Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a mini-fan that includes a fan wheel equipped with fan blades (80) and, in order to drive said fan wheel (64), an electric drive motor (61). The latter has an internal stator (90) and an external rotor (62). The latter has a supporting part (64) made of plastic and connected to a shaft (60), which part is implemented integrally with the fan blades (80). The external rotor (62) furthermore has at least one permanent magnet (72; 72?) having hard ferromagnetic particles (74). The plastic supporting part (64) is connected by plastic injection molding to the shaft (60), and by two-component injection molding to a plastic in which the hard ferromagnetic particles (74) of the rotor permanent magnet (72; 72?) are arranged, so that at least a portion of the transition zone (76) between the supporting part (64) and rotor permanent magnet (72; 72?) is formed by a materially engaging connection. The pre-assembled external rotor (62), thus formed, is inserted into the mini-fan.

Abstract: A fan (20) has: a motor having a stator (40) and having a rotor (60) with at least one fan blade; at least one air inlet having an air entrance opening (102) for the inlet of air; at least one air outlet having an air exit opening (32) for the outlet of air; a circuit board (80) having at least one recess, which circuit board (80) is arranged in the region of the air inlet in such a way that air can enter the fan (20) through the recess, motor electronics (88) being arranged on the circuit board (80). In a preferred embodiment, a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) resistor (84) is surface-mounted on a PC board portion (83) extending into the air passage, to thereby sense air temperature. This facilitates compact, automated construction.

Abstract: A fan has a sensor (86; 186) for sensing at least one value of the air that flows through the fan (20; 120). The fan has a fan housing (22, 24; 122, 124); an electronically commutated external-rotor motor, arranged in that housing, having an internal stator (30; 130) and an external rotor (46; 146); a fan wheel (56; 156) coupled to the external rotor (46; 146); an air inlet opening (58; 90; 158) for the inflow of air that is to be moved by the fan wheel (56; 156); a circuit board (68; 185) having a portion (66; 188) that extends adjacent the air passage opening (58; 158); and conductors (82, 84; 182?, 182?) arranged on that portion (66; 188), to which conductors the sensor (86; 186) is connected, preferably by a Surface Mounted Device (SMD) method. Premounting the sensor on the circuit board facilitates automated manufacture and reduces cost.

Abstract: A fan (20) has: a motor having a stator (40) and having a rotor (60) with at least one fan blade; at least one air inlet having an air entrance opening (102) for the inlet of air; at least one air outlet having an air exit opening (32) for the outlet of air; a circuit board (80) having at least one recess, which circuit board (80) is arranged in the region of the air inlet in such a way that air can enter the fan (20) through the recess, motor electronics (88) being arranged on the circuit board (80). In a preferred embodiment, a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) resistor (84) is surface-mounted on a PC board portion (83) extending into the air passage, to thereby sense air temperature. This facilitates compact, automated construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing a mini-fan that has a fan wheel equipped with fan blades (80) and an electric drive motor (61). The latter has an internal stator (90) and an external rotor (62). The rotor has a supporting part (64) made of plastic and is connected to a shaft (60), which part is implemented integrally with the fan blades (80). The external rotor (62) has at least one permanent magnet (72; 72?) having hard ferromagnetic particles (74). The plastic supporting part (64) is connected by plastic injection molding to the shaft (60), and by two-component injection molding to a plastic in which the hard ferromagnetic particles (74) of the rotor permanent magnet (72; 72?) are arranged, so that at least a portion of a transition zone (76) between the supporting part (64) and rotor permanent magnet (72; 72?) forms a materially engaging connection.

Abstract: A mini-fan has a fan wheel (64) equipped with fan blades (80), and an electrical drive motor (61) for driving that fan wheel. The drive motor (61) has a permanent-magnet external rotor (62) and an internal stator (90), which latter is implemented as a claw pole stator having pole pieces (88, 110) whose claw poles (84, 86) engage into one another. Arranged between the pole pieces is a coil former (57) that comprises a central portion (54) to which are joined two side parts (50, 56), located opposite one another, one of which is implemented as a carrier for electrical elements (96, 98) of the motor (61).

Abstract: A fan has a sensor (86; 186) for sensing at least one value of the air that flows through the fan (20; 120). The fan has a fan housing (22, 24; 122, 124); an electronically commutated external-rotor motor, arranged in that housing, having an internal stator (30; 130) and an external rotor (46; 146); a fan wheel (56; 156) coupled to the external rotor (46; 146); an air inlet opening (58; 90; 158) for the inflow of air that is to be moved by the fan wheel (56; 156); a circuit board (68; 185) having a portion (66; 188) that extends adjacent the air passage opening (58; 158); and conductors (82, 84; 182?, 182?) arranged on that portion (66; 188), to which conductors the sensor (86; 186) is connected, preferably by a Surface Mounted Device (SMD) method. Premounting the sensor on the circuit board facilitates automated manufacture and reduces cost.