U.S. patent application number 13/216188 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for heat dissipation device with fan holder.
This patent application is currently assigned to FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to BEN-FAN XIA.
Application Number | 20120325431 13/216188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47360716 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120325431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
XIA; BEN-FAN |
December 27, 2012 |
HEAT DISSIPATION DEVICE WITH FAN HOLDER
Abstract
A heat dissipation device adapted for dissipating heat generated
by an electronic component mounted on a printed circuit board. The
heat dissipation device includes a heat sink attached to the
electronic component, a fan, and a fan holder. The fan includes a
frame and a rotor received in the frame. The fan holder mounts the
fan onto the heat sink and includes a base fixed on the heat sink,
four clasps extending upward from four corners of a top surface of
the base, and four elastic portions corresponding to the clasps and
configured to resiliently urge the frame of the fan. The frame of
the fan is arranged on the base of the fan holder and sandwiched
between the clasps and the elastic portions.
Inventors: |
XIA; BEN-FAN; (KunShan City,
CN) |
Assignee: |
FOXCONN TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
FURUI PRECISE COMPONENT (KUNSHAN) CO., LTD.
KunShan City
CN
|
Family ID: |
47360716 |
Appl. No.: |
13/216188 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/67 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L 23/4006 20130101;
H01L 2924/0002 20130101; H01L 2924/00 20130101; H01L 23/467
20130101; H01L 2924/0002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
165/67 |
International
Class: |
F28F 9/00 20060101
F28F009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 22, 2011 |
CN |
201110169050.9 |
Claims
1. A heat dissipation device comprising: a heat sink comprising a
plurality of fins; a fan, the fan comprising a frame and a rotor
received in the frame; and a fan holder mounting the fan onto the
heat sink, the fan holder comprising a base fixed on the heat sink,
four clasps extending upwardly from four corners of a top surface
of the base, and four elastic portions corresponding to the clasps
and configured to resiliently urge the frame of the fan, wherein
the frame of the fan is arranged on the base of the fan holder and
sandwiched between the clasps and the elastic portions.
2. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the frame of the
fan comprises a bottom plate, and each of the clasps comprises a
first portion extending upwardly from the top surface of the base,
and a second portion extending from a top free end of the first
portion toward to a center of the base for clasping the bottom
plate of the fan.
3. The heat dissipation device of claim 2, wherein the second
portion of each of the clasps extends perpendicularly from the top
free end of the first portion, and the clasp has an L-shaped
configuration.
4. The heat dissipation device of claim 2, wherein the second
portion of each of the clasps extends inclinedly downward from the
top free end of the first portion.
5. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the elastic
portions are arranged at a same side of the corresponding
clasps.
6. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein each of the
elastic portions comprises a first end connected to the base, and a
free end adjacent to the corresponding clasp.
7. The heat dissipation device of claim 5, wherein the free end of
each elastic portion includes an arc protrusion, and the arc
protrusion is resiliently locked with the frame of the fan at the
top surface of the base.
8. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the base, the
clasps and the elastic portions of the fan holder are integrally
formed as a single monolithic piece of metal.
9. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the four clasps
are radially symmetrical with respect to each other about a center
of the fan holder.
10. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein a height of
each of the clasps is greater than that of the corresponding
elastic portion.
11. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the fins of the
heat sink are divided into four groups, with the fins of the four
groups oriented in four different directions, and the fins of two
neighboring groups oriented perpendicularly to each other.
12. The heat dissipation device of claim 1, wherein the frame of
the fan comprises a bottom plate, and the bottom plate is arranged
on the base of the fan holder and sandwiched between the clasps and
the elastic portions.
13. A fan holder for mounting a fan onto a heat sink, the fan
comprising a frame and a rotor received in the frame, the fan
holder comprising: a base for supporting the frame of the fan
thereon; a plurality of clasps extending up from the base for
clasping an upper side of the frame, and a plurality of elastic
portions extending up from the base and corresponding to the
clasps, the elastic portions being adapted for resiliently abutting
against a bottom side of the frame thereby exerting an upward force
on the frame and clamping the frame in the clasps.
14. The fan holder of claim 13, wherein each of the clasps
comprises a first portion extending upwardly from the top surface
of the base, and a second portion extending perpendicularly from a
top free end of the first portion.
15. The fan holder of claim 13, wherein each of the clasps
comprises a first portion extending upwardly from the top surface
of the base, and a second portion extending inclinedly downward
from a top free end of the first portion.
16. The fan holder of claim 13, wherein each of the elastic
portions comprises a first end connected to the base and a free end
adjacent to the corresponding clasp, and the free end of the
elastic portion includes an arc protrusion.
17. The fan holder of claim 14, wherein the plurality of clasps is
four clasps arranged on four corners of the base, the clasp being
radially symmetrical with respect to each other about a center of
the fan holder, and the elastic potions are arranged at a same side
of the corresponding clasps.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device
having a fan holder for mounting a fan onto a heat sink of the heat
dissipation device, wherein the fan can be easily attached and
detached.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] It is well known that during their operation, computer
electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) can
generate large amounts of heat. The heat must be quickly removed to
prevent the electronic device from becoming unstable or being
damaged. Typically, a heat sink combined with a fan is attached to
the electronic device to dissipate heat therefrom.
[0005] Conventionally, the fan is fixed onto the heat sink with
screws. However, from time to time it is necessary to detach the
fan from the heat sink after dust particles have accumulated in the
fan and the heat sink, so that the fan and the heat sink can be
cleaned. Otherwise, the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat
sink will be reduced and the lifespan of the fan will be shortened.
After cleaning the fan and heat sink, the fan has to attached onto
the heat sink again. Both the detaching and attaching require
rotating the screws by using a screwdriver. These unscrewing and
screwing operations are laborious and time-consuming. In addition,
in the processes of detaching or attaching, the screws or
screwdriver may be dropped and cause damage to computer
components.
[0006] What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation device
having a fan which can be easily attached to and detached from the
heat dissipation device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a heat dissipation
device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a partly assembled view of the heat dissipation
device of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the heat
dissipation device fully assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary heat dissipation device is
shown. The heat dissipation device is for dissipating heat
generated by an electronic component (not shown) mounted on a
printed circuit board (not shown). The heat dissipation device
comprises a retainer 10, a heat sink 20, a fan holder 30 and a fan
40. The fan 40 is mounted to the heat sink 20 via the fan holder
30.
[0011] The retainer 10 includes a central cylinder post 11, and
four symmetrical fasteners 12 extending outwardly from the post 11.
The post 11 is arranged on the electronic component to absorb the
heat generated by the electronic component. Each fastener 12
defines a through hole 13 at a free end thereof. In the present
embodiment, the post 11 is made of metal with good heat dissipation
efficiency, such as copper. The four fasteners 12 are integrally
formed as a single monolithic piece of metal.
[0012] The heat sink 20 comprises a cylinder core 21, and four
symmetrical branches 22 extending outwardly from the core 21. The
core 21 defines a blind hole (not shown) at a bottom thereof to
receive the post 11. A plurality of fins 23 projects outwardly from
the outer side surfaces of the core 21 and the branches 22. The
plurality of fins 23 cooperatively define four lateral outer
surfaces joined end to end, with the four lateral outer surfaces
having a square configuration. Thus, the heat sink 10
correspondingly has a square configuration. The plurality of fins
23 can be divided into four groups of fins 23, with the fins 23 of
the four groups oriented in four different directions. Four side
surfaces of the core 21 and the four branches 22 cooperatively form
four regions. Each group of the fins 23 is formed at a
corresponding region. The fins 23 in two neighboring groups of the
fins 23 are oriented perpendicularly to each other. Four assembly
holes 24 are formed at distal ends of the four branches 22,
respectively.
[0013] The fan has a square configuration, and comprises a top
plate (not labeled) and a bottom plate 41 engaged with the top
plate to define a frame. A rotor 42 is received in the frame.
[0014] The fan holder 30 is mounted on the heat sink 20, and
includes a base 31, four clasps 34 arranged on four corners of the
base 31, and four elastic portions 35 corresponding to the clasps
34, respectively. Each elastic portion 35 is arranged at the same
side of the corresponding clasp 34. In the present embodiment, each
elastic portion 35 is arranged at a clockwise side of the
corresponding clasp 34. The four clasps 34 are centrosymmetric (and
radially symmetrical) with respect to a central axis of the fan
holder 30. The four elastic portions 35 are radially symmetrical
with respect to the central axis of the fan holder 30. The base 31
is planar and square, and defines a substantially square opening 36
at the center thereof. In the present embodiment, the fan holder 30
is integrally formed as a single monolithic piece of metal. In
other words, the base 31, the clasps 34 and the elastic portion 35
are portions of a single body formed from the same metallic
material.
[0015] Each of the clasps 34 is L-shaped, and includes a first
portion 341 extending upwardly from a top surface 311 of the base
31 and a second portion 342 extending perpendicularly inward from a
top free end of the first portion 341. The second portion 342 is
parallel to the top surface 311 of the base 31. In alternative
embodiments, the second portion 342 can extend inclinedly downward
from the top free end of the first portion 341. In the present
embodiment, the elastic portions 35 are in the form of spring
fingers. Each of the elastic portions 35 includes a first end 351
away from the corresponding clasp 34 and connected to the base 31,
and an opposite, free second end 352 adjacent to the corresponding
clasp 34. The second end 352 of the elastic portion 35 is located
at the top surface 311 of the base 31, and includes an arced
protrusion. A free end of the arced protrusion is inclined relative
to the top surface 311 of the base 31. In the present embodiment, a
height of the clasp 34 is higher than that of the corresponding
elastic portion 35. The base 31 defines four through holes 37
corresponding to the four assembly holes 24 of the heat sink
20.
[0016] Also referring to FIG. 2, in assembly, the post 11 of the
retainer 10 is received in the core 21 of the heat sink 20.
Thereby, the heat sink 20 is fixed on the retainer 10. Four screws
(not shown) are extended through the through holes 13 of the
retainer 10 to fix the retainer 10 and the heat sink 20 on an
external device, such as the printed circuit board (not shown). The
electronic component is thermally connected to a bottom surface of
the post 11. The fan holder 30 covers a periphery of a top end of
the heat sink 20. In the present embodiment, the heat dissipation
device further includes four fasteners (not shown). Each fastener
extends through a corresponding through hole 37 and a corresponding
assembly hole 24 to fix the fan holder 30 on the heat sink 20. The
opening 36 of the fan holder 30 is configured to allow passage of
airflow generated by the fan 40 therethrough, so that the airflow
reaches the heat sink 20.
[0017] The fan 40 is arranged on the base 31 of the fan holder 30
in a rotationally offset position. The four corners of the bottom
plate 41 of the fan 40 are pressed against the elastic portions 35
of the fan holder 30, respectively. The fan 40 is rotated
anticlockwise to engage the fan holder 30 with the bottom plate 41
of the fan 40. The elastic portions 35 resiliently urge the bottom
plate 41 of the fan 40 in an upward direction. As a result, the
second portions 342 of the clasps 34 clasp the four corners of the
bottom plate 41 of the fan 40. In other words, the four corners of
the bottom plate 41 are elastically sandwiched between the elastic
portions 35 and the second portions 342 of the clasps 34. Thus, the
fan 40 is firmly secured on the fan holder 30.
[0018] When the fan 40 needs to be detached from the heat sink 20,
the fan 40 is pressed downward and rotated clockwise to separate
the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40 from the resilient clasping of
the fan holder 30. Then, the fan 40 is pulled up from the fan
holder 30. Thus, the fan 40 is detached from the fan holder 30.
[0019] By utilizing the clasps 34 and the elastic portions 35, the
fan 40 can be easily attached to and detached from the fan holder
30.
[0020] It is to be further understood that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing
description of embodiments, together with details of the structures
and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative
only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters
of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of
the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general
meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
* * * * *