Blower-type fan with dual inlet arrangements

Abstract

A blower-type fan comprises a housing comprising a compartment and an air outlet. A bottom of the housing includes at least one air inlet. A bobbin is mounted in the compartment of the housing and includes an axle hole for rotatably holding a central shaft of a fan wheel. The fan wheel includes a central plate and an annular ring that surrounds the central plate and that is connected to the central plate by a plurality of spokes, thereby defining at least one opening through which air is passable. A plurality of fan blades is mounted on the annular ring. A cover is engaged to the housing and includes an air inlet. When the fan wheel turns, cool air is sucked into the housing via the air inlet of the housing and the air inlet of the cover and exits the housing via the air outlet of the housing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a blower-type fan with dual inlet arrangements, and more particularly to a blower-type heat-dissipating fan for sucking a larger amount of cool air.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional blower-type heat-dissipating fan that includes a housing 91 having a sealed bottom and an annular wall 92. A bobbin 93 is mounted to an eccentric position of the bottom of the housing 91 for rotatably supporting a fan wheel 94, and a cover 95 is mounted to top of the housing 91. The cover 95 includes an air inlet 96. When the fan wheel 94 turns, the fan blades 97 drive air current to thereby suck cool air into the housing 91 via the air inlet 96 and output the cool air via an air outlet 98 in the housing 91.

[0005] Nevertheless, there is only one air inlet 96 in such a conventional blower-type heat-dissipating fan for sucking cool air and the amount of incoming air is, of course, equal to the amount of outgoing air for the fan. It is, therefore, impossible to increase the amount of air output without increasing the size of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan.

SUMMARY IF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a blower-type fan with dual inlet arrangements to increase the amount of air output without increasing the size of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan.

[0007] A blower-type fan in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing comprising a compartment and an air outlet. A bottom of the housing includes at least one air inlet. A bobbin is mounted in the compartment of the housing and includes an axle hole for rotatably holding a central shaft of a fan wheel. The fan wheel includes a central plate and an annular ring that surrounds the central plate and that is connected to the central plate by a plurality of spokes, thereby defining at least one opening through which air is passable. A plurality of fan blades is mounted on the annular ring. A cover is engaged to the housing and includes an air inlet. When the fan wheel turns, cool air is sucked into the housing via the air inlet of the housing and the air inlet of the cover and exits the housing via the air outlet of the housing.

[0008] Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional blower-type heat-dissipating fan.

[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan in FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

[0013] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan in FIG. 5.

[0015] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the blower-type heat-dissipating fan in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a blower-type heat-dissipating fan in accordance with the present invention generally includes a housing 1, a bobbin 2, a fan wheel 3, and a cover 4. The housing 1 includes a compartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom of the housing 1 defining the compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13 and at least one air inlet 14.

[0019] The bobbin 2 is engaged to the bottom of the housing 1. In this embodiment, the bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of the housing 1. The bobbin 2 may be of a conventional structure comprising pole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axle hole 23 for rotatably holding a central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 3.

[0020] The central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 3 is rotatably mounted in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 3 includes a central plate 32 and an annular ring 34 that surrounds the central plate 32 and that is connected to the central plate 32 by a plurality of spokes 35. A plurality of fan blades 33 is mounted on a side (e.g., the upper side) of the annular ring 34. Thus, a plurality of openings 36 is defined between the annular ring 34 and the central plate 32 to allow passage of air. In addition, the openings 36 are aligned with the air inlets 14 in the bottom of the housing 1.

[0021] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet 41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when the fan wheel 3 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an inner diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 3.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view of the first embodiment of the assembled blower-type fan in accordance with the present invention and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first embodiment. The fan wheel 3 is mounted to an eccentric position of the compartment 11 of the housing 1 with the cover 4 covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fan includes an upper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet 12. When the fan wheel 3 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 via the two air inlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet 12 under rotational movements of the fan blades 33. As a result, a larger amount of air output is provided to achieve a better heat-dissipating effect.

[0023] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second embodiment of the blower-type fan in accordance with the present invention that includes a housing 1, a bobbin 2, a fan wheel 5, and a cover 4. The housing 1 includes a compartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom of the housing 1 defining the compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13 and at least one air inlet 14.

[0024] The bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of the bottom of the housing 1 and includes pole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axle hole 23 for rotatably holding a central shaft 51 of the fan wheel 5.

[0025] The central shaft 51 of the fan wheel 5 is rotatably mounted in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 5 includes a central plate 52 and an annular ring 54 that surrounds the central plate 52 and that is connected to the central plate 52 by a plurality of spokes 54. Extending radially outward from an outer periphery of the annular ring 55 is a plurality of fan blades 53. Thus, a plurality of openings 56 is defined between the annular ring 55 and the central plate 52 to allow passage of air. In addition, the openings 56 are aligned with the air inlets 14 in the bottom of the housing 1. When the fan wheel 5 rotates, a sucking force is provided in an area above the fan blades 53 and an area below the fan blades 53.

[0026] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet 41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when the fan wheel 5 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an inner diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 5.

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the second embodiment, wherein the fan wheel 5 and the bobbin 2 are mounted in the compartment 11 of the housing 1 with the central shaft 31 of the fan wheel 5 rotatably supported in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2 and with the cover 4 covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fan includes an upper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet 12. When the fan wheel 5 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 via the two air inlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet 12 under rotational movements of the fan blades 53. As a result, a larger amount of air outlet is provided to achieve a better heat-dissipating effect.

[0028] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a third embodiment of the blower-type fan in accordance with the present invention that includes a housing 1, a bobbin 2, a fan wheel 6, and a cover 4. The housing 1 includes a compartment 11 and an air outlet 12. A bottom of the housing 1 defining the compartment 11 includes an assembly hole 13 and at least one air inlet 14. In this embodiment, a portion of the bottom of the housing 1 is recessed and thus protrudes outward beyond the housing 1.

[0029] The bobbin 2 is engaged with the assembly hole 13 of the bottom of the housing 1 and includes pole plates 21, a winding 22, and an axle hole 23 for rotatably holding a central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6.

[0030] The central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6 is rotatably mounted in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2. The fan wheel 6 includes a central plate 62 and an annular ring 64 surrounding the central plate 62. A plurality of fan blades 63 is mounted on a side (e.g., the upper side) of the annular ring 64. The annular ring 64 is connected to the central plate 62 by a plurality of auxiliary fan blades 65. The auxiliary fan blades 65 may be conventional axial flow type fan blades. Thus, a plurality of openings 66 is defined between the annular ring 64 and the central plate 62 to allow passage of air. In addition, the openings 66 are aligned with the air inlets 14 in the bottom of the housing 1. When the fan wheel 6 rotates, the auxiliary fan blades 65 provide an increased effect in sucking cool air into the housing 1.

[0031] The cover 4 is engaged on the housing 1 and includes an air inlet 41. Cool air is sucked into the housing 1 via the air inlet 41 when the fan wheel 6 is rotated. Preferably, the air inlet 41 has an inner diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of the fan wheel 6.

[0032] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the third embodiment, wherein the fan wheel 6 and the bobbin 2 are mounted in the compartment 11 of the housing 1 with the central shaft 61 of the fan wheel 6 rotatably supported in the axle hole 23 of the bobbin 2 and with the cover 4 covering the top of the housing 1. Thus, the blower-type fan includes an upper air inlet 41, a lower air inlet 14, and an air outlet 12. When the fan wheel 6 is rotated, cool air enters the housing 1 via the two air inlets 41 and 41 and exits the housing 1 via the air outlet 12 under rotational movements of the fan blades 63. As a result, a larger amount of air outlet is provided to achieve a better heat-dissipating effect.

[0033] According to the above description, it is appreciated that, by means of providing an air inlet arrangement in each of the bottom of the housing and the cover and providing openings aligned with the air inlets in the bottom of the housing, cool air is sucked into the housing via the air inlet arrangements in the bottom of the housing and the cover and then exits the housing via the air outlet in the housing during rotational movement of the fan blades of the fan wheel, thereby increasing the amount of air output of the blower-type fan.

[0034] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A blower-type fan comprising:

a housing comprising a compartment and at least one air outlet, a bottom of the housing defining the compartment including at least one air inlet;

a bobbin mounted in the compartment of the housing and including an axle hole;

a cover engaged to the housing at a level above the compartment, the cover including an air inlet; and

a fan wheel including a central shaft rotatably mounted in the axle hole of the bobbin, the fan wheel including a central plate and an annular ring that surrounds the central plate and that is connected to the central plate by a plurality of spokes, thereby defining at least one opening through which air is passable, a plurality of fan blades being mounted on the annular ring;

wherein when the fan wheel turns, cool air is sucked into the housing via said at least one air inlet of the housing and the air inlet of the cover and exits the housing via said at least one air outlet of the housing.

2. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one air inlet of the housing is aligned with at least one opening of the fan wheel.

3. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular ring and the central plate of the fan wheel are connected by a plurality of auxiliary fan blades for driving cool air toward the central plate.

4. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein the auxiliary blades are axial flow type fan blades.

5. The blower-type fan as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bottom of the housing defining the compartment includes a recessed portion that protrudes outward beyond the housing.