Fan motor and fan motor assembly for an apparatus such as a refrigerator

Abstract

An apparatus such as a refrigerator includes a fan motor and a fan motor assembly. The fan motor assembly includes fastening brackets on opposed lateral surfaces or sides of the body or housing of the fan motor, and a fan fastening unit that is attached to the fan motor (e.g., the body or housing) using the fastening brackets, thereby reducing noise and vibration due to operation of the fan motor, enhancing the flow of air around the fan motor, minimizing an installation space of the fan motor, and reducing the manufacturing cost of the fan motor assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fan motor operable for use in a refrigerator, the fan motor comprising:
 a body;   a rotational shaft projecting or extending from the body; and   fastening brackets on opposed lateral surfaces or sides of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The fan motor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fastening brackets is integral with the body. 
     
     
         3 . The fan motor of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fastening brackets comprises:
 a first portion joined or attached to one of the lateral surfaces of the body;   a second portion attached to an end of the first portion and extending at an angle from the first portion; and   a flange portion extending from the second portion.   
     
     
         4 . The fan motor of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion extends orthogonally or substantially orthogonally from the body, the second portion extends orthogonally or substantially orthogonally from the first portion, and the flange portion extends parallel or substantially parallel from the second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The fan motor of  claim 3 , further comprising a connecting hole in the flange portion of each of the fastening brackets. 
     
     
         6 . The fan motor of  claim 5 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, the flange portion, and the connecting hole of each of the fastening brackets are integral with each other. 
     
     
         7 . A fan motor assembly comprising the fan motor of  claim 1 , the fan motor assembly comprising:
 a fan motor fastening unit to which the fan motor is joined or attached; and   a fan joined or attached to the rotational shaft.   
     
     
         8 . The fan motor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the fan motor fastening unit comprises:
 a body portion having a through-hole therein and through which the rotational shaft of the fan motor passes;   a projection coupled to the body portion around the circumference of the through-hole; and   connecting portions on a surface of the projection on opposite sides of the through-hole.   
     
     
         9 . The fan motor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the fan motor is directly joined or attached to the fan motor fastening unit using bolts or screws that are inserted through connecting holes in the fastening brackets into the connecting portions. 
     
     
         10 . The fan motor of  claim 1 , wherein the number and arrangement of the fastening brackets is selected from the group consisting: two fastening brackets 180° apart; three fastening brackets 120° apart; and four fastening brackets 90° apart. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 an evaporator;   a fan motor adjacent to the evaporator, comprising:
 a body; 
 a rotational shaft projecting or extending from the body; and 
 fastening brackets on opposed lateral surfaces or sides of the body; 
   a fan motor fastening unit coupled to the fan motor; and   a fan attached to the rotational shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein each of the fastening brackets comprises:
 a first portion attached to one of the lateral surfaces of the body;   a second portion attached to an end of the first portion; and   a flange portion extending from the second portion.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising a connecting hole in the flange portion of each of the fastening brackets. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion, the second portion, the flange portion, and the connecting hole of each of the fastening brackets are integral with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the fan motor fastening unit comprises:
 a body portion having a through-hole therein and through which the rotational shaft of the fan motor passes;   a projection coupled to the body portion around the circumference of the through-hole; and   connecting portions on a surface of the projection on opposite sides of the through-hole.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the fan motor is directly attached to the fan motor fastening unit using bolt or screws that are inserted through connecting holes in the fastening brackets into the connecting portions. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the number and arrangement of the fastening brackets is selected from the group consisting: two fastening brackets 180° apart; three fastening brackets 120° apart; and four fastening brackets 90° apart. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein each of the fastening brackets is integral with the body. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion extends orthogonally or substantially orthogonally from the body, the second portion extends orthogonally or substantially orthogonally from the first portion, and the flange portion extends parallel or substantially parallel from the second portion.