Fan shroud assembly and control device including same

Abstract

A fan shroud assembly is disclosed, comprising: a fan comprising a plurality of blades configured to rotate about a central axis; and a shroud including a body having a vent configured to face the fan and a contact portion supported by the radial support. The fan shroud assembly can resist external impact without hindering signal transmission and reception of the antenna.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a fan shroud assembly and a control device including the same, and more particularly, to a fan shroud assembly having enhanced rigidity by applying an internal arrangement of a control device and a plastic shroud and a control device including the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicles are equipped with various control devices that perform various functions related to vehicle operation. Recently, as the performance and functions of these control devices have improved, power consumption has increased, resulting in heating problems. To address these problems, a fan for heat dissipation and a fan shroud for protecting the fan are essentially used in control devices.

[0003] The fan discharges heat in the control device to the outside to prevent overheating of the device, and the fan shroud protects the fan and controls air flow to maintain effective cooling performance.

[0004] A conventional fan shroud is mainly made of metal, has high rigidity and durability, but can cause an increase in weight and manufacturing costs. In addition, the metal material can hinder the radiation performance of an antenna integrated with the inside of the control device, which can have a negative impact on communication quality.

[0005] In particular, in the conventional fan shroud structure, fan deformation and shroud damage due to external impact can occur frequently. This can be caused by vibrations or impacts that occur depending on road conditions while driving the vehicle, or accidental impacts while parking. If the fan is deformed, the cooling performance can rapidly deteriorate, heat in the control device cannot be effectively discharged, and the device can be overheated.

[0006] The conventional fan shroud structure has a problem in that, due to a trade-off between cooling performance and rigidity, when the opening of the shroud is widened to improve cooling performance, the rigidity of the entire structure decreases. On the other hand, when the material of the shroud is reinforced or the thickness of the structure is increased to increase rigidity, the flow of cooling air is restricted, so the cooling performance decreases.

[0007] To address these problems, there is an increasing need for a fan shroud structure that resists external impact while satisfying rigidity and cooling performance. SUMMARY

[0008] To address the above problems, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a fan shroud assembly that resists external impact and has little deformation.

[0009] In addition, an embodiment of the disclosure provides a control device including a fan shroud assembly that can maintain rigidity without hindering antenna performance.

[0010] The technical tasks obtainable by the present disclosure are not limited to the above technical tasks. And, other technical tasks not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the following description by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

[0011] Other advantages, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be set forth in part by the descriptions below and in the drawings. It will be also understood that such aspects can be understood by those skilled in the art based on the disclosure herein.

[0012] A fan shroud assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a fan including a plurality of blades configured to rotate around a center axis, and a shroud including a main body having an air vent configured to face the fan, and a contact portion supported by radial supports configured to extend in a centripetal direction from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent, wherein the contact portion has a convex rear surface, and a thickest point of the contact portion is in line with the center axis of the fan.

[0013] The fan can further include an outer frame configured to support the center axis and surround the plurality of blades, and a rubber cover configured to cover the outer frame.

[0014] The shroud can be formed of a plastic material.

[0015] A control device according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes a fan shroud assembly including a fan including a plurality of blades configured to rotate around a center axis, and a shroud including a main body having an air vent configured to face the fan, and a plurality of supports configured to extend from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent, a housing configured such that the fan shroud assembly is mounted on one surface thereof, and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) mounted in the housing in a direction perpendicular to the fan shroud assembly, wherein the PCB is positioned such that one side portion thereof is adjacent to a rear portion of the fan to prevent the fan from being pushed by an external force.

[0016] The shroud can further include a contact portion supported by radial supports configured to extend in a centripetal direction from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent, the contact portion can have a convex rear surface, and a thickest point of the contact portion can be in line with the center axis of the fan.

[0017] The PCB can have a shape including a buffer groove formed in a side portion thereof to accommodate a portion of the fan.

[0018] The fan can further include an outer frame configured to support the center axis and surround the plurality of blades, and a rubber cover configured to cover the outer frame.

[0019] The housing can include an anti-skid portion configured to support the rubber cover to limit movement of the fan due to an external force.

[0020] The control device can further include an antenna located in the housing, and the shroud can be formed of a plastic material configured to not interfere with signals from the antenna.

[0021] The antenna can include a pattern antenna included in the PCB. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fan shroud assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of FIG. 2; Figure 2

[0026] FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b) are views for explaining an arrangement of components of a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0027] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged view of a portion of a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The description will now be given in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. Identical or equivalent components can have the same reference numbers, and their descriptions will not be repeated. As used herein, the suffixes "module" and "part" can be added or used interchangeably to facilitate preparation of the specification, and are not intended to have different meanings or functions. In describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, related known technologies can not be described in detail to avoid obscuring the subject matter of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification. In addition, it should be noted that the drawings are merely for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and should not be interpreted as limiting the technical spirit disclosed in the present specification. Accordingly, the present disclosure should be interpreted as extending to any modifications, equivalents, and alternatives other than those specifically listed in the drawings.

[0029] Although the terms first, second, etc. can be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are generally only used to distinguish one element from another.

[0030] ​It is understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements can be present. In contrast, it is understood that when an element is referred to as being "directly connected to" another element, there are no intervening elements present.

[0031] Singular representations can include plural representations, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] The terms used herein, such as "include" or "have," etc., are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof described in the following description, and it should be understood that the possibility of existence or addition of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations thereof is not excluded.

[0033] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a fan shroud assembly according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the fan shroud assembly will be described with reference to Figure 1 The fan shroud assembly is described in detail.

[0034] A fan shroud assembly 1000 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure can include a fan assembly (hereinafter referred to as "fan") 1100 and a shroud 1200.

[0035] The fan 1100 can include a plurality of blades 1111 rotating around a center shaft 1112. The blades 1111 can rotate to blow air into the control device, thereby being able to perform a function of discharging heat to the outside. The fan 1100 can be provided as a general axial fan, and can provide air flow.

[0036] In addition, the fan 1100 can include an outer frame 1120 supporting the center shaft 1112 and surrounding the plurality of blades 1111. The outer frame 1120 serves to maintain the structural integrity of the fan 1100 and protect the blades 1111.

[0037] In addition, the outer frame 1120 can be covered by a rubber cover 1130, and the rubber cover 1130 can buffer external impact applied to the fan 1100 to prevent damage to the fan 1100. The configuration will be described later with reference to Figure 5 .

[0038] The shroud 1200 is coupled to the fan 1100 to improve the blowing efficiency of the fan 1100 and protect the fan 1100. The shroud 1200 can include a main body 1210 and a vent formed in the main body 1210. The vent can be formed at a position opposite to the position of the fan 1100.

[0039] The vent may have a radial support 1220 extending from the inner periphery of the vent toward the surface in a centripetal direction, and the radial support 1210 supports the contact portion 1230 within the cover 1200.

[0040] Referring together to Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the contact portion 1230 is formed with a raised rear surface and is arranged such that the thickest point is in line with the central axis 1112 of the fan 1100. The shape of the contact portion 1230 will be described later with reference to Figures 4(a) and 4(b).

[0041] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the shield 1200 can be formed of a plastic material, which can prevent electromagnetic interference that may occur when the shield is formed of a metal material, and helps to prevent damage to antenna performance. Furthermore, plastic materials are advantageous in terms of weight reduction and have the advantage of lower manufacturing costs.

[0042] The following will refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 A control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail. Figure 2 This is a perspective view illustrating a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken from the A-A' line.

[0043] Figure 2 The control device 100 has the above-mentioned Figure 1 The fan shroud assembly 1000 is included. A control device 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include the fan shroud assembly 1000, a housing 2000, and a PCB 3000.

[0044] The fan shroud assembly 1000 includes a fan 1100 and a shroud 1200, and is used for heat dissipation in the control device 100. The fan 1100 circulates air to prevent the control device 100 from overheating, and the shroud 1200 is a component that protects the fan 1100 and regulates airflow.

[0045] The shield 1200 has a contact portion 1230 formed at a position facing the center portion of the fan 1100, and can be designed to prevent damage to the shield 1200 and the fan 1100 that may occur due to external forces passing through the contact portion 1230. The contact portion 1230 is aligned with the rotation axis of the fan 1100 and is used to stably support the shield 1200 when external forces are applied.

[0046] The contact portion 1230 can be designed to have a raised rear surface so that it is supported by the fan 1100 even under external forces (see Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). The cover 1200 can also be referred to as a front cover and is preferably manufactured as a molded product.

[0047] A metal shroud is generally used to enhance rigidity, but in the present disclosure, a plastic material is used, and thus can provide excellent elasticity compared to metal. Accordingly, the plastic material can have a low risk of being damaged due to impact, and exhibit flexibility while maintaining rigidity due to the characteristics of the material.

[0048] Further, by using a plastic material, the thickness of the shroud 1200 itself can be increased to secure rigidity. Here, the thickness of the shroud 1200 is preferably 3 mm or more. Accordingly, by using a plastic material, the opening of the shroud 1200 can be widened to improve cooling performance while securing rigidity.

[0049] The housing 2000 is a case of the control device 100, for protecting main components in the control device 100 and maintaining the overall structure of the control device 100. The fan shroud assembly 1000 can be mounted on one side surface of the housing 2000, and heat in the control device 100 is discharged through the fan shroud assembly 1000.

[0050] The housing 2000 can be designed to accommodate electronic components (e.g., the PCB 3000) and protect internal components from impact or environmental factors. The housing 2000 can be manufactured through an aluminum die-casting process.

[0051] Further, the housing 2000 can include additional structural elements, such as an anti-slip portion 2100, which serves to limit movement of the fan shroud assembly 1000 due to external impact (see Figure 5 ).

[0052] The PCB 3000 is a printed circuit board, which is a core component of the control device 100, and various electronic components are mounted on the PCB 3000 to perform the functions of the control device 100. The PCB 3000 is a substrate commonly used for electronic devices, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted in the present disclosure.

[0053] Referring to Figure 3 , the PCB 3000 is mounted in the housing 2000 and is disposed in a direction perpendicular to the fan shroud assembly 1000. Since the PCB 3000 is disposed perpendicular to the fan shroud assembly 1000, the rear portion of the fan 1100 and one side portion of the PCB 3000 are adjacent to each other. In the case where the fan 1100 is pushed backward due to external impact, this arrangement effectively limits movement of the fan 1100. A plurality of PCBs 3000 can be provided.

[0054] Specifically, the rear surface of the fan 1100 can be in line contact with the side portion of the PCB 3000, and thus, when an external force is applied, the position of the fan 1100 can be fixed through the side portion of the PCB 3000 without being further pushed backward. That is, such line contact can inhibit the backward movement of the fan 1100. The arrangement of the PCB 3000 within the housing 2000 provides structural support to prevent the fan 1100 from being pushed backward due to an external force and allows the components in the control device 100 to maintain their fixed positions.

[0055] An antenna (not shown) can be located within the housing 2000 and is preferably provided as a pattern antenna included in the PCB 3000. The antenna is used to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals in the housing 2000 and is responsible for the communication function of the control device 100.

[0056] The shroud 1200 can be formed of a plastic material in order to minimize electromagnetic interference even when the shroud 1200 is arranged in a position adjacent to the antenna (not shown). The shroud 1200 formed of a plastic material does not absorb or reflect electromagnetic waves like metal, and thus, does not interfere with the signal propagation of the antenna. Accordingly, the antenna is able to achieve smooth signal transmission and reception in the housing 2000.

[0057] In addition, the shroud 1200 formed of a plastic material can be elastically deformed by an external force to protect the fan 1100 and the PCB 3000. In addition, the shroud 1200 can safely maintain the internal components of the control device 100 without hindering the performance of the antenna.

[0058] FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) are views for explaining the arrangement of components of a control device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, i.e., an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 4(a) and FIG. 4(b). That is, these views are schematic enlarged views of a longitudinal section of the control device 100 taken around the center of the fan 1100 of the control device 100. Figure 3

[0059] FIG. 4(a) illustrates the state of the fan and shroud assembly just before an external force F is applied, and FIG. 4(b) illustrates the configuration relationship between the fan-shroud assembly and the PCB in the case where an external force E is applied.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 4(a), a user can apply an external force F to the center of the fan 1100 with an external object (e.g., a finger, etc.), at which time the external force acts in the direction indicated by the arrow. Such an external force can mainly occur when the shroud 1200 is installed or during dispensing.

[0061] As described above in Figure 1 ​As described above, the contact portion 1230 supporting the center portion of the fan 1100 can have a convex rear surface, and is designed such that the thickest point of the contact portion 1230 is in line with the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100. That is, the vertex of the rear surface of the contact portion 1230 can be in line with the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100, so that the contact portion 1230 is in contact with the center point of the fan 1100 when an external force is applied and pushes the contact portion 1230 backward.

[0062] Further, the PCBs 3000 can be vertically installed at the rear of the fan 1100. The PCBs 3000 can be installed such that the rear surface of the fan 1100 and one side portion of each of the PCBs 3000 are adjacent to each other. Here, the distance between the fan 1100 and the PCBs 3000 is preferably 1 to 2 mm.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4(b), when an external force is applied to the center portion of the fan 1100, the contact portion 1230 is in contact with the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100. Since the rear surface of the contact portion 1230 is formed in a gently convex shape, a point contact P1 is formed, and even if an external force is applied, the contact portion 1230 is pressed and pushed backward such that its rear surface is in contact with the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100.

[0064] In other words, the thickest portion of the convex rear surface of the contact portion 1230 is in contact with the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100, thereby forming a point contact P1. That is, even when the blades 1111 of the fan 1100 rotate, this point contact P1 is at a point having a displacement of 0, so that the fan 1100 can maintain stability without moving or deforming the center axis 1112 of the fan 1100 when an external force is applied.

[0065] The contact portion 1230 is supported by the fan 1100 and is no longer pushed backward, thereby being able to prevent the shroud 1200 from being damaged.

[0066] In addition, if a greater external force is applied, the fan 1100 can also move backward. In this case, if the fan 1100 continues to move backward, there is a risk of structural damage occurring. However, since the PCBs 3000 are vertically located near the rear portion of the outer frame 1120, the fan 1100 can be prevented from further moving backward.

[0067] The PCB 3000 is located near a rear portion of the fan 1100 to form a line contact P2 with the fan 1100, and can limit the backward movement of the fan 1100 caused by an external force through the line contact P2. The PCB 3000 is firmly fixed in the control device 100, and thus can provide a stable support force against an external impact. The fan 1100 can no longer move backward through the line contact P2 with the PCB 3000, and the contact P2 limits the movement of the fan 1100.

[0068] When the fan 1100 is pushed backward by an external force F, the line contact P2 formed between the outer frame 1120 of the fan 1100 and the PCB 3000 generates a normal force F' acting in a direction opposite to the external force F. The normal force F' suppresses the positional change of the fan 1100 and prevents the fan 1100 from unnecessarily moving. Thereby, the displacement of the fan 1100 can be limited, and structural damage to the fan 1100 due to the external force can be prevented.

[0069] Figure 5 is a schematic enlarged view of a portion of a control device according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and illustrates a detailed configuration related to a surface behind the fan.

[0070] Referring to Figure 5 , the PCB 3000 is disposed adjacent to a rear surface of the fan 1100, and a buffer groove 3100 is formed in the PCB 3000 to accommodate a portion of the fan 1100. The buffer groove 3100 is designed to accommodate the outer frame 1120 of the fan 1100, and serves to limit the movement of the fan 1100 when the fan 1100 moves backward due to an external force.

[0071] The buffer groove 3100 is formed such that the outer frame 1120 of the fan 1100 is in close contact therewith and the possibility of the fan 1100 moving backward is reduced. The buffer groove 3100 can be machined to have a specific depth and shape in one side surface of the PCB 3000, so that the backward movement of the fan 1100 can be effectively limited when an external force is applied to the shroud 1200.

[0072] Referring to Figure 5 , the fan 1100 can be covered by a rubber cover 1130. The rubber cover 1130 serves to protect the outer surface of the fan 1100 and absorb a shock. In addition, the rubber cover 1130 can be formed of an elastic material that provides flexibility, so that when an external force is applied and the fan 1100 moves backward, the rubber cover 130 comes into contact with the PCB 3000, thereby being supported.

[0073] In addition, the housing 2000 may include an anti-slip part 2100 that supports the rubber cover 1130 to limit excessive movement of the fan 1100 due to external force F. The anti-slip part 2100 may be designed as an integral part of the housing 2000, or may be installed separately as an additional part as needed.

[0074] Therefore, according to the above configuration, this disclosure can effectively absorb and support the external force applied to the fan and stably maintain the fan's position, preventing damage to components in the control device from external impacts. Furthermore, by using a plastic protective cover, stable communication performance can be maintained without hindering signal transmission and reception by the antenna.

[0075] As can be clearly seen from the above description, according to one embodiment of this disclosure, by using plastic materials, the communication quality of the control device can be maintained without impairing antenna performance.

[0076] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the structure of the fan shroud can be optimized to maintain the rigidity of the fan shroud even when resisting external impacts.

[0077] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, existing components can be rearranged to increase rigidity, thereby improving space utilization and saving installation space.

[0078] The effects that can be obtained by this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other effects not mentioned herein through the above description.

[0079] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure.

[0080] The above detailed description should be interpreted in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the technical solutions appended to this disclosure, and all variations within the scope of equivalence of this disclosure should be included within the protection scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A fan shroud assembly comprising: a fan including a plurality of blades configured to rotate around a center axis; and a shroud including a main body having an air vent configured to face the fan and a contact portion supported by radial supports configured to extend in a centripetal direction from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent, wherein the contact portion has a convex rear surface, and a thickest point of the contact portion is aligned with the center axis of the fan.

2. The fan shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein, The fan further includes: an outer frame configured to support the center axis and surround the plurality of blades; and a rubber cover configured to cover the outer frame.

3. The fan shroud assembly of claim 1, wherein, The shroud is formed of a plastic material. 4.A control device comprising: a fan shroud assembly including a fan and a shroud, the fan including a plurality of blades configured to rotate around a center axis, the shroud including a main body having an air vent configured to face the fan and a plurality of supports configured to extend from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent; a housing configured such that the fan shroud assembly is mounted on one surface of the housing; and a PCB mounted in the housing in a direction perpendicular to the fan shroud assembly, wherein the PCB is positioned such that one side portion of the PCB is adjacent to a rear portion of the fan to prevent the fan from being pushed by an external force.

5. The control device according to claim 4, wherein The shroud further includes a contact portion supported by radial supports configured to extend in a centripetal direction from an inner circumferential surface of the air vent, wherein the contact portion has a convex rear surface, and a thickest point of the contact portion is aligned with the center axis of the fan.

6. The control device according to claim 4, wherein The PCB has a shape including a buffer groove formed in the side portion of the PCB to accommodate a portion of the fan.

7. The control device according to claim 4, wherein The fan further includes: an outer frame configured to support the center axis and surround the plurality of blades; and a rubber cover configured to cover the outer frame.

8. The control device according to claim 7, wherein The housing includes a non-slip portion configured to support the rubber cover to limit movement of the fan due to an external force. 9.The control device of claim 4, further comprising: an antenna located in the housing, wherein the shroud is formed of a plastic material configured not to interfere with a signal from the antenna.

10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein The antenna includes a pattern antenna included in the PCB.

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