Patent Application
20180136702
The subject matter relates to a cooling fan and an electronic device having the cooling fan.
Heat generating components such as central processing units (CPUs) generate heat when in operation. In an electronic device that employs the CPU, a cooling fan can be used for dissipate the heat.
A typical cooling fan includes a stator, a rotor able to rotate with respect to the stator, and a base supporting the stator and the rotor. A central tube is usually mounted to a center portion of the base. When the central tube is made of plastic, the size of the central tube may be more imprecise when manufactured, which may result in a leakage of oil and a poor heat dissipation efficiency. When the central tube is made of metal, the heat dissipation efficiency can be improved. However, riveting the central tube to the base improves the connecting strength but increases the manufacturing cost.
Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.
Implementations of the present technology will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the exemplary embodiments described herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant feature being described. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to better illustrate details and features of the present disclosure.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components, and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects are permanently connected or releasably connected. The term “outside” refers to a region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. The term “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The term “substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to the particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies, such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising,” when utilized, means “including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in the so-described combination, group, series, and the like.
The base plate 10 is substantially flat. A central tube 11, which is made of metal (such as aluminum) by injection molding, is connected to the center of the base plate 10. The central tube 11 is a hollow cylinder with two open ends 110. An outer circumferential surface of one end 110 adjacent to the base plate 10 is connected to the base plate 10 by laser welding, thereby forming a melted layer 12 at a connecting portion between the outer circumferential surface of the end 110 and the base plate 10.
The central tube 11 further comprises a receiving hole 111 for receiving a bearing 40.
The stator 20 is wrapped around the central tube 11. The stator 20 comprises a shaft 31. A free end 310 of the shaft 31 passes through the bearing hole of the bearing 40 to abut the base plate 10.
Since the central tube 11 is connected to the base plate 10 by laser welding, the connecting strength between the central tube 11 and the base plate 10 is improved. Furthermore, the laser welding process is simple which decreases the manufacturing cost. Moreover, since the central tube 11 is a simple hollow cylinder, no riveting hole for connecting purpose is required. The structure of the central tube 11 being simplified further decreases the manufacturing cost.
It is to be understood, even though information and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments, to the full extent indicated by the plain meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 105137045 | Nov 2016 | TW | national |
