Adhesive Joint Features for Compact Fan Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
In portable electronic devices, the reduction in enclosure thickness leads to compromised motor performance and reduced airflow, as cooling fans with reduced motor height experience decreased torque delivery and space constraints for electrical connections, affecting shock robustness and airflow efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fan assembly design with a bushing and pillow featuring varying gap distances and adhesive joints to secure components, allowing for a reduced motor height without compromising torque delivery, and utilizing recessed portions and alternative wire connections to minimize the overall height while maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the motor height is reduced to decrease fan assembly height, then the overall dimensions of the fan assembly are reduced, but the torque delivery capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform adhesive distribution pattern around the pillow-bushing interface. Specifically, the adhesive is applied in a graduated manner with varying thickness - thicker at certain locations and thinner at others - to optimize the mechanical coupling between components. This localized variation in adhesive quality compensates for the reduced motor height while maintaining torque transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of adhesive thickness from uniform to graduated/varied. By controlling the adhesive thickness to vary in different regions of the pillow-bushing interface, the design optimizes both the mechanical strength for torque transmission and the overall compactness of the assembly, resolving the contradiction between reduced height and maintained torque delivery.
2Length of stationary object
If the motor height is reduced to decrease fan assembly height, then the overall dimensions of the fan assembly are reduced, but the shock robustness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform adhesive distribution pattern around the pillow-bushing interface. Specifically, the adhesive is applied in a graduated manner with varying thickness - thicker at certain locations and thinner at others - to optimize the mechanical coupling between components. This localized variation in adhesive quality compensates for the reduced motor height while maintaining torque transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of adhesive thickness from uniform to graduated/varied. By controlling the adhesive thickness to vary in different regions of the pillow-bushing interface, the design optimizes both the mechanical strength for torque transmission and the overall compactness of the assembly, resolving the contradiction between reduced height and maintained torque delivery.
3Length of stationary object
If the enclosure thickness is reduced to improve portability, then the device becomes more portable, but the airflow efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-optimizing the adhesive joint design between the pillow and bushing components before final assembly. By carefully designing the adhesive application pattern and thickness in advance, the motor can achieve maximum torque delivery in a compact configuration, which enables the fan to maintain high airflow efficiency even when the overall enclosure thickness is reduced for portability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves a more compact form factor for fan assemblies while maintaining torque delivery and shock robustness, enhancing airflow efficiency in portable electronic devices by optimizing adhesive joints and component placement.
Implementation Method 1
an adhesive disposed in the channel to adhesively secure the cover with the pillow
Data Source
AI summary
A fan assembly having a reduced dimension formed by several modifications is described. The fan assembly includes a stator having stator coils positioned within a recessed portion of a pillow that receives the motor. The stator may include wire connections positioned between adjacent stator coils and designed to terminate wires of the stator coils. The wire terminations may be on a protrusion or a post positioned between adjacent stator coils, or alternatively, the wire terminations may be disposed on protruding features of a bushing. The protrusion may be formed from an electrically conductive material and electrically connected to a motor control circuit via a flexible printed circuit. In some embodiments, the protrusion is part of an electrically neutral stator bushing having several pins. Also, a gap region between the bushing and a flange feature is designed to improve an adhesive joint.