Power Supply Including An Electric Fan with Wind Power Generating Function

A power supply includes a housing having a compartment. An electric motor includes a fixed seat fixed to a first end wall of the housing and located in the compartment. The electric motor further includes a shaft rotatably mounted to the fixed seat. The electric motor further includes a first stator fixed on the fixed seat and a first rotor fixed to the shaft. A first fan is fixed to the shaft. A generator is concentrically mounted around the electric motor. The generator includes a second stator fixed to the fixed seat and a second rotor rotatably mounted to the shaft and concentric to the second stator. A second fan is fixed around the second rotor. The first and second fans are coaxial and adjacent to each other. A power device is mounted to the housing and is electrically connected to the generator and the electric motor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a power supply and, more particularly, to a power supply including an electric fan with a wind power generating function.

With continuous improvement in development and applications of technologies, illuminating equipment, 3C products, and small household electrical appliances (such as electric lamps, televisions, electric fans, mobile phones, tablet computers, personal digital assistants, etc.) have become necessary electrical and electronic products in daily lives.

These electrical and electronic products mainly depend on internal cells or external power sources to maintain normal operation. Mobile chargers (or mobile power banks) and combustion generators have been available on the market. Most of the mobile chargers use batteries as the power sources to permit users to continuously use the electrical and electronic products and charge the electrical and electronic products at any time and place.

However, these combustion generators and mobile chargers still require fueling or charging in advance and cannot provide the power by themselves. Furthermore, these combustion generators and mobile chargers continuously consume the fuel or electricity when carried and used outside, such that the users cannot find any other power supplies when the power is run out. Thus, it is an important issue to persons in this field.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A power supply according to the present invention includes a housing having a first end wall, a second end wall, and a peripheral wall interconnected between the first and second end walls, defining a compartment therebetween. An electric motor includes a fixed seat fixed to the first end wall and located in the compartment. The electric motor further includes a shaft extending perpendicularly to and rotatably mounted to the fixed seat. The electric motor further includes a first stator fixed on the fixed seat and a first rotor fixed to the shaft. The first stator and the first rotor are concentrically mounted around the shaft. A first fan is fixed to the shaft. The first fan is located adjacent to the second end wall and faces the first end wall. A generator is concentrically mounted around the electric motor. The generator includes a second stator fixed to the fixed seat and a second rotor rotatably mounted to the shaft and concentric to the second stator. A second fan is fixed around the second rotor. The second fan is located adjacent to the first end wall and faces the second end wall. The first and second fans are coaxial, opposite to each other, and adjacent to each other. A power device is mounted to the housing and is electrically connected to the generator and the electric motor. The power device is adapted to supply electricity to an outside.

When the electric motor is supplied with electricity from the power device and operates, the first rotor and the shaft of the electric motor drive the first fan to rotate, generating wind power close to the second fan. The second fan is driven to rotate by the wind power in the compartment of the housing. The second fan drives the second rotor of the generator to rotate, making the generator continuously generate and supply electricity to the power device and the electric motor, thereby keeping the electric motor running. The power device is adapted to output electricity to an external electrical appliance.

In a first example, the first rotor of the electric motor is located around and spaced from the first stator. A first stator seat extends upwards from an intermediate portion of the fixed seat and has an axial hole. The shaft rotatably extends through the axial hole. The first stator is fixed around the first stator seat. A first rotor seat is fixed around the first rotor. The first rotor seat includes an end fixed to the shaft. The second rotor of the generator is located around and spaced from the second stator. A second stator seat extends upwards from the fixed seat and extends around and is spaced from the first rotor. The second stator is fixed around the second stator seat. A second rotor seat is fixed around the second rotor. The second rotor seat includes an end rotatably mounted to the shaft. The second fan is fixed around the second rotor seat.

In a second example, the first stator of the electric motor is located around and spaced from the first rotor. An axle extends upwards from an intermediate portion of the fixed seat. A first rotor seat is fixed to an inner periphery of the first rotor. The first rotor seat includes an end fixed to the shaft. The first rotor seat further includes an axial hole extending downwards and rotatably receiving the axle. A first stator seat extends upwards from the fixed seat. The first stator is fixed to an inner periphery of the first stator seat. The second rotor of the generator is located around and spaced from the second stator. The second stator is fixed around the first stator seat. A second rotor seat is fixed around the second rotor. The second rotor seat has an end rotatably mounted to the shaft. The second fan is fixed around the second rotor seat.

In a third example, the second stator of the generator is located around and spaced from the second rotor. A second stator seat extends upwards from the fixed seat. The second stator is fixed to an inner periphery of the second stator seat. A second rotor seat is fixed to an inner periphery of the second rotor. The second rotor seat includes an end rotatably connected to the shaft. A cylindrical portion extends outwards from the end of the second rotor seat and surrounds the second stator seat. The second fan is fixed around the cylindrical portion of the second rotor seat.

The housing can include an outer periphery providing a sealed member and can include at least one vent in the first end wall.

The power device can include a charging controller, a rechargeable battery, and a voltage boost circuit. The charging controller is electrically connected to the generator and the rechargeable battery. The rechargeable battery is electrically connected to the electric motor and the voltage boost circuit. The voltage boost circuit is adapted to be electrically connected to the external electrical appliance.

The housing can include a casing at a bottom side of the first end wall. The casing includes a vent. The power device is mounted in the casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 and 2show a power supply including an electric fan with a wind power generating function of a first example according to the present invention. The power supply includes a housing1, an electric motor2, a first fan3, a generator4, a second fan5, and a power device6and is adapted to continuously and stably provide electricity to an external electrical appliance7.

The housing1includes a first end wall11, a second end wall12opposite to the first end wall11, and a peripheral wall13interconnected between the first and second end walls11and12, defining a compartment14therebetween. At least one of the first end wall11, the second end wall12, and the peripheral wall13can be detached. In this example, the housing1includes an outer periphery providing a sealed member. The housing1includes at least one vent15in the first end wall11or the second end wall12. The housing1can include a casing16at a bottom side of the first end wall11. The casing16includes at least one vent17.

The electric motor2includes a fixed seat22fixed to the first end wall11and located in the compartment14. The electric motor2further includes a shaft21extending perpendicularly to and rotatably mounted to the fixed seat22. The electric motor2further includes a first stator23fixed on the fixed seat22and a first rotor24fixed to the shaft21. The first stator23and the first rotor24are concentrically mounted around the shaft21. In this example, the first rotor24of the electric motor2is located around and spaced from the first stator23. A first stator seat25extends upwards from an intermediate portion of the fixed seat22and has an axial hole251. The shaft21rotatably extends through the axial hole251. The first stator23is fixed around the first stator seat25. A first rotor seat26is fixed around the first rotor24. The first rotor seat26includes an end261fixed to the shaft21.

The first fan3is fixed to the shaft21and includes a plurality of blades31spaced from each other. The first fan3is located adjacent to the second end wall12and faces the first end wall11for delivering wind power.

The generator4is concentrically mounted around the electric motor2. The generator4includes a second stator41fixed to the fixed seat22and a second rotor42rotatably mounted to the shaft21and concentric to the second stator41. In this example, the second rotor42of the generator4is located around and spaced from the second stator41. A second stator seat43extends upwards from the fixed seat22and extends around and is spaced from the first rotor24. The second stator41is fixed around the second stator seat43. A second rotor seat44is fixed around the second rotor42. The second rotor seat44includes an end441rotatably mounted to the shaft21by a bearing45.

The second fan5is fixed around the second rotor seat44of the second rotor42. The second fan5includes a plurality of blades51spaced from each other. The second fan5is located adjacent to the first end wall11and faces the second end wall12. The first and second fans3and5can have an identical shape. The first and second fans3and5are coaxial, opposite to each other, and adjacent to each other.

The power device6is mounted in the casing16of the housing1. The power device6is electrically connected to the generator4and the electric motor2. The power device6is adapted to supply electricity to the external electrical appliance7. In this example, the power device6includes a charging controller61, a rechargeable battery62, and a voltage boost circuit63. The charging controller61is electrically connected to the generator4and the rechargeable battery62. The rechargeable battery62is electrically connected to the electric motor2and the voltage boost circuit63. The voltage boost circuit63is adapted to be electrically connected to the external electrical appliance7.

When the electric motor2is supplied with electricity from the rechargeable battery62of the power device6and operates for the first time, the first rotor24and the shaft21of the electric motor2drive the first fan3to rotate, generating wind power close to the second fan5. The second fan5is driven to rotate by the wind power in the compartment14of the housing1. Furthermore, the second fan5drives the second rotor42of the generator4to rotate, making the generator4continuously generate and supply electricity to the power device6and the electric motor2, thereby keeping the electric motor2running to generate the wind power while the first fan3continuously using the wind power to drive the second fan5and the generator4to generate electricity. Thus, the power device6can continuously and stably output electricity to the external electrical appliance7. As a result, the power supply can rapidly generate electricity at any time and place to prolong the service time of the external electrical appliance7, avoiding closing down of the external electrical appliance7due to running out of electricity. The concentric arrangement of the electric motor2and the generator4makes the power supply compact, which is easy to manufacture and which reduces the manufacturing costs.

FIG. 3shows a second example of the power supply. The second example is different from the first example by that the first stator23′ of the electric motor2′ is located around and spaced from the first rotor24′. An axle221′ extends upwards from an intermediate portion of the fixed seat22′. A first rotor seat26′ is fixed to an inner periphery of the first rotor24′. The first rotor seat26′ includes an end261′ fixed to the shaft21′. The first rotor seat26′ further includes an axial hole263′ extending downwards and receiving a sleeve262′ and a bearing27′, thereby rotatably receiving the axle221′. A first stator seat251′ extends upwards from the fixed seat22′. The first stator23′ is fixed to an inner periphery of the first stator seat25′. In this example, the second rotor42of the generator4is located around and spaced from the second stator41. The second stator41is directly fixed around the first stator seat25′. A second rotor seat44is fixed around the second rotor42. The second rotor seat44has an end441rotatably mounted to the shaft21′. The second fan5is fixed around the second rotor seat44.

When the electric motor2′ is supplied with electricity from the power device6and operates for the first time, the first rotor24′ and the shaft21′ of the electric motor2′ drive the first fan3to rotate, generating wind power close to the second fan5. The second fan5is driven to rotate by the wind power in the compartment14of the housing1. Furthermore, the second fan5drives the second rotor42of the generator4to rotate, making the generator4continuously generate and supply electricity to the power device6and the electric motor2′, thereby keeping the electric motor2′ running to generate the wind power while the first fan3continuously using the wind power to drive the second fan5and the generator4to generate electricity. Thus, the power device6can continuously and stably output electricity to the external electrical appliance7.

FIG. 4show a third example of the power supply. The first stator23′ and the first rotor24′ of the electric motor2′ of third example are the same of those of the second example. The third example is different from the first and second examples by that the second stator41′ of the generator4′ is located around and spaced from the second rotor42′. A second stator seat43′ extends upwards from the fixed seat22′. The second stator41′ is fixed to an inner periphery of the second stator seat43′. A second rotor seat44′ is fixed to an inner periphery of the second rotor42′. The second rotor seat44′ includes an end441′ rotatably connected to the shaft21′ by a bearing45′. A cylindrical portion442′ extends outwards from the end441′ of the second rotor seat44′ and surrounds the second stator seat43′. The second fan5is fixed around the cylindrical portion442′ of the second rotor seat44′.

When the electric motor2′ is supplied with electricity from the power device6and operates for the first time, the first rotor24′ and the shaft21′ of the electric motor2′ drive the first fan3to rotate, generating wind power close to the second fan5. The second fan5is driven to rotate by the wind power in the compartment14of the housing1. Furthermore, the second fan5drives the second rotor42′ of the generator4′ to rotate, making the generator4′ continuously generate and supply electricity to the power device6and the electric motor2′, thereby keeping the electric motor2′ running to generate the wind power while the first fan3continuously using the wind power to drive the second fan5and the generator4′ to generate electricity. Thus, the power device6can continuously and stably output electricity to the external electrical appliance7.