Computer cooling fan

Abstract

A cooling apparatus to increase airflow over electronic components is disclosed. The cooling apparatus comprises a non-flat hub disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation. A plurality of fan blades, each of the plurality of fan blades is connected at a first end to an outer shell of the non-flat hub to form a first intersection angle greater than approximately 10 degrees between a top surface of the first end and the axis of rotation. Each of the plurality of fan blades has a substantially convex shaped outer surface to sweep air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for passage through an effective channel surface area formed by an outer surface of the non-flat hub and a top surface of the plurality of fan blades.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to cooling fans. More particularly, the invention relates to a cooling fan to cool electronic components in a computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are cooling fans commercially available to reduce heating of electronic components within confined environments, such as within an interior volume of a computer. These cooling fans are made from materials such as plastic or light metals including aluminum or steel. For example, there are related art cooling fans that have a central hub with diagonally attached blades that rotate within a cylindrical chamber to force air through the cylindrical chamber. Other related art cooling fans that are known as radial blowers provide air flow in a lateral manner which may not adequately lower the temperature of computer components to prevent component degradation or failure.

[0003] In light of recent advances in computer architecture, there is a need for cooling fans to increase airflow over hotter electronic components. One of these advances is computer processors having increased processing speeds, for example in the GHz range. Another advance is increased computer bus speeds to transport information from one computer unit to another. Yet another advance requires increased component density-per-square-inch in area to achieve a smaller footprint, laptop notebook, thereby causing increased thermal gradients within the laptop notebook.

[0004] Related art cooling fans do not provide adequate heat dissipation and cooling properties for these advanced computer architectures. For example, a laptop computer with a GHz processor, having a related art cooling fan, may reach operating temperatures causing a user physical discomfort. The physical discomfort may include tingling of a user's skin, or in extreme cases, burning of a user's skin in close proximity to the laptop computer by hot electronic components.

[0005] air over hot components. However, the increased rotation speed causes an increase in a level of emitted noise in comparison to emitted noise at a slower rotation speed. This increase in the level of emitted noise may disturb a user in close proximately to the related art cooling fan.

[0006] Thus, there is a need to provide an improved cooling apparatus for electronic components that provides not only improved cooling properties but also other advantages over the related art cooling fans.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description, which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0008] One objective of the present invention is to provide an increased air flow over electronic components as compared to the related art cooling fans. Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the level of emitted noise when the air flow over the electronic components is of a similar level as that of the related art cooling fan.

[0009] In one embodiment, a cooling apparatus to increase airflow over electronic components is disclosed. The cooling apparatus comprises a non-flat hub disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation, and a plurality of fan blades. Each of the plurality of fan blades is connected at a first end to an outer shell of the non-flat hub to form a plurality of first intersection angles. The first intersection angles are formed between a top surface of the first end of each fan blade and the axis of rotation. Each of the plurality of first intersection angles is greater than approximately 10 degrees. Each of the plurality of fan blades has a substantially convex shaped outer surface to sweep air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for passage through an effective channel surface area. The effective channel surface area is formed by the outer surfaces of the non-flat hub and each of the plurality of the fan blades.

[0010] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description, which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

[0011] These and other embodiments will also become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular embodiments disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0013] Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a front profile view of a cooling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 2a illustrates a side view of the cooling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2b illustrates a partial perspective side view of the cooling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with only one fan blade shown for clarity.

[0017] FIG. 2c illustrates a partial section view of FIG. 2a of a secondary dome within a non-flat hub that houses a sunken motor power supply.

[0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a housing of the cooling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The present invention relates to cooling fans. More particularly, the invention relates to a cooling fan to cool electronic components in a computer.

[0020] Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a cooling fan for a computer, it is contemplated that the invention may be utilized wherever there is a desire for efficiently cooling electronic components that generate heat. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0021] FIGS. 1, 2a, 2b, 2c and 3 illustrate a front profile view, a side view, a partial perspective side view and a partial section view of a cooling apparatus, respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] As shown, a cooling apparatus 100 is disclosed to increase airflow over electronic components 300a-c (see FIG. 3). A non-flat hub 110 is disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation 210. The non-flat hub 110 is preferably generally dome shaped, but in an alternative embodiment may be cone shaped or have any other non-flat shape in order to increase airflow.

[0023] Fan blades 120a-g connects at first end of each of the plurality of fan blades 130a-g, along an outer shell 105 of the non-flat hub 110. A first intersection angle, for example .theta.a, is formed between each fan blade top surface 140a and the axis of rotation 210. The first end of each of the plurality of fan blades 130a-g are preferably convex shaped curved surfaces to increase air flow through an effective surface channel area 230.

[0024] Each first intersection angle, for example .theta.a, is preferably greater than approximately 10 degrees. More preferably, each first intersection angle is between a range of approximately 10 degrees and approximately 60 degrees. In another preferred embodiment, each intersection angle is between a range of approximately 10 degrees and approximately 45 degrees. The other first intersection angles .theta.a-g (not shown) preferably are similar to .theta.a. In one alternative embodiment, the first intersection angles may be staggered or varied among the fan blades 120a-g to further increase airflow through the effective channel surface area 230.

[0025] The fan blades 120a-g have second ends 145a-g. The effective channel surface area 230 has outer boundaries defined by the second ends 145a-g (see FIGS. 1 and 3). Each of the first ends of each of the plurality of fan blades 130a-g projects outwardly from the non-flat hub 110 to increase an effective channel surface area 230. A second intersection angle .phi. is formed between a top surface of each of the second ends 145a-g and the axis of rotation 210. Each second intersection angle, for example .phi.a, is preferably greater than the first intersection angle, for example .theta.a.

[0026] The fan blades 120a-g have a first non-uniform radius of curvature 155a-g. The first non-uniform radius of curvature 155a-g extends from the first end of each of the plurality of fan blades 130a-g to the second ends 145a-g. The first non-uniform radius of curvature 155a-g preferably lies along a longitudinal direction of the fan blades 120a-g. The first non-uniform radius of curvature 155a-g increases, in this preferred embodiment, from the first end of each of the plurality of fan blades 130a-g to the second ends 145a-g.

[0027] Furthermore, the fan blades 120a-g preferably have a second radius of curvature. The second radius of curvature is formed, for example, by the outer edges of vectors 165a through 165c. In this example, the fan blades 120a-g rotate along a direction 167. The outer edges of vectors 165a through 165c sweep progressively forward along a lateral direction of travel of the fan blades 120a-g. This progressive sweep further increases airflow through the effective channel surface area 230.

[0028] Each of the fan blades 120a-g further has a substantially convex shaped outer surface 150a-g. Each of the fan blades outer surfaces 150a-g sweeps air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 210 for passage through the effective channel surface area 230 (see FIG. 3). The shell 105 of the non-flat hub 110 and surfaces of the fan blades 120a-g form the internal boundaries of the effective channel surface area 230. The structure of the fan blades 120a-g of the cooling apparatus 100, as described above, produces a reduced level of emitted noise as compared to the structure of the related art cooling fans.

[0029] A sunken motor 205 is shown in FIG. 2b. The sunken motor 205 is attached within a volume defined by a secondary dome 155 and formed within the non-flat hub 110. The sunken motor 205, in this example, is disposed below the non-flat hub 110, and reduces the size of the cooling apparatus 100. Furthermore, since the cooling apparatus 100 of the present invention provides an increased airflow at any given fan speed when compared to related art cooling fans, the sunken motor 205 may operate at a lower speed to provide a similar level of cooling as that of related art cooling fans. By preventing an increase in fan speed that characterizes related art cooling fans, the corresponding increase in emitted noise is also prevented.

[0030] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a housing of the cooling apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] An outer wall 310, in this preferred embodiment, is shown where a second end 145a of the fan blade 120a has a slanted edge surface 15 1a. As the cooling apparatus 100 rotates, the slanted edge surface 151a travels along the outer wall 310 to increase a volume of air passing through the effective channel surface area 230.

[0032] The outer wall 310 has a top surface 320 and a bottom surface 330. As shown in FIG. 2b, a top edge of the fan blade, for example 175a, is substantially closer to the top surface 320 than a bottom edge of the fan blade, for example 175b. The top edge of the fan blade, for example 175a, forms a first air gap 340 and the bottom edge of the fan blade, for example 175b, forms a second air gap 350. The first air gap 340, in this example, is less than 1 millimeter.

[0033] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified. The above-described embodiment rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims. Furthermore, please note that the above inventive concepts, as discussed above relative to the fan blades 120a, would equally apply to any the fan blades 120b-g.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus to increase air flow over electronic components, comprising: a non-flat hub disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation; and a plurality of fan blades, each of the plurality of fan blades is connected at a first end to an outer shell of the non-flat hub to form a first intersection angle greater than approximately 10 degrees between a top surface of the first end and the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades has a substantially convex shaped outer surface to sweep air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for passage through an effective channel surface area formed by an outer surface of the non-flat hub and a top surface of the plurality of fan blades.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of fan blades has an outwardly projected intersection with the non-flat hub to increase the effective channel surface area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of fan blades has a convex shaped curved surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first intersection angle is greater than approximately 10 degrees and less than approximately 45 degrees.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first intersection angle is greater than approximately 10 degrees and less than approximately 60 degrees.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the fan blades has a second end and a second intersection angle formed between a top surface of the second end and the axis of rotation, the second intersection angle is greater than the corresponding first intersection angle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the fan blades has a non-uniform radius of curvature along a longitudinal direction of the fan blade extending from the first end to a second end.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-flat hub is generally dome shaped.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-flat hub is substantially cone shaped.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the fan blades has a radius of curvature that is swept progressively forward along a lateral direction from the first end to a second end to increase the effective channel surface area.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an outer wall and wherein a second end of each of the plurality of the fan blades has a slanted edge surface relative to the outer wall to increase a volume of air through the effective channel surface area.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an outer wall having a top surface and a bottom surface of the cooling apparatus, wherein the plurality of the fan blades is substantially closer at a top edge than a bottom edge of each of the plurality of the fan blades to at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor disposed in a secondary dome within the non-flat hub to rotate the plurality of the fan blades about the axis of rotation.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first intersection angle for each of the plurality of fan blades are not all the same.

15. A cooling apparatus to increase air flow over electronic components, comprising: a non-flat hub disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation; and a plurality of fan blades, each of the plurality of fan blades has a substantially convex shaped outer surface to sweep air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for passage through an effective channel surface area and is connected at a first end to an outer shell of the non-flat hub to form a first intersection angle greater than approximately 10 degrees and less than approximately 60 degrees between a top surface of the first end and the axis of rotation, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades has a radius of curvature that sweeps progressively forward along a lateral direction from the first end to a second end to increase a volume of air through the effective channel surface area.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of fan blades has an outwardly projected intersection formed with the non-flat hub to increase airflow passing through the effective channel surface area.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the non-flat hub is generally dome shaped and the second end has a top surface that forms a second intersection angle with the axis of rotation greater than the first intersection angle.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of fan blades has a non-uniform radius of curvature along a longitudinal direction extended from the first end to the second end.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second end has a slanted edge surface relative to an outer wall of cooling apparatus to increase a volume of air passing through the effective channel surface area channel.

20. A cooling apparatus to increase airflow over electronic components, comprising: a generally dome shaped hub disposed substantially centered about an axis of rotation; a plurality of fan blades, each of the plurality of fan blades has a substantially convex shaped outer surface to sweep air substantially parallel to the axis of rotation passing through an effective channel surface area and is connected at a first end to an outer surface of the generally dome shaped hub to form a first intersection angle greater than approximately 10 degrees and less than 60 degrees between a top surface of the first end and the axis of rotation; and an outer wall, wherein a second end of each of the plurality of fan blades has a slanted edge surface relative to the outer wall to increase a volume of air through the air flow channel, wherein a second intersection angle formed between a top surface of the second end of each of the plurality of fan blades and the axis of rotation is greater than the corresponding first intersection angle.