U.S. patent application number 10/637629 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-10 for cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan.
Invention is credited to Kuan, Ricky.
Application Number | 20050053468 10/637629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34225901 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050053468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuan, Ricky |
March 10, 2005 |
Cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan
Abstract
A cooling apparatus has a housing having housed therein an axial
flow fan, a display panel located on the front side of the housing,
and a control circuit assembly mounted inside the housing and
adapted to drive the axial flow fan subject to the temperature
level detected, and also to drive an LED display unit of the
display panel to indicate the detected temperature level.
Inventors: |
Kuan, Ricky; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
34225901 |
Appl. No.: |
10/637629 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 27/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/032 |
International
Class: |
F04B 049/10 |
Claims
What is invention claimed is:
1. A cooling apparatus comprising: a housing, said housing having a
receiving open chamber extending to a front side thereof; an axial
flow fan transversely mounted in the receiving open chamber inside
said housing, said axial flow fan comprising a shaft connected to a
drive means, and a vane wheel mounted on said shaft, said vane
wheel having a plurality of vanes around the periphery thereof; a
display panel mounted on the front side of said housing, said
display panel having an LED display unit; and a control circuit
assembly coupled to said axial flow fan and said LED display unit,
and adapted to detect a temperature of a heat source, to compare a
detected temperature level with a reference signal, to drive said
axial flow fan subject to a comparison result, and also to drive
said LED display unit to indicate the detected temperature
level.
2. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
a thin sheet air filter mounted in said display panel, a packing
frame fastened to said display panel to hold down said thin sheet
air filter, said packing frame defining an opening, and a grille
mounted in the opening of said packing frame.
3. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said LED
display unit comprises an LED display, and light emitting elements
for .degree. C., .degree. F., Hi, Lo indications.
4. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
display panel has an opening corresponding to the receiving open
chamber of said housing.
5. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
display panel comprises a Fahrenheit/Celsius selector switch
adapted to select a Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature display mode of
said LED display unit.
6. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
control circuit assembly comprises: a pulse wave reference circuit;
a temperature detection circuit adapted to detect the temperature
of a heat source; a Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit; a driving
circuit coupled to said axial fan and adapted to drive said axial
fan; and a control circuit respectively coupled to said pulse wave
reference circuit, said temperature detection circuit, said
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit, said driving circuit, and
said LED display unit; wherein said control circuit compares a
potential output from said temperature detection circuit to a
potential output from said pulse wave reference circuit, and then
provides a pulse signal to said driving circuit subject to a
comparison result, causing said driving circuit to drive said axial
flow fan, or to control said LED display unit to show a currently
detected Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature level.
7. A cooling apparatus installed in the computer case of a computer
and adapted to dissipate heat from a heat source in said computer
case, the cooling apparatus comprising: a housing, said housing
having a receiving open chamber extending to a front side thereof;
an axial flow fan transversely mounted in the receiving open
chamber inside said housing, said axial flow fan comprising a shaft
connected to drive means, and a vane wheel mounted on said shaft,
said vane wheel having a plurality of vanes around the periphery
thereof; a display panel mounted on the front side of said housing,
said display panel having an LED display unit; and a control
circuit assembly coupled to said axial flow fan and said LED
display unit, and adapted to detect a temperature of said heat
source inside said computer case of said computer, to compare a
detected temperature level with a reference signal, to drive said
axial flow fan subject to a comparison result, and to drive said
LED display unit to indicate the detected temperature level.
8. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising
a thin sheet air filter mounted in an opening in said display panel
corresponding to the receiving open chamber of said housing, a
packing frame fastened to said display panel to hold down said thin
sheet air filter, said packing frame defining an opening, and a
grille mounted in the opening of said packing frame.
9. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said LED
display unit comprises an LED display, and light emitting elements
for .degree. C., .degree. F., Hi, Lo indications.
10. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
display panel comprises a Fahrenheit/Celsius selector switch
adapted to select a Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature display mode of
said LED display unit.
11. The cooling apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
control circuit assembly comprises: a pulse wave reference circuit;
a temperature detection circuit adapted to detect a temperature of
a heat source; a Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit; a driving
circuit coupled to said axial fan and adapted to drive said axial
fan; and a control circuit respectively coupled to said pulse wave
reference circuit, said temperature detection circuit, said
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit, said driving circuit, and
said LED display unit; wherein said control circuit compares a
potential output from said temperature detection circuit to a
potential output from said pulse wave reference circuit, and then
provides a pulse signal to said driving circuit subject to a
comparison result, causing said driving circuit to drive said axial
flow fan, or to control said LED display unit to show a currently
detected Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature level.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus for use
in a computer and, more particularly, to a cooling apparatus with a
front loaded axial flow fan, which has an axial flow fan
transversely located on the front side for dissipating heat from
the computer efficiently.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In a computer, as shown in FIG. 1, a number of fans 20a may
be installed in the computer case 10a to dissipate heat from the
heat source inside the computer case 10a.
[0005] Further, an information product, for example, a server or
industrial computer provides a strong operation and processing
functions. Consequently, it requires quick dissipation of heat. In
order to dissipate heat from the computer case 10a, the number of
fans 20a should be relatively increased. It is not expensive to
install a big number of fans in the computer case of a server or
industrial computer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a cooling apparatus for a computer, which uses
a transversely extended axial flow fan to dissipate heat from the
heat source inside the computer efficiently. It is another object
of the present invention to provide a cooling apparatus for a
computer that uses a display panel to indicate detected
Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature levels.
[0007] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention,
the cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan comprises
a housing, the housing having a receiving open chamber extended to
a front side thereof. An axial flow fan is transversely mounted in
the receiving open chamber inside the housing, the axial flow fan
comprising a shaft connected to drive means, and a vane wheel
mounted on the shaft, the vane wheel having a plurality of vanes
around the periphery thereof. A display panel is mounted on the
front side of the housing, the display panel having an LED display
unit. A control circuit assembly is coupled to the axial flow fan
and the LED display unit, and is adapted to detect the temperature
of a heat source, to compare the detected temperature level with a
reference signal, to drive the axial flow fan subject to the
comparison result, and to drive the LED display unit to indicate
the detected temperature level.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings
in which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a plurality of fans
installed in the case of a computer according to the prior art;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a cooling apparatus with a
front loaded axial flow fan according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is an elevational assembly view of the cooling
apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan according to the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the operation of the
present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of the microprocessor of
the cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2-6, a cooling apparatus with a front
loaded axial flow fan in accordance with the present invention is
to be installed in the computer case 10 of a computer to dissipate
heat from the computer. The cooling apparatus with a front loaded
axial flow fan comprises a housing 1, a transversely extended axial
flow fan 2, a display panel 3, a thin sheet type air filter 4, a
packing frame 5, and a grille 6.
[0017] The housing 1 has a receiving open chamber 11 extending to
the front side, which accommodates a control circuit assembly (not
shown). The transversely extended axial flow fan 2 is mounted in
the receiving open chamber 11 inside the housing 1, comprising a
shaft 23 and a vane wheel 21 mounted on the shaft 23. The vane
wheel 21 comprises a plurality of vanes 22 around the periphery.
The display panel 3 is mounted on the front wall of the housing 1
in front of the receiving open chamber 11, comprising an LED
display unit 31, which comprises an LED 188 display and light
emitting elements for .degree. C., .degree. F., Hi, Lo indications,
a rectangular opening 32 in one side of the LED display unit 31
corresponding to the receiving open chamber 11, and a
Fahrenheit/Celsius selector switch SW at the bottom side of the LED
display unit 31. The thin sheet type air filter 4 is mounted within
the opening 32 of the display panel 3. The packing frame 5 is
fastened to the display panel 3 to secure the thin sheet type air
filter 4 in position, having an opening 51 corresponding to the
opening 32 of the display panel 3. The grille 6 is mounted within
the opening 51 of the packing frame 5.
[0018] The aforesaid control circuit assembly comprises a pulse
wave reference circuit 12, a temperature detection circuit 13, a
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14, a driving circuit 15, and
a control circuit 16. The pulse wave reference circuit 12 is a
resistor R7. The temperature detection circuit 13 is a thermistor
WR1 adapted to detect the temperature of the heat source. The
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14 comprises the aforesaid
selector switch SW and resistors R9 and R12. The user can operate
the selector switch SW to select Fahrenheit/Celsius as temperature
units for display. The driving circuit 15 is electrically connected
to the transversely extended axial flow fan 2 and adapted to drive
the transversely extended axial flow fan 2, comprised of
transistors Q1, Q3, Q4, diodes D1, D5, resistors R1, R3, R5, R8,
capacitors C6, C16, and an inductor L1. The control circuit 16
comprises a microprocessor U1, a transistor Q2, resistors R2, R4,
R62, and a capacitor C4, and respectively coupled to the pulse wave
reference circuit 12, the temperature detection circuit 13, the
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14, the driving circuit 15,
and the LED display unit 31.
[0019] The control circuit 16 compares the potential output from
the temperature detection circuit 13 to the potential output from
the pulse wave reference circuit 12, and then provides a pulse
signal to the driving circuit 15 subject to the comparison result,
thereby causing the driving circuit 15 to drive the transversely
extended axial flow fan 2, or to control the LED display unit 31 to
show the currently detected Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature
level.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 7, the microprocessor U1 comprises a pulse
wave comparator 71, a controller 72, a pulse bandwidth modulator
73, and a display control 74. The pulse wave comparator 71 is
respectively coupled to the pulse wave reference circuit 12 and the
temperature detection circuit 13, and adapted to compare the
potential output from the temperature detection circuit 13 to the
potential output from the pulse wave reference circuit 13. The
controller 72 is respectively coupled to the pulse wave comparator
71 and the Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14. The pulse
bandwidth modulator 73 is respectively coupled to the controller 72
and the driving circuit 15. The display control 74 is respectively
coupled to the controller 72 and the LED display unit 31. The
controller 72 receives an output signal from the pulse wave
comparator 71, and drives the pulse bandwidth modulator 73 to send
a pulse signal to the driving circuit 15 subject to the output
signal from the pulse wave comparator 71, causing the driving
circuit 15 to control the operation of the transversely extended
axial flow fan 2. The controller 72 also receives signal from the
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14, and gives a signal to the
display control 74 subject to the output signal from the
Fahrenheit/Celsius detection circuit 14, causing the display
control 74 to drive the LED display unit 31 to display the detected
current temperature level in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
[0021] During operation of the computer in which the cooling
apparatus of the present invention is installed, hot air is sucked
from the heat source inside the computer case 10 into the air input
port. When the transversely extended axial flow fan 2 sucks hot air
into the inside, the air input port of the transversely extended
axial flow fan 2 is in a half-open status; however, the air output
port of the transversely extended axial flow fan 2 is approximately
fully open. Therefore, hot air is efficiently sucked into the
transversely extended axial flow fan 2 and rapidly expelled out of
the computer case 10.
[0022] As indicated above, the cooling apparatus of the present
invention uses a transversely extended axial flow fan to dissipate
heat from the heat source of the computer, and a display unit to
indicate the current Fahrenheit/Celsius temperature in the
computer, enabling the user to know the temperature status inside
the computer.
[0023] A prototype of cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial
flow fan been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1-7. The
cooling apparatus with a front loaded axial flow fan functions
smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.
[0024] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
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