Fan unit

Abstract

The fan unit (5) is mounted on a power conversion device and includes a fan (6), a fan connector (8) electrically connected to the fan (6), a fan cover (7) attached to the fan (6), and an attachment part (9) for attaching the fan connector (8) to the fan cover (7). The attachment part (9) includes a guide shape portion (91) that guides the fan connector (8) to another connector that is fitted to the fan connector (8).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a fan unit mounted in a power conversion device. [Background technology]

[0002] A fan unit having a function of cooling components of the power conversion device is mounted in the power conversion device, and the fan unit is structured so as to be detachable from the power conversion device for maintenance of the fan unit.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an electrical device in which a main body of the electrical device and a fan unit can be connected using a connector having a movable terminal portion. In the fan unit described in Patent Document 1, a connector with movable terminals mounted on a board is provided on the fan unit side in order to electrically connect the fan and the main body of the electrical device, and a connector that receives the connector with movable terminals is provided on the main body side of the electrical device. In addition, the fan unit described in Patent Document 1 has a tapered shape formed at the opening of the connector that receives the connector with movable terminals. If there is a positional deviation between the connectors when connecting the connector that receives the connector with movable terminals and the connector with movable terminals, the connector with movable terminals can be inserted into the connector that receives the connector with movable terminals by being guided by the tapered shape formed at the opening of the connector that receives the connector with movable terminals and moving. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-191366 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the electrical device described in Patent Document 1 uses a special connector with a movable terminal as the connector on the fan unit side, and a dedicated connector with a taper formed at the opening as the connector on the electrical device main body side that receives the connector with the movable terminal. Therefore, the electrical device described in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that if a connector without a taper is used, misalignment occurs when the connectors are fitted together.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide a fan unit that can eliminate misalignment between connectors when the connector of the fan unit is mated with another connector. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the fan unit according to the present disclosure is a fan unit mounted on a power conversion device, and includes a fan, a fan connector electrically connected to the fan, a fan cover attached to the fan, and an attachment part for attaching the fan connector to the fan cover. The attachment part includes a guide shape portion for guiding the fan connector to another connector that is fitted to the fan connector. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to obtain a fan unit that can eliminate misalignment between connectors when the connector of the fan unit is mated with another connector. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a power conversion device according to a first embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a top view of a power conversion device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a power conversion device according to a first embodiment, viewed from above; [Figure 4]FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a fan unit included in a power conversion device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mating portion between the board connector and the fan connector. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2, showing an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mating portion between the board connector and the fan connector. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a guide shape portion for an attachment part in a fan unit included in a power conversion device according to a first embodiment, as viewed from below (in the −Z-axis direction); [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a main part of an inlet shape portion of an attachment part of a fan unit according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the front side (+Y axis direction); [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 7. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a top view showing a hook shape of a fan cover included in a power conversion device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 11] Cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a method of removing a fan unit from a chassis in the power conversion device according to the first embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a state in which a fan connector is fixed to a fan cover provided in a power conversion device according to a first embodiment by a mounting part, as viewed from the lower side (−Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction); [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A fan unit according to an embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a front view of the power conversion device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a top view of the power conversion device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power conversion device according to the first embodiment as viewed from above. The power conversion device 100 according to the first embodiment includes a chassis 1, a board 2 attached to the chassis 1, a board connector 3 mounted on the board 2, a main body case 4 attached to the chassis 1, and a fan unit 5 attached to the chassis 1.

[0012] The width direction of the power converter 100 corresponds to the width direction of the chassis 1, the main body case 4, and the fan unit 5, and corresponds to the X-axis direction in Figs. 1 to 3. The width direction of the power converter 100 can be said as the left-right direction. The depth direction of the power converter 100 corresponds to the depth direction of the chassis 1, the main body case 4, and the fan unit 5, and corresponds to the Y-axis direction in Figs. 1 to 3. The height direction of the power converter 100 corresponds to the height direction of the chassis 1, the main body case 4, and the fan unit 5, and corresponds to the Z-axis direction in Figs. 1 to 3. In the power converter 100, the side where the fan unit 5 is located in the depth direction is the rear side, and the side opposite to the side where the fan unit 5 is located in the depth direction is the front side. The left-right direction is the left-right direction when the power converter 100 is viewed from the front side. In the X-axis direction, the right side is the +X-axis direction, and the left side is the -X-axis direction. In the Y-axis direction, the front side is the +Y-axis direction, and the rear side is the -Y-axis direction. In the Z-axis direction, the upper side is the +Z-axis direction, and the lower side is the -Z-axis direction. Also, the direction of the arrow in the X-axis direction in the figure corresponds to the +X-axis direction. The direction of the arrow in the Y-axis direction in the figure corresponds to the +Y-axis direction. The direction of the arrow in the Z-axis direction in the figure corresponds to the +Z-axis direction.

[0013] The chassis 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and constitutes a main body of the power conversion device 100. The chassis 1 has electronic components (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the chassis 1 has a recess 1a formed in an upper portion in the +Z-axis direction that constitutes a space for mounting the fan unit 5. The fan unit 5 is assembled in the recess 1a from above the chassis 1 (+Z-axis direction) in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 3. The chassis 1 has a board 2 assembled on its front side (+Y-axis direction). A board connector 3 is provided on the upper portion of the board 2 in the +Z-axis direction, and serves as a connector on the board 2 side to electrically connect the electronic components provided on the chassis 1 to the fan unit 5.

[0014] The main body case 4 is attached to the chassis 1 to protect the chassis 1. The main body case 4 is attached to the chassis 1 from the front side (+Y axis direction) of the chassis 1 in the direction of arrow B shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 3, the main body case 4 is formed with a first cutout portion 4a for exposing the board connector 3 when the main body case 4 is attached to the chassis 1. A second cutout portion 4b is formed on the front side (+Y axis direction) of the first cutout portion 4a, which is cut further toward the front side (+Y axis direction) from the first cutout portion 4a.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a configuration diagram of a fan unit included in the power conversion device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Fig. 2, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an engagement portion between the board connector and the fan connector. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 2, and is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an engagement portion between the board connector and the fan connector.

[0016] The fan unit 5 includes a fan 6 , a fan cover 7 , a fan connector 8 , and a mounting part 9 .

[0017] The fan 6 constitutes a main body of the fan unit 5. A fan cover 7 is attached to the upper part of the fan 6 in the +Z axis direction.

[0018] The fan cover 7 is attached to the upper side (+Z-axis direction) of the fan 6 to protect the fan 6. The fan cover 7 has a first cover protrusion 7a that protrudes toward the front side (+Y-axis direction) in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7, and a second cover protrusion 7b that protrudes further toward the front side (+Y-axis direction) from the first cover protrusion 7a. The first cover protrusion 7a is housed in a first cutout portion 4a of the main body case 4 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. The second cover protrusion 7b is housed in a second cutout portion 4b of the main body case 4 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the second cover protrusion 7b has a first side surface portion 7b1, a second side surface portion 7b2, and a bottom surface portion 7b3. The first side surface portion 7b1 protrudes from the first cover protrusion 7a toward the front side (+Y axis direction) in the depth direction (Y axis direction). The second side surface portion 7b2 protrudes from the first cover protrusion 7a toward the front side (+Y axis direction) in the depth direction (Y axis direction) and faces the first side surface portion 7b1 in the width direction (X axis direction). The bottom surface portion 7b3 protrudes from the first cover protrusion 7a toward the front side (+Y axis direction) in the depth direction (Y axis direction). The second cover protrusion 7b has a U-shape in which the first side surface portion 7b1, the bottom surface portion 7b3, and the second side surface portion 7b2 are connected in this order in the XZ plane.

[0020] The bottom surface portion 7b3 is located lower (-Z axis direction) than the first cover protrusion portion 7a in the height direction (Z axis direction). That is, the bottom surface portion 7b3 is disposed lower (-Z axis direction) than the inner surface 7c of the fan cover 7 in the height direction (Z axis direction). As a result, a step is formed between the first cover protrusion portion 7a and the bottom surface portion 7b3 in the height direction (Z axis direction), with the bottom surface portion 7b3 being lower than the first cover protrusion portion 7a.

[0021] Therefore, the bottom surface portion 7b3 can be said to be a step portion located lower (in the -Z axis direction) than the first cover protruding portion 7a.

[0022] The fan connector 8 is a connector for electrically connecting the fan 6 and the board connector 3 of the board 2, and is the connector on the fan 6 side. The fan connector 8 is electrically connected to the fan 6, and is attached and fixed to the inner surface 7c of the fan cover 7 by an attachment part 9. The attachment part 9 is disposed on the inner surface 7c of the fan cover 7 in a state where it protrudes downward (in the -Z axis direction) from the inner surface 7c in the height direction (Z axis direction). The inner surface 7c of the fan cover 7 is the surface of the fan cover 7 facing the chassis 1.

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a main part of an inductive shape portion of an attachment part in a fan unit included in a power conversion device according to the first embodiment, viewed from the bottom (-Z axis direction). Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of an inductive shape portion of an attachment part included in a fan unit according to the first embodiment, viewed from the front side (+Y axis direction). Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 7.

[0024] The mounting part 9 is a part for mounting the fan connector 8 to the fan cover 7. The mounting part 9 has a guide shape portion 91 that guides the fan connector 8 to the board connector 3 when the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 are fitted together. In other words, the mounting part 9 has a shape that guides the board connector 3 to the fan connector 8 when the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 are fitted together. Therefore, the mounting part 9 has the guide shape portion 91 that guides the fan connector 8 to the board connector 3, which is another connector in the power conversion device 100 that is fitted into the fan connector 8.

[0025] The guide shape portion 91 includes a first guide shape portion 911, a second guide shape portion 912, and a third guide shape portion 913. The first guide shape portion 911, the second guide shape portion 912, and the third guide shape portion 913 can be considered as chamfered portions of the mounting part 9.

[0026] The first induction shape portion 911 is provided on the rear side (-Y axis direction) below the fan connector 8 (-Z axis direction). The second induction shape portion 912 and the third induction shape portion 913 are provided on both sides of the fan connector 8 below the fan connector 8 (-Z axis direction) so as to sandwich the fan connector 8 in the width direction (X axis direction). The second induction shape portion 912 is provided on the left side (-X axis direction) of the fan connector 8 in the width direction (X axis direction) as viewed from the front side (+Y axis direction). The third induction shape portion 913 is provided on the right side (+X axis direction) of the fan connector 8 in the width direction (X axis direction) as viewed from the front side (+Y axis direction). Here, the area surrounded by the first induction shape portion 911, the second induction shape portion 912, and the third induction shape portion 913 is called an opening of the induction shape portion 91.

[0027] The guide shape portion 91 has a U-shape in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. That is, the first guide shape portion 911, the second guide shape portion 912, and the third guide shape portion 913 have a U-shape in the XY plane. The distance between the second guide shape portion 912 and the third guide shape portion 913 in the width direction (X-axis direction) is set to a dimension larger than the width of the board connector 3 in the width direction (X-axis direction). The second guide shape portion 912 and the third guide shape portion 913 are tapered such that the distance between the second guide shape portion 912 and the third guide shape portion 913 in the width direction (X-axis direction) becomes shorter as the mounting part 9 approaches the board connector 3 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) when the fan unit 5 is assembled to the chassis 1.

[0028] The first guide shape portion 911 is an inclined surface along the width direction (X-axis direction) and is an inclined surface that slopes toward the inside of the opening as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction), i.e., an inclined surface that slopes toward the front side (+Y-axis direction) as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0029] The second guide shape portion 912 is an inclined surface along the depth direction (Y-axis direction) and is an inclined surface that approaches the inside of the opening as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction), that is, an inclined surface that approaches the third guide shape portion 913 in the width direction (X-axis direction) as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0030] The third guide shape portion 913 is an inclined surface along the depth direction (Y-axis direction) and is an inclined surface that approaches the inside of the opening as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction), i.e., an inclined surface that approaches the second guide shape portion 912 in the width direction (X-axis direction) as it moves upward (+Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0031] The above-mentioned guiding shape portion 91 is an inclined surface that guides the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 to approach each other when they come into contact with the board connector 3, which is another connector in the power conversion device 100. It can be said that the guiding shape portion 91 has an inclined surface that moves away from the fan connector 8 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7 as it moves away from the fan connector 8 in the mating direction in which the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3, which is another connector, are mated. The mating direction in which the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3, which is another connector, are mated is along the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0032] With this configuration, the opening of the guide shape portion 91 becomes narrower in the height direction (Z-axis direction) toward the upper side (+Z-axis direction), and the opening area in the XY plane becomes smaller.

[0033] When assembling the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1, the user manually pushes the fan unit 5 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) toward the recess 1a of the chassis 1. Then, the fan unit 5 is fixed to the chassis 1 by engaging the tab 7h, which is a fitting portion provided on the fan cover 7, with the groove 1b, which is a fitting portion provided on the chassis 1 and into which the tab 7h fits.

[0034] Specifically, when assembling the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1, the user holds two gripping portions 7i provided at both ends of the fan cover 7 in the width direction (X-axis direction) with his / her hands, and fits the fan unit 5 into the recessed portion 1a of the chassis 1 while pressing the gripping portions 7i toward the inside in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. Then, when the user releases his / her hands from the gripping portions 7i, the claw portions 7h of the fan cover 7 engage with the groove portions 1b of the chassis 1, thereby fixing the fan cover 7 to the chassis 1. At the same time that the fan unit 5 is fitted into the recessed portion 1a of the chassis 1, the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3 are fitted together.

[0035] In addition, when the fan unit 5 is attached to the chassis 1, the board connector 3 Location and the position of the fan connector 8 are misaligned in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7, the mounting part 9 approaches the board connector 3 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) and the board connector 3 comes into contact with at least one of the first guide shape portion 911, the second guide shape portion 912, and the third guide shape portion 913, thereby guiding the fan connector 8 to the position of the board connector 3 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. This makes it possible to easily fit the fan connector 8 into the board connector 3 in the power conversion device 100.

[0036] The angle of inclination of the first induction shape portion 911, the second induction shape portion 912, and the third induction shape portion 913, i.e., the chamfer angle, can be determined taking into consideration the dimensions of the board connector 3 and the mounting part 9, the degree of interference between the board connector 3 and the mounting part 9, or the induction effect of the induction shape portion 91 in guiding the fan connector 8 into the board connector 3.

[0037] The inventors conducted a test using a general 4-pole JST connector for the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8, and as a result, an example of the angle of inclination between the first guide shape portion 911, the second guide shape portion 912, and the third guide shape portion 913 is 45°. By setting the angle of inclination between the first guide shape portion 911, the second guide shape portion 912, and the third guide shape portion 913 to 45°, a significant improvement in ease of assembly was obtained in assembling the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1, i.e., ease of mounting the fan connector 8 to the board connector 3.

[0038] As described above, in the power conversion device 100, due to the structural features of the guide shape portion 91 of the mounting part 9, when the fan connector 8 is mated with the board connector 3, the fan connector 8 is properly guided to the board connector 3 in the XY plane, so that the fan connector 8 can be easily and reliably mated with the board connector 3.

[0039] The power conversion device 100 allows the fan connector 8 to be easily and reliably fitted into the board connector 3 when the user manually assembles the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1, thanks to the guiding function of the guiding shape portion 91, which properly guides the fan connector 8 to the board connector 3 in the XY plane.

[0040] Furthermore, in the power converter 100, due to the guiding function of the guiding shape portion 91, a stable electrical connection can be obtained between the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3, and product defects of the power converter 100 can be reduced.

[0041] Next, structural features relating to removal of the fan unit 5 in the power converter 100 will be described. FIG. 10 is a top view showing a hook shape of the fan cover provided in the power converter according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI in FIG. 10. As described above, the second cover protrusion 7b of the fan cover 7 is housed in the second cutout 4b of the main body case 4 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. Also, as described above, the bottom surface portion 7b3 is located lower (in the -Z axis direction) than the first cover protrusion 7a in the height direction (Z axis direction) and is disposed lower (in the -Z axis direction) than the inner surface 7c of the fan cover 7 in the height direction (Z axis direction). As a result, a step is formed between the first cover protrusion 7a and the bottom surface portion 7b3 in the height direction (Z axis direction), in which the bottom surface portion 7b3 is lower than the first cover protrusion 7a.

[0042] In the power conversion device 100, a hook shape 7e for releasing the engagement between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 is provided.

[0043] The hook shape 7e is a shape for removing the fan unit 5 attached to the chassis 1 from the chassis 1, and is a shape for releasing the engagement between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8.

[0044] The lower part in the -Z axis direction of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a is an inclined surface along the width direction (X axis direction), and is an inclined surface 7a2 that approaches the rear side (-Y axis direction) as it moves downward (-Z axis direction) in the height direction (Z axis direction). The end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a can be said to be one side of the first cover protrusion 7a, and can be said to be one side of the fan cover 7.

[0045] A hole 7d is formed between an end 7a1 on the front side (+Y axis direction) of the first cover protrusion 7a and a bottom surface 7b3 of the second cover protrusion 7b. That is, a hole 7d is formed between an inclined surface 7a2 of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a and a bottom surface 7b3 of the second cover protrusion 7b. The hole 7d is formed in the assembly direction of the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1 and in a direction perpendicular to the assembly direction. That is, the hole 7d is formed in the height direction (Z axis direction) and the depth direction (Y axis direction). The assembly direction of the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1 is the downward direction (-Z axis direction) in the height direction (Z axis direction), height The direction is along the Z-axis direction. The hole 7d is a space into which a rod-shaped tool 10 can be inserted.

[0046] The rod-shaped tool 10 has a shape that can pull up the fan connector 8 by using the principle of leverage with the upper part in the +Z-axis direction of the side wall 4b1 on the front side (+Y-axis direction) of the second cutout portion 4b of the main body case 4 as a fulcrum and the inclined surface 7a2 of the end portion 7a1 of the first cover protrusion portion 7a as a point of application. A flat-head screwdriver is used as the tool 10, but the tool is not limited to this and another jig may be used.

[0047] The inclined surface 7a2 can be said to be an end portion of the first cover protrusion 7a in the protruding direction (+Y axis direction) of the first cover protrusion 7a. The inclined surface 7a2 is a chamfered portion that comes into contact with the rod-shaped tool 10 inserted into the hole 7d, and has an inclined surface that is inclined from the inner surface of the first cover protrusion 7a toward the outer surface of the first cover protrusion 7a as it moves toward the protruding direction (+Y axis direction).

[0048] As described above, in the hook shape 7e, the fan cover 7 has the second cover protrusion 7b, which is a protrusion protruding outward (in the +Y-axis direction) from the end 7a1, which is one side of the first cover protrusion 7a. The second cover protrusion 7b has a bottom surface portion 7b3, which is a step portion disposed closer to the fan 6 side (in the -Z-axis direction) in the thickness direction of the fan cover 7 than the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a. The thickness direction of the fan cover 7 is along the height direction (Z-axis direction). A hole 7d into which a rod-shaped tool 10 can be inserted is formed between the end 7a1 and the bottom surface portion 7b3 of the first cover protrusion 7a.

[0049] Next, a method for removing the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1 in the power conversion device 100 will be described. Fig. 12 is a diagram for explaining a method for removing the fan unit from the chassis in the power conversion device according to the first embodiment. Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 11. As described above, in the power conversion device 100, a hole 7d is formed between the end 7a1 on the front side (+Y-axis direction) of the first cover protrusion 7a and the bottom surface portion 7b3 of the second cover protrusion 7b.

[0050] When removing the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1, the user pinches the two gripping portions 7i with the left hand and pushes the gripping portions 7i toward the inside of the surface of the fan cover 7 to remove the tabs 7h of the fan cover 7 from the grooves 1b of the chassis 1, in the opposite manner to the operation when assembling the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1 described with reference to Fig. 3. Then, with the tabs 7h of the fan cover 7 removed from the grooves 1b of the chassis 1 with the left hand, the user performs the following operation with the right hand.

[0051] When removing the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1, the user inserts a rod-shaped tool 10 into the hole 7d with the right hand. Since the hole 7d is formed in the height direction (Z-axis direction) and the depth direction (Y-axis direction), the tool 10 is inserted obliquely downward with respect to the installation direction of the fan unit 5 into the chassis 1. Here, the obliquely downward direction refers to the direction toward the rear side (-Y-axis direction) and downward (-Z-axis direction). The user inserts the tool 10 into the second cutout portion 4b obliquely downward from the front side (+Y-axis direction) to the rear side (-Y-axis direction) in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG. 12, and further inserts the tip of the tool 10 into the hole 7d.

[0052] Here, the function of the inclined surface 7a2 of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a will be described. The inclined surface 7a2 of the first cover protrusion 7a has a function of guiding the tool 10, which is inserted obliquely downward from the front side (+Y axis direction) toward the back side (-Y axis direction) into the second cutout portion 4b, into the hole 7d. The upper surface of the tip of the tool 10 is an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined surface 7a2 of the first cover protrusion 7a, and is an inclined surface 10a that makes the tip of the tool 10 have a tapered shape. The tool 10, which is inserted obliquely downward from the front side (+Y axis direction) toward the back side (-Y axis direction) into the second cutout portion 4b, is guided to the hole 7d by the inclined surface 7a2 by the inclined surface 7a2 as the inclined surface 10a of the tip abuts against the inclined surface 7a2 of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a, and the tip is inserted into the hole 7d.

[0053] After inserting the tip of the tool 10 into the hole 7d, the user lowers the other end side (not shown), which is the end opposite to the tip in the longitudinal direction of the tool 10, downward (in the -Z-axis direction) toward the main body case 4 in the direction of the arrow D shown in FIG. 12. As a result, the tool 10 is supported by the upper part in the +Z-axis direction of the side wall 4b1 on the front side (+Y-axis direction) of the second cutout portion 4b of the main body case 4, and the inclined surface 7a2 of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a, and the inclined surface 10a of the tip of the tool 10 pulls up the inclined surface 7a2 of the end 7a1 of the first cover protrusion 7a in the upward direction (in the +Z-axis direction) by the principle of leverage. As a result, the fan connector 8 fitted to the board connector 3 is pulled up in the upward direction (in the +Z-axis direction), and the fan unit 5 is removed from the chassis 1.

[0054] That is, with the claw portion 7h of the fan cover 7 removed from the groove portion 1b of the chassis 1 by the user's left hand, the user's right hand uses tool 10 to disengage the fan connector 8 from the board connector 3 and pulls the fan connector 8 out of the board connector 3, and the fan cover 7 is lifted upward (in the +Z-axis direction) in the height direction (Z-axis direction) by the user's left hand, thereby removing the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1.

[0055] Here, the inclined surface 7a2 of the first cover protrusion 7a functions as a plane with which the inclined surface 10a, which is the upper surface of the tip of the tool 10, comes into contact when the tool 10 uses the principle of leverage to pull up the fan connector 8, thereby enabling the fan unit 5 to be pulled up from the chassis 1 more stably.

[0056] In order to obtain the effect of the hook shape 7e described above, it is sufficient that a hook portion having a configuration similar to that of the hook shape 7e forming the hole 7d is formed on at least one side of the fan cover 7 facing the main body case 4. That is, the fan cover 7 has a hook portion having the hook shape 7e for releasing the engagement between the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3, which is another connector, and for pulling out the fan connector 8 from the board connector 3 when the fan connector 8 is engaged with the board connector 3. The hook portion having the hook shape 7e can be said to be part of the outer edge of the fan cover 7 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7.

[0057] Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a state in which a fan connector is fixed to a fan cover provided in a power conversion device according to the first embodiment by an attachment part, as viewed from the lower side (-Z axis direction) in the height direction (Z axis direction). Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XIV-XIV in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view viewed from the front side (+Y axis direction).

[0058] 13, the mounting part 9 is provided to surround the periphery of the fan connector 8 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. By surrounding the periphery of the fan connector 8 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7, the mounting part 9 has the function of determining the position of the fan connector 8 in the width direction (X-axis direction) and depth direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the position of the fan connector 8 in the width direction (X-axis direction) and depth direction (Y-axis direction), which are two orthogonal directions in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7, is determined by the mounting part 9.

[0059] As shown in Fig. 14, the mounting part 9 has a mounting part hole 9a formed on the fan cover 7 side in the height direction (Z axis direction). Two mounting part holes 9a are formed at the same position in the height direction (Z axis direction) and at two locations facing each other in the width direction (X axis direction). As shown in Fig. 14, the mounting part 9 has a mounting part flange portion 9b provided surrounding the periphery of the fan connector 8 in the in-plane direction of the fan cover 7. The mounting part 9 has a mounting part tapered portion 9c formed on the inside of the end portion on the fan cover 7 side in the height direction (Z axis direction).

[0060] 14, the fan cover 7 has two arm portions 7f that protrude from the inner surface 7c toward the fan 6 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) and are provided perpendicular to the inner surface 7c. Hook claws 7g that hook into attachment part holes 9a of the attachment part 9 are provided at the tips of the arm portions 7f.

[0061] The fan connector 8 has a fan connector flange portion 8a on the outer periphery of the end portion on the fan cover 7 side in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0062] The tip of the arm portion 7f of the fan cover 7 and the mounting part flange portion 9b of the mounting part 9 sandwich the fan connector 8 in the height direction (Z-axis direction). That is, the fan connector 8 is positioned and fixed by being sandwiched between the tip of the arm portion 7f of the fan cover 7 and the mounting part flange portion 9b of the mounting part 9 in the height direction (Z-axis direction). That is, the tip of the arm portion 7f of the fan cover 7 and the mounting part flange portion 9b of the mounting part 9 have the function of determining the position of the fan connector 8 in the height direction (Z-axis direction).

[0063] The mounting part 9 is fixed to the fan cover 7 by hooking the hook claws 7g of the arm portions 7f of the fan cover 7 into the mounting part holes 9a of the mounting part 9.

[0064] Next, a structural feature relating to fixing the position of the fan connector 8 by the mounting part 9 will be described. When the mounting part 9 is attached to the fan cover 7, the arm portion 7f of the fan cover 7 bends inward. That is, when the mounting part 9 is attached to the fan cover 7, the hook claw 7g of the arm portion 7f comes into contact with the mounting part tapered portion 9c of the mounting part 9, and the tapered portion 7g1 at the tip of the hook claw 7g acts as a guide, bending the arm portion 7f inward to engage with the mounting part hole 9a.

[0065] When a force is applied in a direction (+Z-axis direction) that pulls up the fan unit 5 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) after the hook claws 7g of the arm portion 7f engage with the mounting part holes 9a of the mounting part 9, the mounting part 9 does not come off the hook claws 7g of the arm portion 7f of the fan cover 7 because the mounting part holes 9a of the mounting part 9 do not have a bending function, i.e., a function of expanding outward. In other words, the direction (+Z-axis direction) that pulls up the fan unit 5 in the height direction (Z-axis direction) is the direction in which the fan connector 8 is removed from the board connector 3. The amount by which the hook claws 7g hook into the mounting part holes 9a may be adjusted in accordance with the fitting force between the fan connector 8 and the board connector 3.

[0066] 12, the power conversion device 100 according to the first embodiment allows the fan cover 7 to be pulled up in the height direction (Z-axis direction) with the rod-shaped tool 10 and the fan connector 8 to be removed from the board connector 3 at the same time, making it possible to remove the fan cover 7 and the fan connector 8 in the state of the fan unit 5. In the first embodiment, the attachment part 9 is fixed to the fan cover 7 by engaging the hook claws 7g of the arm part 7f of the fan cover 7 with the attachment part holes 9a of the attachment part 9, but the attachment part 9 may be fixed to the fan cover 7 by another method such as screw fixing.

[0067] According to the above-described power conversion device 100, a fan unit is realized which is mounted on the power conversion device and includes a fan, a fan connector electrically connected to the fan, a fan cover attached to the fan, and an attachment part for attaching the fan connector to the fan cover, the attachment part including an guiding shape portion for guiding the fan connector to another connector which is fitted into the fan connector.

[0068] As described above, in the power conversion device 100, in addition to the fan connector 8, an attachment part 9 having an guiding shape portion 91 that makes it easy to mate the fan connector 8 with the board connector 3 is provided. In the power conversion device 100, due to the guiding function of the guiding shape portion 91 provided in the attachment part 9, when the fan connector 8 is mated with the board connector 3, the fan connector 8 is appropriately guided to the board connector 3 in the XY plane, so that the fan connector 8 can be easily and reliably mated with the board connector 3.

[0069] As a result, in the fan unit 5 of the power conversion device 100, without using a dedicated or special connector for the fan connector 8, a general-purpose connector for a general fan can be used as the fan connector 8, and the positional misalignment of the fan connector 8 relative to the board connector 3 when the fan unit 5 is assembled to the chassis 1 can be corrected, thereby eliminating the positional misalignment between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8.

[0070] Moreover, in the power conversion device 100, the user can easily assemble the fan unit 5 to the chassis 1 without preparing a dedicated tool. Moreover, in the power conversion device 100, the fan cover 7 has a hook shape 7e. This allows the user to easily remove the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1 without preparing a dedicated tool. That is, the user can electrically connect the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8, and can also release the electrical connection between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8, without preparing a dedicated tool.

[0071] In the power conversion device 100, the fan cover 7 has the hook shape 7e, so that when removing the fan unit 5 from the chassis 1, even if the mating force between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 is strong, the first cover protrusion 7a of the fan cover 7 can be hooked onto the rod-shaped tool 10 and lifted up by inserting the rod-shaped tool 10 into the hole 7d of the fan cover 7. As a result, in the power conversion device 100, even if the mating force between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 is strong, the fan connector 8 can be easily removed from the board connector 3, and the fan unit 5 can be easily removed from the chassis 1. That is, even if the mating force between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 is strong, the user can easily release the mating between the board connector 3 and the fan connector 8 by using the hook shape 7e of the fan cover 7.

[0072] The power conversion device 100 has the above-mentioned functions, which can improve the efficiency of assembly of the power conversion device 100. The power conversion device 100 can be realized economically and inexpensively by further devising the selection of materials for the mounting parts 9.

[0073] Therefore, the power conversion device 100 has an advantage in that it is possible to obtain a fan unit that can eliminate misalignment between the connectors when the fan connector 8 of the fan unit 5 is fitted into the board connector 3, which is another connector.

[0074] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies. Parts of the configurations may be omitted or modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 chassis, 1a recess, 1b groove, 2 board, 3 board connector, 4 main body case, 4a first cutout portion, 4b second cutout portion, 4b1 side wall, 5 fan unit, 6 fan, 7 fan cover, 7a first cover protrusion portion, 7b second cover protrusion portion, 7a1 end portion, 7a2, 10a inclined surface, 7b1 first side portion, 7b2 second side portion, 7b3 bottom portion, 7c inner surface, 7d hole, 7e hook shape, 7f arm portion, 7g hook claw, 7g1 tapered portion, 7h claw portion, 7i grip portion, 8 fan connector, 8a fan connector flange portion, 9 mounting part, 9a mounting part hole, 9b mounting part flange portion, 9c mounting part tapered portion, 10 tool, 91 guide shape portion, 100 A power conversion device, 911 a first induction shape portion, 912 a second induction shape portion, and 913 a third induction shape portion.

Claims

1. A fan unit implemented in a power conversion device, Fans, A fan connector electrically connected to the aforementioned fan, A fan cover to be attached to the aforementioned fan, Mounting parts for attaching the fan connector to the fan cover, Equipped with, The mounting component includes a guide-shaped portion that guides the fan connector to another connector that is mated to the fan connector. A fan unit characterized by [this feature].

2. The aforementioned guided shape portion is an inclined surface that guides the other connector and the fan connector to come into close proximity when they come into contact with the other connector. The fan unit according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

3. The fan cover is provided with a hook portion having a hook shape for releasing the engagement between the fan connector and the other connector and pulling the fan connector out of the other connector when the fan connector and the other connector are engaged. The fan unit according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

4. In the aforementioned hook shape, The fan cover has a protrusion that extends outward from the hook portion, The aforementioned protruding portion has a stepped portion that is positioned closer to the fan in the thickness direction of the fan cover than the aforementioned hooking portion. A hole is formed between the hook portion and the stepped portion into which a rod-shaped tool can be inserted. The fan unit according to claim 3, characterized by the following:

5. The end of the protruding portion in the direction of protrusion of the protruding portion is a chamfered portion that contacts the tool inserted into the hole and has an inclined surface that extends from the inner surface of the protruding portion toward the outer surface of the protruding portion as it moves toward the direction of protrusion. The fan unit according to claim 4, characterized by the following:

6. The aforementioned fan cover The arm portion protruding from the inner surface of the aforementioned fan cover, A hook claw formed at the tip of the aforementioned arm portion, Equipped with, The aforementioned mounting part, The mounting part hole into which the aforementioned hook claws engage, Mounting component flange portion provided in the in-plane direction of the fan cover, surrounding the fan connector, It has, The hook claws engage with the mounting part holes, thereby fixing the mounting part to the fan cover. The fan connector is fixed by being sandwiched between the tip of the arm portion and the flange portion of the mounting part. The fan unit according to claim 1, characterized by the following:

7. The aforementioned mounting component is arranged to surround the fan connector in the in-plane direction of the fan cover. The fan connector is positioned by the mounting component in two orthogonal directions in the in-plane direction of the fan cover. A fan unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the following:

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