Patent Publication Number: US-11661956-B2

Title: Fan frame

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The non-provisional patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application with Ser. No. 62/549,720 filed on Aug. 24, 2017. This and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     This Non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 201810833893.6 filed in People&#39;s Republic of China on Jul. 26, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     This application is a Continuation Application (CA) of an earlier filed, pending, application, having application Ser. No. 16/110,236 and filed on Aug. 23, 2018, the content of which, including drawings, is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to a fan frame and, in particular, to a fan frame that made of metal and plastic materials. 
     Related Art 
     As the performance of electronic devices continues to increase, the electronic devices generate a large amount of waste heat during operation. If the heat cannot be immediately removed from the electronic device, the temperature of the electronic device will rise, which can cause damage to internal components and reduce the performance and lifetime of the electronic device. A fan is a heat dissipation device widely used in the electronic devices for removing the large amount of waste heat away from the electronic devices. If the fan of the same size is selected, the fan speed must be increased to enhance the heat dissipation efficiency of the fan. However, in the conventional fan product, the fan frame is usually made of a single plastic material. As the rotation speed increases, the fan will generate an obvious vibration, and the fan frame, which is made of the single plastic material, can induce the resonance effect to concentrate and amplify the vibration source. This situation can result in the noise of the fan or even the situation of unstable operation of fan. 
     Therefore, it is desired to provide a fan frame that is made of different materials, so that the vibration of the fan frame can be dispersed by the combination of different material properties, thereby preventing the resonance of the fan frame, stabling the fan operation, and reducing the noise. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An objective of this disclosure is to provide a fan frame. Different from the conventional fan frame, the fan frame of this disclosure is made of different materials, so that the vibration of the fan frame can be dispersed by the combination of different material properties, thereby preventing the resonance of the fan frame, stabling the fan operation, and reducing the noise. 
     This disclosure provides a fan frame comprising a frame body and a metal base. The frame body has a frame wall. The metal base comprises a center portion and a plurality of static blades radially extending from the center portion outwardly and connecting to the frame wall. 
     In one embodiment, each of the static blades comprises a supporting portion and a wing portion extending outwardly from the supporting portion. 
     In one embodiment, the frame body covers the supporting portions and at least one part of the wing portions. 
     In one embodiment, the fan frame further comprises a peripheral connection portion, and the static blades connect to the frame wall through the peripheral connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, the center portion, the peripheral connection portion and the static blades are integrally formed as one piece. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the frame wall is greater than a height of the peripheral connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the peripheral connection portion is greater than a thickness of the center portion. 
     The present disclosure also provides a fan frame comprising a base and a frame body. The frame body comprises at least one metal frame wall and a plurality of static blades radially extending from the metal frame wall inwardly and connecting to the base. 
     In one embodiment, each of the static blades comprises a supporting portion and a wing portion extending outwardly from the supporting portion. 
     In one embodiment, the frame body covers the supporting portions and at least one part of the wing portions. 
     In one embodiment, the fan frame further comprises a center connection portion, and the static blades connect to the base through the center connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, the center connection portion, the static blades and the metal frame wall are integrally formed as one piece. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the metal frame wall is greater than a thickness of the center connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the frame body is greater than a height of the metal frame wall. 
     This disclosure further provides a fan frame comprising a frame body, a base, and a plurality of static blades. The frame body has a frame wall. One end of each static blade connects to the base, and the other end of each static blade connects to the frame wall. At least one part of the static blades is made of metal. 
     In one embodiment, each of the static blades comprises a supporting portion and a wing portion extending outwardly from the supporting portion. 
     In one embodiment, the frame body covers the supporting portions and at least one part of the wing portions. 
     In one embodiment, the fan frame further comprises a center connection portion, and the static blades connect to the base through the center connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, the fan frame further comprises a peripheral connection portion, and the static blades connect to the frame wall through the peripheral connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the frame wall is greater than a height of the peripheral connection portion. 
     In one embodiment, a height of the peripheral connection portion is greater than a thickness of the center connection portion. 
     As mentioned above, the fan frame of this disclosure contains different materials, which have different vibration properties. Accordingly, the static blades and other portions of the fan frame, which are made of different materials, can disperse the vibration of the fan frame, thereby preventing the resonance of the fan frame. Compared with the convention fan, the fan configured with the fan frame of this disclosure can stably operate and reduce the generated noise, thereby extending the lifetime of the fan and maintaining the operation performance of the fan. In addition, although the fan frame is made of different materials, it is still possible to provide one material to cover a part of the other material, so that the fan frame can be manufactured as an integrated piece. This configuration can decrease the manufacturing cost and speed the manufacturing process. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the subsequent detailed description and accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a schematic diagram showing a fan frame according to an embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a sectional view of the fan frame of  FIG.  1 A ; 
         FIG.  1 C  is a schematic diagram showing the metal base of  FIG.  1 B ; 
         FIG.  2 A  is a schematic diagram showing a fan frame according to another embodiment of this disclosure; 
         FIG.  2 B  is a sectional view of the fan frame of  FIG.  2 A ; and 
         FIG.  3    is a sectional view of a fan frame according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements. 
     The fan frame of this disclosure can make the fan to stably operate and reduce the generated noise, thereby extending the lifetime of the fan and maintaining the operation performance of the fan. The structure and features of the fan frame of this disclosure will be described in the following embodiments. 
       FIGS.  1 A to  1 C  are schematic diagrams showing a fan frame  1  according to an embodiment of this disclosure. 
     The fan frame  1  comprises a frame body  11  and a metal base  12 . The metal base  12  can be assembled with the frame body or be covered by and disposed inside the frame body  11 . 
     The frame body  11  comprises a frame wall  111 . The metal base  12  comprises a center portion  121  and a plurality of static blades  122 . The static blades  122  radially extend from the center portion  121  outwardly and connect to the frame wall  111 . 
     In this embodiment, each static blade  122  comprises a supporting portion  1221  and a wing portion  1222  extending outwardly from the supporting portion  1221 . The frame body  11  covers the supporting portions  1221  and at least one part of the wing portions  1222 . For example, the frame body  11  may cover the entire metal base  12 , which includes the center portion  121 , the static blades  122  (including the supporting portions  1221  and the wing portions  1222 ). Alternatively, the frame body  11  may cover the center portion  121  of the metal base  12  only. Alternatively, the frame body  11  may cover the center portion  121  of the metal base  12  and the supporting portions  1221  of the static blades  122 . Alternatively, the frame body  11  may cover the center portion  121  of the metal base  12 , the supporting portions of the static blades  122 , and a part of the wing portions  1222  of the static blades  122 . Alternatively, the frame body  11  may cover the supporting portions of the static blades  122  and a part of the wing portions  1222  of the static blades  122 . Alternatively, the frame body  11  may cover the wing portions  1222  of the static blades  122  of the metal base  12  only. In this embodiment, the frame body  11  is made of plastic material, and the center portion  121  of the metal base  12  can be, for example but not limited to, all made of metal, a part of plastic material and a part of metal, an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, or an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer. This disclosure is not limited. In addition, the static blades  122  can be, for example, all made of metal, partially covered by the frame body  11  to form a part of plastic material and a part of metal, an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, or an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer. This disclosure is not limited. The design of the materials of the center portion  121  and the static blades  122  can increase the effective air quantity and airflow speed outputted by the operating fan containing the fan frame  1  of this disclosure. In addition, the configuration of the combination of different materials can disperse the resonance of the frame body for blocking the direct transmission of the vibration source, thereby decreasing the transmitted energy from the vibration source. Thus, the fan frame  1  of this disclosure can provide the effect of reducing the operation noise. 
     In this embodiment, the fan frame  1  further comprises a peripheral connection portion  13 , and the static blades  122  connect to the frame wall  111  through the peripheral connection portion  13 . As shown in  FIG.  1 C , the center portion  121 , the peripheral connection portion  13 , and the static blades  122  are integrally formed as one piece. In particular, although the figure shows that the center portion  121 , the peripheral connection portion  13 , and the static blades  122  are integrally formed as one piece, the peripheral connection portion  13 , in practice, can be an individual structure separated from the center portion  121  and the static blades  122 . This disclosure is not limited. As shown in  FIG.  1 C , the peripheral connection portion  13  is an annular structure. Of course, the peripheral connection portion  13  can also be a polygonal structure, an arc structure, a circular structure, an elliptical structure, or an irregular structure, and this disclosure is not limited. Referring to  FIG.  1 C , the peripheral connection portion  13 , for example, connects to all of the static blades  122 . In other embodiments, the peripheral connection portion  13  can connect to two or more of the static blades  122  only, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In this embodiment, a height H 1  of the frame wall  111  is greater than a height H 2  of the peripheral connection portion  13 , and the height H 2  of the peripheral connection portion  13  is greater than a thickness H 3  of the center portion  121 . This design of different heights can effectively decrease the operation noise of the fan configured with the fan frame  1  of this disclosure. 
       FIGS.  2 A and  2 B  are schematic diagrams showing a fan frame  2  according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the fan frame  2  comprises a base  21 , a frame body  22 , at least one metal frame wall  221 , and a plurality of static blades  222 . The static blades  222  radially extend from the metal frame wall  221  inwardly and connect to the base  21 . The frame wall of the fan frame  2  is defined by the frame body  22  and the metal frame wall  221 , and the metal frame wall  221  is connected to the base  21 . In this embodiment, the metal frame wall  221  can be a structure assembled with the frame body  22  or be at least partially covered by the frame body  22 . In particular, the fan frame  2  of this embodiment includes one metal frame wall  221  only. As shown in  FIG.  2 A , the metal frame wall  221  is a structure disposed at the periphery of the fan frame  2 . In practice, the amount of the metal frame walls  221  can be changed based on the requirement of the user. For example, the fan frame  2  may include two semicircular metal frame walls  221  for forming the circular fan frame structure. In addition, the fan frame  2  may include more than two metal frame walls  221  for forming the circular fan frame structure. The metal frame walls  221  may not connect to each other. This disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In this embodiment, each static blade  222  comprises a supporting portion  2221  and a wing portion  2222  extending outwardly from the supporting portion  2221 . As shown in  FIG.  2 B , the frame body  22  covers the supporting portions  2221  and at least one part of the wing portions  2222 . For example, the frame body  22  may cover the entire metal frame wall  221  and the static blades  222 . Alternatively, the frame body  22  may cover the entire metal frame wall  221  only. Alternatively, the frame body  22  may cover a part of the metal frame wall  221 . Alternatively, the frame body  22  may cover the metal frame wall  221  and the supporting portions  2221  of the static blades  222 . Alternatively, the frame body  22  may cover the metal frame wall  221 , the supporting portions  2221  of the static blades  222 , and a part of the wing portions  2222  of the static blades  222 . Alternatively, the frame body  22  may cover the supporting portions  2221  of the static blades  222  and a part of the wing portions  2222  of the static blades  222 . Alternatively, the frame body  2  may cover the wing portions  2222  of the static blades  222  only. In this embodiment, the frame body  22  is preferably made of plastic material, and the metal frame wall  221  can be, for example but not limited to, all made of metal, a part of plastic material and a part of metal (the metal frame wall  221  is at least partially covered by the frame body  22 ), an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, or an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer. This disclosure is not limited. In addition, the static blades  222  can be, for example, all made of metal, a part of plastic material and a part of metal, an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, or an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer. This disclosure is not limited. The design of the materials of the frame body  22 , the metal frame wall  221  and the static blades  122  can increase the effective air quantity and airflow speed outputted by the operating fan containing the fan frame  2  of this disclosure. In addition, the configuration of the combination of different materials can disperse the resonance of the frame body for blocking the direct transmission of the vibration source, thereby decreasing the transmitted energy from the vibration source. Thus, the fan frame  2  of this disclosure can provide the effect of reducing the operation noise. 
     In this embodiment, the fan frame  2  further comprises a center connection portion  23 , and the static blades  222  connect to the base  21  through the center connection portion  23 . As shown in  FIGS.  2 A and  2 B , the center connection portion  23 , the static blades  222 , and the metal frame wall  221  are integrally formed as one piece. In particular, although the figures show that the center connection portion  23 , the static blades  222 , and the metal frame wall  221  are integrally formed as one piece, the center connection portion  23 , in practice, can also be an individual structure separated from the static blades  222  and the metal frame wall  221 . This disclosure is not limited. In addition, the center connection portion  23 , the static blades  222 , the metal frame wall  221 , and the base  21  can be integrally formed as one piece, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG.  2 A , the center connection portion  23  is an annular structure. Of course, the center connection portion  23  can also be a polygonal structure, an arc structure, a circular structure, an elliptical structure, or an irregular structure, and this disclosure is not limited. In addition, the center connection portion  23 , for example, connects to all of the static blades  222 . In other embodiments, the center connection portion  23  can connect to two or more of the static blades  222  only, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In this embodiment, a height H 4  of the frame body  22  is greater than a height H 5  of the metal frame wall  221 , and the height H 5  of the metal frame wall  221  is greater than a thickness H 6  of the center connection portion  23 . This design of different heights can effectively decrease the operation noise of the fan configured with the fan frame  2  of this disclosure. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram showing a fan frame  3  according to another embodiment of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the fan frame  3  comprises a frame body  31 , a base  32 , and a plurality of static blades  33 . The frame body  31  comprises a frame wall  311 . One end of each static blade  33  connects to the base  32 , and the other end of each static blade  33  connects to the frame wall  311 . At least one part of the static blades  33  is made of metal. 
     In this embodiment, each static blade  33  comprises a supporting portion  331  and a wing portion  332  extending outwardly from the supporting portion  331 . For example, the frame body  31  may cover the entire static blades  33 , which include the supporting portions  331  and the wing portions  332 ). Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the supporting portions  331  of the static blades  33  only. Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the supporting portions  331  and a part of the wing portions  332  of the static blades  33 . Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the entire static blades  33  and the entire base  32 . Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the supporting portions  331  and a part of the wing portions  32  of the static blades  33 , and the entire base  32 . Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the entire static blades  33  and at least one part of the base  32 . Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the supporting portions  331  of the static blades  33  and at least one part of the base  32 . Alternatively, the frame body  31  may cover the supporting portions  331  and a part of the wing portions  332  of the static blades  33 , and at least one part of the base  32 . In this embodiment, the frame body  31  is made of plastic material, and the base  32  can be, for example but not limited to, all made of metal, at least partially covered by the frame body  31  to form a part of plastic material and a part of metal, an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer, or integrated with the frame body  31  to form a whole plastic integrated piece. This disclosure is not limited. In addition, the static blades  33  can be, for example, all made of metal, at least partially covered by the frame body  31  to form a part of plastic material and a part of metal, an inner metal layer with a partial external plastic layer, or an inner metal layer with an external plastic layer. This disclosure is not limited. The design of the materials of the frame body  31 , the base  32 , and the static blades  33  can increase the effective air quantity and airflow speed outputted by the operating fan containing the fan frame  3  of this disclosure. In addition, the configuration of the combination of different materials can disperse the resonance of the frame body for blocking the direct transmission of the vibration source, thereby decreasing the transmitted energy from the vibration source. Thus, the fan frame  1  of this disclosure can provide the effect of reducing the operation noise. 
     In this embodiment, the fan frame  3  further comprises a center connection portion  34 , and the static blades  33  connect to the base  32  through the center connection portion  34 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , the center connection portion  34 , the static blades  33 , and the base  32  are integrally formed as one piece. In particular, although the figure shows that the center connection portion  34 , the static blades  33 , and the base  32  are integrally formed as one piece, the center connection portion  34 , in practice, can also be an individual structure separated from the static blades  33  and the base  32 . In addition, the static blades  33  can be individual structures separated from the center connection portion  34  and the base  32 , and the base  32  can be an individual structure separated from the center connection portion  34  and the static blades  33 . This disclosure is not limited. In addition, the center connection portion  34  can be, for example, an annular structure, a polygonal structure, an arc structure, a circular structure, an elliptical structure, or an irregular structure, and this disclosure is not limited. In addition, the center connection portion  34  can connect to all of the static blades  33 . In other embodiments, the center connection portion  34  can connect to two or more of the static blades  33  only, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In this embodiment, the fan frame  3  further comprises a peripheral connection portion  35 , and the static blades  33  connect to the frame wall  311  through the peripheral connection portion  35 . In particular, the peripheral connection portion  35 , the static blades  33 , and the frame wall  311  can be integrally formed as one piece (not shown). Alternatively, the peripheral connection portion  35  can be an individual structure separated from the static blades  33  and the frame wall  311 , or the static blades  33  can be an individual structure separated from the peripheral connection portion  35  and the frame wall  311 , or the frame wall  311  can be an individual structure separated from the peripheral connection portion  35  and the static blades  33 . This disclosure is not limited. Moreover, the peripheral connection portion  35 , the center connection portion  34 , the static blades  33 , and the base  32  can be integrally formed as one piece, or the frame wall  311 , the peripheral connection portion  35 , the center connection portion  34 , the static blades  33 , and the base  32  can be integrally formed as one piece. This disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, the peripheral connection portion  35  can be, for example but not limited to, an annular structure, a polygonal structure, an arc structure, a circular structure, an elliptical structure, or an irregular structure, and this disclosure is not limited. Furthermore, the peripheral connection portion  35  may connect to all of the static blades  33 . In other embodiments, the peripheral connection portion  35  can connect to two or more of the static blades  33  only, and this disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In this embodiment, a height H 7  of the frame wall  311  is greater than a height H 8  of the peripheral connection portion  35 , and the height H 8  of the peripheral connection portion  35  is greater than a thickness H 9  of the center connection portion  34 . This design of different heights can effectively decrease the operation noise of the fan configured with the fan frame  3  of this disclosure. 
     In summary, this disclosure is to change the materials of the frame wall, base and static blades of the fan frame. In particular, at least one or a combination of the frame wall, the base and the static blades is all made of metal material, or is a structure containing a part of metal and partially covered by the plastic frame. Accordingly, the static blades and the other parts of the fan frame are made of different materials. Since the different materials have different vibration properties, the fan frame, which are made of different materials, can disperse the vibration of the fan frame, thereby preventing the resonance of the fan frame. Thus, the fan containing the fan frame of this disclosure can stably operate and reduce the generated noise, thereby extending the lifetime of the fan and maintaining the operation performance of the fan. In addition, although the fan frame is made of different materials, it is still possible to provide one material (e.g. a plastic material) to cover a part of the other material (e.g. a metal material), so that the fan frame can be manufactured as an integrated piece. This configuration can decrease the manufacturing cost and speed the manufacturing process. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention.