Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6406258
-
Patent Number
6,406,258
-
Date Filed
Thursday, October 19, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 18, 200222 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Look; Edward K.
- Woo; Richard
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 415 2131
- 415 186
- 415 2141
- 415 1212
- 415 2081
- 415 2083
- 415 2085
- 415 220
- 415 223
- 416 247 R
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A fan frame for encircling an impeller of a fan that includes a base and a plurality of teeth. A hole is formed on the base to form an inner periphery. The plurality of teeth is substantially perpendicular to, and mounted around the inner periphery for encircling the impeller of the fan. A plurality of clearances is formed between each one of the plurality of teeth and its adjacent tooth.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a fan frame structure, in particular, to a fan frame structure having a plurality of clearances to increase the side-airflow of the fan.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the growth in the development of electrical products, the radiation performance of the fan has become an important subject matter.
FIG. 5
is a pictorial view showing a conventional fan structure. Referring to
FIG. 5
, the fan includes a fan frame
100
and an impeller
200
. The impeller
200
is located in the fan frame
100
. An inlet
101
and an outlet
102
are formed on the fan frame
100
for the air to flow in and out, respectively.
In the above-mentioned fan, it is preferred that the inlet
101
is as large as possible. Thus, if the area of the inlet
101
is increased or extra inlets are added, the airflow from the fan can be increased to improve the radiation performance of the fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fan frame structure having a plurality of clearances so as to increase the side airflow into the fan.
According to one aspect of the invention, a fan frame for encircling an impeller of a fan includes a base and a plurality of teeth. A hole is formed in the base to form an inner periphery. The plurality of teeth is substantially perpendicular to and mounted around the inner periphery for encircling the impeller of the fan. A plurality of clearances is formed between each one of the pluralities of teeth and its adjacent tooth.
According to the above-mentioned structure, the plurality of clearances can increase the inlet area of side airflow to improve the performance of the fan.
The fan frame may further include a motor mounting plate located at the center of the hole, and a plurality of ribs connecting the inner periphery of the base to the motor mounting plate for holding the motor mounting plate.
In addition, each of the plurality of teeth is arranged along, and is parallel to, or not parallel to, a tangent of the inner periphery.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a pictorial view showing a fan frame and an impeller in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a pictorial view showing the fan frame as shown in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is a pictorial view showing a fan frame and an impeller in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4
is a pictorial view showing the fan frame as shown in FIG.
3
.
FIG. 5
is a pictorial view showing a conventional fan.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1. First Embodiment
FIG. 1
is a pictorial view showing a fan frame and an impeller in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2
is a pictorial view showing the fan frame as shown in FIG.
1
. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the fan frame
1
in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention is used for encircling the impeller
2
of the fan. The fan frame
1
includes a base
11
, a hole
12
, a plurality of teeth
14
, and a motor mounting plate
15
.
A hole
12
is formed in the base
11
to form an inner periphery
13
. A plurality of teeth
14
is substantially perpendicular to, and arranged around, inner periphery
13
to encircling the impeller
2
. A clearance
17
is formed between each two adjacent teeth
14
and functions as an extra inlet of the fan. A plurality of ribs
16
connects the inner periphery
13
of the base
11
to the motor mounting plate
15
for mounting purposes.
Optionally, any two or more of the motor mounting plate
15
, the ribs
16
, the teeth
14
, and the base
11
can be integrally formed.
In this embodiment, it should be noted that every tooth
14
is arranged along and parallel to a tangent of the inner periphery
13
.
In comparison with the prior art, the fan frame
1
in accordance with the embodiment not only protects the impeller
2
, but also increases the side area of the side airflow for increasing the airflow from the fan.
2. Second Embodiment
FIG. 3
is a pictorial view showing a fan frame and an impeller in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4
is a pictorial view showing the fan frame as shown in FIG.
3
. Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, the fan frame
1
in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention is used for encircling an impeller
2
of the fan. The fan frame
1
includes a base
11
, a hole
12
, a plurality of teeth
14
, and a motor mounting plate
15
.
A hole
12
is formed on the base
11
to form an inner periphery
13
. A plurality of teeth
14
is substantially perpendicular to and arranged around inner periphery
13
to encircle the impeller
2
. A clearance
17
is formed between each two adjacent teeth
14
and functions as an extra inlet for the fan. A plurality of ribs
16
connects the inner periphery
13
of the base
11
to the motor mounting plate
15
for holding it.
Optionally, any two or more of the motor mounting plate
15
, the ribs
16
, the teeth
14
, and the base
11
can be integrally formed.
In this embodiment, it should be noted that every tooth
14
is arranged along and not parallel to a tangent of the inner periphery
13
. In this case, an angle θ (from 0 to 90 degrees) is formed between every tooth
14
and the tangent of the inner periphery
13
.
In this embodiment, it should be noted that every tooth
14
is not parallel to the inner periphery
13
. In this case, an angle θ (from 0 to 90 degrees) is formed between every tooth
14
and the inner periphery
13
.
In comparison with the prior art, the fan frame
1
in accordance with the embodiment not only protects the impeller
2
, but also increases the side area of the side airflow and increases the airflow from the fan. Alternatively, in comparison with the first embodiment, the advantage of the embodiment is that the clearances
17
serve as extra inlets for the fan and can be best designed according to the property and the rotating direction of the impeller
2
.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications. For instance, a fan frame without a plurality of ribs
16
and a motor mounting plate
15
may be produced to cover the fan mounted on a base (not shown) to protect the impeller and increase the inlet area of airflow.
Claims
- 1. A fan frame for encircling an impeller of a fan, comprising:a base on which a hole is provided to form an inner periphery; and a plurality of teeth which is integrally formed on the base and extending substantially perpendicular to and mounted around said inner periphery for encircling said impeller of said fan, a plurality of clearances being formed between each one of said plurality of teeth, wherein each one of said plurality of teeth substantially has the same width and height.
- 2. The fan frame according to claim 1, further comprising:a motor mounting plate located at the center of said hole; and a plurality of ribs connecting said inner periphery of said base to said motor mounting plate for holding said motor mounting plate.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
89210427 U |
Jun 2000 |
TW |
|
US Referenced Citations (5)