Fan blades, fan motors, information processing devices, and projectors

Abstract

The present invention provides a fan blade capable of ensuring sufficient airflow and cooling effect even when the fan blade is made thinner, a fan motor incorporating the fan blade, an information processing device equipped with the fan motor, and a projector equipped with the fan motor. [Solution] The fan blade 4 of the present invention comprises a plurality of blade portions 29 and 44, the upper part of the blade portions 29 and 44 having an upper restricting plate portion 34 extending in the rotation direction F of the fan blade 4, and the lower part of the blade portions 29 and 44 having a lower restricting plate portion 51 extending in the rotation direction F of the fan blade 4, and the blade portions 29 and 44, the upper restricting plate portion 34, and the lower restricting plate portion 51 form a substantially U shape.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fan blade of a centrifugal fan, a fan motor incorporating the fan blade, an information processing apparatus equipped with the fan motor, and a projector equipped with the fan motor.

Background Art

[0002] Centrifugal fans mounted on various electronic devices and blowing air to cool heat-generating bodies have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The centrifugal fans (38, 39) described in Patent Document 1 are mounted on electronic devices (10) such as notebook PCs, desktop PCs, tablet PCs, smartphones, and game machines. In recent years, such electronic devices have been required to be thinner. In order to make electronic devices thinner, centrifugal fans mounted on electronic devices are also required to be thinner.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, simply thinning the centrifugal fan has a problem that the air volume per unit time decreases and a sufficient cooling effect cannot be obtained.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a fan blade capable of ensuring a sufficient air volume and cooling effect even when thinned, a fan motor incorporating the fan blade, an information processing apparatus equipped with the fan motor, and a projector equipped with the fan motor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The fan blade of the present invention is a fan blade for a centrifugal fan, comprising a plurality of blade portions, the upper part of each blade portion having a first regulating plate portion extending in the rotational direction of the fan blade, the lower part of each blade portion having a second regulating plate portion extending in the rotational direction of the fan blade, and the blade portion, the first regulating plate portion, and the second regulating plate portion forming a substantially U-shape.

[0008] The fan motor of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned fan blades, a casing for housing the fan blades, and a motor unit.

[0009] The information processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned fan motor as a cooling means.

[0010] The projector of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned fan motor as a cooling means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, sufficient airflow and cooling effect can be ensured. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a fan motor in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a disassembled perspective view of the upper case of the fan motor of the same embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a disassembled perspective view of the upper case and fan blades of the fan motor of the same embodiment. [Figure 4] This is an upper perspective view of the fan blade of the same embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of the upper blade body of the same embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the lower blade body and yoke of the same embodiment. [Figure 7]It is a bottom perspective view of the fan blade of the same embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a plan view of the fan blade of the same embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 8. [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 8. [Figure 12] It is a front view of the fan blade of the same embodiment. [Figure 13] It is a modified example of the upper blade part and the lower blade part of the same embodiment. [Figure 14] It is another modified example of the upper blade part and the lower blade part of the same embodiment. [Figure 15] It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the position of the reinforcing plate part of the conventional fan blade.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Not all of the configurations of the embodiments described below are essential requirements of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a fan motor 1 which is a centrifugal fan in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fan motor 1 includes an upper case 2, a lower case 3, and a fan blade 4. The upper case 2 and the lower case 3 constitute a casing 5 and accommodate the fan blade 4.

[0015] A circular first air intake port 6 for taking air into the fan motor 1 is formed in the upper case 2 formed in a thin plate shape. The diameter D1 of the first air intake port 6 in the present embodiment is formed to be 44 mm, but the diameter D1 is changed according to the equipment on which the fan motor 1 is mounted, the required cooling performance, etc.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the lower case 3 is composed of a thin plate-shaped bottom plate portion 7, a wall portion 8 erected on the outer periphery of the bottom plate portion 7, a motor unit 9 fixed to the bottom plate portion 7, and wiring 10 that supplies power to the motor unit 9.

[0017] A motor unit 9 is positioned approximately in the center of the base plate 7. The motor unit 9 comprises a stratified iron core 11, a bearing portion 12 provided in the center of the stratified iron core 11, and windings (not shown) wound around multiple (6 in this embodiment) arm portions 13 of the stratified iron core 11. The bearing portion 12 has an insertion hole 14 through which a shaft portion 24 (see Figure 7), fixed to the fan blade 4 by laser welding, is inserted. A mounting plate 15 is fixed to the base plate 7, and the motor unit 9 is attached to this mounting plate 15. A permanent magnet 26, which will be described later, also constitutes the motor unit 9.

[0018] The wall portion 8 is not formed around the entire outer circumference of the base plate portion 1; there are parts where the wall portion 8 is not formed, and these parts where the wall portion 8 is not formed serve as exhaust ports 16 (see Figure 1) through which air is discharged from the fan motor 1. In addition, the base plate portion 7 has a second intake port 17, a third intake port 18, and a fourth intake port 19 formed therein, which are through holes for drawing air into the fan motor 1.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the fan blade 4 includes a yoke 21, an upper blade body 22, a lower blade body 23, a shaft portion 24 provided in the center of the yoke 21 and extending downward, and a plurality of permanent magnets 26 (6 in this embodiment) bonded to the inner surface of the side wall portion 25 of the yoke 21. The outer diameter D2 of the fan blade 4 in this embodiment is formed to be 54 mm, but the outer diameter D2 may be changed depending on the equipment on which the fan motor 1 is mounted and the required cooling performance.

[0020] The yoke 21 is made of metal and has a cylindrical shape with a closed top and an open bottom, and a shaft portion 24 extending downward in the central part. Multiple (6 in this embodiment) locking grooves 27 extending in the vertical direction are formed in the side wall portion 25 of the yoke 21. Each locking groove 27 is formed in a concave shape and is arranged at equal intervals.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5, the upper blade body 22 is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical upper base portion 28 provided in the central part and a plurality of thin plate-like upper wing portions 29 (113 in this embodiment) extending substantially radially from the upper base portion 28.

[0022] Multiple (8 in this embodiment) concave locking portions 31 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface portion 30 of the upper base portion 28. The eight concave locking portions 31 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0023] The upper blade portion 29 is formed in a roughly S-shape when viewed from above, and has an outer portion 33 on which an upper reinforcing plate portion 32 is provided, an intermediate portion 35 on which an upper regulating plate portion 34 is provided, and an inner portion 36 provided between the upper base portion 28 and the intermediate portion 33. The diameter D3 of the upper blade portion 29 inside the intermediate portion 35 is formed to be approximately 44 mm, but the diameter D3 may be changed depending on the equipment on which the fan motor 1 is mounted and the required cooling performance.

[0024] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the upper blade section 29 has an upper plate thickness T1 of 0.2 mm and a lower plate thickness T2 of 0.15 mm, tapering from top to bottom. This is just one example, and the plate thickness values ​​T1 and T2 of the upper blade section 29 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes. Plate thicknesses T1 and T2 are common to the outer section 33, the middle section 35, and the inner section 36. As shown in Figure 8, the spacing S1 between adjacent upper blade sections 29 is narrower on the upper base section 28 side and wider on the outer section 33 side, but each upper blade section 29 is arranged in parallel at equal intervals.

[0025] An annular upper reinforcing plate portion 32 is provided at the top of the outer portion 33. The outer peripheral surface portion 37 of the upper reinforcing plate portion 32 is flush with the outer end surface portion 38 of the upper blade portion 29. Figure 15 shows a conventional fan blade 4A, but the outer peripheral surface portion 37A of the reinforcing plate portion 32A is not flush with the outer end surface portion 38A of the blade portion 29A, and the reinforcing plate portion 32A is provided inside (towards the base portion 28A) of the outer end surface portion 38A. As a result, in the portion outside the reinforcing plate portion 32A, some of the air flows upward and diffuses, resulting in poor air blowing efficiency. In this embodiment, since the upper reinforcing plate portion 32 is arranged on the outermost part of the upper blade portion 29, upward movement of air is prevented, and the air blowing efficiency is improved compared to the conventional fan blade 4A. In this embodiment, the thickness T3 (see Figure 9) of the upper reinforcing plate portion 32 is 0.5 mm, and the width M1 (see Figure 8) of the upper reinforcing plate portion 32 in the shorter direction is 5 mm. However, this is just an example, and the values ​​of the plate thickness T3 and width M1 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes.

[0026] An upper regulating plate portion 34, formed in the shape of a thin plate, extends horizontally from the upper part of the intermediate portion 35 in the rotation direction F (see Figure 4) of the fan blade 4. In this embodiment, the plate thickness T4 (see Figure 10) of the upper regulating plate portion 34 is 0.5 mm, the length L1 (see Figure 8) of the upper regulating plate portion 34 is 7 mm, and the length L2 (see Figure 10) of the upper regulating plate portion 34 is 0.5 mm. However, this is just an example, and the values ​​of plate thickness T3, length L1, and length L2 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes. The upper regulating plate portion 34 is formed to a length that does not come into contact with adjacent upper blade portions 29.

[0027] The upper base portion 28, the upper reinforcing plate portion 32, the upper regulating plate portion 34, and the inner portion 36 have upper surfaces that are flush with each other.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the upper blade body 22 is connected to two adjacent upper wing portions 29 and an upper reinforcing plate portion 32, and has multiple (5 in this embodiment) upper connecting portions 39 with a convex shape on the lower side. The upper connecting portions 39 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0029] In this embodiment, the upper base portion 28, the upper wing portion 29, the upper reinforcing plate portion 32, the upper regulating plate portion 34, and the upper connecting portion 39 are formed integrally, but some or all of them may be made as separate components and joined together to form the upper blade body 22.

[0030] As shown in Figure 6, the lower blade body 23 is made of synthetic resin and has a cylindrical lower base portion 41 provided in the central part, a contact plate portion 43 extending horizontally outward from the lower part 42 of the lower base portion 41, and a plurality of thin plate-like lower wing portions 44 (113 in this embodiment) extending substantially radially from the contact plate portion 43.

[0031] Multiple (5 in this embodiment) inwardly convex locking portions 46 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the inner surface 45 of the lower base portion 41. The five inwardly convex locking portions 46 are arranged at equal intervals. Multiple (8 in this embodiment) outwardly convex locking portions 48 extending in the vertical direction are formed on the outer surface 47 of the lower base portion 41. The eight outwardly convex locking portions 48 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0032] The lower vane portion 44 is formed in a roughly S-shape when viewed from above, and has an outer portion 50 on which a lower reinforcing plate portion 49 is provided, an intermediate portion 52 on which a lower regulating plate portion 51 is provided, and an inner portion 53 provided between the lower base portion 41 and the intermediate portion 52. The diameter D4 of the lower vane portion 44 inside the intermediate portion 52 is formed to be approximately 44 mm, but the diameter D4 may be changed depending on the equipment on which the fan motor 1 is mounted and the required cooling performance.

[0033] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, the lower blade section 44 has an upper plate thickness T5 of 0.15 mm and a lower plate thickness T6 of 0.2 mm, tapering from bottom to top. This is just one example, and the plate thickness values ​​T5 and T6 of the lower blade section 44 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes. Plate thicknesses T5 and T6 are common to the outer section 50, the middle section 52, and the inner section 53. As shown in Figure 7, the spacing S2 between adjacent lower blade sections 44 is narrower on the lower base section 41 side and wider on the outer section 50 side, but each lower blade section 44 is arranged in parallel at equal intervals.

[0034] A ring-shaped lower reinforcing plate portion 49 is provided at the lower part of the outer portion 50. The outer peripheral surface portion 54 of the lower reinforcing plate portion 49 is flush with the outer end surface portion 55 of the lower blade portion 44. In this embodiment, the plate thickness T7 (see Figure 9) of the lower reinforcing plate portion 49 is 0.5 mm, and the width M2 in the short direction of the lower reinforcing plate portion 49 (see Figure 7) is 5 mm. However, this is just an example, and the values ​​of plate thickness T7 and width M2 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes.

[0035] A thin plate-shaped lower regulating plate portion 51 is extended horizontally in the rotational direction F of the fan blade 4 at the lower part of the intermediate portion 35. In this embodiment, the plate thickness T8 (see Figure 10) of the lower regulating plate portion 51 is 0.5 mm, the length L3 (see Figure 7) of the lower regulating plate portion 51 is 7 mm, and the length L4 (see Figure 10) of the lower regulating plate portion 51 is 0.5 mm. However, this is just an example, and the values ​​of plate thickness T8, length L3, and length L4 will change accordingly if the size of the fan motor 1 changes. The lower regulating plate portion 51 is formed to a length that does not come into contact with adjacent lower blade portions 44.

[0036] The lower base portion 41, the lower reinforcing plate portion 49, the lower regulating plate portion 51, and the inner portion 53 have upper surfaces that are flush with each other.

[0037] In this embodiment, the upper blade section 29 and the lower blade section 44 each have 113 blades. However, the number of blades in the upper blade section 29 and the lower blade section 44 can be appropriately determined considering the size of the fan blade 4 and the required airflow rate (cooling efficiency). For example, the number of blades in the upper blade section 29 and the lower blade section 44 can be set to 30 or more, or to 100 or more. In this invention, by forming a single blade section by bringing the upper blade section 29 and the lower blade section 44 into contact, the length of the upper blade section 29 and the lower blade section 44 is halved, allowing for a thinner plate thickness to ensure the necessary strength. Therefore, while the conventional fan blade 4A shown in Figure 15 has 97 blades, the fan blade 4 of this embodiment can have 113 blades, which is 100 or more.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, the lower blade body 23 is connected to two adjacent lower wing portions 44 and a lower reinforcing plate portion 49, and has multiple (5 in this embodiment) lower connecting portions 56 with a concave shape on the upper side. The lower connecting portions 56 are arranged at equal intervals.

[0039] In this embodiment, the lower base portion 41, the lower wing portion 44, the lower reinforcing plate portion 49, the lower regulating plate portion 51, and the lower connecting portion 56 are formed integrally, but some or all of them may be made as separate components and joined together to form the lower blade body 23.

[0040] The yoke 21 and the lower blade body 23 are formed by insert molding (integral molding), with the locking groove 27 of the yoke 21 and the inner convex locking portion 46 of the lower blade body 23 locking together. In addition, the upper plate body 22 is positioned on the lower blade body 23 by the locking of the concave locking portion 31 of the upper plate body 22 and the outer convex locking portion 48 of the lower blade body 23. The upper plate body 22 and the lower blade body 23 are joined by the fitting, bonding, or welding of the upper base portion 28 and the lower base portion 41. At this time, the bottom of the upper base portion 28 abuts against the contact plate portion 43, the lower end portion 40 of the upper wing portion 29 and the upper end portion 57 of the lower wing portion 44 abut (see Figures 9 to 12), and the upper connecting portion 39 and the lower connecting portion 56 fit together. As shown in Figure 10, the upper wing portion 29, the upper regulating plate portion 34, the lower wing portion 44, and the lower regulating plate portion 51 form a roughly U-shape in a longitudinal cross-sectional view. The roughly U-shape includes cases where the corners of the upper wing portion 29, upper regulating plate portion 34, lower wing portion 44, and lower regulating plate portion 51 are chamfered, or where the corners are formed into an arc shape, or where the upper wing portion 29, upper regulating plate portion 34, lower wing portion 44, and lower regulating plate portion 51 themselves are curved, forming a roughly inverted C-shape. The yoke 21 and the lower blade body 23 may be formed separately and joined by adhesive or welding.

[0041] The upper connecting parts 39 and lower connecting parts 56 are provided in the same number, with five of each in this embodiment. However, the number of upper connecting parts 39 and lower connecting parts 56 can be appropriately determined considering the size of the fan blade 4, etc., as long as the upper blade body 22 and the lower blade body 23 can be securely fixed. Since the fan blade 4 is circular, it is preferable to have three or more to ensure stable fixing. Furthermore, by making the number of upper connecting parts 39 and lower connecting parts 56 each a prime number of three or more, resonance during the rotation of the fan blade 4 can be suppressed, resulting in quieter operation.

[0042] In this embodiment, the fan blade 4 is composed of two parts, an upper plate body 22 and a lower blade body 23, and the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44 are brought into contact to form a single blade. As shown in Figure 15, in the case of a blade portion 29A made of one part, the vertical length of the blade portion 29A is long, so the plate thickness of the blade portion 29A needs to be made to a certain extent in order to prevent bending of the blade portion 29A. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 is divided into an upper blade portion 29 and a lower blade portion 44, so the vertical length of the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44 is 1 / 2 of the blade portion 29A, and the amount of bending is also less compared to the blade portion 29A, so the plate thickness can be made thinner. Therefore, the number of blades can be increased compared to the fan blade 4A. Therefore, when fan blade 4 and fan blade 4A are rotated at the same speed, fan blade 4, which has more blades, can release more air. Furthermore, it can release the same amount of air even at a rotation speed slower than that of fan blade 4A. By reducing the rotation speed, noise can be reduced.

[0043] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, in this embodiment, the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44 have one side surface 59, 60 on the side of the fan blade 4 in the direction of rotation F and the other side surface 61, 62 on the opposite side of the fan blade 4 in the direction of rotation F which are inclined and thinned. However, as shown in Figure 13, the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44 may have one side surface 59, 60 inclined and the other side surface 61, 62 not inclined and thinned. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 14, the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44 may have one side surface 59, 60 not inclined and the other side surface 61, 62 inclined and thinned.

[0044] The fan motor 1 is energized through the wiring 10 to the windings, and the fan blades 4, which are attached to a yoke 21 with a permanent magnet 26, rotate around the shaft 24 due to the magnetic force from the windings. As the fan blades 4 rotate, air is drawn into the fan blades 4 and the casing 5 from the first intake port 6, the second intake port 17, the third intake port 18, and the fourth intake port 19, and the air is discharged outwards from the fan blades 4 between the adjacent upper blades 29 and lower blades 44. The air discharged from the fan blades 4 is then discharged to the outside of the casing 5 through the exhaust port 16.

[0045] The fan motor 1 is mounted on a relatively small information processing device (not shown), such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop computer. Outside the exhaust port 16, there are heat sources (objects to be cooled) (not shown), such as a CPU (central processing unit) of the information processing device, and heat dissipation fins (not shown) that come into thermal contact with the heat sources (objects to be cooled), and the heat sources (objects to be cooled) are air-cooled by the air discharged from the exhaust port 16.

[0046] The fan motor 1 can also be mounted on a projector (not shown), which is an optical projection device that enlarges and projects / displays images onto a screen or the like. It can blow air from the exhaust port 16 to the heat source (to be cooled), such as the light source of the projector, thereby air-cooling the heat source (to be cooled).

[0047] As described above, the fan blade 4 of this embodiment is a fan blade 4 for a centrifugal fan and comprises a plurality of upper blades 29 and a plurality of lower blades 44. The upper part of the upper blades 29 has an upper restricting plate portion 34 extending in the rotation direction F of the fan blade 4, and the lower part of the lower blades 44 has a lower restricting plate portion 51 extending in the rotation direction F of the fan blade 4. The lower end portion 40 of the upper blades 29 and the upper end portion 57 of the lower blades 44 come into contact with each other, so that the upper blades 29, the upper restricting plate portion 34, the lower blades 44 and the lower restricting plate portion 51 form a substantially U-shape. As a result, the air released from the fan blade 4 is less likely to flow in the vertical direction due to the upper restricting plate portion 34 and the lower restricting plate portion 51, and the air is less likely to diffuse. As a result, air can be released linearly from the fan blade 4.

[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has multiple upper blades 29 arranged in a ring-like parallel arrangement, and multiple lower blades 44 arranged in a ring-like parallel arrangement. The upper outer circumference of the multiple upper blades 29 is provided with an annular plate-shaped upper reinforcing plate portion 32, and the lower outer circumference of the multiple lower blades 44 is provided with an annular plate-shaped lower reinforcing plate portion 49. Therefore, the multiple upper blades 29 can be held by the upper reinforcing plate portion 32, and the multiple lower blades 44 can be held by the lower reinforcing plate portion 49. This makes it possible to suppress deformation and vibration of the upper blades 29 and lower blades 44, and to suppress air diffusion and vibration noise.

[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has an upper reinforcing plate portion 32 provided on the outermost periphery of the upper blade body 22 which is composed of a plurality of upper blade portions 29, and a lower reinforcing plate portion 49 provided on the outermost periphery of the lower blade body 23 which is composed of a plurality of lower blade portions 44. Therefore, near the air outlet of the fan blade 4, the upper reinforcing plate portion 32 and the lower reinforcing plate portion 49 make it difficult for air to flow in the vertical direction, thereby suppressing air diffusion. As a result, air can be discharged linearly from the fan blade 4.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has multiple upper blades 29 extending substantially radially from the upper base 28, and multiple lower blades 44 extending substantially radially from the lower base 41. The upper blades 29 have a portion on the upper base 28 side that does not have an upper restricting plate portion 34, and the lower blades 44 have a portion on the lower base 41 side that does not have a lower restricting plate portion 51. Therefore, sufficient air can be drawn into the fan blade 4 from the portion of the upper blades 29 that does not have an upper restricting plate portion 34 and the portion of the lower blades 44 that does not have a lower restricting plate portion 51.

[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has an upper blade portion 29 that, from the upper base portion 28 side toward the outermost periphery, consists of a portion without an upper restricting plate portion 34, a portion with an upper restricting plate portion 34, and a portion with an upper reinforcing plate portion 32. The lower blade portion 44 has a portion that, from the lower base portion 41 side toward the outermost periphery, consists of a portion without a lower restricting plate portion 51, a portion with a lower restricting plate portion 51, and a portion with a lower reinforcing plate portion 49. As a result, air is drawn in from the upper base portion 28 and the portion without an upper restricting plate portion 34 and a lower restricting plate portion 51 that is close to the base portion 41, and air is made less likely to flow vertically toward the outermost periphery, allowing air to be discharged linearly from the outlet of the fan blade 4.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has an upper plate thickness T1 of the upper blade portion 29 that is thicker than the lower plate thickness T2, and an lower plate thickness T6 of the lower blade portion 44 that is thicker than the upper plate thickness T5. Therefore, air flowing along the upper blade portion 29 tends to flow downwards, and air flowing along the lower blade portion 44 tends to flow upwards. As a result, the air concentrates at the contact point between the upper blade portion 29 and the lower blade portion 44, increasing the airflow velocity at that point, and enabling the discharge of high-velocity air from the outlet of the fan blade 4.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blade 4 has multiple upper blade sections 29 extending substantially radially from the upper base section 28, and multiple lower blade sections 44 extending substantially radially from the lower base section 41, with the upper base section 28 and the lower base section 41 being joined together. Therefore, the central sides of the upper blade body 22 and the lower blade body 23 can be firmly connected.

[0054] Furthermore, the fan blade 4 of this embodiment comprises an upper blade body 22 having a plurality of upper blade portions 29 and an upper base portion 28, and a lower blade body 23 having a plurality of lower blade portions 44 and a lower base portion 41. It has upper connecting portions 39 and lower connecting portions 56 that fix the upper blade body 22 and the lower blade body 23 together, and the upper connecting portions 39 and lower connecting portions 56 are provided at three or more prime number locations. As a result, resonance during the rotation of the fan blade 4 can be suppressed, and noise reduction can be achieved.

[0055] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan blades 4 have an equal number of upper blades 29 and lower blades 44, totaling 100 or more. Having a large number of blades (100 or more) in both the upper and lower sections allows for the release of a large volume of air.

[0056] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the diameter D3 of the fan blade 4 inside the portion having the upper restricting plate portion 34 is approximately the same as the diameter D1 of the first air intake port 6 formed in the casing 5 that houses the fan blade 4. Therefore, the airflow taken into the casing 5 from the first air intake port 6 is less restricted by the upper restricting plate portion 34, and air can be efficiently taken into the fan blade 4.

[0057] The fan motor 1 of this embodiment comprises fan blades 4, a casing 5 housing the fan blades 4, and a motor unit 9. Therefore, the fan motor 1 can be incorporated as a unit into various information processing devices equipped with a heat source (object to be cooled).

[0058] The information processing device of this embodiment is equipped with a fan motor 1 as a cooling means. Therefore, the heat source (object to be cooled) of the information processing device can be air-cooled by the air discharged from the fan motor 1.

[0059] The projector of this embodiment is equipped with a fan motor 1 as a cooling means. Therefore, the heat source (the object to be cooled) of the projector can be air-cooled by the air discharged from the fan motor 1.

[0060] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the yoke may be formed by insert molding (integral molding) with the upper plate body instead of the lower plate body. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1 Fan motor 4 Fan Blades 5. Casing 9 Motor Unit 29 Upper wing section (wing section) 34 Upper regulating plate section (first regulating plate section) 44 Lower wing section (wing section) 51 Lower regulating plate section (second regulating plate section) 59 One side 60 One aspect 61 Other aspects 62 Other aspects F Rotation direction T1 Upper plate thickness of the upper wing section 29 (Upper plate thickness) T2 Upper wing section 29 lower plate thickness (plate thickness in the central part) T5 Upper plate thickness of the lower wing section 44 (plate thickness of the central part) T6 Lower plate thickness of the lower wing section 44 (lower plate thickness)

Claims

1. These are fan blades for centrifugal fans. Equipped with multiple blade sections, The upper part of the blade portion has a first regulating plate portion that extends in the rotational direction of the fan blade, The lower part of the blade portion has a second regulating plate portion that extends in the rotational direction of the fan blade, A fan blade characterized in that the blade portion, the first regulating plate portion, and the second regulating plate portion form a substantially U-shape.

2. The fan blade according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper and lower plate thicknesses of the blade portion are greater than the plate thickness of the central portion.

3. The fan blade according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the blade portion is inclined, which is one side of the fan blade on the side in the direction of rotation and the other side of the fan blade on the side opposite to the direction of rotation.

4. A fan motor comprising a fan blade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, a casing for housing the fan blade, and a motor unit.

5. An information processing apparatus characterized by comprising the fan motor described in claim 4 as a cooling means.

6. A projector characterized by comprising the fan motor described in claim 4 as a cooling means.

Images