Electric fan with bearing

The present invention relates generally to an electric fan with a rotor assemble and a bearing, and more particularly to an electric fan having a double locking ring to prevent the rotor assembly of the fan escaping from the bearing.

As ICs (integrated circuits) such as computer CPUs (central processing units) are being designed to run faster and faster, more and more heat is being generated by these ICs. Electric fans are typically used to dissipate the heat generated by these ICs.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a related fan 90 includes a fan base 91 , a stator assembly 92 and a rotor assembly 93 pivotable with respect to the stator assembly 92 . A bearing 94 is secured within a sleeve 95 of the stator assembly 92 and is usually used to pivotably support a pivot axle 96 of the rotor assembly 93 . A sealing lid 80 is mounted on a bottom of the sleeve 95 . Lubricant oil is stored in a space 82 surrounded by the sealing lid 80 and the sleeve 95 . The pivot axle 96 extending through the space 82 defines an annular recess 97 in a distal end thereof. A locking ring 98 is engaged in the recess 97 for holding the rotor assembly 92 on the fan base 91 , to thereby prevent the rotor assembly 92 from being thrown from the bearing 94 under centrifugal force generated by the pivot axle 96 as the fan operates at high speed.

However, as power requirements of the fan increase, the fan will continue to increase in speed until it reaches full speed for maximum cooling. Thus, only using one locking ring 98 as an anti-release device is insufficient, especially when the fan operates at full speed, and as a result the rotor assembly 92 is liable to escape from the bearing 94 . Therefore, it is an objective of the invention to provide a double locking ring for use in an electric fan to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an electric fan includes a fan base, a bearing and a rotor assembly. The fan base forms a central tube receiving the bearing therein. The rotor assembly includes a fan hub, and a pivot axle joined to the fan hub. The pivot axle pivotably extends into the bearing. First and second locking rings are received in the central tube. Each of the first and second locking rings defines a central bore therein. The pivot axle is engaged in the central bores of the first and second locking rings. The first locking ring is located at a top of the bearing and the second locking ring is located at a bottom of the bearing to prevent the rotor assembly from escaping from the bearing as the fan is operated at high speed.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Many aspects of the present device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present device. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an electric fan in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and isometric view of a sealing lid of the electric fan of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and isometric view of a locking ring of the electric fan of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the electric fan of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a related fan.

FIG. 1 illustrates by way of example an electric fan in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fan comprises a fan base 10 , a rotor assembly 20 , a stator assembly 30 , a bearing 40 , and a first and second locking rings 50 , 70 located at two opposing ends of the bearing 40 for preventing the rotor assembly 20 from escaping from the bearing 40 as the fan is operated. The rotor assembly 20 is pivotable with respect to the stator assembly 30 .

The fan base 10 defines a cavity (not labeled) therein for receiving the rotor assembly 20 and the stator assembly 30 therein. A central tube 11 is formed at a central portion of the fan base 10 . The central tube 11 has a hollow and cylindrical configuration. Referring also to FIG. 4 , the bearing 40 is engagingly received in the central tube 11 . The stator assembly 30 is attached around the central tube 11 . A sealing lid 60 is mounted on a bottom of the central tube 11 .

Referring also to FIG. 2 , the sealing lid 60 forms a plurality of protruding blocks 62 at a top thereof. The protruding blocks 62 abut against a bottom of the bearing 40 for supporting the bearing 40 , thereby preventing the bearing 40 becoming deflected from its original position as the fan is operated. A step 620 is formed on each protruding block 62 for receiving the second locking ring 70 thereon. The steps 620 are located at an inner side of the protruding blocks 62 . A baffle element 110 bends from a top of a circumferential wall (not labeled) of the central tube 11 and engages with the bearing 40 so as to prevent lubricating oil from leaking from a top end of the bearing 40 . The baffle element 110 comprises an annular connecting portion 111 extending perpendicularly, horizontally and inwardly from a top of the circumferential wall of the center tube 11 and a leg 112 extending perpendicularly and downwardly from an inner end of the connecting portion 111 . A lubricant reservoir 14 is formed in the fan base 10 below the bearing 40 and above the sealing lid 60 , which supplies lubricant oil as the fan is operated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4 , The bearing 40 has a cylindrical shape, and has a cylindrical outer wall 41 . A central hole 410 is defined in a central portion of the bearing 40 for receiving a pivot axle 23 of the rotor assembly 20 therein. A plurality of evenly spaced protrusions 42 extend upwardly from a top end of the outer wall 41 . A plurality of evenly spaced bulwarks 44 corresponding to the protrusions are circumferentially formed on the outer wall 41 for abutting against an inner surface of the central tube 11 .

The rotor assembly 20 comprises a generally cup-like fan hub 22 having a top wall (not labeled) and a periphery wall (not labeled) extending downwardly a circumference of the top wall. A plurality of fan blades 21 are formed around the periphery wall of the fan hub 22 . An axle seat 24 is formed on a center of the top wall. The pivot axle 23 extends perpendicularly downwards from the top wall of the fan hub 22 and has an upper portion surrounded by the axle seat 24 . A first annular slot 231 (shown in FIG. 4 ) positioned corresponding to a top of the bearing 40 is defined in the pivot axle 23 for receiving the first locking ring 50 . The first locking ring 50 is sandwiched between a top of the bearing 40 and a bottom of the leg 112 of the baffle element 110 . A semispherical-shaped guiding portion 230 is formed at a distal end of the pivot axle 23 . A second annular slot 232 is defined in the vicinity of the guiding portion 230 for receiving the second locking ring 70 . The second locking ring 70 is sandwiched between a bottom of the bearing 40 and the steps 620 of the protruding blocks 62 of the sealing lid 60 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , the first locking ring 50 has a plate-like configuration. The first locking ring 50 defines a central bore 52 therein. The central bore 52 has a diameter smaller than that of the pivot axle 23 at a middle portion thereof and larger than that of the pivot axle 23 at the first annular slot 231 . A plurality of elongated slots 54 communicating with the central bore 52 are defined around the central bore 52 for providing elasticity to the first locking ring 50 , whereby the pivot axle 23 can extend through the central bore 52 to reach a position in which an inner edge portion (not labeled) of the first locking ring 50 around the central bore 52 extends into the first annular slot 231 . The second locking ring 70 has the same configuration as the first locking ring 50 .

When the fan operates at high speed, the first and second locking rings 50 , 70 located at two opposite ends of the bearing 40 can take advantage of the anti-release action of the rotor assembly 20 in an axial direction, thereby preventing the rotor assembly 20 from escaping from the bearing 40 . Simultaneously, the first locking ring 50 located between the top of the bearing 40 and the leg 112 of the baffle element 110 can prevent the lubricant oil from leaking from a gap between the leg 112 of the baffle element 110 and the pivot axle 23 . Even if there is a leakage, the axle seat 24 is configured to collect the leaked lubricant and guide it to flow back to the bearing 40 .

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.