US Patent 7557479 Electric fan with bearing

An electric fan includes a fan base (10), a bearing (40) and a rotor assembly (20). The fan base forms a center tube (11) receiving the bearing therein. The center tube has a wall and a baffle element (110) bending from a top end of the wall. The baffle element engages with a top of the bearing to prevent lubricant oil from leakaing from the top of the bearing. The rotor assembly includes a fan hub (22), and a pivot axle (23) joined to the fan hub. The pivot axle pivotably extends into the bearing. The bearing has a central bore (42) and at least one channel (43) defined in the bearing and located around the bore. As the fan is operated, the lubricating oil repeatedly flows through the at least one channel.