U.S. patent application number 09/976160 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for fan module.
This patent application is currently assigned to Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH. Invention is credited to Baumgaertner, Thomas, Salmen, Reinhard.
Application Number | 20020094283 09/976160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7660892 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020094283 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Salmen, Reinhard ; et
al. |
July 18, 2002 |
Fan Module
Abstract
The present invention relates to a fan module (10) that is
comprised of a stationary fan element (1) and of a movable fan
element (2) that has the ability to rotate. The fan module (10) has
contact surfaces (5) on an outside lateral surface (4) that can be
used to supply an operating voltage to an electric motor of the fan
module (10). Consequently, a fan module (10) according to the
invention can be quickly assembled and disassembled, allowing it to
be replaced during continuing operation.
Inventors: |
Salmen, Reinhard;
(Lichtenau, DE) ; Baumgaertner, Thomas;
(Paderborn, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON SPIVAK MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT PC
FOURTH FLOOR
1755 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
US
|
Assignee: |
Fujitsu Siemens Computers
GmbH
Muenchen
DE
|
Family ID: |
7660892 |
Appl. No.: |
09/976160 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/360 ;
417/423.1; 417/423.15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 25/0613 20130101;
F04D 25/0693 20130101; F04D 29/601 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/360 ;
417/423.1; 417/423.15 |
International
Class: |
F04B 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 24, 2000 |
DE |
100 52 708.6 |
Claims
1. Fan module comprised of a stationary fan element (1) and a
movable fan element (2), positioned with the ability to rotate, and
the latter is partially enclosed by the stationary fan element (1),
intended to generate an air flow, and the movable fan element (2)
can be made to rotate by way of an electric motor wherein contact
surfaces (5; 41) are arranged on an outside lateral surface (4) of
the stationary fan element (1) for supplying an operating voltage
for the electric motor.
2. Fan module as claimed in claim 1 wherein latching media (6; 43)
are envisioned on the stationary fan element (1) for latching the
fan module (10; 40) inside a fan housing (9; 44), into which the
fan module (10; 40) is inserted.
3. Fan module as claimed in claim 1 wherein clamping media are
envisioned on the stationary fan element for fastening the fan
module (10) by way of clamping into a fan housing (9), into which
the fan module (10) is inserted.
4. Fan module as claimed in claim 1 wherein a function display (7)
is envisioned on the stationary fan element (10) indicating the
functional capabilities of the fan module (10).
5. Fan module as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the
contact surfaces are formed by partially springy contact pins
(41).
6. Fan module as claimed in claim 5 wherein the contact pins (41)
are supported by a contact clip (42) that is plugged onto the
stationary fan element (1).
7. Fan element as claimed in claim 6 wherein the contact clip (42)
consists of a plastic injection molded part and has two springy
latching sections (44) that are arranged perpendicular in relation
to a middle section of the contact clip.
8. Fan housing for accommodating fan modules (10) as claimed in one
of the claims 1 to 7 wherein plug-in slots are envisioned for
several fan modules (10: 40) inside the fan housing (9; 44), and
wherein spring or sliding contact surfaces or stationary contact
surfaces are arranged in such a way that, in the inserted state of
the fan module (10; 40), the spring or sliding contacts or
stationary contact surfaces act in conjunction with the contact
surface (5; 41) of the fan module (10; 40).
9. Fan housing as claimed in claim 8 wherein spring or sliding
contacts for several fan modules (10; 40) are fastened on a joint
circuit board (13; 46).
10. Fan housing as claimed in claim 6 or 9 wherein several fan
modules (10; 40) can be accommodated in series and in several rows
(11, 12) adjacent to each other.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a fan module that is
comprised of a stationary fan element and a movable element
positioned with the ability to rotate, and the latter is partially
enclosed by the stationary fan element in order to generate an air
flow, and the movable fan element can be set to rotate by way of an
electric motor.
[0002] Pad modules of this type are used in electric devices of any
kind. Primarily, computer systems require such fan modules for
cooling purposes in order to prevent the overheating of power pack
components and processors. A fan failure will inevitably lead to
overheating of the instrument and may cause irreparable damage.
[0003] In general, disruptions of a fan module are detectable
before the, device fails completely, and it is possible to replace
the fan module in time. However, this is a relatively complex
process, because the fan modules are fixedly mounted and cabled. In
any case, replacing a fan module constitutes a considerable
invasion into the system, making it necessary for the device to be
shut down. But for large computer systems, for example servers,
continuous operation is desired or necessary. Even though, as a
rule, several fan modules are envisioned in computer systems of
this type that jointly cool the system, which means that the
failure of a single fan module does not lead to a total cooling
failure, a defective fan module must nevertheless be replaced as
quickly as possible, resulting in the need to switch off the entire
computer.
[0004] Therefore, it is the subject-matter of the present invention
to propose a fan module that is quickly replaceable, even while the
computer continues to be in operation. In this effort, the needed
space requirement may not greatly exceed that of fan modules
according to the stat of the art.
[0005] According to the invention, this objective is achieved with
a fan module of the type referred to at the outset It is
characterized by the fact that contact surfaces for supplying the
electric motor with an operating voltage are arranged on one
outside lateral surface of the stationary fan element.
[0006] The realization of a fan module according to the invention
makes it possible for the fan module Do be fastened and hooked up
by inserting it into a fan housing that is provided for this
purpose. This option ensures the quick and easy replacement of
these components. The contact surfaces on the lateral surface
require very little space, allowing this solution to be implemented
even in applications where volume is critical. A principal aspect
provides that, in addition to the possibility of inserting the
module, the electrical connection for driving the fan is
established simultaneously, thereby eliminating any manual cabling
In comparison to plug contacts, this is a cost-effective solution
which offers, moreover, further advantages in terms of the space
requirements.
[0007] An advantageous embodied example of the invention provides
for a latching or a clamping medium in the area of the lateral
surface of he stationary fan element, intended for the mechanical
fastening of the fan module in a fan housing into which the fan
module is inserted.
[0008] This ensures a safe hold.
[0009] Spring or sliding contacts are arranged in a fan housing
into which the fan module according to the invention is inserted in
such a way that, in the inserted state of the fan module, the
spring or sliding contacts act in conjunction with the contact
surfaces of the fan module. An advantageous apparatus, especially
for larger computer systems, provides that spring or sliding
contacts for several fan modules are arranged on a joint circuit
board.
[0010] Subsequently, the invention will be explained in greater
detail based on an embodiment shown are in:
[0011] FIG. 1 a fan module according to the invention, and in
[0012] FIG. 2 a fan housing with several fain modules in accordance
with FIG. 1, and in
[0013] FIG. 3 a fan module with a detailed representation of the
contact surfaces, and in
[0014] FIG. 4 a further embodiment of a fan module according to the
invention, and in
[0015] FIG. 5 the apparatus of two fan modules according to FIG. 4
in one housing.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a fan nodule 10 according to the invention. The
module has a stationary fan element 1 and a fan element 2 that is
positioned with the ability to rotate. The latter is equipped with
fan wings 3 that generate an air flow when the movable fan element
2 is rotated. Contact surfaces 5 are arranged on an outside lateral
surface 4 of the stationary fan clement 1. They serve, to supply
the operating voltage for the electric motor which drives the
mobile fan element, In addition, these contact surfaces can be used
to transmit information, for example regarding the rotational
speed. Moreover; a latching element, in the embodiment in FIG. 1
this is a spring point 6, is realized in order to latch the fan
module inside a correspondingly shaped fan housing. Furthermore,
the fan module has a status LED display 7 that indicates if the fan
module is operating properly, or if an abnormal operating state is
present.
[0017] In FIG. 2, several fan modules 10 are built into one fan
housing 9. Three fan modules are arranged in two rows in the
configuration represented here; in particular, in the one row 11
two fan modules 10 are connected in series, and only one fall
module is envisioned in the other row 12. A housing lid, that can
be used to close the fan housing and that simultaneously fixes the
fan modules in place, is not shown in FIG. 2. It allows for the
elimination of latching elements 6 on the individual fan modules
10.
[0018] A partition 13 is envisioned between the two rows 11 and 12
that constitutes, at the same time, a circuit board for fastening
spring contacts. The spring contacts are envisioned to establish an
electric connection with the contact surfaces 5 of the inserted fan
modules 10. Favorable embodiments envision additional spring
elements on the housing walls opposite to the circuit board 13,
exerting a force on the fan module in such a way as to cause the
contact surfaces 5 and the corresponding spring or sliding contacts
to be pressed onto one another.
[0019] A status LED display 7 is envisioned for each of the fan
modules 10. Furthermore, information regarding the operating state
of the fan modules 10 is transmitted via the contact surfaces 5 to
a control electronics unit situated on a computer. If an error is
reported there, the service technician can isolate the defective
module 10 with a single glance at the installed fan modules 10. It
is advantageous that the same fan modules can be installed on both
sides of the fan housing, because they are axial-symmetrical.
[0020] Due to the quick and simple replacement capability of the
fan modules 10, replacement work can be done during continuing
operation; which means the fan modules 10 have "hot plug"
capability. Since the described contacts use space very
efficiently, the realization according to the invention, including
all of its advantages, does not lead to an expansion of the
construction volume of the fan housing 9.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows a fan module 20 with a detailed visible
realization of the contact surfaces 22. The contact surfaces 22,
which provide connections for the power supply and for the signal
evaluation, are arranged in groups of 2.times.3 individual
surfaces, respectively, and are mounted on a circuit board 21. Plug
connectors connecting a fan motor and, if need be, a status
indicator to the circuit board and consequently to the contact
surfaces are located On the back side of the circuit board 21.
This, however, is not visible in the figure. The circuit board 21
itself is held in place via sheet metal 23, while, or course, many
other possibilities are conceivable as fastening mechanisms.
[0022] FIG. 4 shows a second embodied example of a fan module
according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiment in FIG.
3, this embodiment does not envision a circuit board that is
equipped with contact surfaces, with the circuit board being
fastened to the stationary fan element by way of sheet metal; but
envisioned instead is a contact pin clip 42 that is plugged onto on
the stationary fan element 1. In a preferred embodiment, the
contact pin clip is realized as a plastic injection molded part,
thereby ensuring simple and cost-effective manufacturing Another
advantage consists in the fact that the dimensions of the fan
modules with installed contact pin clips 42 are only slightly
larger than the dimensions of fan modules without contact pin
clips.
[0023] The contact pin clip is equipped with partially springy
contact pins 41. These contact pins 41 allow for secure electric
contacting of the fan module over a wide tolerance range. The
spring excursion of the contact pins 41 is relatively large,
thereby ensuring safe contacting even in the presence of large
tolerances of the fan housing and aggravated operating conditions
(e.g. vibrations). The contact pins are arranged on the contact pin
clip 42 in such a way that they can be connected to the fan motor
by way of a plug connectors
[0024] Using the contact pin clips 42, the assembly of fan modules
according to the invention is very quick and simple. After the plug
connection with the contact pins 41 has been established, there
remains only the contact pin clip that needs to be plugged onto the
stationary fan element 1.
[0025] In the shown advantageous realization, the contact pin clip
42 is additionally outfitted with two springy guiding and latching
elements 43 that are arranged perpendicular in relation to a middle
section of the contact clip and that extend, consequently, on the
lateral surfaces of the fan module. The guiding and latching
elements are responsible for guiding the fan module during the
insertion process into the corresponding fan housing 44. Using the
appropriate latching elements of the fan housing, in the completely
inserted position, a latching action is possible, which in turn is
especially easily implemented due to the fact that the latching
elements 43 are realized as springy.
[0026] In addition, it is possible to envision measures that will
release the latching of the contact pin clips from the wall of the
fan housing 44 again. But they not represented in FIG. 4.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows the complete apparatus comprised of two fan
modules in accordance with FIG. 4 and a fan housing 44.
Accordingly, the fan modules 40 are inserted into the housing 44 in
such a way that the partially springy contact pins are situated on
the underside acting in conjunction inside the housing with the
corresponding counter-contact surfaces on a circuit board 46. The
corresponding connections for triggering and possibly monitoring of
the fan modules 40 can be arranged on the circuit board 46; and the
functions, previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3,
are possible in the present instance.
[0028] In contrast to the representations in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the
embodiments in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are not equipped with status
indicators on the fin modules 40 themselves. Instead, status
indicators are envisioned on the circuit board 46 inside the
housing 44. Since the circuit board 46 cannot be seen from the
upper side of the housing 44, the status indications are guided
upward by way of optical wave guides 45, thereby allowing that the
operating status of the inserted fin modules 40 can be read from
the upper side of the housing.
[0029] Stampings 47 are envisioned on the side wall of the fan
housing 44 ensuring that the fan modules 40 are properly inserted
and positioned inside the housing 44.
* * * * *