Fan for generating a cooling airflow comprising an elastic damping element for damping a transmission of vibrations

Abstract

The invention relates to a fan (100) for generating a cooling air flow. The fan (100) has a fan wheel (101) which is rotatably held on a support body (102), and at least one securing component (103) is provided which has securing openings (114) for securing the fan (100) and which is connected to the support body (102). At least one elastic damping element (105) is provided for damping a transmission of vibrations which are produced or can be produced during a rotation of the fan wheel (101). According to the invention, the elastic damping element (105) is guided along a guide direction (104) which is formed between the support body (102) and the securing component (103). The elastic damping element (105) and the guide device (104) have a circumferential design. Alternatively, the elastic damping element is designed as a plug-in element which is plugged through through-openings of the support body and of the securing component, whereby the support body and the securing component are held in a mutually spaced manner.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fan for generating a cooling airflow with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a fan is known from EP 1 617 085 A1. Specifically, this document discloses an axial fan for air cooling of electrical and / or electronic components in a computer. The disclosed axial fan comprises a fan housing with an axially flowable air guide frame in which a fan wheel is rotatably mounted. The fan housing has a square outline, with mounting openings in its four corner regions for attachment to a component to be cooled or to a housing containing the component to be cooled. Furthermore, at least one elastic damping element is integrated into the axial fan. This element is arranged such that it is effective between the fan wheel and the mounting means for attaching the axial fan and thus serves to dampen the transmission of vibrations generated by the rotation of the fan wheel.

[0003] DE 20 2013 101 596 U1 describes a fan unit with an outer shell and an inner shell arranged within the outer shell. A fan wheel is arranged within the inner shell, which is decoupled from the outer shell by a circumferential air gap. The inner shell is connected to the outer shell by means of several connecting elements, which are made of an elastomeric material and function as suspension elements. This effectively decouples the inner shell from the outer shell with respect to vibration.

[0004] DE 10 2019 214 087 A1 discloses a fan in which a stator is held on a stator holder by an axially acting detent connection. The stator holder is further engaged in a wall ring via several detent connections, with the stator holder being held in the engaged position under radial and axial preload by soft components. Due to the support of the detent connections by the soft components, vibrations do not lead to a noisy clanging of the detent elements against each other.

[0005] German patent application DE 10 2013 103 299 A1 describes a fan module in which a fan is housed within a casing. The fan is separated from the casing by a distance via vibration damping assemblies. The vibration damping assemblies are designed to absorb vibration waves exhibiting different frequency ranges.

[0006] CN 2 480 899 Y describes a fan that is mounted to a motherboard via support columns. Each of the fan's four corners has a through-hole through which a support column is attached at the top using a snap-in fastener. At the opposite end, the support columns are inserted through openings in the motherboard using a snap-in fastener and locked into place. Each support column has a support bolt over which a sleeve is slid; a spring rests against this sleeve when the fan is mounted.

[0007] CN 2 01 821 631 U describes a fan comprising a support body to which a fan wheel is rotatably attached. At each of the four corners of the support body, a mounting component is inserted into a guide and secured. These mounting components allow the fan to be plugged into openings in a computer case. The mounting components are made of a flexible material.

[0008] From JP S63-190 599 U, a fan with a housing is known, consisting of a first housing part and a second housing part. The first housing part is designed as a support for a fan, the fan being mounted by a bolt in a hollow socket of the first housing part. Each housing part has a drum-like section to which a flange-like section is integrally formed. Openings or protruding hollow pins for mounting the fan are provided at the corners of the flange-like sections. The hollow pins are each held in an elastic ring to dampen vibrations. Depending on requirements, the housing parts can be slid over one another with their drum-like sections in such a way that the fan has a different thickness in the axial direction.Further details suggest connecting the flange-like part to the drum-like part via an elastic connecting element, with the flange-like part, the elastic connecting element, and the drum-like part being joined in one piece using two-component injection molding. It is also proposed to design the entire flange-like part as an elastic connecting element with rigid mounting openings in its corner regions.

[0009] WO 2022 / 007383 A1 discloses a fan with a support body for suspension in a fan frame designed for multiple fans. The fan frame has mounting openings for securing the fan frame in a hard disk enclosure. The support body has openings at opposite corners through which elastic damping elements are inserted. Two opposing damping elements are each mounted on a steel cable passing through them.

[0010] The CN 1 456 037 A is a cooling device for an electronic component (CPU) mounted on a printed circuit board. A fan is mounted on top of an air duct. A radiator with numerous fins is located inside the air duct. The radiator is taller than the air duct, allowing the cooling airflow generated by the fan to enter and exit the air duct unimpeded. Furthermore, the air duct is spring-mounted relative to the printed circuit board.

[0011] US patent 2006 / 0045616 A1 describes a fan module with a fan wheel rotatably mounted on a support body. The support body has openings at its corners, through which a partially elastic mounting element is inserted. The support body can be attached to mounting openings in a housing, particularly a computer housing, using these mounting elements.

[0012] US Patent 8,043,049 B2 discloses a fan in which a fan wheel is held on a support body. The support body has first damping elements at its corners, which are inserted through openings in the support body. Furthermore, second, ring-shaped damping elements are present, which are connected to the support body at its end faces via a snap-fit ​​connection. The fan is mounted by placing it, along with the pre-assembled first damping elements, against mounting holes of a coupling element (e.g., a computer case). The fan is then permanently fixed by placing washers and inserting mounting pins into openings in the first damping elements, which serve as mounting components, on the opposite side of the coupling element. This expands the damping elements radially, creating a clamping fit between the first damping elements and the support body.The second damping component is located against the coupling element.

[0013] Finally, DE 20 2008 014 846 U1 discloses a fan with vibration damping, which consists of a frame with four sides that are connected to each other. The frame has a recess at each of the connection points, to which a vibration damper with a mounting opening is attached.

[0014] US 2009 / 0110573 A1 relates to an air handling system with an outer casing comprising a plurality of casing parts, wherein a first casing part can be pivotally attached to a second casing part on a first pivot axis. The air handling system further comprises a fan and motor subassembly functionally arranged within the outer casing, and an isolator arranged between the outer casing and the subassembly, the isolator being designed to prevent vibration transmission from the subassembly to the outer casing.

[0015] US Patent 2017 / 0146032 A1 relates to a vibration-damped fan frame comprising a housing and a base surrounded by the housing. A hollow tube is arranged on the base and is rotaryally connected to an impeller of the fan. The base includes a disk and a plurality of fins extending outward from the circumference of the disk. The fan frame further includes a buffer element within the structural connections between the disk and the housing. The buffer element comprises first elements. The first elements are embedded in the disk. A heat dissipation fan with the described fan frame is also presented.

[0016] The present invention is based on the objective of providing a fan alternative to the prior art for generating a cooling airflow, which has an effective vibration decoupling between the support body for the fan wheel and the mounting component for attaching the fan.

[0017] The present problem is solved by a fan having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments or further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

[0018] The invention relates to a fan for generating a cooling airflow. The fan can be used, for example, for air cooling of heat-generating components in a computer or similar device. Other cooling applications are also conceivable. The fan is preferably an axial fan. The fan has a fan wheel that is rotatably mounted on a support body. At least one mounting component with mounting holes is provided. These mounting holes serve to attach the fan to or within the electronic device. The mounting component is detachably connected to the support body. Furthermore, at least one elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping element is provided to dampen the transmission of vibrations that can be generated or are generated during rotation of the fan wheel.The elastic damping element serves in particular to decouple vibrations between the support body for the fan wheel and the mounting component.

[0019] The invention proposes that the elastic damping element is guided along a guide device formed between the support body and the fastening component. The elastic damping element prevents any contact between the support body and the fastening component, thus achieving effective vibration decoupling between these components. Furthermore, the guide device ensures that the damping element is held securely and reliably.

[0020] The guide element can preferably be designed as a channel-like recess, particularly preferably as a groove. It is also conceivable that the guide element is designed as a shoulder. In this way, the damping element is guided for easy assembly and disassembly.

[0021] According to a non-inventive proposal, the elastic damping element is designed as a plug-in element, which is inserted through through-openings in the support body and the fastening component. The damping element, designed as a plug-in element, keeps the support body and the fastening component at a distance from each other.

[0022] Each of the aforementioned embodiments according to the invention provides a fan in which effective vibration decoupling between the support body for the fan wheel and the at least one mounting component can be achieved. In addition to cost-effective manufacturing of the fan, the detachable damping element also allows for easy replacement of the damping element and thus also cost-effective maintenance of the fan.

[0023] The elastic damping element and the guide mechanism are designed to run around the entire circumference. In other words, the elastic damping element and the guide mechanism surround a central air passage area that the fan forms in its assembled state. Put another way, the damping element and the guide mechanism have a circular, frame-like, or ring-shaped outline. This allows for uniform vibration decoupling around the entire circumference of the fan between the support structure and the mounting component. This optimizes the vibration isolation.

[0024] According to the invention, the guide for the elastic damping element is formed within the support body. This contributes to easier manufacturing of the fan overall. The support body, which is preferably made of plastic using injection molding, can thus be manufactured easily and cost-effectively together with the guide, whereas further processing of the mounting component, which is preferably made of metal (e.g., aluminum or zinc), is unnecessary.

[0025] According to the invention, it is proposed that the support body has a circularly circumferential wall with (radially speaking) an outer surface and an inner surface. A guide element is formed at each end face of the circularly circumferential wall, along which an elastic damping element is guided. The end faces of the wall are covered by at least one fastening component. The guide element is preferably designed as a circumferential groove or a circumferential shoulder.

[0026] Such a design contributes to a further improvement in cost-effective manufacturing and also to a particularly easy implementation of vibration decoupling between the supporting body and the fastening components.

[0027] According to the invention, it is further proposed that two fastening components are provided, each fastening component being flat or at least predominantly flat. Each fastening component also has a central through-opening surrounded by fastening openings.

[0028] This type of further development contributes to easier manufacturing of the fan. With a flat design, the mounting components can also be manufactured as cost-effective stamped metal parts (e.g., aluminum). Furthermore, a flat or at least predominantly flat design allows the fan to be provided as a very compact pre-assembled unit.

[0029] Preferably, the mounting components are identical in design. This increases the number of identical parts for the fan and thus contributes to further cost reduction.

[0030] The fastening components can have a rectangular outline (preferably square). However, the outline of a fastening component can also be other shapes, for example round or oval.

[0031] The assembly of the fan can be further simplified by connecting the mounting components using elastic connectors. In other words, the mounting components are held together axially by these connectors. Furthermore, this design can improve the contact between the elastic damping elements and the support structure on the one hand, and the mounting component on the other, as the elastic connectors create an axial preload on the assembled fan components. If the mounting components are rectangular in outline, they can preferably be connected at their corners using the elastic connectors.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is advantageous if the fastening components have a rectangular outline and feature recesses at the corners, designed such that the elastic connecting elements are flush with the remaining edge of the fastening components. This contributes to a reduction in the fan's peripheral space requirement, which is advantageous given the already limited installation space in computers or even laptops.

[0033] Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, it is highly advantageous if the fastening components are held together at their corners by fasteners designed as two hollow screws and a threaded sleeve. The hollow screws project into fastening openings in the fastening components and are supported therein in the axial direction of the fan. The hollow screws project into a through-opening in the threaded sleeve at their end face and engage with an external thread in an internal thread of the threaded sleeve. Internal shoulders in the threaded sleeve define a minimum distance between the hollow screws in the axial direction of the fan. This ensures that even when the fasteners are tightened as far as possible, no contact can occur between the fastening components and the fan's support structure.

[0034] According to a further non-inventive embodiment, it is proposed that two fastening components are provided, each fastening component having a semi-frame shape in its outline, i.e., viewed axially towards the fan. The fastening components are held together and, viewed in cross-section, each have a wall forming one section extending axially towards the fan and two sections extending radially towards the fan. The wall of the fastening components surrounds the circularly circumferential wall of the support body from the outside. Furthermore, the circularly circumferential wall of the support body has at least one circumferential groove (preferably two circumferential grooves) on its outer surface, in which a circumferential, elastic (preferably rubber-elastic) damping element is arranged.

[0035] In other words, the wall of the fastening components can have a U- or C-shaped cross-section. However, it is conceivable that the wall of the fastening components could have a different cross-sectional shape, for example, an E- or semicircular one.

[0036] These features can also contribute to making the assembly of the fan easier, provided there is sufficient vibration decoupling between the support body and the mounting components.

[0037] It can also be useful and serves to increase the number of identical parts used if the fastening components are identical in design.

[0038] To facilitate simple assembly of the fastening components and tool-free disassembly for maintenance, a non-inventive embodiment proposes holding the fastening components together via a detachable connection. This detachable connection can be achieved, for example, by means of a circumferential, elastic (preferably rubber-elastic) band. The elastic band can also contribute to improved radial contact between the damping elements and the fastening components or the supporting structure.

[0039] It is also conceivable that the fastening components are held together via a clip or snap connection.

[0040] Another highly practical, non-inventive embodiment proposes that the supporting body has a circularly circumferential wall with an outer surface (radially speaking). At least one circumferential groove is provided on the outer surface, in which a circumferential damping element is arranged. Furthermore, a fastening component is provided, which has a circularly circumferential wall with an inner surface and an outer surface (radially speaking). At least one circumferential groove is also formed on the inner surface, with the groove of the supporting body and the groove of the fastening component overlapping and thus forming a common space in which a circumferential, elastic damping element is arranged between the fastening component and the supporting body.

[0041] Such a non-inventive further development contributes to ease of manufacture, easy assembly and effective vibration decoupling between the supporting body and the fastening component.

[0042] According to a further non-inventive embodiment, it is conceivable that the mounting component forms a flange at each end face of the circularly circumferential wall, in which several mounting openings are arranged. The flange extends in the radial direction of the fan. This contributes to the straightforward mounting of the fan on a computer or the like.

[0043] Preferably the flange is rectangular (especially preferably square).

[0044] Another non-inventive embodiment proposes that the support body has a rectangular outline (preferably square) and a circular inner wall. A guide element adjoins one end face of the circular inner wall. A circumferential elastic damping element is arranged along the guide element, which may preferably be a circumferential shoulder or groove. An outer wall of the support body (radially speaking) is provided with at least one circumferential groove in which a circumferential elastic damping element is located. The fastening component also has a rectangular outline (preferably square). The fastening component is provided with a wall having an L-shaped cross-section.The L-shaped wall has a first leg aligned axially with the fan and a second leg aligned radially with the fan. The first leg encloses the outer wall of the support body, and the second leg covers the groove in the support body containing the elastic damping element.

[0045] Finally, according to another non-inventive embodiment, it is proposed that the mounting component has a circularly circumferential wall with (radially speaking) an inner and an outer surface. At each end face of the circularly circumferential wall, a flange extending radially in the direction of the fan is provided. The flange is provided with mounting openings at one end face of the circularly circumferential wall and with through-openings at the other (i.e., axially opposite) end of the circularly circumferential wall. The support body also has a flange-like area provided with through-openings. The flange-like area of ​​the support body is aligned with a flange of the mounting component such that the through-openings of the support body coincide with through-openings of the mounting component.The elastic damping element, designed as a plug-in element, is inserted through two overlapping through-holes. The plug-in element, or in other words, its design, provides axial spacing between the support body and the fastening component.

[0046] Even such a non-inventive design contributes to a very simple construction of the fan, to its simple assembly and to effective decoupling between the support body for the fan wheel and the mounting component.

[0047] The flanges of the fastening component are preferably rectangular in outline (particularly preferably square). The flange-like area of ​​the support body is also preferably rectangular in outline, particularly preferably square. In this case, the fastening or through-openings are located in the corner regions of the flange or the flange-like area, respectively.

[0048] According to a non-inventive embodiment, a secure, spaced-apart holding of the support body relative to the fastening element is further enhanced if the damping element, designed as a plug-in element, has a plate-like base body from which a rotationally symmetrical extension extends in the axial direction of the fan. The extension has at least two radially outwardly directed, circumferential thickenings. The circumferential thickenings are axially spaced from each other and also axially spaced from the plate-like base body.

[0049] To facilitate reversible yielding of the damping element designed as a plug-in element during assembly of the fan, particularly in the radial direction, it is also proposed that the damping element designed as a plug-in element has an axial through-opening.

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and are explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the figures. This also clarifies further features and advantages of the invention. Identical reference numerals, even in different figures, refer to identical, comparable, or functionally equivalent components. Corresponding or comparable properties and advantages are achieved even if no repeated description or reference is made to them. The figures are not, or at least not always, to scale. In some figures, proportions or distances may be exaggerated to emphasize features of an embodiment more clearly. When the term "and / or" is used in a list of two or more terms or objects, this may mean that any one of the listed terms or objects can be used alone.It can also mean that any combination of two or more of the listed terms or objects can be used.

[0051] They show, each schematically Fig. 1 shows a fan in a perspective exploded view according to a first embodiment according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a view of the fan according to view II from Fig. 1 , in the assembled state, Fig. 3 a sectional view of the fan according to section path III from Fig. 2 , Fig. 3a a sectional view of the fan comparable to section III from Fig. 2 , however in a slightly modified embodiment, Fig. 4 a fan in perspective exploded view according to a second non-inventive embodiment, Fig. 5 a representation of the fan according to view V from Fig. 4 , in the assembled state, Fig. 6 a sectional view of the fan according to section VI from Fig. 5Fig. 7 is a perspective exploded view of the fan according to a third embodiment not in accordance with the invention, Fig. 8 is a view of the fan according to view VIII from Fig. 7 , in the assembled state, Fig. 9 a sectional view of the fan according to section IX from Fig. 8 Fig. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the non-inventive fan according to a fourth embodiment, Fig. 11 is a view of the fan according to view XI from Fig. 10 , in the assembled state, Fig. 12 a sectional view of the fan according to section XII from Fig. 11 Fig. 13 shows a perspective exploded view of the fan according to a non-inventive embodiment, Fig. 14 shows a view of the fan according to view XIV from Fig. 13 , in the assembled state, Fig. 15 a sectional view of the fan according to section XV from Fig. 14, Fig. 16A the representation of a non-inventive elastic damping element in a first perspective view, Fig. 16B the representation of the elastic damping element in a second perspective view, Fig. 16C a side view of the elastic damping element according to view XVIc from Fig. 16D , Fig. 16Your view of the elastic damping element according to view XVId from Fig. 16C , Fig. 16E a sectional view of the elastic damping element according to section XVIe from Fig. 16D and Fig. 17 a perspective exploded view of the fan according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 18 a view of the fan according to view XVIII from Fig. 17 , in the assembled state, Fig. 19 a sectional view of the fan according to section line XiX from Fig. 18 and Fig. 20 an enlarged partial view of the fan's fastening elements according to partial view XX from Fig. 19 .

[0052] First, attention will be paid to the Figs. 1 to 3 Reference is made to the figure. It shows a fan 100, which has a fan wheel 101, a support body 102 and two identical mounting components 103.

[0053] In its assembled state, the fan wheel 101 is rotatably mounted on an electric motor (not shown) about a hub 109. The hub 109 is integrally (i.e., materially bonded) to a preferably flat base part 110, which in turn is integrally connected via support arms 111 to a circularly circumferential wall 106 of the support body 102. The circularly circumferential wall 106 forms, radially speaking, an inner surface 107 and an outer surface 108.

[0054] A guide element 104, preferably designed as a circumferential groove 104, is provided on each end face of the circularly circumferential wall 106. An elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping element 105 is arranged and guided in this groove 104. The elastic damping element 105 is ring-shaped and runs around the entire groove 104. The elastic damping element 105 is preferably made of a rubber-like material.

[0055] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable, for example, to design the guide device 104 as a circumferential shoulder. In this case, one of the side walls (the radially inner or the radially outer side wall) of the groove 104 can be omitted, while still ensuring sufficient guidance of the damping element 105. Fig. 3aThis minor modification is shown in a fan 100a, in which a guide device 104a for the damping element 105 is formed by a circumferential step with a radially inner side wall.

[0056] Each of the elastic damping elements 105 is covered by a fastening component 103. The fastening components 103 are each flat. They preferably have a rectangular, in particular square, outline with a central through-opening 103a and four corner regions 112. Each corner region 112 is provided with a fastening opening 114. Other outline shapes for the fastening components 103, for example round or oval, are also conceivable.

[0057] The size of the circumferential groove 104 and the size of the elastic damping element 105 are coordinated in such a way that each fastening component 103 only makes contact with the elastic damping element 105, but does not come into contact with the supporting body 102.

[0058] The fastening components 103 are thus effectively decoupled from the support body 102 in terms of vibration technology.

[0059] Furthermore, four elastic connecting elements 115 are shown. The elastic connecting elements 115 serve to hold the fan 100 together in an axial direction A. The elastic connecting elements 115 can also preferably be made of a rubber-like material. The connecting elements 115 have end walls 118 viewed in the axial direction A. The end walls 118 deviate from a circular shape in outline and have two opposite corners 118a. Furthermore, the end walls 118 are integrally connected via a rear wall 117, which runs along their end wall 118 from one corner 118 to the other corner 118. Each end wall 118 is provided with a through-opening 119, which is arranged approximately in the middle.

[0060] The central through-opening 103a is dimensioned in its diameter such that the fan wheel 101 with fan blades 120 is completely released through the central through-opening 103a in the radial direction R of the fan 100 and thus, when the fan wheel 101 rotates, an airflow can pass unhindered through the fan 100 in the axial direction A.

[0061] Furthermore, the corner areas 112 have recesses 113. The recesses 113 extend circumferentially around each corner area 112 by approximately 90 degrees. The recesses 113 are set back from a remaining circumferential edge 116 of the fastening component 103.

[0062] To hold the fan 100 together in axial direction A, each elastic connecting part 115 with its end walls 118 is pushed over two axially adjacent corner areas 112.

[0063] Due to the elasticity of the elastic damping elements 105, the fastening components 103 are slightly pushed apart in axial direction A, i.e., pressed from the inside against the end walls 118.

[0064] To attach the fan 100 to a wall 10, for example of an electronic device in the area of ​​an opening 11, fastening elements 12 are inserted through the through-holes 119 and thus also through the mounting holes 114. These elements serve, for example, to screw the fan 100 to the wall 10 and can preferably be designed as screws (indicated by dashed lines in the figure). Fig. 3Overall, the fan 100 is a fan that can be easily mounted on the side of a computer or similar device. As a pre-assembled fan module, it is very compact and, thanks to effective vibration decoupling of the mounting components 103 from the support body 102, exhibits extremely smooth operation and very low noise emissions. Furthermore, the support body 102, the mounting components 103, and the damping elements 105 are designed as separate components, allowing the fan 100 to be completely disassembled if necessary, so that defective parts can be easily replaced.

[0065] The wall 10 can, for example, be the wall of a computer case, the wall of another electronic device to be cooled, or the wall of any other component.

[0066] At the Fig. 2It is clearly visible that, in the assembled state, the elastic connecting parts 115 are flush with their back wall 117 against the edge 116 of the mounting components 103. In the assembled state, the fan 100 forms a central air passage area LD through which air can pass in the axial direction A. The elastic damping elements 105 run around the air passage area LD, or in other words, frame it.

[0067] The support body 102 and the fan wheel 101 can preferably be manufactured in a plastic injection molding process, thus making it very cost-effective.

[0068] The fastening components 103 can preferably be made of metal, particularly preferably of aluminum. They can thus be manufactured very cost-effectively as stamped parts.

[0069] It should also be noted that when the fan wheel 101 rotates, the support body 102 acts as a resonating body for the vibrations caused by the rotation of the fan wheel 101. However, the support body 102 can be made very narrow in the axial direction A, thus also keeping its mass low.

[0070] The fan blades 120 have a small distance in radial direction R from the inner surface 107 of the circularly circumferential wall 106. When the fan wheel 101 rotates around the hub 109, free rotation of the fan wheel 101 is thus ensured.

[0071] Based on the Figs. 4 to 6 A second, non-inventive embodiment of a fan 200 is now described.

[0072] The fan 200, as well as the fans described in the following exemplary embodiments, operate on the same principle as the fan 100 already described. They are all so-called axial fans.

[0073] The fan 200 also has a fan wheel 201, a support body 202 and two identical mounting components 203.

[0074] The fan wheel 201 rotates, driven by an electric motor (not shown), around a hub 209, which in turn is integrally connected to a preferably flat base part 210. The base part 210 is in turn integrally connected via support arms 211 to a circularly circumferential wall 206.

[0075] Thus, in this case too, the support body 202 carrying the fan wheel 201 is formed from the hub 209, the base part 210, the support arms 211 and the circularly circumferential wall 206.

[0076] The support body 202 and the fan wheel 201 are preferably made of plastic and manufactured using the plastic injection molding process.

[0077] Furthermore, it is evident that the circularly circumferential wall 206 has guide devices 204 on its end faces, preferably designed as circumferential grooves 204, in which elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping elements 205 are arranged and guided. The elastic damping elements 205 are in turn annular and circumferentially formed in the grooves 204. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, the guide devices 204 can also be designed differently here, for example as circumferential shoulders.

[0078] The circularly circumferential wall 206 has, viewed in the radial direction R, an inner side 207 and an outer side 208.

[0079] On the outer surface 208, two guide devices 221, preferably designed as circumferential grooves 221 and spaced apart in the axial direction A, are provided. In each of these grooves 221, an elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping element 205 is arranged.

[0080] The elastic damping elements 205 are all ring-shaped and preferably made of a rubber-like material.

[0081] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable that on the outside 208 only one groove 221 or more than two grooves 221 with damping elements 205 are arranged.

[0082] Each of the identically designed mounting components 203 has the outline of a half-frame, which is therefore open on one side. In other words, each mounting component 203 has an arched outline with a semicircular recess 203a, which is surrounded by an end wall 203b extending in the radial direction R of the fan 200.

[0083] An outer wall 222, viewed in the radial direction R, has in cross-section an axial wall section 223, which runs in the axial direction A of the fan 200 and radial wall sections 224 adjoining it on both sides. The radial wall sections 224 run in the radial direction R of the fan 200.

[0084] As demonstrated in particular by Fig. 5As can be seen, the semicircular recesses 203a of the mounting components 203, when the fan 200 is assembled, combine to form a circular opening, which in turn exposes the entire fan wheel 201 in the radial direction R. The circularly circumferential wall 206 of the support body 202 is completely enclosed by the mounting components 203. This occurs such that each of the elastic damping elements 205 arranged in the grooves 221 contacts the inside of the axial wall section 223 of the mounting components 203 at four contact points B.

[0085] With regard to the end faces, the elastic damping elements 205 arranged in the grooves 204 are covered by and touch the radial wall sections 224.

[0086] Thus, in this embodiment as well, the elastic damping elements 205 enable effective vibration decoupling of the fastening components 203 from the supporting body 202.

[0087] In this embodiment, the fastening components 203 are held together radially by a circumferential, elastic (preferably rubber-elastic) band 213. The circumferential, elastic band 213 is embedded in a circumferential recess 222a of the outer wall 222. The fastening components 203 are thus held together by a releasable connection. The releasable connection of the fastening components 203 can also be implemented by a snap-fit ​​or clip connection.

[0088] Finally, it is also shown that the fastening components 203 have corner areas 212 into which fastening openings 214 pointing in the axial direction A are provided.

[0089] When the fan 200 is assembled, the mounting components 203 together form a rectangular, in particular square, outline.

[0090] In its assembled state, the fan 200 also forms a central air passage area LD through which air can pass in the axial direction A. The elastic damping elements 205 run around the air passage area LD, or in other words, frame it.

[0091] With reference to the Figs. 7 to 9 A third, non-inventive embodiment of a fan 300 will now be described in more detail. Analogous to the preceding embodiments, the fan 300 again consists of a fan wheel 301, which is rotatably held within a support body 302. An electric motor required to drive the fan wheel 301 is again not shown.

[0092] The support body 302 has a hub 309 which is integrally connected to a preferably flat base part 310. The base part 310 is in turn integrally connected via support arms 311 to a circularly circumferential wall 306.

[0093] The circularly circumferential wall 306 has, viewed radially, an inner surface 307 and an outer surface 308. Two guide elements 321, preferably designed as circumferential grooves 321, are provided in the outer surface 308 at axial intervals A. Elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping elements 305 are arranged in the grooves 321. The elastic damping elements 305 are ring-shaped. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to provide only one groove 321 or more than two grooves 321 with a damping element 305 in the wall 308.

[0094] Furthermore, a fastening component 303 is present. The fastening component 303 also has a circularly circumferential wall 325. The circularly circumferential wall 325 has an inner surface 326 and an outer surface 328 when viewed radially.

[0095] Two circumferential grooves 327 are provided in the inner surface 326. In the assembled state of the fan 300, the outer surface 308 of the circular wall 306 is enclosed by the inner surface 326 of the circular wall 325 of the mounting component 303. The circumferential grooves 321 in the support body 302 align with the circumferential grooves 327 in the mounting component 303. This creates a common, circumferential receiving space for the elastic damping elements 305. The size of the circumferential grooves 321 and 327, as well as the size of the elastic damping elements 305, is dimensioned such that the circumferential elastic damping elements 305 press against the inner surface 326 of the circular wall 325 in the radial direction R. The number of circumferential grooves 327 depends on the number of circumferential grooves 321.

[0096] In this way, effective vibration decoupling between the support body 302 and the mounting component 303 is achieved, and secure anchoring of the support body 302 in the mounting component 303 in the axial direction A is ensured. The circularly circumferential wall 325 of the mounting component 303 has a flange F extending radially in the direction R at each of its two end faces. The flange F is preferably rectangular in outline, particularly square, and has four corner regions 312. Each of the corner regions 312 is provided with a mounting opening 314. Other outline shapes for the flanges F are also conceivable. In its assembled state, the fan 300 also forms a central air passage area LD through which air can pass in the axial direction A. The elastic damping elements 305 run around the air passage area LD, or in other words, frame it.

[0097] In the Figs. 10 to 12 A fourth, non-inventive embodiment of a fan 400 is described.

[0098] The fan 400 again has a fan wheel 401, which is rotatably arranged around a hub 409. An electric motor for driving the fan wheel 401 is not shown. Such a motor would be located in an unspecified cavity between the hub 409 and the fan wheel 401.

[0099] The hub 409 is integrally connected to a preferably flat base part 410, and this in turn is integrally connected via support arms 411 to a circularly circumferential inner wall 407. This forms a support body 402 for the fan wheel 401. Furthermore, a fastening component 403 is also provided.

[0100] The support body 402 is preferably rectangular in outline, particularly preferably square. It has an outer wall 413. The outer wall 413 extends in the axial direction A at its end face facing the fastening component 403 (see figure). Fig. 10 ) into a cavity 408 extending in the radial direction R. Four corner regions 415 of the supporting body 402 are formed by the outer wall 413 and the cavities 408.

[0101] On the end face facing away from the fastening component 403, the cavities 408 are each covered by an end-face wall. In other words, the outer wall 413 transitions there into a wall extending in the radial direction R, in which a through-opening 416 (indicated by dashed lines) is provided.

[0102] Furthermore, it is evident that a guide device 404, preferably designed as a circumferential groove 404, is incorporated in the area of ​​an end-face boundary edge of the circularly circumferential inner wall 407. An elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping element 405 is received and guided in this groove 404. The elastic damping element 405 is ring-shaped. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, the guide device 404 can, for example, also be designed as a circumferential shoulder.

[0103] Furthermore, at least one guide device 418, designed as a circumferential groove 418, is incorporated into the outer wall 413. A circumferential, elastic (preferably rubber-elastic) damping element 417 is arranged in the groove 418.

[0104] The fastening component 403 preferably has a rectangular, and more preferably a square, outline, with an inner wall 422 and an outer wall 423, viewed in the radial direction R. The fastening component 403 is provided with a circumferential groove 419 on the inner wall 422.

[0105] The fastening component 403 has a wall which in cross-section consists of an L-leg 420 aligned in the axial direction A and an L-leg 421 angled therefrom and aligned in the radial direction R.

[0106] In the assembled state of the fan 400, the outer wall 413 of the support body 402 is completely surrounded by the axially aligned L-shaped leg 420 of the mounting component 403. The circumferential groove 419 in the mounting component 403 and the circumferential groove 418 in the support body 402 align in such a way that a common receiving space for the elastic damping element 417 is formed. Simultaneously, the circumferential groove 404 with the elastic damping element 405 located therein is covered by the radially aligned L-shaped leg 421 of the mounting component 403.

[0107] The dimensions of the grooves 418, 419, and 404, and the elastic damping elements 417 and 405 located therein, are dimensioned such that the fastening component 403 is effectively decoupled from the support body 402 with respect to vibration. In other words, even in this embodiment, the fastening component 403 does not come into direct contact with the support body 402 at any point.

[0108] Furthermore, it can be seen that a mounting opening 414 is provided in each of the corner areas 412 of the mounting component 403. When the fan 400 is assembled, the mounting openings 414 coincide with the through-holes 416. Thus, a suitable fastening element (e.g., a screw) can easily be inserted through the mounting and through-holes 414 and 416, and the fan 400 can be screwed to the wall of another component (not shown).

[0109] The fan 400 also forms a central air passage area LD in its assembled state, through which air can pass in the axial direction A. The elastic damping elements 405 and 417 run around the air passage area LD, or in other words, frame it.

[0110] The Figs. 13 to 15Figure 500 shows a non-inventive embodiment of a fan 500. The fan 500 has, analogous to the preceding examples, a fan wheel 501 which is rotatably mounted on a support body 502.

[0111] A fastening component 503 surrounding the fan wheel 501 serves in turn to fasten the fan 500 to a further component not shown in detail.

[0112] As can be seen, the fan wheel 501 is rotatably arranged about a hub 509, which is integrally connected to a preferably flat base part 510. The base part 510 is in turn integrally connected to a flange-like body F1 via support arms 511. The flange-like body F1 is frame-like and flat. It preferably has a rectangular, and more preferably square, outline and forms four corner regions 515 around a central through-opening 504. Each of the corner regions has a through-opening 517.

[0113] The fastening component 503 has a circularly circumferential wall 525, with an inner wall 526 and an outer wall 528, viewed in the radial direction R.

[0114] A flange F extending radially in the direction R is formed on each of the end faces of the circularly circumferential wall 525. Each flange F preferably also has a rectangular, in particular square, outline and forms four corner regions 512.

[0115] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable that the flange-like body F1 and / or the flanges F have other outline shapes, e.g. round or oval.

[0116] In the flange F, which faces the flange-like body F1, a through-opening 516 is provided in the corner region 512. The through-openings 516 of the fastening component 503 and the through-openings 517 of the support body 502 have the same diameter or at least approximately the same diameter.

[0117] In the assembled state, an elastic damping element 522 is inserted through each of the aligned through-openings 516 and 517. The elastic damping element 522 is designed as a plug-in element. In particular, it is designed such that, in the assembled state of the fan 500, the flange-like body F1 is held at a specific axial distance a from the adjacent flange F of the mounting component 503.

[0118] In this way, an effective vibration-related coupling of the support body 502 from the fastening component 503 is possible.

[0119] Furthermore, fastening openings 514 are provided in the corner areas 512 of the other flange F of the fastening component 503, which faces away from the support body 502. Suitable fastening elements can be inserted through the fastening openings 514 and the fastening component 503 can be attached to a device housing (not shown in detail). The diameter of the fastening openings 514 is preferably smaller than that of the through-holes 516 and 517.

[0120] In its assembled state, the 500 fan forms a central air passage area LD through which air can pass in the axial direction A.

[0121] Finally, the elastic damping element 522 should also be examined using the Figs. 16A to 16E be described.

[0122] The elastic damping element 522 has a plate- or disk-like base body 529. A rotationally symmetric extension 530 extends from the plate-like base body 529 in the axial direction A. The extension 530 has two circumferential thickenings 531. The circumferential thickenings 531 are oriented outwards in the radial direction R. They are spaced a1 apart from each other in the axial direction A. The first circumferential thickening 531 is spaced a2 away from the plate-like base body 529 in the axial direction A. The distances a1 and a2 can be equal or different. This depends on the selected material thicknesses of the flange F on the one hand and the flange-like body F1 on the other.

[0123] Furthermore, it can be seen in the figures that the plate-like base body 529 (deviating from a circular outline indicated by dashed lines) forms two opposite corner areas 533 in outline.

[0124] In its assembled state, the plate-like base body 529 projects into a recess 523 of the flange-like body F1, the recess 523 having the same outline as the plate-like base body 529. This prevents unwanted rotation of the elastic damping element 522 within the flange-like body F1. On the side opposite the recess 523, the elastic damping element 522, with its first circumferential thickening 531, bears against an edge region of the through-opening 517, overlapping it. The aforementioned gap a2 between the circumferential thickening 531 and the plate-like base body 529 is filled by the remaining material of the flange-like body F1. The described gap a1 between the circumferential thickenings 531 serves to receive the flange F of the fastening component 503 in the area of ​​the through-opening 516.Thus, a width b of the first, circumferential thickening 531 (compare . Fig. 16E ) also the distance a (compare Fig. 15 ) defined in which the support body 502 and the fastening component 503 are axially spaced apart from each other.

[0125] Finally, an axial through-opening 532 in the elastic damping element 522 should be mentioned, which facilitates deformation of the elastic damping element 522 when passing through the through-openings 516, 517, particularly in the radial direction R.

[0126] Based on the Figs. 17 to 20 One final embodiment of a 600-series fan will now be described.

[0127] In its assembled state, the fan wheel 601 is rotatably mounted on an electric motor (not shown) about a hub 609. The hub 609 is integrally (i.e., materially bonded) connected to a preferably flat base part 610, which in turn is integrally connected via support arms 611 to a circularly circumferential wall 606 of the support body 602. The circularly circumferential wall 606 forms, radially speaking, an inner surface 607 and an outer surface 608.

[0128] A guide element 604, preferably designed as a circumferential groove 604, is provided on each end face of the circularly circumferential wall 606. An elastic, preferably rubber-elastic, damping element 605 is arranged and guided in this groove 604. The elastic damping element 605 is ring-shaped and runs around the entire groove 604. The elastic damping element 605 is preferably made of a rubber-like material.

[0129] In contrast to the exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable, for example, to design the guide device 604 as a circumferential shoulder. In this case, one of the side walls (the radially inner or the radially outer side wall) of the groove 604 can be omitted, while still ensuring sufficient guidance of the damping element 605. Other shapes for the outline of the fastening components 603, for example round or oval, are also conceivable.

[0130] Each of the elastic damping elements 605 is covered by a mounting component 603. The mounting components 603 are each flat or at least predominantly flat. They preferably have a rectangular, in particular square, outline with a central through-opening 603a and four corner regions 612. Each corner region 612 is provided with a mounting opening 614. Preferably, each corner region 612 is designed as a thickening that increases towards the edge of the mounting component 603. In the assembled state of the fan 600, the thickenings of the corner regions 612 of the opposing mounting components 306 point towards each other in the axial direction A of the fan 600. This contributes to a compact design of the fan 600.

[0131] To hold the fan 600 together in the axial direction A, two fasteners 615 and one fastener 616 are provided at each corner region 612. The fasteners 615 are preferably designed as hollow screws and the fastener 616 preferably as a threaded sleeve. The fasteners 615 and 616 are preferably made of a metal, for example, brass. The fastening components 603 can also preferably be made of a metal, for example, zinc. The support body 602 is preferably a plastic injection-molded part.

[0132] During assembly of the fan 600, the fasteners 615 engage at their end face in a through-opening of the fastener 616 and engage with an external thread 615a in an internal thread 616a of the fastener 616. A circumferential chamfer 615b of the fasteners 615 engages a corresponding chamfer in the fastening openings 614 and bears against it. The fastener 615 can be rotated with a suitable tool via an internal polygon 615e. Due to the elasticity of the elastic damping elements 605, the fastening components 603 are pressed slightly apart in the axial direction A, i.e., from the inside against the chamfers 615b. Internal shoulders 616b of the fastener 616 advantageously define a minimum distance between the fasteners 615 in the axial direction A.This ensures that even when the fasteners 615, 616 are screwed together as tightly as possible, no contact can occur between the fastening components 603 and the support body 602 (see in particular . Fig. 20 ).

[0133] To attach the pre-assembled fan 600 to a wall 10, for example, of an electronic device in the area of ​​an opening 11, further fastening elements 12 are inserted through a through-opening 615d, which is formed by the screwed-together fastening elements 615 and 616. These can, for example, serve to screw the fan 600 to the wall 10. The fastening elements 12 can, for example, be designed as countersunk screws (indicated by dashed lines in ). Fig. 19 ).

[0134] The wall 10 can, for example, be the wall of a computer case, the wall of another electronic device to be cooled, or the wall of any other component.

[0135] In its assembled state, the fan 600 forms a central air passage area LD through which air can pass in the axial direction A. The elastic damping elements 605 run around the air passage area LD, or in other words, frame it.

[0136] Overall, the 600 fan is a fan that can be easily mounted on the side of a computer or similar device. As a pre-assembled fan module, it is very compact and, thanks to effective vibration decoupling of the mounting components 603 from the support body 602, exhibits extremely smooth operation and very low noise emissions. At the same time, the 600 fan can be manufactured cost-effectively due to the design of the support body 602, the mounting components 603, and the damping elements 605 as separate (individual) components. It can also be completely disassembled if necessary, allowing for easy replacement of defective parts. Reference symbol list

[0137] 10 Wall of an electronic device 11 Opening 12 Fastening means 100 Fan 101 Fan wheel 102 Support body 103 Mounting component 103a Central through-hole 104 Guide device, groove 104a Guide device, circumferential shoulder 105 Elastic damping element 106 Circular circumferential wall 107 Inside of the circular circumferential wall 108 Outside of the circular circumferential wall 109 Hub 110 Base part 111 Support arms 112 Corner areas 113 Recesses 114 Mounting openings 115 Elastic connecting parts 116 Edge 117 Back wall 118 End walls 118a Corners 119 Through-holes 120 Fan blades 200 Fan 201 Fan wheel 202 Support body 203 Mounting component 203a Semicircular recess 203b End wall 204 Guide devices, grooves 205 Elastic damping element 206 Circular circumferential wall 207 Inner side of the circular circumferential wall 208 Outer side of the circular circumferential wall 209 Hub 210 Base part 211 Support arms 212 Corner areas 213 Circumferential elastic band 214 Mounting openings 221 Guide devices, grooves 222 Outer wall 222a Circumferential recess 223 Axial wall section 224 Radial wall section 300 Fan 301 Fan wheel 302 Support body 303 Mounting component 321 Guide devices, grooves 305 Elastic damping elements 306 Circular wall 307 Inside of the circular wall 308 Outside of the circular wall 309 Hub 310 Base part 311 Support arms 312 Corner areas 314 Mounting openings 321 Guide devices, grooves in the support body 325 Circular wall 326 Inside 327 Guide devices, grooves in the mounting component 328 Outside 400 Fan 401 Fan wheel 402 Support body 403 Mounting component 404 Guide device, groove 405 Elastic damping element 407 Circularly circumferential inner wall 408 Cavity 409 Hub 410 Base part 411 Support arms 412 Corner areas 413 Outer wall 414 Mounting openings 415 Corner areas 416 Through openings 417 Elastic damping element 418 Guide device, groove in the support body 419 Guide device, groove in the mounting component 420 Axially aligned L-leg 421 Radially aligned L-leg 422 Inner wall 423 Outer wall 500 Fan 501 Fan wheel 502 Support body 503 Mounting component 504 Central through-hole 509 Hub 510 Base part 511 Support arms 512 Corner areas 514 Mounting openings 515 Corner areas 516 Through-holes 517 Through-holes 522 Elastic damping element 523 Recess 525 Circular circumferential wall 526 Inner wall 528 Outer wall 529 Plate-like base body 530 Rotationally symmetrical extension 531 Circumferential thickenings 532 Axial through-hole 533 Corner areas 600 Fan 601 Fan wheel 602 Support body 603 Mounting component 603a Central through-hole 604 Guide device, groove 605 Elastic damping element 606 Circular circumferential wall 607 Inside of the circular circumferential wall 608 Outside of the circular circumferential wall 609 Hub 610 Base part 611 Support arms 612 Corner areas 614 Mounting openings 615 Fasteners, hollow screws 615a External thread 615b Circumferential chamfer 615c Contact surface 615d Through-hole 615e Internal polygon 616 Fasteners, threaded sleeve 616a Internal thread 616b Internal shoulder 620 Fan blades A Axial direction B Contact points b Width a, a1, a2 Distances F Flange F1 Flange-like area LD Central air passage area R Radial direction

Claims

1. Fan (100, 600) for generating a cooling air flow, having a fan wheel (101, 601) which is held rotatably on a support body (102, 602) and having at least one fastening component (103, 603) which has fastening openings (114, 614) for fastening the fan (100, 600) and is connected to the support body (102, 602), wherein at least one elastic damping element (105, 605) is provided for damping a transmission of vibrations which are or can be generated during a rotation of the fan wheel (101, 601), wherein the elastic damping element (105, 605) is guided along a guiding device (104, 604) which is formed between the support body (102, 602) and the fastening component (103, 603), wherein the resilient damping element (105, 605) and the guiding device (104, 604) are formed circumferentially, wherein the guide means (104, 604) is formed in the support body (102, 602), wherein the support body (102, 602) forms a circumferentially extending wall (106, 606) with an outer side (108, 608) and an inner side (107, 607), wherein a guide device (104, 604) is formed on each end face of the wall (106, 606), along which the elastic damping element (105, 605) is guided, wherein the end faces of the wall (106, 606) are covered by the at least one fastening component (103, 603), characterized in that there are two fastening components (103, 603), each of which is flat and has a central through-hole (103a, 603a) surrounded by fastening holes (114, 614).

2. Fan (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening components (103) are connected to one another via elastic connecting parts (115).

3. Fan (600) according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening components (603) are each held together at their corner regions via fastening means (615, 616), which are designed as two hollow screws (615) and a threaded sleeve (616), the hollow screws (615) projecting into fastening openings (614) of the fastening components (603) and being supported therein in the axial direction (A), wherein the hollow screws (615) project at the end face into a passage opening of the threaded sleeve (616) and engage with an external thread (615a) in an internal thread (616a) of the threaded sleeve (616), wherein a minimum distance between the hollow screws (615) is defined in the axial direction (A) by internal shoulders (616b) of the threaded sleeve (616).

4. Fan (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the fastening components (103) are rectangular in outline and have edge recesses (113) at corner areas (112), which are formed in such a way that the elastic connecting parts (115) are flush with a remaining edge (116) of the fastening components (103) at the edge.

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