U.S. patent application number 09/752129 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-04 for reduced complexity hot plug blind mate fan assembly and connector therefor.
Invention is credited to Allen, Joseph R., Hardt, Thomas, Vinson, Wade D..
Application Number | 20020086574 09/752129 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25025002 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020086574 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vinson, Wade D. ; et
al. |
July 4, 2002 |
REDUCED COMPLEXITY HOT PLUG BLIND MATE FAN ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTOR
THEREFOR
Abstract
A fan assembly that can be easily inserted into a mating slot
comprises: a housing surrounding and supporting a fan, a least one
grill positioned so as to restrict access to the fan, a grip
surface on the housing, a latch on the housing and configured to
engage the mating slot; and, and an electrical connector mounted in
the housing. The grip surface is formed on a separate piece from
the housing and is affixed to the housing by an integrally formed
fastening device and the assembly comprising the housing, grill,
grip surface, latch and connector can be assembled by hand without
the use of separate fasteners.
Inventors: |
Vinson, Wade D.; (Magnolia,
TX) ; Allen, Joseph R.; (Tomball, TX) ; Hardt,
Thomas; (Missouri City, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Conley, Rose & Tayon, P.C.
Jonathan M. Harris
P. O. Box 3267
Houston
TX
77253-3267
US
|
Family ID: |
25025002 |
Appl. No.: |
09/752129 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20172 20130101;
H01R 13/6315 20130101; H01R 13/745 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/247 |
International
Class: |
H01R 013/64 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fan assembly for supporting a fan having blades and for
insertion into a mating slot, comprising: a housing surrounding and
supporting the fan; a least one grill positioned so as to restrict
access to the fan blades; a grip surface on said housing; a latch
on said housing and configured to engage the mating slot; and and
an electrical connector mounted in said housing; wherein said grip
surface is formed on a separate piece from said housing and is
affixed to said housing by an integrally formed fastening device;
and wherein the assembly comprising said housing, grill, grip
surface, latch and connector can be assembled by hand without the
use of separate fasteners.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said latch is included on a
latch piece that is separate from said housing.
3. The fan assembly of claim 2 wherein said latch piece is affixed
to said housing by an integrally formed fastening device.
4. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said connector is included
on a connector piece that is separate from said housing.
5. The fan assembly of claim 4 wherein said connector piece is
affixed to said housing by an integrally formed fastening
device.
6. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said grill is included on a
grill piece that is separate from said housing.
7. The fan assembly of claim 6 wherein said grill piece is affixed
to said housing by an integrally formed fastening device.
8. The fan assembly of claim 6, further including a grip piece that
includes said grip, wherein said grill piece is maintained in
alignment with said housing by said grip piece.
9. The fan assembly of claim 8, further including a latch piece
that includes said latch, wherein said grip piece is maintained in
engagement with said housing by said latch piece.
10. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said grill, said latch, and
said grip are assembled sequentially, with each piece engaging the
housing and maintaining the previously assembled pieces in
engagement with said housing.
11. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector
includes at least one pin and said electrical connector being
mounted on said housing such that said connector can move in
directions normal to said pin but is substantially restrained from
moving in directions parallel to said pin.
12. The fan assembly of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector
is held in place on said housing by a connector clip that snaps
into said housing.
13. A fan assembly for supporting a fan and for insertion into a
mating slot, comprising: a housing surrounding and supporting the
fan; a least one grill positioned so as to restrict access to the
fan, said grill being included on a grill piece that is separate
from said housing and affixed to said housing by an integrally
formed fastening device; a grip surface on said housing, said grip
surface being formed on a separate piece from said housing and
affixed to said housing by an integrally formed fastening device; a
latch configured to engage the mating slot, said latch being
included on a latch piece that is separate from said housing and
affixed to said housing by an integrally formed fastening device;
and an electrical connector included on a connector piece that is
separate from said housing, said connector being affixed to said
housing by an integrally formed fastening device; wherein the
assembly comprising said housing, grill, grip surface, latch and
connector can be assembled by hand without the use of separate
fasteners.
14. The fan assembly of claim 13 wherein said grip piece is
maintained in engagement with said housing by said latch piece.
15. The fan assembly of claim 13 wherein said grill, said latch,
and said grip are assembled sequentially, with each piece engaging
the housing and maintaining the previously assembled pieces in
engagement with said housing.
16. The fan assembly of claim 13 wherein said electrical connector
includes at least one pin and said electrical connector being
mounted on said housing such that said connector can move in
directions normal to said pin but is substantially restrained from
moving in directions parallel to said pin.
17. The fan assembly of claim 13 wherein said electrical connector
is held in place on said housing by a connector clip that snaps
into said housing.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to a hot plug fan
for use in a computer. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a fan housing that includes a floating connector and can
be rapidly assembled without the use of tools. Still more
particularly, the present invention relates to a fan assembly that
includes snap-together parts that form a housing that can
releasably engage a slot in a computer housing.
[0005] 2. Background of the Invention
[0006] Fans or other air moving devices for a file server or other
computer are often mounted in a vertical fan support housing. For
operational convenience and flexibility, each fan is typically "hot
plug" connected within the support housing. As used herein the term
"hot plug" or "hot-pluggable" refers to any type of electrical
connection that permits the equipment in question to be removed and
re-installed or replaced without disturbing the operation of other
components.
[0007] In conventional practice, each fan is mounted inside a fan
cage, and includes a connector tethered on a cable. The connector
is insertable into a back plane hot plug socket within the fan
support housing. The fan cage must be assembled around the fan and
connector and cable using several fasteners and the fan cage itself
must then be inserted with precision, so that the tethered
connector is properly aligned and connected. Some or all of the
following problems, limitations and disadvantages are commonly
associated with conventional hot plug fan assemblies of this
general type:
[0008] 1. The assembly steps are time consuming and therefore
costly and it is desirable to provide a fan assembly that can
perform at least as well as conventional fan assemblies without
requiring as much assembly time.
[0009] 2. In addition to requiring several assembly steps, the
conventional fan cage requires a significant volume of space, which
is then unavailable for use as part of the fan operating volume. As
the cooling capability of the fan is a function of its size, it is
desirable to reduce the amount of space required by the fan
cage.
[0010] 3. Furthermore, the tethered connector that is used to make
the hot plug must be manipulated into position in order to make the
electrical connection. This make it necessary to achieve relatively
tight tolerances in the manufacturing of the components so as to
avoid mis-installing or damaging the connector. Tight tolerances,
in turn, increase manufacturing costs. Hence, it is desired to
provide a hot plug fan that can engage the corresponding hot plug
socket without requiring tight tolerances.
[0011] 4. The use of a separate assembly for holding the tethered
connector and fan tends to increase both the complexity and cost
associated with removably supporting each fan, and typically
presents wire ends, which the installer must carefully handle to
avoid cable damage when installing and removing the fan from the
cage. Hence, it is desired to provide a caged fan that does not
require a separate connector assembly in its cage.
[0012] 5. On some caged fans, a considerable amount of manual
pulling force is required to disconnect the board from its
associated hot plug socket within the cage. Other conventional fans
must be screwed or pinned to the support socket, thereby increasing
the overall complexity and fabrication cost of the support system.
Hence, it is desired to provide a fan that can be removed and
replaced under hot plug conditions without undue force or the use
of tools.
[0013] It can be seen from the foregoing that it would be desirable
to provide a hot plug fan assembly with a variety of operational,
assembly, and safety improvements. It is accordingly an object of
the present invention to provide hot plug-connected fan assembly
incorporating such improvements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention provides a fan assembly having many
desirable features. Specifically, the present invention provides a
fan assembly that can perform at least as well as conventional fan
assemblies and requires much less assembly time. The present fan
assembly also reduces the amount of space required by the fan cage,
thereby allowing a larger fan to be fit into a given slot size. In
a preferred embodiment, the present fan assembly provides a hot
plug fan that includes a floating connector that can engage the
corresponding hot plug socket without requiring tight tolerances.
The present fan assembly does not require a circuit board in its
cage, and can be removed and replaced under hot plug conditions
without undue force or the use of tools. For all of these reasons,
the present fan assembly provides a variety of operational,
assembly, and safety improvements.
[0015] According to one preferred embodiment, the present invention
comprises a fan housed in a fan housing, and a fan grill, grip
plate, and latch plate, all of which can be assembled to form the
fan assembly in a few seconds without the use of tools.
[0016] More particularly, one embodiment comprises a fan assembly
that can be easily inserted into a mating slot. The assembly
includes: a housing surrounding and supporting a fan, at least one
grill positioned so as to restrict access to the fan blades, a grip
surface on the housing, a latch on the housing configured to engage
the mating slot, and a electrical connector mounted in the housing.
The grip surface is formed on a separate piece from the housing and
is affixed to the housing by an integrally formed fastening device
and the assembly comprising the housing, grill, grip surface, latch
and connector can be assembled by hand without the use of separate
fasteners.
[0017] In further embodiments, the latch is included on a latch
piece that is separate from the housing, and may be affixed to the
housing by an integrally formed fastening device, the connector is
included on a connector piece that is separate from the housing and
may be affixed to the housing by an integrally formed fastening
device, and/or the grill is included on a grill piece that is
separate from the housing and may be affixed to the housing by an
integrally formed fastening device.
[0018] In still further embodiments, the fan assembly includes a
grip piece and the grill piece is maintained in alignment with the
housing by the grip piece. Alternatively, or in addition, the fan
assembly includes a latch piece, which may maintain the grip piece
in engagement with the housing.
[0019] It is preferred that the grill, the latch, and the grip are
assembled sequentially, with each piece engaging the housing and
maintaining the previously assembled pieces in engagement with the
housing.
[0020] The present fan assembly can also include an electrical
connector that includes at least one pin. The electrical connector
is mounted on the housing such that the connector can move in
directions normal to the pin but is substantially restrained from
moving in directions parallel to the pin. In a preferred
embodiment, the electrical connector is held in place on the
housing by a connector clip that snaps into the housing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] For a more detailed discussion of the preferred embodiments
of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying
Figures, wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present
fan assembly;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled fan housing of
FIG. 1;
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 are bottom and perspective views,
respectively, of the grill 50 of FIG. 1;
[0025] FIGS. 5 and 6 are inner and side views, respectively, of the
grip plate of FIG. 1;
[0026] FIGS. 7 and 8 are outer and side views, respectively, of the
latch plate of FIG. 1; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the connector of FIG. 1.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0028] Certain terms are used throughout the following description
and claims to refer to particular system components. As one skilled
in the art will appreciate, computer companies may refer to a
component by different names. This document does not intend to
distinguish between components that differ in name but not
function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms
"including" and "comprising" are used in an open-ended fashion, and
thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to .
. . ". Also, the term "couple" or "couples" is intended to mean
either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Thus, if a
first device couples to a second device, that connection may be
through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect
electrical connection via other devices and connections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the
present fan assembly includes a fan 10 in a fan housing 20, a grill
50, grip plate 100, and latch plate 150.
[0030] Fan 10 is a conventional motor-driven fan such as are
commonly used to cool computer components. According to a preferred
embodiment, fan 10 is factory-mounted within fan housing 20 so as
to be rotatable within the housing. Fan housing 20 is typically
substantially square shaped, so as to slide into a corresponding
slot in the computer. It is preferred that the diameter of the fan
be only slightly smaller than the width of fan housing 20, so as to
maximize the size of fan 10 within the available space.
[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, housing 20 includes a
substantially flat front plate 24 and a substantially flat rear
plate 26, with a cylindrical fan shroud 28 extending between them.
Housing 20 also includes at least one brace 30 extending between
front and rear plates 24, 26. In a preferred embodiment, a
plurality of braces 30 are provided, with each brace being
substantially planar and extending between front and rear plates
24, 26 in the comers defined between the perimeter of fan shroud 28
and the perimeter of front and rear plates 24, 26. Braces 30 serve
a variety of purposes, as discussed below, including providing
mechanical strength and rigidity to housing 20. Front plate 24
preferably includes one hole 33, 35, 37, 39 in each corner and a
slot 34 adjacent to hole 33. Likewise, rear plate 26 preferably
includes holes 43, 45, 47, and hole 49 (not shown) in each corner
and a slot 44 (not shown) adjacent to hole 43.
[0032] It is further preferred that fan housing 20 include at least
one fan guard or grill 22 that is formed integrally as part of fan
housing 20. It is more preferred that fan housing 20 include two
grills, with one on each side of fan 10, but it is believed that it
will be more economical to manufacture fan housing 20 with an
integral single grill.
[0033] In view of this fact, a separate, a second, separate grill
50 is provided, as shown in FIGS. 1-2. Grill 50 can be added after
assembly of fan 10 in housing 20 is complete. Grill 50 includes a
circular guard portion 52, which prevents inadvertent contact with
the fan blades, and an integrally formed substantially square plate
54, which defined four comers around guard 52. Grill 50 includes
holes 55, 57, and 59 (FIG. 4) in its comers, whose positions
correspond to the positions of holes 35, 37, and 39 on front plate
24.
[0034] Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, one corner of plate
54 is preferably provided with a split retaining pin 53 on its
inside face. Split retaining pin 53 snaps into and releasably
engages hole 33 in one corner of fan housing 20 and provides a
means for maintaining grill 50 in a desired position on the face of
fan housing 20 without requiring the use of tools to attach grill
50 to fan housing 20. It will be understood that other snap-type
mechanisms, including tabs or a snap ring, and other non-snap
devices, such as adhesive, can be used to provide an easily
engaged, releasable connection between grill 50 and fan housing
20.
[0035] If a split retaining pin 53 is used to hold grill 50 in
place, it is preferred to provide only a single pin 53, rather
than, for example, a pin at each comer. Previous assemblies used up
to four or five deformable plastic rivets to secure grill 50 to
housing 20. Using a single pin allows the connection between grill
50 and housing 20 to be made quickly, as only one pin needs to be
aligned. Even though grill 50 can rotate about pin 53 with respect
to fan housing 20, in a preferred embodiment grill 50 is
subsequently held in its desired position by other components, as
discussed in detail below. In addition, it is preferred to provide
one edge of plate 54 with at least one, and preferably two, fingers
58, which snap over the edge of front plate 24 when split retaining
pin 53 engages plate 24. Fingers 58 help to align grill 50 with
front plate 24.
[0036] Once fan housing 20 is equipped with two grills, grip plate
100 is installed. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, grip plate 100
preferably includes a substantially flat panel 102, with a finger
hole 103 near one end and a plurality of perpendicularly extending
latching tabs 106, 108, 110, 112. Tabs 106, 108, 110, 112 are
preferably perpendicular to the inner surface of panel 102 and
parallel to the long axis of panel 102. Latching tabs 106 and 108
are adjacent to finger hole 103 and are approximately as far apart
as the distance between the outer surface of grill 50 and the outer
surface of rear plate 26. Latching tabs 110 and 112 are at the
opposite end of panel 102 and are also approximately as far apart
as the distance between the outer surface of grill 50 and the outer
surface of rear plate 26. Tabs 110 and 112 each include a hole 137,
147 therethrough. Tabs 106 and 108 each include a boss 135, 145
extending from their inner surfaces toward finger hole 103. Grip
plate 100 also preferably includes a stop 148 extending
perpendicularly to its inner surface and perpendicularly to its
long axis.
[0037] When grip plate 100 is added to the fan/grill assembly, boss
135 engages both holes 55 and 35 on grill 50 and front plate 24,
respectively. Boss 145 engages hole 45 on rear plate 26. Tabs 110
and 112 bracket the fan/grill assembly. The engagement of bosses
135 and 145 maintains grip plate 100 in its desired position on
housing 20. The engagement of boss 135 also prevents grill 50 from
rotating with respect to housing 20. Because in a preferred
embodiment grill plate 54 overlap the edge of front plate 24, hole
55 is farther from the overlapping edge of plate 54 than it is from
the adjacent edge. Grip panel 102 extends over this edge and
thereby prevented from rotating about the axis defined by bosses
135, 145. It will be understood that rotation of grip plate 100
with respect to the fan/grill assembly could be prevented in a
variety of ways, such as by using square-sectioned bosses, or by
not rounding the comers of either plate 54 or 24, and the preferred
construction is not intended to be limiting.
[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, latch plate 150 includes
a substantially flat panel 152 with tabs 156, 158, 160, and 162
extending perpendicularly from its long edges. Tab 156 includes an
outward dogleg 163 and a boss 157 extending perpendicularly from
its inner surface. Tab 158 is substantially straight and includes a
boss 159 extending perpendicularly from its inner surface. Tab 160
includes an outward dogleg 164 and a boss 167 extending
perpendicularly from its inner surface. Tab 162 is substantially
straight and includes a boss 169 extending perpendicularly from its
inner surface. While the distance between each pair of tabs 156,
160 and 158, 162 substantially equal to the distance between the
outer surface of grill 50 and the outer surface of rear plate 26,
dog legs 158 and 164 allow the ends of tabs 156, 160 to encompass
all of the thicknesses of the assembled components.
[0039] Latch plate 150 also includes a central spring-loaded latch
member 170. Latch member 170 is preferably formed by providing two
parallel slots 172, 174 in from one short edge of panel 152, and
bending the resulting tongue 178 slightly outward, so that it does
not lie in the plane of panel 152. Tongue 178 preferably includes a
outwardly extending boss 180.
[0040] When latch plate 150 is added to the fan/grill/grip
assembly, boss 157 engages all three holes 135, 57 and 37, boss 159
engages both holes 59 and 39, boss 167 engages both holes 147 and
47, and boss 169 engages hole 49. Because the various bosses engage
differing thicknesses of material, it is preferred that they have
correspondingly different lengths. For this reason, it is further
preferred that they engage their respective holes in the order
recited above.
[0041] Once all four bosses on latch plate have engaged their
respective holes, the four components of the present fan assembly,
namely fan housing 20, grill 50, grip plate 100 and latch plate 150
are substantially rigidly held in place. This configuration allows
for adaptability of the parts and provides an assembly that is much
faster and simpler to assemble than previously known assemblies.
Because of the slight deformations that must occur as the
components are snapped into place, it is preferred to construct the
components from a substantially rigid but slightly flexible
material, such as are known in the art.
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, a preferred connector clip
200 for use with the present assembly includes a substantially flat
panel 202 with a substantially rectangular central opening 204
therethrough. Panel 202 is sized such that its width w is less than
the length of one side of one corner of front plate 24 where it
extends beyond fan shroud 28 and its length I is slightly less than
the distance between the inner surface of front plate 24 and the
inner surface of rear plate 26. Each end of panel 202 includes a
retaining finger 210 extending perpendicularly therefrom. Each
retaining finger preferably includes an outwardly extending lip 212
with a tapered back surface 214. The distance between the outer
edges of lips 212 is preferably greater than the distance between
front plate 24 and rear plate 26.
[0043] Connector clip 200 engages and supports an electrical
connector 220 (FIG. 11), which provides multiple electrical
connections between wires 222 and a corresponding plurality of
sockets using a plurality of pins 223 (shown in phantom). The
mating side of connector 220 preferably has a chamfered mouth, so
as to facilitate alignment of the electrical connectors. Wires 222
provide power and control signals to fan 10, as is known in the
art. The method of engagement between clip 200 and connector 220
can be any suitable devices, but is preferably one that allows some
movement of connector 220 with respect to clip 200. For example one
such engagement is made by providing an opening 204 in panel 202
that is at somewhat larger than the outer dimensions of connector
220 and providing snap-in type connections 224 between connector
220 and clip 200, so that once connector 220 is snapped into clip
200 it has a small range of movement in two lateral directions, but
is prevented from moving out of the plane of clip 200. Alternative
ways to achieve this type of connection include, but are not
limited to elastomeric connections, or other types of retaining
mechanisms that allow some movement of connector 200, such as a
retaining bar or lid.
[0044] With connector 220 snapped into or otherwise engaging
connector clip 200, clip 200 is preferably mounted on the present
fan assembly by inserting panel 202 between front plate 24 and rear
plate 26 such that one retaining finger 210 engages each of slots
34 and 44. More specifically, tapered back surfaces 214 engage the
edges of plates 24 and 26 and cause fingers 210 to flex inward
until the edges of lips 212 fit between front plate 24 and rear
plate 26. Connector clip 200 is inserted until lips 212 snap into
slots 34 and 44 as fingers 210 return to their un-flexed state.
[0045] The width of fingers 210 is preferably slightly less than
the width of slots 34 and 44. This feature, along with the fact
that the length of panel 202 is less than the distance between
front plate 24 and rear plate 26 allows connector clip 200 to move
in both the x and y directions, but not in the z direction. As
drawn, the z direction is parallel to the axes of the pins in the
connectors. This arrangement is desirable for the reasons discussed
below.
[0046] With the fan assembly fully assembled, including grill 50,
latch plate 150, grip plate 100, connector 220 and connector clip
200, it is ready to be installed in a computer. The fan assembly is
preferably slid into a slot (not shown) in a computer such that the
face of housing 20 that is opposite grip plate 100 is at the rear
or bottom of the slot. In this position, boss 180 on latch tongue
178 engages a corresponding latching mechanism on one side of the
slot and grip plate 100 faces outward. Because connector 220 has a
chamfered opening, it will tend to be guided into the correct
alignment as the fan assembly is lowered into the slot and
connector 220 begins to engage its corresponding connector. This in
turn is possible because of the play or movement that is designed
into the structure supporting connector 220. The fan assembly is
slid into the slot until the connector 220 fully engages a
corresponding connector, preferably on a circuit board, and latch
tongue 178 snaps into engagement with the slot.
[0047] Latch tongue 178 serves to keep the fan assembly from
falling out of or being inadvertently removed from the slot. When
it is desired to remove the present fan assembly from the slot,
removal may be accomplished by inserting one thumb or finger into
finger hole 103 and squeezing the free end of tongue 178 toward
finger hole 103. Because finger hole 103 is generally aligned with
tongue 178 across the width of the assembly, this can comfortably
be accomplished using one hand. This disengages tongue 178 from the
slot and the fan assembly can be lifted or slid out of the slot.
Because connector 220 is prevented from moving in the z direction
with respect to the housing, it will be disconnected from the
circuit board as the fan assembly is withdrawn from the slot.
[0048] The present fan assembly is hot-pluggable, which means that
it can be removed from the computer in which it operates with out
disrupting operation of that computer. Because the present fan
assembly can be connected to the computer both electrically and
mechanically without the use of tools, it provides significant
advances over the previous state of the art. Both the electrical
connection and the mechanical connection can be hot-plugged without
any need to adjust alignment or tighten fasteners.
[0049] While the fan support apparatus representatively described
above provides hot plug connections for the fans, it will readily
be appreciated by those skilled in this art that it could also be
employed using non-hot plug socket connections for the fans if
desired.
* * * * *