US20070166157A1

US20070166157A1 - Rotation structure for radiation fans

Info

Publication number: US20070166157A1
Application number: US11/334,397
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Wen Chou
Original assignee: Zippy Technology Corp
Current assignee: Zippy Technology Corp
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2006-01-19
Publication date: 2007-07-19

Abstract

A rotation structure for radiation fans includes a seat to hold a radiation fan and two brackets on the seat to couple with a center hub on a body of the radiation fan. The center hub has two ends to form a first coupling space and a second coupling space to couple respectively with a spindle. Each of the brackets has a bearing corresponding to the spindle. The radiation fan can rotate via the spindles on two ends about a single axis. The spindles do not skew while the radiation fan rotates, thus impact and noise generation can be prevented.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a rotation structure for radiation fans and particularly to a rotation structure to allow a radiation fan to rotate about a single axis to reduce abnormal noises.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The air fans that generate airflow to disperse heat can be categorized to many types according to different use environments and utilization. With the fast advance of technologies in information and communication industries and the like, the demand of radiation fan for precision electronic products grows significantly. The radiation fan adopted for use on high power and high speed precision electronic devices usually is made at a smaller size. To overcome the high temperature generated by the powerful electronic devices, the heat dissipation efficiency of the radiation fan has to be maintained at a desired level within a selected temperature range. If the heat energy generated during operation of the product cannot be dispelled effectively, the temperature could be too high and result in overheat or burn-out of the product. It could cause serious concerns to people's life. Hence most precision electronic products have included an air fan to dispel heat.
The conventional radiation fan structure mainly includes a radiation fan with radial vanes and a seat with a rotation space to hold the radiation fan. The seat has a circuit board and a coil to receive electric power to drive the radiation fan to rotate. The radiation fan has a spindle in the center. The seat has a bearing corresponding to the spindle. The present technique is constrained by the available size for installing the radiation fan. Hence the efficiency of the radiation fan depends on the rotation speed of the radiation fan. However, at high rotation speed excessive friction occurs between the spindle and the bearing, and a high temperature is generated. As a result, the spindle tends to skew and hit the bearing to generate abnormal noises. To remedy this problem, ceramic bearings that can withstand a greater wearing have been developed. But the ceramic bearings have a greater hardness. Design and fabrication of the anchoring structure are more difficult. And the problem of high temperature caused by friction also cannot be effectively prevented.
In short, the present ceramic bearing is difficult to fabricate, and mostly can only be formed in a simpler shape. To produce a more complicated shape will increase the cost significantly. It also cannot store sufficient oil for lubrication. Moreover, replacement is difficult when worn out happens. The cost of replacement also is great. All of this is the problem of the existing techniques that remains to be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid disadvantages. The present invention provides a seat for holding a radiation fan that has two brackets to couple with a center hub located on the radiation fan. The center hub has two ends to form a first and a second coupling space to hold respectively a spindle. The brackets have bearings corresponding to and coupling with the spindles. Thus the radiation fan has a spindle with two rotation ends and can rotate about a single axis. The rotation fan can rotate at a high speed without skewing or generating noises caused by impact.
Another object of the invention is to lengthen the service life of the radiation fan rotation structure. The first and second coupling spaces communicate with each other. The center hub has an anchor portion extended to the first and second coupling spaces. The anchor portion can confine the spindle and also form an oil storing space to hold lubrication oil that leads to the first and second coupling spaces. Hence lubrication between the spindle and the bearing improves and wearing resistance is enhanced.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce fabrication cost. The center hub and the spindle are coupled together tightly by force so that they can rotate together. The center hub is made from a non-ceramic material at a lower material cost. The spindle and bearing are made from ceramics which is wearing-resistant. The center hub is made of metal and is easier to fabricate. It can withstand wearing better than other material and the material also can be procured easier.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the radiation fan structure of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the rotation structure of the radiation fan of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the radiation fan of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the radiation fan of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the rotation structure of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the rotation structure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention aims to provide a rotation structure for a radiation fan 1. The radiation fan 1 includes a body 10 and a plurality of radial vanes 11 extended from the body 10. The body 10 has a through hole 12 to hold a center hub 13 in a tightly manner. The center hub 13 has two ends forming respectively a first coupling space 130 and a second coupling space 131 to hold a spindle 40 in a tightly manner. The radiation fan 1 is held in a seat 3 which includes a holding member 30 and a lid 31. The seat 3 has a rotation space inside to enable the radiation fan 1 to rotate therein. The rotation space also contains a driving mechanism to rotate the radiation fan 1 (as shown in the drawings, the driving mechanism may include a coil 20 and a circuit board 21 to receive electric power and transform to magnetic force to drive the radiation fan 1. As the technique related to the driving mechanism is known in the art and not a feature of the invention, details are omitted.) The seat 3 has two brackets 32 corresponding to the two ends of the hub 13. Each of the brackets 32 has a bearing 50 corresponding to and coupling with the spindle 40 to allow the two ends of the hub 13 to rotate about a single axis.
Referring to FIG. 2, the center hub 13 has respectively an anchor portion 133 on the first and second coupling spaces 130 and 131. The anchor portions 133 separate the first and second coupling spaces 130 and 131 and form an oil storing space 132 between them. The first and second coupling spaces 130 and 131 have respectively an opening on one end to hold the spindle 40. The spindle 40 has a detent portion 41 on one end to be confined in the first and second coupling spaces 130 and 131 and anchored by the anchor portion 133. The spindle 40 has another end forming a contact portion 42 to be pressed and coupled by the bearing 50. Hence the spindle 40 can be held and confined securely by the bracket 32 and each of the two ends of the center hub 13.
In the embodiment set forth above, the first and second coupling spaces 130 and 131 may communicate with each other to form the oil storing space 132 to reduce wearing between the spindle 40 and the bearing 50 during rotation so that the life span of the rotation structure can increase. Moreover, the hollow hub 13 consumes less material and can reduce the weight of the radiation fan and also reduce energy consumption during rotation.
Refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, the center hub 13 of the radiation fan 1 has the two ends to hold respectively and tightly the spindle 40 which is anchored by the anchor portion 134. Then the center hub 13 is held by the bearings 50 of brackets 32. Hence the radiation fan 1 can rotate about a single axis without moving away from the bearings 50. Therefore the hub 13 does not skew and abnormal noises generated by impact can be prevented. In addition, the contact portion 42 has an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the center hub 13, and the bearing 50 has a rotation trough 51 larger than the outer diameter of the contact portion 42. The contact portion 42 is formed from the spindle 40 in a tapered manner. The profiles of the contact portion 42 and the rotation trough 51 are shown in FIG. 3. The contact portion 42 has an apex formed in a conical shape with an arched end or a cylindrical strut with an outer diameter smaller than the center hub 13. Moreover, the contact portion 42 and the rotation trough 51 of the bearing 50 may be switched. As previously discussed, the spindles 40 have respectively a detent portion 41 confined by the first and second coupling portions 130 and 131, and are coupled by the bearing 50 so that the spindles 40 can rotate in the first and second coupling portions 130 and 131. Hence the center hub 13 can be positioned on the central axis of the spindle 40. Due to the spindles 40 and the center hub 13 are fabricated separately, assembly of the spindles 40 and the center hub 13 is easier. Such a structure also facilitates replacement of the center hub 13 if damage occurs.
The spindle 40 may be made from ceramics to enhance wearing resistance. As the ceramics is porous, it can store lubrication oil and increase the service life. The center hub 13 is made from a non-ceramic material to reduce material cost. It usually is made of metal and is easier to fabricate to form the anchor portion 133. Thus fabrication of the center hub 13 is easier and the production cost is lower.
Refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 for two different embodiments of the rotation structure of the invention. The main feature is: when the radiation fan 1 rotates, the through hole 12 and the center hub 13 a form rotational contact points or surfaces between them. Through these contact points or surfaces the body 10 is driven to rotate. The through hole 12 and the center hub 13 a form the contact points or surfaces through same or different shapes so that the center hub 13 a can be driven by the body 10 to rotate. Referring to FIG. 5, the through hole 12 is circular, and the center hub 13 a is a triangle held in the through hole 12 so that the through hole 12 and the center hub 13 a form three rotational contact points. Referring to FIG. 6, the through hole 12 a is a triangle and the center hub 13 b also is a triangle. Hence the through hole 12 a and the center hub 13 b form rotational contact surfaces. Through the rotational contact points or surfaces, when the radiation fan 1 rotates, the body 10 drives the center hub 13 to rotate. Hence when the radiation fan 1 rotates at a high speed, the friction force between the body 10 and the center hub 13 is not great enough to generate a floating phenomenon.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A rotation structure for radiation fans, comprising:

a radiation fan including a body and vanes extended from the body, the body having a center hub; and

a seat having a rotation space to hold the radiation fan and two brackets on two sides corresponding to two ends of the center hub;

wherein the two ends of the center hub have respectively a first coupling space and a second coupling space to hold a spindle, each of the brackets having a bearing corresponding to the spindle so that the radiation fan rotates via the two spindles about a single axis.

2. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 1, wherein the spindle is held tightly on each of the two ends of the center hub.

3. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 1, wherein the center hub has respectively an anchor portion in the first coupling space and the second coupling space, the spindle being confined by the anchor portion and the bearing.

4. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 3, wherein the anchor portion defines an oil storing space in the center hub to store lubrication oil, the oil storing space communicating with the first coupling space and the second coupling space.

5. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 1, wherein the spindle has a confining rotational surface corresponding to the shape of the bearing.

6. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 1, wherein the body has a through hole to hold the center hub, the through hole and the center hub forming a tight coupling.

7. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 6, wherein the through hole and the center hub are formed in mating shapes.

8. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 6, wherein the through hole and the center hub are formed in different shapes.

9. The rotation structure for radiation fans of claim 1, wherein the center hub is integrally formed on the body.