Housing, electronic apparatus, and locking structure

Abstract

A housing according to the present disclosure comprises: a housing member; and a locking part that is provided to the housing member and locks a fan. The locking part comprises: an arm part that protrudes from the housing member in a first direction and is flexible; and an engagement claw that protrudes from the arm part along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and engages with the fan. The engagement claw has an abutment surface that abuts the fan, and the abutment surface is inclined with respect to either the first direction or the second direction.

Description

Housing, electronic device and locking structure

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a housing, an electronic device, and a locking structure.

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 7071804 discloses a power converter equipped with a mounting member for mounting a cooling fan in a housing of the power converter main body. The mounting member has a plurality of engaging claws and a protrusion. The protrusions are inserted into holes formed in the cooling fan, and the engaging claws engage with the surface of the cooling fan, thereby fixing the cooling fan to the mounting member.

[0003] Recently, there has been a demand for a technique that can secure a fan to a housing (a mounting target member) in a satisfactory manner.

[0004] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] A first aspect of the present disclosure is a housing comprising: a housing member; and a locking portion provided on the housing member for locking a fan, the locking portion comprising: a flexible arm portion protruding from the housing member in a first direction; and an engagement claw protruding from the arm portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and engaging with the fan, the engagement claw having an abutment surface that abuts against the fan, the abutment surface being inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0006] A second aspect of the present disclosure is an electronic device comprising the housing according to the first aspect.

[0007] A third aspect of the present disclosure is a locking structure for locking a fan to a target attachment member, comprising: a flexible arm portion protruding from the target attachment member in a first direction; and an engagement claw protruding from the arm portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and engaging with the fan, wherein the engagement claw has an abutment surface that abuts against the fan, and the abutment surface is inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a part of an electronic device according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a locking structure provided in the electronic device. Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged view of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a fan and a locking portion. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a locking structure according to a first modified example.

[0009] When the fan is driven, it vibrates. This vibration generates vibration noise. The target component is the component to which the fan is attached or detached. The target component is, for example, a housing component of an electronic device.

[0010] In order to suppress the generation of vibration noise, it has been considered to increase the rigidity of the hook that holds the fan. By increasing the rigidity of the hook, the fan is firmly fixed to the mounting target component. As a result, fan vibration can be suppressed, and therefore the generation of vibration noise can be suppressed. However, increasing the rigidity of the hook may impair the flexibility of the hook. In that case, it becomes difficult to bend the hook when, for example, attaching or detaching the fan to or from the housing. In other words, there is a problem in that increasing the rigidity of the hook impairs the ease of attaching or detaching the fan to or from the mounting target component.

[0011] It is also possible to firmly secure the fan with the locking portion by not allowing for manufacturing errors in the dimensions of the housing (locking portion), fan, etc. If manufacturing errors could be reduced to zero, the fan would be securely attached to the mounting member, thereby suppressing fan vibration. However, not allowing for manufacturing errors is unrealistic.

[0012] Based on the above preliminary explanation, the embodiments will be described below.

[0013] 1 is a perspective view showing a part of an electronic device 10 according to an embodiment. A fan 12 provided in the electronic device 10 and a part of a housing member 24 (housing 26) are shown in FIG.

[0014] The electronic device 10 is a numerical control device that controls industrial machinery such as a machine tool, a robot, or an injection molding machine. Examples of machine tools include, but are not limited to, a machining center, a lathe, or a wire electric discharge machine. As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic device 10 includes a fan 12 and a housing member 24 that is an attachment target member 14.

[0015] The fan 12 is a blower (fan unit) that supplies or exhausts air to or from the electronic device 10. The fan 12 is, for example, an axial fan (axial fan unit). The fan 12 includes a fan body 16 and a fan frame 18. The fan body 16 includes a mechanism for generating airflow. More specifically, the fan body 16 includes a rotating shaft 20 and a plurality of fan blades 22. The rotating shaft 20 is rotated by, for example, a motor (not shown). The plurality of fan blades 22 are fixed to the rotating shaft 20. The plurality of fan blades 22 are rotatable about the rotating shaft 20 (the rotation axis AL20 of the rotating shaft 20) in response to rotation of the rotating shaft 20. The fan frame 18 is a frame (frame body) that surrounds the fan body 16. The fan frame 18 is arranged to surround the sides of the plurality of fan blades 22.

[0016] The attachment target member 14 is, for example, a housing member 24. The housing member 24 is a member that forms at least a part of a housing 26 that houses an electronic circuit (circuit board) (not shown) and the like provided in the electronic device 10.

[0017] The housing member 24 has a fan mounting area AR. The fan mounting area AR is an area where the fan 12 is mounted. A portion of the main surface (inner surface) 24s of the housing member 24 forms the fan mounting area AR. The fan 12 is mounted in the fan mounting area AR along a first direction D1 shown in FIG. 1 . The first direction D1 is a direction perpendicular to the main surface 24s of the housing member 24. The first direction D1 coincides with the extension direction of the rotation axis AL20. The housing member 24, which is the mounting target member 14, is provided with a locking structure 28, which is a fan mounting mechanism.

[0018] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the locking structure 28 provided in the electronic device 10. Fig. 2 shows a view taken along the arrow II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2. Fig. 3 shows an enlarged view of the frame III in Fig. 2.

[0019] The locking structure 28 has a hook-shaped locking portion 30. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the locking structure 28 may have multiple locking portions 30. The specific locations of each of the multiple locking portions 30 may be determined as appropriate. The multiple locking portions 30 may be a pair of locking portions 30 arranged to sandwich the fan mounting area AR (fan 12). The locking portion 30 includes an arm portion (arm, protrusion) 32 and an engagement claw 34.

[0020] The arm portion 32 protrudes from the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 along a first direction D1. The arm portion 32 shown in FIG. 2 extends parallel to the first direction D1, but is not limited to this. A base end 32b of the arm portion 32 is connected to the housing member 24. The arm portion 32 is formed integrally with the housing member 24, but is not limited to this. The arm portion 32 is also flexible. When the arm portion 32 flexes, a tip end 32t of the arm portion 32 can be displaced along a second direction D2, which will be described later.

[0021] The engagement claw 34 protrudes from the arm portion 32 in the second direction D2. More specifically, the engagement claw 34 protrudes from the tip end 32t of the arm portion 32 in the second direction D2. The engagement claw 34 has a base end 34b and a tip end 34t. The tip end 34t is positioned in the second direction D2 relative to the base end 34b. When the arm portion 32 is not bent, at least a portion of the tip end 34t of the engagement claw 34 overlaps with the fan mounting area AR in a plan view.

[0022] The engagement claw 34 is provided with an abutment surface 36 (FIG. 3) that abuts against the fan 12. The abutment surface 36 is formed on a base end portion 34b of the engagement claw 34. The base end portion 34b of the engagement claw 34 is connected to the tip portion 32t of the arm portion 32, but is not limited to this.

[0023] As described above, the contact surface 36 contacts the fan 12. More specifically, the contact surface 36 contacts the corner portion 18c (FIG. 3) of the fan frame 18 in the first direction D1. By contacting the fan 12, the contact surface 36 at least limits the relative movement between the fan 12 and the housing member 24 in the first direction D1.

[0024] The abutment surface 36 is inclined with respect to both the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. More specifically, the dimension (distance in the first direction D1) between the abutment surface 36 and the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 (see FIG. 2) gradually increases with increasing distance from the arm portion 32. In other words, the abutment surface 36 is inclined toward the distal end direction D1t when viewed along the protruding direction of the engagement claw 34. The protruding direction of the engagement claw 34 is a direction along the second direction D2. In other words, the protruding direction of the engagement claw 34 is a direction from the base end 34b of the engagement claw 34 toward the distal end 34t of the engagement claw 34. The distal end direction D1t is a direction from the base end 32b of the arm portion 32 toward the distal end 32t of the arm portion 32. The angle α formed between the abutment surface 36 and the inner surface 32s of the arm portion 32 is an obtuse angle (α>90°).

[0025] The first inclination angle θ1 is shown in FIG. 3 . The first inclination angle θ1 is the inclination of the abutment surface 36 with respect to the second direction D2. More specifically, the first inclination angle θ1 is the inclination of the abutment surface 36 with respect to a first imaginary straight line LD2A shown in FIG. 3 . The first imaginary straight line LD2A is an imaginary straight line that extends parallel to the second direction D2 and passes through one end (base end) 36b of the abutment surface 36 in the second direction D2. The base end 36b includes a connection portion between the abutment surface 36 and the arm portion 32. The first inclination angle θ1 is preferably 15 degrees or greater and 45 degrees or less. More preferably, the first inclination angle θ1 is 25 degrees or greater and 35 degrees or less.

[0026] The tip portion 34t of the engagement claw 34 has a tip surface 38 that is connected to the other end (tip) 36t of the abutment surface 36 in the second direction D2. The tip 36t is the end opposite the base end 36b of the abutment surface 36 in the second direction D2. The tip surface 38 extends from the tip 36t of the abutment surface 36 along the second direction D2.

[0027] The tip surface 38 may be inclined with respect to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2, similar to the abutment surface 36. For example, the tip surface 38 may be inclined toward the tip direction D1t when viewed along the protruding direction of the engagement claw 34.

[0028] However, the inclination of the distal end surface 38 with respect to the second direction D2 is smaller than the inclination of the abutment surface 36 with respect to the second direction D2. A second inclination angle θ2 is shown in FIG. 3. The second inclination angle θ2 is the inclination of the distal end surface 38 with respect to the second direction D2. More specifically, the second inclination angle θ2 is the inclination of the distal end surface 38 with respect to a second imaginary straight line LD2B shown in FIG. 3. The second imaginary straight line LD2B is an imaginary straight line that extends parallel to the second direction D2 and passes through the base end of the distal end surface 38 (the tip 36t of the abutment surface 36) in the second direction D2. The second inclination angle θ2 is smaller than the first inclination angle θ1 described above (θ2<θ1).

[0029] The tip surface 38 may extend parallel to the second direction D2, i.e., the second inclination angle θ2 may be zero degrees.

[0030] 1 and 2, the locking structure 28 may include a pillar portion 40. The locking structure 28 may also include a spacer 42. The pillar portion 40 and the spacer 42 are disposed in the fan mounting area AR. The pillar portion 40 and the spacer 42 protrude from the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 along the first direction D1.

[0031] The dimension DM40 of the columnar portion 40 in the first direction D1 is longer than the dimension DM42 of the spacer 42 in the first direction D1. When the fan 12 is mounted in the fan mounting area AR, the columnar portion 40 is inserted into an insertion opening 18h pre-formed in the fan frame 18. The columnar portion 40 limits relative movement between the fan 12 and the housing member 24 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1. The insertion opening 18h may be a through-hole. In this case, the columnar portion 40 may penetrate the fan frame 18 through the insertion opening 18h ( FIG. 2 ), or may not penetrate the fan frame 18. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the locking structure 28 may have multiple columnar portions 40. In this case, the multiple columnar portions 40 may include a first columnar portion having a dimension DM40 set to a first dimension and a second columnar portion having a dimension DM40 set to a second dimension different from the first dimension.

[0032] A dimension DM42 of the spacer 42 in the first direction D1 is shorter than a distance H36 in the first direction D1 between the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 and the abutment surface 36. When the fan 12 is mounted in the fan mounting area AR, the spacer 42 abuts against the fan 12. As a result, the spacer 42 forms a gap GP between the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 and the fan 12. As shown in FIG. 1 , the locking structure 28 may include multiple spacers 42.

[0033] The locking structure 28 having the above configuration exhibits the following effects, for example.

[0034] The locking structure 28 has one or more locking portions 30. The locking portion 30 includes an arm portion 32 and an engagement claw 34 protruding from the arm portion 32. The engagement claw 34 hooks onto the fan 12 to lock the fan 12.

[0035] The arm portion 32 is flexible. Therefore, for example, a user of the electronic device 10 can easily attach or detach the fan 12 to or from the housing member 24 by bending the arm portion 32 as needed.

[0036] The engagement claw 34 has a contact surface 36 that contacts the fan 12. The contact surface 36 contacts the fan 12, thereby locking the fan 12. In other words, the contact surface 36 contacts the fan 12, thereby restricting the relative movement between the fan 12 and the housing member 24 (the mounting target member 14).

[0037] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the fan 12 and the locking portion 30. For comparison, FIG. 4 illustrates the fan 12 without manufacturing errors (solid line 12a) and the fan 12 with manufacturing errors (two-dot chain line 12b). FIG. 4 also illustrates the locking portion 30 when a fan 12 without manufacturing errors is locked (solid line 30a) and the locking portion 30 when a fan 12 with manufacturing errors is locked (two-dot chain line 30b). Reference numerals shown in FIG. 3 have been omitted in FIG. 4 as appropriate.

[0038] The abutment surface 36 is inclined with respect to the first direction D1 and the second direction D2. More specifically, the abutment surface 36 is inclined toward the tip end direction D1t of the arm portion 32 when viewed along the second direction D2. As a result, the engagement claw 34 is supported by the flexible arm portion 32, and the inclined abutment surface 36 engages the fan 12. In this case, even if the dimensions of the fan 12 vary due to manufacturing errors, the arm portion 32 bends in accordance with the manufacturing errors, thereby ensuring good abutment between the fan 12 and the abutment surface 36. In other words, because the arm portion 32 is flexible and the abutment surface 36 is inclined, the engagement claw 34 can properly engage the fan 12 regardless of manufacturing errors. As a result, vibration of the fan 12 is suppressed.

[0039] The first inclination angle θ1 is preferably 15 degrees or greater and 45 degrees or less. If the first inclination angle θ1 is set too small, the fan 12 may not contact the contact surface 36 if the manufacturing error of the fan 12 is relatively large, and vibration of the fan 12 may not be effectively suppressed. Also, if the first inclination angle θ1 is set too large, the fan 12 may not contact the contact surface 36 if the manufacturing error of the fan 12 is relatively large, and vibration of the fan 12 may not be effectively suppressed. By setting the first inclination angle θ1 to 15 degrees or greater and 45 degrees or less, the fan 12 can be effectively fixed while fully allowing for manufacturing errors. It is more preferable that the first inclination angle θ1 be 25 degrees or greater and 35 degrees or less. This allows the locking portion 30 to more fully allow for manufacturing errors while more effectively fixing the fan 12.

[0040] The engagement claw 34 further has a tip surface 38 positioned in the second direction D2 relative to the abutment surface 36. The inclination of the tip surface 38 relative to the second direction D2 (second inclination angle θ2) is smaller than the inclination of the abutment surface 36 relative to the second direction D2 (first inclination angle θ1). Therefore, even if the corner 18c of the fan 12 is displaced along the abutment surface 36 due to, for example, an impact, the tip 34t of the engagement claw 34 can engage the corner 18c of the fan 12. As a result, the fan 12 is prevented from coming off the fan mounting area AR. Furthermore, as described above, the arm portion 32 is flexible. Therefore, after the fan 12 is engaged by the tip surface 38, the flexibility (resilience) of the arm portion 32 allows the abutment surface 36 and the fan 12 to return to abutment.

[0041] When viewed along the protruding direction of the engaging claw 34, the tip surface 38 preferably inclines in the tip direction D1t of the arm portion 32 or extends parallel to the second direction D2. In this case, the locking portion 30 can be easily manufactured by injection molding. That is, the tip surface 38 that inclines in the tip direction D1t of the arm portion 32 when viewed along the protruding direction of the engaging claw 34 does not interfere with the operation of the mold that is opened and closed along the second direction D2. Even when the tip surface 38 extends parallel to the second direction D2, the tip surface 38 does not interfere with the operation of the mold that is opened and closed along the second direction D2. Therefore, the locking portion 30 can be easily mass-produced by injection molding using this mold.

[0042] The locking structure 28 may have a columnar portion 40 that can be inserted into an insertion opening 18h that is pre-formed in the fan 12. This limits the relative movement between the fan 12 and the housing member 24 in a direction perpendicular to the first direction D1.

[0043] The locking structure 28 may have a spacer 42 that forms a gap GP between the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 and the fan 12. This allows the fan 12 to supply or exhaust air through the gap GP. In other words, the formation of the gap GP between the main surface 24s of the housing member 24 and the fan 12 can prevent a decrease in the amount of air supplied or exhausted by the fan 12.

[0044] The above embodiment may be modified as follows. In the following modifications, explanations that overlap with the above embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. In addition, in the drawings used in the following modifications, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those described in the above embodiment.

[0045] (Modification 1) FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a locking structure 28 (locking structure 281) according to Modification 1. As shown in FIG.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 5, the locking structure 28 may have an abutment portion 44. In the example shown in Fig. 5, the locking portion 30 is provided on one side of the fan mounting area AR, and the abutment portion 44 is provided on the other side of the fan mounting area AR. The abutment portion 44 has an abutment surface 44a. The side surface of the fan frame 18 abuts against the abutment surface 44a. The fan 12 is clamped between the locking portion 30 and the abutment portion 44.

[0047] (Modification 2) The attachment target member 14 is not limited to the housing member 24. In other words, the object to which the fan 12 is attached is not limited to the housing 26 of the electronic device 10.

[0048] (Combination of Multiple Modifications) The multiple modifications described above may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause inconsistency.

[0049] According to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the fan 12 can be attached to and detached from the attachment target member 14 with good workability, and the fan 12 is securely fastened to the attachment target member 14 .

[0050] The following additional notes are further disclosed regarding the above embodiment.

[0051] (Supplementary Note 1) The housing (26) of the present disclosure comprises a housing member (24) and a locking portion (30) provided on the housing member and locking the fan (12), the locking portion comprising a flexible arm portion (32) protruding from the housing member in a first direction (D1), and an engagement claw (34) protruding from the arm portion along a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction and engaging with the fan, the engagement claw having an abutment surface (36) that abuts against the fan, the abutment surface being inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0052] (Appendix 2) The housing may be the one described in Appendix 1, wherein the engaging claw has a base end (34b) connected to the arm portion and a tip end (34t) located in the second direction relative to the base end, the base end has the abutment surface, the tip end has a tip surface (38) that is connected to the end of the abutment surface in the second direction and is a surface extending along the second direction, and the inclination of the tip surface with respect to the second direction is smaller than the inclination of the abutment surface with respect to the second direction.

[0053] (Supplementary Note 3) In the housing according to Supplementary Note 2, the tip surface may extend parallel to the second direction.

[0054] (Supplementary Note 4) The housing according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3 may be a housing in which the inclination of the contact surface with respect to the second direction is 15 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less.

[0055] (Supplementary Note 5) The housing according to Supplementary Note 4 may be such that the inclination of the contact surface with respect to the second direction is equal to or greater than 25 degrees and equal to or less than 35 degrees.

[0056] (Supplementary Note 6) An electronic device (10) of the present disclosure includes the housing according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5.

[0057] (Appendix 7) The locking structure (28) of the present disclosure is a locking structure for locking a fan (12) to a target attachment member (14), and includes a flexible arm portion (32) protruding from the target attachment member in a first direction (D1), and an engagement claw (34) protruding from the arm portion along a second direction (D2) perpendicular to the first direction and engaging with the fan, the engagement claw having an abutment surface (36) that abuts against the fan, and the abutment surface being inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

[0058] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the individual embodiments described above. Various additions, substitutions, modifications, partial deletions, etc. are possible in these embodiments without departing from the gist of the present disclosure or the spirit of the present disclosure derived from the content of the claims and their equivalents. These embodiments can also be implemented in combination. For example, in the above-described embodiments, the order of each operation and the order of each process are shown as examples and are not limited to these. The same applies when numerical values ​​or mathematical expressions are used in the description of the above-described embodiments.

[0059] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10... Electronic device 12... Fan 14... Mounting target member 16... Fan main body 24... Housing member 26... Housing 28... Locking structure 30... Locking portion 32... Arm portion 34... Engagement claw 34b... Base end portion 34t... Tip portion 36... Contact surface 38... Tip surface

Claims

1. A housing comprising: a housing member; and a locking portion provided on the housing member for locking a fan, wherein the locking portion comprises: a flexible arm portion protruding from the housing member in a first direction; and an engagement claw protruding from the arm portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and engaging with the fan, wherein the engagement claw has an abutment surface that abuts against the fan, and the abutment surface is inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging claw has a base end connected to the arm portion and a tip end located in the second direction relative to the base end, the base end having the abutment surface, the tip end having a tip surface that is connected to the end of the abutment surface in the second direction and extends along the second direction, and the inclination of the tip surface relative to the second direction is smaller than the inclination of the abutment surface relative to the second direction.

3. A housing according to claim 2, wherein said tip surface extends parallel to said second direction.

4. A housing according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inclination of the contact surface with respect to the second direction is between 15 degrees and 45 degrees.

5. A housing according to claim 4, wherein the inclination of the contact surface with respect to the second direction is between 25 degrees and 35 degrees.

6. An electronic device comprising a housing according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A locking structure for locking a fan to a target component, comprising: a flexible arm portion that protrudes from the target component in a first direction; and an engagement claw that protrudes from the arm portion along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and engages with the fan, wherein the engagement claw has an abutment surface that abuts against the fan, and the abutment surface is inclined with respect to both the first direction and the second direction.

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