US20030017049A1

US20030017049A1 - Mini fan for computer

Info

Publication number: US20030017049A1
Application number: US09/945,648
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Han Yang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-19
Filing date: 2001-09-05
Publication date: 2003-01-23

Abstract

A mini fan for computer is disclosed, which includes a housing, a motor, self-lubricated axle bearings respectively adapted to the center hole of the motor, and a fan blade unit supported in the self-lubricated axle bearings for smooth rotation upon operation of the motor, the self-lubricated axle bearings being made of high molecular heat resisting compound material or high molecular compound material of low coefficient of friction for the advantages of low manufacturing cost and low operation noise level.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mini fan and, more particularly, to such a mini fan that is to be used in a computer to cool down a component part of the computer.

2. Description of Related Art

A regular mini fan for computer is generally comprised of a housing, a motor, ball bearings, and a fan blade unit. Because expensive ball bearings are used to support the fan blade unit, the manufacturing cost of this structure of mini fan is high. Further, ball bearings start to wear quickly with use and, produce much noise during operation.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a mini fan for computer that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a mini fan for computer, which is inexpensive to manufacture. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mini fan for computer, which is durable in use.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, the mini fan for computer comprises a housing, a motor, at least one self-lubricated axle bearing, and a fan blade unit. The self-lubricated axle bearing is a hollow cylindrical member respectively adapted to the center hole of the motor, having a center axle hole adapted to receive the axle of the fan blade unit. The self-lubricated axle bearing is made of high molecular heat resisting compound material or high molecular compound material of low coefficient of friction for the advantages of low manufacturing cost and low operation noise level.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a mini fan for computer according to the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view of the mini fan for computer according to the present invention.[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a mini fan in accordance with the present invention is designed for use in a computer to cool down the CPU of the computer. The mini fan is comprised of a [0011] housing 1, a motor 2, two self-lubricated axle bearings 31;32, and a fan blade unit 4. The housing 1 comprises a receiving open chamber 10, a motor mount 11 inside the receiving open chamber 10, and a through hole 111 through the center of the motor mount 11. The motor 2 fixedly mounted on the motor mount 11 inside the receiving open chamber 10, having a center hole 21 coupled to the through hole 111 of the motor mount 11. The self-lubricated axle bearings 31;32 are hollow cylindrical members each having a peripheral wall 311 or 321 and a center axle hole 312 or 322. The fan blade unit 4 comprises a hub 41, a plurality of blades 42 radially arranged around the hub 41, and an axle 411 axially extended from the center of the hub 41.
The assembly process of the present invention is outlined hereinafter with reference to FIG. 1. The [0012] axle 411 of the fan blade unit 4 is inserted in proper order from the top side toward the bottom side through the center axle hole 312 of one self-lubricated axle bearing 31, the center hole 21 of the motor 2, the through hole 111 of the motor mount 11, and the center axle hole 322 of the other self-lubricated axle bearing 32, enabling the self-lubricated axle bearings 31;32 to be respectively press-fitted into the top and bottom ends of the center hole 21 of the motor 2. When assembled, the housing 1, the motor 2, the self-lubricated axle bearings 31;32, and the fan blade unit 4 form a mini fan for computer.
According to the present invention, the self-lubricated [0013] axle bearings 31;32 are made of Teflon. Alternatively, high molecular heat resisting compound material or high molecular compound material of low coefficient of friction may be used for the self-lubricated axle bearings 31;32 for the advantages of low manufacturing cost and low operation noise level.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. [0014]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A mini fan for computer comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a receiving open chamber, a motor mount inside said receiving open chamber, and a through hole through the center of said motor mount;

a motor fixedly mounted on said motor mount inside said receiving open chamber, said motor having a center hole coupled to the through hole of said motor mount;

at least one self-lubricated axle bearing respectively adapted to the center hole of said motor, said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing each having a peripheral wall and a center axle hole; and

a fan blade unit, said fan blade unit comprising a hub, a plurality of blades radially arranged around said hub, and an axle axially extended from said center of the hub and inserted through the center axle hole of each of said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing, the center hole of said motor and the through hole of said motor mount for rotation in the center axle hole of each of said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing, upon operation of said motor.

2. The mini fan for computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing is respectively made of high molecular compound material of low coefficient of friction.

3. The mini fan for computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing is respectively made of high molecular heat-resisting compound material.

4. The mini fan for computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one self-lubricated axle bearing is respectively made of Teflon.