US20130164127A1

US20130164127A1 - Fan structure and a bearing module thereof

Info

Publication number: US20130164127A1
Application number: US13/336,874
Authority: US
Inventors: Mao-Sheng Lin; Cheng-Chun Chou
Original assignee: Adda Corp
Current assignee: Adda Corp
Priority date: 2011-12-23
Filing date: 2011-12-23
Publication date: 2013-06-27

Abstract

A fan structure at least includes a bearing module and a rotor, the bearing module includes a hollow cylinder body, a bearing, a limiting member and a blocking member. The hollow cylinder body comprises a ring wall and an accommodating hole, wherein the bearing, the limiting member and the blocking member are disposed at the accommodating hole in sequence. The ring wall comprises an inner ring wall and a limiting slot recessed from the inner ring wall. The blocking member comprises a body portion and a blocking portion extendedly formed at the body portion, the body portion embedded into the limiting slot, and the blocking portion is in contact against the limiting member. A rotating shaft of the rotor penetrated through the limiting member and the bearing, and a plurality limiting plates of the limiting member inserted into a ring slot of the rotating shaft.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally relating to a fan structure and a bearing module, more particularly to the bearing module having a bearing, a limiting member and a blocking member to prevent the rotor from falling off in the fan structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional heat-dissipation fan 10 as illustrated in FIG. 14 includes a base 11, a bearing 12, a rotor 13 and a stator 14. The base 11 comprises an axial tube 15, and the bearing 12 is disposed within the axial tube 15. The rotor 13 comprises a rotating shaft 16 penetrated through an axial hole 17 of the bearing 12, and one end of the rotating shaft 16 is limited by the limiting member 18. However, owing to the reason that the limiting member 18 is located between the bottom of the axial tube 15 and the bearing 12, the limiting member 18 may be likely deformed while installing mentioned limiting member 18 into the axial tube 15. Accordingly, one end of the rotating shaft 16 can not couple with the limiting member 18 smoothly, a frictional noise of the rotor 13 might occur in the situation of rotation, and even more the rotor 13 might depart from the stator 14 to lead fan malfunction. In addition, when the assembly of the fan 10 completes, once a frictional noise occurred, the structure of the limiting member 18 might be broken at the time of taking apart the fan 10. Therefore, we have no idea in whether source of friction noise has connection with unauthentic assembly of the limiting member 18. Besides, the broken fan 10 is incapable to be remade.

SUMMARY

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fan structure comprising a base, a bearing module and a rotor, wherein the base comprises a coupling hole. The bearing module is disposed at the coupling hole and includes a hollow cylinder body, a bearing, a blocking member and a limiting member. The hollow cylinder body is at least composed of a ring wall and an accommodating hole surrounded by the ring wall, wherein the ring wall has an outer ring wall, an inner ring wall and a limiting slot recessed from the inner ring wall. The bearing is disposed at the accommodating hole and comprises a top surface, a bottom surface and an axial hole. The blocking member is disposed at the limiting slot and located on top of the bearing, an accommodating space is formed between the blocking member and the bearing, the blocking member has a body portion and a blocking portion extendedly formed at the body portion, wherein the body portion is embedded into the limiting slot, the blocking portion is protruded to the inner ring wall of the ring wall and located at the accommodating hole. The limiting member is disposed at the accommodating space and comprises a body, a plurality of limiting plates extendedly formed at inside of the body, a plurality of penetrating slots and a penetrating hole is in communication with the penetrating slots, each of the penetrating slots is located between adjacent limiting plates, the limiting member includes a front end portion, and the blocking portion of the blocking member is provided for contacting against the limiting member. The rotor includes a rotating shaft having a ring slot, the rotating shaft is penetrated through the penetration hole of the limiting member and the axial hole of the bearing, and the front end portion of each of the limiting plates is inserted into the ring slot. For the first reason that the front end portion of each of the limiting plates is inserted into the ring slot of the rotating shaft, the second reason that the body portion of the blocking member is embedded into the limiting slot, the third reason that the blocking portion is in contact with the limiting member, therefore, which may prevent the rotating shaft of the rotor to depart from the bearing module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a bearing module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a lateral section view illustrating a bearing module in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a blocking member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram illustrating a blocking area of the blocking member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram illustrating a blocking area of the blocking member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram illustrating a blocking area of the blocking member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a limiting member in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a section view along line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a section view along line B-B in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a section view along line C-C in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a section view illustrating a bearing module in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a section view illustrating a bearing module in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a section view of a conventional heat-dissipation fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a fan structure 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a casing 110, a bearing module 120, a rotor 130 and a stator 140, wherein the casing 110 includes a base 111 having a coupling hole 112.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bearing module 120 is disposed at the coupling hole 112 and includes a hollow cylinder body 121, a bearing 122, a blocking member 123, a limiting member 124, a gasket 125 and a mat 126. The hollow cylinder body 121 is composed of a ring wall 121 a, a bottom portion 121 b in connection with the bottom of the ring wall 121 a and an accommodating hole 121 c surrounded by the ring wall 121 a. In this embodiment, the mat 126, the bearing 122, the gasket 125, the limiting member 124 and the blocking member 123 are disposed at the accommodating hole 121 c in sequence. The ring wall 121 a of the hollow cylinder body 121 comprises an outer ring wall 121 d, an inner ring wall 121 e, and a limiting slot 121 f recessed from the inner ring wall 121 e, wherein the limiting slot 121 f further comprises an inner wall 121 g. The bearing 122 comprises a top surface 122 a, a bottom surface 122 b, an oil guiding slot 122 c in connection with the top surface 122 a and the bottom surface 122 b and an axial hole 122 d. The blocking member 123 is disposed at the limiting slot 121 f and located on top of the bearing 122, and an accommodating space S is formed between the blocking member 123 and the bearing 122. Please referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 4A-4C, in this embodiment, the blocking member 123 can be a C-shape retaining ring, mentioned blocking member 123 comprises a body portion 123 a, a blocking portion 123 b extendedly formed at the body portion 123 a, and an outer wall 123 c. With reference to FIG. 3 again, the body portion 123 a of the blocking member 123 is embedded into the limiting slot 121 f, the blocking portion 123 b of the blocking member 123 is protruded to the inner ring wall 121 e of the ring wall 121 a and located at the accommodating hole 121 c, and the outer wall 123 c of the blocking member 123 is in contact against the inner wall 121 g of the limiting slot 121 f. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 4A-4C, in this embodiment, the blocking portion 123 b includes a first leaning portion 123 d, a second leaning portion 123 e and a third leaning portion 123 f, wherein the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f can be two terminals of the C-shape retaining ring. With reference to FIG. 4A, a blocking area Al is composed of the first leaning portion 123 d and the second leaning portion 123 e. With reference to FIG. 4B, a blocking area A2 is composed of a first leaning portion 123 d, a second leaning portion 123 e and a third leaning portion 123 f. With reference to FIG. 4C, a blocking area A3 is composed of the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 8, the limiting member 124 is disposed at the accommodating space S and comprises a body 124 a, a plurality of limiting plates 124 b extendedly formed at inside of the body 124 a, a plurality of penetrating slots 124 c and a penetrating hole 124 d in communication with the penetrating slots 124 c, wherein each of the penetrating slots 124 c is located between adjacent limiting plates 124 b and includes a front end portion 124 e. The blocking portion 123 b of the blocking member 123 is provided for contacting against the limiting member 124, referring to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the first leaning portion 123 d is provided for contacting against the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124, the second leaning portion 123 e is provided for contacting against the body 124 a of the limiting member 124, and the third leaning portion 123 f is provided for contacting against the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124. Or in another embodiment, the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f are provided for contacting against the body 124 a and the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124. Referring to FIG. 3 again, the gasket 125 is disposed between the limiting member 124 and the bearing 122, and the gasket 125 is provided for mentioned limiting member 124 to dispose thereon. An accommodating space B is formed between an internal wall 125 a of the gasket 125 and the top surface 122 a of the bearing 122, wherein the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124 is located on top of the accommodating space B. The accommodating space B offers the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124 a sufficient deformed space while the rotating shaft 131 passing through the penetrating hole 124 d of the limiting member 124 so as to prevent the limiting plate 124 b from being incapable of accomplishing the restoration. Preferably, the limiting member 124 is clipped by the blocking member 123 and the gasket 125 to increase mechanical stress of the limiting member 124 therefore avoiding deformation. Please refers to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, an opening 123 g is formed between the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f, when the blocking member 123 passes through the accommodating hole 121 c of the hollow cylinder body 121, the body portion 123 a is limited by the inner ring wall 121 e of the accommodating hole 121 c. Therefore, through applying an external force, the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f may move toward the opening 123 g, when the blocking member 123 reaches to the limiting slot 121 f, the first leaning portion 123 d and the third leaning portion 123 f restore to their original position respectively, and the body portion 123 a of the blocking member 123 is embedded into the limiting slot 121 f. Owing to the flexible blocking member 123, the inner ring wall 121 e of the accommodating hole 121 c will not be damaged while assembling or disassembling the blocking member 123. Besides, after taking apart the blocking member 123, the rotor 130 and the limiting member 124 can be taken out without destroying the structure of the limiting member 124. Therefore, mentioned feature is beneficial for the fan structure 100 to be remade. In this embodiment, the accommodating hole 121 c comprises a hole diameter D1, the limiting member 124 comprises an outer diameter D2, for the reason that the outer diameter D2 is smaller than the hole diameter D1, the limiting member 124 may be simply disposed in the accommodating hole 121 c. With reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, in this embodiment, the blocking member 123 comprises a maximum width D3, and the outer diameter D2 is smaller than the maximum width D3 so as to make the blocking member 123 advantageous to press the limiting member 124.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 9, the rotor 130 is coupled with the casing 110 and includes a rotating shaft 131 penetrated into the bearing module 120, wherein the rotating shaft 131 comprises a ring slot 132 and is penetrated through the penetration hole 124 d of the limiting member 124 and the axial hole 122 d of the bearing 122. The front end portion 124 e of each of the limiting plates 124 b is inserted into the ring slot 132 of the rotating shaft 131, and the terminal of the rotating shaft 131 is in contact against the mat 126.
The stator 140 is coupled with the outer ring wall 121 d of the hollow cylinder body 121.
With reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 6, 8 and 9, when the rotating shaft 131 is inserted into the bearing module 120, the rotating shaft 131 first passes through the blocking areas Al, A2 or A3 of the blocking member 123, thereafter, the rotating shaft 131 penetrates through the penetration hole 124 d of the limiting member 124 and the axial hole 122 d of the bearing 122. In addition, when the front end portion 124 e of each of the limiting plates 124 b is inserted into the ring slot 132 of the rotating shaft 131, the rotating shaft 131 locates at the blocking areas A1, A2 or A3.
Referring to FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 6, 8 and 9 again, when the rotor 130 is applied by an external force, for the first reason that the front end portion 124 e of each of the limiting plates 124 b is inserted into the ring slot 132 of the rotating shaft 131, the second reason that the body portion 123 a of the blocking member 123 is embedded into the limiting slot 121 f of the hollow cylinder body 121, the third reason that the first leaning portion 123 d, the second leaning portion 123 e and the third leaning portion 123 f of the blocking portion 123 b are in contact with the limiting member 124, which may prevent the rotating shaft 131 of the rotor 130 to depart from the bearing module 120. Besides, owing to the blocking areas A1, A2 or A3 are composed of the first leaning portion 123 d, the second leaning portion 123 e and the third leaning portion 123 f, when the first leaning portion 123 d, the second leaning portion 123 e and the third leaning portion 123 f are in contact and press the limiting member 124, the mechanical stress of each of the limiting plates 124 b can be increased to prevent each of the limiting plates 124 b from deformation. Once each of the limiting plates 124 b is in severely deformed, the rotor 130 can not be limited by the limiting plates 124 b therefore falling off from the bearing module 120. Furthermore, for the reason that the rotating shaft 131 of the rotor 130 is located at the blocking areas A1, A2 or A3, the press force applied to the limiting member 124 via the blocking member 123 can be raised to prevent the rotating shaft 131 to fall off from each of the limiting plates 124 b.
Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, which illustrate a second embodiment of the present invention, a fan structure 100 includes a casing 110, a bearing module 120, a rotor 130 and a stator 140, the difference between the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that a recess 122 e is recessed from the top surface 122 a of the bearing 122, the limiting member 124 is disposed at the top surface 122 a of the bearing 122, and the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124 is located on top of the recess 122 e. When the rotating shaft 131 passes through the penetration hole 124 d of the limiting member 124, the recess 122 e offers the limiting plate 124 b of the limiting member 124 a sufficient deformed space.
Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, which illustrate a third embodiment of the present invention, a fan structure 100 includes a casing 110, a bearing module 120, a rotor 130 and a stator 140, the difference between the second embodiment and the third embodiment is that the inner ring wall 121 e of the hollow cylinder body 121 is formed into a ladder shape, mentioned inner ring wall 121 e comprises a top wall portion 121 h and bottom wall portion 121 i, and the limiting slot 121 f is recessed from the top wall portion 121 h. The bearing 122 will not compress the top wall portion 121 h while passing through the top wall portion 121 h to prevent the hollow cylinder body 121 from deformation.
While this invention has been particularly illustrated and described in detail with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that it is not limited to the specific features and describes and various modifications and changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fan structure comprising:

a base having a coupling hole;

a bearing module disposed at the coupling hole comprising:

a hollow cylinder body at least composed of a ring wall and an accommodating hole surrounded by the ring wall, wherein the ring wall having an outer ring wall, an inner ring wall and a limiting slot recessed from the inner ring wall;

a bearing disposed at the accommodating hole and comprised a top surface, a bottom surface and an axial hole;

a blocking member disposed at the limiting slot and located on top of the bearing, an accommodating space formed between the blocking member and the bearing, the blocking member having a body portion and a blocking portion extendedly formed at the body portion, wherein the body portion embedded into the limiting slot, the blocking portion protruded to the inner ring wall of the ring wall and located at the accommodating hole; and

a limiting member disposed at the accommodating space and comprised a body, a plurality of limiting plates extendedly formed at inside of the body, a plurality of penetrating slots and a penetrating hole in communication with the penetrating slots, each of the penetrating slots located between adjacent limiting plates, the limiting member includes a front end portion, the blocking portion of the blocking member is provided for contacting against the limiting member; and

a rotor includes a rotating shaft having a ring slot, the rotating shaft penetrated through the penetration hole of the limiting member and the axial hole of the bearing, and the front end portion of each of the limiting plates inserted into the ring slot.

2. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking portion includes a first leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate of the limiting member.

3. The fan structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein the blocking portion further includes a second leaning portion provided for contacting against the body of the limiting member, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion and the second leaning portion.

4. The fan structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the blocking portion further includes a third leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate and the body of the limiting member, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion, the second leaning portion and the third leaning portion.

5. The fan structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein the blocking portion further includes a third leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate of the limiting member, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion and the third leaning portion.

6. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1 further includes a gasket disposed between the limiting member and the bearing, and the gasket is provided for the limiting member to dispose thereon.

7. The fan structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein the limiting member is clipped by the blocking member and the gasket.

8. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the limiting slot comprises an inner wall, the blocking member comprises an outer wall contacted against the inner wall.

9. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the accommodating hole comprises a hole diameter, the limiting member comprises an outer diameter smaller than the hole diameter.

10. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking member comprises a maximum width, the limiting member comprises an outer diameter smaller than the maximum width.

11. A bearing module of a fan structure comprising:

a blocking member disposed at the limiting slot and located on top of the bearing, an accommodating space formed between the blocking member and the bearing, the blocking member having a body portion and a blocking portion extendedly formed at the body portion, wherein the body portion embedded into the limiting slot, the blocking portion protruded to the inner ring wall of the ring wall and located at the accommodated hole; and

a limiting member disposed at the accommodating space and comprised a body, a plurality of limiting plates extendedly formed at inside of the body, a plurality of penetrating slots and a penetrating hole in communication with the penetrating slots, each of the penetrating slots located between adjacent limiting plates, the limiting plate includes a front end portion, and the blocking portion of the blocking member is provided for contacting against the limiting member.

12. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein the blocking portion includes a first leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate of the limiting member.

13. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein the blocking portion further includes a second leaning portion provided for contacting against the body of the limiting member, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion and the second leaning portion.

14. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 13, wherein the blocking portion further includes a third leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate and the body, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion, the second leaning portion and the third leaning portion.

15. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 12, the blocking portion further includes a third leaning portion provided for contacting against the limiting plate of the limiting member, a blocking area is composed of the first leaning portion and the third leaning portion.

16. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 11 further includes a gasket disposed between the limiting member and the bearing, and the gasket is provided for the limiting member to dispose thereon.

17. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 16, wherein the limiting member is clipped by the blocking member and the gasket.

18. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein the limiting slot comprises an inner wall, the blocking member comprises an outer wall contacted against the inner wall.

19. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein the accommodating hole comprises a hole diameter, the limiting member comprises an outer diameter smaller than the hole diameter.

20. The bearing module of a fan structure in accordance with claim 11, wherein the blocking member comprises a maximum width, the limiting member comprises an outer diameter smaller than the maximum width.