Air-Cooled Case Shutter for Automatic Cooling Mode Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air-cooled cases require manual adjustment of cooling air flow settings for natural and forced cooling modes, leading to inefficient cooling capacity and noise issues, as they lack automatic adaptation to suit each cooling condition.
Innovation Solution
An air-cooled case with a shutter mechanism that automatically opens or closes the top surface ventilation opening based on the presence of forced cooling air, allowing for optimized air flow during natural or forced cooling modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of metal fittings is used to set cooling air flow, then cooling mode switching is possible, but operation complexity and maintenance burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter automatically switches between open and closed positions based on the cooling mode, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. The system serves itself by using the existing cooling air flow to actuate the shutter mechanism, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system with an automatic mechanism driven by cooling air pressure. The mechanical system is substituted by a pneumatic actuation system that automatically positions the shutter according to the cooling mode requirements
2Use of energy by moving object
If cooling fan is stopped for natural cooling, then power consumption is reduced, but cooling capacity is insufficient for high heat generation cases
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter dynamically changes its position based on the cooling mode. During natural cooling, it opens to maximize passive air flow; during forced cooling, it closes to direct air flow through the cooling fan. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both energy consumption and cooling capacity under different operating conditions
3Reliability
If cooling fan is driven for forced cooling, then cooling capacity is sufficient, but power consumption increases and noise is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation opening is segmented into two functional paths: one for natural cooling air intake and another for forced cooling air discharge. The shutter selectively opens or closes specific segments based on the cooling mode, allowing the system to use only the necessary cooling path and avoid unnecessary energy consumption and noise
4Adaptability or versatility
If metal fittings are changed to set cooling air flow, then cooling mode adaptation is achieved, but device complexity and maintenance burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the adjustable metal fittings from the system and replaces them with a fixed structure combined with an automatic shutter. The complexity of manual adjustment mechanisms is taken out and eliminated, while the adaptability is maintained through the automatic shutter response to cooling mode changes
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 shutter mechanism enables efficient automatic switching between natural and forced cooling modes, enhancing cooling capacity and reducing noise by ensuring proper air flow for each condition, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of temperature regulation in electronic devices.
Implementation Method 1
the shutter opens the top surface ventilation opening by its own weight when there is no forced cooling air generated by the cooling fan
Implementation Method 2
closes the top surface ventilation opening by a pressure of the forced cooling air when there is the forced cooling air
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air-cooled case enabling automatic setting of a flow of cooling air during natural cooling and during forced cooling contains a heating element and a cooling fan in a space surrounded by multiple surfaces that include a top surface and mutually facing side surfaces. The air-cooled case is provided with a top surface ventilation opening formed in the top surface, side surface ventilation openings formed in the side surfaces, and a shutter that is provided in the top surface ventilation opening and opens/closes the top surface ventilation opening.