Pumps – Motor driven – Motor within rotary pumping member
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-27
2004-03-02
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Motor within rotary pumping member
C417S423130, C415S229000, C384S286000, C384S397000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06699020
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fan assembly, more particularly to a fan assembly which is provided with lubricant-containing bearings so as to prolong the service life thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a conventional fan assembly is shown to include a mounting member
11
, a stator
12
, a rotor
13
, and a tubular bearing
122
. The mounting member
11
defines an axially extending bore
112
, and includes an annular mounting plate
111
disposed in the bore
112
, a plurality of ribs
113
extending radially and outwardly from the mounting plate
111
to connect with a bore-defining wall surface that confines the bore
112
so as to form a plurality of ventilation holes
112
″, and a mounting tube
115
that extends axially from the mounting plate
111
and that has an inner wall surface to confine a bearing-receiving space. The stator
12
is sleeved securely on the mounting tube
115
, and has a plurality of coils
123
. The rotor
13
includes a generally U-shaped rotor casing
131
, a rotor shaft
134
, and a plurality of blades
133
. The rotor casing
131
is disposed in the bore
123
, and surrounds the stator
12
. The rotor shaft
134
extends axially from the rotor casing
131
, and is inserted rotatably and co-axially into the bearing-receiving space of the mounting tube
115
. The blades
133
extend radially and outwardly from the rotor casing
131
. A magnetic sleeve
132
is disposed within the rotor casing
131
around the stator
12
. A tubular bearing
122
is disposed in the bearing-receiving space of the mounting tube
115
, and is sleeved on the rotor shaft
134
. A C-shaped fastener clip
135
is mounted on the rotor shaft
134
to prevent disengagement of the rotor
13
relative to the stator
12
.
Some disadvantages resulting from the use of the aforementioned conventional fan assembly are as follows:
(1) The service life of the conventional fan assembly is short, because the lubricant disposed in the tubular bearing
122
gradually diminishes since no covering means is provided to prevent loss of the lubricant.
(2) Provision of such covering means results in increased manufacturing costs.
(3) Since the entire inner wall surface of the bearing
122
slidably contacts the rotor shaft
134
, the force of friction therebetween is relatively large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a fan assembly with lubricant-containing bearings of a simple construction so as to eliminate the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art.
Accordingly, a fan assembly according to the present invention includes: a mounting frame, a stator, a rotor, first and second bearings, and first and second annular bearing-covering caps. The mounting frame includes a mounting plate, and a hollow mounting tube extending transversely from the mounting plate. The mounting tube has an inner wall surface confining a bearing-receiving space, and an annular flange that projects inwardly and radially from the inner wall surface into the bearing-receiving space, and that has two opposite sides and two opposite annular side faces. The stator is sleeved securely on the mounting tube. The rotor includes an annular rotor casing, a rotor shaft, and a plurality of blades. The rotor casing surrounds the stator. The rotor shaft extends axially from the rotor casing, and is inserted rotatably into the mounting tube. The blades extend radially and outwardly from the rotor casing. The first and second bearings are respectively disposed at the opposite sides of the annular flange within the bearing-receiving space in the mounting tube, and are sleeved on the rotor shaft. Each of the first and second bearings has a U-shaped cross section, an annular abutment plate that abuts against a respective one of the annular side faces of the annular flanges of the mounting tube, and a peripheral flange that extends axially from the abutment plate, that slidably contacts the inner wall surface of the mounting tube, and that cooperates with the rotor shaft and the abutment plate to define a lubricant-receiving reservoir thereamong. The first and second annular bearing-covering caps are snugly fitted into the bearing-receiving space in the mounting tube, are sleeved on the rotor shaft, and respectively and sealingly cover the lubricant-receiving reservoirs in the first and second bearings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5947704 (1999-09-01), Hsieh
patent: 6102675 (2000-08-01), Hsieh
patent: 6183221 (2001-02-01), Hsieh
patent: 6567268 (2003-05-01), Hsieh
patent: 6616422 (2003-09-01), Hsieh
Christensen O'Connor Johnson & Kindness PLLC
Freay Charles G.
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