U.S. patent application number 13/894397 was filed with the patent office on 2014-11-20 for fan structure with externally connected circuit.
The applicant listed for this patent is ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS (CHINA) CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chu-Hsien Chou.
Application Number | 20140341760 13/894397 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51895920 |
Filed Date | 2014-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140341760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou; Chu-Hsien |
November 20, 2014 |
FAN STRUCTURE WITH EXTERNALLY CONNECTED CIRCUIT
Abstract
A fan structure with externally connected circuit includes a
frame body, a stator, a fan impeller and a circuit board. The
stator and the fan impeller are disposed in the frame body. The
circuit board is disposed on an outer face of the frame body in
contact with ambient air. Therefore, the room for the circuit board
is increased without increasing the thickness of the frame body.
Moreover, the heat dissipation effect of the circuit board is
enhanced.
Inventors: |
Chou; Chu-Hsien; (Shenzhen
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ASIA VITAL COMPONENTS (CHINA) CO., LTD. |
Shenzhen City |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
51895920 |
Appl. No.: |
13/894397 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/354 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/068 20130101;
F04D 29/5813 20130101; F04D 25/0633 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/354 |
International
Class: |
F04D 13/06 20060101
F04D013/06 |
Claims
1. A fan structure with externally connected circuit, comprising: a
frame body having an air inlet end, an air outlet end, an inner
wall, an outer wall, an axial flow passage and a seat section, the
air inlet end and the air outlet end being respectively formed on
two sides of the frame body, the axial flow passage being defined
by the inner wall to pass through the frame body, the seat section
being positioned in the axial flow passage and connected to the
inner wall via multiple support sections, a hollow bearing cup
protruding from the seat section; a stator fitted around the
bearing cup and disposed on the seat section; a fan impeller
disposed on the seat section of the frame body corresponding to the
stator, the fan impeller having multiple blades annularly arranged
on an outer circumference of the fan impeller; and a circuit board
disposed on the outer wall and electrically connected to the
stator.
2. The fan structure with externally connected circuit as claimed
in claim 1, wherein the circuit board has a connection side snugly
attached to a part of the surface of the outer wall or the entire
surface of the outer wall and an outer side exposed to ambient
environment.
3. The fan structure with externally connected circuit as claimed
in claim 1, wherein a solid body is formed between the inner wall
and the outer wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a fan structure
with externally connected circuit, and more particularly to a fan
structure in which the circuit board is disposed on an outer face
of the frame body.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A prior art discloses a cooling fan including a fan frame, a
bearing system, a stator assembly and a rotor assembly. The rotor
assembly is correspondingly disposed around the stator assembly.
The rotor assembly and the stator assembly are both received in the
fan frame. The fan frame includes a base section and a bearing cup
upward protruding from a center of the base section of the fan
frame. The top end of the bearing cup is an open end. The bearing
cup is formed with a central receiving space. An annular groove is
formed on inner circumference of the top end of the bearing cup in
communication with the receiving space. The inner diameter of the
section of the top end of the bearing cup that is formed with the
annular groove is larger than the inner diameter of the other
section of the bearing cup. The bottom face of the center of the
base section of the fan frame is recessed to form a cylindrical
receiving sink opposite to the receiving space of the bearing cup.
The receiving sink is not in communication with the receiving
space. The stator assembly is fitted around the bearing cup. A
retainer ring is disposed on the shaft and fixed at the top end of
the bearing cup. The stator assembly includes a circuit board and
an armature composed of multiple stacked silicon steel sheets. A
winding assembly is wound around the armature to produce alternate
magnetic field. The winding assembly is electrically connected to
the circuit board. Insulation plates are disposed on upper and
lower sides of the armature to cover the same so as to avoid
electrical contact between the armature and the winding
assembly.
[0005] The above conventional cooling fan has the following
shortcomings:
[0006] When the fan is driven to operate, the drive current will
flow through the electronic components arranged on the circuit
board. At this time, the electronic components will generate high
heat. The circuit board is coaxially positioned under the armature
and the space between the circuit board and the armature is limited
so that the heat dissipation effect is poor. As a result, the
lifetime of the electronic components arranged on the circuit board
will be shortened. Moreover, the existent motor is generally
designed with additional control function. Therefore, it is
necessary to arrange additional components on the circuit board. In
order to combine the drive function and the additional control
function, it is necessary to integrate the original electronic
components and the additional electronic control components onto
the circuit board. However, the area of the circuit board for
arrangement of the electronic components is limited to the maximum
outer diameter of the motor. Therefore, it is hard to arrange the
electronic components.
[0007] To overcome the above problem, another prior art discloses a
cooling fan including a frame body and a fan impeller. The frame
body has an air inlet face, an air outlet face, an inner wall, an
axial flow passage and a support section. The air inlet face and
the air outlet face are respectively formed on two sides of the
frame body. The inner wall defines the axial flow passage, which
passes through the frame body. The fan impeller is disposed in the
frame body. Multiple blades are annularly disposed on outer
circumference of the fan impeller. The support section is formed on
at least one part of the frame body. The support section includes a
first sidewall, a second sidewall and a support space. The first
sidewall is formed of at least one part of the inner wall. The
second sidewall is spaced from the first sidewall. The support
space is defined between the first and second sidewalls to support
a drive circuit board. Accordingly, the heat dissipation effect of
the drive circuit board is enhanced and the axial thickness of the
stator is increased so as to increase the output torque of the
motor and the air volume of the fan.
[0008] However, the above conventional cooling fan has a
shortcoming. That is, the support section is formed of a part of
the frame body so that the thickness of the frame body is
increased. In this case, it is difficult to arrange the fan in a
limited space of a device. Moreover, the total weight of the fan is
increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a fan structure with externally connected circuit, in which
the circuit board is disposed on an outer face of the frame body in
contact with ambient air. Therefore, the room for the circuit board
is increased without increasing the thickness of the frame body. In
this case, more electronic components can be arranged on the
circuit board. Moreover, the heat dissipation effect of the circuit
board is enhanced.
[0010] To achieve the above and other objects, the fan structure
with externally connected circuit of the present invention
includes: a frame body having an air inlet end, an air outlet end,
an inner wall, an outer wall, an axial flow passage and a seat
section, the air inlet end and the air outlet end being
respectively formed on two sides of the frame body, the axial flow
passage being defined by the inner wall to pass through the frame
body, the seat section being positioned in the axial flow passage
and connected to the inner wall via multiple support sections; a
stator disposed on the seat section; a fan impeller disposed on the
seat section of the frame body corresponding to the stator, the fan
impeller having multiple blades annularly arranged on an outer
circumference of the fan impeller; and a circuit board disposed on
the outer wall and electrically connected to the stator. The
circuit board has a connection side snugly attached to a part of
the surface of the outer wall or the entire surface of the outer
wall and an outer side exposed to ambient environment. A solid body
is formed between the inner wall and the outer wall.
[0011] In comparison with the conventional technique, the circuit
board is disposed on an outer face of the frame body in contact
with ambient air. Therefore, the room for the circuit board is
increased without increasing the thickness of the frame body. In
this case, more electronic components can be arranged on the
circuit board. Moreover, the heat dissipation effect of the circuit
board is enhanced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The structure and the technical means adopted by the present
invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled view of the present
invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional assembled view of the present
invention; and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a perspective assembled view of another embodiment
of the present invention, in which the circuit board is attached to
the entire surface of the outer wall of the frame body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective
exploded view of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective
assembled view of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional
assembled view of the present invention. The axial-flow fan of the
present invention includes a frame body 11, which can be a square
frame body or an annular frame body. The frame body has an axial
flow passage 115. When a fan impeller 13 rotates, airflow can flow
through the axial flow passage 115.
[0018] The present invention includes a frame body 11, a stator 12,
a fan impeller 13 and at least one circuit board 14. In this
embodiment, the frame body 11 is, but not limited to, an annular
frame body. Alternatively, the frame body 11 can be a square frame
body. The stator 12 and the fan impeller 13 are disposed in the
frame body 11. The fan impeller 13 has multiple blades 131
annularly arranged on an outer circumference of the fan impeller
13. The blades 131 radially outward extend from the fan impeller
13. The fan impeller 13 is rotatable relative to the stator 12.
Each blade 131 has an air inlet side 1311, an air outlet side 1312
and an outer side 1313.
[0019] The frame body 11 has an air inlet end 111, an air outlet
end 112, an inner wall 113, an outer wall 114, an axial flow
passage 115 and a seat section 116. The air inlet end 111 and the
air outlet end 112 are respectively formed on two sides of the
frame body 11. The axial flow passage 115 is defined by the inner
wall 113 to pass through the frame body 11. The seat section 116 is
positioned near the air outlet end 112. Multiple support members
117 are connected between the outer circumference of the seat
section 116 and the inner wall 113 to support and fix the seat
section 116 in the axial flow passage 115. A hollow bearing cup
1161 protrudes from the seat section 116. A solid body is formed
between the inner wall 113 and the outer wall 114.
[0020] The stator 12 includes a silicon steel sheet assembly
composed of multiple stacked silicon steel sheets. The silicon
steel sheet assembly is disposed between an insulation support
assembly. A winding assembly is wound around the silicon steel
sheet assembly and the insulation support assembly. The stator 12
is fitted around the bearing cup 1161 and disposed on the seat
section 116.
[0021] The fan impeller 13 is disposed on the seat section 116
corresponding to the stator 12. The air inlet sides 1311 of the
blades 131 correspond to the air inlet end 111 of the frame body
11, while the air outlet sides 1312 of the blades 131 correspond to
the air outlet end 112. The outer sides 1313 of the blades 131
correspond to the inner wall 113.
[0022] The circuit board 14 is disposed on the outer wall 114 and
electrically connected to the stator 12. In this embodiment, the
circuit board 14 has a connection side 141 snugly attached to a
part of the surface of the outer wall 114 and an outer side 142
exposed to ambient environment. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of
the present invention, in which the circuit board 14 is snugly
attached to the entire surface of the outer wall 114.
[0023] The circuit board 14 can be attached to the outer wall 114
by means of adhesion.
[0024] Alternatively, a boss can be formed on the outer wall 114
and the circuit board 14 can be formed with a through hole
corresponding to the boss for latching the circuit board 14 on the
outer wall 114. Still alternatively, a blind hole is formed on the
outer wall 114 and a through hole is formed on the circuit board 14
corresponding to the blind hole. A screw member is passed through
the through hole and screwed into the blind hole to lock the
circuit board 14 on the outer wall 114.
[0025] When the fan impeller 13 is driven by the circuit board 14
to rotate, airflow is driven to go from the air inlet end 111 of
the frame body 11 through the axial flow passage 115 to the air
outlet end 112 and then flow out from the air outlet end 112. The
heat generated by the circuit board 14 is partially dissipated from
the outer side 142 of the circuit board 14 to the ambient air and
partially transferred to the outer wall 114 in contact with the
ambient air and then dissipated from the outer wall 114 to the
ambient air. The circuit board 14 is not limited to be positioned
on the base seat as in the conventional device. Instead, the
circuit board 14 is disposed on an outer face of the frame body 11
in contact with ambient air. Therefore, there is more room for
placing the circuit board 14. In this case, more electronic
components with various functions can be arranged on the circuit
board 14.
[0026] In conclusion, in the present invention, the circuit board
14 is directly disposed on the outer wall 114 of the frame body 11.
In comparison with the prior art, it is unnecessary for the frame
body 11 to have additional receiving space for receiving the
circuit board 14. Therefore, neither the thickness nor the weight
of the frame body 11 will be increased.
[0027] The present invention has been described with the above
embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and
modifications in the above embodiments can be carried out without
departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is
intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
* * * * *