in FIG. 4C, can be circular, irregular, or other. The shape of the tooth, which is not limited to the shapes corresponding to the aperture, can be circular, irregular, or other.

[0034] In FIG. 4D, the end surface of the annular structure 26 includes a plurality of the apertures 23D. Different from FIG. 4A, a partition 25 between any two adjacent apertures 23D is narrower, and thus, the partition 25 can be removed by a tool such as tweezer, to achieve decreasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller. Furthermore, balance materials can be filled in the apertures 23D to achieve increasing balance when adjusting the rotational balance of the impeller.

[0035] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional schematic view of an embodiment of the impeller. FIG. 5B is a detailed enlarged schematic view of the impeller. FIG. 5B is an enlarged view of Y part of the impeller 20 shown in FIG. 5A. The following description of the same elements is omitted. As shown in FIG. 5A, the annular structure obliquely shaped along the centrifugal direction of the impeller, thus, the aperture has a cross section obliquely shaped along the centrifugal direction of the impeller. When the impeller is rotating, a centrifugal force F shown in FIG. 5B do not make balance materials filled in the apertures overflow. Additionally, the annular structure of the impeller is not oblique toward the centrifugal direction of the impeller, only the apertures must be oblique toward the centrifugal direction of the impeller. The shape of the aperture is not limited.

[0036] Thus, when the impeller of the fan is used, rotational stability, reliability, and life span of the impeller of the fan is increased.

[0037] While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

Claims

1. An impeller comprising: a hub; a plurality of blades disposed around the hub; and an annular structure connected to the blades, wherein the annular structure comprises a plurality of apertures.

2. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular structure and the hub are arranged concentrically.

3. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular structure is disposed at a periphery of blades, at the free ends of the blades, close to the hub, or at any position of the blades.

4. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of the aperture is rectangular, semicircular, or other any shape.

5. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture further comprises at least one tooth formed therein.

6. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apertures are disposed at inner edge of an end surface or an outer edge of the annular structure.

7. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein any two adjacent apertures comprise a partition which can be removed by a tool.

8. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aperture has a cross section obliquely shaped along the centrifugal direction of the impeller.

9. The impeller as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a balance material filled in the aperture to achieve the rotational balance of the impeller.

10. The impeller as claimed in claim 9, wherein the balance material is epoxy resin or clay.

11. A fan comprising a motor and an impeller, the impeller comprising: a hub; a plurality of blades disposed around the hub; and an annular structure connected to the blades, wherein the annular structure comprises a plurality of apertures.

12. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the annular structure and the hub are arranged concentrically.

13. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the annular structure is disposed at a periphery of blades, at the free ends of the blades, close to the hub, or at any position of the blades.

14. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the shape of the aperture is rectangular, semicircular, or other any shape.

15. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aperture further comprises at least one tooth formed therein.

16. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein each aperture is disposed at the inner edge of an end surface or an outer edge of the annular structure.

17. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein any two adjacent apertures comprise a partition which can be removed by a tool.

18. The fan as claimed in claim 11, wherein the aperture has a cross section obliquely shaped along the centrifugal direction of the impeller.

19. The fan as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a balance material filled in the aperture to achieve the rotational balance of the impeller.

20. The fan as claimed in claim 19, wherein the balance material is epoxy resin or clay.