U.S. patent application number 16/410074 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-29 for ceiling fan motor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Duo-Nian SHAN, Tso-Kuo YIN.
Application Number | 20190267873 16/410074 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53637417 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-29 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190267873 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YIN; Tso-Kuo ; et
al. |
August 29, 2019 |
CEILING FAN MOTOR
Abstract
A ceiling fan motor with a reduced height includes a stator, a
rotor and a circuit unit. The stator includes an iron core and a
shaft. The iron core has an assembly hole. The shaft is
non-rotatable and extends through the assembly hole in an extending
direction. The rotor is rotatably coupled with an outer periphery
of the shaft and has a housing. The rotor rotates about the shaft.
The circuit unit is arranged between the iron core and the housing
of the rotor in a radial direction of the shaft perpendicular to
the extending direction of the shaft. The housing delimits a
compartment where the stator and the circuit unit are received.
Inventors: |
YIN; Tso-Kuo; (Kaohsiung
City, TW) ; SHAN; Duo-Nian; (Kaohsiung City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd. |
Kaohsiung City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
53637417 |
Appl. No.: |
16/410074 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14980163 |
Dec 28, 2015 |
10348167 |
|
|
16410074 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02K 21/16 20130101;
H02K 11/30 20160101; H02K 21/22 20130101; H02K 5/04 20130101; F04D
25/068 20130101; H02K 11/33 20160101; F04D 25/088 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H02K 11/30 20060101
H02K011/30; F04D 25/08 20060101 F04D025/08; F04D 25/06 20060101
F04D025/06; H02K 5/04 20060101 H02K005/04; H02K 21/22 20060101
H02K021/22; H02K 21/16 20060101 H02K021/16; H02K 11/33 20060101
H02K011/33 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 19, 2015 |
TW |
104101692 |
Claims
1. A ceiling fan motor comprising: a stator comprising an iron core
and a shaft, wherein the iron core has an assembly hole, wherein
the shaft is non-rotatable, and wherein the shaft extends through
the assembly hole in an extending direction; a rotor rotatably
coupled with an outer periphery of the shaft and having a housing,
wherein the rotor rotates about the shaft; and a circuit unit
arranged between the iron core and the housing in a radial
direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the shaft,
wherein the housing delimits a compartment, and wherein the stator
and the circuit unit are received in the compartment.
2. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circuit
unit comprises a circuit board mounted with at least one electronic
component, wherein the rotor and the iron core are located within
an area in the extending direction of the shaft, and wherein the at
least one electronic component of the circuit board extends into
the area.
3. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the iron
core is coupled to a radial extension portion, wherein the circuit
unit is coupled with the radial extension portion, wherein the
radial extension portion extends from the iron core towards the
housing, and wherein the circuit unit is aligned with the rotor or
the iron core in a radial direction perpendicular to the extending
direction of the shaft.
4. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a cover coupled with the stator, wherein the cover has a flat outer
surface in a radial direction perpendicular to the extending
direction of the shaft.
5. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the circuit
unit comprises a circuit board mounted with at least one electronic
component, wherein the circuit board is coupled with the cover, and
wherein the at least one electronic component of the circuit board
extends between the iron core and the housing.
6. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cover
has an assembly channel extending through the cover from an inner
edge of the cover to an outer edge of the cover in the radial
direction of the shaft, and wherein the cover is detachably
attached to the stator.
7. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a bearing coupled with the outer periphery of the shaft, wherein
the rotor further includes a permanent magnet unit, wherein the
housing includes an axially extending wall, wherein the permanent
magnet unit is located intermediate the bearing and the stator,
wherein the stator is located intermediate the axially extending
wall and the permanent magnet unit, and wherein the circuit unit is
located intermediate the axially extending wall and the stator.
8. The ceiling fan motor as claimed in claim 7, wherein an entirety
of the circuit unit is located between the iron core and the
axially extending wall in the radial direction of the shaft.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a divisional application of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 14/980,163 filed on Dec. 28, 2015.
[0002] The application also claims the benefit of Taiwan
application serial No. 104101692, filed on Jan. 19, 2015, and the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to a ceiling fan
motor and, more particularly, to a ceiling fan motor with a reduced
height.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] FIG. 1 shows a conventional ceiling fan motor 9 having a
stator 91, a rotor 92 and a control unit 93. The stator 91 includes
a shaft 911, an iron core 912 fitted around the shaft 911, and a
coil unit 913 wound around the iron core 912. The rotor 92 may be
rotatably coupled with the shaft 911 and includes a cover plate
921, a bottom plate 922 and an intermediate portion 923 connected
between the cover plate 921 and the bottom plate 922. The cover
plate 921 and the bottom plate 922 are arranged on two sides of the
iron core 912, respectively. The control unit 93 includes a circuit
board 931 and a housing 932 for receiving the circuit board 931. As
such, the housing 932 is positioned on one side of the stator 91
when the circuit board 931 is received in the housing 932. The
conventional ceiling fan motor 9 can be seen in Taiwan Patent No.
M354002.
[0005] In the ceiling fan motor 9, the housing 932 and the circuit
board 931 are arranged outside of the stator 91 and the rotor 92.
The circuit board 931 includes a plurality of electronic components
(such as capacitors). Since the electronic components have certain
volumes, the surface of the circuit board 931 is not flat. In light
of this, the housing 932 must be in the form of a box having a
compartment for receiving the circuit board 931. However, the
arrangement of the housing 932 and the circuit board 931 increases
the axial height (or thickness) of the ceiling fan motor 9.
[0006] If the thickness of the ceiling fan motor 9 is not reduced,
it is not suitable to mount the ceiling fan motor 9 to a low
ceiling, adversely lowering the utility of the ceiling fan motor 9.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a novel ceiling fan motor
with improved utility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore the objective of this invention to provide a
ceiling fan motor including an iron core, a shaft, a rotor and a
circuit unit. The circuit unit is arranged between the iron core
and a housing of the rotor in a radial direction of the shaft
perpendicular to the extending direction of the shaft. As such, the
height of the ceiling fan motor is reduced.
[0008] In an embodiment of the invention, a ceiling fan motor
includes a stator, a rotor and a circuit unit. The stator includes
an iron core and a shaft, and the iron core has an assembly hole.
The shaft is non-rotatable and extends through the assembly hole in
an extending direction. The rotor is rotatably coupled with an
outer periphery of the shaft, has a housing, and rotates about the
shaft. The circuit unit is arranged between the iron core and the
housing in a radial direction perpendicular to the extending
direction of the shaft. The housing delimits a compartment where
the stator and the circuit unit are received.
[0009] In a form shown, the circuit unit includes a circuit board
mounted with at least one electronic component, the rotor and the
iron core are located within an area in the extending direction of
the shaft, and the at least one electronic component of the circuit
board extends into the area.
[0010] In the form shown, the iron core is coupled to a radial
extension portion. The circuit unit is coupled with the radial
extension portion, which extends from the iron core towards the
housing, and the circuit unit is aligned with the rotor or the iron
core in a radial direction perpendicular to the extending direction
of the shaft.
[0011] In the form shown, the ceiling fan motor further includes a
cover coupled with the stator, and the cover has a flat outer
surface extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the
extending direction of the shaft.
[0012] In the form shown, the circuit unit includes a circuit board
mounted with at least one electronic component, the circuit board
is coupled with the cover, and the at least one electronic
component of the circuit board extends into a space between the
iron core and the housing.
[0013] In the form shown, the cover has an assembly channel
extending through the cover from an inner edge of the cover to an
outer edge of the cover in the radial direction of the shaft, and
the cover is detachably attached to the stator.
[0014] In the form shown, the ceiling fan motor further includes a
bearing coupled with the outer periphery of the shaft. The rotor
further includes a permanent magnet unit, and the housing includes
an axially extending wall. The permanent magnet unit is located
intermediate the bearing and the stator, the stator is located
intermediate the axially extending wall and the permanent magnet
unit, and the circuit unit is located intermediate the axially
extending wall and the stator.
[0015] In the form shown, an entirety of the circuit unit is
located between the iron core and the axially extending wall in the
radial direction of the shaft.
[0016] Based on the above structure, the circuit unit of each
ceiling fan motor is arranged between the iron core and the shaft
in the radial direction of the shaft, or arranged between the iron
core and the housing of the rotor. Thus, the circuit unit can be
radially aligned with the rotor or the iron core in the radial
direction of the shaft. Therefore, arrangement of the circuit unit
will not increase the height of the ceiling fan motor, thereby
improving the utility of the ceiling fan motor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional ceiling
fan motor.
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a ceiling fan motor according
to a first embodiment of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the ceiling fan motor of
the first embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of a ceiling fan motor
according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a ceiling fan motor according
to a third embodiment of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the ceiling fan motor of
the third embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of a ceiling fan motor
according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the ceiling fan motor of
the fourth embodiment of the invention having a different
implementation from FIG. 7.
[0026] In the various figures of the drawings, the same numerals
designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms
"first", "second", "third", "fourth", "inner" "outer", "top"
"bottom", "front", "rear" and similar terms are used hereinafter,
it should be understood that these terms have reference only to the
structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to a person
viewing the drawings, and are utilized only to facilitate
describing the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a ceiling fan motor according to a first
embodiment of the invention, which includes a stator 1, a rotor 2
and a circuit unit 3. The rotor 2 is rotatably coupled with the
stator 1. The stator 1 includes an iron core 11 and a shaft 12. The
circuit unit 3 is arranged between the iron core 11 and the shaft
12.
[0028] The iron core 11 may be formed by a plurality of silicon
steel plates stacked together, or integrally formed by a magnetic
conducting material. The iron core 11 includes an assembly hole 11a
which is preferably located at the center of the iron core 11. The
shaft 12 may extend through the assembly hole 11a and couple with
the iron core 11. In the embodiment, the iron core 11 is coupled to
a base 111 arranged within the diametric extent of the assembly
hole 11a. A shaft hole 111a is arranged at the center of the base
111. The shaft 12 extends through the shaft hole 111a. The iron
core 11 may be connected to the shaft 12 via the base 111.
Alternatively, the shaft 12 is connected to a supporting member
121, such that two ends of the base 111 are respectively coupled to
the iron core 11 and the supporting member 121. In this mechanism,
the iron core 11 is also connected to the shaft 12 via the base
111. The base 111 may be coupled with the iron core 11 by screwing,
fastening, adhesion or tenoning. The base 111 may also be
integrally formed with the iron core 11. Similarly, the base 111
may also be coupled with the supporting member 121 by screwing,
fastening, adhesion or tenoning.
[0029] Since the base 111 may be made of a conducting material such
as metal, the iron core 11 may include a sleeve 112 that is coupled
to the outer surface of the iron core 11. The sleeve 112 is made of
an insulating material such as plastic. The base 111 is coupled
with the sleeve 112 of the iron core 11. In this arrangement, the
sleeve 112 can be wound with a coil unit while preventing short
circuiting between the iron core 11 and the base 111.
[0030] The rotor 2 is rotatably coupled with the outer periphery of
the shaft 12. In this embodiment, the ceiling fan motor is an
outer-rotor-type motor. The rotor 2 may include a housing 21 and a
permanent magnet unit 22 facing the iron core 11. The permanent
magnet unit 22 may be coupled with the inner periphery of the
housing 21 and is spaced from the outer periphery of the iron core
11 by an air gap.
[0031] The circuit unit 3 is arranged between the iron core 11 and
the shaft 12 in a radial direction perpendicular to the extending
direction of the shaft 12. In other words, the circuit unit 3 may
be arranged in the base 111. Specifically, the base 111 includes a
recess 111b extending away from the circuit unit 3. As such, the
assembly hole 11a of the iron core 11 forms a receiving space,
allowing the circuit unit 3 to be disposed into the base 111. In
this arrangement, the circuit unit 3 is able to radially align with
the rotor 2 or the iron core 11. The circuit unit 3 includes a
circuit board 31 mounted with at least one electronic component 32.
The rotor 2 and the iron core 11 are located within an axial range
"R," and the electronic component(s) 32 of the circuit board 31
extends into the axial range "R."
[0032] In the embodiment, the ceiling fan motor includes a cover 4
coupled with the stator 1. The cover 4 may be coupled with the
supporting member 121 to close the interior space of the ceiling
fan motor. The circuit board 31 of the circuit unit 3 may be
coupled with the cover 4, and the electronic component(s) 32 of the
circuit board 31 is disposed into the base 111. Since the
electronic component(s) 32 may be disposed in the recess 111b of
the base 111, the circuit unit 3 is radially aligned with the rotor
2 or the iron core 11. In such an arrangement, the cover 4 is able
to form a flat outer surface extending in the radial direction of
the ceiling fan motor perpendicular to the shaft 12.
[0033] Furthermore, the cover 4 preferably includes an assembly
channel 41 extending in the radial direction of the ceiling fan
motor. As such, the cover 4 is in the form of a C-shaped plate
having an opening. The shaft 12 may extend through the assembly
channel 41, and the cover 4 may be detachably attached to the
stator 1. In this arrangement, when the circuit board 31
malfunctions, one can disengage the cover 4 from the stator 1 and
detach the cover 4 from the ceiling fan motor via the assembly
channel 41 for replacement or maintenance of the circuit board 31.
Advantageously, the utility of the ceiling fan motor is
improved.
[0034] When the ceiling fan motor is in use, the shaft 12 may be
fixed to a predetermined location such as the ceiling. Based on
this, a bearing 5 may be coupled with the outer periphery of the
shaft 12, and the rotor 2 is coupled with the outer periphery of
the bearing 5. In this regard, the rotor 2 is rotatably arranged
around the shaft 12. Besides, the housing 21 of the rotor 2 may be
coupled with a plurality of blades (not shown) to form a ceiling
fan.
[0035] Based on the above structure of the ceiling fan motor, since
the circuit unit 3 is arranged between the iron core 11 and the
shaft 12 in the radial direction of the ceiling fan motor, the
circuit unit 3 is able to radially align with the rotor 2 or the
iron core 11. In this regard, the electronic component(s) 32 on the
circuit board 31 can be disposed into the area "R" at which the
rotor 2 and the iron core 11 are located. Therefore, the
arrangement of the circuit unit 3 will not increase the height of
the ceiling fan motor.
[0036] In addition, although the ceiling fan motor includes the
cover 4 with which the circuit board 31 of the circuit unit 3 is
coupled, the arrangements of the circuit unit 3 and the cover 4
will not increase the height of the ceiling fan motor since the
cover 4 has a flat outer surface extending in the radial direction
of the shaft 12.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, a ceiling fan motor is shown according
to a second embodiment of the invention. The second embodiment
differs from the first embodiment in that the circuit board 31 of
the circuit unit 3 may be directly coupled with the surface of the
base 111. Specifically, since the base 111 has the recess 111b, the
circuit board 31 may abut with the bottom surface of the recess
111b, and the electronic component(s) 32 on the circuit board 31
may extend into the assembly hole 11a of the iron core 11. In this
manner, the circuit unit 3 is still aligned with the rotor 2 or the
iron core 11 in the radial direction of the ceiling fan motor.
[0038] Furthermore, the base 111 may be made of a conducting
material such as metal. In this regard, the base 111 preferably
includes an insulating layer 111c sandwiched between the circuit
board 31 and the base 111. The insulating layer 111c is able to
prevent short circuiting between the electronic component(s) 32 and
the base 111 as well as prevent the electric current from flowing
between the circuit board 31 and the iron core 11.
[0039] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a ceiling fan motor is shown
according to a third embodiment of the invention. The third
embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the circuit
unit 3 further includes a receiving portion 33 arranged in the base
111. The circuit board 31 and its electronic component(s) 32 are
received in the receiving portion 33. The receiving portion 33 may
be coupled with the cover 4. Alternatively, the receiving portion
33 may also be coupled with the surface of the base 111. In
addition, the receiving portion 33 is able to provide dampproof and
dustproof effects, and the receiving portion 33 may be made of
different materials according to the design requirements. For
example, the receiving portion 33 may be made of an insulating
material such as plastic, to provide an insulation effect between
the circuit board 31 and the electronic component(s) 32.
Alternatively, the receiving portion 33 may be made of metal to
provide an electromagnetic shielding effect for the circuit board
31 and the electronic component(s) 32.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 7, a ceiling fan motor is shown according
to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Similar to the first
embodiment, the ceiling fan motor in the fourth embodiment also
includes a stator 1, a rotor 2 and a circuit unit 3, and the rotor
2 also includes a housing 21. In this regard, the fourth embodiment
differs from the first embodiment in that the circuit unit 3 is
arranged between the iron core 11 and the housing 21. In this
embodiment, the ceiling fan motor is an inner-rotor-type motor. The
rotor 2 may further include a permanent magnet unit 22 rotatably
coupled with the shaft 12. The permanent magnet unit 22 faces the
inner periphery of the iron core 11 and is spaced from the inner
periphery of the iron core 11 by a spacing. A bearing 5 may be
coupled with the outer periphery of the shaft 12, and the permanent
magnet unit 22 is coupled to the outer periphery of the bearing 5,
thus rotatably coupling the rotor 2 to the outer periphery of the
shaft 12.
[0041] The circuit unit 3 is arranged between the iron core 11 and
the housing 21 in the radial direction of the shaft 12.
Specifically, the iron core 11 is spaced from the housing 21 by a
gap, and the circuit unit 3 may be located in the gap. In this
embodiment, the iron core 11 is coupled to a radial extension
portion 113. The circuit unit 3 is coupled with the radial
extension portion 113. The radial extension portion 113 extends
from the iron core 11 towards the housing 21, so that the circuit
unit 3 is aligned with the rotor 2 or the iron core 11 in the
radial direction of the shaft 12. The circuit unit 3 may also
include a circuit board 31 mounted with at least one electronic
component 32, and the rotor 2 and the iron core 11 are located
within an area "R" in the extending direction of the shaft 12. The
electronic component(s) 32 of the circuit board 31 also extends
into the area "R."
[0042] Based on the above structure, the circuit unit 3 in the
fourth embodiment is arranged between the iron core 11 and the
housing 21 in the radial direction of the shaft 12. Therefore, the
circuit unit 3 can be radially aligned with the rotor 2 and the
iron core 11, allowing the electronic component(s) 32 of the
circuit board 31 to extend into the area "R" where the rotor 2 and
the iron core 11 are located. In this manner, the arrangement of
the electronic component(s) 32 will also not increase the height of
the ceiling fan motor.
[0043] Moreover, the ceiling fan motor in this embodiment also
includes a cover 4 coupled with the stator 1. Since the electronic
component(s) 32 can extend into the recess 111b of the base 111 and
since the circuit unit 3 is arranged between the iron core 11 and
the housing 21, the cover 4 can have a flat outer surface in the
radial direction of the shaft 12.
[0044] FIG. 8 shows another implementation of the ceiling fan motor
of the fourth embodiment. In the implementation, the circuit unit 3
may be coupled with the cover 4. More specifically, the iron core
11 does not need to be coupled to the radial extension portion 113,
the circuit board 31 of the circuit unit 3 may be connected to the
cover 4, and the electronic component(s) 32 of the circuit board 31
extends into the space between the iron core 11 and the housing 21.
Since the electronic component(s) 32 extends into the space between
the iron core 11 and the housing 21, the circuit unit 3 can be
radially aligned with the rotor 2 or the iron core 11.
[0045] The primary features of the ceiling fan motors of the
individual embodiments of the invention are summarized as below.
Specifically, the circuit unit 3 can be radially aligned with the
rotor 2 or the iron core 11 by arranging the circuit unit 3 between
the iron core 11 and the shaft 12 in the radial direction of the
shaft 12 or by arranging the circuit unit 3 between the iron core
11 and the housing 21. As such, the electronic component(s) 32 of
the circuit board 31 can extend into the area "R" where the rotor 2
and the iron core 11 are located. Based on this, the arrangement of
the circuit unit 3 will not increase the height of the ceiling fan
motor. It can be known from the above that the ceiling fan motors
of the individual embodiments of the invention can have reduced
heights, thereby improving the utility of the ceiling fan
motors.
[0046] Furthermore, as compared with the conventional ceiling fan
motor 9 where the housing 932 must be in the form of a box in order
to form a compartment for receiving the circuit board 931, the
arrangement of the cover 4 of the invention will not increase the
height of the ceiling fan motor since the cover 4 has a flat outer
surface in the radial direction of the shaft 12. Thus, it is proven
that the circuit unit 3 and the cover 4 in the individual
embodiment of the invention are capable of reducing the height of
the ceiling fan motor. In conclusion, the ceiling fan motors of the
invention possess improved utility.
[0047] Although the invention has been described in detail with
reference to its presently preferable embodiments, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the
scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims
* * * * *