Plastic fixing support for fan and uninterrupted power supply with same

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of plastic fixing support for fan, it is used to fix fan assembly to uninterrupted power supply, the fixing support includes: the frame body of generally square;From the pair of retaining portion of first side integral extension;From one of first side and second side, the pair of first clamping portion and the pair of second clamping portion that the other one protrudes forward, wherein the first clamping portion is designed to be tightly engaged with the side and the second clamping portion is designed to be tightly engaged with the top;And the pair of third clamping portion that protrudes rearward from first side or second side, wherein the third clamping portion is designed to be tightly engaged with the back of the fan frame. Thus, the time, difficulty and cost of fan assembly assembly can be simplified, and the gap between fan frame and support and operating noise can be effectively eliminated. The utility model also relates to uninterrupted power supply with it.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of electrical equipment technology, and in particular to a plastic mounting bracket for a fan and an uninterruptible power supply having the same. Background Technology

[0002] With the advancement of technology and the development of high-tech industries, the performance of electronic devices has also improved significantly. However, this increased performance also generates more heat, leading to a rise in the overall temperature of the electronic devices. Excessive temperature can reduce the efficiency or cause malfunctions in electronic devices, even resulting in failure. To address this issue, cooling devices are often installed to lower the temperature of electronic devices. For example, modular UPS (Uninterruptible Power Systems / Uninterruptible Power Supply), modular switch cabinets, or modular servers typically have fan modules installed on the front or rear cover for heat dissipation. These fan modules include a fan frame and a fan body mounted on the fan frame.

[0003] Chinese invention patent application publication number CN101163387A discloses a fan module and a fixing design for fixing it to an electronic device. The fixing design includes a mounting base in a fan frame within the fan module and a fixing structure for fixing the fan module to a board component of the electronic device. This fixing structure can be a screw or a spring screw. During assembly, the fan body is first placed into the fan frame, and then the fan frame is placed on a board component, such as a circuit board, with the mounting base of the fan frame roughly aligned with the fixing part. Then, the fixing structure, such as a screw or spring screw, is used to lock the fan body onto the fixing part via the mounting base, thus ensuring the fan frame securely holds the fan body to the electronic device without detaching. In this way, when the electronic device is operating, the fan body can quickly dissipate the heat generated by the electronic device.

[0004] However, because this type of fan module requires alignment and assembly steps such as fan frame and fan body, fan frame and electronic device board, the number of assembly and manufacturing processes of the entire fan module increases and the requirement for alignment accuracy increases. As a result, the use and maintenance cost of the entire fan module increases rather than decreases, and the reliability and pass rate also decrease significantly.

[0005] Furthermore, since the fan module is rigidly mounted using metal parts such as screws, and a certain amount of assembly clearance is inevitable, it has been found in practice that high-frequency noise can easily occur when high-speed fans are needed for cooling. This is because the higher the fan speed, the greater the high-frequency vibration transmitted. The high-frequency vibration of the fan, when transmitted to the chassis, causes the chassis to vibrate, generating noise.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need in the art to assemble fan components into electronic devices, including uninterruptible power supplies, with lower cost, easier operation, and better noise reduction performance during use. Utility Model Content

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a plastic mounting bracket for a fan that can at least solve some of the problems mentioned above.

[0008] This invention also aims to provide an uninterruptible power supply that utilizes the aforementioned plastic mounting bracket for a fan.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a plastic mounting bracket for a fan is provided for fixing a fan assembly to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), wherein the UPS includes a base plate and at least one cover plate, wherein at least one of the base plate and the at least one cover plate has mounting holes for inserting the fan assembly, wherein the fan assembly includes a fan body and a fan frame for fixing the fan body thereto, wherein the fan frame is generally square and includes a top surface, side surfaces, and a back surface; wherein the plastic mounting bracket for the fan includes: a generally square frame, wherein the frame includes a pair of first sidewalls and a mounting hole perpendicular to the first... A peripheral wall formed by a pair of second sidewalls on one sidewall; a pair of retaining portions integrally extending from the first sidewall, wherein the retaining portions are designed to engage with the shape of the mounting hole; a pair of first retaining portions and a pair of second retaining portions projecting forward from one of the first and second sidewalls, wherein the first retaining portions are designed to engage tightly with the sidewall and the second retaining portions are designed to engage tightly with the top surface; and a pair of third retaining portions projecting rearward from either the first or second sidewall, wherein the third retaining portions are designed to engage tightly with the back of the fan frame.

[0010] Compared with the prior art, the plastic fan mounting bracket according to this utility model can achieve at least one of the following beneficial technical effects: 1. By means of the first, second, and third locking parts of the plastic fan mounting bracket, the gaps in the X, Y, and Z directions after the fan frame is installed can be effectively eliminated, making the assembly between the two more secure and reliable, and effectively reducing vibration noise, especially during high-frequency operation of uninterruptible power supplies. 2. The plastic fan mounting bracket and the fan frame installed therein are fixed in all directions by snap-fit ​​or snap-fit ​​methods, so there is no need to drill screw holes on the fan frame and the tedious and error-prone alignment operation of fasteners is eliminated, thereby significantly reducing the time and cost required for fan assembly. Furthermore, it also simplifies the disassembly of the fan assembly.

[0011] In a preferred aspect of this invention, the first sidewall is parallel to the vertical direction of the uninterruptible power supply, and the first locking portion is located on the first sidewall and the second locking portion is located on the second sidewall.

[0012] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the third locking portion is located on the first side wall and is staggered from the second locking portion.

[0013] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the third locking portion has an inwardly protruding stop for abutting against the back of the fan frame, and the second locking portion has an inwardly protruding locking foot for engaging with the front of the fan frame, wherein the longitudinal distance between the stop and the locking foot is approximately the same as the thickness of the fan frame.

[0014] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first locking portion is arranged adjacent to the fixing portion and at least one auxiliary locking portion is provided therebetween, wherein the protrusion direction of the auxiliary locking portion is opposite to the protrusion direction of the first locking portion.

[0015] As a preferred aspect of this utility model, the retaining part, the first locking part, the second locking part and the third locking part are all designed as flexible components and the components are integrally formed with the peripheral wall.

[0016] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the peripheral wall is further provided with reinforcing ribs arranged around it, wherein the reinforcing ribs are designed to adjust the rigidity of the plastic fixing bracket for the fan.

[0017] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the first locking portion has an integrally formed first rib protruding toward the interior of the fixed bracket and / or the second locking portion has an integrally formed second rib protruding toward the interior of the fixed bracket and / or the third locking portion has an integrally formed protrusion protruding longitudinally toward the interior of the fixed bracket.

[0018] As a preferred aspect of the present invention, the outermost free end of the fixed portion is offset relative to the inner body.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present invention, an uninterruptible power supply is provided, comprising a base plate, a fan assembly, and at least one cover plate having mounting holes for inserting the fan assembly, characterized in that it further comprises the aforementioned plastic fan mounting bracket capable of engaging with the mounting holes, for fixing the fan assembly to the uninterruptible power supply.

[0020] Other features and advantages of this invention will partly be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this application, and partly will be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the detailed description below. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The embodiments of this utility model will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an uninterruptible power supply with a plastic mounting bracket for a fan according to the present invention, wherein some components have been removed to show more details;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The first exploded view of the uninterruptible power supply is shown in the figure;

[0024] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The second exploded view of the uninterruptible power supply shown in the figure illustrates the operation of fixing the fan to the uninterruptible power supply with a plastic mounting bracket.

[0025] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 The third exploded view of the uninterruptible power supply shown in the figure illustrates the operation of fixing the fan assembly to the plastic mounting bracket;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a side view of the plastic mounting bracket for a fan according to the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a side view of the plastic mounting bracket for the fan according to this utility model from another perspective;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a bottom view of the plastic mounting bracket for a fan according to this utility model;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a front view of the plastic mounting bracket for a fan according to this utility model;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a front view of the plastic mounting bracket for a fan according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 10 This is a perspective view of the fan assembly according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 11 This is another perspective view of the fan assembly according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 12 This is an enlarged view of the assembled state of the plastic fixing bracket for the fan and the fan assembly according to this utility model;

[0034] Figure 13 This is an enlarged view from another perspective of the assembled state of the plastic fixing bracket for the fan and the fan assembly according to this utility model;

[0035] Figure 14 This is another magnified view of the assembled state of the plastic fixing bracket for the fan according to this utility model and the fan assembly.

[0036] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0037] 100 - Plastic mounting bracket for fan; 101 - Retaining part; 102 - First locking part;

[0038] 102A - Auxiliary locking part; 102B - First rib; 103 - Second locking part; 103A - Locking foot;

[0039] 103B - Second rib; 104 - Third locking part; 104A - Protruding part;

[0040] 105 - First sidewall; 106 - Second sidewall; 200 - Uninterruptible power supply; 201 - Cover plate; 202 - Base plate;

[0041] 203 - Mounting hole; 300 - Fan assembly; 301 - Fan body; 302 - Fan frame; 302A - Back side; 302B - Side side; 302C - Top surface; X - Horizontal; Y - Vertical; Z - Longitudinal. Detailed Implementation

[0042] The schematic embodiments of the device disclosed in this utility model are now described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the drawings are provided to illustrate some embodiments of this utility model, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to the dimensions of the specific embodiments, and certain features may be enlarged, removed, or partially cut to better illustrate and explain the disclosure of this utility model. Some components in the drawings may be repositioned according to actual needs without affecting the technical effect. The phrase "in the drawings" or similar terms appearing in the specification do not necessarily refer to all drawings or examples.

[0043] Certain directional terms used in the description of the accompanying drawings below, such as “inner,” “outer,” “above,” “below,” and other directional terms, will be understood to have their normal meaning and refer to those directions as normally viewed in the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the directional terms used in this specification are generally in accordance with the conventional directions understood by those skilled in the art.

[0044] The terms “first,” “first,” “second,” “second,” and similar terms used in this utility model do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are used to distinguish one component from other components.

[0045] The terms "joining", "connection" and similar terms used in this utility model include both indirect connection of two components with the aid of an intermediate layer (e.g., adhesive, welding agent, etc.) or intermediate parts (e.g., connector, transition piece, etc.) and direct connection of two components without the aid of any intermediate layer (e.g., adhesive, welding agent, etc.) or intermediate parts (e.g., connector, transition piece, etc.).

[0046] Uninterruptible power supply

[0047] exist Figure 1 An uninterruptible power supply 200 with a plastic fan mounting bracket 1 according to the present invention is illustrated by way of example, wherein some components of the uninterruptible power supply 200 have been removed for detailed illustration of the plastic fan mounting bracket 1 according to the present invention.

[0048] Those skilled in the art will know that uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) 200 are commonly used to provide redundant power to computers and other electronic devices. A UPS can be configured to receive power from a primary source (e.g., AC power) and a backup source (e.g., a battery), and can selectively provide power from both input sources at its power output. The power output of the UPS can be coupled to a power distribution unit (PDU) attached to a rack. Computers and other electronic devices mounted in the rack can be plugged into the power outlets of the PDU, thus receiving uninterrupted power. Based on their external structure, uninterruptible power supplies 200 can be classified as modular or tower-type. In this invention, a tower-type uninterruptible power supply will be described as an example, but those skilled in the art will know that the aforementioned plastic fan mounting bracket 1 can also be applied to modular uninterruptible power supplies.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, the uninterruptible power supply 200 includes a power supply frame defining a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped receiving space, a rectifier unit, an inverter unit, and a battery unit for storing electrical energy built into the receiving space, as well as a fan assembly 300 detachably mounted to the power supply frame. Figure 1 The diagram shows a base plate 202 as part of the power supply frame and a cover plate 201, which is vertically connected to the base plate 202 and is located at the front. Of course, those skilled in the art will know that the cover plate 201 may also be located at the rear or side of the base plate 202.

[0050] For ease of description below, the following definition is provided. Figure 1 The width or horizontal length of the base plate 202 is defined as either the X direction or the horizontal direction. Figure 1The length or longitudinal direction of the base plate 202 is defined as the Z direction or longitudinal direction, and the extension direction perpendicular to the base plate 202 or parallel to the cover plate 201 is defined as the Y direction or vertical direction.

[0051] like Figure 1 As shown, the uninterruptible power supply 200 also includes mounting holes 203 in the cover plate 201 of the power supply frame, which are detachably mounted to the fan assembly 300 described in detail below via a fan-mounted plastic bracket 100. As an example, multiple fan assemblies 300, for example two, are arranged adjacent to each other in the cover plate 201. Each fan assembly 300 includes a fan body 301 that can be rotated by a motor and a fan frame 302 to which the fan body 301 is fixed. With this design, when the fan body 301 is operating, air flowing outside the cover plate 201 passes through the cover plate 201 and is blown into the interior of the cuboid-shaped receiving space defined by the power supply frame. This cools the rectifier unit, inverter unit, and battery unit for storing electrical energy located within the space, and then carries away the hot air from inside the power supply frame and blows it out of the power supply frame.

[0052] Fan assembly

[0053] exist Figure 10 and Figure 11 The present invention illustrates, by way of example, a fan assembly 300 that can be detachably mounted to the cover plate 201 of an uninterruptible power supply 200 using a plastic fan mounting bracket 1. As shown in the figure, the fan assembly 300 includes a fan body 301 that can be rotated by a motor and a fan frame 302 that fixes the fan body 301 therein. The fan frame 302 is generally square and includes a top surface 302C located at the top in the vertical or Y direction, an outermost side surface 302B located in the horizontal or X direction, and an innermost back surface 302A located in the longitudinal or Z direction. Preferably, the fan frame 302 is integrally molded from a non-conductive non-metallic material, such as plastic, rubber, or a polymer.

[0054] Furthermore, the fan body 301 is housed within the fan frame 302, wherein the fan body 301 has a centrally located hub and multiple fan blades fixedly connected to the hub. Preferably, as shown below... Figure 10 and 11 As shown, the fan blade can be an axial flow fan blade with a flat, curved, or arc-shaped shape. Alternatively, a rotor of a motor, for example, that can be driven by an external electrical signal can be installed within the hub, thereby enabling it to rotate relative to the fan frame 302 in response to an electrical signal supplied to the fan body 301, with both the direction and speed of rotation being controllable.

[0055] Since the fan assembly 300 can be detachably mounted to the cover plate 201 by means of the fan plastic mounting bracket 100 described in detail below, unlike known fan assemblies 300, its fan frame 302 can be designed without mounting holes for screws or other fasteners, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and cost of the fan assembly 300.

[0056] Fan mounting bracket

[0057] exist Figures 5 to 9 The present invention illustrates by way of example a feasible embodiment of a plastic mounting bracket 100 for a fan according to the present invention, which is used to detachably and seamlessly fix a fan assembly 300 to a cover plate 201 of an uninterruptible power supply 200.

[0058] Please see in particular Figure 7 and 8 Here, the fan mounting bracket 100 is integrally molded from an elastic material such as plastic or rubber. The mounting bracket 100 includes a generally square frame, which includes a pair of first sidewalls 105 (e.g., in...). Figure 1 (Extending along the Y direction in the installed state shown) and a pair of second sidewalls 106 perpendicular to the first sidewall 105 (e.g., in...) Figure 1 The peripheral wall (extending along the X direction in the installed state shown) is such that the shape of the fixing bracket 100 is generally square and fits the mounting hole 203 in the cover plate 201, so that the fixing bracket 100 can be easily snapped into the mounting hole 203 in the cover plate 201 in a form-locking manner. It should be noted that, although in Figure 7 and 8 The first sidewall 105 shown extends along the Y direction and the second sidewall 106 extends along the X direction. Their extension directions can also be interchanged, for example, it is possible to install the fan by rotating the plastic mounting bracket 100 90 degrees.

[0059] Therefore, such as Figure 7 and 8 As shown, the peripheral wall of the fixing bracket 100 has a pair of retaining portions 101 integrally extending from the first side wall 105, wherein the retaining portions 101 are designed to engage with the mounting holes 203 in the cover plate 201. Preferably, the retaining portions 101 are flexible components integrally formed with the peripheral wall, so that even if there is a certain deviation between the outer contour shape of the fixing bracket 100 and the mounting holes 203 in the cover plate 201, the deviation can be compensated or absorbed by the elastic deformation of the retaining portions 101, thereby facilitating the detachable installation between the fixing bracket 100 and the cover plate 201.

[0060] Especially Figure 8 As shown, the retaining portion 101 is designed with its outermost free end offset relative to the inner body, thereby forming an outermost stepped portion that can subsequently engage with the mounting hole 203 in the cover plate 201. Specifically, when the retaining portion 101 is inserted into the mounting hole 203, a certain amount of elastic deformation occurs in the inner body of the retaining portion 101, thereby allowing the outermost stepped portion offset relative to the body to reliably engage with the mounting hole 203 in the cover plate 201 with a certain prestress, which helps to improve the installation stability of the fixing bracket 100.

[0061] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 and 8 As shown, the fan's plastic mounting bracket 100 also includes a pair of first locking portions 102 protruding forward from one of the first sidewall 105 and the second sidewall 106, and a pair of second locking portions 103 protruding forward from the other. In particular, as shown... Figure 8 As shown, the paired first locking portions 102 are respectively arranged in each of the paired first sidewalls 105 of the circumferential wall frame, and preferably also in pairs spaced apart from each other in a single first sidewall 105. Alternatively, each first locking portion 102 can be designed to be in... Figure 1 The component is flexible along the transverse or X-direction and is integrally formed with the peripheral wall. This allows the first locking part 102 to be flexible under external force. Figure 1 If the first locking part 102 undergoes elastic deformation or rebound in the lateral or X direction, it can be designed to be spaced apart from the corresponding part of the first sidewall 105. That is, the first locking part 102 is integrally formed into the frame of the periphery wall in a way that is parallel to and spaced apart from the corresponding part of the first sidewall 105 by a certain distance.

[0062] Preferably, such as Figure 8 The first locking portion 102 shown is preferably arranged adjacent to the retaining portion 101, and at least one auxiliary locking portion 102A is also provided between the pairs of first locking portions 102, which is also designed to be in Figure 1 The component is flexible along the transverse or X-direction and is integrally formed with the peripheral wall. Here, to avoid affecting the strength of the frame's first side wall 105, the protrusion direction of the auxiliary locking part 102A is opposite to the protrusion direction of the first locking part 102, i.e., as shown... Figure 8 As shown, the protrusion direction of the first locking part 102 is along... Figure 1 The longitudinal direction or Z-direction of the auxiliary locking part 102A points outward from the cover plate 201 (i.e., "forward" or "forward") and the protrusion direction of the auxiliary locking part 102A is along the direction of the cover plate 201. Figure 1The longitudinal or Z-direction points inward toward the cover plate 201, i.e., "rearward" or "backward". With this design, when the fan assembly is inserted into the peripheral wall of the mounting bracket 100, it engages tightly with the side 302A of the fan frame 302 at multiple locations along the first side wall 105 in the vertical or Y-direction, thereby... Figure 1 The fan frame 302 is positioned horizontally or in the X direction.

[0063] To refine the clearance adjustment of the fan assembly in the lateral or X-direction (especially during dynamic operation), multiple first locking portions 102 also include integrally formed first ribs 102B protruding towards the interior of the mounting bracket 100, for maintaining close contact with the side 302A of the fan frame 302 inserted into the mounting bracket 100 during operation of the fan assembly 300. Due to the material properties of these first ribs 102B, they can reliably hold the inserted fan assembly 300 at multiple discrete locations in a manner similar to damped suspension, thus ensuring satisfactory clearance adjustment even during dynamic operation of the fan assembly 300.

[0064] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 and 8 As shown, along the paired second sidewalls 106 of the frame forming the circumferential wall. Figure 1 The device has a pair of forward-protruding second locking portions 103 arranged in the horizontal or X direction. Alternatively, each second locking portion 103 can be designed to... Figure 1 The component is flexible along the vertical or Y direction and is integrally formed with the peripheral wall. This allows the second locking part 103 to be flexible under external force. Figure 1 The fan assembly exhibits elastic deformation or rebound in the vertical or Y direction. It can be designed so that the corresponding portion at the bottom and the second sidewall 106 is integrally formed, while the upper part is free or movable. To facilitate removal from the molding die, each second locking portion 103 can be designed to taper from the fixed bottom to the movable upper part. With this design, when the fan assembly is inserted into the peripheral wall of the fixed bracket 100, it is tightly engaged with the top surface 302C of the fan frame 302 at multiple locations along the second sidewall 106 in the lateral or X direction, thereby allowing it to move freely along the vertical or Y direction. Figure 1 The fan frame 302 is positioned vertically or in the Y direction.

[0065] Similarly, to refine the clearance adjustment of the fan assembly along the vertical or Y direction (especially during dynamic operation), multiple second locking portions 103 also have integrally formed second ribs 103B that protrude toward the interior of the mounting bracket 100, for maintaining close contact with the top surface 302C of the fan frame 302 inserted into the mounting bracket 100 during operation of the fan assembly 300 (e.g., Figure 14 (As shown). Due to the material properties of these second ribs 103B, they can reliably hold the inserted fan assembly 300 in a manner similar to a damped suspension at multiple discrete locations, thereby ensuring that the mounting bracket 100 has a satisfactory clearance adjustment effect even during the dynamic operation of the fan assembly 300.

[0066] Furthermore, such as Figure 7 and 8 As shown, along the paired second sidewalls 106 of the frame forming the circumferential wall. Figure 1 The device also features a pair of rearwardly protruding third locking portions 104 in the horizontal or X direction. Alternatively, each third locking portion 104 can be designed to... Figure 1 The component is flexible along the longitudinal or Z-direction and is integrally formed with the peripheral wall. Specifically, the third locking part 104 can be designed as a main body extending rearward from the corresponding portion of the second side wall 106 and a stop extending from the main body along the vertical or Y-direction, both being substantially perpendicular to form a shape fit with the outer contour of the square fan frame 302. As a result, when the fan assembly 300 is inserted into the peripheral wall of the fixing bracket 100, it is tightly fitted with the back surface 302A of the fan frame 302 at multiple locations along the second side wall 106 in the lateral or X-direction, thereby allowing it to move along the... Figure 1 The fan frame 302 is positioned in the longitudinal or Z direction.

[0067] In order to achieve the fan frame 302 in Figure 1 The second locking part 103 preferably has an inwardly protruding locking foot 103A for engaging with the front of the fan frame 302, wherein the locking foot 103A is designed as a ramp so that the inserted fan frame 302 can be smoothly guided past the innermost end of the locking foot 103 and then stopped by the locking foot 103A and the corresponding stop edge of the third locking part 104 after passing the innermost end. Figure 1 The longitudinal or Z-direction of the fan frame 302 is bidirectionally blocked, which can be achieved, for example, by designing the longitudinal distance between the stop of the third locking part 104 and the locking foot 103 to be approximately the same as the thickness of the fan frame 302. Figure 8 As shown, in order to ensure the strength of the second sidewall 106 of the perimeter wall, the third locking part 104 and the second locking part 103 are arranged in a staggered manner.

[0068] Further preferably, similarly, to refine the clearance adjustment of the fan assembly along the longitudinal or Z-direction (especially during dynamic operation), the plurality of third locking portions 104 also have integrally formed protrusions 104A extending longitudinally toward the interior of the mounting bracket 100, for maintaining close contact with the back surface 302A of the fan frame 302 inserted into the mounting bracket 100 during operation of the fan assembly 300. Due to the material properties of these protrusions 104A, the inserted fan assembly 300 can be reliably held in a damped suspension manner at multiple discrete locations, thus ensuring satisfactory clearance adjustment even during dynamic operation of the fan assembly 300.

[0069] Preferably, such as Figure 7 and 8 As shown, the peripheral wall also has reinforcing ribs arranged around it, which are designed to adjust the stiffness of the plastic fan mounting bracket 100. These reinforcing ribs can be, for example, reinforcing edges arranged around the first sidewall 105 and the second sidewall 106, or reinforcing ribs or rounded portions located at the corners of the peripheral wall. As a result, the stiffness of the plastic fan mounting bracket 100 can be adjusted according to the natural frequency during the high-frequency operation of the uninterruptible power supply 200 to reduce the possibility of resonance.

[0070] Next, combine Figures 2 to 4 And refer to them together Figures 12 to 14 This describes the assembly method of the uninterruptible power supply 200 with the plastic mounting bracket 100 for the fan of this utility model.

[0071] exist Figure 2 The image shows the state before the fan assembly 300 is installed to the uninterruptible power supply 200 via the fan mounting bracket 100. The image shows the fan assembly 300 installed via the fan mounting bracket 100 (on the left) and the fan mounting bracket 100 and fan assembly 300 before assembly, as shown on the right. Figure 2 As shown, the cover plate 201 is provided with mounting holes 203 that match the shape of the plastic mounting bracket 100 for the fan and allow the fan assembly 300 to be inserted therein.

[0072] Next, as Figure 3As shown, the fan mounting bracket 100 without the fan assembly 300 is first aligned with the mounting hole 203 on the cover plate 201, ensuring a form-fit. This is at least due to the form-fitting between the retaining portion 101 in the fan mounting bracket 100 and the corresponding portion of the mounting hole 203. Since the retaining portion 101 is designed to be flexible, the installed fan mounting bracket 100 and mounting hole 203 are ensured to be in a tight, gapless fit. Furthermore, since the cover plate 201 is generally a sheet metal part and the fan mounting bracket 100 is a plastic part, both provide good decoupling or vibration isolation against vibrations from the cover plate 201 or the fan assembly 300.

[0073] Next, such as Figure 4 As shown, the fan assembly 300 is aligned with the fixed fan using the plastic mounting bracket 100. Then, the fan assembly 300 is pushed into the rear of the cover plate 201 along the longitudinal or Z-direction, during which the top surface 302C of the fan assembly 300 abuts against the second rib 103B of the second locking portion 103 in the paired second sidewalls 106, and the side surface 302B abuts against the first rib 102B of the first locking portion 102 in the paired first sidewalls 105. Taking the second locking portion 103 as an example, during the insertion of the fan assembly 300 along the longitudinal or Z-direction, the back surface 302A of the fan assembly 300 slides along the sloping locking foot 103A of the second locking portion 103 and passes over the locking foot 103A until it is tightly fitted without gap with the stop protrusion 104A of the third locking portion 104 (as shown). Figure 12 As shown), this enables bidirectional positioning and clearance adjustment of the fan assembly 300 along the longitudinal or Z-direction. Next, as... Figure 13 and 14 As shown, the elastic rebound of the first locking portion 102 or its first rib 102B arranged laterally opposite on the paired first sidewalls 105 and the second locking portion 103 or its second rib 103B arranged vertically opposite on the paired second sidewalls 106 ensures that they maintain a tight, gapless fit with the side surface 302B and top surface 302C of the fan frame 302 of the inserted fan assembly 300. As a result, the fan assembly 300 is constantly bidirectionally locked and adjusted for gaps in both the lateral and vertical directions.

[0074] exist Figure 1 , 13Figure 14 shows a configuration in which the fan assembly 300 is tightly assembled into the fan plastic mounting bracket 100 (which is already fixed into the mounting hole 203 of the cover plate 201), wherein the side surface 302B, top surface 302C, and back surface 302A of the fan frame 302 are correspondingly tightly engaged and bidirectionally locked by the first locking part 102 or its first rib 102B, the second locking part 103 or its second rib 103B, and the third locking part 104 or its protrusion 104A, thereby achieving a secure connection. Figure 1 The X, Y, and Z directions shown do not have gaps large enough for external foreign objects to flow in. Furthermore, since the first locking part 102 or its first rib 102B, the second locking part 103 or its second rib 103B, and the third locking part 104 or its protrusion 104A are all made of flexible material, a slight error is allowed between the outer contour dimensions of the fan frame 302 and the dimensions of the fan plastic mounting bracket 100. That is, when the size of the fan frame 302 is slightly larger, any one of the first locking part 102 or its first rib 102B, the second locking part 103 or its second rib 103B, and the third locking part 104 or its protrusion 104A can deform to a certain extent along its corresponding direction (any one of the X, Y, and Z directions) so that the fan frame 302 can still be assembled. More preferably, since the first locking part 102 is located at the corner of the peripheral wall of the plastic fixing bracket 100 for the fan, it is tightly engaged with the corners on both sides of the fan frame 302 by means of the lateral or X-direction elastic force, so that the fan frame 302 will not vibrate laterally or in the X-direction during the high-frequency operation of the uninterruptible power supply 200. Similarly, by means of the second locking part 103 or its second rib 103B and the third locking part 104 or its protrusion 104A made of flexible material, unwanted vibration or noise of the fan frame 302 during the high-frequency operation of the uninterruptible power supply 200 can also be suppressed.

[0075] When it is necessary to remove the fan frame 302 from the fan mounting bracket 100, the operator can use a tool such as a screwdriver to insert between the second locking part 103 and the second side wall 106 of the mounting bracket 100 and the top surface 302C of the fan frame 302. Then, by applying force to the second locking part 103 to expand it outward, the tight engagement between the second locking part 103 and the top surface 302C of the fan frame 302 is released. At this point, the fan frame 302 can be slightly pried outward with a screwdriver or similar tool to allow it to move along the fan frame. Figure 1 The fan frame 302 is flipped forward toward the outside of the cover plate 201 in the longitudinal or Z direction to extend out of the fixing bracket 100. Subsequently, the fan frame 302 can be completely removed from the fan plastic fixing bracket 100 with the aid of tools or by hand.

[0076] As can be seen from the above, compared with the existing technology that uses metal fasteners to fix fan assemblies, the plastic mounting bracket 100 for fans according to this utility model can achieve at least one of the following beneficial technical effects:

[0077] 1. By means of the first locking part 102, the second locking part 103 and the third locking part 104 of the fan plastic mounting bracket 100, the gaps in the X, Y and Z directions after the fan frame 302 is installed can be effectively eliminated. Even if there is a certain error between the outer contour dimension of the fan frame 302 and the opening dimension of the fan plastic mounting bracket 100, the gap control capability in the X, Y and Z directions can be achieved, thereby making the assembly between the two more secure and reliable and effectively reducing vibration noise, especially during the high-frequency operation of the uninterruptible power supply.

[0078] 2. The fan mounting bracket 100 and the fan frame 302 are fixed in all directions by snap-fit ​​or snap-fit ​​methods. Therefore, there is no need to drill screw holes in the fan frame 302 and the tedious and error-prone alignment of fasteners is eliminated, which significantly reduces the time and cost required for assembling the fan assembly 300. Furthermore, it simplifies the disassembly of the fan assembly 300.

[0079] It should be understood that although this specification describes various embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other implementation methods that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0080] The above description is merely an illustrative embodiment of this utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of this utility model. Any equivalent changes, modifications, and combinations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the concept and principles of this utility model should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. A plastic mounting bracket for a fan, used to fix a fan assembly to an uninterruptible power supply, wherein the uninterruptible power supply includes a base plate and at least one cover plate, wherein at least one of the base plate and the at least one cover plate has a mounting hole for inserting the fan assembly, wherein the fan assembly includes a fan body and a fan frame for fixing the fan body thereto, wherein the fan frame is generally square and includes a top surface, a side surface and a back surface; Its features are, The plastic mounting bracket for the fan includes: A generally square frame, wherein the frame includes a perimeter wall formed by a pair of first sidewalls and a pair of second sidewalls perpendicular to the first sidewalls; A pair of retaining portions extending integrally from the first sidewall, wherein the retaining portions are designed to engage with the shape of the mounting hole; A pair of first locking portions protruding forward from one of the first and second sidewalls, and a pair of second locking portions protruding forward from the other, wherein the first locking portions are designed to engage tightly with the sidewall and the second locking portions are designed to engage tightly with the top surface; and A pair of third locking portions protruding rearward from the first or second sidewall, wherein the third locking portions are designed to fit tightly with the back of the fan frame.

2. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first sidewall is parallel to the vertical direction of the uninterruptible power supply, and the first locking part is located on the first sidewall and the second locking part is located on the second sidewall.

3. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The third locking part is located on the second side wall and is staggered from the second locking part.

4. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The third locking portion has an inwardly protruding stop for abutting against the back of the fan frame, and the second locking portion has an inwardly protruding locking foot for engaging with the front of the fan frame, wherein the longitudinal distance between the stop and the locking foot is approximately the same as the thickness of the fan frame.

5. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first locking part is arranged adjacent to the fixing part and at least one auxiliary locking part is provided therebetween, wherein the protrusion direction of the auxiliary locking part is opposite to the protrusion direction of the first locking part.

6. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The retaining part, the first locking part, the second locking part and the third locking part are all designed as flexible components and the components are integrally formed with the peripheral wall.

7. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The peripheral wall also has reinforcing ribs arranged around it, the reinforcing ribs being designed to adjust the rigidity of the plastic mounting bracket for the fan.

8. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first locking part has an integrally formed first rib protruding towards the inside of the fixed bracket, and / or the second locking part has an integrally formed second rib protruding towards the inside of the fixed bracket, and / or the third locking part has an integrally formed protrusion protruding towards the inside of the fixed bracket along the longitudinal direction.

9. The plastic mounting bracket for a fan as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The outermost free end of the fixed part is offset relative to the inner body.

10. An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) comprising a base plate, a fan assembly, and at least one cover plate having mounting holes for insertion of said fan assembly, characterized in that, It also includes a plastic mounting bracket for a fan, as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, which can be snapped into the mounting hole for securing the fan assembly to an uninterruptible power supply.

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