U.S. patent application number 10/710040 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-15 for [fan module].
Invention is credited to Chiou, Ing-Jer, Huang, Sung-Chuan.
Application Number | 20050276689 10/710040 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35460721 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050276689 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chiou, Ing-Jer ; et
al. |
December 15, 2005 |
[FAN MODULE]
Abstract
A fan module is disclosed. The fan module comprises a casing, a
fan and a plurality of fins. The casing has a mounting space, an
air inlet and an air outlet. The air inlet and the air outlet are
linked through the mounting space. The fan is installed inside the
mounting space. The fins are installed across the air outlet with
each fins aligned in parallel to each other. The fins have a
plurality of protruding sections protruding from a surface of the
fins. Neighboring fins are separated from each other through the
protruding sections so that the fins altogether divide the air
outlet into a plurality of slots whose width is less than or equal
to 1 mm.
Inventors: |
Chiou, Ing-Jer; (Taipei
City, TW) ; Huang, Sung-Chuan; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JIANQ CHYUN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE
7 FLOOR-1, NO. 100
ROOSEVELT ROAD, SECTION 2
TAIPEI
100
TW
|
Family ID: |
35460721 |
Appl. No.: |
10/710040 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/176 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 29/444
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/176 |
International
Class: |
F25B 021/02 |
Claims
1. A fan module, comprising: a casing, having a mounting space, an
air inlet and an air outlet, wherein the air inlet and the air
outlet are linked through the mounting space; a fan, disposed
within the mounting space; and a plurality of fins, disposed across
the air outlet and laid parallel to each other, wherein each fin
has a plurality of first protruding sections protruding from a
surface of the fin for separating neighboring fins from each other,
and the fins partition the air outlet into a plurality of narrow
slots having a width smaller than or equal to 1 mm.
2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein an inner wall of the casing
at the air outlet separates from the nearest fin through the first
protruding sections to form another narrow slot.
3. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the first protruding sections
are formed by bending the cut portion of the fins relative to the
uncut portion thereof.
4. The fan module of claim 2, wherein each of the fins is shaped
into a long strip and the first protruding sections are located at
each end of the corresponding fin.
5. The fan module of claim 2, wherein each of the fins is shaped
into a long strip and the first protruding sections are located in
the middle of the corresponding fin.
6. The fan module of claim 2, wherein each of the fins further
comprises a plurality of second protruding sections protruding from
another surface of the corresponding fin.
7. The fan module of claim 6, wherein the inner wall of the casing
at the air outlet separates from the nearest fin through the second
protruding sections to form another narrow slot.
8. The fan module of claim 6, wherein the second protruding
sections are formed by bending the cut portion of the fins relative
to the uncut portion thereof.
9. The fan module of claim 6, wherein each of the fins is shaped
into a long strip and the second protruding sections are located at
each end of the corresponding fin.
10. The fan module of claim 1, wherein each of the slots has a
width between about 0.8 to 1 mm.
11. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the length of the air outlet
is in a direction perpendicular to the direction where the fins are
stacked.
12. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the length of the air outlet
is parallel to the length of the fins.
13. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises
a cover plate and a base such that the air inlet is formed on the
cover plate, the air outlet is formed by combining the inner wall
of the cover plate and the base and the fins are joined to the
cover plate.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fan module. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a fan module that
can be mounted inside a portable device for carrying hot air away
from the interior of the portable device.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With rapid progress in computer technologies, the operating
speed of computers continues to increase. Because many of the
electronic devices within the host computer produce heat, a cooling
system must be installed to expel the heat and prevent any
temporary or permanent damage to the devices due to overheating.
Aside from the power supply, the central processing unit (CPU), the
graphic processing unit (GPU) and the chipset, an additional fan
module is often installed inside the host computer to remove the
heat generated by operating electronic devices so that the computer
can operate smoothly. It should be noted that notebook computer
with a small interior space are more vulnerable to damage because
of the rapid heating of air within a small confined space. Hence, a
fan module is frequently installed inside a notebook computer for
expelling hot air from the interior of the computer.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional fan module.
The fan module 100 as shown in FIG. 1 is often used inside a
notebook computer. The fan module 100 mainly comprises a casing 110
and a fan 120. The casing 110 has a mounting space 112, an air
inlet 114 and an air outlet 116. The air inlet 114 and the air
outlet 116 are linked to the mounting space 112 so that air is able
to pass from the air inlet 114 to the air outlet 116 via the
mounting space 112. The fan 120 is set up within the mounting space
112. When the fan 120 inside the fan module 100 is rotating, air
enters the casing 110 from the air inlet 114 and then exhaust via
the air outlet 116. If the fan module 110 is installed inside a
notebook computer, hot air within the computer produced by the
interior electronic devices will be drawn away. Thus, the notebook
computer is cooled to provide a smooth operation.
[0006] In the conventional setup, no grating is set up across the
entrance area of the air outlet 116 of the fan module 100. Thus, a
conductive object (for example, a paper clip or a staple) having an
outer diameter smaller than the air inlet 114 and the air outlet
116 can easily slip into a notebook computer via the air outlet
116, the mounting space 112 and the air inlet 114. When the
conductive object happens to contact any electric contact or
circuit inside the notebook computer, the notebook computer may
malfunction. To reduce the possibility of small conductive object
from getting into the interior of the notebook computer, the
current regulation for portable device demands any slots on the
surface of the casing having a direct linkage with the interior
must have a minimum width not exceeding 1 mm.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a fan
module that can be mounted within a portable device capable of
carrying hot air away from the interior to the exterior of the
portable device.
[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fan
module comprises a casing, a fan and a plurality of fins. The
casing has a mounting space, an air inlet and an air outlet. The
air inlet and the air outlet are linked together via the mounting
space. The fan is installed inside the mounting space. The fins are
disposed across the air outlet with each fins aligned in parallel
to each other. The fins have a plurality of protruding sections
protruding from a surface of the fins. Neighboring fins are
separated from each other through the protruding sections so that
the fins altogether divide the air outlet into a plurality of slots
whose width is less than or equal to 1 mm.
[0009] The fan module of the present invention utilizes a plurality
of parallel-aligned fins with each pair of neighboring fins
separated from each other through the protruding sections to
provide a plurality of slots each having a width smaller than or
equal to 1 mm across the air outlet of the casing. Width of the
slots is also maintained through the protruding sections on the
fins. Therefore, after installing the fan module inside a portable
device, the fan module can easily remove hot air from the interior
to the exterior of the portable device. Furthermore, the
parallel-aligned fins also prevent any small conductive objects
from entering the casing through the air outlet so that at least
the minimum safety regulation of a portable device is met.
[0010] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary,
and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as
claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
embodiments of the invention and, together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional fan
module.
[0013] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a fan module according to
one embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing the major components
of a fan module according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the structure after
one type of fins according to one embodiment of the present are
stacked together.
[0016] FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the structure after
another type of fins according to one embodiment of the present are
stacked together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description
to refer to the same or like parts.
[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a fan module according to
one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a perspective
view showing the major components of a fan module according to one
embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B,
the fan module 200 mainly comprises a casing 210, a fan 220 and a
plurality of fins 230. The casing 210 has a mounting space 212, an
air inlet 214 and an air outlet 216. The air inlet 214 and the air
outlet 216 are linked together through the mounting space 212.
Furthermore, the casing 210 further comprises a cover plate 210a
and a base 214a. The air inlet 214 is formed, for example, by
hollowing out a portion of the cover plate 210a. Moreover, a
portion of the side body of the cover plate 210a and a portion of
the side body of the base 210b together form the air outlet 216.
The fins 230 are connected to the bottom surface of the cover plate
210a. The fan 220 is installed inside the mounting space 212.
[0019] When the fan 220 rotates, air enters the fan module 200 from
the air inlet 214, moves into the mounting space 212 and then
exhausts from the mounting space 212 through the air outlet 216. In
practice, the fan module 200 can be disposed inside any portable
devices (for example, a portable computer: a notebook computer or a
tablet computer). The air outlet 216 of the fan module 200 is
exposed to the exterior of the portable device so that any hot air
accumulated within the device can be carried away from the interior
through the fan module 200.
[0020] To meet the safety regulation of a portable device, the fins
230 are disposed across the interior of the air outlet 216. The
fins 230 are aligned in parallel to partition the air outlet 216
into a plurality of long narrow slots 216a. The separation between
neighboring fins 230 across the air outlet 216 is adjusted so that
each slot 216a has a width smaller than or equal to 1 mm for
meeting the minimum safety regulation. It should be noted that the
width of each slot 216a is preferably set between 0.8 to 1 mm. The
fins 230 are laid in a direction (the Z-axis in FIG. 2A)
perpendicular to the length (the Y-axis in FIG. 2A) of the air
outlet 216. In other words, the fins 230 are laid in a direction
parallel to the length of the air outlet 216.
[0021] When a portable device having a fan module 200 according to
the present invention is carried around or moved, small conductive
objects (for example, a metallic clip or staple) are prevented by
the fins 230 from getting into the device through the air outlet
216. Therefore, when the fan module 200 according to the present
embodiment is installed inside a portable device with the air
outlet 216 exposed by the casing 210, the fins 230 across the air
outlet 216 is an effective barrier stopping any small conductive
objects from getting into the portable device.
[0022] To maintain a width smaller than 1 mm and provide sufficient
strength to resist distortion due to impact or collision, the slots
216a must be reinforced. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the
structure after one type of fins according to one embodiment of the
present are stacked together. As shown in FIG. 3A, each fin 230 are
shaped into a longitudinal strip having first protruding sections
232 protruding from an upper surface 230a and each end or the
middle of the fin 230. Furthermore, the first protruding sections
232 are attached, for example, by welding to a bottom surface 230b
of an upper fin 230. Hence, a constant width is maintained along
the length of each slot 216a bounded by an upper and a lower fins
230.
[0023] It should be noted that the first protruding sections 232 on
the fins 230 can be fabricated by a mechanical punching process if
the aim is to reduce material cost and processing time. The
punching process saves time and cost because a single stroke is
able to cut and bend up a portion of the material to form the first
protruding sections 232. In other words, the first protruding
sections 232 are formed by cutting the fin 230 up and bending the
uncut portion.
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, the inner wall of the air
outlet 216 also separates from the nearest fin 230 through these
first protruding sections 232 to form a slot 216a.
[0025] FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing the structure after
another type of fins according to one embodiment of the present are
stacked together. Aside from having a plurality of first protruding
sections 232 on the fins as shown in FIG. 3A, the fins 230 in FIG.
3B further includes a plurality of second protruding sections 234
thereon. The second protruding sections 234 protrude from a bottom
surface 230b of the fins 230. Similarly, the second protruding
sections 234 are attached, for example, by welding to an underlying
fin 230. Hence, a constant width is maintained along the length of
each slot 216a bounded by upper and lower fins 230.
[0026] Similarly, the second protruding sections 234 on the fins
230 can be fabricated by a mechanical punching process to reduce
material cost and processing time. The punching process saves time
and cost because a single stroke is able to cut and bend down a
portion of the material to form the second protruding sections 234.
In other words, the second protruding sections 234 are formed by
cutting the fin 230 up and bending the uncut portion thereafter. In
the present embodiment, the first protruding section 232 and pair
of second protruding section 234 at each end of the fin 230 may be
fabricated together. Furthermore, the first protruding section 232
and the pair of second protruding sections 234 on neighboring fins
can be clamped together to form a junction interface for joining
with the inner wall of the casing 210.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 2A and 3B, the inner wall of the air
outlet 216 also separates from the nearest fin 230 through these
second protruding sections 234 to form a slot 216a.
[0028] In summary, the fan module of the present invention utilizes
a plurality of parallel-aligned fins with each pair of neighboring
fins separated from each other through the protruding sections to
provide a plurality of slots each having a width smaller than or
equal to 1 mm across the air outlet of the casing. Therefore, after
installing the fan module inside a portable device, the fan module
is capable of removing hot air from the interior and exhaust to the
exterior of the portable device. Furthermore, the parallel-aligned
fins also prevent any small conductive objects from entering the
casing through the air outlet so that at least the minimum safety
regulation of a portable device is met. In addition, the fan module
of the present invention can be applied to a portable device other
than a notebook computer such as a tablet computer.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *