Pumps – Motor driven – Electric or magnetic motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-28
2001-10-30
Thorpe, Timothy S. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Electric or magnetic motor
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309190
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shaft supporting structure for an axial fan.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical heat-dissipating fan includes a fan mounted in a casing having an axle tube. A bearing means is force-fitted into the axle tube, a central shaft of the fan wheel (rotor) is extended through the bearing, and a retainer (e.g., a C-clip) is mounted in an annular groove in a distal end of the fan wheel, thereby rotatably mounting the central shaft of fan wheel in the axle tube on the casing. The bearing means may include a single bearing or two bearings. For example, Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 235696 issued on Dec. 1, 1994 and entitled “IMPROVED SELF-LUBRICATING BEARING FOR COOLING FANS”, as shown in
FIG. 6
of the drawings, discloses a single bearing type structure, wherein the bearing
30
is engaged with an overall area of an inner periphery of the axle tube
23
for rotatably supporting the central shaft
14
. Nevertheless, the assembly procedure is troublesome and wear is severe since the contact area between the central shaft and the bearing is increased. Longevity of the fan is thus shortened. Another type is disclosed in Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 287588 issued on Oct. 1, 1996 and entitled “INTEGRAL CASING/AXLE TUBE FOR HEAT-DISSIPATING FANS”, as shown in
FIG. 7
of the drawings, which discloses a dual-bearing type structure, wherein two bearings
77
,
78
are respectively mounted to two ends of the axle tube
76
by means of force-fitting to reduce contact area in a mediate portion of the axle tube
76
. Nevertheless, a slight deviation or force-fitting difference during mounting of the bearings
77
,
78
will result in misalignment in the central axis of the bearings
77
,
78
and the central axis of the central shaft
91
of the fan wheel
90
. As a result, rotation of the central shaft about a fixed axis cannot be guaranteed, and noise tends to occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a shaft supporting structure for an axial fan, wherein friction of the fan wheel shaft is reduced.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a shaft supporting structure for an axial fan, wherein the number of elements required for the bearing means is reduced to thereby reduce the manufacture cost.
Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4361776 (1982-11-01), Hayashi et al.
patent: 4620139 (1986-10-01), Egami et al.
patent: 4861237 (1989-08-01), Shiraki et al.
patent: 5099181 (1992-03-01), Canon
patent: 5288216 (1994-02-01), Bolte
patent: 5492458 (1996-02-01), Horng
patent: 5967763 (1999-10-01), Horng
patent: 5997265 (1999-12-01), Chung
patent: 5997267 (1999-12-01), Lee
patent: 6000919 (1999-12-01), Hsieh
patent: 6050785 (2000-04-01), Horng
Larson & Taylor PLC
Rodriguez William H
Thorpe Timothy S.
Yen Sun Technic Industrial Corporation
LandOfFree
Shaft supporting structure for an axial fan does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shaft supporting structure for an axial fan, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shaft supporting structure for an axial fan will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2569707