U.S. patent application number 13/303162 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for fan module.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is Jia-Qi FU, Tie-Shan JIANG. Invention is credited to Jia-Qi FU, Tie-Shan JIANG.
Application Number | 20130058781 13/303162 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47753323 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130058781 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FU; Jia-Qi ; et al. |
March 7, 2013 |
FAN MODULE
Abstract
A fan module includes a housing, a connecting member, and a fan
assembly. The housing includes a bottom wall and a sidewall
extending up from the bottom wall. The connecting member is
slidably mounted to the bottom wall. The fan assembly includes a
frame slidably mounted on the connecting member, and a fan
detachably received in the frame.
Inventors: |
FU; Jia-Qi; (Shenzhen City,
CN) ; JIANG; Tie-Shan; (Shenzhen City, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FU; Jia-Qi
JIANG; Tie-Shan |
Shenzhen City
Shenzhen City |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY(ShenZhen) CO., LTD.
Shenzhen City
CN
|
Family ID: |
47753323 |
Appl. No.: |
13/303162 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/220 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 7/20727 20130101;
H05K 7/20581 20130101; G06F 1/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/220 |
International
Class: |
F04D 29/52 20060101
F04D029/52; F04D 19/00 20060101 F04D019/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 5, 2011 |
CN |
201110260298.6 |
Claims
1. A fan module comprising: a housing comprising a bottom wall and
a sidewall extending up from a side of the bottom wall; a
connecting member slidably mounted to the bottom wall in a
direction parallel to the sidewall; and a fan assembly comprising a
frame slidably mounted to the connecting member and slidable in the
direction parallel to the sidewall, and a fan detachably received
in the frame.
2. The fan module of claim 1, wherein a guiding post extends up
from the bottom wall of the housing, the connecting member defines
a long guiding slot to slidably receive the guiding post.
3. The fan module of claim 1, wherein a guiding post extends down
from a bottom of the frame, the connecting member defines a long
guiding slot to slidably receive the guiding post.
4. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises opposite
first and second sidewalls to sandwich the fan, wherein an upper
portion of each of the first and second sidewalls defines a
latching hole, the fan comprises a resilient pressing portion
formed on an upper portion of each of opposite sides of the fan, a
protrusion protrudes from the pressing portion to engage in a
corresponding one of the latching holes.
5. The fan module of claim 4, wherein the pressing portion
comprises a first portion extending up from the side of the fan and
a second portion extends toward the other side from a top of the
first portion at a top of the fan, the protrusion is formed on the
first portion.
6. The fan module of claim 1, further comprising a latching member
with a first end thereof mounted to a bottom of the connecting
member, wherein the latching member comprises a resilient latching
piece, a tab extends down from a second end of the latching piece
opposite to the first end, the bottom wall of the housing defines a
slide slot slidably receiving the tab.
7. The fan module of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises two
opposite first sidewalls, the fan assembly further comprises a
locking member mounted to an inner surface of one of the first
sidewalls of the frame, the locking member comprises a mounting
piece fixed to the first sidewall of the frame with a first end, a
tab extends from a second end of the mounting piece opposite to the
first end and is exposed out of the first sidewall of the frame,
the sidewall of the housing defines a latching hole, the tab is
detachably engaged in the latching hole.
8. The fan module of claim 7, wherein the connecting member
comprises a flange extending up from a side of the connecting
member, the flange defines a long positioning slot parallel to the
sidewall of the housing, a lower portion of a corresponding first
sidewall of the frame defines a fixing hole, a screw slidably
extends through the positioning slot, and is engaged into the
fixing hole.
9. The fan module of claim 8, wherein the frame further comprises a
second sidewall connected between the first sidewalls, the second
sidewall defines a locating slot adjacent to the first sidewall
mounting the locking member, the locking member further comprises
an operation portion extending from the second end of the mounting
and extending through the locating slot.
10. The fan module of claim 9, wherein the second sidewall defines
a plurality of vents.
11. The fan module of claim 9, wherein a handle extends out from
the second sidewall.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a fan module.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In an electronic device, such as a server or computer, two
fans rotating in contrary directions and connected in series may be
found, to increase air pressure and heat dissipating efficiency.
The fans are often mounted to the electronic device with screws,
which is inconvenient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better
understood with reference to the following drawings. The components
in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis
instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of
the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference
numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
[0006] FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of an exemplary
embodiment of a fan module.
[0007] FIG. 2 is an exploded, partial, isometric view of FIG. 1,
wherein the fan module includes a fan assembly.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an inverted view of FIG. 2.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded, isometric view of the fan assembly of
FIG. 2.
[0010] FIGS. 5 and 6 are isometric views showing the process of
assembling the fan module of FIG. 2.
[0011] FIG. 7 is an assembled, isometric view of the fan module of
FIG. 2.
[0012] FIG. 8 is showing a disassembled state of the fan module of
FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] The present disclosure, including the accompanying drawings,
is illustrated by way of examples and not by way of limitation. It
should be noted that references to "an" or "one" embodiment in this
disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such
references mean at least one.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a fan
module 100 includes a housing 20, a connecting member 40, a
latching member 60, and a fan assembly 80.
[0015] The housing 20 includes a bottom wall 22, a top wall 24
opposite to the bottom wall 22, two end walls 26 perpendicularly
connected between the bottom wall 22 and the top wall 24, and a
plurality of partition boards 28 perpendicularly connected between
the bottom wall 22 and the top wall 24. An inner space of the
housing 20 is defined into a plurality of receiving spaces 29 by
the partition boards 28. An opening 27 is defined in a side of the
housing 20, communicating with each receiving space 29. Three
mushroom-headed first guiding posts 222 extend up from the bottom
wall 22 in each receiving space 29, adjacent to the opening 27. Two
parallel slide slots 224 are defined in the bottom wall 22 in each
receiving space 29, between the two first guiding posts 222 and
parallel to the partition boards 28. Each partition board 28
defines two latching holes 282 adjacent to the opening 27.
[0016] The connecting member 40 includes a rectangular connecting
plate 42, and two perpendicular flanges 44 extending up from two
opposite sides of the connecting plate 42.
[0017] Three long depressions (dents 422) are defined in a top of
the connecting plate 42. Each dent 422 extends along a lengthwise
direction of the connecting plate 42. A guiding cutout 424 is
defined in an end of each dent 422. Each dent 422 defines a long
first guiding slot 426 in a bottom wall of the dent 422, along a
lengthwise direction of the dent 422 and communicating with the
guiding cutout 424. The connecting plate 42 further defines three
parallel second guiding slots 427, and two fixing holes 428 at a
first end of a second guiding slot 427. Each second guiding slot
427 is parallel to the first guiding slots 426. An cutout 429 is
defined in the connecting plate 42, communicating with a second end
of each second guiding slot 427 opposite to the fixing holes 428.
One of the flanges 44 defines a long positioning slot 442, parallel
to the first guiding slots 426.
[0018] The latching member 60 includes a fixing piece 62, a
resilient latching piece 64 parallel to the fixing piece 62, and a
connecting piece slantingly connected between the fixing piece 62
and the latching piece 64. The fixing piece 62 defines two through
holes 622. Two triangular tabs 642 extend down from opposite sides
of a distal end of the latching piece 64, away from the fixing
piece 62.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, the fan assembly 80 includes a frame
82, two fans 87, and a resilient locking member 89.
[0020] The frame 82 includes a substantially rectangular bottom
plate 83, a first sidewall 84 perpendicularly extending up from a
first side of the bottom plate 83, a second sidewall 85
perpendicularly extending up from a second side of the bottom plate
83 opposite to the first side, and a third sidewall 86
perpendicularly extending up from a third side of the bottom plate
83 and connected between the ends of the first and second sidewalls
84 and 85. The bottom plate 83, and the first to third sidewalls
84-86 cooperatively bound a receiving space 852. Three
mushroom-headed second guiding posts 832 (shown in FIG. 3) extend
down from the bottom plate 83 away from the third sidewall 86. The
first sidewall 84 defines a fixing hole 844, adjacent to the bottom
plate 83. Four bar-shaped protrusions 845 intrude inwards from the
first sidewall 84, and four protrusions 845 intrude inwards from
the second sidewall 85 opposite to the protrusions 845 of the first
sidewall 84. An upper portion of each protrusion 845 defines a
latching hole 846. The first sidewall 84 defines two fixing holes
849 adjacent to the third sidewall 86 and two separated through
slots 848 between the third sidewall 86 and the fixing holes 849.
The third sidewall 86 defines a plurality of vents 860, and a
locating slot 862 adjacent to the first sidewall 84. A handle 864
extends out from the third sidewall 86, adjacent to the second
sidewall 85.
[0021] Each fan 87 includes a substantially rectangular shell 872
and an impeller 873 received in the shell 872. The shell 872
includes two opposite boards 875 and 877, two opposite side plates
874, and a top plate 876. The board 875 defines a round air inlet
8752. The board 877 defines a round air outlet (not shown) aligning
with the air inlet 8752. A substantially U-shaped resilient
pressing portion 878 is formed on a junction of the top plate 876
and each side plate 874. The pressing portion 878 includes a first
portion extending up from the corresponding side plate 874 and a
second portion extending toward the other side plate 874 from a top
of the first portion. Two protrusions 879 protrude from the first
portion of the pressing portion 878.
[0022] The locking member 89 is substantially Z-shaped, and
includes a resilient mounting piece 892, an operation piece 894
substantially parallel to the mounting piece 892, and a connecting
piece 896 connected between the mounting piece 892 and the
operation piece 894. A distal end of the mounting piece 892
opposite to the operation piece 894 defines two fixing holes 897.
Two opposite tabs 898 extend from opposite sides of the mounting
piece 892, away from the operation piece 894.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, in assembly, the operation piece
894 of the locking member 89 is inserted into the locating slot 862
of the frame 82 from the receiving portion 852. The tabs 898 are
inserted into the corresponding through slots 848. Two screws
extend through the fixing holes 897, to engage with the fixing
holes 849 of the first sidewall 84. Each fan 87 is inserted into
the receiving portion 852. The protrusions 879 of the fan 87 slide
against the protrusions 845, thereby deforming the pressing
portions 878, until the protrusions 879 align with the latching
holes 846. The pressing portions 878 release their tension to make
the protrusions 845 latch into the latching holes 846. The air
inlet 8752 of the fan 87 now aligns with the vents 860 of the frame
82.
[0024] The latching member 60 is mounted to a bottom surface of the
connecting member 40 by means of two fasteners extending through
the through holes 622 and engaging in the corresponding fixing
holes 428. The tabs 642 are opposite to the connecting plate
42.
[0025] The bottom plate 83 is supported on a top surface of the
connecting plate 42. The second guiding posts 832 may be slidably
inserted into the second guiding slots 427 by virtue of the cutouts
429. Therefore, the fan assembly 80 is supported but slidable on
the connecting member 40. The flanges 44 abut and restrain the
outer surfaces of the first and second sidewalls 84 and 85. A screw
88 slidably extends through the positioning slot 442, and engages
into the fixing hole 844.
[0026] The connecting member 40 together with the fan assembly 80
is inserted into one of the receiving spaces 29 through the opening
27. The first guiding posts 222 are slidably inserted into the
first guiding slots 426 by means of the guiding cutouts 424.
[0027] The fan assembly 80 is moved inwards, until the screw 88
abuts against an end of the positioning slot 442 adjacent to the
guiding cutouts 424. The fan assembly 80 is moved in further to
move the connecting member 40 into place. The tabs 642 abut against
the side of the bottom wall 22 between the slide slots 224 and
adjacent to the opening 27, to deform the latching piece 64 toward
the frame 82. After the tabs 642 have aligned with the slide slots
224, the latching piece 64 is released, therefore, the tabs 642 are
slidably received in the slide slots 224. The fan assembly 80 is
moved inwards, until the tabs 642 abut against the ends of the
slide slots 224 away from the opening 27.
[0028] The tabs 898 abut against the partition board 28 to deform
the mounting piece 892 toward the frame 82, until the tabs 898 are
in alignment with the latching holes 282. The mounting piece 892 is
released to make the tabs 898 latch into the latching holes
282.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 8, in disassembling the fans 87, the
operation piece 894 is pressed away from the partition board 28,
thereby deforming the mounting piece 892. The tabs 898 disengage
from the latching holes 282. The handle 864 is manually pulled to
remove the fan assembly 80 out of the housing 20. The connecting
member 40 together with the fan assembly 80 moves outward, with the
first guiding posts 222 sliding in the first guiding slots 426 and
the tabs 642 sliding in the slide slots 224.
[0030] When the tabs 642 abut against the ends of the slide slots
224 adjacent to the opening 27, the screw 88 abuts against an end
of the positioning slot 442 away from the guiding cutouts 424. The
fans 87 are then fully extended out of the housing 20. The pressing
portions 878 are pressed towards each other, and the protrusions
879 detach from the latching holes 846. Therefore, the fans 87 are
ready to be moved away from the frame 82.
[0031] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set
forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the
structure and function of the embodiments, the present disclosure
is illustrative only, and changes may be made in details,
especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts
within the principles of the embodiments to the full extent
indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the
appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *