Fan motor

Abstract

A fan motor includes a motor, an impeller, and a housing. The motor includes a stationary portion including a stator, and a rotating portion that rotates about a center axis extending vertically. The impeller includes blades and rotates with the rotating portion. The housing accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the housing. The housing includes a cylindrical portion, a flange portion, and at least one rib. The cylindrical portion has a cylindrical shape, extends in an axial direction, and accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the cylindrical portion. The flange portion protrudes radially outward from an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion. The at least one rib has a columnar shape, extends from the flange portion on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and is inclined against the axial direction.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A fan motor comprising:
 a motor including a stationary portion including a stator, and a rotating portion that rotates about a center axis extending vertically;   an impeller including a plurality of blades and rotating with the rotating portion;   a housing that accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the housing; wherein   the housing includes:
 a cylindrical portion that has a cylindrical shape, extends in an axial direction, and accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the cylindrical portion; 
 a flange portion that protrudes radially outward from an upper end portion or a lower end portion of the cylindrical portion; and 
 at least one rib with a columnar shape and extending from the flange portion on an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion; and 
   the at least one rib is inclined relative to the axial direction.   
     
     
         14 . The fan motor according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the housing further includes:
 a base that supports the motor; and 
 at least one base connector with a columnar shape and connecting an outer peripheral surface of the base and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion in a bottom of the housing; and 
   the at least one rib is inclined in a direction away from the center axis as the at least one rib extends from the bottom to a top of the housing.   
     
     
         15 . The fan motor according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the housing has a rectangular solid shape that opens upward and downward; and   two or more of the at least one rib are provided to each of four side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape.   
     
     
         16 . The fan motor according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the housing has a rectangular solid shape that opens upward and downward;   two or more of the at least one rib are provided to each of two side surfaces of four side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape; and   the side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape, to which the two or more ribs are provided, are adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         17 . The fan motor according to  claim 13 , wherein the flange portion includes:
 an upper flange portion protruding radially outward from the upper end portion of the cylindrical portion; and   a lower flange portion protruding radially outward from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion; and   a thickness of the at least one rib is equal to or less than a thickness in the axial direction of the upper flange portion or the lower flange portion.   
     
     
         18 . A fan motor, comprising:
 a motor including a stationary portion including a stator, and a rotating portion that rotates about a center axis extending vertically;   an impeller including a plurality of blades and rotating with the rotating portion; and   a housing that accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the housing; wherein   the housing includes:
 a first housing; and 
 a second housing directly or indirectly fixed to a lower side of the first housing; 
   the first housing includes:
 a first cylindrical portion that has a cylindrical shape, extends in an axial direction, and accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the first cylindrical portion; and 
 an upper flange portion that protrudes radially outward from an upper end portion of the first cylindrical portion; 
   the second housing includes:
 a second cylindrical portion that has a cylindrical shape, is disposed below the first cylindrical portion, extends in the axial direction, and accommodates at least a portion of the motor and the impeller in the second cylindrical portion; and 
 a lower flange portion that protrudes radially outward from a lower end portion of the second cylindrical portion; 
   the housing further includes at least one of:
 at least one first rib with a columnar shape and extending downward from the upper flange portion in a direction of being inclined relative to the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion; and 
 at least one second rib with a columnar shape and extending upward from the lower flange portion in a direction of being inclined relative to the axial direction on an outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion. 
   
     
     
         19 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein
 the second housing further includes:
 a base that supports the motor; and 
 at least one base connector with a columnar shape and connecting an outer peripheral surface of the base and an inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion; and 
   the at least one first rib is inclined in a direction away from the center axis as the at least one first rib extends to a top of the housing.   
     
     
         20 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein the housing includes only the at least one first rib out of the at least one first rib and the at least one second rib. 
     
     
         21 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein
 each of the first housing and the second housing has a rectangular solid shape that opens upward and downward; and   two or more of the at least one first rib or the at least one second rib are provided to each of four side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape.   
     
     
         22 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein
 each of the first housing and the second housing has a rectangular solid shape that opens upward and downward;   two or more of the at least one first rib or the at least one second rib are provided to each of two side surfaces of four side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape; and   the side surfaces of the rectangular solid shape, to which the at least one first rib or the at least one second rib are provided, are adjacent to each other.   
     
     
         23 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein a thickness of the at least one first rib and the at least one second rib is equal to or less than a thickness in the axial direction of the upper flange portion or the lower flange portion. 
     
     
         24 . The fan motor according to  claim 18 , wherein the second housing further includes:
 a base that supports the motor; and   at least one base connector with a columnar shape and connecting an outer peripheral surface of the base and an inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion;   the at least one first rib is inclined in a direction away from the center axis toward a top of the housing;   the at least one second rib is inclined in a direction away from the center axis toward a bottom of the housing; and   a lower end portion of the at least one first rib and an upper end portion of the at least one second rib are disposed to be in contact with each other.