US20210388845A1

US20210388845A1 - Fan impeller

Info

Publication number: US20210388845A1
Application number: US16/992,042
Authority: US
Inventors: Tang-An Liu; Chi-Zen Peng; Chia-Chen Chen; Tzu-Ling Lin
Original assignee: Inventec Pudong Technology Corp; Inventec Corp
Current assignee: Inventec Pudong Technology Corp; Inventec Corp
Priority date: 2020-06-10
Filing date: 2020-08-12
Publication date: 2021-12-16
Also published as: CN113775542A

Abstract

A fan impeller includes a wheel casing, a plurality of fan blades and a plurality of first wind-guiding structures. The wheel casing is configured to rotate about an axis. The fan blades surround the axis and are arranged in a radial form. Each of the fan blades includes an end edge and two extending edges. The end edge is away from the wheel casing. The extending edges connect between the end edge and the wheel casing. The end edge and the extending edges define a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to each other. The first wind-guiding structures are respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade. Each of the first wind-guiding structures is at least partially adjacent with the end edge and one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Chinese Application Serial Number 202010524277.X filed Jun. 10, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fan impellers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to fan impellers suitable to be applied in electronic products.

Description of Related Art

With the advancement of the technology today, the demand of people for electronic products has also been increasing. In order for the electronic products to provide greater satisfaction to consumers, apart from constantly improving the functions and the operational efficiency of the electronic products, optimization of cooling systems is also an important issue that manufacturers would highly concern.
For example, how to effectively increase the operational efficiency of a cooling system under the best utilization of space is undoubtedly an important issue of development for the industry.

SUMMARY

A technical aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a fan impeller, which can effectively reduce the turbulences produced by the fan blades at the vicinity of the end edges. In this way, the induced resistance and the noise produced when the fan impeller rotates can be greatly reduced, such that the effect of heat dissipation to the electronic product and thus the operational performance of the electronic product can be enhanced.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a fan impeller includes a wheel casing, a plurality of fan blades and a plurality of first wind-guiding structures. The wheel casing is configured to rotate about an axis. The fan blades surround the axis and are arranged in a radial form. Each of the fan blades includes an end edge and two extending edges. The end edge is away from the wheel casing. The extending edges connect between the end edge and the wheel casing. The end edge and the extending edges define a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to each other. The first wind-guiding structures are respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade. Each of the first wind-guiding structures is at least partially adjacent with the end edge and one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the first wind-guiding structures are away from the wheel casing.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first wind-guiding structures has a first length. The first length is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, at least two of the fan blades are located between adjacent two of the first wind-guiding structures. The axis penetrates through a center of gravity of the first wind-guiding structures.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the fan impeller further includes a plurality of second wind-guiding structures. The second wind-guiding structures are respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade. Each of the second wind-guiding structures is at least partially adjacent with the end edge and another one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second wind-guiding structures are away from the wheel casing.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, each of second first wind-guiding structures has a second length. The second length is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, at least two of the fan blades are located between adjacent two of the second wind-guiding structures. The axis penetrates through a center of gravity of the second wind-guiding structures.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second wind-guiding structures and the first wind-guiding structures are disposed on the same fan blades.
In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, the second wind-guiding structures and the first wind-guiding structures are disposed differently on the fan blades.
When compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following advantage: since the first wind-guiding structures are respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade, and each of the first wind-guiding structures is at least partially adjacent with the end edge and one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade, when the windward surfaces of the fan blades move towards the rotating direction, the first wind-guiding structures can effectively reduce the turbulences produced by the fan blades at the vicinity of the end edges. In this way, the induced resistance and the noise produced when the fan impeller rotates can be greatly reduced, such that the effect of heat dissipation to the electronic product and thus the operational performance of the electronic product can be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fan impeller according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of Area A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a fan impeller according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fan impeller according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fan impeller according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a fan impeller according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Drawings will be used below to disclose embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of clear illustration, many practical details will be explained together in the description below. However, it is appreciated that the practical details should not be used to limit the claimed scope. In other words, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the practical details are not essential. Moreover, for the sake of drawing simplification, some customary structures and elements in the drawings will be schematically shown in a simplified way. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
Reference is made to FIGS. 1-2. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a fan impeller 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of Area A of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, a fan impeller 100 includes a wheel casing 110, a plurality of fan blades 120 and a plurality of first wind-guiding structures 130. The wheel casing 110 is configured to rotate about an axis X. The fan blades 120 surround the axis X and are arranged in a radial form. Each of the fan blades 120 includes an end edge 121 and two extending edges 122. The end edge 121 is away from the wheel casing 110. The extending edges 122 connect between the end edge 121 and the wheel casing 110. The end edge 121 and the extending edges 122 define a windward surface SW and a leeward surface SL opposite to each other. The first wind-guiding structures 130 are respectively disposed on the leeward surface SL of the corresponding fan blade 120, and are away from the wheel casing 110. It is worth to note that, each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is at least partially adjacent with the end edge 121 and one of the extending edges 122 of the corresponding fan blade 120. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-2, each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is adjacent with the extending edge 122 on the top of the corresponding fan blade 120. In practical applications, the fan impeller 100 is suitable to be applied in an electronic product (not shown) in order to carry out heat dissipation to the electronic product.
When the fan impeller 100 operates, the fan impeller 100 is driven by a driving unit (not shown), such that the fan impeller 100 rotates towards the rotating direction D (please refer to FIG. 1 for the rotating direction D) about the axis X, which means the windward surfaces SW of the fan blades 120 move towards the rotating direction D. As mentioned above, since the first wind-guiding structures 130 are respectively disposed on the leeward surface SL of the corresponding fan blade 120, and each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is at least partially adjacent with the end edge 121 and one of the extending edges 122 of the corresponding fan blade 120, when the windward surfaces SW of the fan blades 120 move towards the rotating direction D, the first wind-guiding structures 130 can effectively reduce the turbulences produced by the fan blades 120 at the vicinity of the end edges 121. In this way, the induced resistance and the noise produced when the fan impeller 100 rotates can be greatly reduced, such that the effect of heat dissipation to the electronic product and thus the operational performance of the electronic product can be enhanced.
In the structural point of view, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 has a first length L1. The first length L1 of each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface SL, and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing 110.
Reference is made to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a fan impeller 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the fan impeller 100 further includes a plurality of second wind-guiding structures 140. The second wind-guiding structures 140 are respectively disposed on the leeward surface SL of the corresponding fan blade 120 and are away from the wheel casing 110. It is worth to note that, each of the second wind-guiding structures 140 is at least partially adjacent with the end edge 121 and another one of the extending edges 122 of the corresponding fan blade 120. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is adjacent with the extending edge 122 on the top of the corresponding fan blade 120, and each of the first wind-guiding structures 140 is adjacent with the extending edge 122 on the bottom of the corresponding fan blade 120.
In the structural point of view, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the second wind-guiding structures 140 has a second length L2. The second length L2 of each of the second wind-guiding structures 140 is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface SL, and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing 110.
It is worth to note that, in this embodiment, the second wind-guiding structures 140 and the first wind-guiding structures 130 are disposed on the same fan blades 120. To be specific, as shown in FIG. 3, the second wind-guiding structures 140 and the first wind-guiding structures 130 are respectively disposed on the leeward surfaces SL of all of the fan blades 120. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure.
Reference is made to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fan impeller 100 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, at least two of the fan blades 120 are located between adjacent two of the first wind-guiding structures 130. In other words, the first wind-guiding structures 130 are not disposed on the leeward surfaces SL of all of the fan blades 120. To be specific, in practical applications, the first wind-guiding structures 130 can be disposed on the leeward surfaces SL of the fan blades 120 by intervals. For example, a singular one of the first wind-guiding structures 130 can be disposed for every two or more pieces of the fan blades 120. However, this does not intend to limit the present disclosure. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a singular one of the first wind-guiding structures 130 is disposed for every two of the fan blades 120. It is worth to note that, the axis X (please refer to FIG. 1 for the axis X) penetrates through a center of gravity of the first wind-guiding structures 130. Thus, when the fan impeller 100 rotates towards the rotating direction D about the axis X, the axis X still penetrates through the overall center of gravity of the fan impeller 100, such that the stability of the fan impeller 100 during rotation can be maintained.
Reference is made to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fan impeller 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, apart from the arrangement that at least two of the fan blades 120 are located between adjacent two of the first wind-guiding structures 130, at least two of the fan blades 120 are also located between adjacent two of the second wind-guiding structures 140. Moreover, the second wind-guiding structures 140 and the first wind-guiding structures 130 are disposed on the same fan blades 120. In other words, similarly, the second wind-guiding structures 140 are not disposed on the leeward surfaces SL of all of the fan blades 120. It is worth to note that, the axis X (please refer to FIG. 1 for the axis X) penetrates through a center of gravity of the second wind-guiding structures 140. Thus, when the fan impeller 100 rotates towards the rotating direction D about the axis X, the axis X still penetrates through the overall center of gravity of the fan impeller 100, such that the stability of the fan impeller 100 during rotation can be maintained.
Reference is made to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a fan impeller 100 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, at least two of the fan blades 120 are located between adjacent two of the first wind-guiding structures 130, while at least two of the fan blades 120 are also located between adjacent two of the second wind-guiding structures 140. However, the second wind-guiding structures 140 and the first wind-guiding structures 130 are disposed differently on the fan blades 120.
In conclusion, when compared with the prior art, the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure have at least the following advantage: since the first wind-guiding structures are respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade, and each of the first wind-guiding structures is at least partially adjacent with the end edge and one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade, when the windward surfaces of the fan blades move towards the rotating direction, the first wind-guiding structures can effectively reduce the turbulences produced by the fan blades at the vicinity of the end edges. In this way, the induced resistance and the noise produced when the fan impeller rotates can be greatly reduced, such that the effect of heat dissipation to the electronic product and thus the operational performance of the electronic product can be enhanced.
Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.
It will be apparent to the person having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of the present disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A fan impeller, comprising:

a wheel casing configured to rotate about an axis;

a plurality of fan blades surrounding the axis and arranged in a radial form, each of the fan blades includes an end edge and two extending edges, the end edge being away from the wheel casing, the extending edges connecting between the end edge and the wheel casing, the end edge and the extending edges defining a windward surface and a leeward surface opposite to each other; and

a plurality of first wind-guiding structures respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade, and each of the first wind-guiding structures being at least partially adjacent with the end edge and one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade.

2. The fan impeller of claim 1, wherein the first wind-guiding structures are away from the wheel casing.

3. The fan impeller of claim 1, wherein each of the first wind-guiding structures has a first length, and the first length is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing.

4. The fan impeller of claim 1, wherein at least two of the fan blades are located between adjacent two of the first wind-guiding structures, the axis penetrates through a center of gravity of the first wind-guiding structures.

5. The fan impeller of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of second wind-guiding structures respectively disposed on the leeward surface of the corresponding fan blade, and each of the second wind-guiding structures being at least partially adjacent with the end edge and another one of the extending edges of the corresponding fan blade.

6. The fan impeller of claim 5, wherein the second wind-guiding structures are away from the wheel casing.

7. The fan impeller of claim 5, wherein each of second first wind-guiding structures has a second length, and the second length is perpendicular to the corresponding leeward surface and gradually diminishes in a direction towards the wheel casing.

8. The fan impeller of claim 5, wherein at least two of the fan blades are located between adjacent two of the second wind-guiding structures, the axis penetrates through a center of gravity of the second wind-guiding structures.

9. The fan impeller of claim 5, wherein the second wind-guiding structures and the first wind-guiding structures are disposed on the same fan blades.

10. The fan impeller of claim 5, wherein the second wind-guiding structures and the first wind-guiding structures are disposed differently on the fan blades.