FAN DEVICE AND GUIDING COMPONENT

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This U.S. application claims priority to Taiwan Patent Application No. 114101666, filed on January 15, 2025, of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is related to the field of a fan device, in particular a fan device with a guiding component configured to dissipate heat from a driving component.

BACKGROUND

[0003] With the rapid development of technology, the computing performance of processors has increased significantly, but so has the great amount of heat generated. To ensure that processors are not damaged by high heat, it is necessary to install fans on electronic products to dissipate excessive heat from the processors, allowing the processors to run within a specific operating temperature range.

[0004] However, when a fan continues to operate, the motor of the fan generates a large amount of heat and overheats, lowering the motor’s operational efficiency and shortening its service life. Therefore, one of the issues that researchers need to address is how to prevent the motor from overheating in order to preserve its operating efficiency.

SUMMARY

[0005] Aspects of the disclosure provide a fan device including a fan frame, a fan blade including a hub portion and a plurality of first blade portions, the hub portion being rotatably disposed within the fan frame and having an opening, the first blade portions being connected to the hub portion, a driving component disposed within the fan frame and connected to the hub portion, the driving component being configured to drive the hub portion to rotate relative to the fan frame, and a guiding component secured to the hub portion, the guiding component including a cover portion having at least one hole, the hole being in fluid communication with the opening, and the driving component being disposed on a side of the cover portion away from the opening, and at least one guiding portion connected to the cover portion and disposed at the hole.

[0006] In an embodiment, the fan blade further includes a plurality of second blade portions, the second blade portions and the first blade portions are respectively connected to opposite sides of the hub portion, and the second blade portions are disposed at the opening.

[0007] In an embodiment, the guiding component further includes a side ring portion connected to the cover portion, the cover portion and the side ring portion enclose a heat dissipation space, and a gap is disposed between the hub portion and the fan frame.

[0008] In an embodiment, inclination directions of the first blade portions and the second blade portions are opposite to one another.

[0009] In an embodiment, the guiding component further includes a side ring portion, the side ring portion is connected to the cover portion to enclose a heat dissipation space , the at least one hole is in fluid communication with the heat dissipation space, and the driving component is disposed in the heat dissipation space.

[0010] In an embodiment, the hub portion further has at least one fixing rib and at least one fixing protrusion, the fixing protrusion protrudes from the fixing rib, the fixing rib closely abuts against the side ring portion, and the fixing protrusion abuts against a side of the side ring portion away from the cover portion.

[0011] In an embodiment, an angle between the guiding portion and the cover portion is between 0 degrees and 90 degrees.

[0012] In an embodiment, the cover portion has at least one reference line, the reference line extends from a center of the cover portion to an edge of the cover portion, and the guiding portion and the hole are disposed between 1/3 to 2/3 of the reference line.

[0013] In an embodiment, the cover portion includes a plurality of the holes, and the holes are disposed at intervals along a circumferential line of the cover portion. In an embodiment, the fan blade is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction.

[0014] Aspects of the disclosure provide a guiding component configured to be disposed in a hub portion with an opening in a fan device. The guiding component includes a cover portion having at least one hole, the hole being in fluid communication with the opening, and the driving component being disposed on a side of the cover portion away from the opening, and at least one guiding portion connected to the cover portion and disposed at the hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0015] Aspects of the present disclosure can be understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It is noted that, in accordance with the

[0016]standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan device 10 according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0021]FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a top view of the guiding component 14 of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the heat dissipation airflow flowing in the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0024]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the heat dissipation airflow flowing in the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Detailed descriptions and technical contents of the present invention are illustrated below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the descriptions and the accompanying drawings disclosed herein are merely illustrative and exemplary and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0026] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan device 10 according to aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0027]The fan device 10 includes a fan frame 11, a fan blade 12, a driving component 13, and a guiding component 14. The fan blade 12 includes a hub portion 121, a plurality of first blade portions 122, and a plurality of second blade portions 123. The hub portion 121 is rotatably disposed within the fan frame 11 and has an opening 1211. The first blade portions 122 and the second blade portions 123 are respectively connected to opposite sides of the hub portion 121, and the inclination orientations of the first blade portions 122 and the second blade portions 123 are opposite to one another, generating airflows in different flow directions. That is, the first blade portions 122 and the second blade portions 123 are, for example, air inlet blades and air outlet blades, respectively. The second blade portions 123 are located at the opening 1211 and are configured to generate a heat dissipation airflow.

[0028] The driving component 13 is disposed in the center of the fan frame 11 and is connected to the hub portion 121. The driving component 13 is configured to drive the hub portion 121 to rotate relative to the fan frame 11. Specifically, the driving component 13 includes a stator (not shown) and a rotor. The stator and the rotor made be made of matching magnets or coils. The stator is secured to the fan frame 11. The rotor is rotatably mounted on the hub portion 121 and can rotate relative to the stator through electromagnetic effect, driving the hub portion 121 to rotate relative to the fan frame 11.

[0029] Please also refer to FIGS. 4 to 6. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a top view of the guiding component 14 of the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0030]The guiding component 14 may include a metal shell. For example, the guiding component 14 may be made of iron, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, zinc alloy, magnesium alloy, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the guiding component 14 may include a plastic shell. For example, the guiding component 14 may be made of a plastic material such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or other engineering plastics, which can provide cost-effective manufacturing while preserving structural integrity. The guiding component 14 includes a cover portion 141, a side ring portion 142, and a plurality of guiding portions 143. The cover portion 141 has a plurality of holes 1411. The holes 1411 are arranged at intervals along a circumferential line and are in fluid communication with the opening 1211. The cover portion 141 may be spaced from the hub portion 121, but this is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the cover portion 141 may also abut against the hub portion 121.

[0031]The side ring portion 142 is connected to the cover portion 141. The hub portion 121 may include a plurality of fixing ribs 1212 and a plurality of fixing protrusions 1213. The fixing protrusions 1213 respectively protrude from the fixing ribs 1212. The fixing ribs 1212 closely abut against the side ring portion 142, and the fixing protrusions 1213 abut against a side of the side ring portion 142 away from the cover portion 141, allowing the guiding component 14 to be secured to the hub portion 121.

[0032]The side ring portion 142 and the cover portion 141 together enclose a heat dissipation space S. The holes 1411 are in fluid communication with the heat dissipation space S, and the driving component 13 is arranged in the heat dissipation space S. A gap GA is provided between the hub portion 121 and the fan frame 11. The guiding portions 143 are connected to the cover portion 141 and respectively located at the holes 1411. When the fan device 10 operates, the first blade portions 122 draw ambient air into the fan device 10, causing the heat dissipation airflow to flow into the heat dissipation space S through the gap GA. The heat dissipation airflow then flows through the holes 1411 and is guided by the guiding portions 143 toward the opening 1211 to dissipate heat generated by the driving component 13 as it passes through the heat dissipation space S. The second blade portions 123 then expel the heat dissipation airflow outward through the opening 1211.

[0033] An angle R between each guiding portion 143 and the cover portion 141 can be between 0 degrees and 90 degrees. In addition, the cover portion 141 has a plurality of reference lines L. The reference lines L extend from a center of the cover portion 141 to an edge of the cover portion 141. The guiding portions 143 and the holes 1411 are arranged between 1/3 to 2/3 of the reference lines L.

[0034] In this embodiment, because the hub portion 121 has the opening 1211 and the guiding component 14 includes the guiding portions 143, when the fan device 10 operates, the heat dissipation airflow generated by the rotation of the fan blade 12 can be drawn into the heat dissipation space S through the gap GA to dissipate heat generated by the driving component 13. As a result, the driving component 13 can avoid overheating caused by long-term operation, so avoiding reduction of the operating efficiency of the driving component 13 and extending the service life of the driving component 13.

[0035] In this embodiment, the first blade portions 122 and the second blade portions 123 are air inlet blades and air outlet blades, respectively, but are not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the first blade portions 122 can be an air outlet blades and the second blade portions 123 can be an air inlet blades. This can be achieved by having the fan blade 12 rotation direction switched to counterclockwise.

[0036] In this embodiment, the fan blade 12 is provided with the second blade portions 123 to generate the heat dissipation airflow, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the second blade portions may be absent from the fan blade, and the driving component may be cooled by the first blade portions pushing external airflow into the heat dissipation space from the gap and openings.

[0037] In this embodiment, the number of the fixing ribs 1212 and the fixing protrusions 1213 is plural, and the guiding component 14 is secured to the hub portion 121 through the fixing ribs 1212 and the fixing protrusions 1213, but this is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number of the fixing ribs may also be limited to one, the hub portion may not include any fixing rib and the fixing protrusion, or the guiding component may be secured to the hub portion using various ways.

[0038] In this embodiment, the guiding component 14 includes the cover portion 141, the side ring portion 142, and the guiding portions 143, and the driving component 13 is located in the heat dissipation space S enclosed by the cover portion 141 and the side ring portion 142, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the guiding component may only include the cover portion and the guiding portions without the side ring portion.

[0039] In this embodiment, the number of the holes 1411, the corresponding guiding portions 143, and the corresponding reference lines L is plural, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the number of the holes, the corresponding guiding portions, and the corresponding reference lines L may be limited to one.

[0040] Please refer to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the heat dissipation airflow flowing in the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the heat dissipation airflow flowing in the fan device 10 shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] In this embodiment, when the fan device 10 operates, the first blade portions 122 draw ambient air into the fan device 10 to generate the heat dissipation airflow along direction F. The heat dissipation airflow is drawn into the heat dissipation space S through the gap GA along direction E. Then, the heat dissipation airflow flows in the heat dissipation space S along direction D to dissipate heat generated by the driving component 13. Then, the heat dissipation airflow flows toward the holes 1411 along direction C and passes through the holes 1411 along direction B through guidance of the guiding portions 143. Finally, the second blade portions 123 guide the heat dissipation airflow to flow outward through the opening 1211 along direction A. As a result, the heat dissipation process for the driving component 13 can be conducted alongside the dissipation of the heat from other components.

[0042] The fan device and guiding component of the above embodiments provide several technical advantages. The integrated design allows the heat dissipation airflow to be generated continuously during regular operation of the fan device without the need for additional power sources or separate cooling mechanisms. The dual blade configuration, with the first blade portions serving as inlet blades and the second blade portions serving as outlet blades, creates an efficient airflow path that passes through the heat dissipation space where the driving component is located, thereby providing active cooling to the driving component. The guiding portions optimize the direction and velocity of the heat dissipation airflow, enhancing heat transfer efficiency. By maintaining the driving component at a lower operating temperature, the fan device can achieve greater performance stability, reduce thermal degradation of components, and significantly extend the operational lifespan of the driving component, thereby enhancing the overall reliability and durability of the fan device.

[0043] Therefore, embodiments disclosed herein are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the embodiments disclosed may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered, combined, or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The embodiments illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically disclosed herein and/or any optional element disclosed herein. While compositions and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the compositions and methods can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. All numbers and ranges disclosed above may vary by some number. Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces.