Abstract: In a blower fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a side wall portion includes a tongue portion arranged to project between an air outlet and an impeller. A side surface of the tongue portion includes a tongue portion tip arranged to touch a first imaginary plane including a central axis; a first tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip along an outer envelope of the impeller; and a second tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip toward a side edge, the side edge being a line of intersection of the air outlet and the side wall portion. The second tongue portion side surface is arranged to cross a second imaginary plane including the central axis and touching the side edge.

Abstract: In a blower fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a side wall portion includes a tongue portion arranged to project between an air outlet and an impeller. A side surface of the tongue portion includes a tongue portion tip arranged to touch a first imaginary plane including a central axis; a first tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip along an outer envelope of the impeller; and a second tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip toward a side edge, the side edge being a line of intersection of the air outlet and the side wall portion. The second tongue portion side surface is arranged to cross a second imaginary plane including the central axis and touching the side edge.

Abstract: A lower plate includes a lower air inlet arranged radially outward of a bearing portion. In a plan view, a plane is divided into four regions by a first straight line which is parallel to an air outlet and crosses a central axis and a second straight line which is perpendicular to the air outlet and crosses the central axis, and one of the four regions in which a tongue portion is arranged is a first region, followed by a second region, a third region, and a fourth region in this order in a rotation direction of the blades. The air outlet is arranged to extend over both the first and fourth regions.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.

Abstract: A first seal portion having a surface of a lubricating oil defined therein is defined between a sleeve portion and a bearing housing. A side communicating channel arranged to bring a first seal gap and a thrust gap into communication with each other is defined either between a sleeve portion and a bearing housing or in an outer circumferential portion of a sleeve portion. A second seal portion having another surface of a lubricating oil defined therein is defined in a gap constituted by a side minute gap between a thrust plate and a bearing housing and a lower minute gap between a thrust plate and a cap member.

Abstract: A lower plate includes a lower air inlet arranged radially outward of a bearing portion. In a plan view, a plane is divided into four regions by a first straight line which is parallel to an air outlet and crosses a central axis and a second straight line which is perpendicular to the air outlet and crosses the central axis, and one of the four regions in which a tongue portion is arranged is a first region, followed by a second region, a third region, and a fourth region in this order in a rotation direction of the blades. The air outlet is arranged to extend over both the first and fourth regions.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a stationary shaft, a first annular member, and a rotating member. The rotating member includes a first inner circumferential surface arranged opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the stationary shaft, and a second inner circumferential surface arranged opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the first annular member. A lubricating oil is arranged in a gap between a surface of a stationary member and the rotating member. On an upper side of an upper surface of the lubricating oil, the first annular member and the rotating member are arranged radially opposite to each other with a slight gap defined therebetween, so that a labyrinth seal is defined. The labyrinth seal and a fixing range over which the stationary shaft and the first annular member are fixed to each other are arranged to overlap with each other in a radial direction.

Abstract: In a blower fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a side wall portion includes a tongue portion arranged to project between an air outlet and an impeller. A side surface of the tongue portion includes a tongue portion tip arranged to touch a first imaginary plane including a central axis; a first tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip along an outer envelope of the impeller; and a second tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip toward a side edge, the side edge being a line of intersection of the air outlet and the side wall portion. The second tongue portion side surface is arranged to cross a second imaginary plane including the central axis and touching the side edge.

Abstract: In a blower fan according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a side wall portion includes a tongue portion arranged to project between an air outlet and an impeller. A side surface of the tongue portion includes a tongue portion tip arranged to touch a first imaginary plane including a central axis; a first tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip along an outer envelope of the impeller; and a second tongue portion side surface arranged to extend from the tongue portion tip toward a side edge, the side edge being a line of intersection of the air outlet and the side wall portion. The second tongue portion side surface is arranged to cross a second imaginary plane including the central axis and touching the side edge.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing has a reduced axial dimension and is constructed to ensure smooth feeding of a lubricating oil. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a communicating hole and at least one tapered seal, and is constructed such that an opening angle of one of the at least one tapered seal through which oil feeding is possible is in a range of about 30 degrees inclusive to about 180 degrees exclusive, a tapered seal wall surface depth W1 of the tapered seal is about 0.3 mm or more, and a sum of distances over which the lubricating oil travels from both sides of an end portion of the communicating hole in a cross-section beyond a wall surface of the communicating hole along a wall surface opposite the end portion of the communicating hole exceeds an inside diameter of the communicating hole.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.

Abstract: In a bearing apparatus, a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a circular plate portion and a cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the axial dimension of the bearing apparatus while also enabling a radial dynamic pressure groove array. Additionally, one end of a through hole defined in the rotating portion is arranged to open into the annular recessed portion.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes stationary and rotating portions. The stationary portion includes a stationary shaft and a first cup portion. The rotating portion includes an annular recessed portion and first and second inner circumferential surfaces. Lubricating oil is arranged in a gap between the stationary and rotating portions. An upper surface of the lubricating oil is located between the second inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface of the first cup portion. A lower surface of the lubricating oil is located between the rotating and stationary portions. The rotating portion further includes a through hole filled with the lubricating oil. One of the first cup portion and the rotating portion includes a pumping groove array arranged thereon to cause the lubricating oil to flow toward one end of the through hole during rotation of the rotating portion.

Abstract: A first seal portion having a surface of a lubricating oil defined therein is defined between a sleeve portion and a bearing housing. A side communicating channel arranged to bring a first seal gap and a thrust gap into communication with each other is defined either between a sleeve portion and a bearing housing or in an outer circumferential portion of a sleeve portion. A second seal portion having another surface of a lubricating oil defined therein is defined in a gap constituted by a side minute gap between a thrust plate and a bearing housing and a lower minute gap between a thrust plate and a cap member.

Abstract: In a bearing apparatus, a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a circular plate portion and a cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the axial dimension of the bearing apparatus while also enabling a radial dynamic pressure groove array. Additionally, one end of a through hole defined in the rotating portion is arranged to open into the annular recessed portion.

Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes a stationary shaft, a first annular member, and a rotating member. The rotating member includes a first inner circumferential surface arranged opposite to the outer circumferential surface of the stationary shaft, and a second inner circumferential surface arranged opposite to an outer circumferential surface of the first annular member. A lubricating oil is arranged in a gap between a surface of a stationary member and the rotating member. On an upper side of an upper surface of the lubricating oil, the first annular member and the rotating member are arranged radially opposite to each other with a slight gap defined therebetween, so that a labyrinth seal is defined. The labyrinth seal and a fixing range over which the stationary shaft and the first annular member are fixed to each other are arranged to overlap with each other in a radial direction.

Abstract: In a bearing apparatus, a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a circular plate portion and a cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the axial dimension of the bearing apparatus while also enabling both a radial dynamic pressure groove array and a pumping groove array to have a sufficient axial dimension. Additionally, one end of a through hole defined in the rotating portion is arranged to open into the annular recessed portion, so that any air bubbles introduced into a lubricating oil by the pumping groove array can be efficiently caused to flow downward through the through hole and out of the bearing apparatus.

Abstract: A dynamic pressure bearing has a reduced axial dimension and is constructed to ensure smooth feeding of a lubricating oil. The dynamic pressure bearing includes a communicating hole and at least one tapered seal, and is constructed such that an opening angle of one of the at least one tapered seal through which oil feeding is possible is in a range of about 30 degrees inclusive to about 180 degrees exclusive, a tapered seal wall surface depth W1 of the tapered seal is about 0.3 mm or more, and a sum of distances over which the lubricating oil travels from both sides of an end portion of the communicating hole in a cross-section beyond a wall surface of the communicating hole along a wall surface opposite the end portion of the communicating hole exceeds an inside diameter of the communicating hole.

Abstract: In a bearing apparatus, a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a circular plate portion and a cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. Accordingly, it is possible to limit the axial dimension of the bearing apparatus while also enabling both a radial dynamic pressure groove array and a pumping groove array to have a sufficient axial dimension. Additionally, one end of a through hole defined in the rotating portion is arranged to open into the annular recessed portion, so that any air bubbles introduced into a lubricating oil by the pumping groove array can be efficiently caused to flow downward through the through hole and out of the bearing apparatus.