FAN STRUCTURE

Abstract

A fan structure includes a cap, a fixing shaft, a bearing, an impeller and a protection lid, wherein the cap comprises a bottom portion, a body and an accommodating space. The fixing shaft is disposed within the accommodating space, a first end portion of the fixing shaft couples the bottom portion, and a second end portion of the fixing shaft protrudes to the body. The bearing couples to the fixing shaft, the second end portion of the fixing shaft protrudes to the bearing, and a hub of the impeller couples to the bearing. The second end portion of the fixing shaft protrudes to the hub. The protection lid couples to the second end portion of the fixing shaft to prevent lubricants for lubricating the bearing from splashing. The protection lid provides the impeller with protection to prevent the impeller from being compressed by external force to avoid destruction.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to a fan structure, which particularly relates to the fan structure with a protection lid coupled to a fixing shaft for preventing compressed fan structure from destruction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern electronic goods, such as notebook or tablet personal computer, emphasize a trend toward thinner and lighter. However, at least one fan must be installed around those electronic devices within mentioned products for heat dissipation to avoid destruction of the electronic devices by overheat.

With reference to FIG. 5, a fan structure 10 being installed within mentioned products (not shown in Figs.) includes a substrate 11, a fixing shaft 12 fixed on the substrate 11, a bearing 13 coupled to the fixing shaft 12 and an impeller 14 coupled to the bearing 13. When the impeller 14 is driven to rotate, lubricants utilized for lubricating the bearing 13 splash through rotating impeller 14, and mentioned lubricants thereafter gradually decreases in volume, which results in abrasion between the fixing shaft 12 and the bearing 13 and noise generation. Further, when the fan structure 10 is installed within electronic goods, a case (or a keyboard) of electronic goods compressed by a user or a deformed case (or a deformed keyboard) of electronic goods may press the impeller 14 of the fan structure 10 to make the impeller 14 failed to operate for heat dissipation.

SUMMARY

The present invention is to overcome the disadvantage that lubricants utilized for lubricating a bearing splash from a fan structure, and also prevents the fan structure compressed by a case (such as a keyboard or a panel) of electronic goods from destruction.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fan structure including a cap, a fixing shaft, a bearing, an impeller and a protection lid, wherein the cap comprises a bottom portion, a body and an accommodating space. The fixing shaft is disposed within the accommodating space and comprises a first end portion, a second end portion and a middle portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion, wherein the first end portion is coupled to the bottom portion of the cap, and the second end portion protrudes to the body. The bearing is disposed within the accommodating space of the cap and comprises an axial hole coupled to the middle portion of the fixing shaft. The second end portion of the fixing shaft protrudes to the bearing. The impeller comprises a hub coupled to the bearing and a penetration hole formed at the hub, wherein the second end portion of the fixing shaft passes through the penetration hole and protrudes to the hub. The protection lid is coupled to the second end portion of the fixing shaft, and the hub is spaced apart from the protection lid by an interval. When the impeller of the fan structure is driven to rotate, the protection lid may block and prevent lubricants utilized for lubricating the bearing from splashing. Furthermore, when the fan structure is installed within a notebook or a tablet personal computer, the fixing shaft and the protection lid can prevent a case, a keyboard or a panel of electronic goods from compressing the impeller to avoid failed operation of the fan structure for the reason that the protection lid couples to the second end portion of the fixing shaft and covers the top of the hub. Additionally, there is no interference occurred between the protection lid and the hub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 2 is a partial section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view illustrating a conventional fan structure disposed within electronic goods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1, a fan structure 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes a cap 110, a fixing shaft 120, a bearing 130, an impeller 140, a protection lid 150, a stator 160, a circuit board 170 and a base 180. In this embodiment, the cap 110 is disposed on the base 180, wherein the stator 160 and the circuit board 170 are coupled to the cap 110 utilized for driving the impeller 140 into rotation.

With reference to FIG. 1 again, the cap 110 comprises a bottom portion 111, a body 112 in connection with the bottom portion 111 and an accommodating space 113 surrounded by the body 112. The fixing shaft 120 is disposed within the accommodating space 113 and comprises a first end portion 121, a second end portion 122 and a middle portion 123 located between the first end portion 121 and the second end portion 122. The first end portion 121 of the fixing shaft 120 is coupled to the bottom portion 111 of the cap 110. In this embodiment, the first end portion 121 of the fixing shaft 120 is cladded by the bottom portion 111 of the cap 110, and the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 protrudes to the body 112.

With reference to FIG. 1, the bearing 130 comprises an axial hole 131 coupled to the middle portion 123 of the fixing shaft 120. The bearing 130 is disposed within the accommodating space 113 of the cap 110, and the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 protrudes to the bearing 130. The impeller 140 comprises a hub 141, a penetration hole 142 and a plurality of blades 143 coupled to the hub 141, wherein the penetration hole 142 is formed at the hub 141, and the hub 141 of the impeller 140 is coupled to the bearing 130. In this embodiment, the hub 141 comprises a combining portion 141 a located within the accommodating space 113, and the combining portion 141a of the hub 141 is coupled to the bearing 130. The cap 110, the bearing 130 and the stator 160 are covered with the hub 141. The second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 passes through the penetration hole 142 and protrudes to the hub 141. When the impeller 140 starts to rotate, potential interference between the fixing shaft 120 and the hub 141 does not occur owning to the reason that the inner diameter of the penetration hole 142 is larger than the outer diameter of the fixing shaft 120.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 protrudes to the hub 141, the protection lid 150 couples to the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120, and the protection lid 150 is spaced apart from the hub 141 by an interval D. Through the interval D, potential interference between the protection lid 150 and the hub 141 will not be occurred. Therefore, when the impeller 140 of the fan structure 100 is driven to rotate, the protection lid 150 may block lubricants utilized for lubricating the bearing 130 from splashing. Furthermore, when the fan structure 100 is installed within a notebook or a tablet personal computer (not shown in Figs.), the protection lid 150 prevents the impeller 140 from being compressed by an external force to avoid destruction of the fan structure 100 for the reason that the protection lid 150 couples to the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 and covers the top of the hub 141.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the hub 141 comprises a top surface 141b, a slot 141c, a blocking wall 141d and a bottom surface 141e. The bearing 130 can be restrained by the bottom surface 141e of the hub 141, and the slot 141c is recessed from the top surface 141b. The protection lid 150 comprises a ring wall 151 accommodated within the slot 141c, wherein the ring wall 151 is spaced apart from the slot 141c to define a restriction passage P1. When the impeller 140 is driven to rotate by the stator 160, the restriction passage P1 enables to prevent dirt from entering the penetration hole 142 of the impeller 140 to avoid abrasion or destruction of the impeller 140. The blocking wall 141d is disposed at the slot 141c and located between the fixing shaft 120 and the ring wall 151, wherein the blocking wall 141d is spaced apart from the protection lid 150 to define a blocking passage P2. When the impeller 140 is in rotation, the blocking passage P2 enables to prevent lubricants for lubricating the bearing 130 from flinging from the penetration hole 142 of the impeller 140. In addition, the blocking wall 141d prevents lubricants from flowing over the blocking passage P2. In this embodiment, the blocking wall 141d comprises a height H1, the slot 141c comprises a depth H2, preferably, and the height H1 of the blocking wall 141d is not smaller than the depth H2 of the slot 141c. Besides, the blocking passage P2 is in communication with the restriction passage P1. When the impeller 140 is in rotation, lubricants can be limited within the bearing 130 through a pressure difference between the blocking passage P2 and the restriction passage P1. A stirring layer L is formed on a first surface 141f of the slot 141c and a second surface 141g of the blocking wall 141 d for preventing lubricants from attaching to the first surface 141f and the second surface 141g. Preferably, another stirring layer L that is formed on an inner surface 153 of the protection lid 150 prevents lubricants from attaching to the inner surface 153.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3, a fan structure 100 includes the cap 110, the fixing shaft 120, the bearing 130, the impeller 140, the protection lid 150, the stator 160, the circuit board 170 and the base 180. The primary difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the penetration hole 142 comprises a ring surface 142a facing toward the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120, wherein the ring surface 142a can be an inclined plane. In this embodiment, the protection lid 150 comprises a coupling base 152 having an inclined surface 152a facing toward the bearing 130, and the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 is coupled to the coupling base 152. When the impeller 140 is in rotation, splashing lubricants enable to flow back into the bearing 130 by means of the ring surface 142a of the penetration hole 142 and the inclined surface 152a of the coupling base 52.

A third embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, a fan structure 100 includes the cap 110, the fixing shaft 120, the bearing 130, the impeller 140, the protection lid 150, the stator 160, the circuit board 170 and the base 180. The primary difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the fan structure 100 further includes a limiting ring 190 limited between the hub 141 and the bearing 130, the fixing shaft 120 comprises a limiting slot 124, and the limiting ring 190 is coupled to the limiting slot 124.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the present invention illustrates that the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120 protrudes to the hub 141 and the protection lid 150 couples to the second end portion 122 of the fixing shaft 120. Therefore, when the impeller 140 is in rotation, the protection lid 150 provides the hub 141 of the impeller 140 with protection to prevent the impeller 140 from being compressed by an external force to avoid destruction of the fan structure 100.

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

1. A fan structure including:

a cap having a bottom portion, a body and an accommodating space;

a fixing shaft disposed within the accommodating space, the fixing shaft comprises a first end portion coupled to the bottom portion, a second end portion protruded to the body and a middle portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion;

a bearing disposed within the accommodating space, the bearing comprises an axial hole coupled to the middle portion of the fixing shaft, and the second end portion of the fixing shaft protrudes to the bearing;

an impeller having a hub coupled to the bearing and a penetration hole formed at the hub, wherein the second end portion of the fixing shaft passes through the penetration hole and protrudes to the hub; and

a protection lid coupled to the second end portion of the fixing shaft, the protection lid and the hub are spaced apart from each other by an interval.

2. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a top surface and a slot recessed from the top surface, the protection lid comprises a ring wall accommodated within the slot, and the ring wall is spaced apart from the slot to define a restriction passage.

3. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a top surface, a slot recessed from the top surface and a blocking wall disposed at the slot, the protection lid comprises a ring wall accommodated within the slot, the blocking wall is located between the fixing shaft and the ring wall, and the blocking wall is spaced apart from the protection lid to define a blocking passage.

4. The fan structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein the blocking wall comprises a height, the slot comprises a depth, and the height is not smaller than the depth.

5. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the penetration hole comprises a ring surface, the ring surface can be an inclined ring surface.

6. The fan structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein the ring surface faces toward the second end portion of the fixing shaft.

7. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protection lid comprises a coupling base having an inclined surface, the second end portion of the fixing shaft is coupled to the coupling base, and the inclined surface faces toward the bearing.

8. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein the hub comprises a combining portion located within the accommodating space of the cap, and the combining portion of the hub is coupled to the bearing.

9. The fan structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein a stirring layer is formed on a first surface of the slot.

10. The fan structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein a stirring layer is formed on a second surface of the blocking wall.

11. The fan structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein a stirring layer is formed on an inner surface of the protection lid.

12. A fan structure including:

a fixing shaft having a first end portion and a second end portion;

an impeller having a hub and a penetration hole formed at the hub, wherein the second end portion of the fixing shaft passes through the penetration hole and protrudes to the hub; and

a protection lid coupled to the second end portion of the fixing shaft, the protection lid and the hub are spaced apart by an interval.

13. The fan structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein the hub comprises a top surface and a slot recessed from the top surface, the protection lid comprises a ring wall accommodated within the slot, and the ring wall is spaced apart from the slot to define a restriction passage.

14. The fan structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein the hub comprises a top surface, a slot recessed from the top surface and a blocking wall disposed at the slot, the protection lid comprises a ring wall accommodated within the slot, the blocking wall is located between the fixing shaft and the ring wall, and the blocking wall is spaced apart from the protection lid to define a blocking passage.

15. The fan structure in accordance with claim 14, wherein the blocking wall comprises a height, the slot comprises a depth, and the height is not smaller than the depth.

16. The fan structure in accordance with claim 13, wherein a stirring layer is formed on a first surface of the slot.

17. The fan structure in accordance with claim 14, wherein a stirring layer is formed on a second surface of the blocking wall.

18. The fan structure in accordance with claim 12, wherein a stirring layer is formed on an inner surface of the protection lid.