Assembling Member for Heatsink Fan Mounting

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heatsink fan assembly processes are cumbersome and prone to errors due to mismatched specifications between the heatsink fan and fixing part, leading to inefficient heat dissipation and potential damage during assembly and maintenance, especially in high-density electronic equipment like servers.

Innovation Solution

The proposed assembling member features flexible jointing parts with adjustable fastening pins and a guide slot, allowing for secure mounting and easy detachment of heatsink fans on fixed frames with varying sizes, preventing incorrect orientation and reducing assembly time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screws are used to fix the heatsink fan, then the fixing is secure and stable, but the assembling and disassembling process becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing stabilityVSAvoidassembling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing device is divided into separate components: a fixing part with operating parts and stoppers, and a heatsink fan with fixing holes. This segmentation allows the heatsink fan to be quickly attached and detached by simply pressing the operating parts to release the stoppers from the fixing holes, eliminating the need for screw assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure fixing during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing device transitions from a static screw-based system to a dynamic press-to-release mechanism. The operating parts can be pressed to generate flexible deformation, causing the stoppers to disengage from the fixing holes, enabling quick assembly and disassembly without tools. This dynamic mechanism maintains reliable fixing when not operated while allowing rapid changes when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the fixing part has a symmetric rectangular structure, then the manufacturing is simple, but the mounting direction cannot be identified and errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmounting orientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

While the overall structure remains simple, asymmetric features are introduced: guide slots in the fixing part and corresponding guide protrusions on the heatsink fan. These asymmetric elements provide directional guidance during assembly, ensuring the heatsink fan is mounted in the correct orientation. The asymmetric design is minimal, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while preventing mounting errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Device complexity

If the mounting part directly protrudes from the fixing part, then the structure is simple, but the flexibility and adaptability are poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural complexityVSAvoidmounting flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing part incorporates flexible ends with guide slots that can elastically deform during assembly. When the heatsink fan is inserted, the flexible ends bend to accommodate slight misalignments or tolerance variations, then spring back to secure the connection. This flexibility allows the same fixing device to adapt to different heatsink fan specifications and mounting positions without requiring multiple specialized fixtures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Reliability

If the heatsink fan is tightly jointed with the fixing part, then the fixing is secure, but the detachment becomes difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixing securityVSAvoiddetachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The operating parts are pre-configured with elastic deformation capability and are positioned to engage the stoppers with the fixing holes. During assembly, the stoppers automatically snap into the fixing holes to provide secure fixing. During disassembly, pressing the operating parts triggers a pre-planned release mechanism where the stoppers are pushed out of the fixing holes, enabling easy detachment without tools or complex operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This solution enables efficient, error-tolerant mounting and easy maintenance of heatsink fans, ensuring proper heat dissipation direction and reducing the risk of damage during assembly and replacement.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient arm (144), wherein the resilient arm (144) is bent inwards towards the interior of the cover (120)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS7713025B2Assembling member

Publication Date: 2010.05.11 MICRO STAR INTERNATIONAL CO LTD

AI summary

An assembling member disposed on a heatsink fan in pairs for detachably disposing the heatsink fan on a fixed frame is provided. The assembling member includes a jointing part and an operating part. The jointing part matches with the fixed frame, and extends a plurality of fastening pins capable of being hooked at the assembly holes of the heatsink fan. The operating part is extended from one end of the jointing part, and passed and grasped by human fingers, so as to hook the jointing part on the heatsink fan. Thus, the heatsink fan is mounted on the fixed frame only by hooking the operating part through human fingers.