FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to a fan structure, which particularly relates to the fan structure with an oil storage space.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional fan structure 200, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a base 210, a bearing 220, a shaft 230, an impeller 240 and a stator 250, wherein the bearing 220 and the stator 250 are coupled to the base 210, the shaft 230 is coupled to an axial hole 221 of the bearing 220, and the impeller 240 is coupled to the shaft 230. When the shaft 230 and the impeller 240 start rotation, lubricant (not show in Figs.) in the axial hole 221 splashes out via centrifugal force therefore polluting the stator 250 or increasing the friction between the axial hole 221 and the shaft 230. Furthermore, the life time of the fan structure 200 is substantially decreased by reasons mentioned above.
SUMMARY
The primary object of the present invention is to provide a fan structure. By means of an oil storage space of a rotation module, lubricants in the oil storage space enable to flow into an axial hole for lubricating a fixing shaft and a bearing while the rotation module is in rotation. When the rotation module stops, lubricants in the axial hole reflow to the oil storage space to avoid loss of lubricants.
A fan structure of the present invention includes a rotation module, a fixing shaft and an impeller. The rotation module comprises a coupling base, a bearing and a sealing member, wherein the coupling base comprises a ring wall and an accommodating slot surrounded by the ring wall, and the bearing is disposed at the accommodating slot. The bearing comprises an axial hole, an outer ring wall coupled to the ring wall and a through hole, wherein a slot is recessed from the outer ring wall, the through hole is in communication with the slot and the axial hole, and the slot is sealed by the sealing member to form an oil storage space. The fixing shaft penetrates the axial hole of the bearing, said fixing shaft is revealed by the through hole of the bearing, and the through hole communicates with the axial hole and the oil storage space. The impeller is coupled to the coupling base of the rotation module. In this invention, when the rotation module starts rotation, lubricants in the oil storage space can flow from the through hole to the axial hole for lubricating the fixing shaft and the bearing. When the rotation module stops, lubricants in the axial hole can reflow to the oil storage space to prevent lubricants from evaporation and loss in the axial hole.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a lateral section view illustrating a conventional fan structure.
FIG. 2 is a lateral section view illustrating a fan structure in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 2, a fan structure 100 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a rotation module 110, a fixing shaft 120, an impeller 130, a fastening member 140, a base 150, a sleeve 160, a circuit board 170 and a stator 180, wherein the sleeve 160 and the circuit board 170 are disposed at the base 150, and the stator 180 is installed at the sleeve 160 for driving the rotation module 110 and the impeller 130 into rotation.
With reference to FIG. 2 again, the rotation module 110 includes a coupling base 111, a bearing 112 and a sealing member 113, the impeller 130 coupled to the coupling base 111 is rotatable in response to the rotation of the rotation module 110. The coupling base 111 comprises a ring wall 111a, an accommodating slot 111b surrounded by the ring wall 111a and a top end portion 111c in connection with the ring wall 111a, and the bearing 112 is disposed at the accommodating slot 111b. The bearing 112 comprises an axial hole 112a, an outer ring wall 112b and a through hole 112c, the outer ring wall 112b couples to the ring wall 111a of the coupling base 111, wherein a slot 112d is recessed from the outer ring wall 112b, and the through hole 112c is in communication with the slot 112d and the axial hole 112a. In this embodiment, the axial hole 112a comprises a hole surface 112e, and a return chute 112f is recessed from the hole surface 112e and communicates with the through hole 112c of the bearing 112. Preferably, the return chute 112f is an arc-shaped slot. The slot 112d is sealed by the sealing member 113 so as to make the slot 112d forming an oil storage space S.
With reference to FIG. 2, the sealing member 113 is disposed between the slot 112d and the ring wall 111a and comprises a protruding ring 113a contacting against the slot 112d and the ring wall 111a of the coupling base 111. In this embodiment, the slot 112d comprises a bottom surface 112g, the protruding ring 113a of the sealing member 113 is in contact against the bottom surface 112g of the slot 112d, and the sealing member 113 is made of materials with elasticity. Preferably, the bearing 112 further comprises a hook 114 embedded into the sealing member 113. In this embodiment, the hook 114 is disposed at the bottom surface 112g of the slot 112d for increasing the coupling strength between the sealing member 113 and the bearing 112.
Referring to FIG. 2, one end of the fixing shaft 120 is mounted at the sleeve 160, and the fixing shaft 120 penetrates the axial hole 112a of the bearing 112. In this embodiment, a penetration hole 111d is formed at the top end portion 111c of the coupling base 111, another end of the fixing shaft 120 is protruded to the penetration hole 111d to prevent the coupling base 111 or the impeller 130 stressed by external forces from rotating abnormally while the fan structure 100 is installed on electronic products.
Referring to FIG. 2, the fixing shaft 120 is revealed by the through hole 112c of the bearing 112, and the through hole 112c is in communication with the axial hole 112a and the oil storage space S. In this embodiment, a storage slot 121 is recessed from the fixing shaft 120 and communicates with the return chute 112f of the bearing 112.
With reference to FIG. 2, when the stator 180 of the fan structure 100 drives the impeller 130 into rotation, the rotation module 110 rotates simultaneously. In the mean time, the temperature of the hole surface 112e rises by rubbing the hole surface 112e of the axial hole 112a with the fixing shaft 120. Also, rotation of the rotation module 110 makes lubricants (not shown in Figs.) in the oil storage space S flow from the through hole 112c of the bearing 112 to the axial hole 112a for lubricating the fixing shaft 120 and the hole surface 112e. Comparatively, when the rotation module 110 stops, the temperature of the axial hole 112a gradually decreases. Lubricants in the axial hole 112a reflow from the return chute 112f of the hole surface 112e and the through hole 112c of the bearing 112 to the oil storage space S to prevent lubricants from evaporation and loss in the axial hole 112a.
With reference to FIG. 2, a fastening slot 122 is further recessed from the fixing shaft 120. The fastening member 140 is disposed between the top end portion 111c of the coupling base 111 and the bearing 112. The fastening slot 122 is fastened by the fastening member 140 to prevent the impeller 130 and the rotation module 110 from separating from the fixing shaft 120. Besides, the fastening slot 122 of the fixing shaft 120 keeps lubricant in the axial hole 112a from flowing out by the fixing shaft 120.
In this invention, by means of the oil storage space S of the rotation module 110, when the rotation module 110 starts rotation, lubricants in said oil storage space S can flow from the through hole 112c of the bearing 112 to the axial hole 112a for lubricating the fixing shaft 120 and the hole surface 112e of the axial hole 112a. When the rotation module 110 stops rotation, lubricants remaining in the axial hole 112a can flow from the through hole 112c of the bearing 112 to the oil storage space S so as to prevent lubricants from evaporation and loss in the axial hole 112a.
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.
Patent Application
20140099200
